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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,013 January 21, 2004 Too Late I was up early this morning to make sure the garbage got out on time. I had forgotten to put it out last night and the garbage men often come early. I didn't want a repeat of last week. I had forgotten garbage day entirely last week, until I heard them pull up and by then it was too late. In the time it would have taken me to get downstairs, get my shoes on and get outside they had already moved down the road. It wasn't that I didn't know when garbage day was. I have a big schedule posted on the fridge. I had simply become side tracked and it slipped my mind until it was too late. There are things in life that one wants to be prepared for and not miss out one. Compared to them, missing garbage day is a pretty minor event. "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " `No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13 NIV (For more parables on the same theme see Matthew 25:13-46) Jesus is coming back. He promises us that and He always keeps His Word. We know for certain that He's coming and that His return will be sudden and without warning. Are you ready? Until next time, may you live your life as if He was going to appear any moment (and He might just do that). Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin OUR GOD IS Jesus is THE truth. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus as Saviour, He lives in you On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you John 14:20 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 We've all made mistakes in our lives. We've done things that we know wouldn't please God. Is there anything we can do about it? To start with, Jesus is coming back and everyone must face that fact. If He doesn't come back in our lifetime, we still face Him. You can be prepared for that moment and face it with confidence. There is a choice of two destinations, heaven or hell. It is our choice. We choose heaven or hell. God doesn't send anyone to hell, our own sins send us there. If we choose to accept Christ's offer of eternal life and forgiveness we go with Him. If we reject Him or choose not to make a choice, we go to hell. He won't reject anyone who earnestly seeks Him with an open and repentant heart. There isn't any other way, just Jesus. Will you open your heart to Him 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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