Subj : Bring Out The Shine
To   : All
From : Newborn
Date : Wed Sep 21 2005 21:51:00

Many years ago a man bought a 1964 Volkswagon from his next door neighbor.  The
car was mechanicallly sound, but the outside looked pretty rough.  Dents marred
its surface, and dirt and grime had dulled its once deep blue color.

As time passed, he wondered if its original luster and beauty could be
restored.  He was sure the bumps could be eliminated, but what about the
finish?  So he began an experiment on some of the worse spots.  Much to his
delight, he discovered that with a lot of elbow grease and some rubbing
compound his drab little Volkswagen could be brought to a beautiful shine.

We too have the wonderful potential of reflecting the beauty of the Savior,
But sin has left its mark on ur personalities, and a lot of 'road film' needs
to be removed before the lovely character of Jesus can be seen in us.

God often brings about this change through the buffing of hardship and trials,
for pressure has a way of loosening the dirt and grime of  rebellion and
selfishness.

The Bible tells us that tribulation produces perseverance, character, hope, and
confidence by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3-5).  We might wish that a speedy 'car
wash' could do the job, but theres no substitue for the difficulties that can
bring out the shine of Christlike character.

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without
adversity"

Newborn

Christianity is a personal relationship, not a religion.
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 þ Synchronet þ Origin: The Hard Drive Cafe - Montgomery Al USA - www.hdcbbs.net

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