Fire in My Belly

I haven't written anything in a long time and don't even know if anyone reads this blog any more, but this writing today is to quench the fire in my belly.

Years ago I read Jeremiah and understood when he said he had to prophesy the Word that was in him. He said something like it would burn him up if he didn't. They threw him in a pit because they didn't want to hear. That would make a person shut up, wouldn't you think? But that fire won't let you be quiet.Sometimes we need to heed that fire within us even though those who hear it don't want to hear at all. I might add, I'm not comparing myself with any Old or New Testament prophet.

I've spent most of the last few years keeping quiet--except in a few circumstances. After the times when the fire bubbled up (Does fire bubble?) and the words came out, I beat myself up and vowed to never speak again. But I still have to speak when the Spirit moves.

Those of you who have heard words from me you don't agree with or don't want to hear, please know this. I don't want to offend you and would keep quiet if I could, but my prayers have been fervent for God to reveal Himself to people as He has in the past. Do I heed what is in me to speak or do I not? If I don't, I will get along better with some people who take exception to my words but the fire will burn me up. I might pull away and never speak of it again, but eventually someone else would come along with the same message because it's a message we need to hear.

Know this, all you who wish I'd shut up: I would if I could, but instead I've been praying for God to put His words in my mouth. Is that what He's doing? I think so. I just hope you'll love me enough to listen and ask God for yourself. The truth of the matter is that God is speaking to us all the time and we need to always be open to what He has to say--even when it doesn't agree with our theology. Listen. Test. Pray. Maybe He is doing a work in this earth we cannot imagine.

I love all you, my friends.