Keep My Lamp Burning

Greetings,

Last week as I was reading through Psalm18, I came across this verse:

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28 NIV Version).

I was immediately reminded of a little song I used to sing in Spanish at church on Sundays, and in the car, and around the house, and where ever else I happened to be because my mother insisted we always have praise coming out of our mouths.

The literal translation says, “Put oil in my lamp, Lord. I want to serve thee with love, put oil in my lamp, Lord.  Jesus, You are my life. Jesus, You are my love. You saved my lost soul, which is why I worship You with my heart…”

In other words, we need God's oil to keep from burning out.  Have you ever felt overwhelmed? that you were right on the edge of being completely drained?  That's when we need to turn to Him and say, "Keep my lamp burning." The Lord will shed His light on our otherwise dark path. He will illuminate our understanding. He will shine brightly into the dank and dingy parts of our existence flooding us with peace, joy, and hope.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You keep our lamps burning, and when You do, we see more clearly, our souls are refreshed, and our perspectives change.  We have tranquility and comfort.  With You in charge, we will never run out of what we need, and we can always look on the bright side. In Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

My Cup Overflows~

Thursday greetings~

Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.”

When God anoints our heads with oil it’s as if to say that we have been marked for blessings – so many, in fact, that we can not contain them. They spill out all over the place and splash others.

Case in point:

I have a friend who I have mentioned before who could not get pregnant for the first several years of her marriage.  All IVF attempts failed and drained their bank accounts.  She and her husband definitely felt the pressure of being in the valley.  On an almost daily basis they reminded themselves that God was with them, that He was guiding them in the right direction, that He would answer their prayer for a baby, that even though they were walking through the shadow of darkness, shadows can’t hurt you, and that they could still laugh and enjoy life in the midst of the unknown because the Good Shepherd is more awesome and powerful than anything or anyone.       

And then after all the failed treatments she got pregnant with a little boy the old fashioned way.  All the doctors were stupefied and assured her she could never get pregnant again so, “Enjoy this child. At least you have one.”

Less than a year later, another baby boy joined the family.  Again the doctors swore up and down that given the quality of her tubes and her age and her blah blah blah, she could definitely not have more children. 

And then…she got pregnant a third time…with twin girls!

From nothing to overflow.  From being told she could not have children to getting her tubes tied. Amazing.

God marked her for blessings, which if you ask her, she and her husband can’t contain at all. Amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Anoint our heads with oil today.  Put Your mark on us for blessings.  We need You. Our families need You.  Our marriages need You.  Our businesses need You.  Our health needs You.  Our relationships need You.  Our emotions need You.  Thank You for Your promise of filling up our cup till it overflows!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~