Water on Fire

I’m learning that my writing is often a prophetic gift from Jesus. He generously gives me visions, words, ideas, and dreams- I write them down fervently, impassioned, and in that moment when the words pour out of me, it is an act of obedient creating.

…… 5 days ago, I sat at a local coffee shop counter in my town, intent on settling into the space ready to work. But before I could dig into the visual art I had come to craft - the film I was working on- I felt a fierce heart tug.

I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to write. And write I did. Out flooded the words.

I watched in awe as a picture began to form,.. a picture of red. Of fire. Of passion. Of glory. Of wonder. Of hunger. Of desperation.

It makes sense then, how I couldn’t get the idea of ‘burning for something’ out of my mind all day…. I was meditating on the questions of “what do we burn for? How are we set apart? Distinguished? If not for passion, for fire, what is the point? I was consumed by the words and images of a burning and anointing all day.

……..And today I found out the piece I created, unbeknownst to me at the time, was actually about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I believe the Lord uses my art- in all forms, but especially writing- to reveal Himself even deeper to me. To show me His own creativity, His heart, and His greatness.

So, of course, in the moment, as I wrote, I felt the love and activation of Jesus moving over me- and pouring out through my hand. I knew I was writing about a fiery zeal for the Lord.

But today it took on an entirely new depth of meaning.

Why is that? Well, I heard my church’s sermon today about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit- a message about God’s faithfulness, holiness, His powerful promises, sensitive touch, His authority, About us, as the Church, being activated for mission, empowered through the Spirit of God. About us as believers being saturated with His Spirit. About water baptism marking repentance and salvation, but baptism of the Holy Spirit acting as a raging, all consuming wildfire to MARK us for mission.

Jesus wants us to be like Him in holiness, in love, in compassion, gentleness, and wisdom but also in IMPACT.

And so I am left to consider my impact- my mission- and my responsibility. And today I concluded that among many things, my responsibility is to be set on fire.

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So…. I wanted to share the words I wrote. The words that rushed out of me. I wanted to show you, as I overflow with amazement, how so many words in the poem align with words from the sermon. How the themes and ideas are one in the same.

I wanted to encourage YOU, you reading, that The Spirit of God is moving. He is surprising. He is unbound. He has no limits. He draws near. He is trustworthy. And He is good.

He is so faithful to come so close to US.

In that moment of creating, He was so faithful to have shown me His face clearly…. To shape the art. And He IS so faithful to show me who He is today, the moment I discovered what the art was really about.

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What happens when the ocean is on fire?

When water catches flame…

I see currents turning red.

Crimson ocean, will you consume me?

The heat doesn’t scald me,

The waves don’t tumble over me,

I am with them. I am of them. I am part of them. 

I touch the fire. And I become it. 

The deep brilliant red dances on my fingertips,

And I trace the surface of the water.

Lit brighter than the noonday sun.

And I feel ignited,

Infatuated…

Anew,

Aglow,

Electrified. 

I feel connected to the Creator’s touch. 

To His flame.

To His fire.

To His passion.

He burns for me 

He came down for me 

And He surrounds me with His glowing embers.

Reminding me of His ever powerful presence and protection.

That even in the midst of the deep sea, He covers me fully and fervently.

Reminding me I can never fall from His perfect authority.

Victory.

and vibrance.

I am ever so alive in Him.

Fire burn me up. 

Empower me

Activate me, oh Heavenly Father and Perfect colorful Creator.

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I encourage you to watch this sermon from my church on The Baptism of the Holy Spirit! I believe this gift God has created for believers, the enemy attempts to so commonly corrupt and distort.

We must consider therefore, what power this lavishing out of the Holy Spirit, boasts! What beauty! May we nurture and steward such gift, with humility and surrender.

May we be quick to glorify the name of Jesus, not our own. And may we praise Jesus for His intimacy and lovingkindness. Come so close, Lord Jesus! Come so close.