#TellHisStory: On Being Refined.

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire.  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 13:9


I was reading this verse 2 days ago in the quiet morning.

It was like a whack over the head.

You see, it is about those experiences in the fire.  The ones that leave us bruised, battered.  And in my case needing a bag of chips and a long nap.

As Christians it is ridiculous to say all the things about suffering.  Oswald Chambers said it best, "It is nonsense to say that suffering makes saints, it makes some people devils; suffering according to the will of God raises us to a freedom and felicity that baffles all language to express."

I will state it again:  This isn't what God wants for you.  He delights in you.  He does Not Enjoy seeing you experience the fire.

When metal is being refined, we know that during the heating process, the impurities rise to the top, they are skimmed off the top.  Repeatedly.  Until, in the case of silver, the refiner bends over to see a clear reflection of his face.

So as Christians, what do we do?

• We let God get to work.  How can he skim off those "impurities" from our lives?  What do we need to let go of so God can get to work?
• How do we even know what that is?  We have got to get close to God to hear that answer.  Studying his word, Cooperating with Him in prayer, seeking out those Wise Ones that God has placed in our lives.  
• Watch for His image to appear in the refining.  

I don't know if this post is complete or not.  Most likely not.  

But You are God's People.  Hang on My Friends.  

Joy!
Kendra

#pb10for10 Ten Books I Use to Promote Friendship and Kindness

Thank you to Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek for this yearly celebration of picture books.  Join in to share and learn here.

I love to talk about friendship and kindness all the time with my first grade friends.  We return to it many times during the school year.  And some of these books I will read several times based on what we need.

So without further chatter, here are 10 books that can be used to promote Friendship and Kindness:


Last year, I think I read this book no less than 3 times to my class.  I love it.


This is another book that I love to read a couple of times a year.  I love to read and share and plant the idea that food can really bring people together.


Sometimes a little magic is all you need to start a friendship.


I love reading this book to remind kids that it can be the small acts of kindness that build a person up.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who links up.

I Love Back to School time.  I immediately immerse myself in the important work of reading lots of new picture books, so I can introduce new books to my new friends! 

Here's what I've been reading this week for picture books:

Charming, with accessible text!  I loved all the stories in this book.  I hope the kids do too.

I know this book was written for perhaps Newborns.  However, I'm loving the idea of reading it on the first day of school.

Another great book as we set up our time to read and write!  

I love this celebration of reading anywhere.  Donalyn Miller talks about edge reading.  I teach this to my First Graders.  You are "done"?  Try some edge reading.  We are waiting on a field trip?  Try some edge reading.  This book celebrates reading anywhere perfectly!  

Ahem.  Excuse me!  There are picture books as companions to this series!?!?  What excites me about this book, is that it is a companion to The Land of Stories, which I'm currently reading.  Since I don't feel like this is an appropriate read aloud per say for First Graders, the picture books will be a great way to connect with what "I'm really reading."  That doesn't happen very often. 

I love transition books.  For me, my favorite one is First Grade Stinks!  But this one is great for incoming second grade friends.  

Welcome to August Friends!  I'm feeling the excitement and anticipation this morning.  

Joy!
Kendra