The Silversmith

Malachi 3:3

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter 3, they came across verse 3, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver”.

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next bible study.

That week this woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the refining of silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over 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. He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.

She asked the silversmith if it were 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 even 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.

-author unknown

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered:  forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives:  be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies:  succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, they may cheat you:  be forthright anyway.

What you spent years building, they may destroy overnight:  build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous and scorn: be joyous anyway.

The good you do today, they often will forget tomorrow:  do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough:  give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;   It was never between you and them, Anyway.

                                       Anonymous

(From the Internet Recovery Bulletin Board)

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd -That's Relationship!

I shall not want- That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures- That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters -That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul -That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness- That's Guidance!

For His name sake- That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death- That's Testing!

I will fear no evil- That's Protection!

For Thou art with me- That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me- That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies- That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil- That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over- That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life -That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -That's Security!

Forever- That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

47 Sayings

These are sayings that have spoken to me. One of them might speak to you.

   1. "Today Is Yesterday's Future - Tomorrow's Past". Tom Blubaugh

   2. "Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional".    Author Unknown

   3. "I looked in myself so hard I lost sight of everyone else". Kim J.

   4. "Anger helps straighten out a problem like a fan helps straighten out a pile of papers". Susan Macotte

   5. "I didn't know I'd have to tear down before I could build up". Eleanor F.

   6. "Average is the worst of the best and the best of the worst". Author Unknown

   7. "Insanity is doing the same things over again yet expecting different results". Author Unknown

   8. "Because I make a mistake doesn't mean I am a mistake". Val B.

   9. "I found that my circumstances couldn't improve unless I did". Barney V.

  10. "Unless I accept my virtues, I most certainly will be overwhelmed by my faults". Robert G. Coleman

  11. "Meditation is a mental discipline that enables us to do one thing at a time". Max Picard

  12. "It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves and it is not possible to find it elsewhere". Agnes Prelier

  13. "Others treat us the way we invite them to treat us". Barbara H.

  14. "We don't have time not to have time". Gary Burke

  15. "The ability to accept responsibility is the measure of a man". Roy L. Smith

  16. "Apologizing with words isn't the same thing as apologizing with actions".Laura J.

  17. "We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once". Calvin Coolidge

  18. "Never throw mud. You may miss the mark. And you will certainly get your hands dirty". Joseph Parker

  19. "The trouble with loving our neighbor as ourselves is that most of us do". Toni W.

  20. "I formed my habits and my habits formed my future". J. T.

  21. "Not to decide is to decide". Harvey Cox

  22. "For us, there is only the trying, the rest is not our business". T. S. Elliott

  23. "No rule of recovery will work if I don't". Iris S.

  24. "Someone has said that the greatest cause of Ulcers is mountain climbing over molehills". Maxwell Maltz

  25. "He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help". Abraham Lincoln

  26. "The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself". Mark Twain

  27. "When I am anxious it is because I am living in the future. When I am depressed it is because I am living in the past". Jimmy R.

  28. "Any man can seek revenge, it takes a king or prince to grant a pardon". Arthur J. Rehrat

  29. "If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed". Ancient Chinese Proverb

  30. "God hasn't called me to be successful. He's called me to be faithful". Mother Teresa

  31. "Inches make champions". Vince Lombardi

  32. "Small changes today make big differences tomorrow". Tom Blubaugh

  33. "People always blame their circumstances for being what they are. The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them". George Bernard Shaw

  34. "I am not responsible for my feelings – only for what I do with them". Dr. Ceophus Martin

  35. "It ain't over ‘till it's over". Yogi Berra

  36. "I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have". Abraham Lincoln

  37. "Why are we surprised when fig trees bear figs"? Margaret Titzel

  38. "Fear is false evidence appearing real". Paula L.

  39. "Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better". Joe B.

  40. "We live in a world of opposites. Without them we have no understanding or appreciation". Tom Blubaugh

  41. "I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday". Susie McD.

  42. "Life by the yard is hard, but by the inch it's a cinch". Author Unknown

  43. "Sow a thought and you reap an act; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny". Samuel Smiles

  44. "Reputation is what people think you are. Character is what you are" Bill Gothard

  45. "Once I accept things as they are, I can create things as they might be". Mike O.

  46. "Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live". Orestes

  47. "From your nose back is your business. From your nose forward isn't"  Tom Blubaugh