Sunday, August 23, 2009

The purifying fire

I started this blog with good intentions last year as a means to communicate more with the significant people in my life. At the time I was pretty much house-bound due to caring for Mom and felt a need for more interaction with my family and friends. Now that has changed, but I still wish I had more interaction with friends and family. Life is so busy and it's hard to take the time to stay in touch as much as would be good. So, I'm going to try once again to share my thoughts here from time to time and hope that those of you who care to read it will share your thoughts back to me.

Since Spring, I have been in a time of stretching and learning more about trusting God than I've ever had to learn before. It's been an extremely painful time but I have learned some valuable things. The things that have sustained me are:
1) to hold on to what I know is true - the truth of Scripture - when I don't have anything else to hold on to
2) the prayers of God's people - a powerful, sustaining and comforting force
3) the knowledge that God will never leave me and that He is sovereign over ALL
4) the assurance that God is always working for my good and His glory and that He can be trusted
5) the love and support of my family and precious friends

Some things I have learned:
1) God is faithful - no exceptions
2) God is working - even when I don't see it or feel it
3) God can be trusted - always
4) Going through the purifying fire is more painful than could be imagined but God teaches me about Himself in it
5) Changing is not easy and takes time
6) We learn more about God in times of suffering than in times of ease
7) My love for the Word of God grows when it's what I am holding on to for life itself
8) My need for sanctification will be ongoing for the rest of my life
9) I am thankful that God loves me personally, individually and enough to work in my life
10) God works to purify and sanctify me because He wants more for me than mediocrity