Dross & Tin

Isaiah 1:25
And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

This verse struck a cord with me when I read it. In fact, in my notes, I asked myself the question, “What is my dross and tin?” You may wonder what in the world dross even is. Dross is all the impurities that separates off of silver when it is refined in the fire. When the silver is pulled out of the fire, all that’s left is pure, shiny silver. We also know that tin is a silver impostor. It is shiny like silver, but it easily rusts. It can put up a temporary front from afar, but upon close inspection & a few storms, you can easily see it is not what it appears to be. And so we as Christians can behave.

The dross in your life is what you’re dragging around with you that prevents you from being all God has planned for you. You know, that stuff you won’t let God have? Part of mine is insecurities from my past. It can be guilt, shame, sin, lies from Satan you’ve bought like they were 10 for $10 at the grocery. Anything that prevents us from being able to reflect the Light of Christ as brightly as we can. Now here is the amazing thing about God and His relationship with us. He wants us to be the purest, shiniest silver ever to reflect His light to the world. Because of this, He will send us through the fire to remove this dross from our lives, and we come out so much better for it. For Him. Proverbs 25:4 tells us, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.” So while the fire is tough, you’ll be a vessel for the finer coming out!

We also need to monitor ourselves for tin in our lives. Tin is those things you do or say that have the appearance of being for God, but really are for yourself. Sometimes this is related to our dross. For example, with these insecurities that the Lord is slowly refining away, I sometimes think I need but actually only want to know I’m doing a good job at fill in the blank. I don’t need to know this. I want to know this to feed my own insecurities so I end up going beyond the extra mile. Not for God’s glory but to hear or feel like I’m doing a good job. That is tin. Paul tells us in several places that we’re to do all things to the glory of God and not for man. I had a lesson on that just this week and am working to throw that tin in the trash, not to be recycled! I praise the Lord for a wonderful friend who sharpens my iron!

What dross & tin is in your life? Are they interconnected? Let the Lord throw you in the fire for a bit and see how you come out for the finer.

What We Need Is Grace

There is a lot going on right now in this world.  Most of it is surrounding being easily offended and being “intolerant”.  What is going on?  You can’t voice your opinion without making people mad, friends unfriending each other on Facebook, or relationships being damaged.  What has happened?  We have disregarded grace along with the One that provides it.

First, we have to receive grace to fully be able to give it.  How do we do this?  Ephesians 2:4-5 and 8-10 reads:

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ, (by whose grace you are saved;)
⁸For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, that any man should boast.  ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.

Here we can see that we receive grace from God when we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  What is faith?  Faith is to have confidence in the testimony of another.  Therefore, to have faith in Jesus Christ, you must have confidence that He is who He said He is – God in the flesh, Redeemer, Son of God, propitiation for our sins, and too many more to list.  If you have faith in Christ then you receive God’s grace.

What is grace?  Grace is unmerited favor.  Let’s take a look at that equation then:

Confidence in the testimony of Jesus Christ = Unmerited favor with God

Pretty simple.

Let’s take this a step further then.  This is the amazing part!  God doesn’t just grant us His grace so we can have eternal life.  He gives us this grace (and love) so we can give it to others.  He expects us to do this and provides us with an unending supply.  Take a look at 2 Corinthians 9:8:

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Also look at Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We can see in both of these passages that God grants us grace so we can abound in it and minister it to those around us.

When we lack in grace, it is because we’re not plugged into The Source, and then we become focused on tolerance.  The definition of tolerance is to accept or endure (someone or something unpleasant or disliked) with forbearance.  Wait!  What?  Tolerance doesn’t change my opinion or view of you or your actions.  I simply keep my mouth shut.  I don’t want that from people, and I don’t want to behave that way toward others.  I want to give and receive grace.

To really see the difference, let’s dig into the definition of grace – unmerited favor.  Unmerited means we don’t deserve it.  I know I have those days that I’m not on my best behavior or I may have views we can’t agree on or I may have some sin in my life that bothers you.  That all makes it unmerited.  What is favor?  Favor is overgenerous, preferential treatment.  Now read the definition of tolerance again.  Which do you prefer?

Now don’t get me wrong that offering grace does not mean that people get a free pass to live with sin in their lives.  A piece, if you will, of that grace is loving someone enough to hold them accountable for their actions.  To see what God sees in them, and challenge them in love to be that person.  That may include calling sin out in their life.  That does not mean you are not offering grace, but rather you want God’s very best for their life. 

Over the past couple years, I’ve had the privilege of having a boss and a friend that has filled this role in my life.  While some conversations are hard to process, I am so thankful for them.  They have seen something in me that I had never saw and challenged me to reach higher, have more faith, trust more, and be bolder.  I am so thankful they didn’t just tolerate me where I was.  I am so much better for it.

Next time someone calls something out in your life, don’t cry for tolerance.  Prayerfully search your heart with God’s guidance to see if they’re not actually offering grace and love through accountability.  It could change your life...and your eternity.

When's Your Expiration Date?

With my job, there is a report I review monthly for the hospitals in our system that shows patients who have readmitted.  Part of that report shows where they went when they left the hospital - home, nursing home, etc.  One of the options, so to speak, is listed as "expired."  At first this bothered me; it felt very impersonal.  I thought, "We're people, not gallons of milk."  However, a couple weeks ago when I was working with the report again, this verse came to mind:

And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

 That got me digging and then I found this verse too:

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth?  Job 7:1

It made me realize we DO have expiration dates.  God has our days numbered and knows exactly how many days we have on earth.  We don't know our expiration date, and that is why it is so important to heed the Holy Spirit's calling when we hear it.  He is calling to each of us to accept Christ.  Are we listening?  Are we heeding His call?

That verse in Hebrews describes what will happen to us.  We will reach our expiration date and then we will stand before judgment.  Not for our works or our own righteousness, for they are but filthy rags before the Lord. (Isaiah 64:6)  God will look for the blood of Christ to be applied to our life, and that's it.  That will determine where we spend eternity - with Him in Heaven or without Him in Hell.

As we wind up this holiday season with Christmas quickly approaching.  Think about that baby in the manger and what He really came for so many years ago.

What a Friend

The past few months have definitely been a testing time.  It is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve had people in your life for several years, and you realize that the relationship you thought was there was not.  It is not reciprocal to the level of care or love you have for them.  I realize I’m not the only one this has happened to.  Everyone has had relationships that have ended up broken, and it stinks.  It hurts, and you have a tendency to want to be not very nice about it.  Well, as my mom always told us growing up, “two wrongs don’t make a right”.  We need to move on and be better.  What I cling to, though, is a very dear Friend that will never leave me or forsake me.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who trust you”.  Isn’t that great news?  If we trust Him, he will never forsake us!  That is so comforting.  Also look in John 15 where Jesus refers to the apostles as his friends.  We have that same ability today – to be Christ’s friend.  If we keep his commandments and read his Word, we are His friend.  What a better friend could one have?

So as you go through the week this week, know that if you trust Him, He will always be with you.  If you haven’t trusted Him as Lord and Savior, why not start today?  It is very simple.  Pray to God admitting you are a sinner and asking forgiveness of your sins.  Then tell Christ you trust Him to be Lord of your life.  That’s all it takes.  After that, find a home church to support you and guide you in your new Christian walk, and take time every day to pray and read your Bible.  After all, you have a new Friend!  You need to really get to know Him!

Have a blessed week!

Trials

Was reading in first Peter today and a little gold nugget popped out at me.  Take a look at this:

Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.1 Peter 1:6-7

Praise God for our trialed or tried faith!  Look at this passage grammatically, especially verse 7.  Our tried faith is much more precious that gold…not just any faith – tried faith.  Faith that has been through the fire and has come through it still bringing praise, honor, and glory to Jesus.  That is the faith that is highly valuable to God, so the next time you go through the valley or a deep trail, just know to stand strong and keep your faith.  When you come through the other side, your faith will be stronger and highly valued by God.

Have a glorious Friday!

Relocating

This past summer I saw this sign down in Nashville, IN.  It really made an impression on me.  I thought, “That’s where I want our camp to permanently reside.  Camp Joy.”  You can see by the sign it's been around for a long time - since the beginning.

At church we learned this acronym:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

To have true Joy, you have to focus on these three things and in this order.  My problem was my Joy was thrown into a word scramble.

For a while (too long), I've been living in camp O.J.  Trying first to please everyone else and finding time for Jesus too, but sometimes he’s second to pleasing everyone else.  There are several problems with this camp, and that’s why I finally decided to move. 

First, you cannot please everyone all of the time.  In fact, there are some people you can never please.  Also, trying to people please is not pleasing to God.  Our primary focus should always be on glorifying Him and knowing Him more intimately.  The extent of our responsibilities to Others is to love them as ourselves, forgive them as God has forgiven us, and extend to them the lovingkindness that God has shown us.

Second, when we try to people please, it always removes Jesus from the top spot.  Thus, JOY turns into OJY or even just OJ.

Thirdly, you cannot eliminate the Y.  Yes, you do need to focus on Jesus and Others first, but you have to take care of yourself.  When you remove the Y, it affects your self-care, emotional health, motivation, and esteem.  Plus, too much O.J. ends up making you very acidic – bitter.  How is that glorifying to God?  How can that be a great testimony to others?  It can’t be, so I knew I had to get out!  Seeing this sign reinforced it.  It was as if God said, “Hey, why don’t you join me again in Camp Joy?  You've been in Camp O.J. too long.”

So here I am slowly moving back in to Camp Joy.  You’d think it would be an easy move, but it’s not.  Bad habits are hard to break, but I’m getting there and asking for continued Grace and Lovingkindness along the way.

Do you reside in Camp Joy or do you find yourself residing in a different camp?  If you reside in a different camp, take a good look in the mirror and start today making the changes necessary to relocate with me to Camp Joy.  I guarantee it will be the best move you ever made!

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads.  They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  ~Isaiah 35:10

Sweet Hour of Prayer

My favorite song is the old hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer” by William Walford.  During these past years and trials, this hymn has not just become my favorite, but it has become who I am – my life’s statement.  Let the words of blind William Walford speak for themselves:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Aren't they wonderfully, inspiring words?  I do believe that with earthly blindness, Mr. Walford was given the gift to see into the throne room of Grace!  Often, when I'm preparing to pray, I like to imagine what the first verse talks about.  I see a strong but grandfatherly figure on a large throne.  He sees small me peeking in from the door, and calls for me to come before Him.  Then, He not only calls me forward, but allows small me to sit up by Him or even in His lap to hold and comfort me like His child as I make all my wants and wishes known.  That is where my soul finds relief...in His all knowing, grace filled, unconditionally loving arms.  Often the vision is so real and comforting that it brings me to joy filled tears.

So often then we as Christians want to jump to the last verse.  "Come quickly Lord Jesus!" we so frequently say.  That day will come soon enough, and personally, if I look at my own job performance as a Christian, it is coming too soon!  I still have much work to do for the Father!  So with that, for now, we need to stay tuned into what verse 2 tells us.  He is trying to engage our waiting souls to bless us.  That word "engage" is an interesting word choice...it is interactive.  Just like a wedding proposal, the groom desires the bride's engagement.  She has a choice, though.  She can accept or decline.  It is the same with us and God.  We can accept His offer of eternal life with Him and His blessings or decline them.  It is our choice.

Also, in that second verse is that word again, twice, that we don't like to hear - wait.  The more trails I face in my life, though, the more I'm convinced that is the key to a deep relationship with Christ.  Wait.  So many verses touch on that...we'll take a look there in a different post.  So wait.  I'll wait for you, sweet hour of prayer.  We should wait and long for our daily time with God because it is truly so sweet.

Here is my simple attempt of sharing worship with you.  Hope it is a blessing.  Listen to the words, not the quality of my voice.

Enjoying Grace

Why did I name my blog Enjoying Grace?  After all, for the first few years of its existence it was called Ponderings.  That was its name without a vision or purpose when I first discovered I enjoy writing and needed a place to put these writings.  Over the past few years I’ve started feeling more of a calling to turn it into something more...a place to share my faith, so I found the need to rename it to reflect more of where I am on my spiritual walk.  Therefore, the blog became Enjoying Grace.

But still why the name Enjoying Grace?  When you look up grace, it has several definitions.  The first one is “elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.”  Well I can tell you, that definitely is not a descriptor of me or my blog, but let’s jump to definitions 4: “a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior” and 5: “mercy, clemency, pardon”.  Now that’s what I’m enjoying!  I am finally enjoying the favor, mercy, clemency, and pardon of My Lord!

I finally learned not to let Satan drag me down with guilt of my past sins.  God does not want that for me or any Christian.  In fact, Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgression from us.”  That is amazing to think about!  God removed my sin as far from me as the east is from the west.  Now, that is far!  It proves that He wants us free from our past, and if we sin now, He sends the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts to repentance.  Even with that, it’s not guilt, its conviction.  They are two completely different things.  Conviction leads to repentance.  Guilt leads nowhere.  2 Corinthians explains it well.  It says in chapter 7, verse 10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

So my message to every Christian is to enjoy the Grace that has been bestowed to you by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Psalm 13:5 tells us, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”  That is what we should do!  When you lose the guilt, it leaves you free to completely love Christ for who He is.  It puts you in a place to truly appreciate what God did for you.  It opens your heart and mind to hear the Holy Spirit’s quiet voice.   It truly is a beautiful place to be!

So if you are a Christian, pray in Christ’s name for the devil’s influence of guilt over past sins to be removed from your life today.  Pray asking for the fruits of the Spirit so you can truly enjoy grace!

If you are not a Christian and feel conviction in your heart to repent and receive Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, pray the following prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.  I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead.  I trust and follow you as Lord and Savior.  Guide my life and help me to do your will.  In your name, Amen.

If you accepted Christ, please let us know so we can pray for your new walk as a Christian.  Also, make sure to find a home church so you have support of other Christians in your life.  The Christian walk is not easy, but it is blessed!