Refiner's Fire...

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.

~ Author Unknown

Refiner's Fire

My heart's one desire

Is to be HOLY

Set apart for You, my Master

Ready to do Your Will.

40 Days for LIFE

Today begins the 40 Days for LIFE campaign when people from all over America and Canada are praying and fasting for abortion to end. 40 Days for LIFE will run from September 24th - November 2nd, 2008. You can learn more about the campaign here.

"The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America." ( My prayer is that abortion will be stopped all over the world...not just in America.)

Day of Preparation

Day 1

Please join me, as well as many others, while we pray and fast for the unborn babies. A 40 day series of devotionals has been designed to assist your prayer time; you can pick up your printable version here.

See what pro-life leaders are saying.

"Abortion is America's modern day holocaust. The taking of innocent human life has inflicted incalculable misery. The human suffering and the spiritual blindness caused by abortion are beyond comprehension. God is a compassionate and a just God, but His justice will not sleep forever. We must not -- we cannot -- remain silent when millions of innocent unborn children are killed every year. A day is coming when America will face the judgment for her national sin. One day we will have to give an account of our lives and explain why we were silent while the holocaust happened on our watch. We must repent of this national sin and we must restore a culture of life." ~ Matthew Staver - Dean and Professor of Law, Liberty UniversityFounder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel

Refusing to keep silent,

You Heard It Here First!

The New School of the Spirit

I am so excited! Student registration for The New School of the Spirit is officially open!

Ameerah, owner of The Hem, is offering a free copy of her Becoming God's Masterpiece Bible Study Program! (Limited to first 50 students to register as a special gift!

You do not want to miss checking out the details of this school. Ameerah has offered a $1 test drive, so that you can take a 'sneak peek' at all that is offered in the School of the Spirit.

What could be easier? Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to preview the School of the Spirit. Remember...limited to first 50 students to register!

Go there now. You won't believe how much this will change your life!

If you want a DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, then you need to be here!

The New School of the Spirit

P.S. - I have had the pleasure of being a member for awhile now. Yes, I have enjoyed having a sneak-peek of my own & I am not disappointed at all. I am thoroughly enjoying the classes, as well as the convenience of studying on my own schedule and at my own pace. You will not be disappointed in what Ameerah has to offer...check it out...I know you will be impressed.

Hope to see you there!

Make Me MORE Like You

Whatever You have to do; make me MORE LIKE YOU!

Where Are Your Eyes?

Just found this video on YouTube; yet another amazing skit by Lighthouse! Praise God!

This is a very accurate description of the spiritual battle that happens both in marriage, as well as in our own lives, when we take our eyes off Jesus and look to 'other things' to satisfy the emptiness within our lives.

The thief comes only to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY;

I (JESUS)have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the FULL.

~ John 10:10 NIV

Jesus is the 'only thing' that will satisfy the emptiness deep within our souls.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Seek Him with all your heart.

Charm is Deceitful ~ Kim Hill

1. The fear of God produces a life of obedience to God.

2. The fear of God will move you to say no to sin in this wicked culture. You are to be different from the world in dress, in talk, and in conduct.

3. The fear of God manifests itself in a wholesome dread of God's holy displeasure.

4. The fear of God produces in us a desire to live a pure life.

5. The fear of God will make us zealous worshippers of God.

6. The fear of God causes us to serve God with a serious, yet joyful heart.

Special thanks to my new friend aflame4God for sharing this incredible video!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the fear of God or on modesty...look forward to your replies.

I'm Not What I Used to Be

Someday, I'll Fly...

~ Victoria Boyson

I've not been myself lately

or for some time for that matter.

I'm not sure who "myself" is anymore.

I feel like a caterpillar inside the cocoon.

I'm neither a butterfly

nor a caterpillar anymore.

I'm not what I used to be

nor am I what I'm going to be.

I cannot go back to what I was,

or what was familiar to me.

I can't rush forward and be what I have not yet become.

It's a miserable place to be.

It's much like a baby in the womb;

you have to wait it out and stay where you are.

I hope every day will bring the end;

I know God is almost done working.

I rejoice because the end is near,

but still the pain increases.

It's become too easy to not be anything, just a cocoon.

I want to give up, but You won't let me.

I'm not the caterpillar I used to be

and I'm not the butterfly I know I am becoming.

Becoming a butterfly is scary, painful and exhausting.

I guess I don't want to remain a nothing,

so I'll endure the torturous path out of this cocoon.

And I know, someday, I'll fly!

This poem was shared in the ElijahList newsletter. The article is entitled 'He Has You Hidden for a Purpose - You Are His Secret Weapon!' I know it will be an encouragement to you!

This poem, 'Someday, I'll Fly...' is such an accurate description to how I have been feeling lately (for quite some time actually)...and I am still waiting.

Still waiting for breakthrough...
Still waiting for the VICTORY!

I don't feel as invisible to God these days, but I have been going through some major moulding and shaping that has drawn me even closer to my Father's heart. I am beginning to realize that He has a much BIGGER PURPOSE for me, than I ever imagined (or could imagine)!

I sense that He is preparing me for something absolutely incredible. But, I also understand that I am in a time of preparation, a time for killing the deisres of my flesh (and boy, does it hurt!), a time of realizing greater intimacy with my Savior.

So, in the meantime...I choose to wait...because I long to be more like Him.

"I'm neither a butterfly nor a caterpillar anymore.
I'm not what I used to be
nor am I what I'm going to be.
I cannot go back to what I was,
or what was familiar to me.
I can't rush forward
and be what I have not yet become."

Waiting...
Resting...
Believing...
Hoping...
Anticipating the day that I will fly!

Developing Your Character

"Choose for yourselves."
~ Joshua 24:15 NIV

Our lives are like icebergs.
Only 15 percent is visible; that's reputation.
The rest, our character, is below the surface, hidden.

Character is what we think but never share.
It's what we do when no one's watching.
It's how we react to everyday aggravations.
It's how we handle failure - and success.
The thing that has made us what we are is our choices.

At the end of a successful career, Joshua challenges the people of Israel: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." So the choice is yours!

French writer François de la Rochefoucauld asserted, "Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them."

Ever notice that people with the weakest character tend to place blame on their circumstances? They talk a lot about poor upbringing, financial difficulties, the unkindness of others, or other circumstances that have made them victims. Your circumstances may be beyond your control but your character is not. You can no more blame your character on your circumstances than you can blame the mirror for your looks.

Developing character is always your choice. Every time you make a character-based decision you take another step forward in your spiritual growth.

Take a moment and jot down times when you have faced temptation and adversity. Next to each, note your choice: escape, excuses, capitulation, avoidance, perseverance, or victory. What problem areas do you see? How will you learn to do better? If many of the things you list are due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life.

My friend Terrilyn sent this message to me on 'Women After God's Own Heart.' I wanted to share it here because our choices will determine our destiny

We all need to take a more "active role", taking time to reflect on our choices as well as the direction that our decisions are taking us.

We need to become even more aware of the impact that our daily choices have in our own lives, as well as in the lives of those around us (both young and old).

We need to see the larger vision (plan) that God has for each one of us. It's time to start walking in our destiny and impacting the world around us for Jesus Christ!

Choose this day whom you will serve...how are your choices lining up?

The State of Your Soul - free e-book

Woooohoooo! It's here!

Ameerah just announced that the free e-book

' The State of Your Soul' is now available...

Please click on the e-book cover to receive your copy for free.

Come see what God revealed to Ameerah

as she was pouring herself into her writing.

It's a Choice!

This morning, as I was working through my emails, I was reminded very clearly about how our walk with God is our own. God has revealed this to me for some time now, but reading Pastor Lisa's post entitled 'You Can Preach and Teach the House Down...' was an excellent reminder for me to keep my heart and eyes focused on Jesus.

Every day we have many choices to make, but sometimes we choose to go against our Father's will...it's time for all of us to be active in our faith, as well as conscientious about our walk as a Christian.

No one else can do it for us.

We need to make the choice! It's time to get rooted and grounded in our faith; we can only stand on the rock of Christ!

Power and Purpose of Worship

I am so excited! Ameerah just put up another video lesson today for the free School of the Spirit Celebration. The celebration runs from September 1st - September 11th, 2008!

It's called 'The Power and Purpose of Worship: Just Because He's Worthy!'

Now, there's a title that speaks right to your spirit!
Free Christian video on the Power and Purpose of Worship

She is also writing a special report called, 'The State of Your Soul.' Ameerah will be giving it away for free at the Celebration.

If you truly want to unleash God's power in your life, I recommend watching this powerful video lesson on worship...

Free Christian video on the Power and Purpose of Worship

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried,
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, “Child, you must wait.”
“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ’no’ to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting... for what?”
He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want – But, you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.
You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save... (for a start),
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that “My grace is sufficient for Thee.”
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I’m doing in you!
So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, “WAIT.”

* Author Unknown