Take Away The Dross From The Silver...: May 2010

All was quiet and discouragingly dark. Every tiny sound was amplified, times ten, by such an eerie stillness.

The slow but steady drip, drip, drip overhead caused a little trickle of a stream to run in the one corner of the prison cell. The air was musty and damp, for not a breath of fresh air had passed through these walls since they had been put together.

The prisoners, their feet held firmly in stocks, shifted uncomfortably on the cold floor, trying to find a better sitting position. No such luck. Though the drying blood had started to close their wounds, the skin was still raw and stripped from the recent whipping, making every move painful. Their bedding was little more than a few straggles of straw left from the many other prisoners, who had also found it their misfortune to have a prolonged stay in this dank room far from the sunlight.

There was a quick, scurrying sound and Paul and Silas knew they were not alone. Such grime. Such filth. And they, who had once been high leading officials and responsible workers, had been thrown here with no more thought than if they'd been a pile of fish bones.

Such treatment could certainly cause one to wonder if it was really worth it. What difference were they really making? Were they just causing more trouble than anything else? All they had done was preach the gospel and look where it had landed them. Why was it so hard? Was God really worth it?

I don't really know what all went through their minds that night, but I do know that at midnight, their thoughts were turned toward God. Saul and Silas prayed...Out Loud -(for Acts says that the other prisoners could hear them.) Perhaps they asked for strength to endure the trials. Perhaps they asked the Lord to remind them of how Jesus had promised them that those who persecuted Him, would also persecute them. Perhaps they questioned and wondered how He could be working. Perhaps they admitted their fears, their lack of faith, their need for comfort. I don't know, but whatever those prayers may have consisted of, I do know that it resulted in an attitude of submission, followed by an overwhelming sense of peace.

The prayers ceased and silence once more filled the air.

Then...

...from deep within the dungeon, where only cries from the lost and forgotten had ever been heard before, there now came, from the heart of a man who had found God to be enough, a deep, lusty, off-pitch voice singing "O Lord, My God. When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars. I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee! How great Thou art! How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee! How Great Thou art! How Great Thou art!

The voice became more confident and it filled the small cell, causing Silas to chuckle and he joined in too; his voice only adding to the already off-tune melody. It didn't matter that neither one of them could sing. Their hearts were uplifted and drawn to God as the words to their song filled them with renewed strength. "And when I think, that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in! That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died, to take away my sin! Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee! How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!"

Yes, they had a reason to hope. They had a reason to joy. Their happiness didn't lie in their circumstances, their possessions, or their relationships. They understood that "behind every frowning providence, God hides a smiling face". God was at work; hearts would be drawn and lives would be changed forever simply because of their faith. That was reason enough to rest in how God had chosen to lead them. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." They had a firm grasp on God's grace, the strength of His Holy Spirit and of the joys that were to come.

I can't help but imagine the delight that must have lighted up that dark cell as Paul and Silas sang the final stanza. "When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And there proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Aside from the discouragement and doubts, don't you kind of wish you could have been there with them? There's just nothing like experiencing the peace of God after a stormy struggle. His strength fills and renews like nothing else and leaves us with a kind of contentment that nothing else can give.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

The Class of 2010!
Lots of changes coming for them! Its only been a year since I graduated and already it feels like it's been ages. So many different experiences! So many different scary and new things, but one thing I know for sure...God remains constant. "I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand." (Psalms 31:14-15a)

Jordan, doing his job as a greeter

My cousin Anna. She (and her parents) surprised Rachel by coming. It was good to see her and I'm looking forward to going up to New York in a few weeks to see her graduate as well.

THE GRADUATE

Graduates Song

The girls with Mrs. Kilmer, who agreed to be our fill-in Grandma for the day. She's a dear friend of the family and as a kid, going to their house was always a treat.