|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #928 October 8, 2003 Ripples and Reflections Genni the wonder dog and I went for our usual stroll last night. It was a little later than usual and was dark out. Well it never gets truly dark around the lake because there are enough lights in the area that there is always at least a little light. There was the slightest hit of a breeze blowing across the lake. Just enough to make tiny waves. Actually, waves makes them sound bigger than they were. Let's call them ripples. Each place around the lake where there was a light source, there was a reflection of that light. The reflections carried out on the ripples well beyond where the illumination ended. At the crest of each ripple the reflection of the light dance for just a moment. As the ripple moved, the light seemed to move with it. In some cases you could see the lighted reflection dance across the ripples for a couple of hundred yards. My eyes were invariably drawn along the wave of rippling light back to the source. Where there was no lighted ripple, there was nothing of visual interest That's the way we're called to live out our lives as Christians. There should be something about us that even from a distance people's eyes are drawn towards the light of Jesus living in us. Jesus understood this concept clearly. That's why He told us: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 NIV In the same way the street lights were carried great distances by the ripples, the light of our lives is carried by the way we live our lives. If you're walking the talk, there is something different about you. People might not be able to explain what it is, but they can see it. Love, integrity, peace, hope and joy carry a long way in a dark and hurting world. Do you let yours speak for you or do you hide it and only let it out on Sunday mornings? We're called to let our love light shine for other to see. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 NIV Until next time, may the wonder of your personal relationship carry over the ripples in the darkness and draw others in the direction of the love of Jesus. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you have the light of life. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 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 You've been walking in the darkness a long time. You've begun to question if there's even any light out there. There is. There is peace, joy, hope, love, forgiveness and eternal life out there for the asking. All you need to do is bring Jesus into your life. 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
|