Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Refining Gold

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made:" Exodus 25:31. The golden candlestick or lampstand in the Tabernacle was the only piece of furniture in the tabernacle made of solid gold (representing purity). It was beaten and fashioned out of a single block of gold. It had three branches coming out of each side of the center shaft, thus giving it seven (representing perfection) flames. It was the only light inside the Holy Place and was lit permanently.
For the gold to be useable it had to be refined. The refining process brings the gold to such a temperature that the impurities surface and then they are separated from the element. God's desire is to use situations and circumstances to "surface" our impurities so that we may repent and have them cleansed from our heart. Once we are clean, we can be a better reflector of His Glory, Mercy and Grace. Although the refining process is painful at best, the end result is well worth the cost!
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-9.
Be encouraged! You are starting to shine!! :)

Friday, October 21, 2011

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Hi! Welcome to my blog page! I am new to this, so bear with me as I fumble through creating my page! :) I hope you enjoy it and look forward to hearing from you.
I am a Christian woman desiring to be all God wants me to be. This is a lifelong process of many ups and downs, failures and triumphs, trials and tests. He has asked me many times to do things I feel inadequate to do. He does not want me to stay in my comfort zone, but to step out in faith and allow Him to do a work in me that I could never do in my own ability. Thus, I am writing this blog :)
Many times in my pursuit of God's will, I have made mistakes and failed. There have been times I felt that I had failed beyond remedy but God's love and mercy reached out to me, picked me up and said, "try it again." I have found an ever faithful friend in the Lord. I remember not long after I began this journey, I went through a time that I felt so lost and far from the Lord. I had prayed but felt that God was far away. I remember reading a scripture that said "He will keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day," so I figured I would take him at his word. I prayed and said, "Lord, I commit my life to you. Everything that I have, everything that I am, I give it to you to keep until you come again." That was some 21 years ago and he has kept his word!
God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He knows our frame. He understands we are human and we are weak. That is why he came to earth in flesh to conquer the sin of the flesh. He knew we could not be victorious over sin in our own strength, so he came and did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Then he promised that he would send the Comforter that would dwell in us. It is through this Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that we can live victorious lives in Christ. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13.
Here are some things I have learned that helps me along this journey. I know God is my faithful friend and he will give me the strength I need to accomplish this task. He is there with me and will never leave me nor forsake me! Yes, I have made mistakes! No, I have not arrived yet! 'But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark...' Philippians 3:13-14. I must lay the past aside and not allow it to  be my focus. I look forward to the things at hand and PRESS! Pass failures, doubts, inadequacies, fears and what ifs, into victories, expectations, opportunities, faith and vision! Christ has already done the work, we just have to allow him to complete the process in us by surrendering our will to his becoming victorious through him!
May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.