Faith, Worth More Than Gold

1 Peter 1:6-7


In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Worth (n) - excellence of character or quality as commanding esteem, usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose, value, a quantity of something of a specified value, wealth; riches; property or possession

Faith. I read the above scripture yesterday for the second time. I had read it earlier and even put it in my last blog, but I didn't really pay that much attention to the part about faith being a greater worth than gold. Not until yesterday. And now I find myself thinking about what the faith in my own life. Do I know the usefulness or importance of faith in my life, it's purpose in my life, and it's value in my life? Faith has worth, an excellence of quality. Do I pocess faith in such a way that it is an excellent quality?

When I seem to go through "various trials" my first reaction is not to praise God, as I confessed in my previous post. I don't rely on my faith. Instead I do the complete opposite. For a long time now, I have struggled with having faith, I have put worth in my own works. And to that God says...

Psalm 127:1-2

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; or He gives to His beloved even in his sleep."

God, I cannot depend on my works or anything of this world any longer. When the trials come, and my life is tested, the only thing that will withstand is faith. Faith in You. That is faith is proven genuine, the real deal and results in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ; the One who saves. Just like Paul and Silas were praising You in the midst of the prison, it resulted in the jailer and his whole household being saved and giving you praise. Lord, I want the praise of You to be a part of who I am. Not something I have to force or practice or work at, but it is natural to praise you in all situations. That only comes when my faith is proven to be genuine.

I Will Praise The Lord

I Will Praise The Lord
Words and Music by Ray Boltz

Bleeding in the darkness
The cell was cold and black
Driven to unconsciousness
The stripes on his back
He heard a voice call out his name
His mind began to clear
And in the darkness Paul replied
Silas I’m here
Oh my brother Silas
Paul uttered with a groan
Today when they were beating us
I thought We were going home
And when I opened up my eyes
I was going to look at Jesus’ face
But here we are together
In this dreadful place

But I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

This may be a prison
And these may be chains
Still I am free
Free to praise His name
And in tribulation
My heart still sings
He is my Messiah
Yes He is my King of Kings
Prisoners started waking up
Singing filled their ears
Some men started swearing
Others were in tears
Then suddenly it happened
There was no mistake
As Paul and Silas praised the Lord
The walls began to shake

I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

I love this song. It is undoubtedly one of my all time favorites, it always brings me back to the reality of where I really am. Acts 16 is also one of my favorites chapters to read, it has brought hope to me countless times.

Today, I was leaving church, feeling somewhat dissappointed. I find myself yet again in the midst of a spiritual struggle, and the conflict between my flesh and my spirit has me in a state of confusion. I am still trying to do things in my own way, on my own terms, and in my own strength. But God is showing the purpose of His spirit in my life (and we will get to that soon, believe me I can't wait to write the blog about knowing the purpose of the Holy Spirit, in your life), and it is to be my helper.

So in my car on the way home, I was telling God out of my dissappointment that I would do what it seems He is telling me (God doesn't always tell us we are going to get what we want). So, I said, "God I will praise You where ever I am." In my spirit, I knew what God was saying. Really? In chains (not physical chains, but spiritual ones)? See Paul and Silas could have easily sat in the prison and grumbled and complained and blamed God for their current situation, but broken, bruised, and near death they rejoiced in their suffering.

This isn't the first time God has spoken to me about rejoicing in my so called sufferings (cause really do I suffer as much as Paul and Silas did?).

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

and...
1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

and...
Romans 5:2b-5
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Not that my sufferings are anywhere near what the early christians had to suffer. I have never been beaten or tortured for the sake of Christ. But I fight the same fight that has been fought, even long ago, the struggle is as Eph 6 puts it; "... not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." There are times I feel alone, and times when I feel so defeated, but I know that God has not left me, and that the final victory belongs to Him. It is this hope that should cause me to praise him even the midst of the battle, the struggle, the suffering.

Lord I will praise You where ever I am. If I am alone, if I am defeated, if I am living victoriously, I will praise You. I will praise You in the depths of valleys and the heights of the mountains, You are there and You are with me, and I will praise You.

A Priceless Gift

Forgiveness...

What a priceless gift. Long ago, we were freely given this gift when a man laid down His life for ours. And yet, still today we hold onto our past and the transgressions committed against us, refusing to forgive those who do not meet up to our standards of repenting. Well, I at least know I am in this catagory.

I can remember what it felt like the first time I said I was sorry for something I had or hadn't done (most likely my daily chores), and the reply I received was "Sorry doesn't cut it." What can do to receive forgiveness if saying I am sorry isn't enough, I must somehow earn the forgiveness and love I am seeking. And if you don't know how to truely show that your sorry for something, how do expect someone to forgive you? It's not enough just to be sorry. I have come to expect the same of others. I would never say it to anyone's face, but I expect an act of seeking forgiveness, and if someone simply says they sorry, I do not feel that they truely mean it.

I was reading Proverbs 17 one day, and tucked away in the middle of the passage is a simple verse that seemed to scream at me that day.

Verse 9:
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

In my heart once someone has wronged me, that matter is repeated everytime I see them or even think of them. It is repeated because I can't forgive them, if I can't forgive them I can't love them or trust them. It becomes this circle of bitterness and anger that encompasses me, and binds me and puts me in chains. How can I think of seeking forgiveness for my own sins when I can't let go of the things that others have done? And once again I am thrown into my own self made prison. I think I am protecting myself but I shut out everyone and God, but it is lonely when you have seperated yourself from love.

For Christmas, I want to give a priceless gift. But how do I do that? My mind cannot conceive forgiveness without some action. I want to forgive the debts that I wrongly believed were owed to me. To seek love and conceal all transgressions regardless of whether or not that person realizes what they have done (more than likely I have created a mountain out of a molehill).

God, I want to let go of the of the hurts in my past, to not be defined by them any longer. Instead going around showing everyone my scars, I want to say see God has made me whole. To be whole. Am I whole? Make me whole again.

Withering Away

A flower in the sun withers away.
The cool morning seemingly greets her
With a warmth that promises great things.
A trusting flower withers and falls away.

God, I feel like I'm dying inside.
Slowly withering away.
Is this You bringing out a new life?
Or is this me refusing to go Your way?

To die; death brings new life.
A flower dies and spreads seeds
The water falls and the sun warms
Only time will tell if new life will be.

Are You glorified in the death of a flower
Or the raising of something new?
Or is Your glory displayed in the splendor
Of the flowers fragrance, its bloom?

I only want to live
And to live is to bring You glory.
I only want to live
I only want to give You glory.

And One More...

Alone and confused
Lost and afraid
I'm broken and bruised
By the mistakes that I've made.

Shattered like glass
Torn from Your grasp
Covered by this filth,
Can You love me still?

I will run to you
I will come to your rescue
I will wipe away the tears
And free you from these chains.

I will run to you
I will come to your aid
I will bind up your brokeness
And wipe away the stains.

Darkness surrounds me
And my enemies abound
I feel alone in this battle
No shelter can be found.

I will run to you
I will come to your rescue
I will stand by your side
When all others have left

I will run to you
I will come to your aid
I will be your place to hide
Your shelter to abide.

Melinda Wells
summer 2008

Just Because...

I'm dying out here in this vast sea
The wind has blown and seems
to send me farther away from you.
I reach out my hand thinking it is you
As waves crash around me
And salt water fills my lungs.

Oh God can You see me here?
Oh God will You save me?
As I'm tossed by these waves, one thing is clear.
I am a small grain of sand in this vast universe.

My strength is fading in this vast sea
Dear God I need You and yet it seems
I keep getting farther away from You.

Oh God can You see me here?
Oh God will You save me?
Being tossed by these waves, one thing becomes clear
You're beyond all space and time and this vast universe.

Your my only hope, my only place of rest
Reach down Your mighty arm and save me.

Melinda Wells
11/15/08

Around the Throne

I have entered the Holy of Holies, standing before Your throne
The four and twenty elders have cast their crowns at Your feet.
I see Cheribum and Seraphim surrounding Your throne
The four creatures and angels joining in a melody so sweet.
The aroma of praise fills the air, as the glory
and honor You are worthy of causes me to weep.
I am unworthy of Your presence. Please take the coal
to my lips and cleanse them so I may speak
To tell of Your glory and splendor, to sing a new song of praise
To join with those around Your throne and the crystal sea.
I want to stay here with You, to remain at Your throne
and worship forever where I can feel your love and peace.

Melinda Wells Oct 06, 2008

Yesterday morning on my way to church, I was praying and meditating on God's word, when I remembered the verses in Revelation about the creatures and the 24 elders who unceasingly worshiped around the throne of God. How they took their crowns and layed them at the throne and sang :
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

There is no glory, no blessing, no praise or adoration that we receive that is of our own merit. Our very lives are not of our own will, but of the One and Only God. I knew at that moment I had to lay down all crowns. Anything that I thought was of my own, I humbly layed it down. I am looking for a job, and I have of course made a resume that boasts of all my accomplishments and experience. But only by the will of God will I ever find a job. I feel honored and humbled to come to Him and worship and Him. It is my honor to lay my life at His feet, to give Him lordship of my life.