A chat around the fireside is often an informal time of sharing personal experiences. Not getting too serious, certainly not arguing but a relaxing time of conversation about life. President Roosvelt liked to think of the audience as a few people seated around his fireside. So, let’s have a casual fireside chat about things relevant to Christians.

LIFE DECISIONS… we make so many decisions in life; there are partner decisions, there are work decisions. Each day of our lives we are making decisions, some major some minor. For me I see the most important decision as the moment I received the Lord Jesus into my life as my personal saviour. My life from that point was no different for I had to live it and make decisions like anyone else. However, God and His Son Jesus Christ were now both personally real.

OUR PRAYER LIFE… I was in my late teens when I became a Christian and now nearly seventy years later, I reflect on what I have found to be the most important life principle. Maintaining communication with God in prayer has to be the major priority! Life is full of ups and downs, but I have found that by talking everything over in prayer I’m letting God hold the reigns not myself.

GOD’S PLAN… our decisions determine the pathway of our lives; however, God does have an individual plan for each of us. We may take the wrong path at times, but God can bring us back on track. I have found that God’s control and guidance in our lives will occur if that is what we really want above all else.

DISCOVERING JESUS… now that may seem a strange thing to say having received him into my life so long ago. But there is a process of getting to know Jesus better as you would a friend or partner. It is discovering how to draw on his strength (grace) more and more; it is that vine/branch relationship. It is knowing that He is one with God, that he is ever present and all powerful.

MAINTAINING CONTACT… it’s so easy to lose touch with people when a phone call or other personal contact can make the difference. Where the Lord Jesus and our heavenly Father are concerned, I have found that keeping in daily contact is so important. Whenever I fail to keep in touch even for a day there is a feeling of isolation; so keeping the lines of communication open is vital.

MOTIVATION… if there is no motivation and excitement in our lives, we fail to accomplish things, and life seems to lose its purpose. This is where I have found the energy of the Holy Spirit so important. The Holy Spirit is able to gives us the inspiration, creativity, and motivation we all need to keep going in life.

FORGIVENESS… it is somewhat like keeping your bills paid and not letting those household utility accounts get too far past there due date. Where our sins are concerned, I have found that confession should be prompt; perhaps an apology is required. To leave things unforgiven destroys our peace, so I have found that it is best to clear the desk of outstanding matters as soon as possible.

Ref. John 1:12, John 15:5, 1Thess. 5:17, 1 John 1:9 NIV.