Fan into Flame

By Carin LeRoy –

My teenage son is a huge fan of the reality program “Man vs. Wild,” which shows people are surviving in isolated places across the globe. They scale rock faces, cross icy rivers, sleep in trees and eat strange, wiggly creatures. On almost every episode, they must make a fire. They gather bits of dry tinder, rub two sticks together until smoke forms, then blow gently until a flame sparks. Gingerly, they add kindling until they have a blaze large enough to cook food or warm themselves. That effort makes me thankful I have an electric stove where I turn a knob to cook.

In reading through Paul’s admonishment to Timothy, we see how he was encouraged develop the gifts given to him by God. He says, “I want you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1: 6 NIV). I was reminded of the effort it takes to start a fire. It isn’t easy. They search for the right materials, rub sticks until their hands are sore and work hard to get that fire started. Soon they are rewarded with a blaze big enough to provide warmth.

We are each bestowed with gifts given to us by God in order to use them to minister to others. These abilities need developing; to be fanned into a flame. We start small and gain confidence. Soon we watch as God utilizes them in an even greater way. Just as it takes effort to start a fire, we must work to cultivate those areas where God has bestowed our spiritual gifting. Usually, these gifts are something that comes naturally to us, and we enjoy them!

Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher from the nineteenth century, said that we should not only be using our gift, but we should also work to improve it. If you feel you are gifted in an area but lack the confidence to serve, then start small. Be diligent and soon you will see God using your gifts for an even greater impact.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for giving me a spiritual gift to use for others. Help me to be diligent in using, developing and improving that gift for an even greater impact for Your glory.

QUOTE: “And then, again, we must stir up our gift because it needs stirring. The gifts and graces of Christian men are like a coal fire which frequently require stirring as well as feeding with fuel…there must be stirring and fires go out sometimes for lack of it. There are times with us when we become dull and heavy, doing little or nothing–restless, indifferent. Then it is that we require rebuking. If there is a solid bottom of real grace in us, we only need the poker that we be stirred up and straightway the fire begins to burn.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

The Christmas Plan

By Carin LeRoy –

Last Christmas season I set aside a day to do my holiday baking. Homemade treats for family and friends would make nice gifts. I baked several mini cakes and then started making candy. Everything was going well. The cakes were in the oven, and the candy neared completion. Then a distraction caused me to burn the candy. When removing the mini cakes from their pans, they fell out in crumbles and chunks. Frustrated, I made a second batch of candy, only to have it fall out of the refrigerator and cover the floor.

It wasn’t a good day. All my time, effort and money accomplished nothing. About that time, my hubby walked in and looked at the mess in the kitchen.  Hearing my complaints and seeing my frustration, he suggested we go out to eat. I walked out the door with him and left my baking disasters behind. My plans to have homemade treats as gifts were unsuccessful.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there were those who wanted to destroy God’s plan to send a Savior to earth.  Hearing from the Magi that the King of the Jews was born, King Herod thought his throne was threatened. He searched to find baby Jesus to kill him. Angels appeared to the Magi and to Joseph in dreams to warn them, and they were able to avoid King Herod and escape his evil plan (Read Matthew 1-2). God was able to accomplish His plan and purpose to send a Savior to the world for the forgiveness of sins.

In Proverbs 19:21 we read, “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Isn’t it great to know that God’s plans and purposes always succeed? Even though we have days that don’t meet our expectations, we have a God whose power accomplishes all that He has intended. Our lives are in His hands, and he is able to accomplish His every purpose.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that Your purpose and plans always succeed. Thank You for the gift of Your son, Jesus, who came to earth to provide us with forgiveness of sin.

BIBLE VERSE: “An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2: 13-15 NIV).

Mary’s Willing Heart

By Carin LeRoy –

Christmas is a time of busyness: shopping, gift-wrapping, parties and family time. I love to decorate the house, put up my nativity scene and celebrate the season with many past traditions. But in all the season’s activities, do we give ourselves time to reflect on the events that occurred for Jesus to be born of the Virgin Mary? Do we stop to think about what birthing Christ meant to her?

She was probably a teenager when she became pledged to Joseph. This pledge meant she belonged to Joseph even though they were not yet married, and it was more binding than our modern-day engagements. Only a written divorce could separate their agreement. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary to tell her she would miraculously give birth to Jesus, her response was, “May it be as you have said,” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

She was willing to take on public humiliation as an unwed mother, to risk Joseph misunderstanding or not believing her and to let others in the community look down on her. God had looked on her with favor and selected her for a task that many others might have rejected. She chose to let God use her to accomplish a much bigger purpose – even though it meant personal suffering for a time.

Do we have the same submissive spirit as Mary? Will we respond with the same quick answer? As we celebrate this Christmas season, let’s also remember that Christ could only come to earth through the willingness of a young woman, named Mary, who chose to suffer for a time for God’s greater purpose. “May it be to me as you have said,” should be our response, too, to a Savior who might ask something difficult of us. May we have a heart as willing as Mary’s to heed the voice of God.

PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart that is willing to heed Your voice, even if it might mean personal suffering. Help me to see that You may have a greater purpose and desire an impact far greater than my own comfort.

BIBLE VERSE: “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1: 34-38 NIV).

The Little Things Do Count: Integrity

By Carin LeRoy –

Recently I went through a drive-thru and ordered lunch. When the clerk handed my food to me, I said, “You returned too much change.” Then I handed him the extra money. Surprised he said, “Wow, Ma’am, thank you very much.” Only after I called it to his attention did he realize his mistake. It would have been easy to drive away with the extra money. Certainly, over the years, I have been shortchanged on poorly prepared or missing food. No one would have known, and I would have $5.00 more in my pocket.

But God would have known. Doesn’t that matter?

Do our lives display integrity? The world has influenced God’s people in many ways: Are we diligent at work, or are we a slacker? We inform the clerk if we’ve
been short-changed, but do we return it when given too much? Do office
supplies end up at home and we fail to return them?  Have we called in sick when we really plan a day off? Do we borrow a book or item from a friend and never return it? Do we make a habit at work to check Facebook throughout the day or text family and friends?

In a culture that chooses to think nothing of these indiscretions, have we, as believers, lost our sense of integrity that the little things do count? In the Old Testament, we see a description of Job as “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil,” (Job 1: 1 NIV). It wasn’t that Job was without sin, but his life was marked by honor and truth. He lived his life by God’s standards, not man’s. People in the community couldn’t fault how he lived his life. He was loved and respected. His fear of God kept him reaching for the highest standard.

A person of true character is the person who chooses to do right, even when no one is looking. It is a life is ruled by integrity and fear of God. His standards are high – even if it goes against cultural norms. Let’s be people of integrity as we live our lives, not only because others are watching but because we have a God that desires us to be blameless and upright people.

PRAYER: Lord, make me a person of integrity. Let my life be marked by character even in the small things I encounter each day. Keep me mindful that I don’t live by cultural norms but by the standards You have set forth in Your Word.

BIBLE VERSE: “My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23: 11,12 NIV).

 

 

Opinion Versus Fact

By Carin LeRoy –

Sitting in a courtroom recently as a prospective juror, 24 of us were asked questions and expected to give truthful answers. Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys were seeking  people who would give an impartial judgment on the case.

In the courtroom, the judge over the proceedings was seated high above everyone, giving him an aura of authority and control. His words were to be heeded, and when he spoke, everyone listened. We were to judge the case by the facts – not opinion or bias.

How many of us live life by our opinion, how life appears to be, or what others think of us, rather than the facts God presents to us in scripture?

Opinion: God can’t forgive me for all the things I’ve done.
Fact: “As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us” (Psalm 103:12 NET).

Opinion:  It’s okay to tell a little white lie.
Fact: “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful” (Proverbs 12:22 NIV).

Opinion: I don’t have gifts God can use.
Fact: “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 4:10 NET).

Opinion: God doesn’t have a purpose for my life.
Fact: “For I know what I have planned for you, says the Lord. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NET).

Opinion: I can’t forgive what that person has done to me.
Fact: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

Let’s remember to look at what God says. He has the final word, and His truth can be trusted. We look at the facts of scripture and take God at His word, by faith.

PRAYER: Lord, Help me to check my thoughts, attitudes and actions against scripture so that they are consistent with the truth of Your word. Help me to learn how wrong thinking can affect my life. Give me a heart that follows after You.

BIBLE VERSE: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NIV).

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