Refining Process

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

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I've been living in a swirling cespool of thoughts and emotions lately but I know it's a refining process for God's glory, and I welcome that. "...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." --Romans 5:3-5(NIV)

Lord, thank you for the unspeakable sacrifice you made to save me from my sins! I know that You are always by my side, but sometimes I get caught up in the muck and lose sight of the goal. Please help me to live Psalm 105:4 which says, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV) and keep refining me into the woman of God that you created me to be!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF