Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 - "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as are finer and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front
of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,
but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith,
"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered,

"Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

I love you all

Ramblings- (may not be worth reading)

I'd like to apologize in advance. This is not a post of encouragement. This is a post on my battle, my loss, today after reading a post on Trust. If you don't want to read about the ramblings of my mind or are looking for encouragement, you might want to click away now. You don't have to comment either, it won't bother me, infact today, I don't know if I'd care; besides I've been wondering lately why I publish anyway. It seems like...... whatever..

I started off wrong today... rushed my devotions with not much heart in them.

That being said and known; knowing that was my first mistake this morning.

Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is that small, quiet voice at the end of the day that says: "I will try again tomorrow."

So "I will try again tomorrow!"

But today.....?
Trust?
I've only read Chapter 1 of Steve's Mirror and I want to, but don't want to, keep reading. The low spots, the feeling are very real to me. I can't count the times I've been driving and have scared myself by looking at trees, guard rails, on coming traffic.... with the deep desire to hit it... HARD.... hard enough.... the quicker the better. Scared because I feel my hands starting to drift..... and the only thing stopping me is the larger fear of not knowing 110% if I commit suicide, "Will I still get into Heaven?"

Trust or the lack there of..... or the breaking my legs out from under me.... or the walking out on a limb just to have it cut off behind me and then having to walk out on it again, and again, and again, and again.......
And the not sure if I can even "Trust myself, my mind, my fear, my anger, my hate."
These are my ramblings, my thought processes, my "battles" which seem daily.
I've been struggling for about six years on this "trust" issue, among others; just about all my Christian walk. Telling myself that I can trust God no matter what, even if I can't trust anyone else..... Not even my church..... but never getting an "answer" from God until the hindsight....

I CAN trust God no matter what.... that is very, very obvious to me.

But what about everyone else.... what about me.... how do I RELEARN to trust that again....

I posted on "Giving Freely" about just that, but not all of my feelings.
And about forgiveness in "Restitution", but not all of my feelings.
After awhile of walking out on those branches of trust, then having them cut off so you are dashed upon the rocks..... you start to wonder..... "how many branches are on this tree.....", "how many times, or how long will, that freely given heart and mind last before it just SNAPS". "Is this tree going to be just a pole soon?" Many a days have come and gone where my only comfort would have been a straight jacket. And I find myself with the deep, driven, painful feelings of crying and screaming...... but not having any emotions left to do it with..... just numb, empty, angry, bitter.... a void.... Totally blank except the hate of exsistance.... hating the smell of my breath knowing it means I'm still alive.

The emotions I've felt come from more than just the stabs in the back I've received. I don't have time or room to write it all. But some of those questions and feelings came back to me today like a gun shot. Not just the trust stuff, but loneliness and isolation, church, pain (physical pain), gossip, politics.....etc.....

Now I have to stop writing..... Refocus..... think: "Big Picture."

I wish you all could see my smile tonight. God IS so amazing.... and to see the past and to know it's the PAST..... and that I can't go back and start over, but that I can start from now and make a new ending, with the grace and strength of my savior, Christ. Knowing that the feelings I've wrote about can and are put to rest in Christ and His love.

God has a Great sense of humor.... doesn't He? Knowing my feelings I decide to walk away from work for a minute.... (the bathroom).... and read.
I read first:

Romans 6: 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

and then:

Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Now that I re-read this I guess there is encouragement in it.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, and for me today, its starting with my prayer before I crawl into bed. "I will try again tomorrow"

Restitution - (A man of honor)

I've just had an experience tonight that causes me great joy. I just had a Brother I love make restitution with me about a past hurt he had done .

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

-

Psalm 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . . . "

-Also-

Forgiveness is not something we do for other people only. But we do it for ourselves too. To get well and move on. It is a choice that cannot be forced or coerced. But by clinging to the past, we scarcely exist in the present. It is a powerful but underrated and often overlooked force in our lives. It pollutes our lifes and relationships with others. Forgiving will leave us feeling stronger and less vulnerable. It is not just forgetting an injustice done; it is the understanding that allows us to set aside the emotional impact of that injustice done to us. And when we no longer hold those emotions, and have understanding for the person and the grace of God, we have forgiven them.

-

Matthew 6:14 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:15 - But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Mark 11:26 - But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

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Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

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Luke 17:3 - Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luke 17:4 - And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

-

Matthew 18:21 - Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Matthew 18:22 - Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

-

Besides, looking at what God has forgiven me! Please- how can I not give forgiveness. I love you Brother, you are a man of honor.

Tonto

sub·mis·sion (n.)

sub·mis·sion (n.)

A. The act of submitting to the power of another:
"Failure that cannot be overcome does not give
rise to revolt but to submission"

B. The state of having submitted.
See Synonyms at surrender.

Luke 23:46 - And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

A thought occurred to me as I read this verse today.

"Is that not the ultimate example of submission or what?! Jesus freely giving all He is and has to offer to who? To God the Father!"

Awesome!!

I pray that I can follow that example given to me by Jesus. I pray that we all can freely submit (surrender) all we have to God for His use. Our hearts, souls, dreams and desires, our spouses and families, our friends, our jobs, school, homes, vehicles, comforts, heat and air conditioning, our money, appearances, our EVERYTHING.

After all, they're all God's anyway-- right?

We're just using these gifts on loan! We don't really possess anything that God hasn't given us. Our job is to be good stewards of what He has given us and put them to use in furthering God's Kingdom.

Matthew 25:14-30

Fight on soldiers.

I love you all

We ARE warriors!

I have so many feelings and emotions flooding though me right now. I fear I won't be able to express them all correctly. I pray that this post will lift someone up and encourage them even if I can't say it right.

I've learned that there is not enough paper in the world to express the story of my heart!

That being said--
Failure and Success, sometimes there is a thin line that separates the two. I've found in my life that God is faithful to turn my failures into successes.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We must then learn from them and fight on!
"But I'm tired of fighting! As soon as I whip one problem, there are a hundred more knocking on my door!"
Many times we feel weary from the battles of life and the failures. Tired of trying to push back the flesh and the powers of Satan.

But what is an army for, if not to fight?! We'll be fighting or retreating from now until Jesus returns!

We don't like to hear that as humans. We don't want to be warriors. We want a comfortable, easy life where we can lay back and go on a spiritual vacation. But that is not what we are called to do. We are called to:

1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

God gave us spiritual weapons and His own armor:

2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Ephesians 6:10-18

The battle is hard as a warrior, but we must fight on and look to the future in Christ. Continue to trust God and learn how to fight by reading, praying and living out Godly lives. Being doers of the Word and not just hears.

Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Teddy Roosevelt said-- "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."

C. S. Lewis said-- "Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good."

I could write on and on.... but I just won't say it right. Please feel free to comment on how the Lord has taught you to fight on. How you have been encouraged and how He has carried you through life so that we all might be blessed by your words and experience.
Love you all.

Read Me -- maybe?

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnat tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Neat, eh?

I find the mind and body to be so, so amazing. God created us like it was just a flick of the wrist. It makes me wonder and try to imagine just how awesome heaven will be. And how incredible the heavenly creatures are!

The Old Cherokee

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."
"One is evil-- he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego."
"The other is good-- he is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
"This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too"
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather which wolf would win.
The old Cherokee simply replied,

"The one you feed."

So which one are you feeding?

Hopefully not BOTH!

You must starve one and feed the other.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

Luke 16:13

I love you all,

Tonto

Giving Freely

The act of giving ones heart freely is truly noble, daring, .... and an act of love that I hold in the highest regards in a persons character. But what happens when that heart meets a cruel, mean and hateful heart? Many bad hearts WILL be met when traveling this road. But will that freely given heart be able to face that hurt with their head up, with the grace of an adult and not the grief of a child? Learn from the experience and move on. Or will it withdrawal into itself, it's cave, scared and scarred not allowing anyone to touch or hurt it again until it learns to "GROW UP."
I've seen too many friends withdrawal, not to be seen again. And it hurts and saddens me to see it. But praise God, He is the great physician, who can heal and restore all who seek his face. I pray that we all may be that Light that shows this love and path to the hurting, the lost, the down trodden.
My encouragement has been given.
The rest is up to you!
"the Christians"
"the Doers of the Word"
"HIS WORD"

Change

Change is an inevitable thing. We age, we sag. Loved ones come and go, we change homes, cars, friends. Fashion changes, people change, money changes, the weather changes.

"Everything changes" they say, but somethings never change. God is still God. Satan is still Satan. And "people are the problem." Always have been, always will be.

So question- why do people stay in a relationship hoping that the other person will change in the future or that "they" can change them? When people can't change themselves let alone be changed by someone else other than God. Are the slight spots of happiness really worth the pain and heartache that by far outweighs. Is it just the fear of giving up and being alone again that causes the will to fight on? A pride issue of "being able to change them"? Or a deep rooted love for that person and Christ that keeps them pluggin on? Many possibilities--Right?

Each heart must decide for itself.
Risky business this Love and Life is.