-- A Word through Steve Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST Steve's email: steve@elijahlist.com

As I write, it's still Winter. We have a great wood stove with a glass door, so we have the pleasure of watching the crackling, warm fire. I love sitting by it. At the end of a hard day, when I come home, I can be just a bit on the lazy side. Sometimes I just throw one of those fake "chemical" logs into the stove. It still looks "pretty" as it burns, it burns hot and catches on quickly, and my "dad's chair" is right next to this cozy stove.

Ah, the warmth, the glow--the relaxation!

Tonight I came home and . . . no fake logs!

Christopher, my only son and about to turn 13, is about the best kid in the world (besides my other two of course). He's helpful and has a great attitude. And he doesn't mind so much starting wood fires. He has the patience for it. He takes a hand axe and chips off slices of kindling to help the larger logs catch fire. He just finished building a fire a few minutes ago. I'm sitting by it as I type this.

By the way, he's going to be bigger than his dad--There's prophetic implications in that, I'm sure. But, Like Bill Cosby, I've often said to Christopher, with a challenging smile on my face, "Look son, I brought you into this world . . . and I can TAKE YOU OUT!" He smiles too. . . both because he knows it's still true (I can still "take him" when we wrestle) but also because he knows his day is coming--and soon. I recently asked him how long he thought it would be before he could "take me?"

"About a year," he said, with a smile on his face. I fear he may be right. I assure him he's wrong. I'll let you know.

BACK TO THE COZY FIRE

I don't know about you, but there's NOTHING like the smell of burning wood, be it in a wood stove or a fireplace--REAL WOOD, not the fake stuff. It just smells---COUNTRY, or rustic, or cozy, or relaxing, or complete---or some other such word.

I was just thinking about that as this fire next to me got going--and it was as if I heard the Lord say, "I love the smell of burning wood too!"

Now, because I think constantly in analogies, I knew immediately what He meant.

"What DID He mean," you ask?

IT'S ABOUT FOUNDATIONS

The Apostle Paul said it like this:

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, WOOD, HAY, OR STRAW, HIS WORK will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and THE FIRE WILL TEST THE QUALITY of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. IF IT IS BURNED UP, he will suffer loss; HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED BUT ONLY AS ONE ESCAPING THROUGH THE FLAMES." 1 Cor 3:11-15

OUR WORK, OR THE LORD'S?

Many of us are caught up-- not in the Lord's work but in OUR WORK. That's why some of what we are building with--some of our materials "will be shown for what it is." Trouble is, we don't always know if the materials we are using --are wood, or precious stones? It should be more obvious, one would think. But it's not always so obvious.

The Holy Spirit is speaking of Believers who are building on the foundation of Jesus Christ with the right(or wrong) materials. We all have at one time or another, wrong motives, wrong teachings, or we just plain do what is wrong!

Therefore, it is in the mind and Heart of God to BURN UP those works of ours that are BURNABLE --- those works, that are so temporary, that just a bit of fire will consume them--our OWN works, that is. The fire will consume our wood, hay, and stubble.

God does want us to work, of course--and He wants us to work for Him . . . with Him. . . and IN HIM-- but He is seeking HIS WORK ---THROUGH US--on the foundation of JESUS CHRIST. Everything else that is FROM "just us," or FOR "just us"--- will be burned up.

HOW AND WHEN THE LORD SPEAKS IS IMPORTANT

It's interesting to me, both WHAT the Lord speaks to me, but also HOW he speaks it, and WHEN he speaks it. It's my almost-13-year old who is getting good at burning wood. Many in this young generation will help "kindle" the very fires through the Holy Spirit that will make our own works --at least some of them---manifest for what they are---OUR works! Just watch. God has been warning us--no-- He's been PROMISING us this very thing about the younger generation, through many prophetic voices for some time now.

The Lord does not love it when we suffer. He is a compassionate and loving Father. But He wants those things in us that are OUR WORKS to be burned up,--- so that we can finally set about doing "the greater works" He has prepared for us--such as raising the dead, for instance.

"I LOVE THE SMELL OF BURNING WOOD," ---- The Lord is saying to the Church.

By the way, do YOU smell something burning?

Steve Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST steve@elijahlist.com