It Only Takes a Spark

I prayed on specific words in relation to our Christian walk.  The word “Spark” was brought to my mind.  Maybe God brought it to my mind because July 4, Independence Day, is close.   When we encounter Christ, it only takes a spark.  In that instant we are changed, we are free, and people will notice.

As kids, usually on the fourth of July, we used to have sparklers that we would ignite and then run around the yard with them. You know the little sparklers that you can buy in the stores.  They were small, but you could see the light.

Then to light someone else’s sparkler we would put the two sticks together, and the sparkler that wasn’t lit would come to light.  We would pass it on.  There is a song we would sing at campmeetings.  “Pass it on” by Kurt Kaiser.  The first verse starts with “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.”    

Verse 1

It only takes a spark

To get a fire going

And soon all those around

Can warm up in its glowing

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it

You spread His love to ev’ryone

You want to pass it on.

~ Kurt Kaiser

It does only take a spark to get the fire going.  That is how it goes when we have experienced the love of God.  In an instant, we are changed. You want to share it.  Once you receive that love and feel that freedom, you want to pass it on.

Living IN Revival, we want to pass the good news on.  The freedom that can be found in Christ.  It is tremendous.  It is FREEDOM.  The TRUTH, the freedom, that in an instant, can change us. When we have that, we want to share it with those around us.  We can find illustrations of this change in an instant and the need to share the story, in the Bible and all around. 

The Woman of Samaria ~ Better Known as the Woman at the Well.

 She had gone to the well for water to quench her thirst.  One encounter, one conversation with the Lord. It only took a spark, and she went back into her town proclaiming what she had experienced.  “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” and they went out to see for themselves. – John 4:30 ~MSG

 “They went out to see for themselves.”  There must have been something about the woman.  Think about it. What a difference in that woman from the time she went to get the water when no one else was around to when she went back to the town.

Something in her countenance had changed that when she returned and told her story, people wanted what she had found.  She couldn’t keep the news to herself.  It was something that she had to share.  The town went to investigate for themselves. She had found something they were missing. 

What a difference that one moment with Christ made not only in her life but in her town's life!  She told of her encounter with Christ, and they went to see what she was talking about.  They wanted a change in their lives themselves.  ALL because of one conversation with Jesus, One Spark. 

The Story of the Jailor

Acts 16:23-33 ~ In the NIV

Paul and Silas were thrown in jail after been flogged.  It was midnight. They were bruised, battered, and in pain.  Yet, they were praying and singing.  “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” Acts 16:26.

The story goes on.  The jailor wakes up and sees the prison doors open.  Of course, he is going to freak out.  He freaked out so much that he was going to take his own life because of it.  But Paul shouted out “DON'T."

What kind of fire did Paul and Silas have for Jesus? They were bruised and battered but still singing and praying. The jailor saw this spark in them, and he wanted what they had.  The chapter continues. “At that hour of the night the jailor took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” ~Acts 16:33

Based on that one spark of Paul and Silas, that jailor and his entire family were baptized.  In one moment, the jailor was changed.  That change was seen by his family.  How else do you have an entire family be baptized in one instant?

That one event or that one spark changed the lives of that jailor and his family noticed.  They wanted what the jailor had.  In an instant, their lives were changed.

The Story of the Hemorrhaging Lady.

The woman who touched the robe of Christ was changed in an instant.  Luke 8:43-48, in the Message.  She was in the crowd. In fact, the verse emphasizes, “she slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that moment her hemorrhaging stopped.”

Because of her faith, in an instant, she was healed.  So much was her faith, that Jesus stopped what he was doing and called her out.  It wasn’t to embarrass her. He wanted her to tell her story.   Jesus had to have known who it was who touched his garment, but he wanted her to know that because of her faith, she was changed.

He wanted her to tell her story.  How many people heard what happened to her in that moment?  Her testimony of what God had done, in an instant.  IT truly is amazing.  She could have backed away and not volunteered the fact that it was her, but she did.

It only takes a Spark.  Can you imagine the story she told that night when she went home?  “Hello, husband, I have something to tell you.”  In a moment, her life is not the same.  In a moment, she knew Jesus and was not the same.

The Story of Bryan Welch

You may not know the story of Bryan Welch, the co-founder of KORN.   With one spark, the Bible, he was changed.  According to Bryan, his rock and roll lifestyle was a dangerous spiral.  He was on the brink of destruction with the drinking and the drugs.

 A friend gave him a bible.  Bryan, in an interview he gave to CBN said, “It’s about the book of life, and everybody needs to be taught…It’s gonna do stuff like this—like change a guy in a rock band.”

According to the same article, one week later, Bryan Welch, rock & roll star flew to Israel was baptized in the Jordan River.  It only took a spark, and now Bryan is sharing his faith to a multitude of people.  He is using his platform to tell his story and point people to Jesus.

The Story of Us

It takes only a spark, and we are changed. Christ wants us to spread the good news to those who need to hear it. When we are changed through Christ, we want to share it with anyone who will listen. He wants the world to hear of the freedom that can be found in Him.  Through His freedom, others will want what we have found. Something about naturally passing it on to others, like the sparklers.

What is your story?

Abba Father,

I pray that the spark that is changing people all around will start a wildfire of faith for others. Our stories need to be spread, and I pray that each of us tells our story of the Freedom that can be found in You. 

You keep igniting that spark in people, and we see time after time. We see you at work. Please continue to ignite that spark.  Soon all those around us will know of your glory.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!

~ Laura Maxson

January Prayer Topic: Word for the Year with God

One Word?

Easy.

Merriam-Webster definition of easy?

Easy

 adjective

\ˈē-zē  \

easier; easiest

Definition of easy 

1a: causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort

b: requiring or indicating little effort, thought, or reflection

This is what I wanted. Lying in bed, tear-soaked cheeks. I wanted it to be just a little easier. For the first in time in my relationship with God, I was having it out with Him. Yes, I’ve been overwhelmed, sad, feeling like my relationship may not have been as close as I have wanted it to be. But this emotion was new for us. I was so angry and frustrated, not just at the situation, but actually at God.

I’ve told other’s “He can handle your anger and frustration” and in my heart, I believed what I was telling them. But we-God and I had never been there. Not like this.

Last year I had been praying and intentionally trying to practice our word “abide.” Learning to practice His presence in the every day, connected to the vine in every situation. Trying to allow Him to be part of every thought, every decision. I found how easily distracted I am, but how gracious, steadfast, and reminding God is. He led me to read books, have conversations, hear podcasts, learn in Bible study about it’s not about perfection, but the process of Him working it out in me. And I had moments where I not only believe it, but I felt it.

But, in that moment, I didn’t want him to be working out the process in me, it was too hard. Our family seemed to be being attacked on all sides, my health, my family’s health, the Paradise fire, work, the ministry plans that we had been working on for 2 years, everything seemed to be falling apart at the same time. I felt pulled in all directions trying to say “yes” to everything HE was asking for me.

As I laid there in bed next to my husband, I told him. No-I told God, I did not doubt His love for me, I did not doubt that He was kind to me, I did not doubt that He has good things for me. But I was afraid of what He might ask next of me. I was afraid He was asking too much of me, I could not do it. I was afraid because I did not want to say “no” to Him, and I felt if He asked one more thing of me, I would say “no.”

It was then that I realized my anger came from fear. Through this fear and anger, I challenged Him. I feel like I know His voice, and in the moment, He was choosing to remain silent. I told Him I was trying my best, I was trying to allow Him to work in me. I pleaded that He would just tell me what He wanted of me. I told Him how unfair I felt that He would say so little in the Bible about Enoch, the man who walked with God and was taken and would not tell us anything else about how he did it. I told him I wasn’t sure I could be caregiver, handle the emotion for the loss in our family, stress from work, the disappointment for a ministry seemingly failing after years for dreaming and planning. And knowing he was choosing to be silent, I called Him on it. “Now, when I’m pleading for answers when I need You to say something to me. You choose to be silent!”

“I JUST WANT IT A LITTLE EASIER!!”

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

Silence. Nothing. In bed, sobbing as floodgates opened and tears came. In the stillness, God chose silence. Instead of speaking-He chose to hold me.  In His infinite kindness and goodness, like the parent I wish to be, He allowed me to beat on His chest and He took it. He let me have it out, then wrapped His arms of love around me. He did not reprimand me for using that tone of voice with Him, He did not tell me how good I actually have it, He did not give me the answers I wanted. He just held me in His love.

As the sobbing calmed and remaining tears trickled down my cheeks. I felt a peace. It was the peace that He had promised and spoken to me just a few weeks before.

In the stillness, my husband wrapped his arms around me. “I don’t know what God wants from you. But I know he doesn’t want a robot. He wants to know what you want, what you can handle. He wants you to be honest with Him. He wants a real relationship with you.”

In the stillness, in the silence, I fell asleep, still unsure of what was next. But asleep wrapped in His love and peace.

The next morning, His still small voice came. “I sent you an example. I sent you My Son.”

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

~kartini r. maxson

DANIEL 9:19 (LORD!) – Part 2

Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." Daniel 9:19

This month, it seems that since we are praying for a more fervor prayer life, the devil has been working overtime at trying to derail my relationship with my Lord.  He is trying to do the derailing by trying to discourage me or make me believe that my Lord is not listening.   He is filling my mind with doubts. Basically, telling me lies.

Well, guess what? Our Lord is more powerful, and mightier, and stronger, and… so many other words to use for Him.  He’s got us.  The Lord Most High has us covered in His glory.

With the Lord’s help, I am choosing to believe the truth and not give in to the lies or doubts.  My prayer life has become more concentrated this month, and it has been a very conscience effort on my part.  Yes, my Lord is more powerful than any plan or thought or lie or doubt that the devil may have, but we must do our part and look to the Lord, the Truth.

Each time I am having a rough patch and the doubts set in, I chose to rely on the Lord.  When I feel lost and not sure what to do, I turn to my Lord for guidance.  When my patience is almost at an end, the Lord helps to still my soul.  When the doubts and lies seem to fill my head, I cry out to the Lord.

He always listens and answers me.  He guides me. It might not be the answer or the timing that I am looking for, but there is a stillness that I have found in Him.  With that stillness, I can hear Him.  He calms me. He tells me the truth.  He renews my parched soul.

“Be Still and Know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

It was morning, and I was lamenting about not having the fulfillment of a promise in the timing that I thought that it should be.  I admit I was not very happy with the Lord, and I was letting Him know.  The conversation was that I felt that He was playing with my heart and my patience was running out. 

I am not saying this is the correct way to have a discussion with God, but thankfully God knows me and can handle whatever I say to Him.  He listens to my rantings, and then when I am done ranting, He calmly gives me the answer, the peace that He knows I need.

On the way to work that day, I called a prayer warrior on the phone to talk through my lamenting and frustrations.  She did not answer, which is how the Lord wanted it.  I talked with the Lord again, and when I got to work my daily thought for the day in my e-mail was about God’s Stillness and having the stillness in the Lord.  Every thought that I was thinking was written in the e-mail.

The Lord wants me to rely on Him for the answers.  Yes, we can share with others, but in this case the Lord wanted me to rely on Him.  He is the author of my journey and wants to share in the journey with me. 

We each can rely on the Lord.  He does listen.  He does forgive.  He does hear and act. 

Dear Lord,

I praise Your name. You do listen, even when we are ranting.  You do forgive and cover us with Your grace and mercy.  You do hear and act, even if it is not in our way or timing.  Your way and timing are best. You are our Lord.  Continue to give each of us a zest for you. You are the Author, and You have this journey for each of us that You want to walk with us.  May our prayers be in You.  May our hearts be open to Your leading.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen

Laura Maxson