I received this story in my email and I hope that you enjoy it!
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remem ber that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Am I a Fireman Yet?
I love this story! I'm not sure who wrote it! I wish I could give the author credit, I hope it encourages and inspires your day!
hugs,
Keri
Am I A Fireman Yet??
In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6-year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible, the leukemia would see to that. Nevertheless, she still wanted her son's dream to come true.
She took her son's hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?'”
“Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up”
Mom smiled and said,” Let’s see if we can make your wish come true”Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob and explained her son's final wish. She asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you’ll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They’re all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was even videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a firefighter in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We will be there in five minutes, will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to h is room?” About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy' s room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him, held him, and told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief, am I really a fireman now?"
“Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand” the chief said.
With those words, Billy smiled and said, “I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and The angels have been singing” Then closed his eyes one last time.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing”1 Thessalonians 5:11
hugs,
Keri
Am I A Fireman Yet??
In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6-year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible, the leukemia would see to that. Nevertheless, she still wanted her son's dream to come true.
She took her son's hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?'”
“Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up”
Mom smiled and said,” Let’s see if we can make your wish come true”Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob and explained her son's final wish. She asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you’ll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They’re all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was even videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a firefighter in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We will be there in five minutes, will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to h is room?” About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy' s room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him, held him, and told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief, am I really a fireman now?"
“Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand” the chief said.
With those words, Billy smiled and said, “I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and The angels have been singing” Then closed his eyes one last time.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing”1 Thessalonians 5:11
Friday, August 15, 2008
Catching Up and Breathing Again
I haven't posted in months. I was talking to my dear friend, Lorilylee, yesterday and catching up and we talked about our webshots pages and the online bible studies and the online friends that we have got so behind on keeping up with.
But life takes so many twists and turns and my life fell apart... I know Jesus has been watching over me the whole time. It just hasn't always felt like it...
My husband and I were separated in January. We felt that we were done with our marriage and filed for divorce. In March as we were negotiating for the custody of the children we found as we started talking again that we had both been praying we really wanted to be the people God wants us to be....whether we were together, married or not, we were praying that we would be he parents that we are supposed to be, that God would help us to be strong for our kids and to always be kind to eachother as friends and as parents to them. We started counseling and got back together in June and we are working hard to put Jesus first and serve eachother in our relationship. I receive daily devotionals from a web site called Proverbs 31 and received a devotional today called "Cultivating a Beautiful Marriage" written by Micca Monda Campbell I posted on her blog ideas about how my husband and I have been rebuilding our relationship and realized I should share here what I shared there, so here is part of what I wrote in her comments section:
One thing we have been doing because of our counseling together is called "the penny game." We each have a jar and when we do something that makes the other feel loved, affirmed or special in some way we get a penny. As we put the penny in the jar we have to say why our spouse is getting the penny. It often results in lots of giggles, kisses and hugs and has been a really fun way of saying how we feel to and about eachother.
We have also made a commitment to spending quality time every day. We have been doing this by holding hands or hugging and praying before he leaves for work in the morning and doing a devotion or reading something together and talking about it before bed.
The other thing that we did was to take an outing to the dollar store. Each of us were assigned to search for something that in some way represented our spouse to us. I gave my husband "superman" stickers... saying he is my hero and he is stuck with me :) My husband bought me a pooh bear chalk set. He said that Pooh bear represents Christopher Robins greatest treasure and that is what I am to him and the chalk represents my artistic nature. We were both so touched by eachother's gifts even though they only cost $1.00. They meant so much more!
May God help us to love and treasure and encourage eachother always!
hugs, Keri
But life takes so many twists and turns and my life fell apart... I know Jesus has been watching over me the whole time. It just hasn't always felt like it...
My husband and I were separated in January. We felt that we were done with our marriage and filed for divorce. In March as we were negotiating for the custody of the children we found as we started talking again that we had both been praying we really wanted to be the people God wants us to be....whether we were together, married or not, we were praying that we would be he parents that we are supposed to be, that God would help us to be strong for our kids and to always be kind to eachother as friends and as parents to them. We started counseling and got back together in June and we are working hard to put Jesus first and serve eachother in our relationship. I receive daily devotionals from a web site called Proverbs 31 and received a devotional today called "Cultivating a Beautiful Marriage" written by Micca Monda Campbell I posted on her blog ideas about how my husband and I have been rebuilding our relationship and realized I should share here what I shared there, so here is part of what I wrote in her comments section:
One thing we have been doing because of our counseling together is called "the penny game." We each have a jar and when we do something that makes the other feel loved, affirmed or special in some way we get a penny. As we put the penny in the jar we have to say why our spouse is getting the penny. It often results in lots of giggles, kisses and hugs and has been a really fun way of saying how we feel to and about eachother.
We have also made a commitment to spending quality time every day. We have been doing this by holding hands or hugging and praying before he leaves for work in the morning and doing a devotion or reading something together and talking about it before bed.
The other thing that we did was to take an outing to the dollar store. Each of us were assigned to search for something that in some way represented our spouse to us. I gave my husband "superman" stickers... saying he is my hero and he is stuck with me :) My husband bought me a pooh bear chalk set. He said that Pooh bear represents Christopher Robins greatest treasure and that is what I am to him and the chalk represents my artistic nature. We were both so touched by eachother's gifts even though they only cost $1.00. They meant so much more!
May God help us to love and treasure and encourage eachother always!
hugs, Keri
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Ninety DJ Blocks
My new numbers ar 90 blocks, 21 triangles, 3 corners and 2282 pieces! I have to make ten more blocks to reach the next benchmark and become a "Jubileer" on the DJ List. Today I will be making pumpkin and apple pies and choosing which project on the "to do"list that I can work on and perhaps finish for this week. The mystery swatch quilt is all sandwiched and ready to quilt, maybe I can work on that... The pies are for our after the home game party on Friday night. If the boys win the football game they will get to go to the playoffs. :)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Last week's progress and This Week's Commitment
I had trouble getting photos to post last week so my posts are a little behind :) Here are the DJ blocks that I finished last week :) my new numbers are 86 blocks,21 triangles, 3 corners, 2215 pieces.
my five things for my CTL this week are to
1)make my NJQS block (finished 10/23)
2)make four DJ Blocks: E-13, F-1,F-12 and F-13 (finished 10/24)
3)finish one of the quilting "to do's" that are on the list
4)Clean the carpets and keep the house clean for Friday's after-game party
5)Do my daily devotional reading ON TIME! and finish "Knit One, Kill Two" what a super book :) (finished KOKT on 10/22)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Ice Cream Cake
Ice Cream Cake Recipe
One 9"x13" cake
Two boxes of ice cream
One can of frosting
Make your favorite cake in a 9"13" pan
(grease and flour the sides for easily removal from the pan)
Once cooled, place it in the center of your serving platter.
Make sure that you have space in your freezer!!!
Now is the time to make sure! Place the cake in the freezer
for a while till chilled.
Take the cake out of the freezer along wih a
box of your favorite ice cream and soften it slightly.
Any flavor will work it just needs to be in a box.
Cut the box of ice cream in half lengthwise so you
have two rectangles of ice cream. Place each half
of the ice cream on the cake. Trim the cake so the
sides are even with the ice cream and then place it
back in the freezer while you work on the next part...
Take another box of your favorite flavor ice cream
(just a plain one like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry-
no mixed in things like nuts, chips etc...) and put it in a
mixing bowl, a stand mixer works best. Whip the ice
cream until it is a nice frosting like spreading consistency.
Remove the
cake from the freezer and pour and spread the
ice cream so it completely covers over the tops and sides and
is nice and smooth. Work quickly and then put the cake, again,
back in the freezer.
After a few hours you can remove the cake from the freezer and use a decorator tip and pipe the frosting around the edges of the cake as desired, then put it back in the freezer until 5-10 minutes before serving time.
slice and ENJOY!!!
The cake in the photo did not get its finished picture taken... I put some mini chocolate chips on top and ran to my sons football game! They won "Yay!" and our friends came over to celebrate afterwards and then...it was gone :)
One 9"x13" cake
Two boxes of ice cream
One can of frosting
Make your favorite cake in a 9"13" pan
(grease and flour the sides for easily removal from the pan)
Once cooled, place it in the center of your serving platter.
Make sure that you have space in your freezer!!!
Now is the time to make sure! Place the cake in the freezer
for a while till chilled.
Take the cake out of the freezer along wih abox of your favorite ice cream and soften it slightly.
Any flavor will work it just needs to be in a box.
Cut the box of ice cream in half lengthwise so you
have two rectangles of ice cream. Place each half
of the ice cream on the cake. Trim the cake so the
sides are even with the ice cream and then place it
back in the freezer while you work on the next part...
Take another box of your favorite flavor ice cream
(just a plain one like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry-
no mixed in things like nuts, chips etc...) and put it in a
mixing bowl, a stand mixer works best. Whip the ice
cream until it is a nice frosting like spreading consistency.
Remove the
cake from the freezer and pour and spread theice cream so it completely covers over the tops and sides and
is nice and smooth. Work quickly and then put the cake, again,
back in the freezer.
After a few hours you can remove the cake from the freezer and use a decorator tip and pipe the frosting around the edges of the cake as desired, then put it back in the freezer until 5-10 minutes before serving time.
slice and ENJOY!!!
The cake in the photo did not get its finished picture taken... I put some mini chocolate chips on top and ran to my sons football game! They won "Yay!" and our friends came over to celebrate afterwards and then...it was gone :)
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