SPLASHES OF…HOPE! 12th JULY 2013
Dear Sister Soldiers, I have to confess to you that I had a day this week when I had a “melt down” and felt like my “hut was on fire” and I had to run for the hosepipe ‘cos I needed a whole lot more than just a little splash of hope to restore my peace! Just at the right time my Awesome Rescuer JESUS sent one of His ministering saints with a Rescue Remedy, and so my “hut” was splashed with peace and hope once more! It brought to mind God’s unchanging Promise as found in Isa. 42 : 3 : “.. a dimly burning flame He will not quench”… Praise the Lord He knows when our “flame” is like a flickering candle [our spirits are low], He doesn’t snuff us out!
And so it got me thinking about fire and smoke signals! What, if anything, can we learn from that? Mmmm….
Without fire there‘s no smoke! ☺ Smoke signals were used by the American Indians for several purposes: It served as warnings, raising the alarm, of help needed, to call a gathering, and to send news. And there were various signals, each with a specific meaning, not just a random puff of smoke at various intervals! Two puffs meant something, as did three and so on, depending on the messages they were sending. Each North American Tribe had its own system and understanding. So smoke was quite obviously very important! Oh dear, I wonder what happened during the rain seasons, especially in “emergencies”?! Aren’t we fortunate to live in an era where we have many useful “gadgets” and modern inventions that are so convenient, and advantageous to us?! Although fire can be extremely dangerous, it serves some great purposes as well. How wonderful is a crackling fire during the cold Winter months, and what would Summers be like without having braais / barbeques?! ☺
Moses went to investigate why a burning bush never burnt out, and . . . Surprise! He met “the Lord’s Angel who appeared to him in a flame of fire from a burning bush” = Exod. 3 : 2 where a specific assignment was given to him, and again in Exod.13 : 21-22 after completion of the assignment, the Lord’s “Pillar of fire by night to give them light, was never removed from His people” on their journey out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Fire was a good- and a God- thing! The Israelites had sacrificial burnt offerings for various God-Instructed purposes to perform which all required fire … one example = Exod. 29 : 18 – “And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord”.
On the TV show Survivor we hear often, “fire” means “life” and when their fire is snuffed out it’s “death” – the end of their time on Survivor. Now, when we journey on into the New Testament we see both the good and bad sides of fire, as we take a look at what happened in Acts 2 : 3-4 when “tongues of fire sat on each one, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” ! Oh what a thrill as God’s Grace was splashed out on them giving them POWER for service, and more! This is GOOD FIRE! ☺ Being “Equipped and appointed by Yahweh” = John 15 : 16, dear sisters, we can point whoever God puts across our path, in the right direction = The Cross & Jesus = the only way to eternal Life and escape from what’s written in Matth.13 : 49-50 that “at the end of the Age Angels will separate the wicked from the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire” and also in Rev. 20 : 15 = “..anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of Fire”. This is BAD FIRE!! ☹ Rescue as many as we can!!!
So, whenever your “hut is on fire” …you find yourself “walking through a fiery trial” …remember that although it may feel like you’re “burning up with the pain”, “you shall not be burned”, God gives you His Word = Isa. 43 : 2. Just be sure you send up your “smoke signals” to the Lord, calling for His help and then remember too, the specific “smoke signals” of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship, once He has brought about the answer/s. He will “see” your “smoke signals” rising up to His “Throne of Grace ” and knows exactly how to “interpret them” and when to rescue us!!
Sending you “smoking hot signals” of blessings, love and hugs!
Fire – Powered Rose.
xoxo