From Fire To Soul Food

     This past week, I’ve been wrapped in the present of spending time with my Grandbaby (his mommy and daddy, too) as we wait for the birth of his Little Sis.   Last Sunday, the temperature soared to seventy, so Zachariah “helped” his daddy trim the trees and prune the roses.   While Daddy burned the fallen branches, Little Man, his Mommy and Grammy walked the neighborhood.   Many homes we passed had their families spending the day similar to ours.   The aroma of fresh fires filled our path.   At the top of one street, a yard’s fire fragrance stopped us in our tracks.   Without a doubt, the family dwelling in that home was roasting hot dogs over the fire of their fallen branches!!!   Yep, that fire got our tummies hungry, but also, this Grammy’s soul a wondering.  

     Do the fires, the branches of our lives endure, just burn our hearts; or do they, also, bring nourishment to our souls?   Are the fires (trials and tribulations) which burn our lives meant to, exclusively, leave smoldering ashes in their ruin; or should they, inclusively, feed our hunger for God’s providence and nourish our faith and trust in Him?

     When our days and dreams seem up in flames, our focus, so often, is to automatically reach for a fire extinguisher.   Shouldn’t it be to instinctively grasp God’s promise?   “…when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.   For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”  Isaiah 43: 2-3 (ESV)

     As humans, we wish our lives to escape all fires.   As children of God, we need to remember that God says, “when you walk through fire you shall not be burned”.   Short and simple, God doesn’t promise us escape from earthly fire, but rather, that we will not be burned and consumed by it.  

    While pondering the reality of God’s promise, my Grandbaby brought another smile to my face.   Zachariah is in awe of “red fire truck”.   With eager excitement, he stands by the window hoping “red fire truck” will pass by.   What about us?   In comparison, God should be our “red fire truck”.   With zeal, do we stand watching for God and believing He races to all life’s fires and is our saving force?