When the fire becomes a flame

When the fire becomes a flame.



Why are there times when your walk with Christ ,that relationship is so on fire and other times its more like a flame just barely burning. Is it because life gets to full and too busy . Is it because your not truly happy ,in your marriage ,kids, family, job,friends,finances,maybe you feel your church is just skipping along and not doing Gods work or your growth has stagnated. Maybe your not in Gods Word daily or your prayer life is non-excitant,maybe you need a vacation . All these could be a possible reason for a flame instead of a fire.. But are they real reasons or just excuses?God desires for a strong relationship with him,he even provides the means for that too happen , through his son and his Word and he even dwells with us that is in us Rom 8:9. Christianity is the only religion were God comes to us for a relationship ,instead of us trying to earn his favor .

 People are allot of times self reliant,self sufficient,self supporting, autonomous. They don't want to admit to needing help from God or anyone else. People look at needing help as a sign of weakness, or as a form of insufficiency, and incompetence, I think you get the point. The good news is GOD is there to help us .

 I'm looking at this because my flame isn't very bright . As a Christian I know what Gods Word say's. I know what I need to do . Lets take a look at a few verses.
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
  6 humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 So what does this verse say :"cast all your anxieties on him. " The word anxieties in the greek is merimna can also be translated care or cares. Its the things that distract you ,to draw you in different directions its the stuff that clouds your mind with so much clutter that you cant think straight.

 When your mind is in that mode of operation that is cluttered with world events and life in general ,when your not sober minded or clear thought , congested in the head what happens verse 8

8 a Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

SATAN or at least those that work for him commonly called demon's they are always on the prowl for those whom are fluttering in their walk ,their relationship with Christ in order to destroy them and devour them. May I also not leave out those whose relationship with Christ is strong. Satan is looking for a weak spot.


 So how do we combat this feeling of a lacking flame . Lets start with this. What do you desire? What motivate you? Who do you want to please.? Where are your priorities.?
These are all questions that only you can answer.

If the answer to the above is God or Jesus, or your relationship with Christ ,that walk in him. Then lets see if I can help you and myself get back to a fire instead of a flame.

Back to scripture. 1 Peter 5 :6a6 xHumble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God

As we can see in this scripture it starts with HUMBLE YOURSELVES . What does that mean to humble yourselves.? You need to come to the realization that you can't do a relationship alone ,your relationship with God is not just a one way street were God reaches down to us ,but also us taking his hand and letting him lead us. God  knew we would need help. He knew that at creation .Gen 2 when God made woman to be a helper to man ,to walk along side of him. And man was to cleave to the woman ,to hold fast to her this is the institution of marriage. Man and woman are one in life to support one another and consol one another .

Yet God in his eternity knew that this wouldn't be enough . Man kind falls from a relationship with Gods and sins while in the garden. So God had another plan in place cause he knew this would happen.
Christ death on the cross and his resurrection . 1 Peter 2 :24 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.


Christ the second person of the trinity God himself came to earth in the form of sinful flesh Rom 8:3 and BORE OUR PENALTY FOR SIN . That was a death on the cross.Why did he do this /1 John4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

He Loves us this was an act of humility he came down to humanity instead of saying you come to me ,earn your right to have a relationship with me. He provided the way  for our relation ship with him. It starts with HUMILITY, coming to the realization that we need GOD so if your in a current relationship and have excepted Christ as your personnel Savior and are floundering in that relationship ,then humble yourself and call upon the Lord to strengthen you and direct you. You cant do this alone. If you haven't excepted Christ then its time to do so. If your flame is low if its because of any of the things I mentioned earlier , well then its time to get back to the Word and pray on a regular basis. It can be a hard habit to make and a easier one to break.
 2 Chor 7:14  14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Seek his face ,humble yourselves and pray. Your land can be your life.

Back to 1Peter5:6a Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God

Under the mighty hand of GOD ?

Humbling yourself under God bing subject to his authority and his discipline ,his guidance, in his mighty power ,the hand of God is upholding and persevering God is present protecting and abiding.. When we come under the authority of God we can see things for what they are and be able to determine if what is happening is a growth thing or something that is destructive. Under Gods authority we can see what is useful and what is not. Under Gods authority we can see what has a here and now benefits and what has an eternal benefit.. Under Gods authority we can have the guidance needed to move forward in life and not get bogged down by life's everyday issues.
If your flame is low are you submitting to the authority of God and allowing his mighty power to work in and through you.. Are you trying to carry your burdens by yourself .
There is an aspect of Gods power that I haven't looked at yet. The church or body of Christ
Gal 6: 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The church is suppose to be the body of Christ bearing each others burdens. For encouragement and strength. I think its unfortunate that I don't think the church as a whole practices the sharing of burdens with one another. Probably has to do with trust issues or maybe you see what someone is like outside of the body of Christ and it makes you wonder if they truly have a relationship with God
I my self don't really practice the sharing of my issues .Why ? Maybe I think I can handle this myself ,or I don't want to trouble them with this , or they have their own issues to deal with .  How about this I don't want them to think I'm weak.  One thing Christians may do ,I know I'm guilty of this is over annualizing the burden. The scripture doesn't say in Gal 6:2 "share only the burdens that don't make you look weak nor does it say annalize to see if its worth sharing . Its say's Bear one another's burdens. " kind of straight forward. If you have people praying for you during rough time sharing in your burden and encouraging you during this time of trouble then just maybe just may be your flame will burn bright during this time. On the reverse is having people praying during the not so troubled some times.

Christ said in Mat 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Do you want to have that rest,from any of the issues mentioned at the beginning of this paper ,give it over to Christ ,share with the body of believers. Ask God for someone in your life that you can share with . If you desire a flame that is bright and burning then ,you NEED to turn to God, You NEED to humble yourselves, you NEED to pray,you NEED to study, you NEED to share you burdens with other believers,you NEED to come to Jesus.
Let me finish with this I'm not trying to say you have to do all these things to have a viable flame but it sure doesn't hurt to follow the Word of God and share your life with other believers and instead of trying to be the pilot, step back and let God fly.

I pray that  you will humble yourselves and pray seeking Gods mighty hand of protection and peace laying your burdens before Christ and receiving his rest , I pray God will show you someone in your life that you can share your burdens with , to help you have a Flame of fire and not one that's barley flickering.
May your flame burn bright as you seek out the God of the Bible.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

"What is Ash Wednesday?"

Answer: Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent.

Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits. Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed by most Catholics and some Protestant denominations. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Ash Wednesday; instead, they start Lent on “Clean Monday.”

While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday, it does record accounts of people in the Old Testament using dust and ashes as symbols of repentance and/or mourning (2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3). The modern tradition of rubbing a cross on a person’s forehead supposedly identifies that person with Jesus Christ. 

Should a Christian observe Ash Wednesday? Since the Bible nowhere explicitly commands or condemns such a practice, Christians are at liberty to prayerfully decide whether or not to observe Ash Wednesday.

If a Christian decides to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent, it is important to have a biblical perspective. Jesus warned us against making a show of our fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16-18). We must not allow spiritual discipline to become spiritual pride.

It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God.

Give Thomas a break

Give Thomas a Break

This is a phrase not used much any more , “you're a doubting Thomas” It comes from Thomas not believing that Christ had risen without Thomas seeing proof .Thomas was one of the 12 Apostles.

 (John 20:24-25 ESV) Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Was Thomas in his right to want proof ,Why would the other 11  lie to him.

For just a moment let's look at what Luke has to say about Christ appearing to the disciples

So let's start with this  John 20:24 tells us that Thomas was not with the disciples when Christ appeared to them “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.”

So what was Thomas doing ? We don’t know ,maybe he was trying to figure out the next step .When Jesus was speaking of his death ,Thomas said to the other disciples “ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”(John 11:16 ESV) “Thomas was ready to die for Christ .Later in John 13:36-38 Peter said basically the same thing.

(Luke 24:36-43 ESV)

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

What were the other 11 doing ? John 20 :19 tells us they were locked in a room for they feared the Jews. .Thomas was out and about(some speculation) maybe he was late and got locked out . They were in hiding

Let's go back to Luke 24 .What was the reaction of the 11 in a locked room ,hiding from the Jews when Christ appeared to them v37But they were startled and  frightened and  thought they saw a spirit.

I get being startled, someone taps you on the shoulder you can be startled .They

Didn’t believe their own eye’s  they thought they saw a spirit or in today's terms maybe a ghost. They didn’t believe they doubted in their hearts. V38b why do doubts arise in your hearts? This is Christ asking them.

Christ shows them evidence V 39-40 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. gTouch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this,  he showed them his hands and his feet.

 In verse 38 dought arose in their hearts compare that to Luke 24:11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

When the women told the apostles of the resurrection they thought it to be a tale, a fable . With the exception of Peter he ran to the tomb, then went home marveling at what had happened (ESV) using the word marveling as the ESV does makes it sound like he was excited ,kind of beyond himself as to what had happened. Other translations use wondering to himself as to what had happened. I think that's a better word .Peter was wondering what happened to Jesus? Probably had all kinds of questions and scenarios going thru his head .He may have even been confused.  Remember in John 13:36-38  Peter said he would lay down his life ,and yet Jesus said you would deny me 3 times.All though Peter ran to the tomb he walked away from the tomb probably bewildered ,confused ,wondering.

When he was also locked in the room .May be he was trying to convince the others in the room?

As vocal as Peter has shown to be ,when Jesus showed up in the locked room Peter was either struck dumb with awe ,or just didn’t believe like the rest that were there. With the exception of Thomas the twin. Who wasn’t there. Even after Christ showed the 11 evidence that he was real they still disbelieved 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling,he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat? Thier disbelief was possibly like” this is to good to be true “,so Jesus gave more evidence that he wasn’t a spirit and ate before them.

All this to say ,instead of calling someone a doubting Thomas .They should be called a doubting disciple for they needed evidence even when Jesus was standing before them. Shame on you Peter. Thomas ‘s name doesn’t mean doubter , it means twin in scripture he is often referred to as Thomas the twin..