Silver

I do not know the original author, so I cannot give proper credit.

Malachi 3:3 says: "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 refined 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 a refiner and purifier of silver"

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

Valentine's Day

Not exactly what you would expect for Valentine's Day is it?  On Valentine's Day we are supposed to express love and show appreciation to those we love.  So what do we do?  We make heart crafts and go to parties.  We send cards and flowers.  We buy gifts and eat treats.  I am not condemning any of these things.  I do them myself.  I enjoy doing all of these little things for those I love.

But on this Valentine's Day the Holy Spirit posed this question:  Have you expressed love for your Saviour today?

No, not really.  On a day set aside for love, I have barely acknowledged the greatest act of love ever.

Why is He beaten and bloody?  Love.

Why is He nailed to a cross?  Love.

Why is He dying?  Love.

Love for sinners like you and me.

Isaiah 53:4-5  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thank you God for loving sinners like me.  Thank you for not sparing Your Son.  Thank you Jesus for loving me.  Thank you for taking my punishment.  Thank you for dying for me.  Thank you for saving me.

Wordless Wednesday

Guess what the Crafter found on her leg after playing outside this afternoon?

Can you believe we have ticks in February?  Fortunately it hadn't seized yet.