Blessings in Disguise

Good Morning my Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you are being encouraged and are an encouragement to others.

 

 

     Today I want to talk to you about "Blessings in Disguise".  Jesus said, "In this world you will have trials, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  So often when we encounter trials or difficult times in our lives, we see them as punishment from God: "What have I done to deserve this?" or we see them as lessons: "What are you trying to teach me, Lord?"  But what if the trials of this life are really God's blessings in disguise?

 

     Consider the children of Israel when Moses went to speak to Pharoah on their behalf.  They had a miserable life under the bondage of slavery.  Moses demanded tht Pharoah, "Let my people go".  Each time Pharoah refused, God brought a plague upon the land and Pharoah made things tougher on the Israelites.  He increased their workload but took away the materials needed to do the job, and when they failed they were beaten.  I'm sure they felt punished.  Why had this trial come upon them?  They complained that they were better off before Moses came to "deliver" them.  What if the first time Moses asked, Pharoah agreed and let the people go?  There would have been no plagues, no extra work, no more cruel punishment.  They would have gladly made their escape with what meager possessions slaves possessed.  But that didn't happen.  Instead Pharoah continued to harden his heart until the day his own firstborn son was taken from him.  By then, Pharoah was so sick of Moses and his people that he sent them out of his land with livestock, clothing, provisions - riches.  They didn't go empty-handed.  Their trial had been a blessing in disguise.

 

     Another example is Peter.  He loved Jesus with all his heart.  He left everything and followed Him.  In the garden of Gethsemane, he was willing to kill for Jesus and had vowed he would even die for him.  How awful Peter must've felt when he heard the cock crow and realized he'd denied his Lord, not once but three times.  And then Jesus was crucified.  There was no opportunity for Peter to apologize, to make things right or to tell Jesus how much he loved him.  What a devastating trial this must've been for Peter.  But not long after that, on the beach, Jesus appeared to Peter and asked him three times (one for each denial) "Do you love me?  Then feed my sheep."  I believe it took this denial, forgiveness and commission for Peter to understand the redemptive work of the cross.  Without it, I don't believe Peter could have made the impassioned speech on the day of Petecost that caused 3000 souls to be saved and more added daily.  Peter's trial was truly a blessing in disguise.

 

     And what of our trials?  Could they too, be blessings in disguise?  In this world you will have trials.  But be of good cheer - Jesus has overcome the world!  For we know that all things work together for good to those who are in Christ Jesus and are the called according to His purpose. 

 

 

 

Keep the faith, the blessing is right around the corner!  Love, Raelynn

The Body of Christ

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray you are sharing the Gospel of Christ in your words, actions and reactions and that it has become who you are and not just what you do.

     Today I want to talk to you about "the Body of Christ".  We first read about the body of Christ in I Corinthians chapter 12 where it describes believers as a body fitting jointly together, each having its place and purpose with Jesus as the head.  I believe this is an accurate description of the body of Christ.  But today, I want to challenge you to take this concept more personally.

     God is a Spirit, the Bible tells us, and while Jesus did walk this earth in bodily form in times past, only His spirit is here with us now.  That being the case, how does He physically do things on the earth today?  He uses His body - you and me.

    We are told to have the mind of Christ.  This represents Jesus as the head of our body.  If the rest ouf our body belonged to Jesus, how would He be using it?  His eyes were kind and caring and filled with compassion, seeing the good in others, seeing  their need.  His ears heard people's cries, complaints and their needs.  He listened.  His mouth spoke words of peace, encouragement, taught of the Father and the Kingdom, gave instruction, direction and never condemned.  His heart belonged solely to the Father.  It was fixed, steadfast.  His arms reached out to the hurting, to widows, to children.  His hands were used to minister to others, to wash His disciple's feet, to heal.  His feet took him wherever the Father told Him to go, they sought out those who were lost, they took him into the company of sinners and the outcast, they did not run away when He was falsely accused.

     If I truly believe that I am the body of Christ - His means of accomplishing things physically on this earth, shouldn't my body be used in the same way His was?  Casting Crowns sings a song called, "If We are the Body".  It asks, "If we are the body, why aren't his arms reaching, why aren't his hands healing, why aren't his words teaching?..."

     Lord, help me to be your body on this earth.  Help me to see with your eyes, hear with your ears, speak with your mouth.  Use my hands and feet as you used yours and let my heart belong solely to the Father, steadfast and immovable.  Amen

This is my sincere prayer.  I hope you make it yours too.  Love in Christ, Raelynn

God's Tithe

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that whatever your lot, God has taught you to say, "It is well with my soul".

     Today, I want to talk to you about "God's Tithe".  Some of you already don't want to read this based on the title - but please do.  I think it will bless you.  The thing that impressed me when I first attended Living Faith Fellowship in Benson was that before the collection was taken, the pastors prayed.  In that prayer, they asked the Lord to bless His tithe and our offering.

     The word "tithe" means "tenth".  It was instituted in Genesis 14 when Abraham was victorious in a battle of 9 kings and immediately following a priest of the Most High God appreared to him and Abraham gave him a tenth of all he had.  It was a thank you, gratitude for the victory, for sparing the lives of his family, for always being there.  Again we see in Genesis 28, Jacob has an encounter with God and he is so blessed by what he is shown that he promises to serve God and give him a tenth of all his possessions.

     People have the mistaken impression that if they go to church, they will have to pay tithe. Tithe is not paid; it is given out of gratitude and not to a church but to God.  If you love God, if He's ever done anything for you (like give you breath to breathe each new day) or shown Himself to you, you should show your gratitude by tithing.

     Malachi 3:10 tells us to "bring the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in my house".  If you attend a church, that is the logical place to bring your tithe.  You give your tithe to God at church and it's between God and those ministers how it is used.  Once you've shown your gratitude by tithing, you've done your part.  The rest is in God's hands.

     If you do not attend a church are you exempt from tithing?  It's always your choice, of course.  You are not forced to tithe.  But Malachi 3:8 says it is possible to rob God by not tithing.  Think about it.  He has poured blessing upon you: life, family, home job, health, possessions, and you can't return a tenth of what first belonged to Him to say thanks?  I'd call that robbing God.

     I've had periods in my life when I was not attending a specific church for whatever reason.  I still tithed.  When I got my paycheck, I cashed it and the first 10% I used to buy grocery store gift cards and I handed them out on the street.  Feeding people, I believe, is a good way to thank God for His bounty toward me.  Did you notice I said  the first 10% of my check went toward this endeavor?  If I'd waited until i paid all my bills and spent on other wants and needs, I'd probably not have 10% left.  God have His best (Jesus) for us.  Should we give Him our left-overs?

     I hope this letter encouraged you to think about tithing a little differently.  When I am obedient to tithe, God meets all my needs.  I never do without.  "Prove Me in this", God says in Malachi 3:10.  Try it and see.  You will be blessed.

Ever grateful,  Raelynn

The Devil's in the Details

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you awoke refreshed and ready to enjoy a new day of God's mercies toward you.

 

 

 

     Today I want to talk to you about "The Devil is in the Details".  Have you heard this saying before?  It is used when someone is fabricating a story and someone else begins asking questions and it's the details that trip them up and cause their lie to unravel.

 

     I was reading the account of the flood in Genesis chapters 7 and 8 and I noticed how detailed God was about when the flood was to begin:  In the 600th year of Noah's life, in the 2nd month, the 17th day of the month.  He specified that it rained 40 days and 40 nights, told us how long it took the waters to abate and told us the exact date the ark rested on Mt. Ararat (in the 7th month, the 17th day of the month).  He told specifically when the mountaintops could be see again (the 1st day of the 10th month) and on what day all the waters of the earth were dried (the 601st year of Noah's life, the 27th day of the 2nd month).  Why would God name all these dates in the account of the flood?  Because the devil is in the details.  He knew people would doubt the validity of this story.  He wanted specific dates and times that could be proven historically - and they have been.

 

     Our Bible tells us that in the last days "if it were possible, the very elect of God would be deceived."  Here is wisdom, beloved ones:  When in doubt, wait it out.  The devil is in the details.  Anything that is of God is specific and will be borne out.  Anything false and deceptive will fall apart in the details if given enough time.  Don't be deceived into making snap decisions.  There's probably a reason it's "for a limited time only".

 

    We need to follow the example God laid out in His Word.  He gave us details so they could be proven out.  Don't believe everything that sounds good.  Make them prove it.  Thank God that it's not just the devil in the details - He's in them too!

 

 

Be blessed, be wise, be not deceived, Raelynn

    
 

There's a Promise for That

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

     I pray that you feel the love of Christ constantly surrounding you and that you walk in it everywhere you go.

 

     Today I want to talk to you about "There's a Promise for That".  I saw a commercial that declared that whatever you had need of..."there's an app for that".  God could do a similar commercial for His best-selling book.  Because in this book, no matter what you have need of ... there's a promise for that.  Let's check out a few.

 

     Are you lonely?  There's a promise for that in Hebrews 13:5 - "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Are you anxious?  There is a promise for that in Isaiah 36:3 - "He will keep him in perfect peace whos mind is stayed on thee".  Feeling outnumbered?  There's a promise for that in Romans 8:31 - "If God be for us, who then can be against us."  Are you sick?  There is a promise for that in Exodus 15:26 - "I am the Lord that healeth thee".  Are you worried about money?  There's a promise for that in Deuteronomy 8:18 - "For it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth."  Don't know what to do next?  There's a promise for that in Psalm 37:23 - "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord."  Do you feel burdened by sin?  There's a promise for that in I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Are you wondering about Heaven?  There's a promise for that in John 14:2,3 - "I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am you may be also."  And that's just a few.

 

     I am aware that apps aren't always all they are cracked up to be.  My mom and I were the only guests at my niece's baby shower who weren't at least 30 minutes late.  All the others used a GPS app that gave them wrong directions.  They all got lost.  How do we know the promises recited earlier are not faulty as well?  You guessed it...there's a promise for that in Numbers 23:19 - "God is not a man that He should lie... has He said and shall not He do it? Or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?"

 

     Apps are a great invention and very useful.  But they are made by man and men fail.  Let the Word of God meet all your needs beloved ones.  With it you will never lose your way and become lost.  How can I be sure?  Because there is a promise for that too, in John 17:12.

 

Standing on the Promises, Raelynn

Becoming Committed

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

I pray you are in good health and are prospering even as your soul prospers.

 

 

 

     Today I want to talk to you about "Becoming Committed".  To be committed means to give oneself fully to - no turning back, no matter what.  Commitment is a rare commodity in today's society.  There is very little commitment in marriages, to one's childrent, to parents and siblings, to employers and jobs, to keep one's word.  Commitment in politics is almost non-existent.  Platforms, values, ideals change with whatever is popular or will get the desired result.  I believe the Lord is looking for those who will be committed to Him.

 

     Here is a picture of commitment:  A knight on one knee, head bowed, arms extended, offering his sword in a pledge to his liege (king) to serve and protect his name and his kingdom with his own life if need be.  This is where the term "pledge of allegiance" comes from.  It was a vow to commit oneself fully to serve a king and protect his kingdom at whatever cost to himself personally.

 

     The Bible tells us that husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the church in that He gave His life for it.  That is a call to commitment, pledging one's allegiance.  It is more than "doing".  It's being a knight in shining armor.

 

     Is there any person, nation, belief, or ideal that deserves our allegiance more than Christ?  He created everything else we could commit ourselves to.  He gave His very blood to give us the freedom to choose to give our all to Him.

 

     The rock group, KISS, called themselves, "Knights in Satan's Service".  They understood commitment and allegiance.  They were not committed to the King, but to merely a prince - the prince of this world; the prince of the power of the air.

 

     Be more, beloved ones!  Kneel before your King.  Bow your head, extend your sword (the Word of God) and commit yourselves fully to your King and to His kingdom.  It's time to make a commitment to be a knight in shining armor in service to the King of Kings.  I leave you with the words of Ray Boltz, "I pledge allegiance to the Lamb, with all my strength, with all I am..."

 

 

Committed to Him, Raelynn