Did you know that there was actually a position called ‘Lamp Trimmer’? According to Wikipedia, a Lamp Trimmer was a specialist position aboard a ship who was in charge of  keeping the lamps filled with oil and trimming the wick which drew the oil from the reservoir so that the flame would be clean and bright.

You can still have a flame without trimming the wick, the thing is, if the wick isn’t properly trimmed, the flame that’s created will be full of smoke and give off a dim and cloudy light. There are actual instructions on how to properly trim a wick to give off optimal light. Back in the days before electricity was harnessed to give us a different kind of light, this art was taught and handed down generationally.

You may be asking me why I’m going on about the art of lamp trimming? I’m glad you asked, because since I posted yesterday, I can’t seem to get it out of my head. Matthew 25:7 says, So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps. Well, based on reading the above, they didn’t just light their lamps, they trimmed the wick for optimal light and filled the base with oil so that it would burn for hours.

Why should you have to trim the wick each time you light it? Because even the wind can effect the way the wick burns. After adverse conditions, the wick must be trimmed so that when it’s lit again, it will give optimal light.

My friends, dealing with adverse reactions to circumstances in our lives, things that undermine our trust in God, things that cause our faith or flame to waiver, must be dealt with daily. To allow the light of Gods Word to shine through our lives, we must allow the oil of the Holy Spirit to bring us into ALL truth, not just a part of it.

Hebrews 4:12 says;  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In The Passion Translation it reads; For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Oh Lord, trim me today. May nothing cloud my flame. May I be full of Your oil, trimmed and ready to light the way so that others may find You and experience the light of Your presence. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Have you ever read something that triggered another thought? This happens to me a lot! I recently read about a shift change in the angelic realm that I couldn’t get out of my mind. As I spent time with the Lord, I felt there was something I wasn’t catching and so I asked Him. Lord, what is it you’re trying to show me here? The following is a small part of what He showed me.

Just as with some companies that work round the clock, there are shift changes which cause the work to continue but the workers to have time off. I know that when Walt worked at a bakery many years ago, productivity was achieved by this rotation. Keeping things going while allowing those who had worked their 8 hours to rest. If you’ve ever worked a factory job, you’ll understand this.

There are 280 references to angels in the bible. I don’t claim to be a scholar on the angelic realm, but from the things I’ve read, God gives assignments to angels. Some carry messages to warn us, some carry out a specific order, some gather the saints of God, and some are warriors. There was a host of angels assigned to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.

So when I hear that there’s a shift change in the angelic realm, I’m wondering what assignment they carry and how will it affect me? I know the time is short and Jesus is coming soon. I know that there is an end time revival, the likes of which we’ve never seen before. I know that when God says He’s doing a new thing, it’s unlike anything else and there is nothing to compare it with.

I will close with this from Matthew 25:1-13 out of the Passion Translation at the Lords direction:

 “At the time my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride.  Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil for their lamps. Five of them were wise and sensible, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.  When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.  Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’  So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps.  But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said to the five wise ones, ‘Share your oil with us, because our lamps are going out!’

“‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’

“While the five girls were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked.  Later, the five foolish girls came running up to the door and pleaded, ‘Lord, Lord, let us come in!’

“But he called back, ‘Go away! Do I know you? I can assure you, I don’t even know you!’

“That is the reason you should always stay awake and be alert, because you don’t know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will appear.”

Father, as new angels are released, may I remain filled with the oil of Your Holy Spirit, quick to hear and obey Your call. To step out and display Your signs, wonders and miracles. May my belief in You be a demonstration everywhere I go and in everything I do. For those who have kept their lamps trimmed, may their flame be fanned by Your breath as You breathe on their lamps. Strengthen them for the task at hand, in Jesus’ name and for Your glory, Amen.

As I was praying this morning, I heard the Lord say, “Tell all my mothers, thank you for your service!”

Now, I understand this is a term we reserve for those serving or having served in the military.  But as the Lord spoke it to me, I saw many women, some mothers in the natural and some mothers in the spirit, all gathered before the Father, pleading on behalf of someone.

Your service has not gone unnoticed and neither have your cries gone unheard. Regardless of how futile your tears may seem, not one is lost. For it says in His Word, “You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance.” Psalm 56:8

As a mom myself, I can say to you that there were times I wondered if God was listening. Things didn’t always happen in my timing or the way I thought it should. But I was reminded that I’m not God, I don’t have His insight or vantage point. I don’t know the end from the beginning as He does. I was given the honor of raising our girls to know God as I know God. But I’m also aware that they have the same right to choose as I did.

My intercessions before the Lord simply remind me that He is well able to take what I’ve committed to Him and use them for His glory. Not the way I think it should be done. I choose to trust in Him completely and totally. My secret place is where I remind myself of my place and position in the throne room of God. That He hears me. That it’s not my place to manipulate or pressure Him into doing what I want, but simply to remind Him of His promises and remind myself that He is forever a faithful Father.

My service to Him is all that matters. When I stand before Him on the day of judgement, I will give account for my words. Did I agree with His Word or the circumstance and situation? Did I allow the words and opinions of others to override my knowledge of His Word? Did I commit my ways to Him and trust in Him or did I try to control those ways and trust in myself?

So to all His ‘mothers’ out there, rest in the knowledge that God hears and answers prayer. Spend time rejoicing in the finished work. When you release your worship and give Him praise, you’re merely reiterating how much you trust that He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it.

Exodus 33:12-13 NLT “You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that You look favorably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favor.”

Now that right there is the key to intimate friendship with God. More God. I want to know God like that. I have an insatiable longing for the presence of the Lord. Sometimes, I’d just like to go up onto a mountain alone and be with the Lord. Perhaps I should have just stayed up at 2am and sat in his presence instead of tossing and turning. I’m sure it would have been a better experience! LOL

All joking aside, I believe that friendship with God comes when we choose to spend time with Him. When His Word becomes a treasure we seek. When we place our confidence in Him and know that He will never leave us or forsake us. God does not withhold from us! He longs to have relationship with each of us, but it starts with a yearning, a calling out, a dissatisfaction with where we are now.

No matter how close I become, I know I can be closer still. I won’t be satisfied with one sided conversation; I need to hear his voice. It’s what keeps me coming back for more. How about you? Is that where your heart is? Do you find yourself increasingly dissatisfied with your life as it is? It’s time to set aside some time to worship your maker and ask Him for more.

Father, hear our hearts cry for more. Speak to us. Share with us Your secrets so that we may know You deeper. Our life isn’t worth living without You, so come. Come breathe on us and refresh us with Your Holy Spirit. Lead us into all truth. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  And God chose what the world thinks is not important—what the world hates and thinks is nothing. He chose these to destroy what the world thinks is important. I Corinthians 1:27-28 ERV

“Many times I will call you to do things which appear foolish, unreasonable, and insignificant in the eyes of men. But when you obey Me, great things are taking place in the heavenlies. Nations are being marked, families are being saved, spiritual barriers are being broken, and My Kingdom is being pushed forward.” Ching Co.

We don’t often think about how much power our simple obedience has. God never asks us to do anything that he doesn’t have a purpose for. We need to stop trying to reason it out. If it doesn’t make sense it doesn’t matter. Just do it! Even if you don’t see the purpose, trust God on purpose. If he were to tell me to walk backwards around my house 3 times, I would do it for the Kingdom.

What is God asking you to do? Stop struggling and just do it. It could be the key to open the door you’ve been waiting for.  Waiting on provision and God is asking you to give? Give! It’s often the avenue God uses to bring what you need. Waiting on your healing to manifest and God asks you to go visit someone at the hospital and pray for them? Go do it.  Pray for others and while you’re doing it, your own healing will show itself strong.

If you read the Word, you would see that God’s biggest miracles were wrought through some extremely weird means. He’s only asking for your yes and movement.

Yes Lord! I say yes to your will and ways. I expect You to show up and do what You’ve promised, but in the meantime, I will just keep doing what You ask. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to what the Scriptures say: Because Abraham believed God’s words, his faith transferred God’s righteousness into his account. When people work, they earn wages. It can’t be considered a free gift, because they earned it.  But no one earns God’s righteousness. It can only be transferred when we no longer rely on our own works, but believe in the one who powerfully declares the ungodly to be righteous in his eyes. It is faith that transfers God’s righteousness into your account! Romans 4:3-5 TPT

That word righteous means morally right, virtuous, upright, genuine or wonderful. No matter how hard I try, I can’t measure up to that definition. Oh I can try, but I fail miserably every time. But according to this passage, it’s believing in God’s words that makes me righteous.

As I went for my walk this morning, I began to think about the verse found in 2nd Corinthians 5:21; For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.

This simply means that because I’ve accepted the fact that Jesus Christ was the son of God, and received the one time pardon for every sin I had or would ever commit, I gained access to Gods righteousness. So regardless of what I look like to myself, to Him, I will always look right. I’ll always be virtuous, genuine and wonderful.

Perhaps you’ll understand it better if I put it in these terms. When I married Walt, I not only got his name, but I got access to his bank account. I benefitted from his insurance policy he had from his employer because I was his spouse.

When I became married to Jesus, all He had access to became mine. I stand before God with the same benefits as Jesus has. I can talk with Him anytime I want. Not only that, but He sent His Holy Spirit to live in me so that I could understand what my benefits are and how to access them. Not a bad package, right?

But my friend, I didn’t just marry Walt for his money or benefits. I married him because I love him and because he loves God. It didn’t give us a perfect marriage, We’re still human and only one of us is perfect (haha), but the more we understand who we are and what we have access to, it makes us a formidable union in the Kingdom of God. I’ll take that any day of the week!

Father, thank You for sending Jesus so that I could come to You. That day I asked for Your forgiveness and You gave it, was the most amazing day. But when You gave me Your Holy Spirit to live in me, it gave me so much knowledge of You and Your love for the world, how could I ever say no to You? I say yes, I will love. Yes I will tell others about You. Even if they laugh, even if they say no, I’ll still let them know. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.

So hide all your beloved ones in the sheltered, secret place before your face. Overshadow them by your glory-presence. Keep them from these accusations, the brutal insults of evil men. Tuck them safely away in the tabernacle where you dwell. Psalm 31:20 TPT

Well doesn’t that sound nice? To be safely tucked away so that you’re inaccessible to the harmful threats and accusations hurled at you. Impossible! Or is it? People insulted Jesus. They spit on him and accused him of horrible things but it didn’t effect him. Why? Because He had found His place in the secret place of Gods presence. Do You know God like that?

You see my friend, that place is reserved for those who love Him and lay down their lives for His plans and purposes. As Paul so aptly put, “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!” Galatians 2:20 TPT

If you stay in this secret place of God, you remain stable, secure and sheltered. The life you once lived is a mere shadow in your past, a part of the journey as you walked toward God. You see everything happening around you but it doesn’t come near you. You’re protected. You know who you are and whose you are. You’ve surrendered your dreams and plans to His. You are no longer your own, but in every sense of the word, you are His.

You no longer have to stress out about why this happened or that happened because you’ve learned to rest in Him, to trust and heavily rely on Him as a child would their father. Perhaps that’s hard for you because you didn’t have a father like that. David didn’t either. His father was ashamed of him and hid him away to tend his sheep. When Samuel called Jesse to bring his sons, David was excluded.

But God knew exactly where he was. God had hidden David in obscurity so that he could know and have relationship with Him. To train him to hear His voice because God had need of him.

Remain hidden until God brings you out. His timing is perfect. It’s when the fruit is ripe that it’s the sweetest. God knows the exact moment when your life and what He’s placed in you will have the most meaning. Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about Him. He has brought you into His Kingdom for such a time as this.

My heart trusts in You, oh God of my salvation. You have not forgotten me, but rather have hid me till Your glory is revealed in the earth. I am a small piece of a larger plan than even I am aware of, so I wait on You.  And while I wait, I rest in the knowledge that when You started this work in me, You saw the day it would be complete. It’s all for Your glory, Jesus. Amen

Have you ever been disappointed? You know, you had your heart set on something and it didn’t happen. You bought a lottery ticket and didn’t win, or you put a bid in on a job and didn’t get it. Did you give up? By the size of the lottery jack-pot, people are still trying! You just move on, don’t you?

Have you ever believed God for a miracle and it didn’t happen? For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11. Why is that I wonder? As I sat with the Lord, I felt Him whisper, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” 

You can say it all day long until you’re blue in the face, but if your heart is not connected to God, He knows. He knows if you truly trust in Him or if you’re trusting in what you’ve heard about Him. He knows if He’s the only plan or if you have a back-up plan. He just knows.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:5

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:2

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

If I truly trust in God, I won’t wallow in defeat or doubt. I won’t try to figure out what I did wrong so I don’t do it again. I will acknowledge that He alone is God and I trust His will, His way and His timing. Who am I to think I know the mind of God or assume I know more than He does? Doesn’t matter how smart you are, you’ll NEVER figure out God! But you can trust Him. Just when you think it’s over, He steps in. Don’t turn from Him when you need Him most.

Psalm 37 is one of my favorites because it’s all about the security of those who trust in the Lord and the insecurity of the wicked. When I hear a report that doesn’t line up with what I know is a part of my benefit package, I read this Psalm. I know the key to everything is based on my belief and trust in God and because of that, I’m never disappointed. Gods promises are always true and always on time.

I trust in You oh Lord. All of Your plans are perfect even when mine are flawed. I will continue to seek You and find You because with all my heart, I seek You. It’s in Jesus’ name, Amen.