"Lord, right now I pray for Ben. I don't know Ben or anything about him or the situation but you do and I bring him before you. I ask Father that You intervene as only You can. We hold to the promise that "all things work for the good of those who love you," and we ask that you would make good come from whatever the situation may be. We pray this is the name of the only One who can do anything about this situation, the mighty name of Jesus - Amen!"

John M. Hanna, Pastor
Springfield First Church of the Nazarene
1761 E. Street
Springfield, Oregon 97477
541.746.5624 - church
www.springfieldchurch.org

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3) One lady proposed to visit a silversmith, and report to them on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eyes 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 too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; these tests are what refine us, like the silver. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?" "Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."

The Twenty-dollar Bill A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20." "Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless." "But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value: dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you." "The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special - Don't ever forget it. Count your blessings, not your problems."

I was so touched with the comforting words of Faith by drdan, Nancy and Clark and family are also in our prayers for Ben. Nancy is my relative through the Watson McIntyre branch. She came to my house this summer for research, what a lovely, wonderful lady. The Hymn, God will take care of you, in every way is so true. Thank you, drdan, for your knowledge, and the ability to express such strong Belief in reaching out to others of all faiths. Joining with you and all in the prayer He taught us to pray -----

Our Father;
which art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day
our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we for give those
who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the Kingdom and the power
and the glory for ever.
Amen