God's Refining Fire

I have heard this story before, but ran across it again today.  Thought it was good to share in case some of you have never heard it.

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete is when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....

--Author Unknown

 

 

 

Symptom Relief Prayer Request

More reasons (symptoms) to pray.  Thank you.

Pain -
         low abdomen,
         uterine
         hips
         back, neck and shoulder (from car accidents 26+years ago)
         hernia
         scar
         area where they tied off much of the surgery large, hard, still painful
         feet
         rib and liver/gallbladder
         ankle
         teeth
         muscle pain - just pick a spot - everywhere


 Other symptoms:

 blurred vision
 hormonal upsets
 severe vaginal yeast infection
 itching
 bloating
 nausea
 muscle weakness
 nerves totally on edge
 not sleeping well

 Need I say more?
 I am a mess. 
And this is only a partial list. 
Most of this is ongoing.
Heightened at times.
Like today.
Wish I could take a vacation without my body.
Difficult to think, pray, read...
Too exhausted to get anything done.
I do not do well in heat.  I enjoy temps in the 60's - they are coming:)

I hesitate to post such a list of complaints.  Many are far worse off than I am.  
  

A Pictoral Glimpse of the Past Month

Busy.  Work.  Togetherness.
               Bounty.   Food.  Prepare for Winter.
                                           Blessed.   Family.   Home.

Colby Cheese

Great Pyrenees/Maremma Pup

On the way to a family reunion in Minnesota

                                       

We celebrated two birthdays and our anniversary in the same week

                        

Mud Puppy

                                                                 

                                                                     Salsa

Neighborhood cabbage harvest and kraut making

                                                 

Mozzarella

                                                   

Chicken tractor rework

                                                    

Boys need laundry skill too

                                        

Australian Heart tomatoes get huge and are delicious!

                                   

chilis

                                                        

                                                                     Okra

Karen's dream come true - a hammered dulcimer

                                      

Putting up hay (this is our neighbor's tractor)

                                       

Hiking and exploring

                                                        

New chicks

                                               

Hiking with friends

                                                           

More mucking

                                                             

Saving seeds for next year

                                             

Blueberry picking (in spite of lack of rain, this year's berries were sweet from the high heat)

                

Our sunflower field

                                                          

A last minute trip to southern Wisconsin and Chicago for our older children

                   

Milking at an organic dairy farm

                                                  

Bible conference

                                                          

City driving (so glad we live where we do)

                                                               

Playing her dulcimer

                                       
Okay, this was perhaps too many pictures.  I meant to organize them and arrange them more sensically,  but I am not extremely computer savvy, and figuring it all out and fixing it was proving to be an exercise in futility and frustration.  Hope you enjoy them anyway.

Ellen

His Mercies Are New Every Morning

Isaiah 40:28-29

Hast thou not known?  hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary?  there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have not might he increaseth strength. 

 Ellen

Silver and Gold

"Make new friends, but keep the old: 
                                                one is silver and the other gold."

I have a story to share.  Twenty-six years ago, we lived in New Mexico and were good friends with another young couple from our church.  The husband was in the Air Force stationed in NM for a couple of years.  Besides numerous church activities, we went wilderness camping and hiking together several times.  We both had our first babies the same year, and we camped and hiked in the mountains with them too:)

After leaving New Mexico, they lived numerous places, and we moved overseas.  We corresponded for several years until the time they were stationed in Saudia Arabia.  We could no longer contact them, and we did not hear from them from that point on.  We were not sure if they were even alive.  For years we tried to find them, but to no avail.

Our daughter has a Facebook account for her business, and she got a message from our "long lost friend".  He explained who he was, and that he was trying to contact us - wondering if we were her parents (her unusual name gave him hope).  She showed us his request and we soon connected via e-mail.

These friends are from Mississippi and New Mexico and are true Southerners at heart.  How surprised we were to hear that they are living just north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota area - about 3 hours from us!  Because of my health and surgery, we were not able to get together right away, but I am happy to say, they made the trip over here to visit us recently:)  It was amazing.  We never expected to see them again.  Their children are all grown and moved away so we didn't get to meet them yet, but we shared pictures, stories, life events etc. (Yes, I did have to lie down to rest a couple of times during the visit, but they were gracious and wore no perfumed or chemical products -even their laundry had no fumes and no dryer sheets were used -which helped tremendously)  The last time we had seen each other, we were our oldest children's age.  What a tremendous blessing it was to reconnect with them. God is amazing!

OneYear Ago

I am so thankful to be here today instead of where I was (Monday, July 25, 2011) one year ago...hospital, mass, tests, anesthesia, surgery, pain, difficulty breathing, drug side effects...fighting for life.
I thank God for answered prayers both then and now.

God's Priorities Are Perfect

Security is not found in safety.  Safety is an illusion.  Security is doing things God's way...in God's order...and in accepting God's timing.  Just some food for thought.

I have had a little more strength the past week - thanks be to God.  My pain levels, however, have been HIGH.  Headaches continue, mid back and rib pain on the right side are horrible and low back and hip pain are awful.  All the muscles in my body feel like I must have climbed Mount Everest this week.  The muscle fibers seems to seize up and not let go.  I do take extra minerals, but they don't seem to be helping much.   I broke my coccyx years ago while delivering one of our babies, and that pain flares up periodically.  It has been difficult to deal with lately because it hurts to sit, to walk, to lie down in certain positions etc.  It is especially painful to release pressure while getting up from a sitting position.

I will not bore you with the rest of my complaints:)

This is a busy time of year on a homestead.  God has also brought some interesting ministry opportunities to our children.  He has been changing our plans, often surprising us by what He has planned (that is the way we want it to be - his plans are what we want all of our plans to be).  It requires us to be flexible and to allow God's priorities to take presidence. He is wonderful!

Ellen