WELCOME TO THE PASTORS MESSAGE FROM THE GRACEVINE -
This Lenten Season we will be taking time to reflect on spiritual disciplines as a way to rekindle the fire of
our faith. The topics will be taken out of the book Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.
few smoldering coals. With a little effort you can bring the embers together and add some kindling and
small twigs and start to blow until the flame ignites again.
Was there was once a time when your spiritual life and faith was burning hotter than it is today? Do you
remember a time when the spiritual life at your church was burning hotter and brighter than it is today?
Like the cycle of an ordinary wood fire at a campsite or fireplace, the flames of faith at one time can blaze
fiercely and at other times can die down to a low glow. They can even seemingly go away.
I believe that it is the promise of God that each of us can experience a renewal of faith. This is true also of
a church. The fire of God’s Spirit can fall again and fill our hearts and bring it back to a hot burning
flame. We can count on God to fill us with His Spirit if we truly desire it.
First we must remember that the fire comes from God. Our faith is a gift of God that is not our own
creation. And since God wanted us to have a vibrant spiritual life in the first place, He will want us to
receive a renewal of faith whenever we sincerely ask for it.
At the same time, our faith and spiritual life must be encouraged by our own actions and behaviors. There
are things that can contribute to the death of the flame and there are things that help it to grow.
What are some flame dampeners? The main flame suppressors are lack of fuel, isolation of the pieces of
wood and coals from each other, and water or other substances that prevent oxygen and cool off the
coals.
The things which encourage the fire are just the reverse—more fuel, a concentrating of the hot coals and
plenty of oxygen.
Taken spiritually, we can see that the fuel is a picture of Bible study and prayer. We need to spend time
in the Word of God so that our spirits can be fed and our faith can burn brighter.
The concentrating of the hot coals is an image of gathering together as the body of Christ. Individually we
are less able to sustain our faith at a high temperature. But when we are gathered, the mutual
encouragement builds the fire up.
Sin and strife are dampeners to the fire of faith. So when we repent, confess and receive forgiveness,
there is a new flow of the Holy Spirit’s oxygen to the core of the hot embers.
Restoring faith as an individual often means getting help. When we are not doing well physically or
emotionally we generally go to someone—such as a doctor or a counselor or even a friend. When we are
looking for spiritual help, we need to go to leaders, pastors and faithful friends to get the guidance and
encouragement we need.
As we take time each Sunday to explore a different Christian discipline, I hope you will find the journey of
discovery to be a rich and fruitful experience. I hope to see you all during Lent.
God bless you all!
Pastor John
our faith. The topics will be taken out of the book Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.
few smoldering coals. With a little effort you can bring the embers together and add some kindling and
small twigs and start to blow until the flame ignites again.
Was there was once a time when your spiritual life and faith was burning hotter than it is today? Do you
remember a time when the spiritual life at your church was burning hotter and brighter than it is today?
Like the cycle of an ordinary wood fire at a campsite or fireplace, the flames of faith at one time can blaze
fiercely and at other times can die down to a low glow. They can even seemingly go away.
I believe that it is the promise of God that each of us can experience a renewal of faith. This is true also of
a church. The fire of God’s Spirit can fall again and fill our hearts and bring it back to a hot burning
flame. We can count on God to fill us with His Spirit if we truly desire it.
First we must remember that the fire comes from God. Our faith is a gift of God that is not our own
creation. And since God wanted us to have a vibrant spiritual life in the first place, He will want us to
receive a renewal of faith whenever we sincerely ask for it.
At the same time, our faith and spiritual life must be encouraged by our own actions and behaviors. There
are things that can contribute to the death of the flame and there are things that help it to grow.
What are some flame dampeners? The main flame suppressors are lack of fuel, isolation of the pieces of
wood and coals from each other, and water or other substances that prevent oxygen and cool off the
coals.
The things which encourage the fire are just the reverse—more fuel, a concentrating of the hot coals and
plenty of oxygen.
Taken spiritually, we can see that the fuel is a picture of Bible study and prayer. We need to spend time
in the Word of God so that our spirits can be fed and our faith can burn brighter.
The concentrating of the hot coals is an image of gathering together as the body of Christ. Individually we
are less able to sustain our faith at a high temperature. But when we are gathered, the mutual
encouragement builds the fire up.
Sin and strife are dampeners to the fire of faith. So when we repent, confess and receive forgiveness,
there is a new flow of the Holy Spirit’s oxygen to the core of the hot embers.
Restoring faith as an individual often means getting help. When we are not doing well physically or
emotionally we generally go to someone—such as a doctor or a counselor or even a friend. When we are
looking for spiritual help, we need to go to leaders, pastors and faithful friends to get the guidance and
encouragement we need.
As we take time each Sunday to explore a different Christian discipline, I hope you will find the journey of
discovery to be a rich and fruitful experience. I hope to see you all during Lent.
God bless you all!
Pastor John
| THE GRACE VINE |
A Monthly Newsletter for Members and Friends of Grace Lutheran Church
| March 2011 |
Rekindle your Spiritual Disciplines
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| “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 God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 1Timothy 1:6-7 |