As I sit here this morning, I can’t help but notice the roaring fire in our wood stove… I’m so thankful for that fire.

I used to be very uneasy about using the wood stove, the fire made me a little nervous because I didn’t understand it. I barely knew how to build a good fire, or how to keep it going. But I realized this morning that I am getting better at working with the wood stove than I used to be. I’m not as skittish around the fire, I understand what it does, and I’m thankful for it.

As I was sitting here I heard the phrase, “friend of the fire”….

“Lord, what does that mean? That’s an interesting phrase…”

Then suddenly I remembered a song I listened to the other day called, “Refiner” feat. Chandler Moore and Steffany Gretzinger) by Maverick City Music // TRIBL Music.

This song is courageous. Painful. Hard. Heavy. Absolutely beautiful…

Wanted to share it on here today, in case you haven’t seen it a million times already…

LYRICS:

If the altar’s where you meet us

Take me there, take me there

If you’re looking for an offering

It’s right here, my life is here

I’ll be a living sacrifice for you

You’re a fire

The refiner

I wanna be consumed

I wanna be tried by fire

Purified

You take whatever you desire

Lord here’s my life

If your glory wants to come in

Let it fall, we want it all Lord your fire is consuming

Fill this place, set it ablaze I’ll be a living sacrifice for you

You’re a fire

The refiner

I wanna be consumed

I wanna be tried by fire

Purified

You take whatever you desire

Lord here’s my life

Clean my hands, purify my heart

I wanna burn for you, only for You

Take my life as a sacrifice

I wanna burn for you, only for You

burn me beautiful

burn me lovely

burn me righteous

burn me holy…

“And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” – Zechariah 13:9

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter: 12-13

“For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:29

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:7

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.” – Malachi 3:3

-Heather ?