http://GodsAnvil.com A metaphor for God shaping us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:56:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en When we are grasping for lifelines, when we are in tears, when we feel that our lives are unraveling, in those very moments when we most need the Lord to intervene and change our lives the most dramatically we often make the statement "Take it away Lord!"  In the ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/12/take-it-away/ I have to be honest, there have been times the weight of my trials have just brought me to tears before God. What about you? If we are all honest we can likely say yes.  Then there are those times we refuse to cry because perseverance is the ability to ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/12/what-perseverance-isnt/ Perseverance-the ability to withstand the trial we are now facing, and the ability to face the trial we are about to endure, while remaining steady in our faith.  Is perseverance something that happens to us, or something we become capable of doing?  I am going to borrow an acronym from ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/09/perseverance/ When we are enduring a trial we need to remember that it isn't about the suffering it is about what we gain.  WHAT?  What an odd thing to say.  What we gain from the suffering?  "How do we gain anything in suffering" is most likely what you are thinking right ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/08/it-isnt-automatic/ Have you ever held something in your hand and hit it with a hammer? You feel the blow of the hammer, every vibration.  The hammer holder always feels every vibration of the hammer as it hits it mark, even if what the hammer is hitting isn't in their hand.  This ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/07/the-hammer-holder/ Whenever we go on a trip we get so excited, we plan ahead, we make all the arrangements, we talk about it for weeks, sometimes months.  We tell others about it, we pack ahead of time, we might even buy new things to take along.  For those few days leading ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/07/coming-home/ I am packing my luggage today to go on a trip.  I can only fit so much in one bag, and I only have so many bags to put my things in.  Then I will need to be able to carry whatever I take with me.  Then we face the ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/06/167/ When we swing a hammer and hear that ping ping ping, we know we are hitting the mark.  Those times we hear a thud, a hallow sound, and when it hurts, we know we have missed the mark and need to re-aim the hammer.  Why?  Because the only one who ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/05/changing-the-sound/ Ping ping ping ping THUD.  Over and over the hammer falls, hits its mark, and a sound is heard.  The sound that is heard depends much on what material the hammer is hitting.  Have you ever built anything and listened to the hammer as it hits the nail, then misses?  ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/04/the-sound-of-the-hammer/ For us "When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left." (Luke 23:33 )  Next "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."" (Luke 23:34 )  Those around ... http://GodsAnvil.com/2009/04/for-us/