I wanted again the dark and lonely canyons where only echoes lived, the crash and roar of waters charging between the boulders, hurling themselves against a rocky wall… I wanted to skirt the deadfalls, gather the dead sticks from the ground, build a fire of cedar or pine, and smell the smoke.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

     “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.'”
              –John 21:9-10 (NKJV)
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Fire, there’s just something about a fire, especially a campfire.  The sound of the wood popping and crackling as the flames begin to consume it.  The warmth and feeling of security it seems to give.  One can sit there, and if not careful become mesmerized by it.  The flickering of the flames up into the night.  I wonder how many times Jesus stooped over a campfire preparing a meal for the disciples?  I don’t think He was the main cook, that lot may have fallen to Nathaniel.  Maybe Philip and Matthew were the fuel gatherers.
    When camping, especially for an extended stay you want to have plenty of fuel around.  Annie and I camped a few years back up in the high country of Utah near the Wyoming border.  As I was out foraging for wood I found a fallen aspen tree.  It had been dead for some time and was prime for the campfire.  Now, aspen doesn’t put out a lot of heat, but it burns well.  I cut it into sections with my handy axe and then snaked it, piece by piece back to camp where I would cut it into smaller pieces.  The chips would make good tinder.
    There are three things needed to make a fire:  tinder, kindling, and fuel (larger pieces).  Over the years in many camping experiences, especially with novices, I have found that they do not gather enough tinder and kindling.  I have even seen some try to light one of the larger logs to start the fire.  Once, the fire is started there needs to be plenty of kindling to makes coals and to keep it going, then the larger branches and logs may be added.
    Fire is an emblem of God’s Word, igniting and warming, but most often it is seen as an emblem of the Holy Spirit.  Look at a few of them:

         –Fire consumes — “For our God is a consuming fire.”  (Hebrews 12:29)
         –Fire purifies — “And he touched my mouth with it [burning coal], and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.’” (Isaiah 6:7)
         –Fire breaks — “But he [Samson]broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire.” (Judges 16:9)
         –Fire softens — “As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.” (Psalm 68:2)
         –Fire hardens — as porcelain is hardened in the fire, so is the believer.
         –Fire inflames — “My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned.”  (Psalm 39:3)
         –Fire warms — “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” (Isaiah 44:16)
         –Fire cheers — fire gives life to a dead room; fire brings a smile to a weary hunter as he comes to camp on a cold day.
         –Fire fuses — And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?'” (Luke 24:32)
         –Fire assimilates — “Fire makes all it seizes like itself (Matthew Henry)
         –Fire tests — the works of man will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
         –Fire illuminates — “In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.” (Psalm 78:14)
         –Fire moves — “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Psalm 104:4)
         –Fire ascends — the flame goes upward; there were many burnt-offerings where the flames ascended.

    Think of some of your experiences with fire and try to fit them into one or more of the categories about then see how they fit with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Remember the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)  I want to leave you this Thanksgiving season with two more thoughts for you to ponder about the fire.  First, from the pen of G.A Young,

              “Some thro’ the waters, some thro’ the flood,
               Some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the blood…”

Remember the words of Peter, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12)
    Second, a prayer by F.E. Marsh, from whom I gathered some of these thoughts.

              “O Thou, Who camest from above,
                  The pure celestial fire to impart,
               Kindle a flame of sacred love
                  On the mean altar of my heart.

               There let it for Thy glory burn
                  With inextinguishable blaze,
               And trembling to its source return
                  In humble prayer and fervent praise.”

How terrifying to think of one small soul alone with the Creator—not alone as in prayer, but mute, voiceless, waiting for His word!”
              –Zane Grey  (Captive of the Desert)

       “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”
              –Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)
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         “I come to the Garden alone,
          While the dew is still on the roses…”
                 –C. Austin Miles

This song speaks about believers today and the relationship they can have with Christ, but for a minute think about that first Garden experience.  Adam, created perfectly, then Eve who was given to walk by his side.  They could wander throughout the Garden, not having to worry about stepping on thorns or thistles.  
    How did they worship?  One way was by having communion with the Lord in the cool of the evening.  They walked together, talked with each other, enjoying one another’s presence.  The other way they worshiped was by loving God with their will.  We are told in Scripture to worship the Lord, love Him, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  The will of man is part of his soul.  One worships or loves God through his will by obedience.  Isn’t it interesting that Satan attacked man in the areas of his mind and his will.
    For some reason, the devil came into the Garden.  Perhaps he envied the happiness of man.  One of the first things he did was to begin to commune with Eve.  We do not know how long they were in the Garden, nor do we know if the “serpent” had approached them before.  We do know that Eve began to have conversation with him.  Somehow he broke her guard down, questioning the very word of God, and she ate of the only thing that was forbidden.  Her mind gave in to his deceptive words; her will broke down and she ate then gave to Adam and he ate.
    Imagine it, Eve and Adam walking in the Garden.  Were they together when the serpent appeared.  Possibly, for sure Adam was not far away, but the devil talked with Eve first.  The serpent slandered God in front of Eve.  Perhaps he had the fruit in his hands and was taking a bite, the juice running down off his chin, and he was making slurping noises as he bit into it.  But it made her want a bite and made her question God.
    Then it happened, she took a bite and gave to Adam and he did the same.  I wondered if she felt remorse or not until he took a bite?  One thing for sure, they both found God to be true to His Word.  They saw their “nakedness”; the glory of God departed from them, and when He came looking for them later, they hid.  They tried in their own fashion to cover their nakedness.  They did not flee to God for mercy, instead, they hid themselves.  When God called out, Adam became afraid.  
    God compels no man to sin.  The choice is always man.  He can love God with his will or he can choose to follow his own inclinations.  We can be tempted by the devil or by our own hearts, but consent only comes with the concurrence of our own wills.  God is concerned over our acts of disobedience.  He had to carry out His threat with justice or the devil might slander Him, but He did it in a way that provided mercy.  Jesus would come, the Lamb to be slain for the sins of man.
    Let me leave you with something to ponder.  God left Eve with a promise that her seed would destroy the head of the serpent.  Did Eve wonder, with the birth of Cain, that he was to be this promised seed?  Hmmm, Cain, the promised Messiah?  If so, she was soon proven wrong.

It is hard for a boy to become a man now…  They are trying to make us all women.”
                 –Elmer Kelton  (Other Men’s Horses)

       “Then brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death.”
                 –Mark 13:12 (HCSB)
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Much of this has been on my mind for several years.  There has been a vicious attack leveled against the family and against biblical family values, especially that of the Father.  Television has made fun of him, commercials depict him as egotistical or inept.  Political correctness has tried to do away with the concept of masculinity, calling it toxic.  C.S. Lewis warned us of some of the dangers in his book, The Abolition of Man.
    Now there are new dangers in the land.  Be aware, don’t neglect the raising of your children.  There is an enemy trying to destroy them and the devil will do it by any means possible.  He will use political correctness, deception, anger, and a myriad of other methods to destroy the family.  Currently his target is after the children.  The following is part of a prophecy by a friend of mine, Dennis Wilson.  Ponder it deeply.

    The attack was coming; it was inevitable.  Go ahead and read the context of the first part of 2 Chronicles 20, but focus on verse 13.

         “All Judah was standing before the Lord with their infants, their wives, and their children.” (HCSB)

         “They are coming after your children!!  As pharaoh sought to destroy the seed, and Herod sought to destroy the young Jesus, the enemy is coming after our children and our families and THE SEED he has targeted them!!”

If you don’t think this prophecy is valid, then you need to get on your knees and in your Bible.  You need to see what is happening through the eyes of God.  One political party is angry that abortion is being degraded and taken away.  A women, a mother has a right to kill her unborn child.  The enemy is coming after your children.
    The commotion about gender:  transgender, nongender, multiple gender, furries, identification confusion, gay rights, gay infusion — let me tell you friend, they are coming after your children.  A mother was trying to change the sex of her child, the father challenged it in court and the jury said it was the right of the mother.  Thankfully, a judge with some common sense over-ruled the decision.  They are coming after your children.
    In 2016, a plank of Hillary Clinton’s platform was that the children belong to the state, not the parents.  The state should have the right in determining the life of a child.  Lord help us when we allow to the state to take charge of the children.  History shows us what happens, look at Hitler’s Germany in his breeding concepts.
    Recently, in Iowa, there was a drag queen contest.  In Oregon, there was a “Drag Me to Church” day.  In Cincinnati, a drag-queen was on public stage and reading “Pride…”  It wasn’t any different in Brooklyn where Rev. Yolanda offered the Drag Queen Story Hour.  You’d better listen and take notice; the devil and his followers are coming for the children.
    This is not just a cultural fight or a political fight, this a fight in the spiritual realm.  A very real fight over the eternal souls of your children.  I would ask, what are you doing about it?  Part of this fight is with the concept of socialism.  If socialism takes over, who then will control the family?  In fact, the very idea of socialism is to do away with the family.  Socialism amounts to equality as slaves, but even then in reality there will be a class system.  To be a true socialist there has to be an end of Christianity.  
    Okay, I’m through.  But let me leave you with this–they are coming for your children.  Will you be an aid or will you begin to fight against these forces of evil?