Life on the Back Burner

Yes it is a New Year. Another year, 2014, and another one gone and another one gone and another one bites the dust. Glad to see 2014 go. It was one hell of a year with many twists and turns. Times of trial and testings. A few exciting events to help. I can recognize many times when God's hand was at work.

There were many mornings of wondering what the future holds. Mornings of tearful prayers fuelled by frustration. The Bible says, "The Lord disciplines those He loves." Was 2014 a year of discipline?  I believe yes, in some ways God was teaching many things, and changing me in the process. In some ways, it has been a year of sacrificing my own wants and desires. It can be a difficult time in life to enter. For me it was bringing mother home to live with us. It changed the dynamics of our lives in many ways. For others it may be different types of priorities and sacrifices.  It is human nature to want to have freedom and control of our lives. I always thought that freedom meant - being able to do what ever I wanted to do.  If I want to go weed in the garden, write a book, go shopping, have coffee with my bff or whatever I want to do, when I want to do it, I can. This year, I felt I could not do many of the things I wanted to do.

Many women are good at juggling the many aspects of their lives. It seems that when I was younger and my children were at home, I could do that without feeling much stress. Now that I am older, and going through the reversal of puberty, I can't seem to juggle as many things. Or maybe I'm juggling more. I can't really figure it out, but over the past year I have felt stressed, overwhelmed and at times like I was losing my mind with not being able to cook six pots on a four burner stove. Are some of those feelings symptoms of menopause thrown into the mix? It has been a year of disconnect with all my close relationships except one. That relationship with my mother (Mum). The constant flower in my entire life.  

I realized about a year ago that my mother won't be here forever and our precious relationship could come to an end any time. Only The Lord knows. I could not be here tomorrow. I know life can change on a dime when we least expect it. I was fearing that one day I would get that dreaded call? Many times throughout my life of ups and downs, my Mum has always been one of the few who always cared about how I was doing, she sincerely wanted me to be a part of her life. All the years of my life I have depended on her to help me through all the storms of life. Over the last few years the tides have turned. As she gets older, she has depended on me more and more. I'm thankful for my family who also help our mother.

We share a wonderful mother and daughter relationship. I have always known she loves me and that I love her whole heartily.  I tend to love deep those in my circle.  When my  circle gets broken, I get broken.  Mum has always been there for me to cry on her shoulder; always there with her wise advice. Sometimes that advice has been hard to receive, even though she is almost always right. Over the past few years it has become my turn to be there for my mother to care for her, love her, listen to her. This year even more so with her failing health.

God has been with us. My mother and I share a main ingredient and that is our faith in Jesus Christ. There have been many times of prayer, especially over this past year. I recognize God's hand at work in me and in my mother. I see Him preparing us for whatever the future holds. He is lighting our path along the journey.

I reflect on 2014. I know that many of my needs were put on the back burner. We all go through different stages in life. Our lives are like a stove with four burners and there are usually four pots boiling. There are many needs to care for, people to see, places to go and things to do. It is hard to watch all the burners. I know this because I constantly let the pots come to a boil and overflow all over the stove. We try and make the perfect meal in life. Individually, we try to fit into the pots of those relationships closest to us. So often because of the busyness in everyone's lives these days, sometimes we get placed in the pot that gets put on the back burner and left there to simmer. That is the pot that is often forgotten. The water comes to a slow boil and eventually just boils dry. So, my conclusion as I enter a New Year is that I feel like that dry pot melted to the back burner. I've spent years trying to keep the pots topped up with enough water and nutritious food. Sometimes the pot boils dry. Just ask my husband how many times I've burnt rice.

Just the other day, I put a pot of water on the stove.  I was going to cook some pasta in it. I turned up the temperature and the water came to boil, and it boiled and boiled until it was dry. I got busy doing something else and totally forgot about the pot of water boiling. For a moment, I even forgot what I was boiling the water to cook.

The slow boil which evaporates over time and there is nothing left in the pot. Relationships can be like pots too. The relationships/friendships drift apart like vapour. Usually it is the one who feels like the back burner pot who is left with that lost feeling of neglect. In the end result, it is easy to stay melted to the stovetop. Easy to become a recluse. Stop cooking. Give up. Keep the pots shiny and new sitting in the cupboard. Stay unscathed. That way, one does not have to feel the pain of neglect one more time.

On the flip side, now my Mum has chosen to live in a convalescent/ nursing home with many others who have aged. That is not easy to watch either. It would seem to be another stage in life. Once elderly people go to live in these homes, many of them tend to be put on the back burner by their family and friends. Many don't get visitors. I see this every time I go visit my mother. Some families put them in the home like they are a pot.  Then they get busy with their lives again and don't visit. I'm happy to see my Mother having visitors.

 Sadly in this world, often people are treated like they are recyclable. Throw out the burnt pots and replace them with the new pots. We live in a recycle society. Many times, I've gone through the recycle box too. When that happens, it tends to leave a person feeling insignificant.  It feels like being a pot on the back burner.

I don't know what I would do being an empty pot if I didn't have my faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pot maker and the one who fills our clay pots with living water. Many people struggle with similar challenges. Whether we have faith or not, sometimes we don't feel strong or joyful. I don't believe that we can always maintain human strength with the power of positive thinking. God knows when we are weak and all about our struggle. He can make us strong. We don't have to pretend. We can't live a life in pretence. We live life in truth.  Yes, we can make better choices on a daily basis. We have free will to choose right or wrong. I believe that relationship with Jesus is one pot that will never run dry. When I feel the water in my pot starting to evaporate by life's struggles, I cry out to God - Fill my pot Lord. I lift you up Lord. God gives great cooking lessons.

Going forward into another year, I think I'll do less cooking and more eating out. Hopefully, the spills will become less and the pots will remain sparkling and clean and full. I'll leave the cooking to the Super Chef.

To update Post - My mother passed away that following year. I am grateful for the time on earth we shared.

Morning Prayer

I was up early this morning, made the coffee, my husband’s lunch and kissed him goodbye, before he went off to work for the day. Then I took my coffee down stairs and for a moment thought about turning on the television and veg out, maybe watch the depressing news cast - just relax before my niece arrives and my Mum gets up. It was so quiet and the fireplace was burning a soothing flame, and the house was warm and cozy. I thought, No! I have some quiet time. I should pray and talk to God. I have slowly been drawn away from the discipline of prayer and other Spiritual priorities. 

I decided to pray.

With the sermon notes on the subject of prayer from the last few Sundays, still fresh in my mind, I began to exalt God and acknowledge my Holy and Heavenly Father, Creator and Savior. Many of us in my generation grew up starting our day at school by saying the Lord’s Prayer and then singing 'O Canada', at the sound of the 9:00 school bell. The Lord’s Prayer is a format example of how Jesus told the disciples how to pray. It is a helpful instruction for those who don’t know how to pray or communicate with a Holy and Just God. If you want more information on the topic of prayer in this regard contact www.hopefortoday.ca and I’m sure Pastor Bryan Vaughan will send you a copy of his sermon notes which will direct you to Bible scripture on the topic.

This morning, I began praying for others, who I know are struggling. I find, as I begin to pray for others, topics or thoughts will come to my mind. It is important to pray. See sermon notes. It should not surprise me that during prayer, often God responds. For me, I don’t hear God speak in an audible voice per say. It is more within my inner thoughts and inspirations. I just know it is His voice. His answers, add to the prayer, instructs with inspiration, direction ideas of action, obviously not contrary to The Word of God.

So, after that little prelude. After praying, I was inspired to write again.

Often, people reach for other things to meet their needs and desires rather than reach out through prayer to God. People bury themselves in paperwork or a multitude of other things. After a long day at work, the couch is a very inviting place. Even this morning, I would have turned on the television to find some rest rather than rest in the Father God and talk to Him through prayer. Ridiculous, since I just had eight hours sleep. How many people are no different than me? I know of so many who are struggling with trials, anxiety, worry, addictions. It seems easier to reach for the quick fix:  Turn to other people, your job, success, prosperity, fame, alcohol, and cigarettes, Tim Hortons or MacDonalds to fill that graving. We get the picture.

People line up for a half hour to buy a coffee. Thus the new jingle. “You always line up at Tim Horton’s”. A half hour of prayer would fill your cup with a better replacement than coffee, wine, or the cravings of the sinful heart.  On and on I could go. People are trying to ease the pain of their real struggle, with some or all of these types of things. It is so true. I think it is called comfort food. What is my comfort food? What is your comfort food? Can you ever eat enough of it? We are getting fat consuming the wrong foods. I’m not talking about whether or not we should eat pork. I’m talking about what nutrients are you consuming for your Spiritual, Physical and Emotional needs? Are you going to Tim’s or MC Doo Doo’s for it, or are you turning to God and a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Tis the season to be Jolly, Fa La La La La La, La La La La. Tis the season to know and understand that Christ is the Greatest Gift of all, and through Him, you can have a minute to minute communication with the God of the universe. Give Him all your worries, anxiety. Rest in Him Merry Gentle Men.

I know that there are so many unanswerable questions about God, about faith. There are also many answers in the Holy Bible. I can see many eyes rolling who are reading that line. The Holy Bible is the infallible Word of God. The Bible is proven, tried and true with many fulfilled prophecies to date and a few more Biblical prophesies still to come. Example - the return of God the Son for those who believe, repent and receive that greatest gift of all Jesus Christ. The Bible is full of God’s good advice, instruction which can give those who seek Him and ask Him for help a means to find that help on a daily basis. The “BIBLE, yes that is the book for me. I stand on guard for the Word of God. The BIBLE”.  How many people even pick up the Bible or have a Bible these days? If you want a free Bible also contact www.hopefortoday.ca. They will give you a new Bible.

Many know how to turn on the tap, but don’t turn on the tap of communication with God. Or maybe it has become a slow drip. To some God is not real. To others, they can put way more faith in a man in a red suit named Santa. (Satan) Same letters used. Isn’t he a sly devil that father of lies? We tell our children the same lie then wonder why they don’t believe in God when they get older. If Santa was a lie then God must be a lie too. That is probably one of the biggest lies of all.

We pray for God to speak to us, but in reality within the Word of God, He tells us how to receive all these things and so much more. Why is it, even for Christians who know and study the word of God, the first signs of trouble or problems, even just business; reading the Bible, studying it and then prayer and application is the first things to be put aside?

All stop there and continue my prayer. 

Dreams

Dreams

It is one of those mornings when you wake up, make your cup of coffee and sit staring at the flames in the fire place; one of those mornings when you look into your coffee cup and begin to analyze your life, wondering - what on earth, am I here for? Feeling lost in a moment of scattered thoughts. Thinking that I spend more time in my thoughts than I do actually doing something of significance. What is significant? What is my life about? What dreams do I have? Do dreams come true?

Years ago, or was it yesterday? The days go by so quickly. One day goes into the next and the calendar pages flip by year after year. When I was about fifteen years old, I was given a poem written by someone in the family. The title of the poem “Dreams Don’t Come True”.

Lying here feeling lonely

Because its something that I do

When I finally realize

Dreams don't come true

But I'm constantly seeing a vision

Of the person I'd like to find

But it always stays an image

A prisoner of my mind

When I try to go to sleep

Dreaming I refuse to do

Because its not worth the pain

If dreams don't come true

Written by the late: Norman Hand 1982

Years ago, I actually turned the poem into a song using minor chords to fit with the words. Even at that young age, my melancholy personality thought the poem had such a sad perspective on life, but I could relate to the words. The poem was written, as are all songs, with the depth of that author’s feelings, thoughts, and cries of the heart. For him, dreams did not come true.

This morning in my reflections about life, that old song or poem came to my mind. In reality, I have to confess, I tend to believe that in this life, dreams don’t really come true. What are dreams? Dreams are our imaginary wants which enter into our subconscious mind and eventually filter their way into being. Or at least we strive in life to make those dreams or subconscious thoughts come true.

How often do we think that our dreams have come true, only to find years later, that dream was not all it was cracked up to be. It actually has led to another big disappointment in life. Within our subconscious dreams, we usually never get to see the outcome. The dreams change somewhere between thoughts or snores.

Many people have their own definition of success.   One example could be - getting that mansion on the hill, with the corvette sitting in driveway with sunroof open and the sun shining and the gentle breeze blowing.  The white picket fence is sturdy and the mortgage is paid - the dream has come true. In reality there is an empty void in the heart and still in that subconscious mind that no dream on earth can fill. The mansion has many empty rooms.

So often in life, we try really hard to make our dreams come true. That is the purpose which motivates people to get out of bed in the morning to drive their cars to a job they don’t enjoy, so they can make money to pay the bills which keep piling up. On weekends, for some people, they squeeze some enjoyment into their down time. That is if they don’t have to spend the weekend playing catch up. Sounds depressing.

We spend our lives striving to fill the voids with dreams, but the dreams are not all we had imagined. The fairy tale ending never comes. The disappointments in life pile up higher and higher until you find yourself looking into that empty cup or watching old black and white movies with the volume on full so you can hear it. The worn- out electric recliner is where you spend the end of your dream. Body bent from years of striving, working and the body is aching and sore. Your eyes are dim, your pain is old. Oh, yes, Keith Green already wrote that song. “My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, and my prayers are cold. I know how I ought to be. Alive to you and dead to me.”  A song expressing what we should really be focusing our lives on. We can all feel like the words in Keith's song when we make this world and everything in it our God - thinking this world has anything to offer. It never fully satisfies.

The years go by and some people out-live their friends, spouse, siblings and sometimes even their children. When that happens we tend to cling to the good memories and life can seem more like one big dream. Years of yesterday did not really happen, did they? That memory is just a dream of the subconscious mind that we thought happened. It no longer feels real. That was someone else’s life. The great disconnect begins to happen. Slowly, the last remnants of this life are seeping away one day at a time. Life and its dreams almost seem like cruel temptations. The cycle of life will continue long after I am gone. Unless Christ Jesus returns by then. It will seem like my life was just in someone else’s imagination. And time moves on. Eventually, you become two thoughts away, then three, then you become that old black and white movie clip from days long past which fades with time until it is no more. Ecclesiastes King Solomon wrote nearing the end of his life. "Everything is meaningless under the Sun." There is meaning when you bring the Son (Christ Jesus) under the sun and into your life. Solomon was the wisest of men. Looking over his life he came to the conclusion that we should fear God with loving reverence. This is the foundation of wisdom.

Many people are looking into their empty cups these days and sadly don’t find any hope or meaning. This time of year is difficult for a lot of people to cope. This season seems to bring much joy to some and much sadness to others. Some can’t find that happy perspective while trying to live life clinging to hope found in the achievement of that dream. Some people can seem to have it all, but have hit rock bottom. 

I've heard of four suicides in the last two weeks. I've felt the pain of that loss within my own family years ago. I don’t live in my dream world as much anymore. Sure, sometimes my dream world seems like a better place to get lost in once in a while. It seems to ease the pain from years of disappointments. The reality of life can be painful enough at times. To me, dreams don’t come true. Dreams disappoint. Life and all that makes up our little worlds can disappoint. Why? Because everyone is all caught up in their own world of dreams of which you may have a very insignificant role. To God you are significant.

Is this life perfect? Absolutely not. We live in a fallen world with much pain and suffering and sin. My hope is in the Lord my God. Without that eternal hope for something better, for perfection, we are all lost in that time warp where dreams are just a mirage, but His joy comes in the morning while looking into the empty cups and watching the fire. His Hope is an everlasting hope for a new day and a new heaven with a perfect God. Until I get there. Jesus commands my destiny.

"In Christ Alone. My hope is found. He is my light my strength and my song."

Do you have that hope in your life which can far exceed any dream  for this life? Fill your cup this morning with HOPE! Here is a great song lyric. May you find your light, your strength and song to get you motivated this morning and every morning. Check out the utube song. "In Christ Alone".

Blog Author - Rebecca Wills Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w 

The Rubber Room

The Rubber Room

Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a rubber room. In that room you just keep bouncing off the wall. Do you remember those Indian rubber balls we used to play with when we were children? They bounced so fast and if you threw that ball against the wall it would quickly bounce back and forth from one wall to the next. It was difficult for the eyes to keep up to the speed of the ball.

That rubber wall is there wherever we go and we keep banging our heads against it day-after-day. Some drive the road to work early in the morning, racing all the other cars and traffic. You arrive at work and sit at your rubber desk and bang your head off that rubber desk three or four times a day. You put in your eight to twelve our shift and by the end of the day you feel like Gumby. I'm showing my age now. When I was a child, my generation played with two toys called Gumby and Pokey. They were made of rubber.  I could bend and twist them and they would always go back to form. They would not break.

What do we do to get out of that rubber room? Good question.  Things made of rubber usually bounce back. It softens with each blow. It conforms to whatever it touches. It is strong. Perhaps that is why someone invented the phrase, "that is where the rubber hits the road." What does that mean?

It's an expression, a figurative one, that means when or where something will be tested. It's derived from, I think, the contact point of automobile tires with the road. As currently used, it means the conditions in which something will demonstrate how good or effective it really is.

"Think about driving along in a car. All that keeps the car going in the right direction, steering round corners and stopping when you want it to, is a very small area of contact between the four wheels and the road. That's where the real business of controlling your car is happening, where the rubber meets the road, - where it really matters, where it counts, generally."

Okay, I'm thinking in the context that because at this current time of feeling like I'm trapped in a little rubber room and bouncing around like a little Indian rubber ball. My Gumby is being tested to see if I will continue to bounce in the right direction. Will I allow gravity to take the ball wherever it wants to go or will I run after that little ball and finally catch up to it, grab it, control it, by putting it in my pocket? Will I keep hitting my head on that rubber wall or rubber desk or whatever the rubber is that is hitting the road in my life?

Where is the rubber hitting the road for me personally? Do I allow God to come into that rubber room with me? Do I invite God's peace to fill that rubber room? Do I stop chasing that ball around the room, sit down and then wait for it to stop all on its own? Can you visualize the picture with me? Eventually the rubber ball will stop if we are patient and still before God. Sit back and lean against the rubber wall, breathe, talk to God and wait for Him to escort you out of the rubber room. I imagine God will show me that there is an open door if I stop banging my head long enough to see it. No more banging my head against that rubber wall. Don't let my Gumby conform to the rubber walls in this world.

For a biblical perspective - Romans 12:2 New English Translation (NET Bible)
"2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."

Let my Gumby to bend to His will and not my will. The two toys Gumby and Pokey could play quite well together.

What is your Gumby doing today?

Gumby and Pokey utube link

Hell's Half Acre

HELL'S HALF ACRE – Is an expression I have heard many times. One could say it is a bit of a slang phrase. “Oh she is driving all over hell’s half acre.” Once we drove to California and 'we took a wrong turn and ended up driving all over hell’s half acre trying to find the right road.'

 

I decided to look up the phrase. To my surprise, I did not find much information about it. What I did learn is that 'hell’s half acre' has been referenced to a place in California and a place in Texas. It is also described as being a wild, desolate, or dangerous place. You may be wondering why I have been thinking about that phrase? Or Maybe you couldn’t give a hoot because you are too busy trying to find your way out of your own hell’s half acre? Many a time, I’ve felt lost in that little parcel of land.

Since I have experienced this myself, I recognize many other people spinning their wheels on their travels. I can envision the dry dusty road, the air, a cloud of dirt seeping into the car’s air vents, windows down and the driver spitting out the dust. Their optical vision is somewhat obscured from the dust and cracks on the windshield.  It can be a dangerous place many of us get lured into. Once we take up residence there, it can be very difficult to escape. For some reason, I always equate the word hell to go hand-in-hand with the devil. The devil is that big, mean, ugly dude, who many imagine to be dressed in red with pointed horns protruding from his head and standing with a pitch-fork in hand, trying to intimidate us to never leave that parcel of land.

In my reality, that devil has a name and is very real. He does not wear a red super-man suite but actually comes in many disguises. Some of which are quite inviting, deceiving, or shall I say enticing? One particular weapon used against every human being is called busyness. His subtle ways of working within our lives, whispers into our deepest weaknesses and tells us we have to do this or do that, until there are so many things to do, we couldn’t possibly have enough time to get them all done. At the end of the day we fall into bed, tossing and turning thinking about the next day’s events. Morning comes and we get back into that car and drive the rubber onto the roads, doing all the things we think we must get done. That makes me ask myself, who is really in the driver’s seat? Maybe a question we all need to ask ourselves?

It occurred to me the other day that there is a word in our vocabulary which is often difficult for some of us to say. I remember my children at a very young age had no problem saying the word NO. I think it was the first word they learned. In fact, that little two letter word can have such an impact on how long we drive all over hell’s half acre. I think many times we don’t do ourselves or others any good service by not saying NO. I'll label it as being the Mr. Nice Guy or Christian Nice Girl syndrome. I am beginning to think that other people see those titles written on our foreheads and some people abuse people for their niceness.

I’m learning a very difficult lesson, but it is actually very freeing and good for my sanity (emotional well-being) and my physical health. What I have been learning is actually better for the relationships in my life. I’m learning the word NO. That little word NO may disappoint other people in the initial response, but in the end it will be better. When you do say yes, they will appreciate your efforts. When you say, NO, they will learn to understand that NO does not mean never.  It simply means that today, I cannot do that one thing. How about tomorrow we arrange to do that? Or maybe for today, you will have to ask someone else, because today, I’m driving some place else.  I’m leaving ‘hell’s half acre’ behind. I love you, but I'm going to drive through the gates from slavery into freedom.  I’m not going back.  Think of it as putting on a life jacket. How can you save someone else if you run yourself ragged trying to please everyone else? For Christian’s reading this blog. I know many have been taught to always be nice to everyone. Your being nice can actually give people the freedom to abuse your niceness. Think about this. . . . There are many examples where Jesus, may not come across as so nice. A quote for women – from No More Christian Nice Girl – written by Paul Coughlin & Jennifer D. Degler . Don’t let the title fool you. The book talks about being good which is better than being nice.

Here is the quote from No More Christian Nice Girl:

“Though Jesus was not a model of compliance or “good behaviour,” often women try to put a positive, nonthreatening spin on everything he did, acting like public relations spokes women covering for a bungling political candidate. They end up doing damage control for the Son of God – and damaging themselves in the process. Fortunately, Jesus Christ doesn’t need damage control or help from an image consultant. As presented in the Gospels, Jesus is most definitely not one-sided. He is the complete embodiment of healthy, balanced human personality; thus, Jesus is immensely compassionate, kind, and gracious while also being assertive, forceful, and firm when necessary. He is good, but he’s definitely not “nice” or as safe as many Christians want to believe.” There is so much more.

                Please don't get all freaked out about that one paragraph you just read. I’m not disrespecting Jesus. I'm just encouraging you to look at both sides of who Jesus is and who we are to be. I've been learning it is best to first have a parallel relationship with God. (Me and Him) and then the horizontal relationships follow, but find the balance. Enjoy the journey and quit wasting time driving around 'hell’s half acre.' Don’t let that devil steal your joy, peace, strength any longer. You have permission to say NO once in a while. Spend some time doing what is best. I think deep down in your Spirit, you will know what that is. If you don’t, ask Jesus. Prepare to receive a good answer but not necessarily one that feels nice. Enjoy your new found freedom.

Oil In my Lamp

I remember singing a song  from years ago when I went to Sunday school. It was a fun upbeat song. Did I ever think about the words which I was singing? Did I know that they are scriptural? No, not until now. This morning, I was reading  the gospel of Matthew as a continuation in my bible devotions. "The Parable of the Ten Virgins " As I read the parable, that song of old, popped back into my head. After all these years, I had to look up the words again. Here they are below.

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning 'til the break of day
(Chorus)
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Give me joy in my heart, I pray
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Keep me praising 'til the break of day
Chorus
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting
Give me peace in my heart, I pray
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting
Keep me resting 'til the break of day
Chorus
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Give me love in my heart, I pray
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Keep me serving 'til the break of day

There are at least five very important messages in this song which could help us keep that oil in the lamp burning. Here is what I came up with:

1. The first message; is praying to God for Him to keep your lamp burning. The Holy Spirit fills your lamp. By praying, we are communicating with God. We need a relationship with God the Father which can only be found through the Son Christ Jesus. The song asks Jesus, to keep us burning until the break of day. (Until He returns) The message is taken from this parable which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25. They are words written in red to stand out with great importance because Jesus is giving us a very important message through His words. (Jesus speaks of ten virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. The wise took jars of oil with them. The foolish ran their lamps dry because they thought they had all the time in to world to run around, while wasting their oil away. The delay in the bridegroom coming made them think that the bridegroom (Jesus) would not return yet. When He returned, the five foolish ones were desperately trying to scrounge around and borrow oil so they could then fill their lamps. Sadly, it was too late. The Bridegroom took the wise virgins with him to the wedding banquet (to the new Kingdom with the Lord) because their lamps were full of oil The foolish ones were denied entrance, even though they pleaded to be let in. Jesus finishes the parable by saying "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

On a side note, there is another song from my childhood I remembered. That song was inspired from Psalm 120:^{105 "}Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." That song is another prayer. The bible says John 8:^{12 "}Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life." When we receive him as Saviour, He becomes that light in us. We are to be His light in the darkness.

2. The second message in the song is praying for the joy of the Lord. The bible says that the Joy of the Lord is our strength.

3. The third message in the song is praying for peace. The peace that passes all understanding.

4.  The forth message in the song is praying, for love in my heart to keep on serving the Lord)

5. The fifth message in the song is praising God (Hosanna) in the highest (giving God that place reserved for only Him the King of Kings (Christ Jesus).

When I meditated on this parable, again, I had to ask myself, "Am I like the foolish virgin or am I being like the wise virgin? Is my lamp full of oil and do I have my jars overflowing?

1. Do I pray to God everyday and have a relationship with Christ? (A relationship much like the kind you would have with your bridegroom to be?

2.  Do I have the joy of the Lord, His strength? or Do I go about my daily business doing what I want to do, in my own weakness?

3.  Do I have the peace of God? or do I go around burdened by the cares of this world rather than rejoicing in all that the Lord has given and offers to me? Do I fill my lamp with worldly treasures: (things like money or the pursuit of it, worldly pleasures like drugs, alcohol, worldly possessions, fame, fortune) rather than fill my lamp with the oil of joy, oil of peace, oil of love and service?

4.  Do I live for Christ, by seeking to know Him, serve Him, follow Him and live a life for Him? or Do I live for myself? Choosing (disobedience, deception, dishonest gain, delusion, denial, doubt) which all lead to death and deplete the oil from lamp?

God through His Grace, compassion, His mercy and His love, gave each one of us a lamp. God has given us plenty of oil. Because He loves us, He desires to fill our lamps to over flowing. He can't do that unless we lift up our lamps to Him and ask Him to pour in. We must be wise and knowledgeable in the way we use our gifts and talents. Are we serving God or serving ourselves (our own selfish ambitions?)

Perhaps this simple little song is a good start?

Oh Lord, Jesus,
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning 'til the break of day

Jesus said,
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

Are you ready for the wedding banquet? Have you prepared yourself? If you would like to read Matthew Chapter 25 click the link to bible gateway just below.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=AMP

Matthew Chapter 24

I was at a women's retreat on the weekend. I heard a message given from the pulpit. The speaker moves in the gifts of the prophetic. She gave a message for these current times. It was a serious message.

We look all around us and we can see the signs of the end of the age. Whether it is scientific calculations, astronomers, Nostradamus followers or following the Myan calendar - people are watching and expecting something to happen to our planet. I follow the bible , I believe that "God" the Creator of the Universe, created everything and inspired the writings of the bible.  Old testament prophets, spoke of the day of the Lord, hundreds of years before the prophesied Messiah (Christ Jesus)  even came. It was prophesied that the Messiah would come and offer salvation and redemption from death. It is all documented in the Holy Bible. We have seen many of the prophesies come to pass. There is definitely more prophecies to be fulfilled. These are spoken of by the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and through the visions of John spoken of in the book of revelation. The signs are written out throughout the bible.

If you don't know what they are, Jesus himself spoke of some of these signs, found in the gospel of Matthew Chapter 24.

The speaker at the retreat got my attention. It was a wake-up call, again. Sometimes we need to be awakened. I don't want to come across as a doomsday fanatic, but I do want to be alert to what the bible teaches about the coming of the Lord (the day of the Lord). I want to be ready when the Messiah (Christ Jesus returns) That is why I'm writing this blog. If I believe the bible and say I believe in Jesus and do not share about Him and His second coming, I would be living in disobedience, by not fulfilling the great commission.

Matthew 24:14

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁴ And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.) 

I believe, I have a responsibility to tell others. If a house was on fire, would I stand there and watch it burn, if I knew someone was inside? I think at the very least, I would call the fire department or dial 911. Well, I'm dialing 911 right now.  I can only present the biblical truth to others and give an opportunity to receive knowledge to biblical teaching. Whether you are interested or not, is the choice of each individual person.

For me, there is proof in the pudding. We have seen it. It has been written for centuries. Read Matthew chapter 24 to get started. Please don't stop there. Look around at the world news and consider the validity of the word of God.

Consider that the time of the Lord may be near. Hypothetically speaking, if there is a fifty percent chance that the bible is what it is claimed to be, by Christians, all over the world, is it worth investigating? If given a choice, would you gamble your eternal destiny on the other fifty percent? I'm 100% sure I would not play the odds against God.

Matthew Chapter 24 - tells of the end of the age, a time when Christ will return. There are many things Jesus tells His disciples will happen. Over this last century, we have seen many of these signs. Even today, if we turn on the news casts, we see an increase of activity. Lawlessness, hearts of believers growing cold, (people turning from the bible and toward modern beliefs) wars, rumours of wars, (war has become a national event in the last two centuries) the gospel will be preached in all the world (Internet, modern transportation) has made this possible. false prophets, teaching UN-biblical doctrines. Jesus warns us to be alert. We must know the bible so that we will not be deceived. Read further in Matthew 24. If you do not have a bible, a great bible reference is Bible gateway.com. See links belows.

Reference: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=AMP;CEB

For more bible study, here is a great link.

http://www.thestreamtv1.com/PUT/bdtv_academy_002.htm