The refiner's fire..!

Some years ago a group of women were praying for one of their friends who though a spiritual and religious person was going through trying and difficult times.
"Instead of feeling God's comforting hand on me, I get the feeling God is pushing, shoving and hurting me!" she cried.
The other women tried to comfort her and then continued studying religious verses till they came upon one which said, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in the group and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said a woman in the group, I'll go to a silversmiths shop and watch what he does!" The others agreed that that was the best way to find out what the verse meant.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason or 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!"
The lady excited beyond measure rushed back to her friends. She went up to the friend who was going through problems, held her tight and told her, "How lucky you are, God is working on you, He is refining you so that His face will finally shine through you!"   
And so with all of us:
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.!
    
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The refiners fire..!

Some years ago a group of women were praying for one of their friends who though a spiritual and religious person was going through trying and difficult times. Instead of feeling Gods comforting hand on me, I get the feeling God is pushing, shoving and hurting me! she cried. The other women tried to comfort her and then continued studying religious verses till they came upon one which said, He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. This verse puzzled some women in the group and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. Ill tell you what Ill do, said a woman in the group, Ill go to a silversmiths shop and watch what he does! The others agreed that that was the best way to find out what the verse meant. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didnt mention anything about the reason or 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, thats easy, when I see my image in it! The lady excited beyond measure rushed back to her friends. She went up to the friend who was going through problems, held her tight and told her, How lucky you are, God is working on you, He is refining you so that His face will finally shine through you! And so with all of us: 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.! [email protected]