The Refining Fire

Malachi 3:3: "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"

He is Faithful

Every month for 2 years, it's been on the 9th of the month. That is, until this month. This month they said I was being 'suspended' and 'investigated', and 'reviewed'. On October17, we went to the elders and asked in the name of Jesus for prayer for healing. We claimed James 5:14 .... and asked for healing of all sorts. Certainly physical healing, but not just that. We need financial, emotional, spiritual healing as well. The vultures had begun circling, looking for monthly payments.

Today I called my NEW case manager at Liberty Mutual. He was kind, plesant, and easy to talk to - that is an answer to prayer in itself. He confirmed that my case is in APPROVED status, and furthermore that my monthly check was mailed out on OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH.

I don't believe this is a 'coincidence'. I believe it is restoration, an answer to prayers made with faith in the name of our risen Savior. To God be the glory and honor and praise, forever.

Obedience is what He asks. Blessings are on the other side of Obedience.

Ready to Go Again!

The infection is gone, and I have a nice pretty green t-tube in my left ear. Tomorrow morning first thing I'm calling the clinic to see when I can get back in for an infusion. I'm also taking MTX again and I have high hopes that the combination of the two drugs will work. There are so many Sarcoid and RA patients that are reporting positive results on this combination.

In the meantime I fell down the stairs and got a stress fracture on my left foot. The foot doctor said I have so much inflammation in my feet that he wants to fit me with permanent braces on both ankles. I have a 'healing shoe' on my left foot to immobilize it, and a temporary brace on my right ankle. I have to admit the brace makes my ankle feel more stable and better. Maybe it will help me not to fall again too!