|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 457 April 8, 2002 Butterflies and Hummingbirds Butterflies and hummingbirds are two of the few things in life that I’ve never met or read of someone who had a fear of. I’ve never met a person who said they hated either butterflies or hummingbirds. For whatever reason both often evoke delight in people. I’m always thrilled when I see a hummingbird (they’re not really common in these parts) and I like the bright colours and gentle motion of a butterfly. Many people plant whole gardens or dedicate special sections of their garden to plants that will attract these delightful creatures. I’ve heard an old proverb many times, it’s been described as being Chinese, but I don’t really know where it’s from. I’ve heard it told with both butterflies and hummingbirds. "The winds of our land are the stirring of a butterfly’s (or a hummingbird‘s) wings a world away" Roughly translated, it means that the impact of small things can be felt a long way off. Neither the butterfly nor the hummingbird may ever know of the winds their wings created. Our Christian walk can be like that. Something small that we’ve done or said (without even realizing that we’ve done or said it) can have a profound impact on others. I’ve read stories of families where there have been generations of pastors come from a great-grandparent who came to know Christ through a small act of Christian love by a stranger. I look back on my own journey to faith and I can see that people planted seeds along the way that lead me along my way. These are people I didn’t know or with whom I have no contact. They won’t ever know of their impact until we get to heaven. Sometimes we get discouraged because we walk in faith and don’t see any results. That doesn’t mean we’re not having an impact. What we do or say can impact the friend of a friend of a friend, or can take years to bear fruit. God’s word tells us that even when we don’t see the results our efforts are not futile. 1CO 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV) Until next time, when the enemy is nagging at you to stop because what you are doing is futile remember the winds that the wings of a butterfly or hummingbird cause. Don’t give up, take heart you are making a difference. Hallelu Yah. Kevin To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@hotmail.com. or write us at : Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak Street Sherwood Park, AB Canada, T8A 0V8 At Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential. If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page on our website
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin All Rights Reserved SUBSCRIBE TO GLEANINGS FOR FREE
|
||||