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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #910 September 17, 2003 Church Faces I was thinking this morning as I contemplated the Word about a time a few years ago when we were going through a rough spot. We had a fight in the car on the way to worship, and I yelled at the boys because we were running late. We pulled into the church parking lot, everyone put on their church faces and when asked how we were everyone said "Fine." Actually, to be perfectly honest, that has happened more than once. Now perhaps things like that never happen in your life, but they do occasionally happen in ours. I'm pretty certain that it's a universal thing because almost everyone I speak to knows exactly what I mean when I talk about putting on his/her church face. When we do that, it's really a tragedy. You see, we're called to bear one another's burdens. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV If we don't share others can't have the opportunity to minister. It also creates false expectations for new Christians. They see the people who have been coming to church for years wearing their church faces as if nothing ever goes wrong, and they wonder what is wrong in their own life because they face problems. Living the Christian life isn't a guarantee that we won't have problems. It is guarantee that God will help us through whatever problems we face. The deception that we must have it all together is straight from the pit of hell. God never calls us to be perfect. That won't happen in our life on earth. Nowhere in Scripture does it command us "thou shalt come unto the appointed place of worship wearing thine best church face". In fact some of Jesus harshest words were reserved for the Pharisees and their hypocrisy. Even the most godly people have difficulties at times, so let's not pretend otherwise. It doesn't help our witness, it only harms it. God calls us to worship in spirit and in truth. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24 NIV Our spirits can worship even when our lives seem to be falling apart. We don't need to pretend, we can go to God with whatever is on our hearts and worship. We can be crying out in despair because our life is falling apart and still worship God for who He is. Until next time, put away your church face and be real. God knows already. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are never forsaken. God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5b-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 Becoming a Christian isn't a magical pill that makes all the problems in life disappear. Let's face it, life can be hard at times. Becoming a Christian does mean that you don't have to walk through life's difficulties alone. You can experience love, peace, forgiveness and more as God works in you to transform you to be more like Him. Please don't put it off any longer, open your life to Him today. 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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