Does Your Lamp have Oil?

Good morning to all on this wonderful Friday morning. This is the eve of Kai's birthday (July 31st); Waine and I are going to Orlando today to celebrate with the Kai-meister and his family. Waine will be able to play golf with some of his buddies and I will be able to hang out with Kai and Hailie. Please keep one of our brothers in prayer; he has a spot on his pancreas and I am praying that God will heal it or it is a pseudo-tumor. Pray that God will give him peace and his family strength. I believe in the power of prayer and that whatever the outcome God's hand is on it. Pray that God remove all fear and pain in Jesus name. Our brother's initials are E.T. and he is "phoning" home to the Almighty. Amen and amen. We don't know the hour or the day of our own calling so may God prepare us all.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 25, verses 1-13, "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, 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. Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But He replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Amen and amen.

This is a beautiful passage of process and closure.  All ten virgins understood PROCESS only five got the meaning of closure! It is not enough what you meant to do; you have to get it done. I see examples of the unprepared virgins in the work place all the time. Somehow we have developed a culture in which workers expect employers to APPRECIATE what they INTENDED TO DO as opposed to just getting the job done. You will find folk in your life that always want to rely upon you for the success of their outcome. These are folk that have excuses like, "I meant to be ready but something came up.", "I couldn't get to work on time because the traffic was heavy." , "I don't have my rent/mortgage payment this month because, because, because.....". These folk will actually try and make you a villain for their shortcomings. DOWN BUY INTO THE HYPE!

You also have some folk who always enable the unprepared. These folk always give a sympathetic ear and share their "oil". These folk will kick themselves when they run out of "oil",  i.e. miss their own deadlines, miss opportunities, burden emotional baggage for others and then become worn out. These folk get angry and feel unappreciated. Didn't they do the right thing? DON'T SHARE THE OIL UNLESS YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A SURPLUS. Also these folk are never loved by the people they share the oil with; most often than not the people to whom the oil was shared will always criticize the person who shared because in the long long both parties will run out of oil before  a positive outcome is realized.

We are to be ready at all times and not only go out with lamps (process) but go out with lamps that have oil! We can admonish others, encourage others but at the end of the day each of us must be prepared! As we go about Kingdom building and sharing the love of God, distinguish between sharing love and assisting in the maturity of others and enabling others. We are not told to become the "mules" for the emotional and spiritual baggage for others. We are told to share the Love of God and encourage others to accept the love of God and mature in Christ. Mature folk are always ready.

Now I am not saying we should not be generous with the less fortunate. If you have it to give, give it and expect nothing in return--that is the Christian thing to do. However, I don't think it is healthy to continue to bear the burdens of others without teaching others to mature in Christ and begin to bear their own burdens. PROCESS AND CLOSURE are the twin towers to the success of anyone's walk in Christ and in the world in which we live. Be successful today and be prepared.

Stephanie