Through the Deep Waters

                      Through the Deep Waters
Let us trust our heavenly Father not to spare us from pain and suffering, but trust Him to use all things for good and spare us from actual harm. Good is whatever is needed to help us grow wiser, stronger, and more useful to God. Harm is whatever stunts our growth. Do depend on Him for protection, but that is not the ultimate good and God and we both want the ultimate good.

If you are a true follower of Jesus--I define that as one who endeavors to walk in all the teachings of the Bible--and have rough waters or dry deserts, know that God is in it with you and will use it for good, yours and maybe others also--the witness of how God brings you through with benefits and/or the lessons that pain and suffering teach.

Did Jesus Make Alcoholic Wine?

Did Jesus Make Alcoholic Wine?
The miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine is found in John 2:1-11.  Some people try to justify the drinking of alcohol by saying that Jesus made alcoholic wine.  But was the wine Jesus created alcoholic?  When they ran out of wine at the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus had them fill six water pots to the brim, each of which held about 20 gallons.  This would make a total of about 120 gallons.  When it was taken to the master of the wedding feast to taste, he was surprised and said, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10).  The good wine in those days was grape juice that had not yet fermented.

THE REFINER'S FIRE

                                 THE REFINER'S FIRE
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." Mala 3:3.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."-- 1Pet 1:7.

Nothing is harder to bear than the apparent aimlessness of suffering.
They say that what breaks a convict's heart in gaol is to set him to say carry stones from one side of the prison to the other, and then back again! But we must never look upon the trials of life as punishments, because all penalty was borne by our Lord Himself. They are intended to destroy the weeds and rubbish of our natures, as the bonfires do in the gardens. Christ regards us in the light of our eternal interests, of which He alone can judge. If you and I knew what sphere we were to fulfil in the other world, we should understand the significance of His dealings with us, as now we cannot do. The Refiner has a purpose in view, of which those who stand beside Him are ignorant, and, therefore, they are unable to judge the process which He is employing.
Dare to believe that Christ is working to a plan in your life. He loves you, so be patient! He would not take so much trouble unless He knew that it was worth while. "We do not prune brambles, or cast common stones into the crucible or plough sea-sands!" You must be capable of some special service, which can only be done by a carefully-prepared instrument, and so Christ sits beside you as the Refiner, year after year, that you may miss nothing.