God Uses the Daily to Explain the Eternal

Any of you that really know me, know that I have many interests. One of them has been the process of silver casting. I wanted to know how this was done, so I went to YouTube. Of course, YT had a nice video. While watching this, I felt so impressed about a huge spiritual truth. I will call that truth, "Life in the Crucible". Watch these videos and then I'll share with you what I REALLY learned...




I sat dumbfounded after watching these. Sure, it's great to understand how to cast silver, but more important were the eternal truths that God reminded me of.

During this same period, God reminded me of these scriptures from Revelation 3:14-22:

To the Church in Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

The beauty of putting the silver in the crucible is that it destroys the impurities that the metal has in it and makes it usable and a thing of beauty. We must allow God to show us our impurities and be willing to let Him cleanse us and destroy those impurities. Notice that they are no longer there. How can we say we are His and continue to allow those things in our life that make us unclean in His eyes. Only when the silver is melted and made pure in the fire, is it ready to force into the mold. I thought of how he desires to cleanse us in His holy fire and then, and only then, are we ready to be put into the mold of his own choosing.

So, the obvious questions are:

1. Are we willing to live our lives in the crucible?
2. Are we willing to let Him put us into the mold of His choosing? The Jesus-shaped mold?

Then, followed the study for Sunday's Ladies Bible Study. We discussed the verses above, along with many others from Jesus, Himself. Some hard truths! It appears from scripture that if we are Christians, we will be disciples. It challenges the misconception of, "Thank you, God, for your salvation, but I'm really not interested in obeying you"! It's something we need to assess in our own lives...are we really His?? Do we hate sin and look for ways to avoid it? Jesus tell us, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments". John 14:15

Lots to think about today...

We heard a very inticing message today. So much to consider and pray about. Are we "givers" or "takers". In the modern church, we are one or the other. No middle ground. I think we've all been kicked off of that fence!

In this morning's Bible study we are discussing and praying about some of these questions:

1. According to scripture, can a person really be saved but not be a disciple?
2. Is there such a thing as a lukewarm Christian?
3. What is Revelation 3:15-18 really saying and is it written to a Christian?

These are some profound questions to consider. It could mean the difference in our eternity!

I want to thank so many people God has placed in my life.. my family,friends,Church family.Such a Blessing there have been so many prayers for my Family and myself I so appreciate them and God will bless you when you least expect it. To my Pastor ...you are truly a Blessing every sermon you preach is truly from the heart and it is obvious how on fire for God you are Thank you for being there for me for both surgeries you are Awesome.... Cheryl.. God has truly blessed you in every way ,your teaching and your learning,you listening and your advice thank you for being my friend.Patti thank you for so many times you took the time to answer my questions,,God truly blessed you with a beautiful voice I love to hear you sing keep up the good work. Betty L. you are such a blessing to me a true woman of God you just glow with grace thank you for your prayers and Love... Miss Blanche when God made you he broke the mold... you are such a loving,giving,caring person anyone feels comfortable around you my first time at MABC you asked me to come set with you i was on the back row because I wasn't sure if I would fit in (tattoo's in all) you welcomed me as if I had no tattoo's..The (1 tattoo I really treasure is the one on my heart that says Property Of Jesus Christ.) I sat with you I think about 4-5 weeks then you kicked me off your pew LOL I know it was a God thing that was 7-27-2008 the day I joined MABC and have enjoyed everyday since keep up the good work Hugs. Terri we were brought back together for some reason we know it is God's plan just hasn't reviled it all to us You are truly a Blessing to me and a TRUE BFF I thank God you were here the night my fever spiked because Mike would not know what to tell the Dr You took charge Thank You You are a Loving, Giving,Kind, Caring person with a big heart and you have so many people who love and care for you never forget that.. I don't want to leave anyone out so I want to say to every person In MABC your are there for a reason God planted you there and each and everyone of you are blessings to me Thank You for you kind heartiness your friend and Sister In Christ Ronda

"Jesus Chose To Carry The Pain"

I was reading this in my devotion this morning and felt it needed to be shared. It is a little long but read to the end. ~ Patti

"The day I found out Sanna needed treatment for her third bout with cancer--this time, a tumor in her brain--my heart felt like lead. It was the day before Thanksgiving, but I hardly felt thankful. In my laundry room, as the machine's basin filled with water and I flung dirty clothes into it, hot tears stung my cheeks. I was furious that diseases like cancer are permitted to wreck bodies and lives. I felt hatred as toward an enemy but wasn't sure to whom I should direct it.

Suddenly a thought pierced my anger. It was a still voice, saying, Diane, I am sick to death of it too. An image of Jesus, hanging from a cross, flashed before my mind. It was Jesus, literally sick to death of sin and death and grief and evil. On the cross he absorbed it all.

Although my hatred of the enemy remained, I had a sense it was shared. Jesus felt it himself, a thousandfold and more....Jesus says, 'I'm sick to death of it, too, but remember the ending of the story. It will not always be this way.'

Christ absorbed sin and death--then he conquered it. Death could not hold him. Now he scorns both death and the enemy who causes it. The enemy can wound us, but he has no claim on us if we believe that the blood of Jesus was shed for our sins. In this, there is hope. Wild hope. Glorious hope.

I find comfort in these thoughts, even though I still feel the pain keenly. God grieves over this broken world. But he waits because he is working out good things too. Someday God will shake things down and sort things out and make everything all right....

As I wait for God's long, grand plan to play out to the end of history, I now know where to take my grief and anger and pain. I take it to the One who shares it, absorbs it, and gives back peace, hope and a certainty that all will be well. In that certainty lies the mysterious gift of faith." Author: Diane Eble

Prayer

In my reading this morning I came across the quote. ~ Patti

"Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.".....Osward Chambers

Be the kind of woman that when your feet
hit the floor each morning the Devil says
"Oh Great, She's up!"

My God and King

This was in my devotional reading today and felt it went along with our post of yesterday. ~ Patti

"I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever....Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness. Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them proclaim Your power." ~ Psalm 145:1 3-4 NLT