Dear friends and followers of Jesus (and those listening to me even though you aren’t Christians), you are beloved of God.  Your heart burns within you all the time and you know this.  Jesus is with you exposing the negatives of your experience.  Wait for the picture to emerge.  Don’t despair.  There’s a fire in your eyes, the Lord is fanning into flame the gifts he gave you.  Here’s a prayer I wrote for Fire Day at the Circle of Hope Public Meeting on Sunday.  Here’s a chance to pray it again or for the first time if you weren’t there.

The Lord said on that mountain of fire to his people long ago: Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen

Fan into flame the gifts we received Oh God

Don’t  let the light, the warmth fade from your heart as long as you live.

Fan into flame the gifts we received Oh God

Teach them to your children. Teach them how The Lord spoke to you, yes, you.

Fan into flame the gifts we received Oh God.

Was it in the earthquake? Was it in the fire or the mighty wind. Was it in a whisper- even yours in a child’s ear.

Fan into flame the gifts we received Oh God.

A surprising word spoken so truly you couldn’t say how strong it was in the cell meeting.  A song that sang your heart and a hundred people singing along.  A timely verse delivered to your inbox on the Daily Prayer.

Our God is a consuming fire

A sleepy moment in the morning when you sat to listen.  A hurried prayer in that moment of danger.  A thankful breath before the feast.

Our God is a consuming fire

Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen

Our God is a consuming fire

The broken gray of morning clouds, pierced with brilliant light.  A mirror of blue splashed in the gutter reflecting heavenward.  The moon in daylight.

Our God is a consuming fire

The gentle pull of love, gentle and consistent.  Gentle and strong.  Pulling you back to the center.

Our God is a consuming fire

A center of burning love, love for you, love for me.  Love for all.  A never ending, never stopping, center of the universe kind of love that desires us.

Our God is a consuming fire

Gentle fire of Jesus, burning in our hearts and leaping from our hearts to our eyes and mouths, shining out and into the world.

Our God is a consuming fire

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Our God is a consuming fire