FIRE!

“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” 1 Thes. 5:19

Wanna put out the Spirit’s fire?  Ignore Him.  Skip church, don’t read your Bible, never pray, and, of course, don’t hang out with Christians.

 Or, you can smother Him.    This might be most effective method.

Hollywood and sites like Hulu can be especially helpful here.   Just watch whatever’s the latest and coolest.  Don’t concern yourself with the rating or content.  However, the sicker and more twisted it is, the better. 

 ” If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:16

On the other hearth,  how do you keep a fire going?  Add logs, of course.

Here’s some logs to throw on your heart’s fire.  May their truth warm your soul:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  Titus 2:11-14

The Fireplace Prayer (click on highlighted words/phrases for the verses being prayed):

“Oh, Abba Father in Heaven,  You are and You are a rewarder of them that earnestly seek You.  I am earnestly seeking you now to light a fire in my soul.  The Apostle Paul warned us not to put out the Spirit’s fire.  Help me to hold onto the good and avoid every form of evil, like it says to do in 1 Thessalonians.  Show me what is evil and what is good, ’cause sometimes it’s a little tricky and my flesh is so weak.  Thank you for your grace that teaches me to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions.  These are the ways I know that I put out Your fire, Lord– ______, ________, _________.  Thank you for being faithful to forgive me when I confess my sins to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen!

Is your hearth empty?  Click the pic below to light a fire! **

**fire image from: http://www-nlpir.nist.gov/projects/tv2003/active/topics/example.images/fire.jpg

Draw Near

 

” Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”James 4:8

 To stave off the winter chill, I love to stoke a blazing fire in the hearth.  But, unless I draw near, I won’t feel the warmth.

“… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…”  Hebrews 10:22

There’s warmth near the Lord.  I don’t want to be like the woman in the next verse.  Seems like it’s pretty chilly the way she lives:

“She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.”  Zepheniah 3:2

How ’bout you?  Feeling cold inside?  Throw another log on the fire and draw near.” What you do with Jesus is the most important decision you will ever make.” ~Ron Hutchcraft  Click on the pic above to discover how to come in from the cold and sit by Christ’s hearth.

Oh, the places you’ll go…

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.” ~Dr. Seuss

“The Fire”, Pt. I:

“The Fire”, Pt. II:

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…”  Deuteronomy 30:19