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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 739 February 22, 2003 - Snow Piles The snow in the backyard is getting deep. The corner where the barbeque, the spare patio blocks and some other goodies got left for the winter has taken on a surreal look. They are no longer identifiable as individual objects; they have become a strange shaped mound of snow. The round patio table now looks like a giant snow cake a couple of feet thick. With the exception of the table and the barbeque and the table that aren't buried yet, you would have a difficult time guessing what the individual items are by their shapes. They have lost the form of the original and become something different. None of the items would be usable until I spent some time digging them out from their snow piles. The same happens when we harbour unforgiveness in our hearts. You see unforgiveness doesn’t destroy all at once. It starts as something easily removed, but over time it grows. It covers, it hides, it buries. In time it can change the shape of who we are so that we're not even recognizable. I know a woman who is sweet, caring and a delight to be around. Or perhaps I should say used to be. Many years ago, she was hurt in a divorce and left to struggle through some very difficult times. She's never been able to forgive those hurts and in fact seems to nurture her hurting heart. Perhaps she doesn't know she does it, perhaps she does it so that she won't be hurt again. Now she's vulgar, coarse, bitter and hard to be around for long periods of time. You seldom see even a glimpse of the sweet person who is inside. It's no wonder Scripture puts so much emphasis on letting things go, on forgiving and on setting bitterness aside. We ask for forgiveness and pledge to forgive when we say the Lord's Prayer Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NIV We're told to explicitly told to forgive by Christ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV Forgiveness doesn't have a statute of limitations or a maximum limit. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. [some translations seventy times seven] Matthew 18:21-22 NIV Forgiveness like love is an action; it's not a feeling. It doesn't matter whether you feel like loving someone, or feel like forgiving them, the truth is that as followers of Christ we are called to do it. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14 NIV You have a choice to make. Let go of those things as God has commanded or be buried beyond recognition in your own bitterness and rebellion. What will you do? Until next time, I pray you take the step of forgiving those who have hurt you, especially those that don't deserve it, after all Christ forgave you and I when we didn't deserve it. You can do it in the power of Christ’s love and for the glory of the Lord. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are forgiven. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 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. Has bitterness and unforgiveness made you unrecognizable even to yourself? There is a place to go to be forgiven and to be empowered to set all that stuff aside. Turn to a personal relationship with Jesus. 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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