That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7 (KJV)
Recently a fire broke out between the north and southbound lanes of the main highway through Arizona. The fire had traveled a good mile and had jumped the freeway (2 lanes wide) on both the east and west sides of the freeway. As I passed through, the smoke still lingered and firefighters were walking through with shovels and pick axes to be sure the smoldering embers didn’t reignite.
Each week the remainder of the all-consuming properties of fire played in my mind . . . except for that one green bush about a third of the way in from the south, just sitting there, green and untouched. About a month after the fire the rains came and a most amazing thing happened; in the middle of the charred blackness sprouted small green leaves. Out of darkness came life.
Like our deadness, our pain, and our sin, when the Holy Spirit sprinkles us with the water from the river of life, we sprout and grow new life. We become like the tree planted by the waters, bringing forth shade and good fruit.
As satan sends forth his fires of destruction, God’s children walk across the blackness sipping the water that will make them thirst no more. As their heels lift from the ash strewn, blackened ground, tiny leaves sprout up in its shadow, before the next step is even taken; soon to provide good fruit.
Lord, let us never be afraid to speak Your refreshing Word to a dry and thirsty world.
Written 12-29-09
By Linda J. Humes
Linda J. Humes 
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