Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

It dawned on me last week that God would be the prefect Grillmaster! I was grilling some dogs and burgers for the family and friends and the flames were flaring up and before I knew it things were pretty out of control. I mean, not in a "the-house-is-going-to-burn-down" kind of a way but the flames were pretty up there and I thought about the fact that God never burns burgers.

That matters a lot to me because, aside from the fact that He could give me some grilling pointers, I know what's it like to be a burger. Well, not like a real burger with seasoning and marinade, but I know what it's like to have the flames flare up around me. A lot of you do, too. And there's only one thing I can think of that is comforting when the heat is unbearable and the rack is searing into my soul and that is that the One who's doing the grilling is in control of the heat. I can take a lot of comfort in the fact that the flames won't burn me and that the Grillmaster knows when to flip me and when to move me to a different part of the grill. He knows how to grill to perfection and when He's done with me, the world around me will be better because of my flavor and taste.

Today my brother Stephen would have turned 36. There are still so many times that I think about him and Mom and how I would give anything to see them again and hear their voices. I guess it's on days like today that the flames leap up and I remember how hot that grill can get. And on these kind of days, I hold tight to the promise that I won't burn.

Now, that's a promise I can sink my teeth into!