Walking around Silver Dollar City again,  I stole away to observe the glass blowing exhibit.  Every time I’m amazed, but today, I was mesmerized!  It was like I was watching a visible parable of mankind in the creative hand of the Master Artisan.  It reminded me of a verse that most people quote in a negative, ominous tone.

[Tweet “”Our God is a consuming fire”- (Hebrews 12)”]

I guess I look at it differently- a positive, encouraging word.

Fire causes a chemical reaction and changes the substance being

burned to something completely new! 

Fire refines! 

Fire burns out impurities!

[Tweet “The #fire of God’s #presence #consumes our #impurities. #transformation #GodsLove”]

  Don’t we all want Him to consume every last bit of “ickiness” and “impurities” in us?  I know I do! 🙂

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First, the “Master Artisan” took sand/silicone and heated it until was a molten fluid glass.

I mean we’re talking a really HOT furnace! (Life can get really “hot” sometimes, can’t it?!)

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This was 2400 degrees Fahrenheit!! That is where the change began- silicone “passed away” and a brand new substance emerged “molten glass”- now ready to begin the transformation process! (doesn’t that parallel sound familiar?)

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The process begins with extreme heat and a puff of “breath” from the Master Artisan.  The temperature, length, and duration are controlled carefully to bring about the perfect result. Think about this!!!

 Next, I was captivated by the names of the three furnaces they used!

 The first, which contains a “crucible” of molten glass, is simply referred to as “the furnace.”

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The second is called the “glory”, and is used to reheat a piece in between steps of working with it.

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The final furnace is called the “lehr” or “annealer”,(German word meaning to pattern). This is used to slowly cool the glass, over a period of a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the pieces. This keeps the glass from cracking due to thermal stress!

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[Tweet “God’s #shekinah #glory #purifies and #creates beauty! #GodsFire #GodsLove”]

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So perfect are His ways- only He can purify us without annihilating us!

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 My eyes kept going back to the “glory furnace”.

I thought of God’s glory- His shekinah-

how awesome and pure His glory is.

When we are in His glory-

His all consuming fire-

He purifies and brings forth from the fire something exquisite and pure!

 

 [Tweet “The #fire of #God will #burn and #consume all of our #impurities! #transformation”]

No two pieces come out identical.

Just like us. 🙂

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What a beautiful picture and illustration I saw today, as I walked around the gift shop and admired the wide variety and beauty of a myriad of glass products- some useful, some just decorative- but all made by the “master artesian’s” hand.

Today reminded me that I need to see all people as God sees them.

 We are all created in His image and have had His breath blown into us! (Acts 17:28)

 He is constantly working on us, with fire, with skill, with purpose and productivity in mind.  

And different is good- it’s beautiful because of the design and plans of the Master.

Surprising Treasure:

PURIFY MY HEART- LET ME BE LIKE GOLD AND PRECIOUS SILVER

PURIFY MY HEART- LET ME BE LIKE GOLD- PURE GOLD

REFINER’S FIRE-  MY HEARTS ONE DESIRE

IS TO BE HOLY- SET APART TO YOU LORD

I CHOOSE TO BE HOLY – SET APART UNTO YOU MY MASTER

READY TO DO YOUR WILL- I’M READY TO DO YOUR WILL!