"Fire"

I remember frosty winter mornings,

And as a boy I had to learn,

My Daddy gave his warnings,

‘Bout making fire burn.

Newspaper rolled up tightly,

Next, lay your kindling on,

Then ease in dry wood lightly,

‘Fore the green ones come along.

And there was satisfaction,

When that fire really caught,

The flame and sparks and action,

So well my Dad had taught.

Sometimes of an evenin’,

He’d look up and say to me,

That old fire is seethin’,

Throw a big one on, you see.

And I’d open up the wood box,

And pick a great big log,

Sometimes we hung our damp socks,

While we sipped Mom’s good egg nog.

There’s somethin’ ‘bout a warm fire,

That soothes the human soul,

Though sadness may be so dire,

The fire does not grow old.

John said the One who’s coming,

Will baptize you with fire,

Our need for power summing,

And changing our desire.

The apostle said to fan the flame,

With the Spirit have no fear,

Live our lives for Jesus’ fame,

And know He’s always near.

That old fire in the fireplace,

Now means so much to me,

 Reminds me of the Savior’s face,

And His power we can see.

I remember frosty winter mornings,

And as a boy I had to learn,

My Daddy gave his warnings,

‘Bout making fire burn.

Newspaper rolled up tightly,

Next, lay your kindling on,

Then ease in dry wood lightly,

‘Fore the green ones come along.

And there was satisfaction,

When that fire really caught,

The flame and sparks and action,

So well my Dad had taught.

Sometimes of an evenin’,

He’d look up and say to me,

That old fire is seethin’,

Throw a big one on, you see.

And I’d open up the wood box,

And pick a great big log,

Sometimes we hung our damp socks,

While we sipped that good egg nog.

There’s somethin’ ‘bout a warm fire,

That soothes the human soul,

Though sadness may be so dire,

The fire does not grow old.

John said the One who’s coming,

Will baptize you with fire,

Our need for power summing,

And changing our desire.

The apostle said to fan the flame,

With the Spirit have no fear,

Live our lives for Jesus’ fame,

And know He’s always near.

That old fire in the fireplace,

Now means so much to me,

 Reminds me of the Savior’s face,

And His power we can see.

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7, NLT)

“Fanning into flames” the spiritual gift of God implies that the fire can die down. This has happened to most of us who’ve known the Lord for awhile. We lose our passion, zeal and fervor, and settle down to routines that are calmer and more predictable. But the great adventure of living by the Spirit’s power is not like that. We need to get fired up and stay fired up, by the power of His Spirit. If there was ever a time you loved Jesus more than you do right now, fan the flame!

Lord, help us fan the flame of Your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.