Banking a fire: To cover the hot coals or embers with ashes or build a wall around the fire with rocks or stones. This is done to keep the fire from going out during the night. If the coals from the fire are protected well enough, there usually will be enough heat in them to easily start a fresh fire in the morning.
Talking to Debbe N. and Maryann earlier today, I began telling them about my morning prayer. I was thinking about the fire that was mentioned in recent preaching and I told God that I didn’t want ‘strange fire.’ I needed His help to get it going. Then I started waving my hand in the air….fanning an imaginary fire. Next, I cupped my hand around this imaginary fire and started to gently blow on it….waiting for the fire to ignite.
As I spoke, all of a sudden a word picture popped into my mind. I began telling them everything I knew about “banking a fire.” I had read the phrase in a novel about pioneers. The term caught my attention. I further explained that I thought it meant to build up the sides around the fire to keep it during the night, because “back in the day” when they didn’t have matches, it was easier to keep the fire going than to have to go through the huge task of starting the fire from scratch. Then I said, I think that is why God tells us to seek Him day and night. When we pray at night, we are banking the fire….so that the next day, when we seek Him, it’s not so hard to start it up again.
I think this excellent word picture came from God. He just used my mouth. Thank you Jesus for these words that have given me understanding and have encouraged me to seek you as you commanded.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Gift Bags
Gift Bags
Every Christmas my sister saves all the gift bags from the presents. Not just the ones from her presents but everyone’s gift bags are recycled. Before you even get your present out of the bag, she’s there, ready to snatch it away.
Last year, shortly before Christmas, my sister invited me over to help decorate the tree and wrap Christmas presents. As she decorated, I wrapped. Placing a calculator for my niece into one of the colorful sacks, I said, “What a wonderful invention these ‘gift bags’ are. It saves so much time.”
“I don’t know how some people can afford to buy new ones each year,” my sister replied.
“I know what you mean.” I agreed, as I mentally noted that she had been recycling gift bags for so many years now that she has accumulated enough sacks so that she hardly ever has to buy any Christmas gift wrap.
“You know, if everyone saved their gift bags, it would put the gift wrap people out of business.” I commented, as I continued my task. Conveniently, some of the name tags were still intact and on the bags. All I had to do was lightly wrap the gift with a piece of tissue and insert it in the used gift bag.
“Don’t your kids notice that some of their presents come in the exact same gift bag each year?” I wondered.
“No. They never notice.”
“How can they not notice?” I asked.
“Because they are too intent on getting to next present. Always looking for the best one. You know, ‘the one’ that they’ve waited for all year. ‘The one’ that they talk about constantly. ‘The one’ that they’ve told you they want every day for the past three months. You know, ‘that’ one.”
“Yeah, I remember. I was like that too.”
The next morning’s reflection on our conversation brought me to the realization that I’m still like that in the way I live my life. Every day God provides for all of my needs. He gives me an assortment of gifts: friends, love, comforts, healings…everything one could ask for. And yet I neglect to enjoy it to the fullest. I’m always looking forward to ‘the one’ that is going to solve all my problems in an instant. But it’s not like that. It’s a lifetime of lessons and it can’t be rushed. So today, I resolved to enjoy this day. I’ll not deny today’s gift of life, by chasing after the unknown of tomorrow. Never again seeking after “the one” but savoring the goodness of this day.
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Every Christmas my sister saves all the gift bags from the presents. Not just the ones from her presents but everyone’s gift bags are recycled. Before you even get your present out of the bag, she’s there, ready to snatch it away.
Last year, shortly before Christmas, my sister invited me over to help decorate the tree and wrap Christmas presents. As she decorated, I wrapped. Placing a calculator for my niece into one of the colorful sacks, I said, “What a wonderful invention these ‘gift bags’ are. It saves so much time.”
“I don’t know how some people can afford to buy new ones each year,” my sister replied.
“I know what you mean.” I agreed, as I mentally noted that she had been recycling gift bags for so many years now that she has accumulated enough sacks so that she hardly ever has to buy any Christmas gift wrap.
“You know, if everyone saved their gift bags, it would put the gift wrap people out of business.” I commented, as I continued my task. Conveniently, some of the name tags were still intact and on the bags. All I had to do was lightly wrap the gift with a piece of tissue and insert it in the used gift bag.
“Don’t your kids notice that some of their presents come in the exact same gift bag each year?” I wondered.
“No. They never notice.”
“How can they not notice?” I asked.
“Because they are too intent on getting to next present. Always looking for the best one. You know, ‘the one’ that they’ve waited for all year. ‘The one’ that they talk about constantly. ‘The one’ that they’ve told you they want every day for the past three months. You know, ‘that’ one.”
“Yeah, I remember. I was like that too.”
The next morning’s reflection on our conversation brought me to the realization that I’m still like that in the way I live my life. Every day God provides for all of my needs. He gives me an assortment of gifts: friends, love, comforts, healings…everything one could ask for. And yet I neglect to enjoy it to the fullest. I’m always looking forward to ‘the one’ that is going to solve all my problems in an instant. But it’s not like that. It’s a lifetime of lessons and it can’t be rushed. So today, I resolved to enjoy this day. I’ll not deny today’s gift of life, by chasing after the unknown of tomorrow. Never again seeking after “the one” but savoring the goodness of this day.
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Nothing Too Hard For God
Nothing is Too Hard For God
Note: start with ants wanting to move something on the ground…
Then: it’s like us being big and looking down at the little ants on the ground trying to move a little rock. Well to us, we’d think that little rock is no big deal and could pick it up and just throw it away. But to the ant, the rock is so big, it’s like a mountain.
We are like those ants. Our problems are just too big for us, but to God, they’re so small. We need to remember to put our trust in God in all things. No matter how big the problem is, God’s put it there. He will move it, like the rock in front of the ant. Our problems are big to us, but we need to remember, nothing is too big for God. So whatever you’re going through, it may be too big for you, but it’s never too big for God to handle.
Ps 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Ps 37:39 “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”
Lam 3:25 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
Note: start with ants wanting to move something on the ground…
Then: it’s like us being big and looking down at the little ants on the ground trying to move a little rock. Well to us, we’d think that little rock is no big deal and could pick it up and just throw it away. But to the ant, the rock is so big, it’s like a mountain.
We are like those ants. Our problems are just too big for us, but to God, they’re so small. We need to remember to put our trust in God in all things. No matter how big the problem is, God’s put it there. He will move it, like the rock in front of the ant. Our problems are big to us, but we need to remember, nothing is too big for God. So whatever you’re going through, it may be too big for you, but it’s never too big for God to handle.
Ps 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Ps 37:39 “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”
Lam 3:25 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
FireFighters
Firefighters
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." I was thinking about our FAST and being instant in season and out. (To me that means, whether it is convenient or not, be ready.) If you are selfish it seems mostly to be inconvenient.
I was thinking to be instant means to be ready....to be ON CALL. I know people on-call carry pagers (or cell phones). I know when people are on call, it doesn't matter where they are or what they are doing. Because their job is the PRIORITY. They have conditioned their minds that they must stop what they are doing and GO. They have a mind set that when they are paged it is a priority above all else.
I mean, if it is your job, your income relies on your action when paged. Your family is depending on you to keep your job. Other people are depending on you, too.
Let's say it is a firefighter being paged.....people's lives are at stake. Firefighters are willing to put their personal lives aside for others, and not only that, but willing to give their lives for others...to keep them from the fire...to save their lives. That's us...we' are firefighters....fighting against the hellfire that will consume the unrighteous and bring them to death. To be a firefighter for God means we must be ON CALL 24/7.
I asked Becky B. about her husband being on-call. She told me he is never far from his truck. That tells me that to be ON CALL you have to be prepared. Not just ready to GO, but prepared to GO.
How do we prepare ourselves? Pray. Seeking Him early in the day. Make sure that pager is turned on! (Some people on-call, who don't want to be interrupted, just turn the pager off.) Stay in contact with the Boss....do that by praying continuously throughout the day. Have a willing heart. Be prepared. Be instant in season and out....
...and delight to do His will. You are a servant of the Most Holy God.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." I was thinking about our FAST and being instant in season and out. (To me that means, whether it is convenient or not, be ready.) If you are selfish it seems mostly to be inconvenient.
I was thinking to be instant means to be ready....to be ON CALL. I know people on-call carry pagers (or cell phones). I know when people are on call, it doesn't matter where they are or what they are doing. Because their job is the PRIORITY. They have conditioned their minds that they must stop what they are doing and GO. They have a mind set that when they are paged it is a priority above all else.
I mean, if it is your job, your income relies on your action when paged. Your family is depending on you to keep your job. Other people are depending on you, too.
Let's say it is a firefighter being paged.....people's lives are at stake. Firefighters are willing to put their personal lives aside for others, and not only that, but willing to give their lives for others...to keep them from the fire...to save their lives. That's us...we' are firefighters....fighting against the hellfire that will consume the unrighteous and bring them to death. To be a firefighter for God means we must be ON CALL 24/7.
I asked Becky B. about her husband being on-call. She told me he is never far from his truck. That tells me that to be ON CALL you have to be prepared. Not just ready to GO, but prepared to GO.
How do we prepare ourselves? Pray. Seeking Him early in the day. Make sure that pager is turned on! (Some people on-call, who don't want to be interrupted, just turn the pager off.) Stay in contact with the Boss....do that by praying continuously throughout the day. Have a willing heart. Be prepared. Be instant in season and out....
...and delight to do His will. You are a servant of the Most Holy God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
