I am on FIRE!

Thinking about God's refining fire tonight as we enjoyed the beautiful Texas evening together. Of course, it wouldn't be as enjoyable without the Smores!!! Yummy!

This was my youngest first time to fire up his own marshmellow. Big Brother loaded his marshellow and handed him the stick. The closer he got to the fire he could feel the heat and was very hesitant to get close to it.

 And I am thinking to myself, "Come on...I will not let you get burned...I am with you and I will protect you, just trust me. You will be okay." But he could feel the heat and it scared him.

I have been off the blog for a few weeks and I am so happy to be back! It has been an awesome and difficult several weeks. God has been a consuming fire for me, meaning there is a whole lot He is refining me in and it is hard to pin point where to even begin to express all that He has done.

I believe we respond to fire a lot like my little one from two perspectives. In one way, in our sin, we feel a seperation from God (eventhough He hasn't left us), we are out of His right standing and when we are in disobedience or struggle or sin, a lot of times it can feel like Hell. That is exactly how I would describe my season of fear over a year ago. There was no satisfying quench for my thirst, I was overcome and felt pain and terror.

On the other hand, God is a consuming fire and He refines us with it. A wonderful as it sounds, and it is certainly in the end, the refining can be scarey and intimidating and yet beautiful. It can be very scarey to accept a season of refining or pruning. It involves getting closer to the Fire. And trusting that I will not get burned. I can imagine that God is also saying to me as I did my child, "Come on...I will not let you get burned...I am with you and I will protect you, just trust me. You will be okay."

  

"As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." Daniel 3:5-6

You have to read the rest of this for yourself...

 "Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon" Daniel 3:13-30

My 10 yr old was thanking God for the fire tonight because it lead to a fabulous Smores treat! I too am thanking my God for the Fire He has placed in my heart and soul that burns for Him and for the refining it has been in my life, molding me and purifying me into something more precious. I pray for courage, strength, endurance, patience and grace each time I approach the Refiner's Fire. 

 "The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12: 27-29

God, I want more of YOU!!! 

Psalm 33- Your Strength

For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth-- He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:4-22

Thank You Lord God, my strength, help and shield with whom I place my hope in-for Your soverign Lordship is over ALL which submit under Your command. There is no battle too great for You, You are the King of Kings. When I find myself in battle, may I depend on Your unfailing love for me to deliver me from my enemies. I will wait on You to call me out of the battleship/boat for Your truth is trustworthy, Your peace surpasses all understanding, Your heart is pure and right. You God are faithful and just. My heart finds calming rest in Your arms and my soul rejoices in Your grand love. My hope is in You, O Lord, my King. amen.

Everything on my Birth-day!

"In Me you have everything! In Me you are complete. Your capacity to experience Me is increasing, through My removale of debris and clutter from your heart. As your yearning for Me increases, other desires are gradually lessening. Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring Me above all else is the best way to live.
It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all, I created you and everything that is. The world is still at My beck and call, though it often appears otherwise. Do not be fooled by appearances. Things that are visable are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting. -God"
Eph 3:20, II Cor 4:18

Lord God, I praise You for the Gift of Eternal Life, made possible for all those who choose to believe in You, through Your Son Jesus Christ. Because You God are over ALL things, whom shall I fear? Whom shall I bring my requests to but You?! You are Everything...EVERYTHING is in YOU!

Thank You Jesus for the Gift of Life and for parents who saw fit to raise me in Your church. As I reflect on my life during my Bday, I am thankful that there is not one moment that You were not there for-good and bad. I pray I have pleased You more than I have grieved You. For there is no one I love more than You Lord God. My heart belongs to You-God, cleanse me. Purify my heart's clutter and debris. Heal the wounds. Pour Your love in the gaps. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me, for giving up on me when You have been given a million reasons to. Your grace is amazing and overwhelming, I cannot comprehend Your ways.

I have no idea what this new year for me brings but I am thankful that You have already walked ahead of me and been where I am going. I cannot see what You see, but I do pray Father, that You would show me and guide me each step of the way, and if I get off the path marked for me, would You graciously reign me back straight. I am thankful that every tear that has been shed, and every tear to come, You are there. For each trial I face and have faced that Your soverign hand is holding mine. For the victories won and those yet to be won, thank You Mighty Fortress for Your strength, power and victory-in Jesus Name.

There really is none like You and it is in You I thank for giving me another bday to reflect on who You are and why I am here. Help me trust You and walk where You lead for I am nothing without You! Thank You for the Death and Resurrection of Your Son Jesus and for Resurrection to come. I need You for each breath of life, bring me closer to You and help me rely on You for Everything! amen