The Fire....

Ok...this is a long one...grab your coffee

and sit for a while...

Don't worry...it's not all me talkin'...

there's a sweet story at the end.

So....

I've been going through Freedom in Christ

a women's Bible study at my church....

The past couple of weeks focused on...

Repentance...

WOAH!

Talk about rock your face off!

This week was the Refiners Fire...

the importance of praising God

during those trials...

Our teacher talked about the

Israelites and how they

were rescued out of Egypt...

and they were STILL MOANING

as they were in the wilderness with

God providing for them EVERYDAY!!

How many times have I been smack

dab in the middle of a trial

and I'm moaning or trying to

tell the Lord how to do things

or to speed up the process...

God has me in each trial (wilderness if you will)

for a specific time...

I can choose to moan about it...

OR...

I could see this as an opportunity

for trusting

and

praising the Lord...

praising Him because He doesn't want

me to stay in this ugly mess I'm in...

Praise Him because He wants to

draw me closer to Him

Praise Him becuase He wants

to make me In His Image

Praise Him because

others may come to know

Him because of the trials

I'm in and how I choose

to handle them.

I embrase these trials and

I want to come out of these trials

like the woman in

Song of Solomon 8:5

"Who is this coming up from the

wilderness leaning on her

beloved?"

I trust the Lord...

I trust His timing...

I know He is with me...

In the wilderness...

I'm thankful I have Him to lean on!

I'll end with a sweet story that was read this evening...

a story about the Refiner's Fire

The passage they refer to is Malachi 3:3

"He will sit as a refiner and purifer of silver;

he will purify the Levites and refine them

like gold and silver..."

Enjoy!

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to

read the scriptures and make them the subject of

conversation. While reading the third chapter of

Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression

in the third verse.
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

One lady's opinion was that it was intended to

convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the

grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a

silversmith and report to them what he said

on the subject. She went accordingly and without

telling the object of her errand, begged to know the

process of refining silver, which he fully described

to her.

"But Sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of

refining is going on?" "Oh, yes madam, " replied

the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed

on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining

be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver

will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort

too, of the expression,

"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier

of silver."

Christ sees it needful to put His children into a

furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of

purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged

in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come

at random; "the very hairs of your head are

all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith

called her back, and said he had still further to

mention, that he only knows when the process of

purifying was complete, by seeing his own image

reflected in the silver.

Beautiful example! When Christ shall see His own

image in His people, His work of purifying will

be accomplished.

Author Unknown

The Year of Believing

Yesterday I celebrated my 34th Birthday.
A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a sweet friend.
She asked me if I could come up with one word for this
coming year to describe what the Lord is doing
what would it be?!?

After talking it out a little more with her
I quickly came up with my word...
BELIEVE!

I have some life experiences that have allowed
lies to creep in...Thankfully, He doesn't
want me to live in darkness but to walk in
TRUTH!

The Lord has taken me through this hard
yet beautiful season of healing...
A season of replacing lies about Him
replacing lies about who I am
Replacing lies for TRUTH!

I did grow up in a Christian home and
I've heard many of the things I'll list below...
however...it was all head knowledge...
it wasn't heart knowledge...
I didn't necessarily realize they applied to me!

So....as I continue to walk with Him,
here are the things I BELIEVE...
Thanks to His Word...
I KNOW...they're TRUTH!

God Delights in me...and He sings over me
Zephaniah 3:17

He has great plans for me...not to harm but to prosper
Jeremiah 29:11

He is my Protector!
(Always has and always will be)
Psalm 3:3

He is my Rock & Deliverer
Psalm 18:2

He is enthralled with my beauty
Psalm 45:11

I am fearfully & wonderfully made
Psalm 139:14

He makes life known to me...
He fills me with joy...
I have eternal pleasures forevermore!
Psalm 16:11

I am a tree planted by water...whatever I do prospers
(this was a prophetic word spoken over me)
Psalm 1:3

I can wait in HOPE for the Lord...He is my help & shield.
Psalm 33:20

My prayer....

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:74

Last but not least...

My heart trusts Him.
Psalm 28:7

What will your word be for the next year of your life?