An emergency was brewing. The campfire was about to
go out, and we hadn’t made s’mores yet. The children sat with pleading eyes,
sticks and marshmallows in hand, as Dad bent over the fire and blew on it till
he was dizzy. The fire came back, first a little, and then, with some dry
kindling and a few more dragon puffs, to a full, s’more-cooking roar.
I recall that scene whenever I read Isaiah 54:16,
where God says, “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals
into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.” Sometimes, when we’re on a
busy train or bus, packed into a room with hundreds of others, or among 2,300
social-media friends, it’s hard to remember that we are individually created,
made with specific thought and purpose.
When my husband was questioning his purpose and
wavering about going into ministry, there came a time when he felt the Lord impress
upon him that he needed to follow that call now or the Lord would move on and
give the call to someone else. Fish or cut bait, as my husband would say.
Each of us feels fear when stepping into a new
ministry or a new venture, or when one we’re involved with grows or changes.
But God has enabled and encouraged us to step up. He could have done the job
himself, but by partnering with us, he enables us to feel fulfilled and
satisfied and to meet our destinies. Eric Liddell of Chariots of Fire fame said, “I believe God made me for a purpose,
but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.”
We are the blacksmiths. God has given us the gift.
Lean over, blow on those coals, and then run, fish, teach, give, serve,
whatever it is that you’ve been created to do!
Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us
timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV)
Used
by permission from the author.
“Blowing on Embers” was taken from Sandra Byrd’s The One Year Home & Garden Devotions,
which has become my all-time favorite devotional. Written in a warm and
friendly tone, this book is filled with inspiring and sometimes humorous
anecdotes about Sandra’s personal experiences in the home and garden. Each
month also starts with a household tip, an idea for garden areas, or a favorite
recipe.
About
Sandra …
After earning her first rejection at the age of
thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published more than forty
books.
Sandra's new series, Daughters of Hampshire,
historically sound Gothic romances, launched in 2015 with Book One: Mist of Midnight. That book earned a
coveted Editor's Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Her book, The One Year Home and Garden Devotions,
was released October 1, 2015.
Her adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her
first historical novel, To Die For:A
Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For
was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr,
was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.
Sandra has published dozens of books for tweens and
teens, including the best-selling, The
One Year Be-Tween You and God, Devotions For Girls.
To learn more, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com
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