"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Childlike

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: childlike

How would you define the word childlike?

What is the difference between being childlike and being childish?

What is childlike faith, and why do you think Jesus calls us to practice it?


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!"

TOUCH MY HANDS - A Poem

A poem - written from the perspective of the disciple Thomas:


TOUCH MY HANDS

Life seems so hard, so empty now
So often I feel lost,
Even though I'm one who followed you
And watched you pay the cost.

But then you died and left us
To find our way alone,
All your promises vanished
In a tomb, behind a stone.

I am also angry
Though rumors now abound,
They say that you have risen
But I know you're not around.

I guess I could be persuaded
If proof I could behold,
But should I put my faith alone
In words that I've been told?

We eleven sit together
And they are full of hope,
But I am battling emotions
So strong I can barely cope.

The doors are locked, I checked myself
Yet suddenly he is here,
A man who looks like Jesus
Who asks me to draw near.

I say, "It's me, it's Thomas
With questions, and full of doubt,
Are you who they say you are,
How will I ever find out?"

He speaks to me with patience
"Thomas, put your finger here,
Touch My hands, touch My side
Their message should be clear."

I am trembling as I draw close
I touch the wounds and know,
Indeed this is my Savior
I can feel His Spirit flow.

"Don't be faithless anymore,
Now that you perceive,
And bless those who without this sight
Still faithfully believe."

Oh Lord, we're so like Thomas
With questions, and full of doubt,
And yet we strive to keep our faith
While always seeking You out.

Because even today You speak to us
You listen to our demands,
And soothe away our questions
By saying, "Touch My hands."


- Sharon Kirby
© September 21, 2002



A doubting disciple named Thomas would not believe the Savior had risen until he could physically touch His hands. 

"I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." 

Eight days later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again, and this time Thomas was there. Jesus told Thomas to touch His wounds, and finished by saying, "Don't be faithless any longer. BELIEVE!"

Needless to say, Thomas did just that!

And then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."

You know what?! That's you and me He's talking about!! WE are the ones He calls blessed, because we believe with the eyes of faith. Because of the Holy Spirit, who is present with us at all times, God can be as real to us as His Son was to Thomas.

(read the story of Thomas in John 20:24-29)

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Security

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: security

What does the word security mean to you?

What earthly things (seemingly) offer us security?

Do you think seeking security can become idolatry?  If yes, how so?

How does the believer find security in God?


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!"

LESSONS FROM A BEAGLE - Yachting

Yes, it's been a very long time, but I have another Marty story.

About a week ago I had the privilege of accompanying Marty on his very first boating excursion!

Call him the original "Salty Dog"!

A little over a year ago, my sons and their dad purchased a sailboat – (I still can't believe the DEAL they got on it…) – and my youngest son decided it was time for Marty to have his inaugural cruise.  I love that I was invited along for the ride.

And…for this very important occasion, my son bought Marty his own life preserver.  Honestly, I'm not sure that I have ever seen anything cuter than a beagle in a bright orange lifejacket.

Son and I expected Marty to try to take it off, or bite it off – he's sorta notorious for doing that with "clothes" – but no!  That dog let us put on his life preserver, and he was so proud.  I really think he knew that there was a grand adventure waiting just around the corner…

So, we got on the boat.

Marty sat next to me on the cockpit cushion as we steered out from the dock.  I thought to myself, "Wow.  This is great.  Marty's just going to sit calmly next to me the whole time."  Well, he sat for a while anyway.  And then his nose took over!  C'mon – he's a hound.  And that little nose of his was wiggling like a bunny – so busy taking in every smell.

We motored around for about an hour.

Marty was in hound heaven – back and forth, back and forth – smells and sights galore.  Once I heard people on another boat say, "Oh, look at that cute dog over on that boat."  I smiled, Son smiled – Marty sniffed.

Things were going good, so my son decided to venture out of the harbor just a little bit.  There's a jetty that leads out to the big blue Pacific Ocean, and just past the jetty is a buoy.  Our plan was to circle that and come back. Just so Marty could see the seals on the buoy…

Well, as we got closer to the end of the jetty, the swells of the ocean began to rock the boat.  And Marty changed his tune…

Before I knew it, one wandering beagle had snuggled up right next to me, laid down, and placed his cute little head in my lap.

And that is where he stayed until we were well within the harbor again.

He was unimpressed by the seals, by the way.

The more I pondered this "three hour tour" – the more I learned something.

You know, we're all *boating along* in this big old adventure we call life.  And most of the time, it's a smooth harbor cruise.

But then, of course, there are those other times – the patches of rough water, the rocking and rolling of troubling circumstances, the waves of fear…

What do we do in those times?

Well, if you're anything like me, you start flailing your arms around, running back and forth in a panic, and shouting out like those crazy disciples, "LORD! Do you even care that we're going to drown??"

But then a beagle spoke to me.

What did Marty do when the way started getting rough?

He hunkered down.

I'm thinking that that is a very good spiritual lesson.  During the rough times in my life, rather than giving in to fear and distraught behavior, I should simply move in close to my Savior.  Lay myself down next to Him. Put my head on His lap.

And wait...

I'm sure Marty was unsettled by the waves – but I don't think he was scared.

I believe that he trusted my son and I to bring him back to safety.

Hmmm.

It occurs to me that when Jesus told the storm to be still, He could also have been speaking to the hearts of His followers.

"Peace, be still."

I think so often when I look at the tumultuous waves around me, I just want Jesus to calm them (i.e. – take them away).  And very often, He graciously does just that.  But, what I think He'd rather do is calm the waves raging within me.

Sometimes when I ask Him to bring tranquility to the *outer stuff,* I'm really asking Him for something less than what He truly desires to give me.  I want less anxious circumstances – HE wants to give me peace.

So, the three things that Marty taught me on his maiden voyage?

Know when to tuck in close.

Trust your master.

Wait out the storm.


Thank you, Marty.  Thank you, Jesus.


What is your normal reaction to the storms of life?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Power

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: power

Can power be a bad thing?  If yes, in what ways?

What is the difference between power and strength?

Would you rather be powerful or strong?

How is man's power different than the power of God?


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!"

THE "SERPENTINE" PATH

So, I have found a 3' x 3' wireless *hot spot* in my backyard.

It's situated on a park bench (left behind by the previous owners), next to some boulders, at the edge of a steep drop-off into a ravine.  (Evidently, though I am not soaring on wings like eagles, I am expected to sit in one of their aerie nests…)

For the record, I am still trying to figure out the subconscious reasons that I am procrastinating on getting regular internet service up here.  That could be a blog post (or twenty) in itself.

But I digress.

Back to my miracle telecommunications oasis.

It's far short of perfect.  It offers a very weak signal that is notorious in its fickle reliability.  Add to that, the download time is even slower than when I was on dial-up.  And, I only get short blocks of time when it even works at all.

But, until I figure out what the deal is with my inability to stop stalling on this internet hook-up issue, this service will suffice.

So, last week I'm sitting on the park bench, checking emails and online banking as quickly (HA!) as I can before I lose service.

The day is gorgeous – beautiful cloudless blue skies, a warm breeze.

All of a sudden, I hear this weird sound.

I can't quite tell what it is – maybe air leaking, or maybe water.

At first I think of the irrigation system the previous owner set up.  There is a labyrinth of black tubing surrounding our whole house.  Some is for outdoor lighting (which doesn't seem to work) – and some is for those drip-like watering systems.

I'm thinking it's the water – and here ensues my little internal dialogue:

"Why would "The Hub" turn on the water in the middle of the day?  Or maybe it was on a timer like a regular sprinkler system, and we just haven't noticed that yet because we haven't been outside at the time it went on.  Huh, that's kinda strange, though.  You'd think that we would have noticed that by now.  How odd…"

All this takes place as I turn around to see where the sound is coming from, as it sounds close by.

As I turn around, my frontal cortex (I think that’s the part of the brain that reacts by instinct) registers a sight that immediately triggers a huge "flight-or-fight" response in my body.

There, rearing back and hissing like an angry steam engine, is a giant snake – only about six inches away from my bare legs and flip-flop feet.

Poised to strike…

I get up quickly (understatement), while trying at the same time not to move so fast that I set this thing off.  Otherwise, it would probably bite me like a million times (hyperbole).

The problem is, I'm at the edge of a ravine.  There aren't many places to go.

Heart racing, I scoot out on a boulder, while trying not to drop my laptop.

Do you know that that snake starting crawling its way TOWARDS me???

Nowhere to go, feeling trapped, I prayed.

Finally, that stupid hissing snake wandered off into the bushes.

I ran into the house faster than you can say "I could've died."  (I know, because that's what I was chanting as I ran).

I ran all over, trying to find "The Hub" – finally locating him in the garage.  I tried desperately to get out what had happened, though I was shaking so bad I could hardly speak.

Remember that old rattlesnake that "The Hub" caught a couple of weeks ago – you know, the one that subsequently found a way to crawl out of its garbage can prison?  Well, I was sure that I had barely escaped its fangs.

However, "The Hub" is a bit of a herpetologist - (an expert on reptiles).

After much discussion, we determined that I had had a rather frightening encounter with a ticked-off gopher snake, not the dreaded rattlesnake.

FYI – some gopher snakes look very much like desert rattlesnakes. However, they hiss instead of rattle.  And, rattlesnakes in the mountains are much darker than other rattlesnakes.

Who knew?

Certainly not my frontal cortex.

It literally took me hours to calm down.

And then I started thinking about the spiritual lesson in all this – Ah yes, it got me pondering about that dirty old serpent enemy of ours.

You know, ever since I found out that we have rattlesnakes up here, when I'm outside, I walk with my head down.  I carefully watch where my feet are going, and I'm really on alert…

I try to be that way in my spiritual life, too.

I know that the enemy is out there, seeking to devour (or bite, as the case may be).  I know he's dangerous, treacherous, without sympathy.  He is a predator.  And he would enjoy nothing more than to strike me with his poison.

So, I watch.

But, here's the thing about him.

He's very, very sneaky.  He likes to lurk.  He likes to hide.  He likes to strike just when you think you're safe.

Before I sat down that day on the park bench, I really checked out my surroundings.  Everything looked fine.  However, I didn't count on those boulders being the perfect hide-out for a threat.

That's how the devil works, too.

He's a threat when we're looking for him, and he's a threat when we're not.

But here’s the other thing about him.

Though he likes to disguise himself as a rattlesnake, he's really only a gopher snake.  He can hiss and coil and threaten all he wants.  He can even bite me, but I won't die.

He isn't deadly.

You see, there was this cosmic "de-fanging" that took place at Calvary. Satan lost his venom.

We all do well to remember this.

Yes, the devil is threatening.  He is not without danger.  He can hurt us, he can scare us.  And he's after us, indeed.  So it's important to constantly be on the alert.

But we must never, ever forget – he is not deadly.

On this earth, we walk a serpentine path – there are twists and turns on the way.  Unanticipated bends.  Confusing forks in the road.  A wily old snake who's waiting and watching for us.

But we must never lose sight of the fact that we are also walking on the Narrow Way.  The sure way – the one lit up with the Lamp unto our feet, and the Light unto our path.

And we will surely arrive home…safely.


"Then the LORD God said to the serpent…'He will strike your head…'" (Genesis 3:14, 15)

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." 
(Romans 16:20)


How do you stay on alert for that wily old snake?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Anger

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:  anger

Do you think anger is a sin?  Why or why not?

What is the difference between anger and righteous indignation?

How does the wrath of God differ from human anger?


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!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Victory

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: victory

What does the word victory mean?

Do you think there's a difference between a win and a victory?  If yes, explain.

What feelings does a victory give?

In what ways do you claim victory in the middle of your defeats?


(Can you tell I've been watching a lot of the Olympics??)


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!"