It Only Takes a Spark

I love this time of year as fall settles in and it gets cooler outside. Every morning I light the fireplace in my kitchen as I love to have some quiet time with my coffee and Bible before the day gets going. Recently, as I sat gazing at the cozy fire flickering in the morning stillness, I was reminded of the theme we have chosen for the Anchor at Home this new season: encouraging women with HOPE and LIGHT.

My kitchen fireplace

Over the summer, our creative team came up with a fun hostess gift to compliment this theme for our watch parties. We will be sending each woman who signs up to host a watch party a special book of matches with our Anchor logo along with a beeswax tealight. Our hope is that these gifts inspire you to be a “SPARK” as you encourage women to gather in your home and share the hope of Jesus.

By simply passing on the Anchor at Home YouTube link or inviting friends, family and neighbors to gather and watch together, you are spreading the great news of Jesus to women everywhere, igniting hearts with the hope and light He brings.

Our light and hope theme was inspired by a song I learned as a young girl titled “Pass it On” (some of you might remember it from camp, I hope this doesn’t date me too much😉). It was a popular song and I remember first hearing it at my older sister’s wedding in 1973. My sister is ten years older than me and at the time I was ten years old. I remember only two things about that day — my long yellow junior bridesmaid dress tied with a white apron and the live band that played “Pass it On” during the ceremony. It was SO seventies! The tune was very catchy and I remember it clearly.

It wasn’t until several years later when I attended Young Life Club in High School and Young Life Camp Malibu Club that I found myself singing it again. The lyrics are simple and declare the Gospel message loud and clear. As I became a guitar leader for Young Life Club at Roosevelt High School, I continued to help play and lead “Pass it On” to the kids at camp with me.

Junior bridesmaid at my older sister’s wedding in 1973

I did a little research on the history of the song and learned that it was written by composer and pianist Kurt Kaiser in 1969. He and his wife were sitting by the fire in his den one Sunday evening and he was mesmerized by the flames and it occurred to him, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going and soon all those around will warm up to its glowing and that’s how it is with God’s love.” It became a song right on the spot. The rest of the lyrics followed suit. It took him only twenty minutes to write the entire song that grew to become one of the most popular Christian songs of all time.

As I learned more about this composer, I was touched by the message his father had given him as a little boy.

He taught him the importance of taking the gifts the Lord has given you and work and “burnish and shine it” and give it back to the Lord.

Hence, Kurt worked very diligently at his piano playing. He is known for over 300 copyrighted tunes, more than a dozen albums, and was one of the key piano players for the Billy Graham crusades. His most popular song remains “Pass it On.” He recalled the surprising moment he happened to turn on the TV to witness 100,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl holding candles and singing “Pass it On.”

Lyrics

Verse 1
It only takes a spark to get a fire going and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it you spread his love to everyone you want to pass it on

Verse 2
What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing the flowers start their blooming
That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it
You want to sing it’s fresh like spring you want to pass it on

Verse 3
I wish for you my friend this happiness that I’ve found you can depend on Him it matters not where you’re bound
I’ll shout it from the mountain top I want my world to know the Lord of love has come to me I want to pass it on

As I ponder the lyrics of the song, they ring so true to my soul and reflect the passion behind The Anchor. When something great happens to you, you want to share it with those around you. I have experienced the amazing love of God in so many ways that I want to share how real He is with everyone!

I find myself sharing the brief history behind The Anchor every time we tape our video for the Anchor at Home. I am convinced more than ever just as the words of the song “Pass it On” reverberate, “I’ll shout it from the mountaintop,” that Jesus is REAL and has met me in the darkest of times and shone His bright light of joy and truth in my heart.

I find the lyrics of “Pass it On” are an extension of Matthew 28:19 and the great commission that Jesus commanded His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” I have a wonderful recurring image in my mind from our Anchor Leaders’ Retreat this past August. As we shared about our theme of light and hope and being a “spark” to pass on the great news to women everywhere, all of our leaders began to sing in unison the song “Pass it On”. It was an AMAZING and powerful moment.

I am always touched by the warmth and glow of my morning fire and hope and pray we can all be inspired to be a spark and pass on the great news of Jesus and the hope and light He brings! I hope you will tune in this Thursday to the Anchor at Home and share the YouTube link, and or host a watch party and together we will PASS IT ON!

“I will make you a LIGHT for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.“
(Isaiah 49:6)