what if it's God setting you up for His Glory! Diamonds are known for three things: their hardness, durability and their brilliance.
(Pastor Andrew Willis)
The Hope Diamond went through a lot to get to that look, that brilliance, that beauty, that place of honor in the gem world. We, as children of The Holy God, go through a similar process in our "becoming" like the One who created us. We sometimes blame the devil, when we could be in a "Job" process ... we could be in an "allowed" trial of God. It's a known fact that persecution makes one stronger, that hardship makes the dedicated Christian more loyal, that pain and "rain" make the 'one after God's own heart' even more devoted! So, we all have a time on the wheel, a sojourn in the desert, a wait by the brook, a dark time in the cave, some bloody hands and knees during the climb, a war with evil spirits, a loneliness in the quiver, a promise on the shelf, and a 'Why?' just beneath the surface ...
"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving
of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."
(James 1:3)
The diamond is the hardest rock there is, because of the pressure applied to it far beneath the earth. Ah, that word; we know it well, don't we, Saints? "Pressure!" Does it seem like trouble is coming at you from every direction sometimes; do you feel like you will not make it at times? Have you ever cried out to God in the hours of the morning through a flood of tears saying, "God; I can't take it anymore!" If you haven't, you will, if you live for God long enough. You say, "Why should I love Him, if I'm gonna' have to go through all that?" Well, it's like this ... the days "with God" are infinitely sweeter than the days "without God." We grow and we learn; we are tried and we come forth as beauty from ashes; we endure and we rise up in glory; we bow low and we are exalted in our humility; we suffer as we carry our crosses and we sing "Through it all; I've learned to trust in Jesus; I've learned to trust in God;" and all the while the whispers in the moonlight carry us along our journey to that eternal home!
"So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith]
which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and
purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your]
praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah,
the Anointed One) is revealed."
(I Peter 1:7)
Are we genuine in our faith; is our love for Jesus Christ real; would we give our lives for Him as He gave His life for us; are we exempt from scars as we remember His scars; will we stand before our loving Lord with no battle wounds; do we think we will not be hated as He was hated; what do we think "Thou good and faithful servant" means? All good questions for those who blame God when trouble comes ... What should we do? Praise Him for the Victory; worship Him for who He IS; thank Him for the good things; be humble and love Him stronger ... It's called Faith; it's called "becoming like Him;" it's called growth; it's called moving from milk to meat; it's called "enduring to the end." 
"Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking
place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to
you and your position) were befalling you."
(1 Peter 4:12)
It's all about our "quality," which means 'character, fineness, excellence.' In other words; what's going on in that mortal body anyway? What are we made of? What makes us tick? Do deceptiveness and evil lurk there, or holiness and purity? What do we do when no one is looking? What do we think about most of the time? So, the pressure is on, the molding and sanding; the mashing and crushing, the stretching and pulling ... the heat is turned up, and our hardness (or strength), durability (or endurance), and our brilliance (or Light) is made known ...
It's simple when we look at the whole picture. We're becoming like our Creator, day by day; we're in earth but not "of earth;" we've been born again. The blue diamond is the most expensive gem there is; it has been through the process to make it what it is, and WE shall be like Him, our Lord Jesus Christ; WE are headed for Glory; we are "In Process."
(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.)
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas
Services Sundays @ 10:30 am
~~~~~Live Streaming~~~~~
Love online, Joy online, Peace online Worship online!
It's called "PromiseLand Church" online! Please send us
your prayer requests, and if you would like to sow seed
into holy ground that sees God's miracles and favor,
you may give online @ promiselandchurch.net.
God Bless you, and I know He will!
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Jesus Christ IS the Lily of YOUR valley;
Trust Him in the process; He loves YOU!
He IS coming back! Obey Acts 2:38; read
Acts 19, and be ready for the trumpet sound,
the Rapture of the Church! It could happen
and moment now!
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{Special thanks to cooltext.com.}
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