JOSHUA TIME 466

Malachi 3:3

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[I've seen this before, but it's a great reminder]

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.

Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that
God is watching over them and, whatever they're going through,
they'll be a better person in the end. May the Lord bless and keep
you.

Remember, everyday is a gift from God - so enjoy your day!

JOSHUA TIME 465

Can you sleep when the wind blows?> >> Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.> He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were> reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded> the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking> havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed> applicants for the job, he received A steady stream of> refusals.>>>> Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached> the farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.> "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little> man.>>>> Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for> help, Hired> him.>> The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to> dusk, and> the>> farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the> wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the> farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired> hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled,> "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow> away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No> sir.>> I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.">>>> Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him> on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the> storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the> haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in> the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were> barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was> tied down.>>>> Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his> hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep> while the wind blew. When you're prepared, spiritually,> mentally, and physically, you have nothing> to>> fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?> The hired hand> in>> the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm> against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of> life by grounding> ourselves>> in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need> to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.>>>> A friend of mine sent this to me today, and I enjoyed it so> much, that I wanted to send it to you. I hope you enjoy your> day and you sleep well.

JOSHUA TIME 464

WHAT MATTERS MOST> > In the mid 1970's, Ed Roberts created the world's first commercially> successful personal computer (PC). He hired a 19 year old named Bill> Gates to write software for him.> > Roberts sold his computer business in 1977 and bought a farm. Seven> years later, at age 41, he entered medical school. Today Bill gates is> the head of the largest computer software company in the world. Ed> Roberts is a physician in a small Georgia town.> > Roberts says, "The implication is that the PC is the most important> thing I've ever done, and I don't think that's true. Every day I deal> with things that are equally if not more important here with my> patients."> > How can we evaluate the significance of our lives? Something deep inside> tells us such a thing cannot be measured by wealth and fame.> > As we look at the apostle Paul's turbulent life, it seems noteworthy> that he approached the end with a peaceful sense of successful> completion. He wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the> race, I have kept the faith." (2 timothy 4:7) Paul looked confidently> not to the world but to "the Lord, the righteous Judge" for approval and> reward (vs 8).> > Since sooner than later we'll face our creator,> Whose gaze pierces through to the heart,> Let's make sure our dreams, our goals and grand schemes> Have Christ in our plans from the start.> > The measure of a life is determined by the Ruler of the Universe.>