Hearthstone - June 2000

Contents
xxx	Volume 15, No. 6	June 2000
	REFINED SILVER While reading the third chapter of Malachi, a woman came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse. "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Intrigued by the phrase, the woman decided to visit a silversmith and inquire about his trade. She went accordingly and begged a local silversmith to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But sir," she said, "do you just sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh yes, madam," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured." The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, "By the way, the only way I know when the process of purifying is complete is by seeing my own image reflected in the silver." —By Debbie Hanson, Project & Environmental Coordinator, University of Arizona, Residence Life

WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS?
	"He shall deliver the needy when he crieth" (Psalm 72:12). Bending down to us in infinite love God says: "My child, how needy are you? What heavy burden is upon you? What grievous sorrow is darkening your faith? What fear of future ill is shadowing your pathway? What spiritual thirst do you want quenched? What barrenness of soul do you wish to have enriched? What do you need this hour? For I will deliver the need." Here's a simple thought: We NEED our NEEDS! To miss a need may be to miss a miracle! —From" "Springs in the Valley" Back to Contents

"But my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:29).

WHAT DID YOU SEE?
	What was it, my Lord, That You saw in me? What cost You Your life On Calvary's tree? Wasn't my eyes, They weren't focused on You. Wasn't my hands They had nothing to do. Wasn't my heart, It was dark, cold and vile. Nor my emotions, They'd been dead for awhile. Yet You looked in my eyes With such sweet, tender love, Put Your hand on mine, And it fit like a glove. You opened my heart With Your warmth, truth and light, Awakening my emotions With all Your glory, bright. What is it, my Lord, You still see in me? May it only be, my God, A reflection of Thee. —Terry Geerdes ©2000 Used By Permission Back to Contents

THE MAN I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
	Across the fields of yesterday He sometimes comes to me, A little lad just back from play — The lad I used to be; And yet he smiles so wistfully Once he has crept within, I wonder if he hopes to see The man I might have been. —Thomas S. Jones, Jr. Back to Contents

HUGS 'N TUGS
By Wendy Greiner Lefko
	Rocks, spiders, and cat food! What do these things have in common? They are all things our 15-month-old daughter has attempted to eat. Fortunately only the cat food was actually swallowed. Yuck! Just about anything Grace can pick up from the floor or the ground finds its way into her mouth. Clearly her taste buds have not developed enough to know Friskies from Fruitloops or spiders from Spaghettios. We can’t comprehend what would possess her to want to eat such "delicacies". We can only hope that as her taste and appetite matures she will be wiser in her culinary choices. Just as Grace’s eating skills lack discernment, so we as Christians, if we remain spiritual babies, often lack wisdom in choosing our "soul" food. Do we seek merely to satisfy our appetite with secular entertainment and activities? Do we crave to keep up with the latest fashion? Do we hunger for the world’s approval? Do we thirst for riches? Are we filling our mind, soul, and body with the things of this world, forsaking the eternal riches in Christ? Or have we progressed in our walk with the Lord to the point where we crave the meat of His word and thirst after righteousness? Do we hunger to know Him better and be more like Him? Are we making wise choices to fill our hearts with things of eternal value that will promote spiritual growth and bring true satisfaction? The world offers "rocks and spiders" with no lasting nutritive value, while God lays before us a feast of "filet mignon" with all the trimmings! May we choose wisely! "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Back to Contents

THE GESTURE OF LOVE
	Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness; blow the rest away. —George Eliot Back to Contents

BUSY LITTLE BEE
	How doth the busy little bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day From every opening flower! —Isaac Watts Back to Contents

BEST OF LIFELINE
By Rev. Larry W. Greiner
	William Borden grew up with abundance and luxury. He was heir to a vast fortune from the giant Borden dairy business. As a youth he was primed for the leadership he would one day assume. In his freshman year at Yale he was challenged by a missionary who was committed to reaching Muslims with the gospel. Samuel Zwemer was a man with a map, charged with facts and enthusiasm, and filled with a passionate love for Christ and the perishing. He voiced the silent appeal of two hundred million people under the sway of Islam. His message penetrated the heart of the wealthy young William Borden. "Who is there tonight who can always see the shadow of the Cross falling on his bank account? Who is there who has the mark of the nails and the print of His spear in the plans of his life? Who has heard the words of Jesus and is quietly, obediently, every day, taking up His cross to follow Him?" Borden committed his life to Christ and, upon graduation in 1909, he announced that he was donating his inheritance to the cause of world missions. He was determined to serve the Lord in China with the China Inland Mission, reaching the Muslims for Christ. He first went to Egypt to study the Arabic language. Four weeks after his arrival, however, he contracted spinal meningitis. Two weeks later he was dead. A message was found scribbled on a sheet of paper stuffed under his pillow: "No Reserve! No Retreat! No Regrets!" In one sense, his longing was never fulfilled. Yet, through his donated wealth and his published biography, he reached millions with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The life of a young man, totally committed to Christ, cut short. Why? Only God knows. God is not concerned so much with the length of one's life and ministry, but with the motives and intents of the heart. William Borden's reward in heaven may be just as great as if he had died an old man on the mission field. He also may have reached more people with the gospel through his death and testimony than he would have if he had lived a much longer life. The important question is: What are our motives and intents of the heart? Are we a man or woman "after God's own heart"? "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Philippians 1:20). Back to Contents

LEGACY OF A GODLY GRANDFATHER
	Written by Betti Lou Greiner in honor of her beloved and godly grandfather, Benjamin L. Reimer, and read at his viewing and funeral in Manitoba, Canada in April 2000. Benjamin's son, Gil (Betti Lou's father), was martyred as a missionary in Panama when Betti Lou was eight years of age. Dear Grandpa, In Hebrews we read about many men and women who lived their lives by faith and went on to their reward in heaven. I see in you, Grandpa, a man who lived by faith. By faith, you raised five children to love, honor, serve and fear the Lord. By faith, you released your eldest son to go into foreign missions and you sent him with your blessing. In 1962, God asked you for another step of faith and again you sent another son to the mission field. You trusted God to direct their paths. For this son (and my father), our Heavenly Father chose him to be the first missionary martyr of Panama. By faith, you accepted this, knowing His way was perfect. Although you may not have understood why, you allowed it to make you stronger. By faith you ran the race God set before you, and you have now received your reward, your crown. You ran strong and tirelessly for so many years; and today you stand before your Creator, reunited with Grandma and my Dad, accepting your reward for living a life of faith. Grandpa, I have so many wonderful memories of times at your home, sitting around the kitchen table eating peanuts, drinking coke, talking, laughing and reading the Bible. You taught me so much over the years, but I think one lesson stands out the most. Whenever we would take a trip or go for a drive, I remember how you would stop the car periodically and take us into the middle of a field to look at the wheat. You would tell us whether it was ready to be harvested yet, or if it was going to be a bountiful harvest for the farmer, or if the crops weren't doing well that year and what implications that would have. You were always teaching us. Or, if you saw some deer, you would pull the car over to the side of the road so we could watch them for a while. You always gave us time to enjoy so much nature around us. Although you kept your final destination as your goal, you made each and every step of the journey exciting, educational and beautiful. Grandpa, you lived your life the same way, making each step of your journey count for eternity. By example, you have taught me to do the same. I will never forget the love you gave me, the lessons you taught me, the faith you shared with me. I love you, Grandpa. Until we meet again, Betti Lou Back to Contents

THE WILL OF GOD
	The will of God will never take you Where the grace of God cannot keep you, Where the arms of God cannot support you, Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs, Where the power of God cannot endow you. The will of God will never take you Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you, Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you, Where the army of God cannot protect you, Where the hands of God cannot mold you. The will of God will never take you Where the love of God cannot enfold you, Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you, Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears, Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you. The will of God will never take you Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears, Where the Word of God cannot feed you, Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you, Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you. Everything happens for a purpose. We may not see the wisdom of it all now, but trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best. —Author Unknown Back to Contents

"And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called
according to His purpose"
(Romans 8:28).

REFINED SILVER

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

By Rev. Larry W. Greiner