Matthew 25:1-13 ~ lamps

Matthew 25:1-13

 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Fatherhood - parenthood - eventually we reach a point where the parent's voice is not the one we are looking for. And more unique methods of communication have to arrive.

So far, very far lengths, Father God has tried various options - 10 lepers. And one returned.

Father God has tried making the blind see - and a few, we found, lasted long enough to learn their name.

God might even be willing be willing to sing "Like a Good Neighbor - State Farm - is There!"


Father God is doing what is needed to create a stir, create interest. He is telling about  wedding invitations for honored guests. Why? Because this is about ascension. People want to ascend. They hope for themselves, for their siblings, for friends, for the opportunities to increase that they might ascend.

God is hoping He got your attention now.

His Plan we ascend.

This is a good parent - willing to change topics to reveal... Something about the Prodigal's Father plans for your life - He is hoping the road map is followed. Come Home!!! See Your Father !!! Don't get lost !!! I am has the greatest opportunity for you !!!

God is so good and so vast and so appealing and so intricately entwined in our lives - there is no way on earth - only Heaven - we will all read the parable and see the same thing. There is not really a right answer beyond - only - Jesus. And Living Water is going to flow to nourish the right need.


Fortunately with this being "Living Word" ~ we are never, ever going to run out of explanations.


This to me, this evening, after Thanksgiving, appears to me to speak of letting the Light within our soul - Shine. Continue to Radiate - Light - Light of the World. Jesus. The Christ of God.






The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Father God has started so well. He created and His Creation is seen by God, "And God saw that this was Good." God was holding conversations with us. Genesis.




What will you do to fill your eternal with Jesus - Light of God. God is good - He tells us. Believe in the One He sent. Believe He is God. God alone is God. In one area of our lives or another - there are difficulties. Made by ourselves. And sometimes promptly covered up allowing peace and prosperity. However, God is telling about a lot of sincerity here. Every day things - blocking good fruit - making the tree not produce much good fruit. Ability to skate by. False assumptions. Pride. Self absorption. Failing to pray for another. Failing to want the good for another person.

And lack of sharing. Those bridesmaids are not the bride.


And actually - The Lord who did not open the door - saw the prosperous bridesmaids remained and the silly gooses run off.  Somedays this sounds just, other days this does not sound like "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself"


This whole story of ascension is fraught. Fraught with difficulties of winners and preparedness, heart and silliness. Jockey for position found in Luke's 3rd Chapter.


And we un-build. Saying to the unwise - row you own boat. Not realizing we are revealed.

Again, God says to us as He closes, "We do not know."

Jesus said the same thing. 




Love one another sounds easiest, most reliable, more of the Heart and Soul of Jesus.






Our Abba,

Your Love and Grace are immeasurable. Pouring into us each day we call to You in Love. We need Jesus. Nothing we could ever do would replace what Jesus has accomplished for me, for you.

Please pray with us Jesus, that our prayers are not just requests and instead are the Light and warmth and Love of Father God upon our cares.

Let our Light so Shine as to be a good place for You. With sincere, genuine Love.

Reveal our hearts to You and teach us each day to be with You, Father God.

Remind us Your Invitation is the one we want. Help us to have the wisdom to continue to have You light our soul's lamp.

Let us have honest conversations. Let us have Your heart and Your goodness to reveal You as the Father.

Let us not get stuck in one place, help us to each day see what we need to do and to do that. Because in Your strength, we will not fade as unlit lamps, instead we will continue to be reflecting the Light of Christ shining forth through the millenniums - inspiring healing, Love, Joy, Peace, Overcoming, Encouragement and being Open to the Lord's Goodness.

We pray this for the ones we Love. The people You give us. For our pressing concerns that seem so important today. For the diligence to pray without forgetting answers usually happen. And to Give Thanks. To inspire others to remember God is Love. Bringing more Heaven to our Churches, Jobs, Neighborhoods, and to our Nation. Being part of the Body of Christ from millenniums all the way to today. 

We are remembering John and his health concern with breathing.  Scoop the 19 year old kitty, Edward, the man and his daughter trying to fix their situation with the drone and the tree, Anne's Pneumonia and needs. And traveling in safety.

Replenish us in Your Love. Being wrapped in Your Peace to say, Jesus is Lord. And God is in Charge. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Peace to all of us who are in Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 5:17 ~ Thank You Father

John 5:17

Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."



Abba, Our Thanksgiving is for the continual good works of our Father God. In Jesus, we live, move and have our being. We put our trust in You. And give thanks. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 136 ~ His Steadfast Love Endures Forever !

Our God, Our Father, Our Beloved Father,

Psalm 136:26
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 103:2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, daily He loads us with Blessings.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 150:1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Psalm 100:1
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!


Thank You, Abba! Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Holy Spirit! Amen!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 6:32 ~ If you

If we are going to look for examples of Loving. We would have to look to Almighty God.

God Loves First. God continues to love in spite of some real negligence and bad PR. God just keeps on being Incredible and Loving. Amazingly forgiving. And Yet... God does not change His Majesty for what is not what He says we should do in building the framework - doing our best to abide in His Laws - to establish a trustworthy place were love, joy,  encouragement, trust, faith and hope exist.

God, abiding in Jesus, knew when He healed the 10 lepers - only one was coming back to give thanks.

God, abiding in Jesus, knew when He headed to the Pool of Bethesda to heal the man by the healing waters for 38 years - this man was going to the Authorities - to say that some awful man had healed him.

God did not go home and sulk.


Luke 6:32

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

Rick Warren says we get in the habit of loving people. And become Master Lovers.

Surely a very loving idea. God is the God of Love. Master and Beloved Friend and Savior of Love. There is no harm in love, love does no harm to a neighbor.


And when we truly adopt this - we will be seen as Homer Simpson's neighbor. And personally, to have a heart filled with love - this is ok with me. Love is going to carry us through. And this will alert what is not good in life  -" Hey, hit on that one - that one is not very sharp." C.S. Lewis shows this is the truth, even in Lewis' books on Narnia. And we are told - Great Magic - The Very Power of God - is Reserved for the Ancient of Days - God of Love. Evil never believes Love will win.


What are we to do with people who would verbally attack us at every turn? Jesus did not run to see the Pharisees. And Jesus overcame by continuing to Love. Finding the 500 He would victoriously spend His time with. Jesus was going to forgive people. Jesus was not going to stew in the juices of upset. Jesus knew that the Love He was giving, was going to be missed. Telling His Beloved "Days will come" where Love is very sorely missed. If Jesus healed the blind, the lame, the deaf, the hurting and was not always approved - we can be sure - this will happen to us.




Life seeds - The Seed Parables - the joy of being 50 years old is to see that the loving and the forgiving and the true of heart to God - rise up.


John 14
I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Isaiah 60:1
Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you.

Ezra 10:4
Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.

Father God is not expecting us to wilt in being strong to Love.

God wants us to be strong in faith and courage to keep loving.

Of course, God  knew how very sticky humans get in their ways. He knew of Eve wanting to say what was good and evil. He knew of Tamar collecting on the promise of a husband. He knew of Noah getting drunk for the strain of life. He knew of Paul holding the cloaks. He knew of Peter trying to make the Jews happy with the Freedom of Jesus Christ. He knew of the infidelity of David's blessed children.


God knows there are times we are going to love from afar. In good times and bad. We are the Easter People. We are not going to allow self-esteem given from God saying we do not fall back in a Spirit of Fear. We will stay brave in Father God and Know His Love for His Beloved. We know that Hezekiah, Samuel and Eli just shrugged for their loved ones to not have completion in God. We will not do this. We will continue to do the Work God gives us. Believe God is God and the unloving loved ones are in His Good, Capable, Strong, Willing, Enduring, Faithful, Majestic, Truthful, Loving, Believing in the Goodness of His Beloved and His Creation.




I've said and written before that the seeds Parable is very much a willing Word of God. I'm in my 5th decade of life and I have witnessed seeing loving and forgiving people see new pathways rise before them. Not to make allowances in their behavior for the truly out of line with the Love of God. Is the road fraught to conform to God. Yes, absolutely, seasons of difficulty. But no field is plowed looking back. New Paths that will be fruitful come from expecting to see the good in one another. How did Jesus heal? Not in front of the crowd. Jesus arrives individually. With privacy. No need of a showboat. Jesus is coming to our hearth, our soul. our eternal being to bring forth His Way, Truth and Life. Jesus knew with all the wisdom of God - the seed parable is very true and very diligent - and very fruitful. It is not our work that provides for Salvation. God will bring each unique creation of God to God in His Beautiful Heart. God being God, allows us to be - people. Flawed. Comfortable with God as God Almighty. Not worrying who is the Greater. God is God. We are mortal. God is victorious. we are merely the chosen of God. His Plan is always going to be Victorious. God is our Father, we His children. The Father making His children loved and joyous with His Love.



God Himself says in Revelation - God does not bat 100% - why would we expect to bat 100%. God says keep being diligent with those we will pray for. For those we will not let go of. For those, like my Grandmother Anita said, she would never give up on her son in prayer. And in his 7th decade - he found Jesus. Was he perfect? No, but the Master and Creator and Love of the Universe found his belief and his changed heart and his hurt and his belief to be the open heart Jesus would love.


I'm in an unusual place in my life. Edward is not always well. And that changes our framework - people don't see us as established - instead we are seen as transition. Some see us as unlucky. Some see us as extremely blessed. Some see us as faithful. Some see us as an opportunity. We have even had people who believe in negative prayer - witches show up. Absolutely not. As a child I witnessed golf buddies of my cousin recruit his wife as a potential sugar momma. This is an unusual world. When I was a child we wondered at the man in the cemetery who cut himself. Now we see many illnesses in mosquitoes, social illnesses and needy people. As we are not God, we can't help everyone. However if we were to tell our good works - we feel we have accomplished small ways to help others. And sometimes this looks like an open opportunity to those who think giving is for silly people to be taken advantage of. And we manage to continue on in dignity and keep believing each good day is of God. And each trouble has His eye upon that trouble. God is in the hand of Blessing and in the hand of - opportunity for a solution.

And we fully see God says be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. God puts forth His Standards and we see those as Blessings. Being with all gratitude that we are part of Jesus' New Covenant. God is the Light in all of mankind. Our prayers are heard. God meets us as surely as the people Jesus healed one by one.


Thanks, Abba, for Jesus. We want to Give to You. And in doing our limited, flawed best, we can smile at the end of the day. Father of All Creation - we Give Thanks for the Grace You give us. Giving to others and Rising Up to Believe You alone are God. Finding God is our Joy and Strength. In the Strong Love Father, You have for us. We are with Jesus in Victory. You love our prayers and our prayers have faith the size of a mustard seed. You alone are God.

We place all our concerns with You. And rest assuredly in Your Love, Power and Grace.

Thank You. Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 11:33-36 ~ To Him be glory forever!!!

Romans 11:33-36


Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

What would we give the LORD, that He has not given to us - we can only give Him thanks with a grateful heart....

Thank You, Father, our Abba !!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

right

Nehemiah 8:9-18 ~ This day is holy to God, your God

Nehemiah 8:9-18

 ~ The Message

⁹ Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and scholar and the Levites who were teaching the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to God, your God. Don't weep and carry on." They said this because all the people were weeping as they heard the words of The Revelation. 

¹⁰ He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!" 

¹¹ The Levites calmed the people, "Quiet now. This is a holy day. Don't be upset."

¹² So the people went off to feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration. Now they got it; they understood the reading that had been given to them.

^13-15 On the second day of the month the family heads of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scholar to get a deeper understanding of the words of The Revelation. They found written in The Revelation that God commanded through Moses that the People of Israel are to live in booths during the festival of the seventh month. So they published this decree and had it posted in all their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go into the hills and collect olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and any other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written."

^16-17 So the people went out, brought in branches, and made themselves booths on their roofs, courtyards, the courtyards of The Temple of God, the Water Gate plaza, and the Ephraim Gate plaza. The entire congregation that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. The People of Israel hadn't done this from the time of Joshua son of Nun until that very day—a terrific day! Great joy!

¹⁸ Ezra read from the Book of The Revelation of God each day, from the first to the last day—they celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly in accordance with the decree.

A long millenniums path of Thanksgiving.

Bringing Jesus with Joy into each Day.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”


Giving back, even in attitude, toward one another.

Doing for each other. Pleasing the Lord.


Our Father,

Help us as we gather with family and friends to give joy, encouragement, love, peace earnestly and sincerely. Give us effective communications. To do the work of an abiding peace. Pleasing You with our attitudes. Working through prayer requests to understand the motivations. Being sincere to the core.

Seeing with Gratitude how far - You - Father of All - Give to us each day. Ancient Days, God Almighty. How far You have gone to have relationship with us individually. Abba.

We ask You to bless those we Love to know Your Great Love. We thank You for the care You hear our concerns. We will pray knowing Your willingness. And have this time to recharge our Joy. Thank You for Your blessings in our lives.


In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 8:28 ~ God works

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


The Word of God is true.

Psalm 33:4
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalm 119:140
Your word is very pure

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Many questions as we consider our lives. God as Father promises some of these answers are in Heaven.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Salt and Light when we are able. Jesus did not ever banish His Disciples for their questions and worry.

Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift

The parable tells us about talents. The Word of God tells us if we face our gifts with responsibility, we are qualified as we are called.

The Word of God applies to all of us.

Romans 2
10 Glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.




Father God,

Our call and charge as Your beloved child is true. You are a God of Love and of Your Glory.

You see when we are oppressed. You hear with compassion as our God and and Deliverer. You have Given Freely Your Amazing Blessings in Christ Jesus. We receive Your Living Word. We will enjoy Your Loving Favor as we love You. Looking for Your Help as we find Your Path and Will. Knowing in Joy, Your Father's Love.

Jesus is with us. And He will show His Steadfast Love to our Loved Ones. For their concerns and needs. Jesus will show up in our Churches, jobs, communities, to the National level. The Communion of Praying Saints - all over the world. In Heaven and on earth in all ages. Ancient of Days, You are God, creating the Body of Christ in the Holy Spirit. We love You and cover us in the Name of Jesus. Alleluia in Your Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Proverbs 16:3 ~ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.


We are all in belief of the permanence of life and we want to avoid unpleasantness upsetting our ripple free life. What is unseen is eternal. Each day we wake up to begin a life, usually, with few variations. We feel the belief all things are possible with God is rather far away. Interesting. When the truth is we are very transitory and very not permanent. Solomon addressed this thought saying better a living dog than a dead lion. Only for today.

What is eternal - and therefore more important - All Things Are Possible With God. Any other choice is short sighted.

We have in life, exactly, -  two choices. Will we want to be with the Lord God Almighty and welcome Him. Will we say the Will of God is for us. God is our Hope and Future. Or will we say God is vague and we serve ourselves.

Within all of God's Plans is - God's Plan for my life. My personal responsibility to Jesus. God is Love.

Our Abba, our Father,

In the Heart of Jesus, I place my life. My gifts. My responsibilities. My heart. My Loved ones. My plans. And each day I put my open hands and open heart to Jesus. Thanking Him for His Steadfast Love. Not a God of whim. God of Love. I thank You, Father God. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus is for us. Jesus loves us. Jesus in the Word of God - His Good Will - in the Power of His Name - Jesus - in the abiding strength of our Father - Jesus in the pervasiveness of the Holy Spirit - never leaves nor forsakes us. Growing us each day to do the Will of God.

Jesus for our Loved ones. Our concerns. Our communities. Our Church. Our Neighborhood. Like Daniel - in our state with the Plan of God. In our Nation. Jesus abiding in the communion of saints. Thank You God. For Your Steadfast Love. Life will have surprises and plans, God is our Rock and Redeemer. The Grace of God joyfully and plentifully given to us - for our belief in Jesus Christ the Lord God. Jesus our Redeemer, Savior. Wonderful Jesus.

Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Please bless the work of our prayers, words and deeds. Amen in Jesus the Lord!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †