Yes, Annie, we would love to have you. Actually, it gets a bit lonely here sometimes!

True, we are so glad when we receive a special blessing from God, and sometimes we are so happy about what God has done for us -- and we forget our manners, and don't say "Thank You". We serve a wonderful God -- and it is so easy to take Him for granted!

I am going to be away for a week commencing early tomorrow morning. David sometimes comes to join in as well, and hopefully he will come in to keep you company while I am away. I will be travelling home on Tuesday, 23 January, and will be back on line as quickly as possible after that. I will be travelling with friends up to Karalundi, our Aboriginal School, and talking with the staff during their orientation program.

God bless,

Beryl

[quote=Beryl]

This reminds me of the text which reads: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." I have often thought that this "waiting" is not a passive thing where we literally sit on our haunches and "wait." This type of waiting is very busy! You know how it is to watch a waitress "waiting" on people. They never stay still - not even for a minute. Neither does the Christian who "waits" on the Lord. Helping others is waiting on the Lord. Jesus said, "Whatever you do to them; you do to Me."

Thank you, David, for that thought. I have found that intriguing. Yes, we are the "waiters" in the Lord's cafe of good things! And the Lord gives to us plenty to do!

But, do you know what I find just so remarkable? The more I get involved in "waitressing" for the Lord, the more I enjoy my work!

God bless,

Beryl

I like it when you "wait" on me Beryl.

Hey! isn't this a wonderful thought? Just look at this paragraph!

1. We choose to work for Christ - we want to be soulwinners.
2. We realise our need.
3. We plead with God.
4. Our own experience is changed -- our soul drinks deeper.
5. God allows opposition and trials to drive us to the Bible and prayer.
6. We personally grow in grace.
7. We have a rich experience working with Him.

We sometimes think that we should jump from No. 1 to No. 7 -- but God says, No -- there is preparation to be done!
This seeking to serve God in winning souls results in a rich experience FOR US!God knows the best way for us to work.

God bless,

Beryl

Just checking! How is that preparation going? Have you felt that need for a deeper experience yet?

I have just been through a bit of a faith-shattering/faith-rebuilding experience, and I believe that God allows us to experience these down times so that we will cling closer to Him. A friend sent to me a story, and I am going to put it right here:-

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study group 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 so 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"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.


What does God need to do in your life so that He can see His image in you?

God bless,

Beryl

So, then it is true! We ARE expected to "work out our own salvation" -- the Bible tells us so ("continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Phil.2:12)and now we find that confirmed in Steps to Christ.

Interesting! What are your thoughts on this?

-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. NIV

Not in our own strength but God is directing us according to His purpose.

annie

The question is HOW do we work out our Salvation?

The only way I know of is to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and have his life in the place of mine. There is no other way.

So ... yes , I do want to work hard to preserve that belief and connection in my life so that I never lose my relationship with Jesus.

In this old sinful world ... that is a work that I need to do with fear and trembling.

And that is the ONLY way to salvation! You may have noticed that I deliberately did not quote the next verse -- Philippians 2:13 which reads (KJV) "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure".

I like the reading in the Contempory English Version ("The Bible for Today"). It says, "So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him."

To me, that sums it all up. God really is doing all of the work -- our part is to keep being willing to allow Him to work in our lives. Sometimes it is not easy -- we don't like what happens at times, we want everything to be rosy at all times (after all, we are children of God!), and then something comes that "knocks the stuffing out of us" -- we are left bewildered. Where was God when that happened? He needs us to learn that whatever is happening in our lives, He can use that experience to draw us even closer to Him. And that is where we can find real rest and peace.

God bless,

Beryl