Refined:
Refiner, Refined, Refinder, Refinded
The refiner knows when the precious metal has been purified.
The refiner sees his/her reflection in the precious element.
The Refiner of men and women knows when they have been purified.
The Refiner sees His reflection, in them, the precious elements.
The refined become tarnished.
The refined may become lost, but not unrefined.
The refined do not need to re-refined.
The refiner leaves the ninety and nine to search for the lost refined.
The refiner does this any and every time the refined wander.
The refined may need to be found and re-found.
But not re-refined.
The refiner is merciful.
The refiner is faithful to forgive confessed sins and cleanse the refined from all unrighteousness.
The refined and refound are precious in His sight and worthy of His effort.
The refiner seeks and saves those who stray and restores those who have lost their way.
The refiner sought for Adam, even though He knew where Adam, only thought, he was hidden.
The refiner asked, “Adam, where are you”, not for His need, but for Adam’s.
The refiner seeks and calls my name, not for His purpose, but for mine.
The refiner/ refinder, seeks for those who need to be refinded.
Thank God from Whom all blessings flow!
Richard L. Brewer
02/06/2013
Revised 08/17/2018
Published by sparedbygrace@yahoo.com
I am Richard Brewer—a Christ-follower, psychologist, husband, father, grandfather (Papa) sometimes writer, and lifelong student of people.
For much of my professional life, I've had the privilege of sitting with people as they wrestle with some of life's most difficult questions—questions about faith, suffering, grief, relationships, identity, failure, hope, and what it means to live well.
Those conversations have changed the way I see people and the way I understand my own faith. They have taught me that life is rarely as simple as our explanations of it, that people are almost always more complicated than they appear, and that sometimes the wisest response to a difficult question is to empathize and to keep asking better questions.
I am a committed Christ-follower, but I am not interested in pretending that Christianity eliminates mystery or that faith means having an answer for everything. Faith invites us to pursue truth honestly, to think deeply, to acknowledge what we do not know, and ultimately to trust the God we do know.
Mediocre Meanderings is where I explore some of those questions.
I write about faith and psychology, grief and suffering, leadership and relationships, aging and ordinary life—and occasionally whatever else catches my attention along the way.
I do not write from the perspective of someone who has figured life out. I write as someone who has lived enough of it to know that I have not.
These are my thoughts, questions, observations, and occasional attempts at wisdom. Take what is useful. Challenge what is not. And, if you would like, meander along with me.
View all posts by sparedbygrace@yahoo.com