Refining Silver

I have a new friend in my life, one who feels like a gift to me already. She hosted a ladies Christmas lunch yesterday, to which I was invited. It was obvious she had poured herself into the preparations: the food choices were incredible and delicious and the table settings were pretty and fit for a queen. The company of women who love Jesus and enjoy one another's company was precious to me.

I had to leave early to go to work. As I did, she walked me to the door, gave me a big hug, invited me back for dinner and handed me a gift: a flower pot filled with more edible goodies, tied with a ribbon off of which dangled a Christmas ornament.

My new friend, Jodi, could not have known the significance of that ornament to me! But I want to share it here now, with you, along with a story I have saved for several years. The ornament is a visual reminder to me of the truth of the story. How incredibly special to me that the ornament itself is a ribbon wrapped gift.

I pray that the story and the picture of my new, treasured ornament soaks into your heart with the truth of His love for you!




Refining silver: author unkown

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"




I pray that your celebration of Jesus this Christmas is filled with joy, hope, wonder and love, ringing with praise for who He is and what He has accomplished for you, and that you reflect His image to those around you, and to Him!

Merry Christmas! With love,
Deb