Devotions
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II Timothy1:6; 14
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. I live out on five acres and I love living out of town away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and people. I love sitting on my porch in the evenings and watching the fireflies and listening to the frogs and the locust. On the fourth of July this year we decided that we would have a camp out at my house. We couldn’t go to any parks or to any lakes because of the pandemic. So a lot of my kids came with their tents and camping stuff and we made our own camp ground. A few years ago I decided to build me a fire pit out of some bricks that we had stacked in the back 40. I wanted a really big one since there are so many of us when we get together. So I built a fire pit that is 6 feet across, plenty big for several to roast hotdogs and marshmallows at the same time. I have several sons-in-laws and grandsons that like to think of themselves as boy scouts so they proceeded to build the fire. They gathered the wood together and then they found some little pieces that they could use for kindling and after fanning the flames on the kindling they soon had a nice fire going that we enjoyed for the rest of the evening and late into the night. But just because they started the fire didn’t mean they were finished. Someone had to keep putting logs on the fire and stoking the fire to keep it going all evening. Without that the fire would soon die out and we would be left with just coals that would soon go out. So it is with our spiritual walk. I remember how “on fire” I was when I first became a Christian and I was so stoked to tell others about what Jesus has done for me. I think that so many times I tend to let the fire die down because I get so caught up in the day to day routine of life that I don’t take the time to stoke the fire and put some new logs on the fire. This whole thing with the Covid-19 has caused me to fall into a time like that. I have never been one that was prone to depression or feeling really down until lately. I realized the other day that maybe I needed to take my eyes off of what is happening in our world and stop listening to the fake news around me and start fanning the fire that is a gift of God in my life. Get more into the Word and into the music of His voice in my ear. I know I am not the only one that is feeling this slump, but I also know in whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. So let’s get out our fans, pass out the white hankies, and start dancing in the isles. Let’s fan the fire and start a revival in our hearts that will spread out to all those around us. Things may not be like we like them in our world today but HE is the same yesterday, today and forever! Satan you are not going to win this fight! Want to join me? I will have the white hankies waiting at the welcome center, the music on in the sanctuary and I will clear the isles so we can run up and down dancing and shouting His praises. Let the revival begin! Pastor Fran
1 Comment
Christi Cooper
8/12/2020 11:32:11 am
Pastor Fran,
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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