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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,000 January 6, 2004 Tiny Tracks We've hit a milestone issue today, Gleanings From The Word issue #1,000. That's 1,000 mornings of getting up and listening for what God would have me write for that day. Issue 1,000 means we've been coming into some of your homes for more than three years now. The Lord has blessed us with wonderful snippets of how He's at work in the world through the things you have shared with us, and He is hard at work on every corner of the earth. We've been humbled and thrilled to learn the various ways that He has used what I write to reach out and touch people that we would otherwise never encounter in more than 80 countries. We're mirrored on websites, used in newspapers and magazines, printed in church bulletins and even on the radio at times in Trinidad. We've just had our first request to translate Gleanings into Chinese so it can be used there. Our South Africa ministry trip draws ever closer as well and we'll keep you posted on it. We're thrilled to hit 1,000 and looking forward to seeing God's hand at work as we press on towards issue 2,000 and beyond. Thank you for your continued support as readers. Praise God for His faithfulness and His blessing. We stand in awe of the Master's hand at work. Now, on to .... tiny tracks. They were so small that I walked right past them and didn't notice, Kathy saw them and pointed them out to me. A little runway of delicate tracks in the snow, so small as to be nearly invisible. They led from the lawn, across the sidewalk to a tiny tunnel in the snow and under my garage door. We have a mouse. Now I know that a single mouse isn't too big on the overall scheme of life, and hardly enough to qualify me for federal disaster relief funding. But ... a mouse is living the life of luxury in the garage. I'm afraid it will have to go because our garage isn't where we keep the car, it's where we store all our extra "stuff" and there is a lot that a mouse would find attractive and destroy. I know the mouse isn't being intentionally destructive, but that doesn't lessen the potential damage. Something as tiny as our mouse can wreak havoc on things that are stored, particularly if it invites a friend or two over, or happens to be a pregnant female. The worst thing about a "mouse" problem is that it quickly becomes a "mice" problem. The mouse reminds me of the way sin enters our heart. It starts as something so tiny that it's almost unnoticeable, then grows from there. Pretty soon it can run amok and do a great deal of damage. James warns us of the process of sin. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 Those little thoughts build leading to desire and as we dwell on them they lead us headlong towards destruction. It's much easier to deal with sin when its not yet controlling our lives, just as it will be easier for me to solve my mouse problem while their is still only one than if I wait for a full fledged infestation. How's your heart? Are the tracks of sin still tiny and unnoticeable or have they become a superhighway of full blown problems? It's time to rid yourself of those problems. 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 Until next time, may all your problems be smaller than a mouse. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin GOD IS God is the creator of all that there is. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1 NIV YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus as Saviour you are born again. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 2:23 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 Now that the mice have entered your life and you've had to deal with some of the consequences of sin, you know how painful it can be. Even the problems from someone else's sins can spill over and cause us to be hurt in many ways. If only there was something you could do with all that baggage. There is. Jesus came and died to pay the price of your sins. He offers love; peace; joy; hope; eternal life and forgiveness to anyone who will accept it. There is no one so good that they don't need Him, nor is there anyone so bad that He will turn them away. He stands there with His arms wide open just waiting for you to turn to Him. Will you do that today? 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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