Jan
24
2023
God’s Bellows
Posted in Faith 2 Comments
I enjoy lighting the candle in my kitchen.
There is one candle fragrance I choose all the time.
It seems to be my home’s signature smell.
The scent is simply called, Country Store.
To imagine what it smells like, you have to imagine walking into a country store.
Scents will greet you as soon as you open the door.
The description says: a tangy blend of rose hips, oranges, apples, cinnamon, and spices.
It is a scent that feels like home.
Through the years, friends of my children came into our home.
It smells good in here, was their usual comment.
I remember one boy in our neighborhood who said that every time he came in our kitchen.
Sometimes, I was baking as well, which added to the fragrance.
I always trim the wick before I light my candle.
It helps the candle burn evenly.
The candle sits on the center of my kitchen island.
The fragrance fills the house.
The other day, I noticed my candle was burning unevenly.
On one side, the wax was burning, while on the other side the wax was against the glass.
I shave some of the cool wax off the sides when that happens.
However, I don’t like to waste the candle by doing that, so I try to push the wick to the center.
This particular day, there was a pool of melted wax inside the candle.
As I lifted the candle to try to center the wick, the flame burned low.
It looked like it would go out at any moment.
There was still a slight tinge of red at the base of the wick.
I didn’t want to have to relight the candle.
Though, it seemed to be inevitable.
I tilted the candle jar sideways, exposing more of the wick.
I gently blew on the tiny red embers that I saw at the base of the wick.
Nothing happened at first.
Then, the flame grew and lit up again.
What was a tiny ember was now a flame.
My breath brought the embers to life again.
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to 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. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (2 Timothy 1:4-7)
Paul wrote to Timothy reminding him to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in him.
Timothy had a God given gift that he was to use to tell others about the Lord Jesus.
When Timothy came to faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit began to dwell inside him.
Timothy was to guard that deposit of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a fresh wind.
My gentle breath fanned into flame the embers that were ready to go out.
How much more is our faith fanned into flame by the Holy Spirit?
God can take the smallest bit of faith and use it for His Glory.
In a traditional fireplace, air from bellows can fan the dying embers into flame.
What was thought to be a dying fire can ignite again.
As with a candle or a fireplace, so it is with our faith.
The Holy Spirit is God’s bellows.
The Holy Spirit will fan into flame the tiny embers of our faith.
The fresh wind of the Spirit blows, igniting the flames of faith that are ready to go out.
Fresh wind. Fresh fire.
God’s bellows.
The Holy Spirit blows where He wishes.
Dying embers do no stand a chance.
The smallest flame will ignite.
God’s bellows will fan the flame of faith in our hearts.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Gina, I found your Whispers post easily today on your website that is now posted on my desktop for easy access, no problem I, too, use to love burning fragranced candles in my house but no more because of my chronic cough. So thankful I have the HS within me to often fan the ’embers of my faith’ into flame once again for His Glory always. Thank you for sharing❤
Carolyn,
I am so glad you bookmarked this site on your desktop. Word Press, the host for Whispers Of His Movement, no longer allows subscriptions for their sites. They no longer send posts to an inbox. Everyone, who wants to read the Whispers, will have to be intentional to look for them every Tuesday on the webpage itself. Blessings.
Gina