when i walk through the fire

For the past few months, I've been stuck on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I'm sure you've heard it. They were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to bow before the king's idol. And they lived to tell about it. My favorite part of the story has always been their pre-furnace faith. When told about their punishment, their response was, "The God we serve is able to save us from it... but even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." I've always wanted my life to be marked with such deep conviction, with such resolute faith.

In many ways, I've been in my own personal fiery furnace for the past year. So lately, as I've camped out in this story, I've paid more attention than usual to what happened after they made their bold confession of faith.

The Bible tells us that the three Jewish boys were tossed into the furnace firmly tied. But the king saw them walking around the fire unbound and unharmed. I smile every time I see that phrase. Because it seems to me it's just another way of saying "nothing missing, nothing broken"---God's promise of wholeness and completion. My heart's prayer is that I would be seen walking through my personal fire unbound and unharmed.

Even better than them being protected from the flames, is the fact that they weren't alone. A fourth man was seen walking with them in the midst of the fire. I so want Jesus to be visible in this with me. I don't want to do it in my own strength. I can't do it in my own strength. I need Him, and I want it to be so clear, even to others, that He is right here with me. I think the evidence that He is walking me through this, will need to be in my words, actions, and character.

When the Hebrew boys were brought out of the fire, not a hair on their heads was singed. Their clothes weren't burned. They didn't even smell like smoke. That gives me chills. And it gives me hope. I'm praying that my heart won't be blackened by the soot of bitterness, that my soul won't be darkened by the ash of unforgiveness. I want to come out the other side of this without even the smell of smoke on me.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. -Isaiah 43:2

the only kind of camping i like

I've been camping in I Corinthians 1:8-10 the past few days---

"We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us."

I feel the same as Paul did---crushed and overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel like I can't go on, and I can't imagine how I'm going to live through this. But the good great best news is that I can rely on the God who breathes life back into dead, dry bones. Even mine.

I hear Paul strengthening himself in the Lord in the last two sentences of that passage. I can just feel his faith rising as he reminds both his readers and himself that God did rescue him, will rescue him, and will continue to rescue him.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to remind herself of the truth. Over and over and over. And it's reassuring to think that as I do, maybe, eventually, others will see and hear my faith rising. And somehow that will strengthen their own faith, too.

Just like mine was strengthened by seeing Paul's.

: :

Where are you camping? What are some verses your heart is stuck on this week?

four-minute friday: stink and the sharks

Go. I've had a blast watching Shark Week. (Anyone else hooked??)  My favorite is watching the great whites leap out of the water as they attack. Have you seen it? Incredible! I've also loved all the footage of South Africa. Did you know the SA coast is the third deadliest in the world because of all the shark attacks? Mmhmmm. It's true.

My ten-year-old buddy Stink has watched a bunch of episodes with me. And let me tell you, it is SO fun watching with him. He is intrigued and freaked out at the same time, and alternates between wide-eyed wonder and running out of the room.

And he says the funniest stuff.

Convo 1 Me: Are you scared? Stink: Yeah. But I'll take it like a man.

Convo 2 Me: Do you want to come sit with me? Stink: (slowly pulling his head out from under the pillow) No, I'll be alright. He glanced up at the TV, saw blood, and dove off his chair to the floor right by my feet. Me: Do you want to sit with me now? Stink: Not yet. Gettin' close to it, though.

Yeah. Between Stink and the sharks, it's been an entertaining week. And my heart just swelled when mid-show he looked over and said, "I love watching TV with you."

Yessss! It only took some appendage-severing to win him over!

Done.

It's not nearly as fun watching by myself.

the waiting room

We just finished a series called The Waiting Room at my church. Wait a minute. I need to sidebar for a moment. Did you hear what I just said? "My church"!? I haven't said that phrase in a very long time. Aside from our humble "services" as a ministry family, I haven't been a part of a church I could call my own since I graduated high school. (Ages ago!) And my life has revolved around leading ministry events, not just participating in them. After over a decade on the mission field, to soak in corporate worship that I had nothing to do with running behind the scenes... you just can't put a pricetag on that.

I digress.

Back to The Waiting Room. The messages were so good and so timely for me. Here are a few thoughts I scribbled down ---

• I want to be more overwhelmed by God than by my circumstances. But that won't simply happen on its own.

• Do I love the Promiser more than the promise?

• When what I'm waiting for becomes what I'm hoping in, I will be disappointed. Every time. Even when I get what I want.

• My God is faithful, His words are true, and His ways are just. My hope should only be in Him.

• What would change in how I think, talk, and act if I were fully confident that this season isn't so much about waiting as it is about God preparing me for the next chapter?

Are you in a season of waiting? For what?

Digging deeper, how 'bout the question in the last bullet-point?

digging ditches

The king of Israel, along with the armies and animals that accompanied him, had run out of water. So he sought Elisha's help. The prophet spoke the words God told him to say---

"Dig ditches all over this valley. Here's what will happen---you won't hear the wind, you won't see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill. This is easy for God to do."

His words still ring true for me today. My situation is different. But my God is the same.

I've dug my share of ditches, seeing neither wind nor rain. I've stepped out in faith with only the promise---and no proof---of deliverance.

It's not only risky, it's back-breakingly hard.

But every mighty move of God in my life has required an act of faith.

So I am digging this valley full of ditches. Again. And though I don't feel the wind or see storm clouds building, I'm praising Him for the rainfall of restoration that is coming.

Because this is easy for God to do.