The atmosphere was so pure and crisp, yet the light snow was an indication of the major snowstorm that was invading the upper altitudes where I had arrived days earlier. I had made a pilgrimage back to the mountain’s where I had grown up and made memories over forty years ago.

I was hoping for much better circumstances to be camping in for sure. The temperatures were getting ready to plummet to zero during the nights and massive depths of snow beginning to cover the mountains; The shift in the weather began to convince me that a beautiful warm lodge would have been much better suited for me.

I arrived high in the mountains of the Idaho Rockies in early October, and had dodged a early winter storm, but was now directly in the face of another. I knew getting enough firewood for several days was a priority! Knowing it was going to be covered soon with plenty of wet and cold snow. I began frantically gathering everything I could get with the limited tools I had.

The area was just beginning to rebound from a devastating fire several years ago that came through this area and ultimately burned over 95,000 acre’s of beautiful landscape. So all around me was charred pine trees standing as a memorial of the death and loss. Blackened with the evidence of the fire, yet still a life source for someone else’s warmth and fire. I began to stack the limbs and easily obtainable pieces for my long stay.

Over the many days that I was there God began to unfold a principle and His promise to me. What man defines as a “Has Been or No Good” God defines as better than before and seasoned.

It says in Lev. 6:13, that the priests of God were to keep the fire burning. God had supernaturally started the fire in the tabernacle and temple but man was to keep it burning. And when we think we are beyond burning God has other things in mind! In 1 Kings 18 Elijah soaked the wood and sacrifice three times with gallons of water. (1 Kings   18:33) Then the fire from heaven consumed it and accepted it! Don’t discard what God accepts!

Fire is such a necessity and comfort in survival. Just like the fire of God in our lives! We need it personally; our families need us to be on fire and all those we come in contact with! We must be fire carriers. (Ps.104: 4)

At the end of my stay in the wilderness of Idaho it was evident to me that these blackened and dead looking trees, which had been through a major disaster had now become a life source unto me. I was covered in black soot from head to toe, with hands cut from breaking branches, looking as if I would never be clean again. This so called “burned twice” wood was a life-saver to my existence. What appeared to be burnt out and no good was actually seasoned with fire to the point that it was superior to serve the circumstances that I was living in.

I am not sure if you’re hearing what I am saying or not, but if you think because of the devastation that you have gone through makes you a “burnt out” or a “ has been”. I am here to say you have been letting someone other than God define you! In Matt 12:20 Jesus quotes Isaiah saying, “A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench”.

God is not through with you yet! What you think was your ending was God’s equipping grace for your next season. You are now ready to be used for others warmth and survival.             (come back for next week’s    Pt2 – Burn Baby Burn) 

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