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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #436 March 8, 2002 A Pirouette of Praise I watched a kindergarten age or younger girl race from her classroom to the gym during her AWANA youth group. She thundered down the stairs with all the speed she could muster. She was half singing, half talking out loud on the run "Gotta get there! More time to play! More time for fun!" Passing the kitchen where snack was being prepared she saw carrots. She bounced up and down, spun in a circle a couple of times saying "Carrots! Carrots! I LOVE carrots!" She was full of joy to the point of exploding. It was a dance of simple, uninhibited joy over life’s simplest things, carrots and playtime. If I could have bottled that joy, I’d be a wealthy man. Sometimes when I think of joy, I think of the prayer of Habakkuk Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV In the midst of a world falling apart, he finds joy in the Lord. As wonderful a picture as this prayer paints, the English language doesn’t capture the true strength of his joy. The line "I will be joyful in God my Savior" is written in some translations as "I will joy&ldots;" which is closer to the Hebrew because it shows the joy to be a verb not a noun. Some writers have translated the Hebrew used here for the word "joy" or "will be joyful" as spinning about with delight and adoration. In the midst of his despair Habakkuk does a pirouette of praise for God. Like the little girl and her carrots, he spins with joy. When was the last time, you were spinning with joy? Until next time, may you delight in God every moment and do your own pirouette of praise. God bless. Kevin Do you know the God who can make you spin around with joy regardless of what you are going through? 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 If you pray this prayer let me know and I will direct you to some free non-denominational resources that will help you grow in that newfound relationship. To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@hotmail.com. or write us at : Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak Street Sherwood Park, AB Canada, T8A 0V8 At Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential. 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 on our website
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin All Rights Reserved SUBSCRIBE TO GLEANINGS FOR FREE
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