Please Turn Up The Heat!

“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:14-16 (HCSB)

We have just experienced one of the coldest weeks in decades! Temperatures have not climbed above freezing for more than a week as we have all been under "a deep freeze warning" night after night. With the deep freeze warning there comes some specific instructions to "take extra care" of the "P's" in our lives...Pets, Plants, Pipes, People...

There are times in our Christian walk that God calls us to "take extra care" so that we will continue to have "Hot Hearts" for Him! Here we are after all of the "new year commitments" have been made and we begin to live out a New Year surrendered afresh and anew to all that God has called us to...and then comes the deep freeze season of life, WINTER... the enemy can even try and use the weather or the season of life that includes more darkness (Winter) to try and cause our lives to grow "cold".

I will never forget the time that we teamed up with His servants from all over North America and ministered to an almost unreached people group in of all places...Alaska. As we prepared for this special time of going and sharing Jesus, we learned so much about how the cold dark long Winter months can affect the people of Alaska. We learned that during the cold months, Alaska leads North America in the areas of; depression, alcoholism, unemployment, and tragic family issues, just to name a few of the real struggles that the cold can bring upon lives. Many women gave their lives to Christ in Alaska that week that was so full of Jesus and His Love that Warms the coldest heart! Today it was -57 as we keep praying for Alaska as God keeps doing His Work!!

As believers, the enemy will even try and use anything, even "the cold" months of Winter, to make our hearts grow cold inside when it comes to daily growing in The Lord and daily sharing Him with others! What are some possible steps we can take to "fan the FLAME" of The Holy Spirit in our lives for Jesus?

"Having A Hot Heart for Jesus in a Cold World"- Ideas (Please Turn Up The Heat!): Ask God for A Hot Heart = Pray; Clean out the Filter of our Heart = Confession; Put in some new fresh kindling that helps build a new fire in our heart = Begin A New Prayer Plan, Bible Study Plan, Retreat; Share The Warmth from the Fire that God has Built = Reach out to others, Share Jesus, Pray with Someone, Have an Accountability Praying Friend, Realize the ways that God is at Work in and through our Lives, Encourage (Fan The Flame) Others!

We can either be a thermometer that only reflects the temperature in the room or we can ask God to make us a THERMOSTAT that sets & reflects a Hot Heart for God that can warm cold hearts around us for the cause of Christ! We would love for you to share some of your simple steps that you have taken that "Fans the FLAME" as we ask God to Please Turn Up The Heat inside of our HEARTS because like it has been said "it only takes a spark to get a fire going"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvUNkRbi5Rc - Lord I Give You My Heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE - Open The Eyes Of My Heart!

Carrying His Cross

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matt 16:24-25, NIV).

A few years ago, I went to Canton, Texas on a shopping trip with a few of my neighbors. My most exciting find was a 5-foot tall iron cross. As I picked up the 30 lb. cross and carried it up the hill to the car, I realized it wasn’t going to be easy but I knew deep down it was worth it. I placed it carefully in the car, we worked all the people and packages around it, drove it home and then drug it in the house. I found myself exhausted after a very long twenty-one hour day. But, it was worth it. Right in the entryway was the perfect place for it.

As I sat there looking at it and thinking about how tired I was, I understood a little more about what it meant to deny oneself and take up His cross. Mine was a physical one; His cross a spiritual one…but one that has physical implications. The find of His cross is the most exciting find of my life. The price is great but worth it. I have to count the costs and go over a few fields and up a few hills. I’m exhausted some days and wondering if it is worth it. But along the way, there are neighbors to tell how the cross of Christ has impacted my life. And that’s what denying myself is all about. It’s all in what you are shopping for.

Lord, may I carry your cross today. Give me an opportunity to share as I walk the journey with those who do not know you.

(Adapted from HeartCall: The Call to Prayer, Jaye Martin, January 30.)