FEELING THE HEAT

The last week was another week full of blessings and challenges. The blessings seem obvious. A God who saved me from myself. A beautiful, loving, godly wife. Two healthy, gifted and grown children. A job. A car that gets me to that job. The health and ability to do a job. A warm home with hot water, a fridge full of food and a pillow to lay my head on. These blessings are some of the ones I recognize and thank God for regularly. There are so many more that I take for granted. I know I am truly blessed none the less.

The challenges ahead never seem obvious. I go through them daily but at times I think I've passed the test. God puts the challenge in front of me, I eventually recognize it, I eventually accept it and finally work through it to the point where I feel I've overcome the challenge, learned the lesson, or withstood the fire. The heat seems to lessen and I celebrate the victory. I praise God for it and I scream "I GET IT!" I'm so excited. The time of testing is finally over. The refining fire is turned down to a warming plate and I feel content and relaxed. Ready for a new season of rest. Little do I know God has just scooped me off the skillet with his spatula, only to flip me over to cook the other side! OUCH!

I was flipped this week. I thought I was cooked to at least medium well. I was right. Medium well isn't always enough cookin' for a dish that's tainted with deadly bacteria. My heart was marinated in the things of this world for so long it has needed tenderized with God's hammer, pressure cooked repeatedly, deep fried for a season, grilled to flavor and now fried on both sides to be safe to share with others who I've been called to minister to. This could be a lengthy process but I know He can take this "old hot dog" (bun size at least) and transform me into a ribeye. I know God has begun a mighty work in my life. Many who know me well can testify to that. He has renewed my mind. He has removed many addictions and idols in my life. God began a restoration project in me in 2002. But He is not finished. It seems the heart is where the toughest transformation takes place. It is the core of who I am. I filled it with so much trash it's amazing anything good could come from it. God is amazing. So this is my prayer.

Heavenly Father,

Where I Have: me . . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: you
Where I Have: bitterness . . . . . . . I desire: grace
Where I Have: resentment . . . . . . I desire: mercy
Where I Have: anger . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: love
Where I Have: pain . . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: healing
Where I Have: hurt . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: growth
Where I Have: doubt . . . . . . . . . . I desire: trust
Where I Have: rage . . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: peace
Where I Have: revenge . . . . . . . . I desire: acceptance
Where I Have: apathy . . . . . . . . . I desire: passion
Where I Have: fear . . . . . . . . . . . .I desire: security
Where I Have: grief . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: hope
Where I Have: anxiety . . . . . . . . .I desire: faith
Where I Have: emptiness . . . . . . I desire: you
Where I Have: lies . . . . . . . . . . . .I desire: truth
Where I Have: deceit . . . . . . . . . . I desire: honesty
Where I Have: unfaithfulness . . . . I desire: commitment
Where I Have: promises . . . . . . . I desire: integrity
Where I Have: temptation . . . . . . I desire: strength
Where I Have: tears . . . . . . . . . . . I desire: joy

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Colossians 3:12-17