I was at Hillsong in 1995 when this song was first introduced. It came at the most important turning point of my life, and began the journey that has put me here today. I’m so glad that I said ‘yes’.

Scripture
So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” Exodus 3:3

Observation
We live in an old farm house with wide-white woodwork, creaking hardwood floors and a cast iron, wood stove in the living room that heats the house. Mornings are cold. I dash out in barefoot and build a fire. Today I have just two sticks for kindling. I pack the box with paper, I break up the sticks to make as many bits as I can and toss in a match. After pampering the fire it promptly goes out. The stove is full of logs, but black and cold.

I give up on the fire and turn to prayer. After about a half hour of praying I hear a sound of heat-expanding metal. A miracle has happened in my firebox. All the logs are blazing. It happened when I gave up and turned to prayer. I laugh out loud in the morning quiet as I hear logs pop in the flames. The wordless message is not wasted on my heart.

Application
One of the strangest sights is a fire burning that I did not start or a work flourishing that I did not build. I feel the need of this lesson today as I enter day 13 of my beginnings at Evergreen and Bothell. Astute arranging and heavy lugging do not build a burning flame. Sometimes to build a fire, we need to turn our back on it and just pray. As this room is warming today, I am remembering that I may be a builder of fires but it is the Lord who brings the flame. Sometimes that happens when least expected and I have nothing to do with it at all. Because this is not about me but all about him, I want it like that.

Prayer
Father, as I do my thing today, send the fire. My confidence is not in my own preparations but in your gift of the match to make it all burn. Ignite us Lord when we least expect you to. Amen.