The early summer morning smelled with the fragrance of mowed grass and wild flowers as we entered the ally behind our house. The cartoons had just gotten over and now it was time to begin living out the adventures of the super heroes we had just watched. Like most young boys my brother and I had adventure oozing out of every thought and opportunity that lay before us. This day it was a stroll through the alley full of imaginary villains. As we cautiously moved forward we saw the open door of a neighbors garage wooing us as if with a magical pull. Moments into this spontaneous-crafted adventure, jumps from behind a pile of cardboard boxes a bigger than life “German Shepard” with three inch teeth barking and snarling at our intrusion.
This gigantic dog that was tied up behind the boxes was now barking as to sound the alarm of the trespassers. Being scared out of our wits and committed to
Jesus is not only the Lord of the Harvest but comes as a fire to purge us and make us better. (tweet)
defend our 8 year old heroic honor as seen on TV, we grabbed the box of wooden matches that seemed to be divinely placed on a counter in hands reach. It was a natural response to begin striking and throwing these perfect weapons at the man-eating dog to seal our victory.
Well… as if in seconds the smoke and flames began to dance from the pile of boxes between the dog and us. The increased barking signaled the owner to come running and rescue the ferocious pet and yes you guessed it, the two juvenile neighborhood super heroes from the burning garage. As the crowd assembled and the fire trucks roared down the alley I knew our season of becoming the cities next super heroes seemed to fade as our father sternly walked us away to our house, which was to become a dungeon of torture for two little rambunctious boys who were grounded with what seemed to be a life sentence. But with skilled parents who knew how to pray we were saved from becoming arsonists.
Let me say up front, there is never a time that Arson is O.K. Yet, God often in His word describes Himself and His acts with fire. John the Baptist, who was a prophetic voice and a forerunner to Jesus, says concerning Jesus in Matt 3:11-12 “…
God’s fire in our lives isn’t bad, but is for clearing junk out so He can restore and rebuild us better for His work. (tweet)
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire… He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” In other words John is letting us know that Jesus is coming for and committed to a harvest that will be purged from any hindering thing. Christ is coming for a unblemished bride. (Eph. 5:27) Jesus is not only the Lord of the Harvest but comes as a fire to purge us and make us better.
Not justifying our actions as kids by no means, but the end of this story is the Continue reading
The Lord answers King Solomon’s prayer with incredible hope. It says in 2 Chron 7:14-15, “if My people who are called by My name will 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.” It was after the dedication of the temple that the King had an encounter in the night from the Lord. King Solomon had asked the Lord in the dedication prayer to forgive the people of God if they repent from going astray from Him and finding themselves being carried away into bondage
Bill Virgin Blog - Leave room for Cream 