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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #926 October 6, 2003 Autumn Leaves It's autumn in Alberta. The leaves are a bright golden yellow. Since most of the native trees here (at least those that shed their leaves) are poplar, willow and birch, yellow is the color we see. We don't get the magnificent colors that many places do, but our Autumn has a beauty all it's own. Being Alberta, it could stay relatively nice right up to Christmas. Or it could drop to -40 before the end of the month. Or it could be some constantly changing mix of the two. We never quite know what to expect so we enjoy each nice day as we get it. Life's like that. Things could be beautiful for a while, or the bottom might fall out of your life. Your life might be a roller coaster of highs and lows from day to day or week to week and you're never quite sure what to expect. We worry about what the next day is going to bring, even when times are good. Will the good times continue? Will things fall apart? If they fall part how long before they get better again? If things are bad we worry too. Will they get worse? How much more can I take? How will I manage? In good times or bad, we manage to find something to worry about. I've heard it said that most of us are such good worriers that 90% or more of what we worry about never happens. Jesus told us to lighten up. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34 NIV We're not in control. We can't change most things or prevent bad things from happening. God is in control, that's His department. He knows all about it before it happens and has a plan to deal with it. There's no way that I'm going to get up tomorrow and suddenly be faced with a worrisome situation that God didn't plan for. Heaven is not going to grind to a halt as God ponders "Now what? That darned Kevin! He's always coming up with things I didn't plan for. Okay, rewind creation so I can work this all out!" It's foolishness to think of God in those terms. If that was the case, He wouldn't be God. We're called to rejoice in the midst of whatever is going on around us. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV Even in the midst of pain and grief, we can rejoice. God is there and He's in control. That's a reason for anyone to rejoice. Until next time. Rejoice. Rejoice and again I say rejoice. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly realm. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:6 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 are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you. HELP FOR THE HURTING Life is spinning out of control. You can't quite seem to get a handle on it. Things have gone from bad to worse and you don't know what to do next. Does any of this sound familiar? You need Jesus in your life to help you get through it all. He doesn't want you to wait until you've "got it all together" because no one ever does. He simply wants you to reach out for Him in the midst of whatever life is throwing your way. 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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