Malachi 3

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"...

Monday Morning Inspiration

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. T hey spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fin e view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

Joseph Prince

A normal church Sunday, A commonly heard message, yet an impact that affected nearly 6000 people. Why? Joseph Prince has a gift to capture the passion of God's grace for us

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world

Jesus was punished for our sins so that we dont have to. (Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...)

Joseph illustrates with help of his youth pastors how a Priest in the old testament would not look at the person who had committed a sin. He knew why he was there. The priest was more interested in the Lamb or Goat, looking for blemishes. This animal represented purity, without sin, just as Jesus represented us. He then laid hands on the animal and transferred the purity and sin. The animal now posessed the sin of the person and was burnt as an offering and God's Holy wrath was upon the animal. The Priest then looked at the person and raised his hands as a sign of blessing and freedom to leave, imparted with God's Holiness.

God cannot try us for our sins as Jesus has paid the price for it. In law Double Jeopardy means a crime committed cannot be tried twice.

When God looks at us, He sees Jesus.

Galations 2:20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Since we are not perfect and we do still sin, Romans 8:1 only comes into play once we have sinned, and we can be free to know that God will not condemn us. Does this mean we are free to sin because we know the truth? No, because we have learnt the truth, this motivates us not to sin.

In the end, God gives us a choice to how we live our lives. We have the knowledge, its what we do with it that counts... What are you going to do with it?

waffles, waffles, waffles, waffles, waffles, waffles, waffles, waffles

So I thought since I have a waffles website, I might as well put something on here to make you drool all over your keyboard...

Something to ponder on....

To put the world right in order,

we must first put the nation in order;

to put the nation in order,

we must first put the family in order;

to put the family in order,

we must first cultivate our personal life;

we must first set our hearts right.

Waffling

I have come to conclusion that this is something I have perfected rather well.... thus thought it to be a somewhat relevant blog name.

Do not fret, I will occasionally write something of significance, such gems are a rare find, so treasure them when you read them!!

Watch this space...