Monday, August 10, 2009

Let's Start a Fire

I was reading an article this morning by Nancy Campbell called Keep The Fire Burning. It is a wonderful, encouraging article about reading the Bible and praying every morning and evening as a family.
She wrote "It's what happens at home that influences our children and consequently the nation. I believe we need to get back to reading the Bible and praying together as a family in our homes. It should be more important than schooling, sports and all the extracurricular activities that monopolize our lives today."
I am feeling a conviction from the LORD as I read this.
In Leviticus 6:8-12 the priest are ordained to keep the fire on the alter burning and that "it shall not go out."
I must also be as careful and diligent to keep the fire burning here in our home for the LORD.
Revelation 8:3-4 (please read the whole thing), but in part says "...and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel." (verse 5 also mentions the "fire from the alter").
Here, this fire from the alter is mentioned WITH the prayers of the saints.
(I think that I need to do a study on "sacrifices" and "prayer"...Lord, lead me in this.)
Matthew 21:13, Jesus said "My house shall be called a house of prayer,..." taken from Isaiah 56:7 "these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer...for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
Lord, help us to be a house of prayer...
Nancy also writes "Without the daily revelation of the Word of God, we tend toward humanistic thinking. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that our thoughts are not God's thoughts. His ways are higher than our thoughts and ways. If we do not constantly seek His mind and His thoughts, we will naturally turn to a wrong path. I find that I need the Word of God daily to keep me in line."
How true!!
She also writes "I wonder how long we will continue as Christian families in our whirlwind of activities. Sports, lessons, education and entertainment all seem more important than the principle God has established for us. I believe that if every family who owns the name of God would come back to this foundation in their homes, we could see a turn in the nation."
I am challenged yet again, to get back to Bible reading and prayer with my children, and for my self...to seek Him daily, and to set a fire burning continually in our hearts!

8 comments:

  1. AMEN! It's time to kindle the flames, set our children's hearts on fire for the Lord and let them start wildfires in their generation. I have struggled with this as well. I have a schedule for homeschooling and some days literally have to pull my 7 year old away from God's word, to 'teach' him. Then the Lord spoke, I let him read a bunch more now. He's soaking in true life, what more could I teach him?

    Blessings,
    Sarah Dawn

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  2. AMEN Shonni!

    Amen to Sarah Dawn as well!

    Loving how our children want to soak in His word each day!

    Loving how they seek to be in prayer together and seeing us (their parents) on fire for Him and what He is doing in our hearts and lives!

    Hugs and blessings sweet friend!
    Jill

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  3. Amen - J and I have been praying and asking God if He had more for us in the way of ministry. Where as I believe He does - it starts in the home! We have always prayed together but not consistently read the word together.

    What a window into their little spiritual souls it has been lately (we have only been consistent for about 2 weeks). It has helped us to know how to pray for them in their walk or lack there of, with Jesus - how cool!

    Let keep encouraging eachother in this as I never want it to turn into a legalistic routine or quit.

    Thanks for the post! XOXO

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  4. Oh wow, my friend. This is JUST what I needed to read tonight.

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  5. Without the daily revelation of the Word of God, we tend toward humanistic thinking.

    These are the Words that pierced my heart. IT IS SO TRUE!

    Hungering and thirsting after righteousness....

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  6. I couldn't agree more. The enemy, as always, spews distracting lies to us...which always hold an element of truth. Yes, activities are great for our kids...but not at the expense of family time and time spent with the Lord.

    I think our kids need to hear us say NO to them more often when it comes to running them here and there all the time. Keeping them in constant activity outside the home has led to our kids having no creativity. They need to learn to use their imaginations more to make up games to play with each other, put on skits, etc. That's what we used to do as kids and we loved it!!

    My very favorite days are those that I wake up and know that there is NOTHING on our schedule except staying home and just hanging out with my kids.

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  7. Amen! Thank you for sharing!

    This subject has been on my heart for the past few weeks. It is such a blessing when my loving Father gently and lovingly uses His children to speak such truth!

    btw... you have a BEAUTIFUL family!

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