From a Spark to a Fire

Good morning! 😊 It is Friday, January 28, 2022. Jeanette Stark here.

Every morning this week has been colder than the morning before. This morning I had 21 and clear at my house when I pulled away at 5:30. The sky was so big! The crescent moon this morning was beautiful. I could see the whole outline of the moon, with just the left side shining brightly. To the left of it, a brilliant Venus was greeting the morning. When I pulled off the main street at work, the entire parking lot was filled with millions of sparkling diamonds. Green grass has been covered in a veil of white. It is cold!!

I heat almost exclusively with wood now. My new wood stove went in a few months ago and I am loving this new method of heating my home. It has been a bit of a learning curve; knowing just how much wood to use so I don’t get the house to 84. Yes, I did; several times. Learning the right wood to put in at night so hopefully I have coals in the morning. Lots to learn but I am getting there.

My dog woke me up at 4 this morning. After letting him out and heading back to my bedroom, I realized just how much cooler my bedroom was than the rest of the house, and my bathroom, which is furthest from the wood stove was a bit chilly. As I fell back to sleep, I was thinking about God’s warmth and how when we stay close to Him we feel His presence. I also thought, “should write about that this morning?” Then I fell back to sleep. When I woke up an hour later, I woke up singing a song I have not heard in years, and I knew, yep, I am writing about that this morning.

The song I was singing is an old youth song we used to sing in Pathfinders. I awoke singing,

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

And soon all those around, can warm up to its glowing.

That’s how it is with God’s love,

Once you’ve experienced it.

You spread His love to everyone;

You want to pass it on.”

When God has done extraordinary things in your life, you can’t help but want to tell others.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV

When the Holy Spirit has saved you from addiction, you have this overwhelming desire to share it with others. When you fully realize that Jesus died for you, as sinful as you are, your heart swells with love. Such love we cannot comprehend it all.

Romans 6:17 says it all. “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” NKJV

I have a family member who is asking for prayer as he shares the story of salvation with a friend who is dying. What would you say to such a friend?

The Bible tells us that if believe, we can be saved. But we must first believe. Acts 16:30-31 “…”Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” NKJV

Next step is confessing with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. Romans 10:9 “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” NKJV

Third step might be leading them in prayer. You could encourage them to say “Father in heaven, I recognize your son as the only means to my salvation. I believe that Jesus came to earth and died on a cross from my sins. I acknowledge that he rose on the 3rd day and is now back in heaven as my mediator. I acknowledge that I have lived a sinful life away from you, but I want that to change as of right now. I confess my sins to you and ask Jesus to come into my heart and into my life today. Save me Father. In Jesus name, amen.”

Once you have accepted Jesus in your life, you can share with others. Our sins were paid by the blood of Jesus. It is such an amazing gift. Why would we keep it all to ourselves?

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 NKJV

Not everyone will accept the grace they are being offered, but for those of us that do, it is power!

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

I have friends and family members who have not accepted Jesus as their personal savior. Some even poo-poo the idea, but the Bible tells us that someday every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The question remains, will it be too late for their salvation?

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV

Jesus is coming soon. Someday, just like in the days of Noah, the door will be shut, and it will be too late to accept the offer to be saved. Someday, like in the parable of the 10 maidens and the bridegroom, it will be too late to get ready. Jesus, the bridegroom, is coming! Will we be ready?

Share your faith. Share your Jesus. Pass on the love that He has given to you. You could save a life!

What a wondrous time is spring

When all the trees are budding.

The birds begin to sing;

The flowers start their blooming.

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it.

You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring;

You want to pass it on.

I wish for you, my friend,

This happiness that I’ve found.

You can depend on Him,

It matters not where you’re bound.

I’ll shout it from the mountain top,

I want my world to know;

The Lord of love has come to me,

I want to pass it on.