"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Light

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: light

Of all the things that give off light, what is your favorite and why?

Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world."  What do you think He meant?

How can we show our *light* to the world in a more effective way?


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!"

LIZARD HIDE-N-SEEK

Yes, it's what it sounds like.

Makes for a good story, though.

Wanna hear it?

It started off innocently enough.  "The Hub" was outside working in the backyard, and I thought I'd go keep him company.

Things were fine when I was outside.  It was when I decided to come back in the house that the shenanigans started.

We have a door from the backyard that enters into our main room.  And in the mountains, there's no "demilitarized zone" between yard and house – no safe patio break.  It goes from outside yard (mountain wildness) right into house (domesticated abode).

As soon as I opened the door, I noticed a tiny little lizard run over the door jamb – right into the main room of our house.

OK, yes, I did say tiny – he was only about 2 inches long.  So, he didn't really warrant an *eek* from me.  (A totally different scenario than the time I chased a HUGE foot-long lizard out of my house down the hill…)

So, I wasn't scared of Tiny Mr. Lizard.  Just more panicky about how we were going to get him back outside.  We, of course, meaning "The Hub".

My big brave Reptile Hunter walked into the house to give chase.  I stayed outside and looked at the safari through a window.  Man, that little guy could move!

"The Hub" gave a valiant effort trying to trap him.  He scooted away fast, but then promptly reversed direction when cornered.  I saw "The Hub" chase him into the corner…

Oh no, I thought…

I came in and "The Hub" said to me, "I don't know where he went."

I did.

"Uh, hon, I think he went down through the heat register into the heat duct."

Yeah.

"Well, he'll probably come out later."

That was the Great Herpetologist's assessment of the situation (as he went back outside).  It wasn't good enough for me.

So, I waited a minute or two, then went over and looked at the register. There, peeking back at me from inside the grate, were two tiny little beady eyes.  I ran outside again to get "The Hub"…

"I see him," I said.  "He's in the register."

Of course, just as we came back inside, the little guy was poking his head out of the register, preparing to make a hasty exit.  And, of course, when he saw us, he ran back into the duct.  This time, I couldn't see him.

Oh, but I could hear him.

Scratchy, scratchy.

We took the register off the duct, and Tiny Mr. Lizard was nowhere to be seen.

"The Hub" wasn't particularly worried.

I conjured up several dire outcomes:

The tiny lizard would grow up into a big lizard and crawl over me in my sleep some night.

The tiny lizard would grow up into a big lizard and chew through the brand-new ducting.

The tiny lizard would NOT grow up into a big lizard because he would die in the brand-new ducting.

The tiny lizard would NOT grow up into a big lizard because we would fry him when we turned on the heating next time.  (Does fried lizard smell anything like frogs' legs???)

Sigh.

"The Hub" figured that he was too small to climb out by himself – the ducting was too slippery.  So he put a towel down the *chute* in case the little guy needed something to grab on to.

We waited…no show.

Then I had the brilliant idea to turn the fan on.  Maybe we could "blow" him out, I reasoned.

So, we turned on the fan and waited.

"The Hub" went back outside.  I waited some more, and then went over to check the towel.  Nope, didn't see him.  But then…

AHA!

Almost completely camouflaged in the rug was Tiny Mr. Lizard clinging to the side of the opening in the floor.

I rushed back outside (yet again) to get the Reptile Wrangler.  This time he gently poked the little guy with a stick, and kindly prodded him out into the open.  The lizard was cold because of the air from the fan, so he moved very slowly.

"The Hub" successfully caught the tiny little booger.  I have to admit, up close and personal he was really cute.

We re-released him into the wild, where I'm sure he'll grow up into a big lizard.  Maybe he'll come back and say "Hi" someday.

You gotta know there's a lesson in this, don't you?

I pondered later how much effort we had put into chasing down one tiny little lizard.  We did an exhaustive search, capture, and re-locate mission. Why?  Well, because we knew that though he was very, very small, Mr. Tiny Lizard could potentially cause some big problems.

Isn't it like that with sin?

Especially those tiny sins, that don't seem very threatening.  

Little doubts.

Small white lies.

A tidbit of gossip.

Harmless flirtations.

You know what I'm talking about…

We just don't think they're that big a deal.  We figure that they'll work themselves out sooner or later.  No harm, no foul.  So often, we don't even bother chasing them down.

But small sins can eventually cause some big problems.

Tiny lizards are pests – potential home-wreckers.

Tiny sins are potential heart-wreckers.  They can wreak havoc on our spiritual ducting.

So we do well to hunt them down and capture them and re-locate them outside!


Do you have any *tiny sin* that needs to be hunted down and removed from your life?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Birthday

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: birthday

Do you like or dislike your birthday?  Why?

What would you love to do for a perfect birthday celebration?

Do you remember your *second* birthday, when you were born again?

If you feel like it, I would love to hear your story!


(The word this week was inspired by my youngest son's 26th birthday.  How did that happen?  I'm only 29...ahem, times two!)  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Son!  


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!"

RE-LEASING MY BURDEN

I was reading the other day.

Seems like I'm doing a lot of reading lately.

Learning, listening, lounging –

And I read something that a friend wrote that really triggered something in my heart.  She was talking about *letting go* of a particularly difficult situation in her life.  About how hard it is for her to do that.  How relinquishing control is often a moment-by-moment process.

How well I relate.

A tired mom, wanting and waiting to release the burden of care that she is carrying.

Yes, I get it.

Those of us who are mothers will totally understand the weight of love and concern that we have for our children.  (By the way, those of you who aren't mothers still care for other people deeply – you will also understand what I'm talking about).

And we should care.

If we ever took that job of mothering seriously, we will care…deeply.

But sometimes we can get overburdened, overwhelmed, overcome by the things we care about.  Especially when we face the ugly fact that we have little control over another person's circumstances, decisions, feelings.

I often find myself being the "emotional burro" of the family.

Might I just say in my defense that I come by that role naturally.

I am the first-born child, and oldest daughter of a first-born son and an only child (my parents).  I am also the first-born granddaughter of two first-born sons – and the oldest cousin in my family.  (Might I just add that both of my parents were also the oldest grandchildren and oldest cousins on one side of their families).

Yup.

Overly responsible.
Overly conscientious.
Overly…everything.

(Sign me up for the counseling couch)

The weight I carry for others – especially for my children – heavy, heavy at times.

Now, as a believer and a follower of Jesus, I know that I am not in charge. (I'm not, right?  Funny how I keep having to check on that…)

The Lord is in infinite control of all things, and all people.

So, I know that my spiritual mandate is to allow Him to have that control. To exhibit my yielding to His sovereignty by trusting and obeying Him.

I really, really try to do that.

But I am struck by the spiritual irony that I am now actually striving to rest.

Silly, huh?

As I pondered what my friend wrote, I thought about that word *release*.

The definition of lease is this (taking out the specific legal stuff so it makes sense emotionally!):

A contract by which one party conveys [something or someone] to another...

In that sense, God is asking me, inviting me to do just that.  To make a contract with Him to convey all my *stuff* to Him.

When I thought about that, releasing my burden actually becomes...

RE-leasing.

Stopping once again to hand over to Him all those things that burden me.

To once again move into that place where I abide with Him.  Where I allow the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to comfort and calm me.  

I re-lease in order to once again find peace.

It's not easy for this crazy first-born.  

Very often I find myself *taking back* all the people and situations that I thought I had given to the Lord.  Evidently, some of the things that I think I "nail to the cross" are actually just thumb-tacked…or loosely held on with Post-It notes…

Just sayin'…

But, God is calling this overly responsible, overly conscientious mother to give it ALL to Him.

Yes.

Today, though with a troubled heart and an anxious spirit, I will re-lease it all to Him who loves me.

Hope you can, too.


Is there a burden that God is asking you to re-lease to Him?  


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Guilty

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: guilty

What are some typical ways we deal with guilty feelings?

Why is it tempting to ignore a guilty conscience?

What is the difference between productive guilty feelings and harmful guilty feelings?

What does it mean to you to be declared, "NOT GUILTY"?

(These questions were prompted by my Bible Study this week in the book of Ezra)


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!"

SAFE...IN HIS HANDS

I am happy to report that I am adjusting to my new home.

The mountains are beginning to work their magic on me – and I can feel the beauty of my surroundings sinking into my soul.

Truly, the views here are fantastic.

A couple of weeks ago, "The Hub" and I took a hike – (there are tons of trails up here).  Notice that I said we took this hike together.  It was not one of those times when I said to "The Hub" – "Go take a hike."

Yes, this was an afternoon glorying in God's creation.

However, though I am doing better and better up here, my heart is still heavy.

Because, you see, a person very dear to me who still lives *down the hill* is really struggling.

Walking through a deep valley, a dark place.

Many people have come alongside, offering comfort and empathy – and advice.  I continue to offer what counsel I can.  Praying always that the Holy Spirit would make me say (or not say) what is needed.

But, at the end of the day, this person's struggle is their own.

Walking through a wilderness, in many ways, is a solitary journey.

The hardest thing for me has been watching this person wrestle spiritually. I know this person is a believer, but to witness their frustration and disappointment with God is tough.

Sometimes I wonder (worry) – what if they give up on the whole thing and walk away?

I have no control over this, of course.

Just as each person's wilderness is their own, so it is with their faith.

Salvation is a matter between God and each person.

Single, solitary – deeply personal.

The "walking out" of that faith is also an individual journey.

Absolutely – we do not walk alone.  We have friends who walk beside us, we have the Word of God – we have the eternal Presence of God Himself, the One who never leaves us nor forsakes us.

But, in some ways, our soul is alone in the world, and alone in its communion with God.

And so, I watch this person struggle – with life issues, yes – but even more painfully, with faith issues.

The enemy taunts me as I watch him taunt this person.

"They're going to be totally ineffective in their life.  They're going to turn their back on God.  You know that, right?"

Oh, how I hate his words.

As I watch him "pick on" this other person, I want to punch the devil in the eye.

"Go away!  Leave them alone," I want to scream.

Yesterday, I was making the long and lonely two-hour trip back home after spending a few days down below where I used to live.  I was being tortured by my thoughts…

And then, a Voice spoke to me:

"I WILL NOT LET GO."

Just five words.

Just five incredible words.

Sometimes God speaks in a whisper.  This time He shouted.

I nearly felt the car reverberate with the resounding promise.

God repeated it several times, each time sounding more forceful, more inspiring, more comforting…

"I. WILL. NOT. LET. GO."

And then, right after I heard it yet again, I turned on my radio to a local Christian station.  The first words I heard were literally…

"…to the ends of the earth."

I cried.

Can you believe the impact of that thought?  Said by God to me, and then *coincidentally* coordinated with the radio?

"I WILL NOT LET GO…to the ends of the earth."

Now I know that I have no control over the course of this other person's life, and not much influence over their faith.

But God, who loves them way more than I do, knows all about them. Knows intimately about this deep valley, this dark place where they are walking.  Because He is there with them – whether they feel Him or not.

And I know the truth – the Truth – that God will not let go of His child. He will never turn His back on them, He will bring them through this time – He will walk them through the refining fire into their purpose, His purpose, on the other side.

I know because God told me.

"I WILL NOT LET GO."


May these words from HIS Word comfort and strengthen you, as they have done for my weary and heavy-laden heart as I apply them to my dear struggling friend:


"From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me." (Psalm 129:2)

"'They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 1:19, NIV)

"From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me." (Psalm 61:2, 3)

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." (Isaiah 40:28, NIV)

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

"And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day."  (John 6:39)


Yes indeed – the Creator OF the ends of the earth will go TO the ends of the earth to help us when we cry out to Him FROM the ends of the earth.

And though the gates of hell itself may come up against His children, not one will ever be lost.


Praise His glorious name.


What promise has God spoken to you lately?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Harvest

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: harvest

What is your favorite thing about the harvest season?

What do you think Jesus meant when He said the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few?

How can you become a more effective partner in the kingdom to see that the harvest comes in?


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!"