The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3
I feel that I have been taking the downtime I need and needed this past winter – for many reasons – including the reason that if the ground rests, we should allow ourselves to rest a bit mentally too – and truly to rest my heart and to rest my stress. I have to say that I have really appreciated this down time – even if others see very little of it scoping out my activities day to day. Well, for me, this is downtime to sit and write and I am ever so much more blessed to do so…
And as spring approaches – we need to get more spring in our step – yes we do and “do Spring” – appreciate it – get out and walk or in the yard – break out of our winter shell. Spring, with it’s ups and downs of temperature and tumultuous weather patterns, finds that we also need to spring forth and remove ourselves from a cocoon of self-induced shelter. Honestly I mean that we DO need to take care of ourselves but we also need to get out more and reach more and simply be the people out there in the world that the Lord needs us to be – if not for us – for them – for those people who need to see someone be an encourager…
In my down time this past few months – which is coupled by my incredibly blessed busy schedule of going everywhere, LOL, I have really taken more time to ponder and to simply watch “TV” – but good chosen TV – and movies – no longer do we use the flipper to look at channels and their offerings but we think of the artists we like – the topics we like – and yeah we get to choose more of our content-driven leisure time. I HIGHLY recommend a few shows recently: the HBO Billy Joel 2 part special, the HBO David Bowie’s last 5 years special, and movies that you catch up on during waiting for airplanes – like the George Clooney 2 recent samplings of “Good Night and Good Luck” and the movie of him as a movie start travelling – yeah it’s kinda like junk TV but not – it is more critically acclaimed and thought provoking – plus there is junk TV too – like Survivor which finally in episode 50 I am watching it side by side with my daughter at home… nice… and free stuff abounds too – on YouTube or PBS or wherever – you can find the endless podcasts of your favorite stars, things like “Finding your roots” and just funny clips – like I just rewatched the last 5 minutes of the Newhart finale where he wakes up in bed and it was all a dream and next to him is his wife from his first series – well, you have to watch it – I mean everyone’s tastes are so different.
And last nights indulgence of TV? THE OSCARS – no I never saw any of the movies except the one that had NO nominations – Wicked for Good – which makes no sense – that is the biggest theatrical release and not even a nod for costume design or casting?? ANYWAY – I appreciated a song from a movie that I HAD NOT watched – Kpop Demon Hunters is known for it’s teen appeal and without teens in my life I am happy to not have to stay up on recent movies – and yet this song was so fitting in my thought process – that we are “Golden” – that we are to remember ourselves being blessed and even golden or silver tarnished can be shined – we can shine – we can rise – we can spring into spring and just be better us… In the Oscar performance, and the original, we are to be hunters of the darkness and be back out in the light – and be GOLDEN!
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. – Yes, Proverbs 17:3 speaks to me to us – to listen to the Lord and become even more GOLDEN and more than GOLDEN – to be the best we can be for HIM… The Kpop “Golden” lyrics are below and include: “We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment – You know together we’re glowin’ – Oh, I’m done hidin’ now I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be – Oh, our time, no fears, no lies – That’s who we’re born to be – Waited so long to break these walls down – To wake up and feel like me – Put these patterns all in the past now – And finally live like the girl they all see…”
And there are even more reasons to be more than Golden and know our place as children of God – to know our future even through rough times – to know the wisdom God gives us to keep living strong – to know that He will right the rights – to know that He has and will overcome. We are more than golden in Christ.
OK – back to spring springing – keep shining, keep believing, and keep listening to God – ask for WISDOM – and serve Jesus by being a servant to others. Be more than Golden!
AMEN – enjoy the day!
—
Zechariah 13:7 NKJV The Shepherd Savior – Says the Lord, “… But one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
—
Proverbs 8 NKJV
The Excellence of Wisdom
Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
O you simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.
———-
Kpop song “GOLDEN”
Oscars
Original
I was a ghost, I was alone, hah
Given the throne, I didn’t know how to believe
I was the queen that I’m meant to be
I lived two lives, tried to play both sides
But I couldn’t find my own place
Called a problem child ’cause I got too wild
But now that’s how I’m getting paid, kkeuteopsi on stage
I’m done hiding, now I’m shining like I’m born to be
We’re dreaming hard, we came so far, now I believe
We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment
You know together we’re glowin’
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, up, up, up with our voices
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, I’m done hidin’ now I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That’s who we’re born to be
Waited so long to break these walls down
To wake up and feel like me
Put these patterns all in the past now
And finally live like the girl they all see
No more hiding, I’ll be shining like I’m born to be
‘Cause we are hunters, voices strong, and I know I believe
We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment
You know together we’re glowing
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, up, up, up, with our voices
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, I’m done hidin’, now I’m shining like I’m born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That’s who we’re born to be
You know we’re gonna be, gonna be golden
We’re gonna be, gonna be
Born to be, born to be glowin’
You know that it’s our time, no fears, no lies
That’s who we’re born to be
haha).
Debbie Upper 