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Got Your Oil?

                   “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.   “Late...
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The God Who Sees Me

                 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)                 There is a character in the story I’m writing who was inspired, at least a little, by Hagar. He was in a bad situation and met a god he calls “the God Who Sees,” and his life has changed. He met my main character, and in their most recent conversation, she mentioned trying to find the answer to who she is. His answer ties back to his life-changing experience of encountering the “God who sees me.” I don’t intend to try to build some big theological something out of my story, as if my story holds the answers to the mysteries of the ages. It’s just that he’s right. Who we (think we) are tends to depend on who we see looking at us. When the boss is looking at us, we’re good employee...
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Turn Now

                  This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)                 W…D…AAAA… You’ve read my cries and heard my request: wisdom…direction…ATTITUDE. Some people think I have a bad attitude, or even a chronic one. There are so many ways that an attitude can be bad, so if I don’t have one now, give me 0.972 seconds, and I probably will. Bad attitudes are easy. Good attitudes take work.                 The current attitude issue boils down to control, as it so often does. On my walk this morning, I found myself in familiar territory. I’m not afraid of surgery. I’m afraid of recovery. I’m not afraid of death; I’m afraid of the process o...
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Immeasurably More

                   Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)                 What can you imagine? What could you ask? OK, obviously, since God is God, He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. We know that. But do we really know that? If you think about challenging God to do more than you ask or think, the things that probably come to mind will include wealth, power, fame, and probably the repair or healing of things that aren’t as you think they should be. It might seem strange that Paul would claim God can do beyond what we can imagine, even if, at the same time, we understand that it’s only logical that He must be able to do so. ...
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Pick One.

                 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)                 This passage came to mind last night. Paul’s prayer was that out of God’s glorious riches, He may: ·          Strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our inner being ·     ...
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Authorities

                 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  (Romans 13:1)                 This is a tough one, especially for Americans. We tend to think that if we don’t like a government official, we can start a revolution. This is the tone of the rhetoric I hear about our elected officials and about those involved in the Lindsey Clancy debate. When we look at this passage, we tend to think, “Oh, it’s saying we have to obey the emperor, the king, or the president. We have to brown-nose for the pleasure of some megalomaniac human being – a Pharaoh, a Nebuchadnezzar, a Napoleon, a Hitler, or a (name your favorite “demon ”).                 The quest...
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Made The Two Groups One

              For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,   by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:14-19)                 The last verse is the conclusion toward which we are working, but to get there, we need to wander the estate. We have been welcomed in, given a room, and...
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