Starting a Fire

Candlelight services remind me of how powerful a little light can be.

A couple of weekends ago Jared and I got the chance to go camping! As I've said in previous blogs, I love camping so much. It allows us both to get away and gain perspective on all the stuff that goes on in life.

On this particular trip, we actually tried out our new hammocks! Which was helpful since it stormed two out of the three nights we stayed and tents in neighboring campsites apparently flooded. Just another perk of hammock camping, which I will probably elaborate on in a future post.

But something Jared and I talked about was actually how hard it is to make a fire. We have become quite good at it over the years, but it's not as easy as everyone thinks.

First you have to have something that starts the fire. Your standard match or lighter would be typical here. You would use that to start the fire with something that catches fire quick. They have little sticks that you can use. Pine needles, lint, cardboard, all would be those quick catching fire starters that would work really well.

Then you have to have small twigs that can catch the fire. These need to be small, dry pieces of wood that will not catch fire as easily as the fire starter but will hold a fire longer.

Finally, you get to medium sized logs. Again, not catch fire as easily but will stay lit much longer. And last but not least, the big logs.

What I told Jared while making our fires this last camping trip is that this can be applied to ministry building. I hear so many people say, "It just takes a spark to get a fire going!" But it also takes a ton of prep work and tending in order to keep it going. If you try to do ministry with just the flame starter, you will burn out in seconds. If you try to jump from the fire starter to the big logs, the big logs will never catch fire. Then, if you don't keep adding wood to the fire, the fire will eventually burn out.

Ministries are callings that God has given to those who believe in Him. It starts with a fire starter, Jesus, who give that fire to us, his beloved. When we receive this fire of faith we are saved. Then God usually gives us a calling. A fire to build. But if that person cannot do the work that it takes to keep the fire going, the calling will never be the shining light that a dark world so desperately needs.

So whether you work in full time ministry or you are a pilot like my husband who talks about Jesus to whomever is in the cockpit with him, you have a calling. You are meant to be a fire to those who are looking for light. Do the work of pursuing Jesus and keeping the fire alive and let's change our world with the love of Jesus.