Archive for the ‘Others’ Category

Here, before Your altar,
I am letting go of all I’ve held
Of every motive, every burden,
Everything that’s of myself.
And I just wanna wait on You my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are.

Beautiful, beautiful oh I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful oh Lord, You’re beautiful to me

Here in Your presence,
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash Your feet with humble tears
Oh I would be poured out till nothing’s left.
And I just wanna wait on You my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are, who You are

Beautiful, beautiful oh I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful oh Lord, You’re beautiful to me

Holy holy holy You are You are….

By Kari Jobe

Whatever do you mean, “I love you”?

What does “I love you” mean? Is love a feeling?

God doesn’t ask us if we feel like loving. He tells us it’s our responsibility to love-a husband is to love his wife (Eph. 5:28). When we obey, the feeling will follow. But if it doesn’t, God’s agape love gives even when it gets nothing in return.

Rekindle God’s agape love in your heart through prayer and reading His Word. Love is an art. Learn it. Help it grow and flourish. “Pursue love” energetically and consistently without waiting for it to happen to you (1 Cor. 14, 13).

Selfless Love
Selfishness is the root problem of most marriage, family, parent/teen, and business troubles. Ego-driven people who haven’t learned to be selfless can’t develop love. The “do your own thing” philosophy leads to a culture of individual rights and demands. But love does not seek its own way. It cares about others and is excited to see loved one’s needs met.

Agapé love meets others needs with no expectation of anything in return. Friendship love (Phileo) says, “We work in a marriage on a 50/50 basis. I give 50, my spouse gives 50; that makes 100.” But in hard times, 50/50 isn’t enough. Agapé love says, “I’ll give 100% even if I get nothing in return.” Christ died on the cross for the world’s sin when He could expect nothing from the world.

Our Responsibility to Love
What if you don’t feel anything anymore? If romance is to survive, each partner, by an act of will, is to practice agape love in response to God’s command. More than 1 out of 2 couples get divorced, saying, “We don’t love each other anymore.” When they’re Christians, that’s saying, “We will not do as God commands.”

Agapé love is the one solid basis for marriage. The husband, according to God’s command, is to seek his wife’s well being-whether she deserves it or not. The Bible says to love because it’s God’s command. If you don’t get anything in return, that’s not your responsibility. Your responsibility is to love.

If two people become estranged, it only takes one agapé lover to revive the relationship. No one can withstand selfless love over a long period without responding. God’s sacrificial love does not ask, “What does she do for me?” but, “What am I doing to give myself to her?” Our world needs Christians who will share God’s love.

If you obey God, He will honor that. The message to the Ephesian church that lost its first love was: “To recover your love, here’s what you do. ‘Go back and do the first works.’” To recover the lost love in your marriage, go back and do the first works.

What was it like when there was love? How did you treat her then? What’s different now? Did you ever bring her flowers, or show your love in a tangible, out of the ordinary, way? Go back and do it again.

Love is an action, a response. When you respond, the feeling may not be there at first, but it will come. Feelings follow actions; actions don’t follow feelings. I don’t wait for my feelings to get right before I study or do the things that take discipline. Do first and the feelings follow.

Husband, if you aren’t loving your wife and responding to her, don’t wait for the feeling to come back. It may not come back, yet you are disobedient. God says to love her. In an active, open, tangible way, demonstrate your love to her.

Encouragement to Love
So, how am I supposed to love? Ask God to fill and control you with His Holy Spirit, to give you a Spirit-controlled life, because only then can you love the way 1Corinthians 13 tells you to love.

Love outlasts anything. It stands when all else falls. When the flower is off the physical relationship, the loved one is sick and can’t take care of himself, I’ve watched the partner love that person with a selfless, sacrificial love. What an encouraging witness!

Human love fails, but God’s agape love never fails.

by David Jeremiah

Being Faithful with What God has Given You

When I was in the fifth grade, I wanted the lead role in our school play, but the teachers didn’t choose me. Nevertheless, I imagined that the girl who got the lead wasn’t going to be able to play the part, and the teachers would have to pick me after all. I dreamed about it and I enjoyed playing that part in my mind. But it didn’t happen that way.

I was dreaming about playing the role, but I wasn’t preparing; I wasn’t learning the lines or memorizing the steps. If the teachers had called on me, I wouldn’t have been able to play the part.

God doesn’t want us to merely sit around dreaming about things we can do and be. That’s a good place to start, but a poor place to stop. God wants us to turn our dreams into action. We all have untapped gifts and talents inside us, and the way to develop our potential is by stepping out in faith and making the most of every opportunity.

It’s not how much you have, but it’s how you use what you have that matters. Are you making the most of the gifts and talents God has given to you?

God is not moved by excuses.

He’s not inclined to help us when we feel sorry for ourselves. No, God is moved by faith. When we step out in faith and use the talents He’s given us, we show that we trust God, that we believe He will bless our actions and cause us to succeed.

Sometimes God presents opportunities that look insignificant, or rather ordinary. Perhaps you don’t see how they fit into the big picture for your life. But if God is asking you to do something, He has a purpose for it. You just need to be faithful, and when you’re diligent in handling the little things, God can increase and promote you to larger responsibilities.

Years ago, Joel was working in the television department at Lakewood Church, and his father, John Osteen, was the senior pastor. One day, the woman who did “Daddy’s” hair and makeup for the television broadcast decided to leave. The stylist’s departure was on such short notice, we couldn’t find anyone to replace her. So guess who got the job?

Joel’s dad said, “Victoria, would you fill in until we can get a replacement?”

I was in a quandary. I wanted to help, but I had no professional training in doing hair and makeup. Nevertheless I said, “Okay, I’ll do it. If you trust me with your head, that’s good enough for me.” Pastor Osteen was brave. That’s all I’m going to say.

He liked the way I did his hair, and I didn’t mind doing it. I loved Joel’s father as my own. We were so close; he treated me like his daughter.

But it was a huge commitment because I had to be at the church for every televised service. I remember one weekend, my mother’s side of the family was having a reunion in Georgia, and I really wanted to go because I knew it would be so much fun. But I thought, I can’t go. I have this commitment. Daddy’s depending on me to do his hair. So I called my family, and said, “I’ll not be at the reunion.”

A few of my relatives said, “I cannot believe Victoria just does Pastor Osteen’s hair and makeup. I think she should be doing something more important.”

Those comments hurt my feelings and tempted me to look at what I was doing in a negative light. But the truth of Scripture kept reminding me, “If you’ll be faithful with the little, God will make you ruler over much.”

Obviously, we could have brought in a professional hair-stylist and make-up artist to take over my duties, but Pastor Osteen felt comfortable with me. So I did my best to serve God by helping Daddy to look good on television. I now realize God was teaching me so many lessons during that time. He was teaching me about commitment, self-discipline, and sacrifice, sticking with it even if I didn’t want to, even if there was something more exciting going on somewhere else, even if I couldn’t see where my mundane service position was leading me. I prayed, “Father, if this is what You have for me, and this is what You want me to do, I’m going to be the most faithful person You can find.”

How do you show God you’re willing and able to handle more?

By being faithful with what you’ve been given. You may think you’re working at some meaningless job, or you’re just raising your kids, or you’re doing something that seems ordinary, it’s not exciting; you can’t see where it’s leading you. Let me encourage you to be faithful. Stick with it. Give it your all. Keep a good attitude, and God will increase you. If you will be the best that you can be right where you are, God will promote you and give you more.

Understand that those silent times—those times when God is doing something in your life that doesn’t seem to make sense—those are times of growth. God is working on your character. That’s when God is preparing you, and if you’ll be faithful and pass the test, you’ll be ready for promotion.

Many people are not willing to go through the tough times. They’re not willing to stick it out. They’re not willing to use their talents for God when their efforts go unnoticed. Some people don’t use their gifts and talents because they’re in a negative circumstance. Maybe they don’t like the job they’re in. Or they’re constantly around people that they dislike.

So they’re sitting back waiting for God to move them and give them another opportunity, to put them where they can more easily use their gifts and talents. Then they’ll have a good attitude and do what God has told them to do. But the Bible teaches us to make the most of every opportunity, not just when the circumstances are fun and exciting. No, we have to use our gifts and talents no matter what situation we’re in.

I think about Joseph. He was sold into slavery. If anybody had a right to have a bad attitude and feel sorry for himself, Joseph did. But Joseph realized that God had placed leadership qualities and administrative skills in him, so he continued to develop his potential in spite of his negative circumstances. He was falsely accused and thrown into prison, but he kept using the gifts God had given him, even there. Joseph did the right things although wrong things were happening to him. Before long, Joseph was promoted to be in charge of the entire prison, and because of his persistence and his discipline, he continued to rise to the top, eventually becoming the second highest official in the country of Egypt.

The Bible says that your gifts and talents will make room for you. That means if you’ll stick with it, be persistent, and continue to use what God has given you, those gifts will cause you to move forward and help you to make progress in your life. You will rise to the top.

You have a deep well of talent on the inside of you, but the only way to get that talent up and out of you is through persistence. You must be determined. You’ve got to learn not to embrace the obstacles but embrace the opportunities. When we stay with it and do our best, listening to God and learning the lessons that He wants us to know, He’ll draw those deep talents out of us.

One of my husband’s greatest gifts is persistence. He is not afraid to embrace the opportunities that are in front of him. When Joel worked in the television ministry at Lakewood Church, he was faithful. He worked with excellence. Joel did the right thing and he did it the right way, even when no one was looking. During those 17 years of serving behind the scenes, God was testing him and proving him. And because of Joel’s faithfulness, persistence, and dedication, God promoted him. Now, God is bringing out Joel’s deeper talents.

God wants to do something similar for every one of us. He wants to bring out the talents we don’t even know we have, and He wants to give us a greater opportunity to be of service.

But our untapped talent and potential will lie dormant for a lifetime unless we’re willing to get busy where we are right now, doing what God is showing us to do. We can’t just sit around waiting for the big opportunity, dreaming about all the wonderful things that God wants to do in our lives. No, we need to invest our talents wisely right now.

If you have a desire to sing, join the choir. Don’t sit around and wait for a major recording company to sign you up to some big deal. If you have a desire to teach or to minister, join the Children’s Ministry. What better impact could you have than to teach children the goodness and faithfulness of God?

Our nine-year-old son, Jonathan, loves to go to Children’s Church because of Mr. Ed. No, Mr. Ed is not a talking horse. He draws. He uses the gift that God has given him to draw Bible stories. No telling what doors God is going to open for Mr. Ed.

Use what God has given you; make the most of every opportunity. And remember, if God is placing an opportunity in your path, He’s given you the ability to do it. No matter how big or how small your talent, if you’ll be faithful and invest it for Him, God will bless and increase you.

VICTORIA OSTEEN

Every person has things they’re believing for, situations they want to see changed, and dreams God has placed in their hearts. But sometimes, we try to figure out how it’s all going to happen. If we’re not careful, we’ll put God in a box and try to tell Him how to do it, when to do it, and where to do it. Today’s scripture tells us that God’s ways are not our ways. They are higher and better than our ways.

If you don’t get your way, if things don’t happen on your timetable, instead of getting discouraged, why don’t you believe that God has something better in store? Just because it doesn’t happen your way doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Remember, God has a plan. He’s got it all figured out. Don’t limit Him by trying to get it done your way. Instead, simply say, “God, I’m trusting You. I know You have my best interest at heart. And even if I don’t get my way, I’m going to stay open and believe that You’re still directing my steps into the abundant life You have for me.”

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, I choose to trust You. I cast my cares on You. I give You my plans, dreams, and desires for the future. Thank You for working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your peace as I wait patiently to see Your plan unfold. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in Utah. Brother Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules.

 Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson’s class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.

 One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, “You think you’re pretty tough, don’t you?” Steve’s answer was, “Yeah, I do.” Then Brother Christianson asked, “How many push-ups can you do?” Steve said, “I do about 200 every night.” “200? That’s pretty good, Steve,”

 Brother Christianson said. “Do you think you could do 300?” Steve replied, “I don’t know… I’ve never done 300 at a time.” “Do you think you could?” Again asked Brother Christianson. “Well, I can try,” said Steve.

 ”Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,” Brother Christianson said. Steve said, “Well… I think I can… yeah, I can do it.” Brother Christianson said, “Good! I need you to do this on Friday.”

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren’t the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.

 Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend. Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, “Cynthia, do you want a donut?” Cynthia said, “Yes.” Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?”

 Steve said, “Sure,” and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia’s desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, “Joe do you want a donut?” Joe said, “Yes.” Bro. Christianson asked, “Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?” Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.

And down the second aisle,till Bro. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companion- ship. Then Bro. Christianson asked, “Scott do you want a donut?” Scott’s reply was, “Well, can I do my own pushups?” Bro. Christianson said, “No, Steve has to do them.” Then Scott said, “Well, I don’t want one then.”

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn’t want?” Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, “HEY! I said I didn’t want one!” Bro. Christianson said, “Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it.”

 And he put a donut on Scott’s desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

 Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, “Jenny, do you want a donut?” Jenny said, “No.” Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?” Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

 By now, the students were beginning to say “No” and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

 Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn’t bear to watch all of Steve’s work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely.

Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room.

When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.

Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Bro. Christianson, “Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?” Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, “Well, they’re your pushups. You can do them any way that you want.”

And Bro. Christianson went on.

 A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, “NO! Don’t come in! Stay out!” Jason didn’t know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, “No, let him come.” Bro. Christianson said, “You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him.”

 Steve said, “Yes, let him come in.” Bro. Christianson said, “Okay, I’ll let you get Jason’s out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?” “Yes.” “Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?”

Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve’s arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, “Linda, do you want a doughnut? Linda said, very sadly, “No, thank you.”

Bro. Christianson asked Steve, “Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?” Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. “Susan, do you want a donut?” Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, “Bro. Christianson , can I help him?” Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, “No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?”

 As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. “And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.”

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on “I can’t,” because the Word says: “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on fear, because the Word says: “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on doubt and a lack of faith, because the Word says: “God has dealt to each one [every person] a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on weakness, because the Word says: “The Lord is the strength of My life” (Psalm 27:1) and “The people that know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on the supremacy of Satan over my life, because the Word says: “Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on defeat, because the Word says: “God always causes me to triumph in Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on a lack of wisdom, because the Word says: “Christ Jesus has become for me wisdom from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on sickness, because the Word says: “With His stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) and Jesus “Himself took my infirmities and bore my sickness.” (Matthew 8:17)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on bondage, because the Word says: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) and “My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on worries and frustration, because the Word says: I am “Casting all my cares upon Him who cares for me.” (1 Peter 5:7)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on condemnation, because the Word says: “There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) I am in Christ, so therefore I am free from condemnation!

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on loneliness, because the Word says: Jesus said, “I am with you always, even till the end of the age [forever].” (Matthew 28:20) and “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on curses or bad luck, because the Word says: “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for me: that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the gentiles [that's me] through Jesus Christ: That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on discontent, because the Word says: “I have learned in whatever state (circumstances) I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on unworthiness, because the Word says: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on confusion, because the Word says: “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) and “We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on persecution, because the Word says: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on the domination of sin over my life, because the Word says: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on insecurity, because the Word says: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:24-26)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on failure, because the Word says: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on frustration, because the Word says: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on fear of the future, because the Word says: “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.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” (1 Cor 2:9-10)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess or focus on troubles, because the Word says: Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Lord, I feel…..

Beaten…yet
You have made me more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

Bound….yet
You are my deliverer (Rom 11:26).
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ”The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
Confused….yet
You are my counselor (Isa 9:6).
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
A failure….yet
You have made me an overcomer (1 Jn 5:4).
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith

Fearful….yet
You did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, andof a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Friendless….yet
You are a friend who sticks closer to me than a brother (Prov 18:24).
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
In darkness….yet
You are a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet (Ps 119:105).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Lonely…..yet
You promised never to leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5).
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you.”
Misjudged….yet
I’m accepted and approved by You (Eph 1:4).
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Poor….yet
You supply all my need according to Your riches in glory (Phil 4:19).
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Sick….yet
You are the Lord who heals all my diseases (Ps 103:3).
…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Troubled….yet
You are my peace (Jn 14:27).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you asthe world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Unclean….yet
You are the purifier and refiner of my life (Mal 3:3).
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify theLevites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will havemen who will bring offerings in righteousness,
Vulnerable….yet
You are my strength and my strong tower (Ps 18:2).
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.
Worthless….yet
You see me as a pearl of great price (Matt 13:46).
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.