"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
The confirmation reception at church was winding down, and people we busy cleaning up. Lot's of cake was left over. A young lady was trying to slip the cake into a plastic container, when the cake fell over onto the table. Cake pieces and frosting everywhere! What had been a beautiful cake was now a mess.
An older woman came over to her and said not to worry, "We'll make trifle!" After church the next Sunday, everyone enjoyed a fabulous dish of crumbled cake served with whipped cream and fruit.
At times our lives, like Joseph's, seem as wrecked as a dropped cake. Even if no one tries to harm us as maliciously as Joseph's brothers did, there are people and things in a Christian's life that are hostile to Christ. They seek to hurt our relationship with Jesus. It may seem at times that they are succeeding, and our lives may seem to be the mess the dropped cake was.
But God takes such evil and turns it into good for us. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in Jesus' death on the cross. On the cross, it outwardly appeared that evil had triumphed over God. But after further review of the Bible's teachings, Jesus was the victor! His resurrection proved it.
In the cross, God breaks evil and creates mercy. In the outward appearing "cake mess" of the cross, we see that God was in Jesus reconciling you and me unto Himself.
Joseph's exile from his family at the hands of his brothers, brought about the saving of many lives. In a similar way, In Christ, God uses evil and turns it into good in our lives too. He promises that no evil can separate us from His grace in Christ. Thanks be to God!
-Dale
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Trifle Recipe
Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 (9 inch) angel food cake
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
3 bananas, peeled and sliced
1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 sprig fresh mint
Directions
1.In a medium bowl, fold sour cream and unprepared pudding mix into the whipped topping.
2.Cut the cake into thirds, horizontally.
3.Line a large trifle or other glass serving bowl with kiwi and strawberry slices, reserving two whole strawberries and two kiwi slices. Place one layer of cake in bottom of bowl, top with 1/3 of bananas and pineapple, and 1/3 of whipped topping mixture. Repeat layering until all ingredients are used.
4.Make fan garnishes of whole strawberries by slicing from just below the stem. Garnish assembled trifle with fanned strawberries, reserved kiwi slices, and a sprig of mint. Refrigerate until serving.
Good message and a good recipe!!! Thanks Dale!!
Jody
He promises that no evil can separate us from His grace in Christ.
What a wonderful thing to remember, before I get started for the day!!!
Thank you Dale, for your faithfulness, and walk with the Lord.
God Bless,
David B.
Saw this a few days ago on a sign: "Christianity is a battle, not a dream! "