Encouragement for today :-)

It’s hard for me to believe and even harder for me to remember the day-to-day details of what we were living through this time three years ago.  We were at an intense place of trusting the Lord… with completely empty hands waiting to be filled… and eyes turned toward Him in hopeful expectation.  January and February of 2010 were bleak months for us.  But as always, God’s faithfulness carried us through those days straight into this day, and we are all the better for it.  As I reflect on those months, I can’t help but smile.  God knew all along what He was preparing for us as we waited in what seemed emptiness.  We didn’t understand “why” or “what” – but praise our Faithful Lord, we had walked with Him enough to believe that He had not forgotten us.  ( For  the whole story click here.)

Every once in a while since that time, I read back through those posts where I journaled much of our journey and can’t help but  marvel at all God was busy doing as we waited.  One of the things He was busy doing was refining all four of us.  It was not a wasted journey.  If you need some encouragement about where you seem to be at this point in your 2013, I pray that this post from the midst of our journey will be used by God to bless and strengthen you.

🙂

Post from 3 years ago:

If you’re like me, verses like Proverbs 3:5-6, and Romans 8:28 are such a familiar passages, that I find myself glossing over the deep Truths these verses convey. However, familiarity doesn’t negate truth, and today, the Lord has brought them afresh to me. What an encouragement they are!

If you need some encouragement today, read these verses, asking the Lord for fresh eyes to see them… to really soak in what the Lord is saying… and let Him bless your heart and mind.

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord
with all your heart and mind.

Do not rely on your own insight or understanding.In all your ways
know, recognize, and acknowledge Him,and He will direct and make straight and plainyour paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amp)

 

“We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor]

all things work together and are [fitting into a plan]

for good to and for

those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (Amp)

 

Every so often this story comes across my in-box in the most timely of ways. It’s a beautiful reminder of what God is doing in all of our lives when we place ourselves and our loved ones into His hands.

May you be blessed and encouraged through this – and may the Lord make each of us to shine in such a way that we reflect His character to everyone we encounter.

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.’

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.

Because He IS working all things together, fitting them into His plan for you, for your good, and for His glory! His Word says so. And we can trust Him.

Peace in the Lord Jesus Christ be unto you~
Jennifer