Fire for HIM

This blog is in many ways a continuation of Monday's blog, but it digs deeper. What if we saw a caricature of ourselves minus the things we wanted to see changed.  Our body young and strong, without disease; our mind clear and steady; our heart bleeding for others rather than set on our own selfish ambitions.  Eyes to see the truth, ears to hear His voice, and hands serving.  What if?  What if our emotions were not tossed with the wind, but rather were locked into the Truth of the Word that we had invested time and focus to soak into our very being?  What if?  I challenge you to look in a visual mirror today.  What do you WANT to see?  When all else is shaken loose from you, what is the "you" that is left behind?  Better yet, what "you" did God create?  Why did He create you?  Answer these things with the truth of the Word today.  Then SEE IT.   See you, with every tether cut loose and a "self" in an Olympic state...

Yesterday in church, a sweet lady in her golden years hugged my neck and said, "See yourself at my age - just imagine what level you will be."  I was taken back.  I had never thought to stand in my "senior shoes" and look in the mirror.  She was paying me a complement.  I had just prayed for someone, and she was telling me to see the vision of who I might become and the freedom and wisdom I would truly walk in...just if I continued on the path of fervor after the Lord's heart.  Wow!  What a challenge to be told to look at life in a 'flash-forward' stance.  Our campus pastor at my university would often tell us to look at decisions we might make with the perspective of 'hindsight in foresight position' - I have never forgotten those words and have applied them so very often.  I was saying this quote of Pastor Shuler to someone recently, and they said, "What exactly does that mean anyway? I hear you say it often."  I explained the above...

While riding in the car, the old song, "Go Tell It on the Mountain" began to ring through the vehicle.  I began to think of three major steps to both the natural and spiritual parallel to this song. 1. Look UP:  "...And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up , and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:25-28 KJV) 2.  Hike UP:  "The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." (Psalm 119:61-62) 3. STAND and SHOUT:  ...

We were traveling back from our 1,200 mile journey via car.  The sun began to set, and the sky became a gorgeous canvas of bright pinks, yellows, and blues.  All of us were speechless at the beauty before us.  In the midst of the colors, a jet cut across the sky, leaving its smoke trail behind him.  I was stirred to think of the parallel of the process of successful jet flight, and us reaching toward our God-destined purpose. 1. Tools are needed to create a working jet/ God gives us tools to knit together what He intends us to walk in. 2.  Mechanism:   The mechanical aspects of the jet must be in working order/ We must be a willing vessel and ready to move into position. 3.   Fuel for the tank is vital for a successful flight/ Feeding on the Word is vital for strength and stamina. 4.  The runway provides a clear and safe place to begin the journey/ Positioning ourselves for movement is crucial. 5.  Pull back on the controls ...

What BLOG means to me: Be free Lift up your head Open the heart Give encouragement

It is time to DIG DEEP.  "   I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.     It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well " (Luke 6:47-48 NLT) Websters defines "dig" as "to turn up or remove..." and "deep" as "extending far downward, inward, or backward".  What if we really dug deep and removed the shifting places, replacing the truth of Christ there for us to stand on.  Cleaning out closets can be a daunting task.  Funny how the same theme rolls over and over in our lives until we get it.  I actually had started both this blog and the task of closet cleaning several months ago.  I set both aside without completion.  While visiting with my mother this past weekend, I picked up a home magazine.  The feature article was about closet clea...

Lessons Learned on Vacation: Part 1 Funny how we learn so very much about ourselves in the midst of challenge and fatigue.  We learn a lesson - even when we are not in the mood to learn it.   It is much like the analogy of walking through mud.  " Trust in the LORD with all your heart , And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."  (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV) Lesson number 1:  Just ROLL with it.  I found it v-e-r-y annoying to just 'roll' down the road without kn-ow-ing what was ahead.  Needless to say, my nerves were frazzled at the end of the day. Lesson number 2:  Learn to TRUST I was stressed that I could not see what was lying ahead.  I had to trust that decent lodging and food were easy to find and within the budget.  We had not made reservations...due to the last minute change of destination.   Being puzzled at the heigth of my aggravation...

Freedom Morning Waking Before the Sun Anticipating Its Rise Putting My Hand to the Plow Smiling at the Morning Moving Forward Light Hits My Eyes Streams of Sunlight Filters Toward My Face Warmth Pleasantries Ahh...I Shall Stay Here Forevermore