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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 728 February 10, 2003 - A Bad Tooth Last week, I was complaining about my toothache. Thursday, I went to see the dentist and found a root canal was in order. I've had them done before and while there is some discomfort, they are not particularly painful. The first visit they freeze you up with a local anaesthetic and take out the painful nerve. The dentist packs the tooth temporarily and on a visit a week or so later you go back for the permanent filling. There is no need for anaesthetic on the second visit because there is no nerve to cause pain. They didn't tell me that for my first root canal so when the dentist started drilling without freezing me first I almost went ballistic. This trip, they froze me up with a local anaesthetic and once it was set began to drill. I jumped in pain because the anaesthetic hadn’t quite taken effect in the tooth. They gave me a second shot, same problem. They started putting anaesthetic directly into the tooth to no avail. The tissue was inflamed enough that no amount of anaesthetic was going to work. The dentist ended up doing the root canal without the nerve being frozen. Let me assure you it was less than a joyous moment in my life. I'm certain I left fingerprints carved into the armrests of the chair. The pain was worth it, as I no longer have pain in my tooth. I go back in about ten days for the permanent filling and should have no more problems with that tooth. Sometimes pain and suffering are what we need to go through to experience true healing or to become the people God has called us to be. Being a Christian doesn't make you immune to life's struggles but it does give them meaning and provide someone for you to hold fast to in the midst of them. Fine metals are not purified without time in the furnace. Pottery isn't finished until it has spent time in the kiln. Breads and baked goods are just wet lumps of flour until they've been in the oven for a time. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV Our faith and acceptance of Christ brings us to salvation. Our times of testing and trial bring us closer to purification, to holiness. Our faith grows in the fires of testing. In the midst of trials, in the darkest of places, we can rejoice because He is making us to be more like Christ through it all. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV I confess I wasn't being thankful as the root was being removed from my tooth, but I'm very thankful now that it's over. Until next time, know that whatever you face, God is walking there with you and He will not leave your side. He is carefully moulding and shaping you in the fires of life. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are a branch of the True Vine. [Jesus is speaking] I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 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 going through trials in life? Perhaps God is trying to get your attention! It's time to turn to Him and seek His love and forgiveness. Look to a personal relationship with Jesus of Nazareth. 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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