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