Consuming Fire

I've been thinking lately about getting busy writing a book. Hebrews 12 speaks of God as a consuming fire. Several years ago we walked through this idea as our theme for Teen Camp. A couple years later I used it as a sermon series. Now I am thinking through it again. Here are some possible lessons or topics i may pursue:

1. If God is a consuming fire then we are firewood. We are meant to be consumed and used by his Spirit to burn/shine. There are several biblical allusions which build on this.

2. Firewood was meant to burn: We were designed and created to let his spirit bring things out of us that might never been seen in any other way. A log on the woodpile never gives heat or light. Once it is given over to the flames, it gives both and pops with potential as "sweet spots" of sap and oils break out in life. For us, these correspond to talents, gifts and abilities which God has placed in us or He empowers us to have and do when we give our lives over to His reign.

3. A burning log gathers no moss: A log that is on fire is not susceptible to moss and decay. In this analogy, the Spirit of God gives us strength to overcome old habits and temptations.

I have a couple other thoughts but I thought I would float these few for now. Any feedback?

Life and prayer

Okay , so it's been awhile since I posted. I must confess, summer hits and I am off to camps and mission trip and all kinds of activity with teens and I seldom land back online. In the midst of the busy-ness find that I have to keep my head up and my heart bowing to God. There are so many things going on that I feel like my world is spinning out of control at times. That is when I am driven to prayer. Not always the kind of prayer that takes me to the quiet place for a long period of connection and listening. More often it is the kind of prayer that leads me to seek wisdom and insight from God while things are spinning around me. It is the quick prayer of "Lord help me help her." while a student is pouring out her heart about doubt or pain or how someone has hurt her. It is the hopeful cry of my spirit for God to lead while I stand to speak or teach. It is the joyful prayer of laughter and thanksgiving that rises up in me as I see students laughing together or running like crazy in some wacky game or activity. All these remind me that prayer life is life - not something separate from it.