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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life
PRAYER REQUESTS Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? If you are in need of prayer, simply drop us a note. Issue # 798 May 3, 2003 Morning Song I got up this morning, looked out the window and saw snow everywhere. That's not unusual for Alberta, the weather this time of year can be pretty variable. In May we can have temperatures that range from -20C to +30C. I suppose seasonal norm would be around +10 or so. I've been doing a lot of thinking about mornings, fresh starts and new beginnings as we draw ever closer to launching our new ministry. Rather than think about the snow on the ground this morning, I opted instead to remember a more pleasant morning a couple of years ago. The fall air was crisp and the morning mist weighed heavily on the lake, like thick grey wool. Off to the east the sun was just barely beginning to cut through the early morning darkness. I was sitting outside the tent, sipping my coffee and waiting for enough light to go fishing. No one else in camp was stirring. The ducks and loons were awake and talking back and forth to each other. A squirrel was bolding going from campsite to campsite looking for bits of breakfast. The last of the evening bats, swooped to catch a moth and flew away silently into the darkness. In the distance I heard the sound of a grouse drumming. The blackbirds began to sing their morning song. I'm not certain what it is about the sound of a red winged blackbird's call, but to me it is always a pleasant sound. I was reminded of the song performed by Cat Stevens (the lyrics were written by Eleanor Farjeon). Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the word Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall, on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day While there is tragedy in the fact that Mr Stevens missed the boat and turned to Islam, the lyrics of that song really capture the feeling of my frosty fall morning. The author of the lyrics, Miss Farjeon was a poet, writer and storyteller who passed away in 1965. I don't know if she was a woman of faith or not, but something one morning stirred her to see God's hand in the world. God's recreation of the new day is truly something to celebrate. No matter what the night before has brought us, we are blessed with a fresh start, a new beginning in the morning. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV I can't think of a single person who hasn't needed a fresh start, a new beginning at various points in their life. Jesus is that start. Like the new day, he brings us fresh promise. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV After the darkness of Jesus’ internment after His death and crucifixion came the new dawn of His resurrection. I don't know if they have blackbirds in Israel, but I can't imagine that the garden of Gethsemane was quiet that morning. I am certain that the birds must have been singing the triumph of a new day, even though they would not have understood His rising. A new morning, a new start, every day. Praise God! Until next time, I'll borrow a line from Miss Farjeon: Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are being renewed. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 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. 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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