Pray for me to have hope

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2007/mariels827.htm

Mariel,

My heart goes out to you. I will pray for you, but I want you to know that you are not alone in your struggles. I believe God is refining us in His fires so that we are close to Him for His soon arrival. Hang on!! Don't lose Hope! The refiner is very near during the refining process and won't let the heat go on for one more minute than is necessary for His divine purposes for us.

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He [is] like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap.


Rev 3:18	I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;

I too have been struggling and wondering at the meaning of it all. But, recently the Lord answered and told me to "begin to praise Him for my struggles and difficulties and setbacks". Just give it ALL to Him and actually THANK HIM for them!

1Th 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I was reminded of the horrors that Corrie Ten Boom endured after obeying the Lord in her life. The Nazis threw her into a concentration camp. When they discovered lice in their crowded bunks, Corrie's sister reminded Corrie to Give Thanks in ALL things. Corrie begrudgingly did. Later they discovered that the soldiers were afraid of the lice, so their bunk rooms were the only place where they were free from their torturers and free to read the bible and worship and pray.

When I thought of all the horrors that Corrie went through, and thought of my own delimas they paled in comparison. I realized I had much to be grateful for. God had a divine purpose for Corrie Ten Boom. She did not stay in those retched conditions (hell) one minute longer than God wanted, when she was suddenly released through a clerical error, one week before women her age were to be exterminated.

God once told me "There are no accidents in my children's lives." Nothing.....absolutely Nothing happens to us by accident. God has a purpose in it, although we do not understand.

But I did find peace and even a sense of hope again, when I did what the Lord said to do "Give Me thanks for your all troubles." I hope this helps you.

Sister, judging by world events as the world speeds toward fulfillment of end-time prophecy, its clear that we are not long for this world. The hour of our suffering is nearing an end.

1Cr 2:9

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Rom 8:17

and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him], that we may also be glorified together.

Have You No Scar?

by Amy Carmichael

Jesus speaks to us:

Have you no scar? No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear you sung as mighty in the land.
I hear them hail your bright ascendant star.
Have you no scar?
Have you no wound?

Yet, I was wounded by the archers, spent, leaned me against the tree to die,
and rent -- by ravenous beasts that encompassed me
I swooned.
Have you no wound?
No wound? No scar?

Yes, as the master shall the servant be,
and pierced are the feet that follow Me,
but yours are whole.
Can he have followed far -- who has no wound? No scar?
Can she have followed far -- who has no wound? No scar?

Believers can survive refining fire


Rev 2:8	"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
Rev 2:9	"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 2:10	"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev 2:11	"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'


Rev 3:7	"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":[fn3]
Rev 3:8	"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;[fn4] for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Rev 3:9	"Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Rev 3:10	"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 3:11	"Behold,[fn5] I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Rev 3:12	"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Rev 3:13	"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

He is a refiner's fire, and that makes all the difference. A refiner's fire does not destroy indiscriminately like a forest fire. A refiner's fire does not consume completely like the fire of an incinerator. A refiner's fire refines. It purifies. It melts down the bar of silver or gold, separates out the impurities that ruin its value, burns them up, and leaves the silver and gold intact. He is like a refiner's fire.

It does say FIRE. And therefore purity and holiness will always be a dreadful thing. There will always be a proper "fear and trembling" in the process of becoming pure. We learn if from the time we are little children: never play with fire! And it's a good lesson! Therefore, Christianity is never a play thing. And the passion for purity is never flippant. He is like fire and fire is serious. You don't fool around with it.

But it does say, he is like a REFINER'S fire. And therefore this is not merely a word of warning, but a tremendous word of hope. The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction.

When Christians suffer for doing right, sin is happening to them. But 1 Peter 3:17 says that sometimes God wills that this happen. He does not endorse or approve sinning, but he can and does will that sinful acts come about for his own holy designs. When Christ was murdered on the cross, it was sin, but God willed that it happen: "It was the will of the Lord to bruise him" (Isaiah 53:10). And by that will we are saved.

Joy Through the Fiery Test of Genuine Faith :: Desiring God

Maranatha!
Deborah
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