Fan into Flames

As I started writing this blog it was my intent to revive and publish Pastor Joyce's works.  Interestingly each of her teachings this month have been an inspirational post toward achieving one's goal.  

I personally love today's word for the day.  Fan into Flames.  We all have God given gifts and those gifts are given to us to make this world a better place.  We can use those gifts to the best of our ability or we can simply toss them aside and waste the potential that we have.  I recently read a great story about a woman who is 82 years old.  She is a triathlete and a nun! As a matter of fact Sister Madonna is the oldest person to ever compete in and complete a triathlon.  She did not begin her running or triathlon career until she was 48 years old.  The most interesting part of her story was not that she was a world record holder, or the oldest triathlete, but the fact that she found her gift to share with the world.  Sister Madonna said that when we find our gift, we need to share it with the world to bless others and to make it a better place.   Pastor Joyce encourages us to fan the fire of our gifts. I encourage you to not only find your gift but to also fan your fire! 

Fan into Flames January 8

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a dream fulfilled is the tree of life” Many people read this verse from Proverbs 13:12 and stop at the first half.  It is used as an explanation and excuse for the depression they are in.  Hope has been dashed through loss, discouragement, or just plain hard times.  The dream they have for their life seems to be a phantom fantasy of yesterday.

The second half of the verse shows that the fulfillment of God breathed life grows and bears fruit.  To see a dream fulfilled we must put everything we’ve got into it to keep it alive; we have to do battle in our minds against any thought that would rob us of the faith we once had in the expectancy of living in the purpose God has promised us in His Word.

Paul tells his student in 2 Timothy 1:6 “I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  Everyone faces hardships that can lead us to a place of despondency and we may feel that life has passed us by. We see no point in striving for anything and we become content to drift on the seas of mediocrity.

Snap out of it and turn to God who promises to heal your broken heart and deliver you from all of your distresses.  We were not called to live a life that resounds with, “whatever happens, happens”.  We are created for greatness, a life of abundance, overflowing with victory, and high expectations that clearly reflect the glory of God.