|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #932 October 13, 2003 A Garden As I drove into the city, I could see the smog from a long way off. It sat like a heavy gray blanket over everything, slowly choking the life out of all it covered. Even the brilliantly colored hot air balloons looked gray. I drove past the refineries belching toxic fumes. I continued past the mound of rusted old car bodies that seemed fifty feet high, waiting their eventual crushing and recycling. Decaying buildings, with faded signs sat vacant; boards covered in graffiti over what windows that once let light into busy businesses. The drunks staggered along the street. Hookers tried to look sexy, but instead appeared grotesque as they showed their tired, drug filled and abused bodies to people going by. One looked fifteen going on forty. Another looked 25 going on 65. Junkies made dope deals. There was no effort to be discrete. Shared needles added AIDS, hepatitis and more to their already burdened lives. The lady pushing her shopping cart, filled with all she owned, stopped in the middle of the intersection. She screamed at the bus driver something about aliens and then carried on talking to herself. The casinos were booming and it was still the breakfast hour. Desperate people were pulling the machine handle or sitting for one more deal as they dreamed of making it big. The latest, huge jackpot from the government run lottery was splashed a cross a billboard, appealing to the broken dreams of desperate people. A panhandler aggressively sought spare change. The line up of people waiting for breakfast outside the soup kitchen ran down the block and around the corner. The police cordoned off the scene of the latest in gangland killings. Harried rush hour drivers cursed and swore at every delay. They gulped coffee, fixed their makeup and talked on the cell phone all at once. They wanted to be anywhere except in the traffic or perhaps their destinations. At the light, a filthy looking teen spat on the windshield of a stopped car then wiped it with a dirty rag. The window was dirtier than when he started but he yelled at the driver for not giving him a tip. The newspaper headlines said something about political corruption and corporate scandal. The radio news talked of a war overseas, an earthquake and the latest on the deforestation of the rainforest. It was a garden. Satan's garden of Eden. He reveled in the despair and destruction. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy John 10:10a NIV It's a far cry from the paradise that God had intended for us to live in. I could understand why Milton called his epic poem "Paradise Lost." It's not without hope though. God is still in control. He sent His Son to the rescue. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10b NIV He's coming back and He'll restore paradise. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13 NIV Satan may be reveling in the havoc that reigns, over the destruction that goes on, but he doesn't get the last laugh. Don't allow yourself to be drawn into the hopelessness that much of the world sees. We have hope, a hope that overcomes, we have Jesus Christ and He will bring us through it all. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:1-5 NIV Until next time rejoice in the midst of the darkness. We shall overcome is more than a folk song, it is a promise from God Almighty. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are an overcomer. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 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 seen the darkness of Satan's garden. You've walked in the pain of despair and depression and wondered if there was such a thing as a way out. Take heart! There is. A personal relationship with Jesus will help you overcome whatever the enemy throws your way. That relationship is there for the asking 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
|