When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you When you pass through raging rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel! Isaiah 43:2-3a

Have you ever been burned? I’m sure all of us have at one time or another. I’ve burned myself with an iron, curling iron (LONG time ago!), iron skillets, steam burns and most recently the oven rack jumped out and bit me! I used to have an aloe plant for the sole purpose of medicating those nasty things but I killed that years ago.

My mom happened to be home one time when I had a nasty steam burn on my finger that hurt like the dickens. She grabbed a vitamin E, snipped the top off and squeezed it onto my finger. Amazingly, the pain went completely away. Moms are SO awesome!

This morning my mind turns to another kind of burn; passion. We’re all passionate about something. It’s what drives us to get up in the morning, it could be a a person, career, education, hobby. My passion is God.

No, I’m not trying to be hyper-spiritual. It wasn’t always that way, trust me. I had my dream of being a wife and mother, thats all I ever wanted. But after that happened, I realized how short sighted I was. My vision had to include others and had to come from God. So, I began to call out for more. More passion for Him, more love for Him and I was willing to do whatever it took to have it.

I never thought for a moment that my pursuit would cost me everything, but it did. God and I had a burning party of our own, putting down all my selfish desires, dreams and goals. I began to cry out, “Burn like a fire that can’t be quenched. Fire of God, burn in me!” and the shaking began, the violent shaking! But when it was over, though stripped of all I was, I was still rooted deep, I had not moved.

Only God knows how to strip us to get us ready for the new leaves and lush foliage. Only God knows what our next season will hold and what it will take to prepare us for that. It never happens the way we think, and if we could figure it out on our own, we wouldn’t need Him.

Therefore I will hold fast the confidence I have gained throughout my journey that ALL things work together for good to them that love God and confidently trust in him. Romans 8:28

Until Tomorrow,

Sandy G