Fire-Works

from July 2021

Relationships Hurt Relationships Heal

Gò0dNews for Men

Fire-Works!

by Tom Bowen

With us being well into the summer season, I noticed firework stands popping up at the beginning of June! When I think of fireworks, I think of two holidays: July 4th and New Year’s Eve. One celebrates freedom and the other celebrates the cycle of a New Year. Both celebrations seem to be something a lot of people share—ones where people gather in groups to acknowledge.

I was so glad to celebrate the end of 2020, along with all the change, stress and loss associated with that time. I know I was not alone in my desire to face a new year. However, 2021 began with additional problems and stresses. I felt stranded and disillusioned in my hope for 2021. Celebrations can be hard to maintain when life has to move forward.

Luke 24:13-35 includes a story about two of Jesus’s disciples that had left the group and headed home on the Emmaus Road. They felt grief, loss and a lack of physical energy after being drained of all hope and expectation with the abuse and crucifixion of Jesus. They did not have the desire, energy or any reason to celebrate. They had heard the news of the resurrection, but their personal experience left them feeling nothing. They slowly headed back home and onto their daily life. Jesus joins them, reminds them of scriptures and eventually reveals himself to them and POW—their minds exploded by the presence of Christ, their energy was restored and they ran back to Jerusalem.

That is the kind of celebration—the fireworks—I want to witness and experience as often as I can. I want to experience my heart burning within me as the Holy Spirit fans the fire that energizes me with new and renewed excitement. The fire of the Spirit works in the lives of people. Sometimes the fire in people like myself—someone who has been in the Family of God for most our lives—goes into auto-pilot and we don’t celebrate the movement of God in our lives like we used to.

I have more than one prayer list. One is the everyday list, the other is the not everyday list. With this list I realize that my conversations with God become a little selfcentered. I ask for a reminder of all the things God has

done for me and the people that I love. I also ask God for a spiritual awakening. I pray that God moves in a powerful way in our community.

I forget to celebrate all the ways God has, is and will move in the resurrection of Jesus. I feel the need to pray that God will renew the spark of revival in my heart. I also pray that the Lord will do the same for all Christians locally and around the world. As a result of what our Lord has already done, we should be encouraged to give off sparks of light and pops of praise. We should be encouraged to be a part of the fire that the Holy Spirit enables in the children of God.

About The Author Rev. Tom Bowen, Ordained Elder in the CMC Methodist Church, Rome, Georgia.

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Relationships Hurt Relationships Heal

Gò0dNews for Men

Fire-Works!

Home & Auto A good neighbor Home & Auto go together. Home & Auto go together. Home & Auto go together. Home & Auto go together. go together. Like you & has your back. Like you & a good neighbor. Like you & a good neighbor. Like you & a good neighbor. Like you & a good neighbor. a good neighbor.

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This article is from:

July 2021