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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 763 March 22, 2003 - In The Shadows Last night, just before heading off to bed, Genni the wonder dog and I went for a quick stroll along the lake. Across the lake I saw a vehicle and its headlights cut a low swath of light ahead of me. Nothing at all unusual in that, there are often vehicles around day and night. Suddenly, I was taken aback as three huge shadows swooped in on me. It took a moment to figure out what had happened. A flock of geese had just landed and three of them had flown through the headlight glare casting shadows that were ten feet or more long. I had been lost in thought and hadn't even heard the geese coming. The shadow of something can change with relation to its position to the light source. Shadows can be huge, or non-existent. No matter how large it is, a shadow by itself doesn't have any power. The shadow of a dog can't bite you and the shadow of a tree makes lousy firewood. All a shadow does is show that there is light present and something else as well. Shadows can distort. My ten-foot long geese are proof of that. Most people have taken their hands and held them in front of a light source and made shadow puppets that looked like butterflies, dogs or a variety of other creatures. We know the "puppets" are really hands but the shadow looks like something else. In this world many thing are hidden in the shadows. People do things in the shadows that they don't want others to see and often it seems to work. Yet God is the light source, so He sees what is done in the shadow. His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. Job 31:21-22 NIV Nothing is hidden from His eye. We never "get away" with it even if we think we've covered our tracks perfectly. There is another side to shadows, they aren't just a place where people try to hide. The shadow is sometimes a place of comfort, not because of the power of the shadow, but because of the one who casts it. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:8-9 NIV Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-8 NIV There is no need to fear the shadows. The fact that there are shadows means that the Light is near. It's futile to hide your evil in the shadows because that same Light is near. Until next time, rejoice in the shadow of the Lord. He is there casting His shadow over you no matter what you face. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are walking in the Light, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 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. Have you been hiding in the shadows doing things that you would rather not be known? You may fool those around you, but you don't fool yourself and you certainly don't fool God. He sees through the darkest of nights and the thickest of shadows. You know deep in your heart that it's time to give up the way of the shadows and come out into the light of God and be restored. 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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