Friday, March 10, 2006

Shaped for Glory

During the Great Depression, a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his precious wife. The only thing he had left was his faith – and it was weakening.

One day he was combing the neighborhood looking for work. He stopped to watch some men who were doing the stonework on a church building. One of these men was skillfully chiseling a triangular piece of rock. Not seeing toward the top of the building and said, “See that little opening up near the spire? That is where it goes. I am shaping it down here so it will fit in up there.”

Some of you are going through troublesome times. You may be experiencing some personal problems, or some heartbreaking sorrow. Or perhaps you are enduring some painful physical illness. Or it may be something else-maybe even too excruciating to talk to anyone about.

The blows of the hammer and chisel hurt. Does it really hurt?

But hold on to your faith. These difficulties will not get you down. They are only temporary. Glory is coming. Just keep in mind – it is the harsh blows to the outward man that often bring the greatest strength to the inner man. Keep praying, keep believing. The Master has to do some shaping of us down here so we will lift in up there.

Psalms 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

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Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Humble - Seek My Face

DL Moody used to say, "You can always tell when a man is far from God - he is always talking about himself, how good he is. But the moment he sees God with the eye of faith, he is down on his knees, and like Job, he cries, "Behold, I am vile."

This may not an easy realization to come to - to see that while we may be morally clean we are vile in our own righteousness.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This verse particularly dealt with the humility in each of us. With hope that the part in us which He created from his own image reflects its way back to Him. How gracious is He to give us all the means to get back to our destine path no matter how stubborn we had become. It was very simple, God only needs us to acknowledge and to seek Him just as a father needs from his son. I do believe that if we humble our selves before God that makes us ready to be blessed by all His grace.

GoodNite!

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