The Refiner's Fire

I love the picture of God as the refiner. The Father sends the Holy Spirit, the flame (Acts 2), to perfect his saints in holiness. Our Lord knows the value of the refiner's fire. And when we learn how it's done we discover even more how much he loves us.

It is with the most precious metal that the refiner takes the most pains. God's children are most precious to him, he sent his Son to die for them. The refiner subjects the metal to the hottest of fires, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mold. He never leaves his crucible, but sits down and tends the fire ever so carefully. At the perfect time and heat the dross floats to the top and he skims it off. He then can look into the purified metal and see himself, and puts out the fire.

I found this poem that I want to share from my Streams in the Desert devotional about the One who shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Mal. 3:3).

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,

As He watched by the precious ore,

And closer He bent with a searching gaze

as He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,

and He wanted the finest gold

To mould as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Tho' we fain would have said Him 'Nay,'

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,

But our eyes were so dim with tears,

We saw but the fire--not the Master's hand,

And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above,

That bent o're the fire, tho' unseen by us,

With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause us a moment's pain?

Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With a love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,

Than was needed to make it pure.

O dear Jesus,

My life is in your hands. I know it hurts sometimes, but I do desire to be purified. I need not fear, for you have redeemed me. You have summoned me by name. I am Yours. When I pass through the waters, You will be with me; and when I pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over me. When I walk through your refining fire, I will not be burned; the flames will not set me ablaze. For You are the Lord, my God, the Holy One of Israel, My Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). You want the best for me. I praise you Lord, for your ways are mysterious and wonderful. I love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

Photo courtesy of http://www.christianphotos.net/

Listening Prayer

A "Listening Prayer" caught my eye in the journal I'm using. It's by A. W. Tozer, one of my favorite theologians. He said to . . .

Retire from the world each day to some private spot . . .

Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin

to fade out of your heart and a sense of God's presence envelopes you . . .

Listen for the inward Voice till you learn

to recognize it . . . Learn to pray inwardly every moment.

What does it take to retire from the world each day to a private spot? For me, it took disciplined Bible Study to get me started. Now that I'm hooked on listening for the inward Voice, even though it's a fight some times, it's hard for me to go a day without retreating into God's presence.

Thinking about the wonderful, countless benefits of disciplined study makes me wonder why discipline gets such a bad rap. Is it because we don't like being forced? Or are we just lazy? It's a little of both, don't you think? On top of being stubborn and like sloths, we humans can conjure up more excuses as to why we don't have time for God than a pine tree has needles.

But if we do take the time to listen for His still small voice, the Holy Spirit will step in and teach us how to recognize God's voice and pray inwardly every moment. He promises to guide us into all truth and will bring glory to Jesus by taking what is Jesus' and make it known to us (John 16:12-15). In that private place there are unthinkable treasures to be found. Won't you join me as I fight off all of the excuses and distractions and carve out some time for listening prayer today?

photo courtesy of Christianphotos.net

Are You Caught in a Crab Bucket?

Crab fisherman have long known they don't need to put a lid on their crab bucket, as long as there is more than one crab. When there are several crabs in the bucket, if one tries to crawl out, the other crabs grab hold and pull it back down. Some call it the Crab Bucket Syndrome.

Some of us desire to climb above, raise our standards and improve ourselves, but Satan, and those who belong to him, act like crabs in a bucket. They do everything in their power to destroy the ambitions of those who wish to better themselves. Sadly, these grab and hold techniques often work among us humans, too.

As Christians, it's often our thoughts that catch us, put us in a bucket. What crabs are holding you back from improving your life? These crabs come in thoughts like

• I don't have any time to spend with God and his word today.


• Does God really hear my prayers? It seems like he's not answering.


• Living the Christian life doesn't pay-off here on earth.


• Things will never change for me, anyway.

Faithful Christians pray and believe God no matter how they feel or what things look like. Don't let these crabby negative thoughts keep you in a bucket of mediocrity. Therefore, my dear friends, continue to work out your salvation every day with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). How do we work out our salvation? Follow Paul's advice that follows these verses in Philippians. Do everything without complaining or arguing (boy, that's a tough one), so that we can become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which we shine like stars in the universe.

Start shining today and escape the grabs, the holds, and the bucket.

The ABC's of Listening Through His Word

I hope you have the privilege of a spiritual mentor/mother like I do. If you don't, pray and ask God for one. Then open your eyes and look for her. She may be right in front of you. She'll tell you things like, "Get a new Bible every few years. Then God can speak to you in fresh new ways, instead of through those same old underlined verses and notes." My spiritual mom is my 83-years-young Sunday School teacher. While studying Psalm 119 last Sunday, which is an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet, she challenged our class to find a Bible verse for every letter of our alphabet. God spoke to me volumes through this exercise and encouraged me in ways only he can. Here are my results:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 (NIV)

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. John 14:11 (KJV)

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison and test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 (NIV)

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 16:17 (KJV)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 (NIV)

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Psalm 89:7 (KJV)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, they ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29 (KJV)

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 (KJV)

Lord, thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Psalm 90:1 (KJV)

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. 2 Corinthians 5:2 (NIV)

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21:27 (NIV)

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16 (NIV)

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (NIV)

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. Psalm 119:88 (KJV)

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous; and praise his holy name. Psalm 97:12 (NIV)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 100:1 (NIV)

The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 (KJV)

The Voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic. Psalm 29:4 (NIV)

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

EXalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. Psalm 99:5 (NIV)

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:18 (NIV)

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. Isaiah 1:27 (NIV)

photo courtesy of flickr.com

What is the secret to hearing the voice of the Lord?

The strange scene at the beginning of the book of Ezekiel holds a secret as to how we can get the voice of the Lord and the ability to hear it. Ezekiel 1:25 says, "And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings." Just like a bird resting on a branch, the secret is found in the fact that for the angels to let down their wings they must be still.

For my 2010 jubilee year (this year I turned the big 50) the Lord prompted me to take a sabbatical to rest and heal from the trauma of 2008-09. Since the new year broke, God has repeatedly sent me the message to "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. He sends me this message over and over through e-mails, in the various devotions I read, through reading other's blogs, and many other ways. If it doesn't come up in my heart, He manages to get it before my eyes at least every other day. Last Wednesday was the most creative and made me smile. Driving home from meeting with a friend, I managed to get behind a Honda CRV from close to my home in Florida. I couldn't believe my eyes. There on their tire cover were the words big and bold--BE STILL AND KNOW! Have you ever in your life seen those words on a tire cover?

Then today I read a beautiful poem my Streams in the Desert Devotional:

Be still! Just now be still!

Something thy soul hath never heard,

Something unknown to any song of bird,

Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,

A message from the Fatherland afar,

That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,

Cometh to thee if thou canst but be still.

Be still! Just now be still!

There comes a presence very mild and sweet;

White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.

It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent

To teach thee what the words He uttered meant.

The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.

If thou would'st hear His message,

Dear soul, be still!

O Dear Jesus, I understand you want me to be still, otherwise you wouldn't send me your message over and over. Thank you for sending the Comforter to teach me what the words you uttered while here on earth meant. I am willing. I am waiting. I trust you to fulfill and heal me to shine like a star in the universe as I hold out the word of life (Phil. 2:15-16). Speak to my listening heart, Lord. Yes, speak to my listening heart. I have made up my mind to cease striving and be still. Amen.

Picture courtesy of Flickr.com by Stephie 189

Do you believe?

On a beautiful flower poster of "words to live by" I read: "Believe that love is forever and forever you will be in love." Will just believing really keep you in love? The word believe can mean so much more than to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, especially in the New Testament Greek. The word believe in Greek is pisteuo (pist- yoo'-o). It means to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing); by implication to entrust (especially one's spiritual well being to Christ).

My favorite verse on believing is John 6:29. One day some followers asked Jesus, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" (verse 28) Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent" (John 6:29). When I read this verse in the Amplified version it gives me the full scope of what pisteuo really means: Jesus replied, "This is the work (service) that God asks of you, that you believe in the One Whom He has sent-that you cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in His Messenger" (John 6:29AMP).

Put that way I must ask myself, Do I cleave to Jesus every day? Do I trust in Him for all things? Do I rely on Him for all things? Yes, I have faith in God's messenger, Jesus, but do I really cling to, trust in, and rely on Him all of the time? I must admit I fail at God's work sometimes. I get forgetful and start clinging to my kids or my husband. I get anxious and scared and stop trusting in the only One who can take care of me. I even rely on my friends and family to listen to me when I'm hurting, instead of the One who gives peace that passes understanding.

My dearest Lord Jesus,
Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love, even when I mess up. Thank you for forgiving me when I fail to do your the one work you require. When I believe in (cling to, trust in, and rely on) the One who is love, I truly will be in love forever and live with You for eternity. O Jesus, give me the strength I need to believe more and more as each day passes--until we meet face to face. Oh how I look forward to that day. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

Photo by Greg Schulz

You do not have because you do not ask!

We are loaded down with cares--for our children, our work, our homes. How many times do we forget to ask God because we feel like our concerns are too little to mention or we just don't take the time to sit down and pray?

I read about a visual example of not having answers to prayer because we don't ask recently that stuck with me (in a devotion by Charles H. Spurgeon on James 4:2). Spurgeon told a story of an angel of mercy who flies around the homes of God's people and brings an abundance of precious blessings. Sometimes while we sleep, the angel of mercy hovers on soft wings, but there are no empty containers in which to pour the blessings. Later, the angel visits another home, where in their prayers, the residents set out a number of empty containers. The angel fills the containers from the supply of overflowing mercy, and when the petitioners awake they find an abundant supply of rich grace. Mind pictures like this one have lasting affects on me. I love them!

Oh Dear Lord,

I don't want to forget to put out my containers by having feeble wishes, small desires, and slender prayers, or hardly any prayer at all. Oh God, like the disciples in Luke 17:5 asked, "Show me how to increase my faith." With stronger faith I will hold on to my big desires, earnest prayer, and great expectations. I will make sure I put out my containers tonight for your angel of mercy to fill with your abundant supply of rich grace and whatever else you have in store for me. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

Picture courtesy of Flickr.com "An angel made of cloud" by Jonina