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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 726 February 7, 2003 - Just One Cup I was just tending to my morning ritual of making a cup of coffee. Most days I have one cup, although Tuesdays and Sundays I usually have two cups because of my schedule. Tuesdays, a good friend and I get together for prayer and fellowship and we have a coffee together. Sundays, I have extra because I usually have a cup when teaching my adult Sunday school class (if you live in the Edmonton, Alberta area, our adult Sunday school meets at Good News Moravian Church (Sherwood Park) at 9:30 Sunday mornings). There was a point in time where my coffee consumption was measured in pots not cups. In my days at the bank, I would have a cup driving to work, I'd often have a pot while reading the business papers and doing paperwork before the rest of the staff came in and then continuous cups all day as met with various clients and staff members. I kept the coffee hot by topping up the mug every time it started to cool a little and I seldom left a cup unfinished. Today, if my coffee grows cold or I find I'm not enjoying it, I simply don't finish. I rarely have a cup of coffee after 3:00 p.m. and often go to the local coffee shop and order a water or juice. In the old days that would have been akin to blasphemy in my mind. There's no doubt that my coffee habit in those days was a major problem. If I were to drink that much coffee now, I'd be on such an incredible case of caffeine overload that I don't think my body could handle it. These days, I will even go on periodic fasts from coffee for a few days just to make certain that my coffee intake is still because I enjoy it and not just a habit. A little coffee is (for most people) a harmless diversion, a pleasant warm beverage. Taken in moderation, there are no adverse health affects. Like anything else in life, where a little is okay, we need to be careful that it doesn't just slip into the area of excess. Scripture is full of warnings about the dangers of excess. A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19 NIV Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Proverbs 23:20 NIV That last one is an "ouch" for me as I have been struggling to defeat the issues that allow me to overeat. I have been making modest progress with God's help but have a lifetime of bad habits to overcome. Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8 NIV While we need to be careful not to move into the realm of excess in life, there are three things that you cannot have too much of, faith, love, hope. The fullness of each is found in Christ, so we can never have too much Jesus in our lives. We can have too much religion but not too much Jesus. We can do too many churchy things, but never have too much Jesus. Until next time, if you have areas in life that are taken to excess, may you fill them instead with Jesus. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are betrothed. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. Hosea 2:19-20 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. Are you like most people and know that the things you have done in life would make you unfit to be in God's presence, let alone be His bride? No problem, there is nothing you can have done that is too bad to be washed clean through the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf. Forgiveness and renewal are there for the asking. If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you 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 Ministisries International - All Rights Reserved
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