Refining Silver

Im not usually overly churchy on this blog.. I dont flaunt my christianity or throw my opinions in peoples faces. In fact in the past Ive usually let my actions speak for my religion. Its become painfully obvious how successful Ive been at THAT lately.(urg!) Sometimes God can use the most unlikely people to correct you. I guess when you are "told" by the person you least expected to hear it from, it can be the most life changing. Im in the fire for sure. My spiritual self feels like a punished child. Addmitedly wrong, and now suffering the consequences.Thankfully though, the Father isnt my punisher.. its me.

Anyway my point is.. I dont usually put God Stuff on this site.. but when I read this it was so amazing. A simple truth and encouragment. Hopefully it will speak to others as much as it did me.

Refined Silver

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 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 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 whole time the silver was being refined.

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"


Things havent been "smooth sailing" around here for quite a while. Steven's unemployment has been a storm that at times I didnt think I would be able to weather. The heat has been so hot and the flames so high at times, my confidence was shaken.I didnt quit, although I felt some days like staying in bed, or even better just running away.Im so thankful that the "Silversmith" has his eyes on me, his total attention is placed on my life and that he wont quit holding me until he sees his image in me.