remember the days of Fire

Psalms 24:4 “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul; I went with them into the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,”

I’ve had a few people asking me why I decided to call my blog “Firechronicles“.

Well, the answer is simple really: it’s the chronicles of God’s Fire in my life.

Over the past few months I’ve come to realize the importance of writing things down.

Being a student, I know the value of taking notes in class. When it’s time for exams, all your thoughts are right there: ready and available to be implemented in your assignment or essay. If the lecturer said something important: BAM! the evidence is right in front of you!

When you go grocery shopping, do you not make a list of things you need beforehand, or even write it down to make sure you don’t forget something?

Generally I know men are less fond of writing things down than women. Although, in my experience as student, reader, and writer — men are much more expressive and far better at putting thoughts to paper than us girls. However, when it comes to logging or journaling, men tend to shy away. Why is that?

My close friend, Natasha, has challenged me to “log” all the things I pray for in a prayer journal to keep track of the things Holy Spirit tells me, but also to be able to see when prayers are being answered and when prophecies are fulfilled.

I’ve shared with you before how God had taken me on a Diamonds Journey since I was 14, and how I’ve written down the snippets of information about my Future Husband since then. However, this is not the only thing that I journal about. I often write detail from dreams and prophesies.

One of my favorite things to do is to browse through my older journals and see how things — that seemed so impossible in that moment — have fallen into place and how it worked out fine. In fact — it worked together for GOOD, just like God said it would! (Romans 8:28)

We’re soon approaching Thanksgiving. Although this holiday is not celebrated in South Africa, I think the principle is quite valuable!

As Children, we tend to take many things for granted. I know in my life this is certainly true! I certainly love and appreciate my mum (and make a point of thanking her ever so often) but because I’m secure in the relationship that I have with her, I sometimes expect things to be a given, and not a favor.  When I phone her at 21:45 at night to come pick me up at a friend’s house because it’s raining and I forgot my umbrella — I know she’ll do her best to meet me there. When I ask my mum to lend me a few bucks for something I need, I know she’ll scrape together her last few cents if necessary, but she’ll bend over backward to help me as best she can. And God our Father does exactly the same — and more — for us!

How often do we take the time to thank Him for all He does? I know that I certainly take many things for granted because “He’s God — He’s supposed to give you stuff and love you unconditionally.” Right?

I believe that we, as children, have the freedom to ask anything from God — we can freely approach His throne of grace and know that (even if our request is severely idiotic) He’ll listen to us and love us all the same.

I think Christians are some of the best house-trained pets ever!

Come Easter, Ascension Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and similar days, we behave appropriately and share gifts and words of congratulations and well-wishings and even give extra money to charity. We even avoid hating people on those days ’cause it’s the right thing to do. Right?

However, thanksgiving, just like praise and worship — it’s not an ACT, but a lifestyle.

As we walk in relationship with Jesus we should thank and worship Him continually! It should be second nature!

Today I went to a friend’s house to help him with a gift he’s preparing for a mutual friend’s 21st birthday. Along the way I passed a bush of lavender and picked a stem to give to him. When I got to his house I handed it to him and said “always stop to smell the flowers!” and, just as I said it, Holy Spirit reminded me about a book Winnie recently read and shared about (https://firechronicles.wordpress.com//?s=encounter&search=Go) Lynette Lewis’s “Remember the Roses.“

(Brilliant book by the way — go get yourself a copy!)

Sometimes we’re so focused on arriving at the destination that we forget to give thanks for the many small blessings along the way.

I was about 10 minutes late to meeting Jaco at his house (I despise NOT being on time!) but I learnt a valuable lesson along the way — give thanks! 

In scripture, there are MULTIPLE references where God tells His people to remember the promises He has given them. 

One of my absolute favorite scriptures is in 2 Peter 3 verse 9.

In the AMPLIFIED version it says: “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you,”

In short, it says God is not slow or forgetful concerning His promises. When He promises you something — He’ll give it in His time and measure and according to His purpose. When He says something’ll happen — it WILL!

Earlier this year I had a very upsetting dream about three rhino’s being murdered. I phoned my dad and told him about it, warning him that I felt it was related to financial difficulty. However, he said he didn’t see anything significant in it, and told me not to worry.

Now, just as a disclaimer, God speaks to me in dreams quite often and though I do not write ALL of them, I try to write most and date-stamp it for future reference.

Anyhow, the other day, as I was browsing through my journal, I came across this entry, and suddenly remembered that my little sister had been in ICU three times this year and that every time her hospital admission had cost more than R50 000, and that this had placed a lot of financial pressure on my dad because it was unexpected, and thus he hadn’t budgeted for it.

When I read the entry about the rhino dream, Holy Spirit reminded me how God fulfills the things He promises. This was not a pleasant memory, because of the implications it had on our family — but the principle is the same.

On a brighter note, I also came across many other entries — prophetic words and scriptures some friends and spiritual family had shared with me. I was pleasantly surprised to see how, in the course of a couple of months, those things had all come true!

There are so many examples from scripture where God tells His People to remember His goodness and give thanks to Him for it!

Genesis 9:15 “I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you, and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 and the rainbow shall be in the cloud; and I will look on it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth”

1 Chronicles 16:12 “Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth,”

Psalms 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God,”

Psalms 24:4 “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul; I went with them into the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,”

Psalm 25: 5 & 6 “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips: 6 When I remember you on my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches,”

I love journal writing for the same reason I love testimony sharing — it encourages me! It gives my faith a Nitrogen boost — reminding me that God is true to His promises.

If He did it for someone else, He can certainly do it for me too!

When I write down God’s promises, it’s black on white evidence of His goodness! When the enemy comes against me and tries to attack my courage and trust, I’m able to battle Him with EVIDENCE! When he tells me “you’ll never find a good husband,” I push God’s love letter into his face. The letter that says, “My daughter, I love you! I’m so excited to introduce you to the man I’ve prepared and set apart for you!“

Also, at times when I doubt, or become impatient, I remind God about His promises! And, because I’m His child, I know He won’t become irritated or ignore my requests!

Just like the man on the cross, I get to tell Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

I challenge you to chronicle the FIRE of God in your life. Write down His promises. Keep a journal! Take notes on your phone! Start a blog! Get the word out there!
God is good and He is not slow in remembering His promises! He is WORTHY to be thanked and praised!

May you be reminded of His promises for you. May you see with spiritual eyes — see how all things work together for good. May you dream and hope for the things of His love and grace. May you always live from the overflow of His abundance.

May you TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good!

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