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The Lantern or the Flame
by Joe Carroll
 My breakfast appointment canceled at the last minute. I decided to enjoy a solo breakfast and read and reflect from a devotional book. I was pleased to find a private spot with a good view. I love mornings. I enjoy seeing a new day beginning. The flower of a new day was opening and seemed to ready itself to receive both the pollination and pollution of mankind.
As I slowly enjoyed my bowl of mueslix, I read the story of Bartemaeus. As he cried out for help, the people in his life tried to silence him. I thought it was humorous that the more those around him tried to silence him, the louder he cried out, "Jesus, help me!" Jesus made His way through the crowd to him. The first words Jesus said to him were a short and candid question, "What is it you want?" Without hesitation, Bartemaeus said, "I want to see"....The Holy then healed him.
This story prompted an internal discourse with the Holy. "Lord," I rhetorically asked as I sought to include Him in this dialogue, "What is it that I want...what is it that I really want today?" My eyes flittered around, observing the scenes of morning as I could feel my heart opening wide with wonder.
The flicker of a flame captured my attention. All around the outside of this restaurant were gas lanterns. I've always had an affinity for gas lanterns. I love to watch the flickering of the flame as it constantly moves. It's like watching fire dancing. For moments I was mesmerized as I knew there was more going on in that flame than what I could see. I could see the flame, but I couldn't see the fuel that continuously fed the fire. The continual flow of the unseen feeding life into the seen deepened my desire for the Spirit of God to do that in my life today. I knew that flame was hot. I wanted to be hot today. That flame was living, consuming an unseen source of power and I wanted that kind of consuming and unseen source of power in my life today.
"Lord, I know what I want. I want to be a flame today." I felt so energized to envision that. The Holy then dialogued back. "Joe, you have worked so hard for many years to be the flame. Who is it you really want people to see...You or me?"
Oh, the truth of His question was both probing and pulling. "Self" was being seen. The "Me" in me had been mirrored with His question. "Lord, I have worked so hard to be the flame. I have wanted to be the fire that others would focus on me with their approval and praise."
My eyes then shifted to the lantern. The lantern was very pretty. It was ordinary and common but did have some distinctive features in its design. "Lord, I really don't want to be the flame today. You are the flame I want others to see. I want to be a lantern. Today, I want to be a lantern that is ordinary, one that others can relate to. And yet I want to be a lantern that is distinctive, one that you have specially designed. But most of all, I want to be a lantern that you are seen in. I want you to be seen, your fire to be felt, and your life to fuel. Be a glorious flame today, Lord and may I be one of the lanterns you choose to use."
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm 115:1 |
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Maintaining Focus
featuring BLE Small Group Member Dr. Tracy Bryant
 Dr. Tracy Bryant makes it a point to put God above his own desires, even when it comes to running his chiropractic clinic. There are many requirements and distractions of running a business, but Dr. Bryant has learned that God always honors his commitment to remain Christ-focused.
"I realize God has blessed me with this clinic and the skills necessary to help people. The least I can do is honor him here in this clinic. God never lets me down whenever I ask for His help. Whenever I make Him a priority, He blesses me for it."
Dr. Bryant's BLE Small Group meets in his clinic every other week, and while not every staff member over the years has attended, most have and have been blessed for their efforts and willingness to seek God.
"Marriages have been strengthened, personal walks with the Lord have grown, the staff is able to appreciate and understand better how their work impacts the Kingdom by loving and serving the patients that God sends in."
The Small Group has studied BLE Books One and Two as well as other studies focused on marriage and spiritual warfare. Co-workers have grown together as a strong community, going beyond superficial relationships and instead learning to pray for one another and share hurts as well as praises. They are reminded of their common purpose to serve Christ first, and to view God as their ultimate employer.
Dr. Bryant has learned a deeper understanding of how God wants his life to look each day as he leads his family and his staff and runs a successful business. He daily focuses on God's guidance in how he can best serve others with the skills he has been given all the while giving glory to God.
"Our business is way more than just a business. It's God's work that we are doing and we are representing him in what we do. Hopefully we are always mindful of that."
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hrough a simple song. "Jesus loves me, this I know 'cause the Bible tells me so." Somehow as we matured we began to forget how simple God's love is for us to experience and what it really means to us. 