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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue #521 June 17, 2002 Flowerbed Surprise My wife and I have just returned from a delightful four day holiday in the midst of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. When I returned I found all my email inboxes filled to capacity; it may take me a few days to get caught up and answer all of you. If you sent an email that bounced because of a shortage of space, please accept my apologies and feel free to resend it. Kathy and I spent a couple of days at a tiny, rustic resort on a mountaintop in British Columbia. No telephones, no electricity and no fixed agenda of places to go or things to do. Simply plenty of time with each other and with God. Near our cabin there was a bed of wildflowers. I don’t know what they were, some pretty little white flower that was so common that I stopped even really noticing them after a while. At one point, I happened to glance at the flowerbed and came to a sudden realization. The flowers weren’t all the same. Nestled in the midst of the sea of common white flowers were several small clumps of a tiny, but beautiful white orchid. I had walked by them numerous times and never knew they were there because the sea of white flowers hid them well. Seeing the orchids was a treat. It wasn’t a treat because of anything special they did; after all they just sat there and bloomed like all the rest of the flowers. It was a treat because even though they were lost in a mass of other flowers, God had made them different. In the same way, as a Christians we are often lost in the mass of humanity. We’re simply one of six billion plus people on this planet. If we stand out and make an impact, it’s not because of something we’ve done. It’s because God is at work in us. On our own, we’re unique but not all that different. Empowered by Holy Spirit, we are privileged to shine a light to the rest of the world. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV We are special, we are unique, but it is because of Him, through Him, by Him and for Him, not because of anything we’ve done. Show your light, but never forget that our faith is a gift. Our uniqueness and blessing doesn’t make us better than others, it simply gives us a hope to share with them. Until next time, delight in being one of God’s own and tell one of those around you about Him. Introduce them to the reason for your hope. Hallelu Yah Be blessed. Kevin Are you feeling lost in a sea of people, feeling no different and like you have no hope? Check out the blessings and hope that can be yours as a child of God. Email me and I’ll share some Bible verses that explain why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important and a prayer that will make it possible Or simply begin the relationship by saying a prayer along the lines of: Dear God: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. 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 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 prayer concerns and praise reports email us. If you enjoy 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 To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/lists/ or email me at gleanings@gleaningsfromtheword.com
To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us or write us at Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2002 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministries International All Rights Reserved
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