4 Ways to Start a Fire in your Life
Last Saturday, the first day of 2011, our family was gathered in the rocking chairs on our front porch, enjoying the perfect Florida Winter day (in our shorts!) and watching our little “G’s” play in the grass.
All seemed well with the world when my middle son came bursting through the front door, “Mom, are you TRYING to catch the house on fire??”
I do have a tendency to do this so I knew I was the culprit who left the Chili on high instead of low. The entire kitchen had filled with stinky smoke and the Chili was, well HOT.
A few Christmas’s back we were all sitting in the Living Room opening gifts when a disorderly candle flame caught a flower arrangement on fire, and no more flower arrangement.
Then, THESE were our surprise guest at last years Thanksgiving Day dinner:
Yep, I can be a bit dangerous when it comes to friendly fire.
The good news is, I can be pretty successful at sparking GOOD fires as well. God fires that is. LIFE fires. I love to do that in my own life but I am passionate about doing it for others.
God’s Word says in 2 Timothy 1:6 that we are to—
* FAN THE FLAME
* STIR UP THE GIFT
* REKINDLE THE EMBERS of the Gifts God has placed in us.
How HOT are you feeling about what God has called you to do? Are you very clear about THE GIFT(S) He has given you?
This verse say that WE, not God, are to FAN OUR OWN FLAME!!
He has given us the gifts, the talents, the directions and PLENTY of territory in which to serve.
It’s our job to TAKE ACTION!
The next verse in 2 Timothy 1 verse 7, gives us 3 very clear steps:
1) NO FEAR–Don’t be afraid to try and follow the passion God has placed in YOUR heart. Don’t look for something easier, or something someone else is doing or approves of, don’t look for something more popular. Trust what FIRE burns in your own heart. Trust it. What makes you burn inside? What makes you happy? What makes you angry? What do you hear about or see that makes you think “SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP!”? The hungry? the homeless? children? single moms? teens? teaching? singing? writing??
2) POWER–Take a step into your territory–if God called you to do it, He will open doors, He will lead the way once you step in, He will make things happen but YOU have the POWER to make the first move. He may be waiting for you.
3) LOVE–Walk in Love. The greatest way to smother your spiritual flame is to carry unforgiveness in your heart. It will smother your gifts and talents faster than a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch of the West (or was it East?), and keep you from the joy of experiencing all God has for your life. Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Give it up. Let it Go. Whatever chance is given to you, whatever is up to you…Forgive and move on. Choose Love.
4) SOUND MIND–Keep your head and heart on things that are GOOD!! Stay focused on what GOD SAYS, what is right, what is a blessing, what is an opportunity? Don’t spend a single minute focused on past mistakes or failures. Once they are surrendered to God, they are ASH. Burned up in His giant GRACE fire. Try again.
Are you on FIRE today??
If not…what’s holding you back??
Feelin’ very on fire for what God has called me to do. Honestly, it astounds me that He would use me to do anything with a track record like mine. However, as I am reading the responses of the ladies who are doing the online Bible study over at my place….oh my word, it is obvious that the Lord is working through me and that just makes me fall to my knees and thank Him.
Pat, my desire is just to be faithful to what He has called me to do. It is so easy to start out in a flurry of activity and excitement and then after a while, fade away. I want to run the race well.
God bless you my firebug friend.
Leah
leah,
You bless my heart!
We MUST meet THIS Year!! Let’s set the date,
p
I am wanting to be faithful to God and all He has called me to do….I do have a fire in my heart to see women healed from their past-abortions….There are too many of them walking around defeated and that is NOT God’s will for them…..
BTW—Feeling much better this morning 🙂 LOL….
Your FIRE, my young friend, lights my world!!
God is doing BIG things through you already, I can’t wait to see Him build your territory 🙂
Saturday hugs…
ps…I hope you are being nice today:) (JK of course, you are always nice!!)
Much nicer today!!! Haha!! I really hate having off days!
Hi Pat,
You know part of my battle with writing and speaking. We had a talk over a meal, remember? I come up with too many excuses so my husband says…Maybe that’s why my word of the year is the same for 2 years in a row now.
BELIEVE.
For 2011, I’m committed to laying down my agenda and excuses to embrace HIS purposes. I want to know Him more and part of that requires me to draw closer, and then from that intimacy, walk in confidence wherever He leads.
I’m a work in progress.
I’m still passionate about communicating about HIM. I chased everything in the world and found out nothing satisfies like Jesus. I want to be a voice to encourage others towards Him and not to waste their lives like I did. The greatest joy and love I’ve found is Him…
Thank you for sharing a valuable post. It got me thinking.
Love and hugs,
Tiffany
Tiffany,
Of course I remember our lunch in beautiful Colorado Springs! I will never forget the Sunflower welcome God had for me either.
We are all such a work in progress aren’t we? What a blessing to be “in progress” rather than UN progress-able” right?
All we can hope for is that every day is another step towards our destiny-God’s way!
Stay the course sister!