TO TAKE THE HEAT

2/5/99

Hi Loved Ones,

For several seasons the Holy Spirit has been wooing the hearts of His people and literally fulfilling the following verse: "And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." (Mal 4:6) When this massive move of the Holy Spirit began to unfold, I witnessed this turning in many ways (especially in the Promise Keepers movement) but I never understood the curse part until recently.

Now everywhere we turn, we hear the prophets speak of coming judgment. Many of us have felt so overwhelmed by the stacked deck we do not realize that we still have a vote in this matter. Scripture tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment whether it is averted totally, or reduced to a spanking. Simply put, judgment hangs in the balance and our vote still counts. At this late hour and with so much against us, how do we cast our vote and stand in the gap for the sins of our nation, our world, our children?

The gap is a breach in our hedge of protection, where the enemy is allowed to start a fire then take advantage of the course it takes. To stand against this, it requires courageous fire fighters, willing to take the heat and battle the flames. There are many ways to fight a fire and it all depends upon the tools we are given. The following story was forwarded to me this week. I believe it portrays God’s answer to the greatest tool we can use, and it also sheds light on the verse, "And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." (Mal 4:6)

The author writes about reading an article in the National Geographic several years ago: "After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live." [author unknown]

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15: 12,13) If you feel the heat of judgment coming your way, consider what you may do to make a difference for those under your wings. Your vote counts. How do I know? Because love still covers a multitude of sins.

Lovingly,

Sandy