Friday, November 29, 2024

Fire

Fire can be associated with both peace and what we see as destruction.  We sit around a fireplace or bonfire and picture joy, love and comfort.  It's where we gather with loved ones and for the most part laugh and rejoice.  Yet, there's the fire that hurts, leaves ashes in it's path.  It leaves us in pain, hurt and for some of the unfortunate can take your life.  

We don't wish for the later, but we're always ready for the joy.  The thing is it's the same...it's fire! I'm not a fireplace kind of girl, but I love a good candle.  As I sit and watch the flicker of light dance, I'm mesmerized by it's wave.  I'll admit that there are times I want to touch it and watch it dance on my very fingertips, but I know the consequence of playing with fire. So I leave it to release the sweet scent into the air.  In the same way I avoid touching the fire, there are times I choose to look the other way to avoid the potential of danger.  After all I understand the consequence of placing myself in those positions.  

There are moments that the fire is ignited without warning.  There's no way to avoid or run, but we're ready to put the fire out and yet we make it worse with our words.  We get in the way causing an explosion and then want to ask "Why?"  We forget that God is also FIRE.  He's the Fire that will consume.  Those fires that we didn't expect, the ones we contribute to in a negative way cause for an out of control blaze.  BUT GOD! 

He will work in the FIRE, He consumes and if we allow Him to work-out of the fire comes something new.  Yes, we may get hurt, and we'll walk away scarred, but new.  Those scars heal-they may never disappear, but they are reminders of what we went through, what we learned, but more importantly what He did.  Permanent tattoos! Whatever blaze you're going through, He's with you!  Allow Him to be the all consuming Fire and see what new creature comes from the ashes.  

Get out of the Kitchen!



  If you know me, I'm not the greatest on cooking, my family survives.  I don't like the waiting, the recipe reading, what should be one teaspoon, well sometimes doesn't look like enough, so what's the problem with adding another. The outcome can sometimes be acceptable, but there are times that the only thing to do is order in. Sorry, Papi! Because he was a cook that could 'pinch' it here and 'pinch' it there and all was well.  Didn't inherit that gene.


Often enough that's my life.  I grab a little here and little there, in other places I put too much or not enough.  A recipe for disaster.  Jesus is my main Chef in this life and I can envision Him with his apron looking over my concoction and sweetly nodding His head.  He knows what's going to happen, I'm not going to like it, I'm going to want to start over or just leave but I'm stubborn and will put that thing to the test. I put it to the burner only to have it too high and now I've burned it and it hasn't even cooked in the inside.  I'll finally allow Him to take over when I've dropped the ingredients and run out. Because who has time to stop and run to the store to replenish.  Well, not me! I need it done yesterday.  


I love how He gently caresses my hand and loves me through my disasters. He smoothly uses what I've should've been using all along and with nail pierced Hands moves like a breeze, a 'pinch' here and a 'pinch' there. As it simmers, a slow rise in temperature, He's removed me from the not so high temperature.  A beautiful display of what He can do, if I only get out of the kitchen. 


Many of us get in our own way, only to make a mess.  


Lord, forgive me for the days I want take control, using too much of what You've already told me was not necessary.  I don't have hands that stir with such grace and I want to recognize the days that I don't need to be in the kitchen.  Give me discernment in my day to day.  And thank you that even when I choose to take my own road, You still meet me and share with me sweet taste of Your love. In Jesus Name, Amen.