Soon the cooler weather that seeks us in the early Arkansas mornings and hides away in the afternoon sun will be lingering throughout our days. With cooler temperatures comes the smell of fall and the warmth of bustling fires. I tend to be cold-natured so I find myself setting extra close to the heater so that I don’t miss much of the radiating heat.
I didn’t have the luxury of growing up with a fireplace but one of my aunts did. And I know keeping the heat going in a fireplace took tending. You didn’t just throw a few logs in and left it going for days. By that fireplace was extra wood, prodding sticks (I don’t know the proper name for it…lol), and a cover. Every once in a while the wood on in the fireplace had to be stirred around and more added to the fire. When the fireplace aim was meant for a source of heat and not just decoration, it required work.
Hindrances to Exercising Our Gifts
Many times we like the impact we get from a thing but don’t really desire to put in the work associated with it.
I was reading yesterday in where Paul encouraged Timothy to fan into flames the spiritual gift that God had given to him. (See 2 Tim 1:6). Then I read verse seven.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
I have seen or heard that verse many times but the correlation of those two verses just detonated within me. I had a light bulb moment. What stops you and I from fan into flames the gifts God has given us?
FEAR and TIMIDITY
At first glance those two words seemed very similar to me. Therefore, I did a little word snooping. Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines timidity as “lack of willingness to assert oneself and take risks. Wikipedia defines fear as “an emotion induced by a perceived threat which causes entities to quickly pull far away from it and usually hide.”
The Battle Weapons to Combat
Right after identifying the two opposing forces to using our gifts, Paul points out the antidote to conquer it.
- POWER
- Love
- Self-discipline
- All three provided to us by God but we have to use them.
Picking Up My Fan
As I walked this morning I thought about the Doing You Well link-up that Michell host’s at Prowess and Pearls and in light of this I began asking myself what am I doing well or doing at all to exercise the gifts entrusted to me. You see sometimes I can be a lil Debbie-downer that only can see the areas I need to improve. But instead of focusing on that because hey we all have many ways to improve, I decided to think on the small steps I’m taking toward fanning my personal flames.
- For several weeks I have been taking an online web development class and I am just about to fully complete it. Here is example of one the certificates I have earned thus far.
- Over the weekend, I decided to defy timidity and take the risk of opening my own Etsy shop. I’m still working on adding more themes to the inventory. If you have a few minutes, I would love for you to stop by the shop and please like it and share with others who might like it.
How have you been keeping the flames of your gifts burning lately? Have you found yourself stuck in fear and timidity in a certain area?
May I say a prayer for you before you go? Dear Father I thank you for your Word that you left for us. I thank you that it is alive and active! I pray that for those reading these words that they would be stirred afresh dear God. May we each walk in the love, power, and self-discipline you have already provided to each of us. May we walk out in new places of courage and may you Lord be glorified through the works of our hands. In Jesus name, Amen.
Linking up with Doing You Well Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesday, Three Word Wednesday , Word-filled Wednesday and A Lil R & R
Congrats on your accomplishments. Wow! I’m so blessed by these words, Wanda. In the natural, it brought back thoughts of my dad’s house up north. It certainly was work to keep up the fireplace, and I use to have wood duty. Yes, work, indeed! lol! As for the spiritual side, we often forget that the spirit is not “magic.” We don’t just sit back and watch the spirit work to entertain us, but the Spirit of God works within us to enable us. If we don’t work, if we don’t fan the flames, we could end up disabled and disengaged. Thanks for the prayers, and may you continue to heat up and touch many with that flame.
LaVonne you’re so right some times I think we have hard time finding the balance between relying on our own strengths and simply sitting waiting on God . More and more I’m learning that waiting on God is not necessarily a state that is absent of action. I’m trying to make risks. Slow steps they may be.
Awesome word Wanda! And a great analogy! You’re so right, God has given us every tool needed to accomplish the task. It’s our job to pick up the tools and use them! I dare to say we can add just plain laziness to your list Wanda, lol! It’s easier to just sit there like a lump on a log and let life pass us by than to get up and do something! Thanks so much for the reminder my friend!! And thanks for linking up…have a blessed week!! Btw…I’ll head over to your Etsy Shop! Whooohooo, look at you girl…doing yourself all well and all! 🙂
Now how did I manage to skip the laziness Michell. Gosh knows I know how that one has played into me missing out on some opportunities. I don’t what to just sit by on the sidelines of life. I only have a few items listed so far but I plan to flesh out more as I have time. Have a great rest of the week Michell.
Wanda, I will be back later to read but got your comment on my blog. I’d love to connect with you by email as I’d really like to send some love and encouragement to your airman. My email is simplybeth3(at)gmail(dot)com.
{Hugs}
Sounds great Beth. I’ll be in touch. Thanks!
Thank you, Wanda, for the prayer and for the challenge to fan into flames the gifts God has given me. I am looking forward to that as we begin our ministry in our new church on November 1st. It’s always so exciting to see where God leads.
Oh November is just right around the corner isn’t it Pam. Yes it is excited because where He leads us is often places we would never think to go ourselves.
Fantastic Wanda! Congrats on completing your class and for your new shop! I will definitely stop by; I am already a regular over at Cynthia’s…LOL! Sounds to me like your fire is burning my friend; I need to light a fire and exercise more of my gifts!!
Blessings…and LOVE!
Denise
Thanks Denise. I have been trying to fan some low smoking embers Denise. I started the class and then sort of halted when I got to the more difficult parts but decided now was time to forge ahead.
How exciting for you! Great post!
Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman’s Word Filled Wednesday. God bless.
Always a pleasure to link when I have the chance Jenifer. Have a great rest of the week.
Congrats on your new accomplishments! One thing on my heart is to spend more time improving my writing. I do believe this is something God has called me to do and I want to continually strive to improve this gift. I signed up for Tribe Writers but have yet to go through the course. I need to put this on my list for the beginning of 2014.
Great wisdom friend. Thank you for linking up.
Love and {Hugs},
Beth
Thanks Beth. I look forward to seeing how your ministry writing flourishes. I heard about tribes but not sure what they are all about. There always so much to learn.
Just loved this three word Wednesday:) What a great analogy- I wanted to cozy up to a fire myself:) I will be using those tools! Thank you so much for your encouragement and thoughtfulness.
Thank you Lauren. We have all the right tools we need just need to put them in action. All the best to you.
Good for you – congratulations!! That’s a great accomplishment! I have a lot of things I want to work on right now. I need to prioritize!! My goal is to start the new year completely organized with my blog!
Thanks Michelle. I think my want to do list is continuously growing too but as you say I need to prioritize.