Many thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing a free copy of As Silver Refined in exchange for an honest review. Don't you love how God can take a mess of a human being and transform them into something pure and beautiful? As I read As Silver Refined I realized Kay Arthur, the author, is one such Christian. God can take the worse of us and begin to refine us into the person He created us to be. We can allow God to use life's afflictions for His glory or we can fight against Him and fall into what Arthur calls the five Deadly D's- disappointment, discouragement, dejection, despair and demoralization.
Every person is bound to face trials and tribulations, but what we do with them determines the type of person we will be. If we react in anger that fans the flames. However, if we turn to our Lord's Word seeking to discover His will for our lives, God in turn will refine us to the character of His Son. Submission to His will never comes naturally for us; we must always fight against our Adversary and cling to our Lord's sovereignty and might.
This is my first Kay Arthur book and frankly I didn't know what to expect. It was exciting to know she is a well-renowned Bible teacher and author of over one hundred books. Her writing certainly proves her extensive experience. Better yet though, was that within the first half of As Silver Refined I felt I knew her so well that if I actually ran into her I might accidentally call her "Kay." The book is intense study, yet she manages to be so personal and inviting that that must be part of her success.
Arthur's use of language grabs your attention and holds it. "Whatever the disappointment, it is God's appointment- and that assures us it's His gift, bestowed upon us in the rich outpouring of His grace." That is one of several line's I want to remember always. Mrs. Arthur makes good use of parentheses as she inserts little side notes and quips, such as, "Where there is hope there can never be despair. (You may want to pause and think about that one!)."
Reading As Silver Refined will take you into a sanctuary with Kay Arthur seated by your side as she delves into the Word. This isn't a book for a quick perusal, but one that will etch itself and God's Word upon your heart. If you do want to dig in further, there is an accompanying 13-week study in the back of the book. I am sure with any effort and prayer God certainly will work within you and refine you as silver.
About the author: KAY ARTHUR founded Precept Ministries International with her husband, Jack, in 1970. What started as a fledgling ministry to teens is now a worldwide outreach with Inductive Bible Studies in nearly 150 countries and 70 languages. Arthur has written 100-plus books and Bible studies, including the Gold Medallion-winner Lord, I Need Grace to Make It Today. Arthur reaches over 90 million viewers and listeners through her half-hour television program Precepts for Life and the one-minute radio feature Precepts from God's Word, aired on nearly 1,000 radio and television stations worldwide and available online at www.preceptsforlife.com.
Kay received the National Religious Broadcasters "Best Television Teaching Program" award in 2004 and in 2009 for Precepts For Life, Precept Ministries' half-hour television program. She holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tennessee Temple University. For more information about Kay Arthur and Precept Ministries International, visit http://www.precept.org/.
Read Chapter One of As Silver Refined
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