It's Hot in Here!

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This was recently sent to me by a wonderful friend and “e-mail encourager”.  I’ve read it before, but God, in His unsubtle yet wonderful way, knew I needed to hear it again.  I, like many of you, have been going through a prolonged period of “fire-walking”.  I can see God’s hand in the midst of the fire...refining me into His likeness.  Some of my areas are definitely more “fire-resistant” than others!  I'm so thankful that He never gives up on me and never leaves me in the fire alone and without purpose.  I hope this encourages you...

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 research 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 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 whole 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 and holding you until He sees His image in you. 

Please let me know how I can be praying for you. 

I'd also ask that you keep me in prayer as I "fire-walk". 

 

Love and blessings,

Mary