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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,003 January 9, 2004 Process I went to make my morning coffee and realized that there were dishes to be cleaned up beforehand. There weren't a lot of them, just the usual assortment of cups and small items that accumulate in the evening. I emptied the dishwasher, took out the coffee pot, and reloaded the dishwasher with the overflow that was on the counter. Only then could I start making my morning cup. Fill the pot with water. Dig out a filter. Take out the two varieties of coffee that make up our morning blend (one French vanilla, the other regular). Measure the coffee into the filter, close the filter holder and turn on the switch. Soon there will be coffee. I'll need to take a mug out of the cupboard, get the sugar and the cream and mix the coffee to my taste. Even something as simple as a cup of coffee involves some form of a process. Everything in life does. It's the same way with our faith walk. We have to realize that we're sin filled people who don't have a hope of making it to heaven on our own. Then we can humbly go to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us and be Lord of our life. At that point our sins are forgiven and we have our gate pass to heaven. It's also the start of the process. Our Father in heaven starts to change us into the people He designed us to be. It might come as a shock to some of you to know that Christians aren't perfect. Of course there are hypocrites in the church. Of course Christians fall back into sin. Of course people have been hurt in the church. We're works in process. On this side of glory the church will never be perfected. If you want proof, consider the fact that they let you and I in. I know I'm far from perfect. How about you? We're simply people who have recognized our own broken nature and are on a journey to becoming whole. We're going to mess up now and then. There's going to be friction in congregations or denominations because they are full of imperfect people. We needn't grow discouraged with the process because He promises that He will finish it. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:4-6 NIV Until next time, look to the Master for perfection. The rest of us haven't got there yet. In the interim, we're still called to love and forgive each other. BY THE WAY, DON'T STOP READING HERE! Lots of interesting stuff follows and it changes daily. Read on. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin OUR GOD IS Our God is the Rock. He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus as Saviour you God's workmanship. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 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 Maybe you've been turned off of Christianity because of some of the "Christians" you have met. Perhaps they have been harsh, hypocritical, judgemental or lacking in love. If that's the case, you've misunderstood Christianity. You see, Christianity isn't about being perfect, or being good, or even about Christians. It's not about religion. It's all about the Christ who loves us enough to have died in our place. Being a Christian doesn't make a person automatically perfect. We all stumble and fall. Becoming a Christian means that we know we need help and have turned to the only true source of help, Jesus. We don't think we're better because we're Christians, we know we're a mess. It's just that we know you're a mess too and want you to know the one who can help us both. Don't base your choices for eternity on the actions of people, look to God and see what He has to say. He's waiting to give you forgiveness; love; hope; peace; and joy to go along with eternal life with Him. All you have to do is recognize the need and ask Him into your life. 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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