I am the metal, YOU are the blacksmith! Mold me & Shape me.

I am loving our Wednesday night sermons at church lately. I mean I always love them but I am really loving them right now. Preacher Bingham has been preaching on sowing and reaping. Amazing lessons and sermons I tell ya! Tonight, he talked to us about the topic again and he brought up the fact that God is molding us into what He needs us to be. He also talked about God drawing our attention to His precious Son by letting our flesh go through things here on earth. He mentioned several verses but this one stood out to me...

John 8: 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

This verse is often misquoted as ... the truth shall set you free.... but the word make brings on a whole different meaning. To "make" something be a certain way can only be done if that something is taken through a process just as we are as Christians. We are like a piece of metal being heated in the fire, beat with iron, and cooled down in water and Jesus is the blacksmith who is molding us. This repetitive process molds us into what He would have us be in order to bring glory and honor to His name. Beautiful picture isn't it?

I also thought of this verse which some of you might recognize at the bottom of all my emails:

Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

He truly is refining and purifying me and I truly praise Him for that!

October 7, 1962 .... Salvation Sermon ... W. B. Bingham II

Here are the sermon notes that our pastor gave today from his father's sermon on Salvation back in 1962. This was the year that my pastor was saved. I loved these. Enjoy!

To understand Salvation you must realize:

What Salvation Is Not:
1. reformation (meaning you have to get everything perfect in your life before you can get Saved.)
2. confirmation (you have to confirm your reservations to Heaven yourself, no one else can do it for you.
3. just information (you can miss Salvation by 18 inches... the inches from your head to your heart.)
4. not a demonstration (you have to be true and you can't just put on a show and "act" like you are a Christian.)
5. a denomination (as long as you are Saved by Jesus Christ and believe that God sent Him to die to pay your ransom, it doesn't matter what denomination you are or how well you represent that denomination.)

What Salvation Is:
1. A change of mind
2. Repentance towards God
3. Faith in Jesus Christ
4. When you agree with God about all He's said about you and about Himself
5. A new walk (We are new creatures in Christ!)
6. A commitment of Faith in Jesus Christ alone

You Should Be Saved Because:
1. Of the increasing power of sin (sin is more present everyday and can harm you more each day.)
2. Of the present influence of sin (no one will go to hell alone, they will have to drag someone down with them.)
3. Of the expanding penalty of sin (we are all closer to death today than we have ever been.)

My pastor added the following:

3 circles of Salvation:
1st circle is the circle of despair that we are walking in before we get Saved.
2nd circle is the circle that we move to which turns opposite of the 1st one and that we walk in after we get saved.
3rd circle is the the circle we will merge into when we get to Heaven

A Memorial For A Saint... Ruth Bell Graham

In Memory of One of God's Finest!

Please join me in remembering Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Evangelist Billy Graham. My Mamaw Brittain thought the world of Rev. Graham and had supported his ministry for years. I have developed a love of him as I have followed his ministry in her absence. The moment that I truly knew this was a worthwhile ministry is when as a 14 year old girl, I wrote to let them know of my mamaw's homecoming to Heaven. I was sent back a personal letter of comfort along with various materials to help my family through that hard time. The Billy Graham Ministry is one of true value. If you haven't visited it's website, I encourage you to do so. I also encourage you to go to the site and read about Mrs. Graham. I promise this ministry will touch your heart. Also, please help me keep the Graham family in Prayer. Mr. and Mrs. Graham had been married for 64 years, you can imagine how hard it will be for him.

Billy Graham Tribute to Ruth Graham on the Occasion of her Death
"My wife Ruth was the most incredible woman I have ever known. Whenever I was asked to name the finest Christian I ever met, I always replied, ‘My wife, Ruth.’ She was a spiritual giant, whose unparalleled knowledge of the Bible and commitment to prayer were a challenge and inspiration to everyone who knew her. "

(from the BillyGraham.org)