A Fire in my Bones

Home from my great once-in-a-lifetime adventure of my NYC book signing and presentation. I had a rather severe migraine driving the last leg home, but other than that, I am safe and sound and glad to be home. Honeybun was ecstatic when my van arrived. My hubby opened the door and both dogs came racing out to greet me as I turned off the car. Honeybun leaped into the front seat with me, beyond joy. (Later, a certain teen barely looked up and said nothing, not even hello... which shows you why everyone needs a dog....)

I had fun listening to the audio of my talk while driving home, reliving the excitement of the day. Once home, I spent a good hour unpacking, and putting everything away. I wondered how quickly the dailiness and duties of life would rub away the delight of feeling so special and alive.

In the hotel, the morning before driving home, I had gone to the fitness room, and read my Bible while running on the treadmill. I was day-dreaming as I read. Concentration is not always my forte. I thought about how I had wanted very much to glorify God in my talk, but wanted to be sensitive to the fact that this was a book signing/talk, not a sermon. It was all I could do not to mention God too explicitly...and then, at the end, one of the sponsors asked me about the spiritual significance in my books. My cousin who was taping the whole thing ran out of power right then, so it was not caught on tape. She told me that while I had been enthusiastic throughout the speech, at that moment, my eyes lit up and it was clear it was what I had been yearning to say all along.

This is the Bible passage I was reading as I considered my cousin's comment:
Jeremiah 20:9  But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

I totally get this. When you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is real and has orchestrated a grand event for you, you know you MUST speak of Him. To hold it back is like sticking a finger in the hole in a dam. A fire shut up in my bones if I don't speak of Him. Yes.

As I drove home, I listened to a sermon. The pastor talked of how we must one day stand before God and give an account of our lives. Did we try to bring souls to Him? If not, we will hang our heads in shame. A fire shut up in our bones is not where it is meant to remain. The fire is meant to be light to the world.

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Matthew 5:14-16 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

John 8:12 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:16 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Luke 8:16 

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

Acts 13:47 

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”