Woman vs. Fire

February: 
Give Thanks- "I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him." Verse 3.

Step One: Tell Him Thanks.

I slipped on my Uggs and an old, oversized, bleach stained sweater, grabbed my keys, and went to Randalls to pick up some firewood. 3 bundles, and many wood "crumbs" later, I huffed into my house, ready to sit by the fire and watch a movie. I unloaded some wood into the fireplace, and gathered my junk mail to be used as kindling.  Good bye, credit card companies. I don't need anymore of you!

Soon, I moved on to paper towels. It just wasn't catching like I needed it to, and it didn't help that the logs were a bit damp.  At one point, for some reason, the smoke blew into my house and not up my chimney.  Hurley started sneezing and whimpering like he thought I was crazy.  At that point, I think it became a challenge. Me. And Fire. 

I sat in my old, oversized, bleach stained sweater, covered in ashes and smoke, glaring at the logs that wouldn't light. They were giving me some serious attitude.

After much perseverance, I saw a tiny flame that was working all on its own. It was short lived, though.  A few hours and frustration later, my fire was started, small, but started.  I crawled up into my big, favorite quilt, and watched TV.

All of the fire stress probably defeated the purpose for it in the first place, but oh well.

Today,  I am thankful for fire. When you think about it, it's pretty cool.  It can start so small, and grow into something powerful.  In the same way, God's love smolders in us.  For that, I am thankful also. 


I can't write a blog about fire and NOT include the lyrics to my favorite campfire song, Pass it On. We used to sing it on the side of a mountain at Blue Haven, and we would literally shout.  I bet God liked our raw worship on nights like that. When we poured our hearts up to the stars, I just knew he heard us.

"It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, 

can warm up it it's glowing.
That's how it is with God's love, 

once you've experienced it,

it's fresh like spring, 

you want to sing, you want to pass it on.
What a wondrous time is Spring
When all the trees are budding.
The birds begin to sing,
the flowers start their blooming. 

I wish for you my friend
this happiness that I've found
You can depend on him
It matters not where your bound. 

I'll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The Lord of Life has come to me
I want to pass it on."