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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 397 January 28, 2002 Icy Roses I walked into the florist to pick up some flowers as a gift. As I stood paying for my purchase, I noticed some roses tossed into the trashcan. I asked about them and was told that they had been frozen in shipping and the outer petals damaged. They looked fine to me and I talked the florist into giving them to me. I took the roses to my office, placed them in a vase and set them in the sunny window. They opened over the course of the next few days. The outer petals turned black but the rest of each rose was beautiful and fragrant. To me the dark outer petals framed the beautiful inner beauty of the roses. I don’t recall ever seeing roses that beautiful before or since. I think that is how the Lord sometimes sees us. We have been damaged on the outside through circumstance or bad choices and the world seems ready to discard us. He rescues us and places us in a warm and safe spot. We bloom under His care. Our past imperfections provide a beautiful frame to show off our newly revealed beauty. His love, forgiveness and acceptance let us bloom to our best. We slowly open and become more and more like Him. The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Isaiah 35:1-2 NIV Until next time, may the Love of Jesus fill you with joy and allow you to blossom to be the person He designed you to be. God bless. Kevin Are you like those frozen and discarded roses I found? Have you been hurt by life or bad circumstances and left feeling without worth? Check out Jesus, who loves unconditionally and restores. Email me and I’ll share a few Bible verses that explain why a relationship with Him is so important and a prayer that will make it possible. No matter how hurt and damaged we are He can bring restoration and beauty to us. To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@hotmail.com. or write us at : Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak Street Sherwood Park, AB Canada, T8A 0V8 At Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential. 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 on our website
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin All Rights Reserved SUBSCRIBE TO GLEANINGS FOR FREE
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