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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 794 April 29, 2003 Can We Talk PRAYER REQUESTS Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? If you are in need of prayer, simply drop us a note. Issue # 794 April 29, 2003 Can We Talk Can we talk? I'd love to be able to do that in person with each of the tens of thousands of you who read Gleanings faithfully every day. It's not possible so let's take a brief trip into imagination and I'll talk with you one on one there. Picture yourself in my office. The walls are lined with books and there is a computer workstation in the corner. Most of it is stacked with books. One wall is covered in photographs of people that I'm praying for. There's a stuffed rocking chair with a small table beside it to hold a coffee. In front of my rocker is a hand hooked rug, done by my wife and mother-in-law that shows a team of sled dogs running across the ice in the sunset. That's where Genni the wonder dog lies. There's a love seat with a throw on the back of it that my son Kris brought back from a mission trip to Mexico. When my friends visit they tend to sprawl out on the love seat and if it's cool, with often put the throw on their lap or across their feet. There’s also a surface on either end of the loveseat to hold your coffee or tea. On the wall behind the loveseat is a large world map full of pins. The black pins are places where our readers live (more than 75 countries that I know of). The red pins are places we have supported missionaries at one point or another. So come in my friend, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and have a seat. Feel free to make yourself comfortable on the loveseat. I've been wanting to talk with you for some time now. I know that you know God loves you, but I'm not sure you realize just how deep that love is, so I want to help you understand more. When God made the earth and everything on it He deemed it good. When he added people it was so much more. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 NIV People made the creation VERY good. That doesn't just apply to Adam and Eve, it remains true today for you and I and the people around us. God has chosen you to be part of His special people. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV God knows that you’ve done things in our life that aren't pleasing to Him. He takes the filthy rags of your sin and replaces them with fine white linen. Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. Zechariah 3:3-5 NIV Don't you understand? You are so very precious to Him. You're the apple of His eye. You are the spotless virgin bride. He loves you so much that He sent His son to come and die on your behalf. He wants to bless you. He wants to transform you into being everything that He has created you to be. He's given you gifts and talents in a combination that no one else in the entire world has. He sent Holy Spirit to live in your heart. Imagine that, God himself living in you. He knows about every thing you've ever done and everything you ever will do. He knows the deepest darkest secrets of your heart and He still loves you beyond measure. He even knows the thoughts you've had that you would be afraid to act on, but still He seeks you out. He loves you so much that He created a special spot in heaven for you that no one else can ever fill. He knows all the times you've taken Him for granted; all the times you've deliberately disobeyed Him or even blasphemed Him, yet He still stands there waiting for you with open arms. Take the biggest love you can imagine and multiply it an infinite number of times and He loves you more than that. My friend, I wish I could just explain to you how deep and wonderful His love for you is. If I had a lifetime and was the most articulate person on the face of the earth I still couldn't do it. I could tell you that His love is bigger than space. It's deeper than an ocean. It's more than all the love the people of the world combined have ever experienced. I know that you have some understanding of how big that love is, but I know you're like me and despite it all, you still mess up. You stumble into sin and wilful disobedience. You don't share Him with others because you're more afraid of man than interested in pleasing the one who loves you so much. You chase the idols of money, success, drugs, alcohol, sex and more. You don't spend much time talking with Him or in reading His love letter to you (the Bible). You only remember Him when you're in a crisis and need His help. My friend I know you've accepted Him and called yourself a Christian but let me ask you, does your life really reflect what you believe? If not, then let's pray together and recommit our lives to Him. Father I confess that I haven't done a very good job of being your disciple. I've messed up more times than I can even remember. I've taken you for granted and done things I'm not proud of. I haven't spent much time with you lately and I've been lax about sharing you with others. Father forgive me. Restore me to you. I recommit my life to you and ask that you show me how you want me to live my life in your service. Thank you for the love that's so big I just can't comprehend it. You are God and I'm not. I'm so thankful for that. Amen Until next time draw close to the one who loves you beyond your wildest dreams. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are clay in His hands, to be moulded into something wonderful. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us 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 . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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