I am a good ol’ southern boy that loves college students, which means there are two constants in my life.  I hate cold weather and I like staying up late and sleeping in.  However, the older I get the more appreciation I have for the peace of a winter morning.  I have a new discipline in my life that involves getting up well before my family arises and spending time in God’s word, so that i may have as John Piper says, “some spiritual sense about me” before I lead my family and my church.  In order to accomplish this I need two things… a good dose of coffee and a nice warm fire in the fire place.  There is just something very soothing and reflective about a good fire on a winter morning.

As I look at the fire this morning, I pray that God would consume our little church like this fire is consuming these logs.  My friend Andy and I were prayer walking yesterday… just praying for such a passionate revival… praying that God would consume us, and God revealed to me an encouraging thought.  When I started my fire this morning… I didn’t take a flame thrower and light it… I didn’t soak it in gas and light it either.  I put two “starter logs” down lit them and then stacked some other wood on top.  When you first light a starter log, it is not a raging flame.  It starts with a relatively small flame but eventually it sets ablaze all that is above it.  You know… the same is true with our church I believe.  This past Sunday, our announcement time turned into a praise report time.  We heard about God answer prayers concerning our mission efforts in Antigua.  We heard about two ladies who were blessed by our evening of prayer.  And we heard about the exciting prospects of our VBS program this summer.  Now… these were not roaring flames that immediately consumed our church.  However, I do think they were starter logs.  God is work!  There are little flames kicking up that I have complete confidence will turn into a consuming revival that will change our church, community, and world forever.  So, this morning… let’s praise God for our starter logs and eagerly expect the warmth of His consuming fire!