Friday, July 1, 2011

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Comfort

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: comfort

What does the word comfort mean to you?

What in your life brings you the most comfort?

Which verse in the Bible is your favorite word of comfort?


Let me know what you think!!


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

12 comments:

  1. I just realized that I have never done a word study on the word comfort in scripture. I can think of one verse off hand that has it (Comfort, Comfort, my people says the Lord...) I will be heading there in a minute to look at at that word.

    But what does the word comfort me TO ME?

    I think I see it as a verbal hug. Not to be trite, but I do. I think of comfort as going beyond sympathy or empathy, and even beyond a pep talk. It's more of that tender interchange like between a mother and child when the child has fallen and gotten hurt. She scoops her (him) up in her arms, and fixes the hurt. But then she holds on for a while before sending the child on her merry way and just rocks her.

    So I guess comfort to me is like rocking until "it" starts to go away.

    What comforts me? The "correct answer" for Christians is supposed to be prayer, and prayer DOES comfort me. Unfortunately, too often it's also food or a good cup of coffee. My family comforts me, too.

    More lasting comfort for me comes from not just reading the Word but digging into it. I'm a learner by nature and that really is comforting to me. That's why I don't really have a "go to" comfort verse. The scriptures that comfort me are applicable to the need for comfort, if that makes sense.

    Singing works, too. Of course, then everyone else needs some comfort. But I digress...

    More than once, comfort has come through the internet in the form of a post or an email from a certain golden girl I know. So when I say "you rock" , Sharon, I really do mean it.

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  2. When I think of comfort I think of the removal of anxiety and sorrow. So when I'm feeling anxious over something, when my mind is racing, or when I am sad or mournful, it's the COMFORT of the Holy Spirit that I need.

    It is always been amazing to me how much peace and comfort I receive just from opening up my word and reading ... it doesn't matter what I'm reading. It doesn't even have to be relevant to my situation. Just letting the Word of God wash over me ministers to my spirit, and I find my self comforted and at peace

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  3. My comfort? "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

    Anxiety is a fear-monger. Worry wastes time. Not that I have overcome in these things - but when I start pendulum swinging from anxiety to worry, I need the Word to rescue me to the place of rest at the center: being still simply in the knowledge that God in on the throne and totally in control.

    Sort of like when I was a little girl sitting in the backseat of the car directly behind my dad. I never worried about where the car was going or how it was getting there or all the frustrating things one must concern oneself with when they're in the driver's seat. Daddy was - and I could daydream contentedly - Daddy would get me where I needed to be going.

    I also agree with Debbie - being still is my anchor, and just about anyplace in the Word is comforting because the omnipotence of the Lord is pervasive on in page. Therein is rest. Sometimes anchor clinging is tough - but He's there giving swift aid no matter the wave!

    Good thought today, Sharon. When can we do tea?
    Deb needs to come along, too!

    Joy!
    Miss Kathy

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  4. Comfort:

    I find comfort in God's word and in the hug from my husband last night. Today I found comfort in the loving prayers of friend! And at this moment, I found comfort in your post. Thanks Sharon.

    Enjoy your holiday weekend!

    Blessings, Joan

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  5. Comfort is being safe in the Lord's hands.

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  6. Comfort means peace of mind to me. God's promises and my relationship with him, good food, and people I love bring me comfort. Right now, Exodus 14:14 is bringing me a lot of comfort!

    That is so sweet that you have a granddog that is a beagle! We have two beagle babies(well, actually they are two!) What fun!

    Living So Abundantly: A new meme this coming Thursday, July 7, 2011, Give Back Thursday--come join the fun!

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  7. Comfort, to me, is when someone comes up beside you during a rough patch and not only says the right thing, but does something to relieve some of the strain.
    Psalm 145:14
    The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

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  8. I love what Sandie said! Comfort is knowing God is in control! Jeremiah 32:27 "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind, is anything too impossible for me?" That brings me comfort that he can do ANYTHING, NOTHING IS TOO IMPOSSIBLE for him, assuming of course it is his perfect will. But he is more than able and more than capable. That comforts me!

    betty

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  9. Sharon,

    How nice to meet you. Thank you for stopping by Spots and Wrinkles and for your kind feedback.

    "Comfort" to me means knowing God is in control as some of those above mentioned. It also means enjoying family this week, and meeting another new blogging friend ... you. The "family of faith" is a unique comfort, don't you think.

    And yes, I agree, sad happens. Blessings to you ...Marsha

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  10. Bless you Sharon... fanning this flame since yesterday, pondering and pausing in the 'comfort' of an AC... from the heat and the beautiful 'comfort' of Our Lord while spending my Friday in prayer... so much to pray for, so many that need prayer... and of course, praying for our nation celebrating our independence, but my how we need to depend on God more and more. But back to COMFORT...

    2 Corinthians 1:3 tells us "...God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort."
    I've been reading Cherie Hill's "Be Still (Let Jesus Calm Your Storms)" and this is what I read today: "His tears could flood the earth; His love will flood your heart. There isn’t one moment of your life that He is not present in. He is in all places, at all times, and so is His consuming mercy and grace. He wants to comfort you and give you peace through the storm..."
    Cherie Hill, (2011) and the very next part is on baling water from the boat and I stopped when I arrived to the part on "casting".

    I agree with the above comments. Comfort for me, gives supports, strengthens and consoles. I looked at the derivative while I came across it in my reading (in the N. Oxford Dict.) and it says from Old French 'confort'(noun) and 'conforter'(verb) and Latin (conforatre) strengthen...'com-'expressing intensive force. Yet for me, comfort is anything but force...it's calm, serene, gentle and peaceful. So I guess my personal frame of meaning does not go with the real one. But it does with the ones above that said it is God being in control.

    Here are Bible verses on COMFORT/Encouragement:
    Psalm 27:5 Psalm 31:7 Psalm 57:2, 3 Psalm 62:1, 2 Psalm 119:50 Psalm 138:7,8 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17

    But the place I go to for COMFORT is the Comforter as I read Psalm 23 or sing it... it is there in the valley, the Shepherd brings me comfort...

    I went to a lone spot on the beach today with 3 dogs, looking for a place of comfort... and did not find it; the waves were rough, and no comfort can be found with 3 stragglers on chains. So back home to my room of comfort. I think in my past, I use to lean too much on others (my husband, though he was not at all)for the comfort I needed at times... at church, I would find comfort with people dear to me or alone... there was comfort. I guess cuddling up with a good book brings comfort. The image I see is next to a fireplace in a rocker with a beagle dog(lol) at my feet and a good book as I snuggle under a comforter, gazing outside at snow covered pines... with a cup of hot chocolate. Hmmmm...sounds like MN home but have not had that for more than a decade... visions of heaven are much more comforting now.

    Hope this finds you well, enjoying a grand ole' fourth of July, thanking God for our freedom in Christ and our nation... and being Comforted by the One and Only Comforter... peace & love,
    Peggy

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  11. Comfort is knowing I will meet our Lord Jesus Christ someday, and knowing he is in charge.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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  12. Oh, such comfort was given to me by all your wonderful comments. I have to agree that one of the greatest sources of comfort in my life is all of you! I'm going to grab a few words/thoughts from each comment - and at the end, I think we'll have a great overview of the word *comfort*

    Debbie - A verbal hug, a tender interchange (BTW, thanks for your sweet thoughts at the end...)

    Paula - removal of anxiety and sorrow

    Kathy - a place of rest, being still, knowing God is always in the *Driver's Seat* (BTW, we can do tea anytime!)

    Joan - physical hugs, loving prayers, and encouraging words from others

    Sandie - being safe in the Lord's hands

    So Abundantly - peace of mind, a personal relationship with God

    Pain to Purpose - saying the right thing AND relieving some of the strain

    Betty - an able, capable God who can do ANYTHING

    Marsha - knowing God is in control

    Peggy - calm, serene, gentle, and peaceful strength and consolation - visions of Heaven (though I have to say I LOVED your mountain image - hot chocolate, a comforter, a good book, AND a beagle? OK, that's an earthly little taste of Heaven!)

    Ginger - knowing that Jesus is in charge, and we will meet Him face to face someday

    And where do we find comfort?

    In good books, good food and drink, good places. In the arms of those we love. In the presence of family and friends. In the prayers of believers. In their encouraging and consoling words. In a quiet spirit and a still moment. In the Word of God. In the whispers of the Holy Spirit. In the eyes and arms of our Savior, Jesus. In the grace of our personal relationship with our Father. In the sure knowledge that all is under His control. In the Shadow of His providential wings. In the confident hope that one day we WILL see Him face to face.

    GOD BLESS - comfort to you all!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)