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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • Unexpected – Thoughts on worry

    Unexpected – Thoughts on worry

    Mother Sandhill with chick
    Mother Sandhill Crane with juvenile

    Some personal reflection this morning. Today’s image has  nothing to do with the content. I simply like this image of a sandhill crane.

    Just over five years ago, I had surgery to remove a cancerous mass from my left kidney. It was discovered quite by accident (read God’s providence) when I rolled my truck, and the hospital ER was checking out the extent of my injuries.

    Each year, near the anniversary of the surgery, I undergo a series of routine blood tests and have a CT scan to confirm all is clear.

    Last year was my five-year check-up.

    I was feeling great as I awaited my by-phone doctor’s appointment. I would be officially five years cancer-free, and the risk of recurrence was considered extremely low after that point.

    The doctor informed me that all the results from the blood tests were normal. My kidney function was so high that there was no evidence of it ever having had an issue.

    I was feeling great, five years cancer-free. Then, you guessed it, there was a “but”. I have a lesion on the left kidney and spots on the right, which will need further testing.

    I was crushed and depressed for the balance of the day. I had known that such a result was possible and that if something showed up, it would be in the very early stages, so easily treated. I also knew that God is entirely in control, no matter what happened, so that I could face whatever news without fear.

    I promptly forgot all that for the next twenty hours and felt sorry for myself. Then I remembered what I knew about God and His plans and moved forward.

    The next step is an MRI, which, depending on the backlog in our medical system, could take many months to get an appointment. From there, only the Lord knows the next step at this point.

    Is it cancer? Maybe. Am I worried? Not really, for the same reasons I forgot.

    My faith in the goodness of God and HIs love for His children is stronger than my fears. More than 350 times in the Bible, we are told to “Fear not”.

    I know he has my back.


    Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:26-34 ESV

    With Jesus, we can face anything, even if the outcome isn’t to our liking.

    Trust Jesus no matter what and praise His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Where do you find faith in chaos

    Some thoughts on tribulation and perseverance

    When the end comes, can you claim you didn’t know?

  • A Single Blade of Grass

    A Single Blade of Grass

    All nature points us towards God

    a blade of grass setting seed

    It’s just a single blade of grass that’s going to seed. It’s such a  common sight that we walk right by and never pay attention to it.

    Yet, in it’s own way this grass is a miracle. The original designer of this plant programmed it to grow, and when it reached a particular state of maturity, to produce the seeds needed to replicate itself. There are more seeds because it is likely that they will not all get the chance to germinate or mature to fruition.

    We don’t think of it as miraculous because it is commonplace. We have all seen it happen millions or even billions of times without giving it any thought.

    The fact that it happens so often numbs us to the miracle. The design is the work of the master designer. While this particular blade of grass can trace its ancestry to another plant, likely on the ground nearby, the first grass had to come from somewhere.

    The fact that it, or anything else in the material world, even exists is something beyond proper comprehension. 

    We see God’s handiwork, the evidence for His existence, everywhere we look. The problem is that we grow so used to seeing it that we become numb.

    All of nature cries out in witness to God.

    The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky aboveproclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6 ESV

    Those who persist in not believing stand condemned.

     For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:18-21 ESV

    Stop now and then and look at the world around you, then give praise to the one who created it all. This same creator loves you enough to die for you.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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