Journal excerpt

[My brother] just said something pretty deep. He's been giving me tips on grilling and he said the charcoal are ready when the smoke is clear. Mm, there's a word in there. I think about how we go through the fire and like the coals God is preparing us so we can be used. When the smoke is cloudiest and thickest is the time when the coals are still being lit. The smoke indicates that the fire is still on the outside; something is being done to the coals; they are being set on fire. When the smoke starts to clear it indicates that now the fire is within the coals. It's not just that something is being done to them anymore; now they are carrying that fire, and it's burning inside of them. Now those coals can be taken and used as a source of heat/fire. Deep.

It makes me think about how when I'm going through trials at first I feel like something horrible is being done to me. Hey, who wants to be set on fire? But really God's goal is for me to carry His fire, just as the coals carry heat. In a sense it seems almost cruel - setting things on fire, but God knows what we are capable of. I only burn the coals because I know they're capable of carrying heat. God only sets us on fire because He knows we can become vessels which can carry it. And I understand the cloudy smoke stage. That's when I haven't figured out what's going on yet. My understanding eventually clears up just like the smoke. Oh, God isn't persecuting me; He's lighting me so I can shine brightly even in the darkest places. Cool.

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God's Beloved note that we call burning coals "live coals."  Wednesday of last week I said God's children are coming out of the fire. Well that's true, but just like the coals we're coming out on fire for Jesus! Praise the Lord!