Fanning The Flickering Flame

A father

2012-11-08T20:40:00.000-08:00

I was raised in a strict household, and my mother enforced the discipline. Every now and then my dad disciplined me and my sister. Based on how I was brought up and the culture I was brought up in, my view of discipline is that it has to be strict.
For the longest time I had a problem trying to fit into the role of a father. I was irresponsible and selfish. After I made a decision to let my Heavenly Father be the Lord of my life, I decided to be a father who isn't just there. I have three kids and I know how they turn out largely depends on how I raise them.
Now comes the problem.... my wife is always telling me that I tend to use a harsh tone when interacting with the kids. I never took her seriously because I'm the disciplinarian in my family. I discipline and they run to her for love. I told her that was my discipline voice, and then she went on to say I speak to them in that tone most of the time. To make it even worse my kids agreed that I appear "grumpy" most of the time. Don't get me wrong I love my kids, I show them love, I hug them (maybe not as much as I should).
I just thought it was out of Love. Because I want my kids to turn out right, I follow what the Bible states-

Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

I want to show my children love without sacrificing discipline. What do I do? How do I do it?

Seek First His Kingdom

2012-10-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

God was teaching me some rather hard to swallow lessons today. I'll share one today. Check my blog for the other one tomorrow.

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to succeed, to be better. I'm almost 30 and still haven't achieved those dreams. I'm currently not working and have been trying to learn a different trade, get a different set of skills. However by spending more time trying to reinvent myself, I end up straining my marriage.

We had a guest preacher at church today. He talked about Christians being wired to worship, to bring glory to God. My wife really took in his teaching and on our drive home, she was inspired even more than usual about us finding a way to serve God.

"What if that feeling you get about being great, involves you serving God?" she asked. What? I had never seen it that way. I shy away from being committed to serving God,from making it the ultimatum of my life,from making it my life. We are predestined, chosen to serve God. Tonight the scripture "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." came to my mind.

How do I incorporate "seek His kingdom first" into my desire to succeed? That question doesn't even sound right. So what is everyone's understanding of Matthew 6:33?

Words I'm Pondering

2012-10-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Psalms 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.

From the day I read these verses last week, its got me thinking. Yes indeed , this is what I want God to do in me.In Psalms 139 David understands that God know all about him , his past, present and future, but he also realizes that he falls short. He wants God to keep him on his toes, to keep him on the path, and to strengthen his faith.

How?....... 'SEARCH ME!', 'TRY ME!' , David says, He's not just okay with walking the path his way, he wants God to try him, to bring out those anxious thoughts and hurtful ways, to expose them ,so he can stay away from these ways and to be lead in the everlasting way.

I want to be tried, you know whats good about being tried ?
1 Peter 1:7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

I want what's strong and pure to remain, I want to bring praise , honor and glory to God.

so God search me thoroughly and try me as you will, bring out those anxious thoughts and hurtful ways in me, reveal them to me.That I may know them and not follow in those ways but lead me in the way everlasting. AMEN

Whats your take on these verses, please share your thoughts.

LIMBO

2012-10-08T19:55:00.001-07:00

The meaning

Limbo's definition per Dictionary.com is,
noun
Definition: state of uncertainty
I also define it as a place of uncertainty and not to be confused with Purgatory.

This is a place of waiting.
This place evokes patience.
This is a test, a trial

Living In Limbo

As a result of the many bad decisions I made, or the many good decisions I should have made, I'm here, in Limbo. Limbo can make you or break you. It all depends on what choices you make while there. To give in, to live by the rules of your limbo or to Believe.

When presented with bad news, a terminal diagnosis, the ailing health or death of a loved one, know this, YOU ARE NOT ALONE .

Daniel was in limbo, Daniel 6:16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”, Daniel served and prayed to God regardless of the circumstances that hindered him from doing so, he knew God would come through, he Believed. Daniel 6:21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²²My God sent his angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

Job was very familiar with Limbo, in addition to loosing all of his possessions, Job1:18 ¹⁸While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”, he lost his family.Yet he never gave up praying to and praising God and Job 42:12(41 chapter later)the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.

Stay unwavering in limbo, He's with you in that pit of lions, in that terminal diagnosis, in the death of a loved one, and in Him there is the Guarantee of a Future far beyond your expectations. Revelations 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Even with a rightful judgement that was passed against me threatening the most important thing in my life -family, I do not lose my faith, because He won't give up on me.

Fall down?
Get back up again ...and again and again .........to infinity.

TO FALL

2012-10-08T06:31:00.001-07:00

So what do you do when you make that catastrophic mistake or a chain of them that sends your life careening out of control. I think back to the first time in high school, a boarding school, when i heard about Jesus.Before that , this message had never been made that personal .Fast forward into the future, me in a brand new country, very far from the closest family members, I lost my way, I made the WORST decisions in my life.

NOW….now I’m reaping the fruit of my choices
God found me though, deep in my sin, not caring about the repercussions of my choices. when i hit rock bottom, he was there waiting on me .I got baptized and i made the choice to follow Christ, to stick with this. Like Toby mac sings, To fall down and get back up again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5OqyBYKh
To fall….
I know I’m not perfect, and I know God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.Yet it seems like i mostly fall , leaving doubt ….i’m i just capable f making mistakes, sometimes the same ones , over and over again? http://bit.ly/VS4jey

INTRO

2012-10-08T06:25:00.003-07:00

As Christians we encounter hard and trying moments in our lives, they leave us sad, angry, doubtful, crying, strong winds trying to diminish the flame inside us. Leaving our flame flickering.
flick·er

verb (used without object)

1.to burn unsteadily; shine with a wavering light: The candle flickered in the wind and went out.

2.to move to and fro; vibrate; quiver:

3.to flutter.

Paul encourages timothy to fan the flame, 2 Timothy 1:6, Amplified Bible (AMP)^6,That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]

Sometimes we are so down that we cannot effectively fan the flame with the oncoming being so strong, I’ve been there….i’m there.I know most blogs are expected to impart knowledge, they are written by seasoned writers or upbeat individuals who command a following.With this blog I’m looking for encouragement from my Older Christian brothers and sisters , on the flip side i also aim to share stories of individuals going through trials and they needs encouragement, advice or support.Email me your story at fanflickflame@gmail.com and i will share it

.I love that I’m part of the Body of Christ, with Christ as head, a family full of love and hope and faith , what better place to seek encouragement.I encourage anyone and everyone to comment, if you feel it in your heart to share to encourage, please do and let us fan all those flickering flames so we can burn bright in a dark world.