“I will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.” ~ Zechariah 13:9

I watched someone on a home improvement show a few weeks ago, refinishing a bathtub. I learned this lesson: prep-work is everything, otherwise the finish won’t last. And you know how they prepared it for the glaze? Acid. Acid eats away at the finish that’s already there, and “etches” it so that the glaze has something to “grab on to”.

Acid. The prep-work can be painful, but the finished result will be worth it. Hang in there; press on.

…..

“every good and perfect gift … comes down from the Father of lights” ~ James 1:17

I saw a dog recently, on the TV show, “The Dog Whisperer,” that was afraid of squeaky toys. It was pitiful. And his owners had a home-based business making and selling ~ would you believe? ~ dog toys. The poor thing’s life was one constant nightmare. Cesar, of course, helped him.

But I wondered, are there things in our lives that God meant for fun, for pleasure, that we shy away from?

…

“Receive My instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.” ~ Proverbs 8:10

I once heard someone say that in any passage of Scripture, there is something to make me say, “Wow!”; something to make us say, “Yeah!”; and something make us say, “Hmmm….”

I like that.

…

“you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” ~ 1 Peter 2:9

Did you ever think about how a member of the Royal family is raised? The heir apparent knows he will be king someday, and everything about his upbringing is different. It’s always in the back of his mind what’s proper, what’s expected. He never forgets who he is.

Do you forget, sometimes, who you are?

…

“Only be thou strong and courageous.” ~ Joshua 1:7

You know what the weather forecast has been for this week in my area? 97, 99, 101, 99, 96… I read that, and then I read the following verse, and I realized that this was for me, and the two were connected. The heat makes me cranky, frustrated, and unproductive. It might not be that way for you, but I need to be strong and courageous.

God’s Word, and the weather. Together. Love it.

….

“the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” ~ 2 Samuel 7:2

David wanted God to have a beautiful house, because David had a beautiful house. What do I want to give to God, because He gave it to me?

What have I done for Him lately?

…

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills ~ from whence cometh my help?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” ~ Psalm 121:1

Looking up into the hills implies that one is in a valley. And the solution may not be what we want, and it may not be when we want, but we can be assured of His help.

Lift up your eyes.

…

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works” ~ Psalm 139:14

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Stephen King… William Shakespeare and Arthur Miller… Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.. Meryl Streep and Jennifer Aniston… Billy Graham and you… Julia Child and Bobby Flay… Michael Phelps and Wayne Gretzky… George Washington and Golda Meir.

The same, but different, and none are better. Be who you are created to be.

~