Ein Gedi
Today's picture is of flowers and palm trees near Kibbutz Ein
Gedi near the southern coast of the Dead Sea. It reminds us of Song of Solomon
1:14-15; "My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards
of Ein Gedi. How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your
eyes are like doves."
Life is rather busy
right now. I have several new blogs
churning in my head but went to Archives and this one came up from June
2012. Seems appropriate for today! Gma J
“When you pass through the waters, I
will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow
you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor
will the flame burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2).
Yesterday was burn
day! The raking has produced many piles of leaves, pine needles and
pine cones that needed to be cleared in order to begin repairing the lawn and
flower beds from winter damage. This meant that I was tied to the fire for most
of the day.
As I watched the fiercely
burning flames I noticed that three things were happening; first the pile was
getting smaller as the flames consumed the leaves, secondly, the fire was
generating heat; and thirdly the fire was generating light.
As a lad growing up in Pennsylvania, I
remember my sainted grandma use to talk about God’s Word as a consuming
fire.
Notice Jeremiah’s words: “The
prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak
My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” "Is
not My word like fire?” declares the Lord,” and like
a hammer which shatters a rock?” (Jer. 23:29)
How is God’s Word like
fire? As the leaves are burned and turn to ash, so the Word of God
burns away the chaff and dross, So,if we will avail ourselves to read the Word
and meditate on it and Be still beforeHim, we can learn to hear God’s
voice. I hear many people tell me that are avid Bible readers but
not too many tell me they are avid Bible study-ers or Listeners!
An old adage that I have tucked away
in the leaf of my Bible is the fine print on my insurance policy with the Lord:
“If God sends us down a fiery path, He provides sufficient shoes.”
At the end of the day, I looked with
satisfaction at what was large piles of leaves and needles that was now clean
and ready for new growth and beautiful flowers. Is that not God’s
way with the fire of His word? John wrote, “...but if we walk in
the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
Soooo, good folks, fire can come in
many forms and many times it comes very unexpectedly. That is why
God suggests that we keep our minds and hearts honed to the wheel and our
asbestos suits clean and polished. James gives us the key to keeping
our insurance up to date, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands you sinners.” (James 3:8)
Blessings,
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