Why 'Shelter With Fire'?

I suppose I should give my reasons for naming this blog as I have. I borrowed the phrase 'shelter by fire' from an old song called 'This Road'. The song speaks about our life's journey and God's steady faithfulness as we seek to follow him. It's a song about sacrifice. About laying our lives down daily for the sake of Jesus Christ. I personally relate it to the sacrifice and passion of Christians who have been martyred for their faith.


The phrase 'shelter with fire' appears in the chorus of the song. I had listened to the song for years but when I heard it the other day that phrase stuck out and caused me stop and dwell upon it's significance. What does it mean to be 'sheltered by fire'? Fire is hot, it burns. We use caution when we are around fire for good reason; fire is dangerous. In the song fire is refered to as a safe place, a shelter. When we look into scripture we discover the intent behind the phrase. Gold is tested by fire. It is heated until all the impurities are burned away. We, like gold, are being purified. When we feel the heat of the fire around us we can endure it gladly knowing that God is refining and purifying us.


These last few years the fire has been especially hot for me. While I can be encouraged by the reminder that God is for me and he will complete the work he has started in me it doesn't completely disguise the fact that I'm in the fire. Life gets tough, I start to show my true colours and, at times, discouragement is an easy alternative to joy. I intend to write about me, my life and how God is teaching me that my life is so totally not intended to be about me. Since that means there will be moments where I'm reveling at the glory of the burning bush mingling with moments where I will be applying salve to my burns I thought the name, 'Shelter With Fire', was appropriate...


Cole.


This Road

All heavy laden
Acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow
Carry us home
From alabaster
Come blessings of laughter
A fragrance of passion
Joy from the truth


Grant the unbroken
Tears ever flowing
From hearts of contrition
Only for you
May sin never hold true
That love never broke thru
For God's mercy holds us
And we are His own


This road that we travel
May it be the straight and narrow
God give us peace and grace from you
All the day
Shelter with fire
Our voices with raise still higher
God gave us peace and grace from you
All the day thru.

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