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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #894 August 29, 2003 Lonely Goose There is a lonely Canada goose hanging around the lake. He(?) was born there this summer and has gown to maturity. He's been pretty lonely of late. The rest of the geese spend most of their time at nearby farmers fields fattening up for the long flight south. They fly back to the lake for brief periods in the morning. My lonely goose can't fly. I haven't been able to get close enough to know for sure what the problem is, but he has a problem with his wings. He is either missing one wing or his wings didn't develop fully. Even his swimming is ungainly, so he has other problems as well. I don't know if he was born with problems or survived an attack with a predator. Whatever the cause, he won't survive come winter. During the day he hangs out with a flock of mallards who seem to reluctantly accept his presence. When the mallards bed down for the night and other geese are flying by, his loneliness really shows. Geese have a special call to one another when they've been separated and are trying to get back together. It's a pitiful sounding sort of honk. When the mallards bed down and the other geese fly over, my lonely goose calls it out virtually non-stop. I thought he was going to have some company last night. He called and a small flock of passing geese answered and began to circle to land. As they made their final approach a car backfired and frightened them off leaving him on his own. The world is full of people who feel like that poor goose. I think we've all had times where we've felt desperately alone even in the midst of other people. Fortunately, for those who are in Christ, we never need feel that way again. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Psalm 27:10 NIV For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Psalm 94:14 NIV Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you 1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV He's right there with you, living inside of you. Until next time, may you come to know the blessing of Christ's indwelling presence. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are indwelt by Holy Spirit. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:14 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 are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you. HELP FOR THE HURTING Loneliness is rated as one the biggest problems plaguing the world. In the midst of an ever increasing population, people are feeling more and more isolated. Do you feel alone in the midst of a sea of people? You don't have to. With Christ you need never feel lonely again. All you have to do is ask Him into your life. 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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