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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 852 July 5, 2003 RAIN I awakened this morning to the sound of pouring rain. From the look of things, it had been raining hard for hours. I looked out and saw the water running down the street like it was a river. I had passing thoughts about Noah and the flood (knowing full well that God promised not to destroy the world by flood again. I went to the Bible and reread the story of Noah (Genesis 6-9). It's truly an amazing story and there is a lot there that you probably don't remember from Sunday school class (which is the only time most people ever heard the story, most Christians have never bothered to read it believing they already "know" the story). Noah was a rarity in his day. He was a godly man. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Genesis 6:9 NIV Noah labored for a long time to build an ark, in the midst of a world that had never even seen rain. He was ridiculed by friends and neighbors. I don't doubt that his boat was the laughing stock of his nation, and that people came by just to see the weirdo at work. Through it all He persevered and worked in trust and obedience to God. Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Genesis 6:22 NIV And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. Genesis 7:5 NIV When the rains came, it was a different story. I'm certain that many who laughed at Noah suddenly wanted a ride on his boat. It was too late because the Lord had sealed Noah in and the world out. God rewarded Noah for his faithfulness, and allowed the rest of the world to face the consequences of their own evil ways. They knew there was an alternative, but they chose to reject it. Just like much of the world today, God offers them freedom and salvation but they laugh at His offer. We need to be modern day Noah’s and walk in obedience. We don't have a boat to build, but we have a message of truth to take to a lost and hurting world. There is a God who loves them and wants to save them from themselves. All they need do is accept Him. Don't worry if you feel like you're the only one. Don't worry if you get ridiculed or persecuted. God ALWAYS rewards His faithful. Don't worry if you're not seeing results. It took Noah 150 years to build the ark. Just keep walking in love and faithfulness and let God worry about the results. Until next time, hang in there with your faithfulness and persevere. Pray for the salvation of those around you and share the truth in word and by the way you live your life. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are rewarded by God. But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." Isaiah 49:4 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 Don't be fooled by God's long standing patience. The judgment of the wicked comes to all of us. The only way to escape the righteous wrath of God is through a right relationship with Him. You can't work your way into that relationship, but you can have it just for the asking. 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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