Mercies in Disquise

  Have you ever had such a rough time with something that you really start to wonder why God is allowing it to happen?  Why He doesn't step in and do something?  I know I have.  

 There is a new song being played on many Christian radio stations that has caught my attention.  It really does get to the heart of our faith, especially during hard times.  How we react and trust during hardships really does reveal our heart of hearts in the matter of faith and trust. 

  Below are the lyrics and a Youtube video of this song by Laura Story.  I hope it blesses you as it has me.  No matter what is happening----Jesus has not left us. He will be us to the end of the age!

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We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
Its not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

The Grace and Truth Paradox - Randy Alcorn

  Oh boy.  If there ever was an area that tends to get out of balance in the Church and with Christians, I'd have to say the balance between walking in Truth and Grace is it.  People who lean too far into the Truth are very legalistic and rule based and although their intentions might be right, their methods are wrong.  So many people are turned off of Christianity because of this imbalance.  On the other hand, if one leans too far into Grace, the message of the Gospel is watered down to share only God's love, mercy and grace, ignoring His attributes of justice, righteous jealousy, and judgment.  This leads to many false converts worshiping a false god.

 This very short but powerful book by Randy Acorn does a great job of laying out the proper balance as demonstrated to us in Christ.  He came in Truth AND Grace. We have personally handed this book out to many Christians as a part of our ministry.  Owning a Christian bookstore, we talk to many Christians who fall into one camp or the other, or, are frustrated because they see how so many Church leaders lean one way or the other and are leading the flock astray.