refined by the fire

You have all heard me talk of the famous Halsell Hill. It is where my grandparents live. It is rich in memories and history. We visited this weekend. There was a fire that blazed through the closest town of 12 miles, Cross Plains. It is the town where we frequented the soda shop, Mozelle's, the library for books in the summer, and where we attended church all the Sunday's we were in town. Papa teaches Sunday school there, and we considered it our second home church. It is the First United Methodist Church of Cross Plains. Above is the remains of the building of the FUMC.

It is quite an amazing site to see the remains of this destructive blaze. It burned right up to my great aunt and uncle's house...literally to the wall of the house...and did not burn it down. It was one of the most random destructions I've ever seen. It burned very hot. There are some places where the deepest black I've ever seen remains, and other places where there is just a light ash. How does this happen? Honestly, I have no idea.

This is what I do know. Fire burns, it destroys, but the Word says it refines. While in this case gold was not burned to be refined, refining is and has taken place. Hearts are being refined. Dependency in Christ is being reclaimed. God is working mightily in a small, inconspicuous town.

We attended church at the local Presbyterian church. I also have fond memories of this building and church - it was great-grandmother's church. So the Methodists were invited in and worshipped with the Presbyterians this last Sunday morning...the Body of Christ gathered. The Presbyterian minister taught last Sunday, and he had a wonderful word to bring to the small congregation. He spoke of when the walls crumble around you. He asked which stone was your foundation? Was it the stone of money, belongings, or fear...or was it the stone and rock of Christ? If only that had been determined before the fire...

For this town, it has been determined. Christ is their firm foundation, He is their stone and their rock...He will never crumble or be destroyed by the fire.

As we sang "Standing on the Promises", tears streamed down my face and my mother's. It is true...He is all there is to stand firmly on. He is the promise of redemption, salvation, and grace. He is IT. He is the All in All.