A Refiner's Fire

A Refiner's Fire
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, March 17 2008
"For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap." - Malachi 3:2b
The Lord has a specific manner of preparing His people for useful service. God desires to turn His children from rough, hard-edged stones into gems of gold and silver.

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years" (Malachi 3:3-4).

The refiner's fire can only accomplish its purposes when the heat is turned up to extraordinary temperatures. It breaks down the metal in order for it to become moldable and shapeable. Only when the temperatures reach this level can the work be fully accomplished. So it is in our lives.
Until the Lord completes His refining process, the offerings we make are not made in righteousness and cannot be acceptable. Thank God that Jesus is our righteousness and that there is no righteousness apart from Him. Still, the Lord continues to purge all that is not of His righteousness out of our lives. This comes through trials that bring each of us to the end of ourselves in order that He may only reflect that which is Himself.

When God takes you through the refiner's fire, be encouraged because it is His overriding commitment to turn you from a rough, hard-edged stone to a precious metal. He will do this through certain events in your workplace, your relationships, and other circumstances in your life. Our job is to avoid trying to blow out the fire.

Birthday Boy Ogot Turns 60!

Meet our March celebrant, Augusto "Kuya Ogot" Jacobo.

Kuya Ogot turned 60 last March 5, 2008, and confesses that he does not feel any older. Well, he doesn't look that old anyway. Try playing tennis with him and you'll see!

Friends and relatives are blessed by the great transformation that is evident in Kuya Ogot's life. He is a walking testimony of our Lord's goodness. A true and caring friend to everyone; generous, humble, thoughtful and loving: this man truly shines!

Kuya Ogot, continue to shine and be a blessing to the people around you.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!