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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,060 March 17, 2004 I've Seen Them! As soon as I finished sending yesterday's Gleanings, I jumped in the car and headed out to the doctor's office. I looked out at the lake and I saw them. Three pairs of geese were walking around on the ice. They're no longer unseen! As I drove to the doctor, my mind wandered into an imaginary dialogue between the goose and the gander. I know geese don't really talk (although they do have an extensive vocabulary for communicating with one another), but I imagined a pair of them talking as a couple of people in a similar situation. "Beat the rush you said. Come early and get a good spot to nest. It's nearly spring there you said. You told me that we'll have the choice of nesting spots. We could have stayed where it was warm and the ice was off the lake for another couple of weeks." "We're here now, we might as well make the best of it." "That's the last time I let you make the plans. Next year we're waiting another two weeks. What are we going to eat? Everything is covered in snow." "It's not that deep, look all it takes is a little digging." "A little digging? A little digging? There's still a foot of snow in places. Besides that my feet are cold and look what's under the snow ... dead grass. Some fresh green shoots would be nice, but no ... we have to eat dead stuff." and on it went.. Of course I have no idea what the geese really thought, but I just assumed they were as prone to whining and complaining as people are. We all complain and criticize. It just seems to come naturally to us. It doesn't seem to be something we have to be taught how to do. I believe it's just part of the fleshly nature to be discontent. The Bible is full of accounts of God's people complaining. They complained when they were brought out of bondage in Egypt and hit the Red Sea. They complained when they got to the edge of the Promised Land. They complained in the desert. They complained about the manna and quail. It seems as if there was hardly a time when they weren't complaining about someone, or something. We're no different. We complain that worship is too early or too late. We complain that church is too short or to long. We complain that the music is too old fashioned, too new, too loud, not loud enough. We whine that the sermon was too technical or not "meaty" enough. The preacher doesn't talk about anything but salvation or doesn't talk enough about our need for Jesus. And on and on we go. Let's be blunt. There is a time and place for legitimate, constructive criticism that's appropriately shared, but most of it is just whining. Whining is a sin. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Philippians 2:14-15 NIV Our whining and complaining is poisonous. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12 NIV It's time we all did a self check. What's coming out of our mouths? If it's whining and complaining, it's time for us to shut our mouths and get on our knees in repentance. Until next time, may the words from our lips be words of praise, kindness and joy. Be blessed Kevin 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 You've known some Christians and found them to complain just as much as non-Christians and heard venom on their lips. You don't want anything to do with a "religion" like that. I don't blame you, neither do I. Being a Christian isn't about a religion, it's about having a personal relationship with the Living God. He disapproves of the words from Christian's mouths just as much as you do. Don't be turned off by imperfect Christians, after all if perfection was required to be saved from hell no one would make it. Look to Jesus and to His desires for you and your life. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. What He wants has nothing to do with ritual and rules. It has everything to do with changing hearts and lives, with making us more loving and with our personal relationship with Him. Make today the day you accept Jesus and begin a change that will last for all eternity. He offers us love; hope; peace; joy; forgiveness and eternal life. Will you take Him up on His offer? You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer, it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to all who will accept it: 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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