Are We Prepared?

Moon Rising

Last evening my husband alerted me to look out the window and get my camera. He could not tell if Skanee was on fire or if the moon was rising. There was a bright red glow on the horizon over Skanee. It truly looked like a huge fire burning.

I grabbed my camera bags and after a few failed attempts with the Canon Rebel decided to use the Canon EOS 5D. Better; but, not great. The EOS 5D is so heavy, even without the battery pack, that the moon was nothing but a blur. I set up the tripod and connected the camera to it. That worked even a little better. But, by that time the moon no longer looked like fire in the sky.

I love photography; but, truth be told, I am never prepared. I do not know enough about the cameras. I do not practice enough. I keep them packed away in their bags and they are never handy when I want them.

I love Jesus even more so he is a much higher priority for me than photography. Much more of my time is spent praying and studying the word found in the scriptures and attempting to do God's will than worrying whether my cameras are ready in case a great shot presents itself. But, I do wonder sometimes if I am really prepared for him. Just as the ten bridesmaids did not put oil in their lamps preparation for the groom to come and get them for the wedding (Matt 25:1-13), I wonder if we are prepared for the day he returns to take us to himself.

St. Peter encouraged us to "... prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance."  1 Peter 1:13-14

Are we prepared?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 11:33-36 Hiding the Light

Luke 11:33-36 NIV

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light."  (vs 33)

Some people do. Some people have very valid reasons for hiding the light of man-made lamps.


When I was a teenager, I loved to read. But, my parents were just a little strict or maybe it was that they liked their evenings to themselves. Whatever the reason, I was to be in bed with lights out by 8 p.m.. My remedy was to move the lamp to the closet and sit on a box and read 'till sometimes past 10 o'clock!

During World War II, England had "black outs." Lights were turned out or at least dimmed in order  to make it more difficult for the enemy to navigate to targets by air or sea.

Man-made lights may be dimmed and even turned off. They eventually burn out. But, the light of Christ that abides within us will never be extinguished. ..."let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 4:21-34 How Does Your Garden Grow

How does your garden grow? With light... It needs sunlight.

It has been a very long, cold winter here in the U.P.. Most days we've seen below 0 (F) temperatures and there have been very few days that have been above freezing. We have spent a lot of time indoors staying warm so we have not had the benefit of much sunlight. Many of us are feeling the result of that. Each day we grow in some direction; but, without the benefit of the light of the sun or Son in which direction are we growing?

Do not hide the light which is needed for fruitful growth. Rather, let the light of Christ shine on and in and through you, so that the Body of Christ, here in this place, might grow like the mustard seed "when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:32 NIV)

Do not hide the light under a bowl or a bed; but, let it shine! And, may the light of Christ shine upon you and all of your neighbors.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 25 - Unprepared Virgins

“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." (Matt 25:1-4 NIV) 

I have occasionally been accused of worrying too much. What they should understand about me is that all my busyness is not due to worry; it is what I consider being prepared. If I am going to a meeting, I like to have everything that I might need, copied and organized, ready to go and in my bag, at least the night before. Trips to town actually include a plan in my head on where I need to go, in which order, and what I need to bring with me to accomplish the most in the least amount of time. I contact family members in town, just to check if there is anything they need or want from out here or from any of the places I will stop before I see them. That is to avoid having to go back to the same shop on errands for someone else. I do get a little flustered when I finish my errands and I get a text asking me to take care of something at a place that I just left. I really like organization. It's not worry. It is preparation. I just don't like missing opportunities (doors that might be open) to live life. Can you imagine missing out on the opportunity to live and enjoy life in His Kingdom, in His presence? I'd rather not entertain that possibility and so it behooves me to try to do all that I can to be prepared; not suffering my light to go out; but, allowing the light to shine in and through me.

Five of the virgins were wise and prepared for the bridegroom to come and take them to the wedding feast. Five were not. They did not take enough oil with them, in the case that the bridegroom would be delayed. They had to go and purchase oil at the eleventh hour. When they returned they found that the bridegroom had come for those who had been prepared. They tried to gain admittance to the wedding banquet; but, it was too late. The door was shut.

Are you prepared? Are you ready for the Lord to come and take you to be with Him at the great wedding feast? We can never know all that the Lord has in store for us. Therefore, be prepared for all the glorious possibilities and "...keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matt 25:13)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 119 - Martin Luther and Studying Theology

Wow! I am thinking that if you have read Psalm 119 this morning, as is the plan, that is probably enough for a devotional reading for one morning... Only two chapters after the shortest chapter in the Bible, we have the longest chapter with 176 verses. That is a lot of word to take in and to try to comprehend for one sitting.

As I was going through it, I was imagining using it for one Sunday when Keith (cantor) gets back from vacation. I'm pretty sure that he would tell us that we would have to read it - forget the chanting.

Martin Luther said that he loved Psalm 119 so much, that he would not take the whole world in exchange for one leaf of it. According to Martin, if you wanted to learn how to study theology 119 teaches us three rules to follow when studying the Word. They are prayer (oratio), meditation (meditatio), and testing (tentatio).
This is a blog and to cover chapter 119, it would take way too many of my words for a blog. Martin's are much better than mine. So, if you like to learn how to study theology click on the link: How to Study Theology by Martin Luther

Have a blessed day!

God's Peace - Pr. J

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (vs. 105 KJV, my personal favorite from chapter 119)