This evening as I was stepping outside, I smelled the unmistakable scent of someone burning a wood fire.  It’s amazing how scents can bring back vivid memories of many years gone by.  I remember my dad building a fire and many times making the house so warm that I would have to open up windows to cool off.  One way my dad showed his love for his family was always making sure his wife and children were warm and well fed.  My dad was a good man and a good provider, no matter what it cost him.  Not that he was prefect, but he was an amazing example of the goodness of my heavenly Father. 

So here I was remembering some good times from my past, when I began to hear the voice of my Creator speaking to my heart.  I heard Him say, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire.”  I’m sure you’ve heard this saying before, but when I heard it, I knew there was something more, something that Father wanted me to hear. 

I stopped and began to converse with Abba and asked Him to reveal to me what He wanted me to know.   Isn’t it amazing that when we actually take time to listen we will find God has been speaking all along? 

As I made my way back inside from the cold, I was beginning to understand what He was saying to me.  I sat down and gave him the opportunity to reveal His heart to me.   In a nutshell, this is what He wanted me, and I believe you to hear:

It seems that you have allowed “things” in life to stomp out what I have put inside you.   You look around and you don’t see the fire.  You don’t see the “goodies from heaven” that you expected to see.   You base your life on what you see in others.   You think it’s over.   You think the glory of God has departed.   You believe you’ll never accomplish what you once thought you would. 

That couldn’t be farther from the truth.  He who started a work is faithful to complete it.  I’m not finished with you yet.  As long as there is an ember glowing.  As long as there is something left.  As long as you still see smoke know that there is still a fire!  

As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about several friends and ministries that need to hear this.  You are at the end of your rope and don’t know where to turn.  Let me say that at the end of your rope, look for the Cross.  That’s where Jesus paid it all.  That’s where He said,  “It is finished.”   Whatever it is you’re facing, whatever problem is right before you, whatever death it seems like you’re facing, know that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.  There is hope. 

Please contact us if we can pray with you.  We are not the answer, but we do know Who the answer is.  

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