Refinement

I am back in the USA! Yahoo! I am looking forward to sharing some about Jamaica. However today something is on my heart.

I spoke with a friend about God's refining process in our lives yesterday. It seems when God convicts the heart all you can do is either cry in remorse or fall to your knees in submission. He is always refining but some days "we" are not available or compliant with the process. The process is usually trials and testings

My life is not my own. I have learned this very clearly over the years. God sees a finished product in me that will ultimately be accomplished in heaven. However, I have a work here and a life that needs to witness of God's glory.

We did a short devotional each night with some mission team members from Kentucky, while in Jamaica. One of the men introduced us to a booklet entitled 3:16 by Max Lucado. In the booklet,(incidently there is also a complete book) I was brought to tears of the visual of my filthy, ugly, unrighteous heart that Jesus swapped with me and held its ugliness on the cross. It is when I think of the ugliness that I see my Father God "sand paper" or "fire" refining and purifying my life for use by him. I may have Grace in Jesus but my life is going to show it and He will make it happen, and we will get uncomfortable.

If you truly have Jesus in your heart there is no peace with sin in your life. Daily convictions and processes will bring your life ultimately into submission to God's will. The length of time is up to your obedience.

Refinement of gold is very methodical. The development of Karats is based on the amount of pure gold in a product. 24karat gold is pure gold-100% vs. 18karat gold which is 75% gold. Guess what Karat God wants you to be? Honey, he wants us to shine, shed light, attract, and bring desire to know Him. Our lives are to work for the salvation of others, like I said, "My life is not my own." And guess what, girlfriends? Yours isn't either. I am sorry that the process is painful but maybe so we don't forget and our faith will be strong.

The Refining Process:

1 Peter 1:7-9 (The Message)

6-7 I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.

I love you my friends. So glad to be home!