The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.”
                                                                                                                        Matthew 25:8
 
Hello Friend,
 
The above scripture is from the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).  It is a story about being spiritually prepared.  There were ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  When they woke up in the middle of the night, the foolish ones’ lamps went out and they wanted the wise ones to share their oil.  The wise virgins told the foolish ones, sorry, go and get some for yourselves. 
 
            I know the wise virgins sounded harsh.  Did you think they were selfish?  Why wouldn’t they share?  The Bible teaches us to love our neighbor.  The New Testament teaches about sharing one’s wealth.  But just hold on a minute.  Let me explain.  Sometimes loving means that we allow others do their own work.  Sometimes loving means letting friends learn the hard way.  People don’t always want to be fixed or helped, unless it is in the middle of the night as in this story—in a dark place in their life.  Regarding our spiritual lives, I believe we each must do our own work.  We can’t keep bailing others out.  When we do, we are hindering God working in their lives.  Friends and relatives don’t go to church, read their Bibles, don’t pray, don’t listen to tapes, and then when the darkness comes, they want some of what you have—your oil. 
 
            This week, think about your oil supply.  Don’t you get tired of people using up your oil?    What is the oil that keeps your lamp lit?  Do you need to replenish your supply?  When the bridegroom comes, will you be prepared? 
 
Prayer:  Dear Lord, I want to be prepared.  Give me oil for my lamp; keep me burning with an intense desire to know you better.
 
                                                From one wedding guest to another,
                                                                        Keep the fire glowing!
                                                                                    Linda
 

​Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
                                                I Peter 5:6
 
 
Hello Friend,
 
            I pray that you slept well last night and that you woke up rested and ready to face a new week.  Let me pose a question for you to ponder:  Do you know in your mind, heart, and spirit that God is in control—that your life is going according to a divine plan?  Sometimes in my life, and I suspect in yours also, that plan of God’s seems hard to figure out.  We worry about our job, our finances, our health, our parents, spouse, and/or children.  We hold on, with all our might, to those concerns and anxieties as if by worrying we can make the problems go away.   Few of us, if we are honest, are good at “casting our cares.”  It takes practice.
 
In the Amplified Bible, each Greek word in the New Testament is given a word-for-word translation to help clarify the true meaning of the passage.  See if you see any difference in the above scripture in the Amplified translation.  “Casting the whole of your care [all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on him. . .”  The phrase that jumps out at me is once and for all.  The spiritual discipline of surrender, of giving all our worries to God is difficult for most Christians.  Yet, the only alternative to casting our anxieties and cares on God is to decide to keep them. 
            You have a choice.     You can worry and fret and I can assure you, my friend, that you will not experience the joy that God so desires for all of us.  Or, trust God once and for all because he cares for you.  This week when anxious thoughts creep into your mind, say to yourself, “God loves me” and let the peace and joy of Christ rule in your heart, mind, and spirit.
 
Prayer:  Lord, thank you for loving me.   Help me to cast my cares and to feel joy. Amen.                                                                                                Linda

​If only I might hold a steady course. . .                                  Psalm 119:5
 
Hello Friend,
 
            Did you wake up today expecting it to be a GREAT day!  Or maybe you woke up today feeling gloomy.  That is exactly how many of us live our lives—in the extremes.  We have these really high, mountaintop experiences and then we plummet down into the depths of despair.  That is not how God expects us to live.  Psalm 119 tells us that God wants us to maintain a steady course.
 
Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who is steadfast and unmovable.”    This means that in spite of negative circumstances, we will feel peace when we live by faith and maintain balance in our lives.  Isn’t that what all of us want—to find blessed peace in our minds, our emotions, and our lives?  Too many of us live for the weekend, for the two-week paid vacation to Disney.  God wants us to learn to enjoy the mundane things in life—to enjoy every day in spite of our endless routine, in spite of our boring job, and in spite of our issues.  Don’t wait for the BIG event to be happy.  Now is the time for joy.  Be realistic.  Not every day is going to be great.  But choose to look for the blessings in each day!  Choose to be in a good mood.  Don’t give in to the blahs.  We need to have the same attitude day in and day out regardless of our outward circumstances.  Don’t allow yourself to be bounced about by the winds of fate.  Maintain a steady course.  Don’t bring a bad attitude with you wherever you go.  Be stable.  Maintain a steady course.   Control your emotions.  Rule over your negative feelings.  Your will is stronger than your fickle feelings.  Don’t lose your peace.  Choose calm delight.  Say to yourself, “I am peaceful.  I am calm.  I am steady.”  Whew!  Now don’t you feel better?
 
Prayer:  Lord, help me to maintain a steady course this day that I may feel joy.  Amen.                                         Linda

​ 
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden…and you will find rest, relief, refreshment, and blessed quiet for your souls.  Matt 11:28
 
Hello Friend,
 
            How are you feeling this morning?  Do you feel rested and refreshed from last night’s sleep?  Sometimes I suffer from insomnia and my mind is plagued with racing thoughts.  I try to solve every problem that enters my mind, including a solution to world peace.  Sometimes, not just our nights, but our days are filled with turmoil.  We struggle with life’s issue and problems.  We feel like there is a tug-of-war going on in our lives.  Not enough time, not enough money, not enough energy—we’re just plain tired from the struggle. 
 
            We struggle too much!!  I know what I want.  I want kingdom living now, peace and joy in my life now.  How about you?  Haven’t you tried it your way long enough?
            In the scripture above, God promises us rest, relief, refreshment, and quiet for our souls.  How do we get that promised, blessed relief?  Our part is to COME.  God says, “Come to me.”  Amidst the clamor of our busy days, we need to stop and have not a “coffee break” but a “God Break.”   Colossians 3:2 tells us to “set your minds and keep them set on that which is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.”  We have to make a decision.  What are we choosing to think about—our problems or the peace of Christ?  This scripture goes on to say that if we set our minds on the things above we will find peace.  Specifically it says, and I just love this verse, “Let the peace, soul harmony which comes from Christ rule, (act as umpire) in your hearts deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your mind.”
 
            I admit I don’t have the answers to many of my dilemmas.  But I am ready to have Christ be the umpire in this game of life and let him decide the answers.  Just between you and me, I think he knows best.  Let’s be willing to let go of our struggles and let God.  I wish you peace.
 
 Just as I am, Lord I come.  I earnestly desire your peace in my life.  Amen. Linda