Pure Promises Revisited

The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Psalm 12:6  

When silver is mined it is combined with other metals like copper and gold. It is not in a pure state so silver has to go through a process to become pure. God treats His chosen ones in much the same way. We have to be pure to one day stand before the throne of God. Only the holy can enter into His presence. 

Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and born into the family of Judah. Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the LORD and call on the God of Israel. You don't keep your promises, even though you call yourself the holy city and talk about depending on the God of Israel, whose name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies. Long ago I told you what was going to happen. Then suddenly I took action, and all my predictions came true. For I know how stubborn and obstinate you are. Your necks are as unbending as iron. Your heads are as hard as bronze. That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was going to do. Then you could never say, 'My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!' You have heard my predictions and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not things from the past. So you cannot say, 'We knew that all the time!' Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new, things you never heard of before. For I know so well what traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth. Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols! Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last. Isaiah 48:1-12.

Zechariah wrote about the end times and the fate of the Israelites. Some of them will be refined—just like silver.

Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die," says the LORD. "But one-third will be left in the land. I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" Zechariah 13:8-9.

We must be pure…

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3.

As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. “Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. ... We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, 6. 

You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own. Leviticus 20:26. 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:3-5.

Even as children of God…we must be holy and pure. It’s all about our choices. Choices we make before our holy and pure God. The God whose promises are pure. Look for His promises in His Word.  

Prayer ~ Lord God, as we end this year and look forward to a new year, show us Your promises and help us to live pure and holy lives that are acceptable to You.

Bible Reading:December 29 - Revelation 6 -11 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

As usual every Friday is Feast Day—Feasting at the King’s Table. We can’t live on just spiritual food …nor can we live on bread alone. We’ve got to have some meat, veggies and fruit. How those are seasoned makes a big difference. Herbs and Spices are the keys to tasty foods. Last January I shared an old chart that I’ve tucked in my spice cupboard for years that shows which herbs to use with particular foods. Sharing again to end this year. It’s been very helpful to me. Enjoy!

Herb Chart

	Basil	Dill	Marjoram	Oregano	Rosemary	Sage	Thyme
Appetizers & Soup	Seafood cocktail Dips Bean, pea, tomato soups Clam chowder Beef stew	Avocado Salad Dips Bean, borsch. Split pea  & tomato soups Lamb stew	Avocados Mushrooms Pats Clam chowder Onion, chicken, potato soups	Vegetable Juice Beef, been, game, tomato soups Bouillon Stews	Fruit cups Chicken, pea, spinach soups	Cheese dips Pates Chowders Consommé Chicken & bland cream soups	Seafood or vegetable juice cocktails Gumbo Fish chowder Borsch
Meats & Main Dishes	Beef Pork Lamb Pizza Spaghetti	Beef  Lamb chops and steaks Rice dishes	Hamburgers Beef, pork,  lamb, veal	Swiss steak Hamburgers Veal, liver, pizza spaghetti	Beef, game, lamb, pork, veal Cheese sauces	Cold roast beef Pork, lamb, veal Cheese fondue	Roast Variety meats
Eggs  & Poultry	Fried chicken Omelets Soufflés	Chicken Deviled eggs	Chicken Turkey Scrambled Eggs Omelets Soufflés	Chicken Pheasant Boiled eggs Egg sandwiches	All poultry Deviled eggs Scrambled eggs Omelets	Chicken Turkey Duckling Poultry stuffing Omelets	Roast duckling Poultry stuffing Scrambled eggs Omelets Soufflés
Seafood	Fish fillets Tuna Shellfish	Seafood cocktail Salmon Shellfish	Salmon loaf Shellfish	Broiled seafood Shellfish	Fish stuffing Creamed seafood Salmon	Fish filets	Tuna
Salads  Dressings & Sauces	Seafood Cucumber Tomato French, Italian & Russian Dressing	Seafood Cottage cheese Potato French and sour cream dressings Gravy	Seafood Chicken Egg Greens French dressing Gravy	Seafood Egg Vegetable Guacamole dip Butter sauce Cheese Spread	Spinach Fruit	Chicken French dressing	Chicken Cottage cheese Greens Tomato Tomato aspic
Vegetables	Asparagus Green beans Squash Tomatoes	Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Peas Potatoes Sauerkraut	Celery Eggplant Greens Potatoes Zucchini	Broccoli Cabbage Mushrooms Onions Tomatoes	Lentils Mushrooms Peas Potatoes Spinach	Brussel sprouts Lima beans Squash Tomatoes	Artichokes Carrots Green beans Mushrooms Peas Potatoes
Breads		Onion rolls Dill bread Cottage cheese bread		Herb bread	Herb bread	Biscuits Cornbread	Biscuits Cornbread Herb bread
Desserts	Fruit Compotes	Green Apple Pie	Cooked Fruit Fruit Cups				Custard

 © 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted

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