Standing Inside The Fire

Cassie Standing Inside The Fire
Photo by Uncle "John Arthur Photography"

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech 13:9 KJV)

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She can still be a bit sassy. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as well as she could. Thankfully, God is patient and loves all of his children; continuing always to soften our hearts toward Him that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining then never to step inside those refining fires. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old, we can joyfully say, "The Lord is my God."

For most of her life, I have reminded Cassie to "live life." Life is much more pleasant when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. Focus on truly living life in Christ and you will know joy and peace.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:

Standing outside the fire 

Standing outside the fire 

Life is not tried it is merely survived 

If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires. God is with you even in those fires. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Standing Inside The Fire

Cassie Standing Inside The Fire
Photo by Uncle "John Arthur Photography"

And I will put this third into the fire,
    refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, “They are my people”;

    and they will say, “The Lord is our God.”

                                                    (Zech 13:9 NRSV)

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She is still a bit sassy. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as well as she could. Thankfully, God is patient and loves all of his children continuing always to soften our hearts toward Him that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not always easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining than never to step inside those refining fires. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old, we can joyfully say, "The Lord is my God."

For most of her life, I have reminded Cassie to "live life." Life is not only much more pleasant; but, exciting as well, when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. When we focus on truly living life in Christ, then we will know an abundant life; even while standing inside the fire.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:
     Standing outside the fire 
     Standing outside the fire 
     Life is not tried it is merely survived 
     If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires. God is with you even in those fires. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Standing Inside The Fire

Sassy Cassie standing inside the fire.

photo by Uncle "John Arthur Photography"

"And I will put this third into the fire,
    refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, 'They are my people';
    and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'” Zech 13:9

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She can still be a pretty sassy at times. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as well as she could. Thankfully, God is patient and loves all of his children continuing always to soften our hearts toward Him that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining than to never step inside of those refining fires. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old, we can joyfully say, "The Lord is my God."

For most of her life, I have reminded Cassie to "live life." Life is much more pleasant when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. Focus on truly living life in Christ and you will know joy and peace.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:
     Standing outside the fire 
     Standing outside the fire 
     Life is not tried it is merely survived 
     If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires. God is with you even in those fires. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Leviathan

 Huron Bay the last time Cassie and I went Kayaking together

"In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword—his fierce, great and powerful sword—Leviathan  the gliding serpent,  Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea." (Isa 27:1 NIV)
 

Leviathan, the great sea monster, is mentioned a few times in Scripture. In addition to Isaiah 27, you can find mention of Leviathan in Job 3:8, Job 41:1, Job 41:12, Psalm 74:14, and Psalm 104:26.

 

On the rare occasions that I've found myself out on the lake in the midst of a storm I've thought of God overpowering Leviathan. OK - so they are not rare occasions. It seems like the wind picks up almost every time I am out on a boat (big or small) on a large mass of water. I actually warn people that they should not take me fishing unless they want a storm or their motor to conk out... Others should not take me out with them if they don't want to play with Leviathan, or maybe it's God, out in the middle of the water. I don't mind the storms. I know that the LORD is with me, even in the storms. The rushing wind reminds me of the power of the Holy Spirit. God is big enough to destroy Leviathan. He is big enough to protect me, if that is His will. But, if I'm not up to another storm, I stay as close to home as I can with my kayak...

 

Symbolically, the sea refers to a large number of people. So, for those of you who are big into the Revelation of John, the dragon that comes out of the sea in the book of Revelation most probably refers to the fact that the evil one will come from among the people. "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name." (Rev 13:1) We are not looking for a literal dragon to come out of a literal sea, but an evil that comes from the midst of the people. Revelation is filled with symbolism. Please, do not take it literally.

 

The picture of the evil one may be a bit alarming; but, remember the promise found in Isaiah today: The LORD will slay the evil one in the midst of the people. There may be times when things seem just awful. There may be times when your leviathan decides it's time to play with you. But, know this: the LORD will surely rescue His people. He is our very help in the time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Refining Fires

"And I will put this third into the fire,
    refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, 'They are my people';
    and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'” Zech 13:9

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She can still be a bit sassy. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as well as she could. Thankfully, God is patient and loves all of his children continuing always to soften our hearts toward Him that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining then never to step inside the refining fires of God. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old, we can joyfully say, "The Lord is my God."

For most of her life, I have reminded Cassie to "live life" and most importantly to "live life in Christ." Life is much more pleasant when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. Following in the way that he would have us go and focusing on truly living life in Christ and not so much in the ways of this world and you will know true joy and peace.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:
     Standing outside the fire 
     Standing outside the fire 
     Life is not tried it is merely survived 
     If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires of God. But, recognize that if you find yourself standing in them God is desiring for you to get through them and put them behind you so that you can live life in Christ. God is with you even in those fires. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Standing Inside The Fire

Cassie Standing Inside The Fire
Photo by Uncle "John Arthur Photography"

"And I will put this third into the fire,    
    refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call on my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, 'They are my people';
    and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'” Zech 13:9

When she was younger, I called her Sassy Cassie. She can still be a bit sassy. She, as most of us do, has fought the refining process as well as she could. Thankfully, God is patient and loves all of his children continuing always to soften our hearts toward Him that we might live abundant lives in Him. The refining is not easy on the person that is being refined or on anyone around them. But, it is better to withstand the fiery ordeal of refining then never to step inside those refining fires. It is better to withstand the refining process while young so that as we grow old, we can joyfully say, "The Lord is my God."

For most of her life, I have reminded Cassie to "live life." Life is much more pleasant when we get up and actually experience the awesome life and all the gifts that God has given us. Focus on truly living life in Christ and you will know joy and peace.

Garth Brooks reminds us in his song:
     Standing outside the fire 
     Standing outside the fire 
     Life is not tried it is merely survived 
     If you're standing outside the fire

Do not fear the refining fires. God is with you even in those fires. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Bread Of Life

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NIV

There are an awful lot of people in this world who are hungry and thirsty. It is not just for food or water that sustains the body that they are in need of; but, for the bread of life, who is Jesus the Christ. They are spiritually hungry and thirsty. Yet, they are not sure what it is that will satisfy this hunger or thirst.

It is up to those who believe to bring to them not only bread and water that will sustain their bodies; but, that which will satisfy their hungry hearts and souls. It is up to us to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ that their spirits might be refreshed for all eternity. 

The Kingdom of God is not just for those who believe today; but, for all who would believe.  And, how shall they believe if they have not heard this Good News? According to St. Paul, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Rom 8:17)

May God help us to feed all who are hungry, whether it be for physical or spiritual food, that they might turn and believe and live life most fully in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beside Still Waters

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

He leads me beside still waters and not just figuratively. I have been blessed once again to live by still waters. The photo above was taken by my granddaughter in my new backyard. My last back yard was the mouth of a river. This one is a creek. I have been told that every now and then in the winter, I might see a manatee in this creek. I don't know how true that is; but, looking forward to seeing one, again. A few decades ago, I had the privilege of swimming with them. That, I understand is no longer allowed as they are awesome creatures and must be protected.

I have been most fortunate to live most of my life with a creek or river or even a Great Lake or ocean within at least walking distance of my home. I remember catching minnows for fishing in the creek near my grandmother's home when I was very young.

The waters reassure me of God's many promises to us. They are a reminder that through the waters of baptism our sins are washed away and we are born again. They are also a great reminder that there are some things that human beings cannot control as every now and then God will stir up even the stillest of waters. But, most of all the still waters remind of the peace that can be found only in Jesus Christ. No matter what storms might come; the water reminds me of God's peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J