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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 758 March 17, 2003 - Around the Corner Last week the temperatures were in the -30 range, by Saturday, it was so warm that the storm sewers couldn't keep up with the level of melt water. The street outside our house looked like a lake. There is still a lot of snow on the ground but it is melting rapidly. Everywhere I go people are talking about spring being just around the corner. In Alberta we know that just because it becomes spring on the calendar doesn't mean we won't have miserable weather, but we know that the bulk of it is behind us. I've been hearing the countdown, only two weeks left, only ten days, only five days until spring. The air is heavy with expectancy. In the days of Jesus before the crucifixion, the people of the Holy Land were filled with a sense of expectancy. Was He the Messiah? Would He conquer the Romans? Many were disappointed when He didn't turn out to be the kind of Messiah they were expecting. Yet He was still the Messiah. After the resurrection, the early church expected His immediate return. Many were disappointed when that didn't happen. Yet He will still come. It's always a time to be filled with great expectancy when it comes to God. He has been, is doing and will do incredible things. He is transforming lives and nations. He is moving in wonderful ways. We need to be careful though to remember that the way He does things is not always the way we would do them. What we are expecting might not be what He plans yet He is still God and He knows what is best. What He delivers will be the right thing at exactly the right time, because He is God and He sees the whole picture and not just the little bit that we see. "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." Job 12:13 NIV "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. " Isaiah 55:9 NIV God has big changes for each of us just around the corner. For some it will be a time of trial, for others it will be a time of release. For some it will be a time of prophetic word and for others it will be a time of silence. He knows what we need in our circumstances. Just because the result isn't what we expect, or what we think will be best doesn't mean it is any less under God's control. I'm sure Peter didn't expect God to let Satan come against him. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32 NIV Yet God did allow just that and the result was one of the strongest Christians ever produced. King Nebuchadnezzar praised after losing his kingdom and his mind. Those events were not what the king had in mind and were traumatic, but on the other side, he realized that everything God does or allows has a purpose and God is always worthy of praise. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. Daniel 4:37 NIV Church, it's time to have an air of expectancy, God is about to do something big. I can't tell you what it is, but I do know it's in the wind. Praise God for it. Until next time, remember what ever happens, God is in control and we can rejoice in that. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are sheltered. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1NIV 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. Have been feeling a change in the wind. Perhaps that change is you giving your life to Jesus and being changed for all eternity. If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you 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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