It's still raining, here, in not-so-sunny Florida. I can't complain though... it waters my lawn for free and keeps the grass from burning up.
At this time of year, the sun is at its strongest. In some parts of Florida, trees have caught on fire. Huge areas go up in flames leaving nothing behind. Driving along the highway, I've seen the desolate remains.
Almost a year ago, I went to several services to hear a minister speak on The Supernatural Things of God. She called me out from the crowd and had me come to the front. She prophesied over me that I was about to take a quantum leap in my spiritual life. Next thing I knew, I was laying flat out on the floor. I wasn't quite sure how I got there, but I wasn't in a hurry to get up. No one had even touched me. That had never happened to me before. In the last twelve months, I think I've taken several quantum leaps. I'm not kidding. And I'm not talking about a few giant steps. I'm talking about quantum leaps. I've grown more spiritually in the last year than most do in a decade. It's been awesome!
Quantum leap - a sudden, highly significant
advance or breakthrough.
advance or breakthrough.
At the end of one of those services, that same minister called people to the front of the church who wanted to experience more of God. I went forward. I closed my eyes and lifted my hands in surrender to Jesus. I prayed quietly, under my breath, while the minister worked her way down the line, personally praying for each one of us. When she got to me, she gently touched my belly and said a simple prayer:
Receive the Fire of God!
It was starting to get uncomfortably hot. I found myself loosening the collar of my shirt. Then I realized that the heat was coming from within me. I was radiating heat! Duh! It never dawned on me, until later, that the minister prayed for me to receive the Fire of God and there I was, laying on the floor, experiencing some sort of burning within -- like a fire. LOL!
Almost ten years ago, I went with a friend to a Benny Hinn crusade. I'd never been before and I wanted to see for myself what it was like. Not knowing what to expect, my friend was incredibly guarded, and I guess I was a bit guarded myself. The music and worship were incredible. I'll never forget Ron Kenoly singing "Jesus is Alive." Wow! The whole arena exploded in worship unto the Lord! It was amazing. There was a good word, good prayer, and some amazing signs and wonders.
We were sitting way up high, in one of the last rows where we could see everything. What stands out the most, however, was a little detail - a personal sign from God for me and my friend. Near the end of the meeting, we were instructed to put our hand on the shoulder of the person beside us. Together the whole arena agreed with the minister in prayer. As I stood there, in the midst of thousands of Christians, I thought to myself...
"Wow... what's with my friend's hand? It's so hot!
It feels like a hot iron that someone left plugged in."
I leaned over and whispered in my friend's ear,
"What's with your hand?
You're going to burn a hole in my shirt!"
Shortly after that, the meeting came to an end and we headed home. While we discussed the highlights of the evening, my friend confessed that he didn't know what to make of the signs and wonders that seemed to be taking place right in front of us. When we all closed our eyes to pray, he silently cried out to God to give him a personal sign that God was, in fact, at work in that place. Right at that moment, he felt his hands getting hotter and hotter. He struggled back and forth in his mind, "Was this God? or just just me?" That's when I leaned over and told him his hand was going to burn a hole in my shirt. He realized right then that his hands actually were on fire!
As I think about these divine occurrences, I can't help but remember the Bible story where the Believers were all waiting together in the upper room.
Acts 2:2-4 says...
"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind
came from heaven and filled the whole house where
they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues
of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
Last night, my Bible Discussion group was talking about the Book of Revelation. In chapter 3, verses 15 and 16, the angel says to the church in Laodicea,
"...you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold --
I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
I don't know about you, dear friends, but I so desperately desire to be on Fire for God!
I don't want to care about
how that looks like to onlookers.
I only want to care about
how I look to God.
When He looks down on me, I want Him to see
His girl, in RED shoes, radically praising Him,
doing the work of the Father, and flowing with
His Spirit.
Please God...
Deposit a MIGHTY FIRE in me!
Gail
