The Silversmith

"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel."

- Proverbs 25:4

Dross noun /dros/draws/

1. : The scum that forms on the surface of molten metal

2. : waste or foreign matter : IMPURITY

3. : something that is base, trivial, or inferior

With that said, I have a story I found that I would like to share with you.

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi.  As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three 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 the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver 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 so 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 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. For 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 the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it." 

Most of you may have already heard this story before as it's quite popular over the internet. I personally just found it for the first time the other day when I was looking up silversmith pictures to do this blog, but I loved it so I thought I would share it with you :) 

So lately my biggest prayer for my life is for myself to solely be a vessel for God. That's all I want. I want to be free of myself and my desires and to take the term vessel to a literal level, I long for God to speak to others through me and take all of the glory of His works for Himself. I want to be able to throw off any praise I may get for Him using me. But that's much easier said than done. 

You may have noticed the verse at the very beginning of this post, but if not here it is again, "Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel." - Proverbs 25:4. 

What is dross? If your like me that's the first thing you ask haha. So I of course googled it, because as we all know that's the trusted source of just about every teen in America. The Webster's website then informed me that all three of it's possible definitions suited this verse beautifully. First there was, "The scum that forms on the surface of molten metal." Well that just sounds nasty, but it makes sense. God removes our scum, God removes our yuck that we have floating on the surface, the grime that no one else would touch. Yeah, our God cleans that stuff. It's like Dirty Jobs, God Edition. Bet you Mike Rowe wouldn't stand a chance at that one. 

2nd definition of dross, "waste or foreign matter : IMPURITY" I kind of love the fact that impurity is in all caps and I'd like to point out that so far these definitions are disgusting. Waste or foreign matter.. we're ALL thinkin it, yuck. But hey, God doesn't care, He cleans us and loves us when no one else will. He takes away the impurities so that we can be vessels for Him. I feel like these impurities go so much farther than your "big" sins. Big sins being drinking, smoking, sex, even cussing. Impurities go deep. Impurities can be the slightest grain of evil that no one else will ever see. They're your jealousy, your greed, your desire for fame, even your lack of trust in God. He can clean us of all of that and use us. That just excites me.

3rd definition, "something that is base, trivial, or inferior" I take base to mean the lowest point of something, trivial to be something of little importance, and inferior as something of little or less importance. This one is a lot harder to explain.. I feel like in this instance, dross isn't a wrong that's being described but rather, your image. We've all heard people talk smack about others, we've all seen "Christians" that don't act like it, I know that you can think of at least one person whom you've judged, or maybe you are the judged. Either way God doesn't care, He longs to clean us and make us vessels for His work. No one is any less valuable to Him and with that said no one is any more valuable to Him. Just look at Jacob, he was certainly flawed, he deceived his father into giving him his brothers blessing. But even after the lying and wrong doings God cleaned him and made him a father of nations. 

"He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross..." - Malachi 3:3

God will sit and watch over us as He refines us, although it may be painful He has His eye on us. He knows when to take us out of the fire. God will never put you through anything that you can't handle. 

Dear God,

Refine me, remove the dross from my life. I don't care what it takes, I want you to see yourself when you look at me. God take me and USE me, I long to be a vessel for you. Help me to start a revolution, I want to win the world for you Father. Make me a light in this dark world, consume me like a fire. Use me to start another Great Awakening, use me to change the world. 

Love,

Rachel

"I wanna set the world on fire, until it's burning bright for you. It's everything that I desire, can I be the one you use?" - Britt Nicole 

a-MAZE-ing

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.

- Mark 16:15

So if you talk to me semi regularly you should know about "my little project" I have in one of my classes, we'll call him Todd. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Todd is in one of my classes and is what he believes to be, stuck in a gang. His life story breaks my heart into pieces and ever since the day he told it to me he's been my personal mission. I gave him a bible and some other things and was really encouraged when he began reading it immediately after I gave it to him. I have seriously never seen someone so excited to have a bible or just SOMETHING that is their own. Well yesterday Todd informed me that he went to church on Sunday, take it this didn't just happen over night, it's been weeks since I gave him his bible. But seeing God move in him in that way, that's a HUGE deal. So today in study hall I got all of my work done and pulled out this amazing little devotion book that Slayton is letting me borrow and i flipped it open to the "God Speaks Through You" lesson, which is basically all about having the strength to share your faith to anyone and everyone because you have God backing you up. Well literally while I was reading this lesson and looking up the verses in my bible Todd starts talking about partying and stuff like that. Well I made a comment that I just don't party at all and he seemed so shocked at this, he's at a point where he thinks that the only thing that can make you happy is partying and doing drugs or drinking. This kills me. So I told Todd all about how I don't need to party because I have more joy than I ever had in my entire life because of Jesus and was trying to explain to him the kind of pure joy that God can give you. Unfortunately Todd isn't there quite yet but I just thought it was awesome that God showed me that lesson literally seconds before I would need to use it. God is good. This blog isn't intended to be a "oh look at me" kind of thing, this is me trying to give praise to the Almighty God who has our backs and knows exactly what we need to say to make a difference. This is to reach out to all of you for prayer for my new friend. It would mean so much to me and I'm sure Todd as well if you would help me in lifting him up in prayer. I love that boy, I want more than anything to see him love Jesus and watch God rescue him from his circumstances. I want to help him through this maze of a journey before him. 

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that i may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

- Ephesians 6:19-20

Trust Fall

"Those who know your name will trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."

- Psalm 9:10 

  

Ok so lately I've been reading Crazy Love by: Francis Chan, and I know most people just fly right through it because it's SUCH an amazing book, but I'm trying to force myself to take my time and really soak it up. Anyways, the other day I read this part about trusting God. I know we here that all the time, there's so many sermons and stories of God's provision. But have you ever really thought about it? 

Just think about examples, like Abraham, He trusted God with the life of his son Isaac, whom he'd waited so many years for before God fulfilled his promise. He trusted Him enough to take him to a mountain to sacrifice to the Lord. I wish I could say that I would be able to do the same but when I honestly think about it I know I'm too selfish.. But, God didn't let Abraham down, He stopped Him from killing Isaac and saved good ol' Abe from looking insane. 

Think of Noah and his ark, Noah spent years upon years building the ark God asked him to build for the flood. Everyone thought he was crazy and persecuted him but Noah stuck with it, and in the end who survived? exactly. 

Let's move onto Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They went into a FURNACE, because they had faith that the Lord could save them. Keep in mind that this furnace was hotter than anything you and I have ever felt. The guards who threw them into the furnace died from the heat as they threw them in.. In the words of Paris Hilton, That's Hot. But in all seriousness that's some strong trust. To willingly be thrown into what should be certain death with that much faith.. But again God pulled through and saved them, leading the King to believe in their God.

Francis however points out the "what if"s. What if God hadn't stopped Abraham? What if God hadn't sent the flood? What if God had let Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego burn? Well for starters Abraham would look like a completely psycho murderer and would have to somehow cope with burying his dead son who died at his hand. Noah would be mocked and disgraced, and the three boys would die and the king and his followers would be much less likely to ever know God. But, God DIDN'T let them down. When you put your faith in Him He will never ever let you down. How awesome is that?

"In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame."

- Psalm 22:4-5

Another question Francis proposed was "What are you doing right now that requires faith?" I took this question very literally and started thinking of anything I might be doing that was seriously requiring faith. Let me tell you it wasn't near enough. All I could come up with was my unset future, that terrifies me you guys. I know in my heart that I'm being called to church counseling, but I know nothing about it. I don't have a clue where I'm going for the first time in my life and I'm horrifically excited. But I'm not gonna lie and say "Oh yea I have no worries at all I know God's got me!" I mean, I know He's got me and won't let me fail at what He's calling me to do, but it's so hard not to worry about it. So that's what I'm working on..

This, "What are you doing right now that requires faith?" question made such an impact on me that I texted it to Tyler, his immediate response was "Breathing." Wow.. I never even thought of it that way, and I know that this might be a scatter brained blog tonight but I'm just so excited about it! Breathing. Do you realize how complicated the human anatomy is? It's miraculous that we even function at all. All of the tiny things that have to go right for you to live are astounding. Francis Chan actually talks about that in one of the first few chapters but it had slipped my mind until Tyler said that. BREATHING! God orders every single breath you take, He knows every beat that your heart is making to keep every blood cell of your body on task. If He wanted He could stop it all, we are completely at His mercy. I'm not trying to be scary, our God is such a compassionate merciful God, especially considering the way we treat Him. I mean gracious my life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" I know I've blogged about that one but it clearly states that He wants the best for us. It's in writing people. Why is it so hard for us to just let go and trust Him completely?

Like Jake said this Sunday in His sermon, why do we keep our little red wagon of things God isn't aloud to have? It doesn't even have to be "big sins" like some people would call it, God HATES sin, no matter how great or how small. Worry is a sin. How odd does that seem to a nation that is filled with worry? But it's true, the only option is to trust Him entirely. He won't let us fall. 

This week let's just try it, just "sample it" if you will, let go and just trust fall into His arms. I'll be praying for all of you this week to trust in Him and for Him to show you something amazing in return. This doesn't exclude myself, I can't wait to see what He shows me this week as I free fall into Him. :) 

"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

-Psalm 32:10

With A Heavy Heart... In A Good Way.

Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

-Romans 8:14

"This is the story all about how my life got flip turned upside down, and I'd like to take a minute just sit right there" to tell you all about Jesus and the power of prayer. Yea I DEFINITELY just put the Fresh Prince of Bel Air lyrics in here in the most cheesy way ever haha butttt it's me :) besides you know you love my little ending. Anyway, this morning God showed me something, well I wouldn't really say showed me so much as slapped it into me, but either way it's there. So at our wonderful church there is a wonderful girl. I don't even know this girl's name but I see her every week, this girl is an amazing Christian. Every week she sits alone but she praises Jesus, she lifts up her hands and just lets go, she dances and sings at the top of her lungs and she is truly in love with God. Well today during "Lead Me To The Cross" she started crying, and I saw this. I'm the kind of person who when I see someone crying I have an instant need to hug them, but I rarely embrace this need unless I know the person. Well this morning it was more than a need it was an absolute must. I told Allie and Jenni about my need to hug this girl and they kind of chuckled at me because it's definitely not the first time I've made a statement like that. The next thing I know I'm sliding past Allie and into the aisle. "Ok God, what are you doing? Where am I going?" My steps were more firm then I think they've ever been in my life. I had no idea what was happening, I was completely out of control just on total auto pilot. I was not the one moving my feet, and the whole way there I tried to make myself stop, but I couldn't, I had NO idea what I was doing!! So all of a sudden I'm standing next to this girl praising alone and crying at this pew and I just told her that I really felt led to hug her and she immediately turned and gave into me. As I stood there hugging her she cried into my shoulder and something was set off inside of me. My heart felt like it had just been hit by a truck. I told her she was more than welcome to come sit with us and she told me that she might do that, but to my dismay she never did. But it still doesn't change the weight that is laying on my heart. For the rest of the day I've felt this intense.. pressure almost, but not a bad pressure just like this heavy.. thing on my heart. It's more physical then a broken leg, I can literally feel it resting inside of me. I started instantly struggling with what this meant for me, never before have I felt something like this, a pull this strong. I think I've realized that that's what I need to do. That's what God wants my life to be. I feel so led to the church and ministry that just I know that somehow that's what I need to do. I have no idea what exactly it is, just that it involves Him. Which is exciting and frightening at the same time. Since I was 3 years old I knew that I wanted to be a veterinarian. I've always had a passion for animals so what better way to express that passion than through being their doctor and saving their lives? All my life my parents and I have set a path to shape me and better me to reach my goal. Everything I've done in my life has been to prepare me for that. But now, just today, all of a sudden, that's been shaken up. In one day 13 years worth of planning and so called knowing have been flipped upside down. I have no idea what I need to do or be anymore. All I know is that I have a love for all people, I love EVERYBODY. I also love helping people, I love helping them figure out their problems and working through it with them, I love being a loyal and steady rock that people can turn to. But most of all, I love telling people about Jesus. I know now that somehow I need to satisfy all of these traits, and I don't know how to do that yet. I was talking to Camilla earlier and used the term "God Guidance Counselor" I think there would be no job more incredible for myself than to be able to listen to people and help them through God's word. I don't even know if there's a job like that out there for me, but I would love to find out. Yes I've already thought about Guidance Counselor In A Private School and I just don't think I could do that.. I don't think I could be in a school because I have no desire to be an authoritarian for kids other than my own, I just wanna be there for them, I just wanna help guide them. I don't know, you can rest assured that there will be much thought and prayer on this, Centrifuge you could not be coming at a more perfect time. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me and for Millbrook this next week but I know in my heart that it's gonna be incredible. :) 

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

- John 16:13

Apple Of My Eye

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Proverbs 7:2&3

Lately I find myself worrying and thinking more about people than I do about God. This is definitely a no no. Although I may be facing struggles that require I good bit of prayer and attention, the last thing I need to do is lose sight of the only one who can save me from it all. I keep getting so frustrated with myself because as the days go bye, all I'm thinking about are people. I'll catch myself doing these things and shoot up a prayer but then I'm right back at it. I wish someone would just grab me and tell me to "STOP WORRYING!" It's like no matter how many times I blog about worry and giving it up to him, I still have issues with it. But you know what? That's ok. I'm not perfect, nobody is. Jesus was the only man to ever be completely perfect and free of sin. So it's ok to worry, and it's ok to lose your way every now and then. What I haven't been doing however is guarding His teachings, I keep letting them slip my mind or forgetting what He's already taught me and find myself having to relearn. I found that verse about keeping his teachings as the apple of your eye today and it caught my attention. Well I started studying it but when it really made an impact was when I read this little insert in my study bible that talked about how much we take care of and protect our eyes. Our entire bodies are equipped to protect your eye's center, the pupil, from harm. Your eyelids reflexively snap shut at the smallest hint of danger, your tear ducts are ready and constantly cleansing any irritiation that may approach and nerve endings are able to send alerts at just the slightest pain or pressure. God wants us to keep and protect His word and teachings as you would your eyes, in other words, guard His "teachings as the apple of your eye." 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

So say you don't have any of His teachings yet, that's ok too, after all you gotta start somewhere :) If you desire a relationship with God all you have to do is love Him. Treat Him like you would any relationship your in, take time to get to know Him, come to Him when you have a problem, and most of all trust him. God desires nothing more than to make YOU the apple of HIS eye. 

What we've learned today: Just because you've already learned something doesn't mean you should stop studying it and learning it over and over again. Don't let go of lessons God has shown or put you through, guard them in the apple of your eye.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

Take A Step Back

So I know it's been a while since I've posted, you'll have to excuse that, I've just gotten so busy! But no worries I'm back now :) haha I got the idea for this blog on Mother's Day actually and I'm JUST now getting around to it...

Most of us travel through life worrying about ourselves, our lives and those of the ones we love. We become so wrapped up in ourselves that we're focused on only our path, about how something effects us or what's going to happen to us. Yes those things are important, but that's not looking at the big picture. The way I've come to see it lately is that God is weaving one giant tapestry, the most ornately beautiful sight you could ever behold. Well in His tapestry each one of our lives is a thread. As humans we're zoomed in, all we can see is our thread and the threads closest to us. We are unable to grasp the entire picture. God has woven all of us together for a reason, we are where we are for a specific reason. But if we were able to just step back and look at His design, we all need each other. The design is so intricately laced that each one of us is connected somehow. God just never stops amazing me, everywhere you look people are connected in some way, and when it comes to it they're a support system. God wants us to have relationships, we are designed to do so, but that design goes so much deeper, because God knows before someone is even thought of their exact life. But not only does he know every detail of what that person will ever go through or feel, He knows every detail of what a person who interacts with that person or knows that person will go through or feel. Even further, He knows exactly what they'll need from each other, and everyone else ever to touch their life, and he choreographs their paths to intersect at exactly the right time. How HUGE is God?! I'm telling you I will never be able to wrap my mind around such enormity. So I guess what I'm trying to get at is, when you start to get self absorbed, where all you can think about is what's happening to you and what you're going through, just step back. Step back and just trust Jesus, I promise you He's got this. He knows what you need and even though you're not always gonna like it, and it's not always gonna feel good, "It's for you're own good." haha I know everybody's heard that one before. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.... 

Psalm 62:8-10

Poison Control

So I know I've already done a post on the dangers of anger, but I saw this on a friend's status the other day and it hit me at a really important time for me right now. It said:

"Being mad with somebody is like drinking a strong poison but expecting them to die"

It's not that I'm angry, I'm not mad at all actually. But I feel like we can substitute any bad feeling or emotion into that. For me it's jealous and wanting to be better and wanting them to hurt too and bitterness and wanting to win. But you know what? That's so un-Christian-like of me. All those feelings are is poison. They eat you from the inside out and destroy you. When you harbor feelings like that it hurts you just as much, if not more, than whoever it is your opposing. So why even feel them at all?

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every other form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

- Ephesians 4:31-32

Well we all know it's never an easy task to be nice to someone who is nothing but terrible to us. We will never have the same heart that Jesus has and be able to love someone so unconditionally and harbor no hate or bitterness. But we can try. I've had so many instances this week where I've found myself full of bitterness and rage and then just recently a sense of.. defeat.. Like I've failed. I hate all of those feelings, they hurt to be inside my body. So I started my bible quest as soon as my bible and I were reunited and as always it didn't disappoint. As soon as I flipped it open I was led to Jesus talking about Judas. Even though Judas betrayed Him in the most terrible of ways, Jesus still died for his sins, and for the sins of all of us. Jesus never felt hate or bitterness towards Judas or throughout His entire situation. That fact makes me step back and look at myself a little more. I am SO selfish to have bitterness inside of me. Who am I to judge another or hate? God is the only rightful judge. How hard does that hit? For me it hits pretty dang hard. I always find myself judging people I don't even know and I shouldn't.

Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

- Leviticus 19:17&18

I don't know about you, but it's hard to completely forgive somebody of something horrible. If a friend stabs you in the back, how hard is it for us to forgive and love that person? That's really hard to do. I'm not the kind of person to hold grudges against somebody just because of something a person has done to me. But if you mess with my family or say something bad about them, it's all over in my mind. I will never look at someone who does that the same way and I'm learning that that's the wrong attitude to have. Revenge, although it may feel like such a desperate need, is not the right way to go. God said that we're not to "seek revenge or bear a grudge" but that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. That is so hard for me you guys, I'm struggling so hard with it, but I'm praying about it. I'm trying to get to a place where my heart is completely free of malice. Malice, according to good ol' dictionary.com, means the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seatedmeanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.

I think it's safe to say that we've all had a time in our lives when we've wanted revenge. Maybe not in the physical sense, but you just want the person who has wronged you to feel some sort of pain, like the pain that you've endured. I may be wrong, but I feel like most people have been there. I mean you already know that I have haha so basically from here on out I am going to stop and catch myself anytime I feel bitterness or a desire for malice, and I'm going to remind myself of this post and the verses within it. Let's look at this one last time just to wrap it up,

"Being mad with somebody is like drinking a strong poison but expecting them to die"

I'm done drinking the poison. Are you?