Proverbs 25:21-22

   The words "Heap Coals" keeps hanging around my spirit. My mind turns it over and digests the possible meanings behind Proverbs 25 verse 21 and 22. It is amazing how differently time or circumstance can cause us to approach the same scripture. When I am hurt by someone I want the coals created by my kindness to hurt them back. The kindness I seek to show is "revenge kindness" if there is such a term. It's a "God is gonna getcha" kind of thing and I want to be able to feel smug in that.
   The truth of the matter is I have a hard time believing that a God of love, patience and kindness wants us to show kindness for the sake of revenge. It just seems like a wrong motivation. (Bear with me I am coming to a point.)
   We associate heaping coals with the physical. Coals on the head sound painful, dumping coals on someone seems an act of aggression. Sometimes I want to dump coals on people's heads myself, but no...God says let him do it. He gets to have all the fun.
  The difference rests in the hand that delivers the coals and the motive of the heart that is "dumping" them. From his Cross Jesus's words were "Father God forgive them for they know not what they do." Only God is fit to judge whether someone that wronged another truly and spiritually understood what he or she was doing. The coals that are spoken of become a tool in God's hands, not for revenge, not to destroy but to purge what is in that person's life that is keeping him/her bound up or hurting others. Let's face it we have all been purged by fire so maybe we wronged another and that person was kind so God dumped the coals on us without us even realizing it! When God said it was His will that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of Christ that statement came with the implications of God's work on all men. Perhaps some coals are dumped to relight the fire within a soul that has grown dim by pain and confusion. Maybe the coals are to warm a cold heart. Maybe there is no revenge intended in that scripture but a deeper meaning of what making the sacrifice to show kindness to someone that hurts us can do. The Lord will reward you because you put aside yourself and through your kindness opened the path for a work to be done in someone that needs God as much as you do. The coals will hurt but only in as much as it takes to bring healing and restoration.
   We have all fallen short of the Glory of God. Our job is to heap kindness and open the path for God to heap the coals.
This has been on my mind a lot lately. I hope it is ok that I shared it.

Tides of Life

If all of a sudden
It appeared to you
That every promise I have made
Seems to be untrue

Would you love Me still
And continue to desire My will?

If the tides of life carried you
To such uncertain places
That you felt you were facing things
Not every person faces,

And it seemed the hands of time itself
Were tearing you apart;
Would you still believe in Me
Or would you doubt my heart?

If I were utterly breaking you
And you beheld the dust
Could you turn your face to Me
And say, "Lord, here's my trust"?

Would you know I know it's difficult
For you to understand
And give me time to do the work
Fashioned for my hands?

If you felt consumed in flames
And in weariness grew tired
Would you recognize me
As the All Consuming Fire?

I don't do these things
To hurt or to destroy
But to purify you
And to give eternal joy.

The tides of life may carry you
To places you don't know
But there is nowhere you can be
That I have not first flowed.

Kim DuBose
Written December 1998

I felt impressed upon to share this. I hope it blesses and encourages.