Interesting reading...
Originally posted on 03.24.2005
It's always interesting (especially for me!) to read the Ramblings I type in the wee hours of the morning. See, my wife works the evening shift - from 3:00 to 11:00. Her hours have changed, she used to work from 5pm to 1am, sometimes longer. Now, she gets off two hours earlier. Before her hours changed, I did my geek stuff between 10pm (after the kids went to bed and I had somewhat cleaned the house) and whatever time she got home. Now, those hours have shortened considerably, and she wants to spend some quality time together with the kids asleep and us awake.
On rare occasions (like last night), she has to work late, and I get some extra time to work on my Ramblings. Some of those times, I really do ramble! Both times I've done this, I've replaced it the next day. For some interesting reading, check out Mar. 14, 2005 and Mar. 23, 2005.
OK, OK. So this is a new project, and I've only done it twice -- including today. Maybe it would be an interesting trend to develop. Stay up late, imbibing large amounts of coffee and writing my Ramblings. Hmmm.
I've done this all my life. When I was in college, I would stay up late writing papers the night before they were due. Thinking I had written a masterpiece that the professor would want to publish, I turned the paper in. Dr. Whatzizname would hand it back to me asking me to put some effort into it.
Unfortunately, I also put this sort of effort into my spiritual life (evident by the fact I do it on my Ramblings).
If I am to be God's messenger, if I am to prepare God's fields for the harvest, I need to be prepared to do my job. I need to burn His word into my heart. I need to study and pray. I need to listen to His responses.
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.
- Matthew 25:1-13, NIV
Our Father in Heaven, your glory is beyond our ability to say. Your magnificence is too great for words. Yet we long to tell you how awesome you are. You made everything there is, and you still shed a tear when I feel the slightest twinge of pain. You are a loving father that serves as an example for the rest of us.
Father, we know that we are sinners. We know that we are not worthy to come into your presence. Yet you gave your son, Jesus Christ -- blameless in his own life -- to take our sin upon him, to be our sin in your eyes, that it may be sacrificed upon the cross. Jesus became sin and died so that we might live. He came to life on the third day so that, when our time comes, we may also come to life eternal and spend it with you in Heaven.
It is for that sacrifice that we thank you, Lord. We have struggled so much through our lives to support ourselves, when you promise to take care of it for us. And take care of us you have. You have ensured that we are fed and clothed and sheltered.
Father, instill your word in our hearts that we may know it. We want to do your will and be prepared for the day when we must carry your word to others. Help us to be ready to be your servants.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray,
Amen.
It's always interesting (especially for me!) to read the Ramblings I type in the wee hours of the morning. See, my wife works the evening shift - from 3:00 to 11:00. Her hours have changed, she used to work from 5pm to 1am, sometimes longer. Now, she gets off two hours earlier. Before her hours changed, I did my geek stuff between 10pm (after the kids went to bed and I had somewhat cleaned the house) and whatever time she got home. Now, those hours have shortened considerably, and she wants to spend some quality time together with the kids asleep and us awake.
On rare occasions (like last night), she has to work late, and I get some extra time to work on my Ramblings. Some of those times, I really do ramble! Both times I've done this, I've replaced it the next day. For some interesting reading, check out Mar. 14, 2005 and Mar. 23, 2005.
OK, OK. So this is a new project, and I've only done it twice -- including today. Maybe it would be an interesting trend to develop. Stay up late, imbibing large amounts of coffee and writing my Ramblings. Hmmm.
I've done this all my life. When I was in college, I would stay up late writing papers the night before they were due. Thinking I had written a masterpiece that the professor would want to publish, I turned the paper in. Dr. Whatzizname would hand it back to me asking me to put some effort into it.
Unfortunately, I also put this sort of effort into my spiritual life (evident by the fact I do it on my Ramblings).
- I am supposed to sing at 10:15 on Sunday morning. I skip practice on Wednesday nights, then get the music from the director at about 9:30 and begin practicing.
- I am supposed to read a bible verse on Sunday morning. Early Sunday morning, I record the verse onto a cassette tape and listen to it all the way to church -- hoping I'll memorize it by the time I get there.
- I get into a spiritual discussion with either a believer who disagrees with me or with an unbeliever, and try to prove a point I'm unprepared to defend.
If I am to be God's messenger, if I am to prepare God's fields for the harvest, I need to be prepared to do my job. I need to burn His word into my heart. I need to study and pray. I need to listen to His responses.
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.
- Matthew 25:1-13, NIV
Prayer:
Our Father in Heaven, your glory is beyond our ability to say. Your magnificence is too great for words. Yet we long to tell you how awesome you are. You made everything there is, and you still shed a tear when I feel the slightest twinge of pain. You are a loving father that serves as an example for the rest of us.
Father, we know that we are sinners. We know that we are not worthy to come into your presence. Yet you gave your son, Jesus Christ -- blameless in his own life -- to take our sin upon him, to be our sin in your eyes, that it may be sacrificed upon the cross. Jesus became sin and died so that we might live. He came to life on the third day so that, when our time comes, we may also come to life eternal and spend it with you in Heaven.
It is for that sacrifice that we thank you, Lord. We have struggled so much through our lives to support ourselves, when you promise to take care of it for us. And take care of us you have. You have ensured that we are fed and clothed and sheltered.
Father, instill your word in our hearts that we may know it. We want to do your will and be prepared for the day when we must carry your word to others. Help us to be ready to be your servants.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray,
Amen.
posted by ClayMan at 12:36 PM
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