Seeing God in the small things!

I would like to share with you something that happened to me two days ago. I lost my diary/journal two days ago. I turned my house upside down looking for it. When I didn’t find it I looked for it at work! I looked everywhere with no luck. The crazy thing is, I had used it on the day I lost it but couldn’t remember where I put it. I know what you thinking, it’s just a diary! It is just a diary but it’s important to me. I had borrowed a book from a friend and I was writing notes and thoughts on the book in my diary and that is why I was so desperate to find it. But after day one with no luck I gave up. I prayed a small prayer asking God to help me find it  and put it out of my mind but not completely. The next day was just as bad. I was trying to trace back my steps hoping to find it but  with no luck. It wasn’t an expensive diary. I actually got it for free at a conference but it was important to me. Then out of nowhere, one of my friends came to my house this morning and asked me if the diary she was holding belonged to me!!!!!! I was overjoyed to say the least!

This is my diary! 🙂

God had answered my prayer as small and insignificant as it seemed, He answered me. There is a lesson to take home in this. We always expect God in the big things, and miracles and so on and He does show up but do we expect Him in the small things? God cares about our EVERY need. No matter how small you think it is, God thinks it’s important. This is what I realized this morning. I should expect miracles and big things but at the same time I should look for God’s hand in the small and insignificant things in my life!!

God is so big that He can show up in the small things! When we focus on the big we can miss God. There needs to be a balance. God’s does big things and He works in the small things……

Rolain

Cry Out For Justice!

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What is justice? To be fair I think we have a pretty fair idea of what it is. I am not going to write a whole post defining what justice is….My goal in this post though is to bring more understanding about what justice is. The word says this about justice:

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.    Psalms  33:5

The last scripture says:

Evil men do not understand justice but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.    Proverbs 28:5

By the end of this post I hope you will have a clearer idea of what justice is. Very simply put justice is defined as, “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair but this morning after my quiet time I was reading a book written by Bob Sorge entitled “Unrelenting Prayer” which I found very interesting, especially when he spoke about Justice. This is what he had to say about justice:

“We may tend to think of justice in a very narrow way, such as punishment for a crime. But justice is a far reaching term, as wide in its scope as every conceivable form of evil. Even as injustice afflicts men and women in virtually every arena of life, justice is the righteous answer to every wrong”.

– When justice comes to sickness, there is healing.

– When justice comes to poverty, there is provision.

– When justice comes to infirmity, there is wholeness.

– When justice comes to loss, there is restoration.

– When justice comes to torn relationships, there is reconciliation.

– When justice comes to anarchy, there is order.

– When justice comes to imprisonment, there is release.

– When justice comes to reproach, there is vindication.

– When justice comes to rejection, there is acceptance.

– When justice comes to abuse, there is comfort.

– When justice comes to prejudice, there is equity.

– When justice comes to oppression, there is liberty.

– When justice comes to slavery, there is freedom.

– When justice comes to tyranny, there is compassionate leadership.

– When justice comes to crime, there is punishment.

– When justice comes to wrong, there is right.

– When justice comes to indebtedness, there is repayment.

– When justice comes to death, there is resurrection of life.

– When justice comes to destruction, there is reparation.

– When justice comes to calamity, there is relief.

– When justice comes to hunger, there is nourishment.

– When justice comes to weariness, there is rest.

– When justice comes to fear, there is peace.

– When justice comes to violation, there is dignity.

– When justice comes to barrenness, there is fruitfulness.

– When justice comes to abortion, there is protection for the unborn.

– When justice comes to darkness, there is light.

– When justice comes to pain, there is alleviation.

– When justice comes to blindness, there is sight.

– When justice comes to families, there is unity.

– When justice comes to dysfunction, there is health.

– When justice comes to loneliness, there is companionship.

– When justice comes to depression, there is joy.

– When justice comes to anxiety, there is confidence.

 

Please note, this is not a nice poem just to warm your heart. This is what justice is. When I read this I cried out to God for justice. I need justice. The enemy has come and plundered me and he cannot get away with it. You cannot let him get away with all the wrong things he has done in your life. He needs to pay for what he has stolen. He needs to account for all he has done and that is why you should cry out for justice. God is truly the God of justice!!!! I hope you see the power justice has in your life when you cry out for it.

Rolain

What Is wrong with Unbelief?

Do I really believe that things will turn around for the better in my life?
Do I believe there are better days for me?
Do I really believe that God has my best interests at heart?
Do I believe God has an amazing plan for my life and He wants to see me accomplish it more than I want to?
Do I believe God is directing my life?
Do I believe God loves me?
Do I really believe in God?
Am I really trusting Him for everything in my life?

These are some of the questions I have been asking myself in my quiet time. Why? Because of what God has been showing me this past week.

Is unbelief something we should worry about? Does God take unbelief seriously?
Yes, most definitely!!!

Israel never entered their promise land because of unbelief!!!
They did not trust God, instead they had unbelief in their hearts and they let it grow. Unbelief altered their perception of God. You cannot trust God when you have unbelief in your heart, even if it’s a little.
We got to deal with unbelief at all costs. It must not be allowed to stay in our lives!

[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

It is a sin to walk around with unbelief in your heart. You may think you have a legitimate reason for doing so but it’s sin. Unbelief blocks us from hearing God. It hardens our hearts towards Him.

I know I have been walking around with unbelief. It has not been in every area of my life but in some areas.
Are you walking around with unbelief?
Deal with it. Bring it to God.
The last verse I want to share says,

So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out]. Hebrews 3:19

This is a warning for us all. Unbelief has devastating effects to us all. If we are to walk in the “rest” God has for us we are going to need to uproot unbelief out of our lives.
God can be trusted, He really can. He is true to His word. He has our best interests at heart all the time.
No matter how big your situation is, know you can trust Him for anything. No matter how outrageous or impossible it seems, trust Him.

Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them].
For who were they who heard and yet were rebellious and provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
And with whom was He irritated and provoked and grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dismembered bodies were strewn and left in the desert?
Hebrews 3:5-17

We are all susceptible to this. Don’t think you cannot fall. The Israelite’s where being guided by Moses  They all saw the same things, heard the same things yet they missed what God had for them. If the Israelite’s who saw much more than us and were led by one of the greatest leaders of all time still missed it how can we think we are safe?? How can we treat unbelief so lightly???
We really can’t. Let us ask God to show us where we are struggling in. Let us run to Him for help. Unbelief has to go…..

Rolain

Why Did He Lead Them There??

What an eventful day its been. It has been confusing as well. I have been going through something and learning a few things about myself in the process. I got home and was meditating on the day’s event’s when I decided to go over what I have to teach on Sunday at kids church when something spoke to me. Its the story about the Israelite’s when they were released by Pharaoh. The plagues had destroyed Egypt literally and Pharaoh had enough. He let the slaves go. Can you imagine how the Israelite’s must of felt on that day?? They must of being ecstatic!!! They had been slaves for 400 years and now they were free!!!! God had delivered them with a strong show of His power. Things would never be the same for these people. They were off to a land that flowed with milk and honey! Oh what a day it must of being…..The singing, and the dancing, the jubilation, the laughter, the cries of joy, the sound of children playing!!! What a day it must of being!!!

As we read on we see how God lead them to the Red Sea. That’s what caught my attention. Why did He do that? He knew the Egyptians where coming. But God had a plan and a reason for bringing them there! Even though the Israelite’s couldn’t see the plan, God had a plan for leading them to that place.
But imagine how it looked from the people’s side? Imagine how they must of felt looking at the greatest army in the world!!!! They must of heard them and then they saw them!! What a terror filled sight it must have been. The Egyptians where out for blood. And they were trapped!!! The Red Sea was blocking their escape!!! It seemed like it was the worst situation they had ever faced!!!! It looked hopeless. It was better to surrender than die.

And in a way I felt like that. I found myself asking God why? Why am I in this situation? How do I get out? It’s confusing for sure and I don’t understand. The Israelite’s missed it. They never realized God had a plan. What seemed like a hopeless situation, what seemed like the worst circumstances ever was actually an opportunity for God to move. He had a plan for them! He knew how He would deliver them. They just had to trust Him. I see now that I need to trust God. Things may not have worked out the way I expected but God has a plan. Things may not make any sense but God has a plan for leading me here.

You may feel like it’s the end, like you can’t go on but know God has a plan. Your terrible situation is an opportunity for God to come through. He doesn’t lead us to hard places because He has nothing to do, No!!! He has a plan to bring us out stronger. Trust His leading. He has our best interests at heart. He wants to see us fulfill our callings. He will not abandon us. God has led you to the place you in for a reason. It’s not to die but to show you something about Himself! You need to trust that things are going to get better. You are going to come out stronger. God knows how He is going to deliver you.

Rolain

The Last Word…..

I believed (trusted in, relied on, and clung to my God), and therefore have I spoken [even when I said], I am greatly afflicted.  Psalms 116:10

This scripture is so deep. The author had a lot of things going on. He was in great affliction according to the word. What really ministers to me about him is, he didn’t hide the fact he was going through tough times. We need to acknowledge when we going through those times. We are helping no one by smiling and hiding what’s really going on. He was not afraid to admit he was going through stuff but he didn’t stop there. His faith was in God. The amplified says he trusted, relied on and clung to God! There was a desperation in him. Even though he was going through hell he knew there was Something bigger than the hell he was facing. This is the important part, as he believed he spoke! His last word was what he believed about God. He didn’t complain or murmur and accuse God, no! He spoke about his deliverance.

Things may be hard for you now. You may see no way out but know God is your deliverance. But your deliverance will not just come. You need to speak it out. it’s OK to admit you going through hell but don’t stop there, let your last word be about your deliverer!!!! What God has said to you should be the last thing that comes out of your mouth!! Cling onto God. No matter how fierce the storm gets, hold on. Don’t let go. Hang on to God with everything you have got and keep on speaking your deliverance.

Rolain

The Answer To Life’s Difficult Situations.

If there is one thing you need to know about me, it’s my love for wisdom. In the past few months God has been showing me how important wisdom is in my life. I have seen how I can’t go through life without wisdom. Without wisdom I am dead. We all need wisdom to live, but why? I will show you why.

– The first thing you need to know is, wisdom is calling out to us, calling out to you. Are you in a situation that you can’t solve? Are you in a place where you are stumped at what to do? Answer wisdom’s call. She wants to help you. She knows you need her.

Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice? Proverbs 8:1

The thing we need is wisdom! It is the answer to those tough situations we are facing. It is the answer to the complicated situation you are facing. You are not smart enough on your own. A lot of us make the mistake of thinking we have the answers. We do but only through God. On our own we are nothing. On our own we just a clanging symbol. It’s being said, the best of flesh is still flesh! We really do need God to help us. Left to ourselves we will drown.

For wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
Proverbs 8:11

There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING that can come close to wisdom.
Are you clever enough to get yourself out of the fixes you get yourself into, No! God wants you to see that outside of Him we are powerless.

I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.
Proverbs 8:12

Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and Virtue to live it out. Proverbs 8:14

Wisdom is not alone. Wisdom lives with sanity, knowledge and discretion. How can we not desire wisdom?
I realized this some time ago. I knew with wisdom comes knowledge, insight and understanding so I always pray for that. How many times have I been in situations where I didn’t have a clue but I know wisdom is with me. As I cry out to wisdom she comes. I am in a situation right now. I have prayed and I have asked people for counsel. Wisdom appears in various ways. I pray, then seek counsel from people that I trust. After that I take it all back to God and lay it out before Him. He is the One who shows me the right way. I will keep on saying we need wisdom because we really do. Without wisdom we are done for. Be careful if you get to a place where you think you can “handle it”!

This is the most important thing you need to know about wisdom.

I love those who love me; those who look for me find me. Proverbs 8:17

That is a promise. If you seek for wisdom you will find it. God is not hiding wisdom from you. He wants you to have wisdom. If you seek for wisdom you will find it. I was so encouraged when I read that and I hope that brings comfort to you. God will answer us when we call to Him.

You can find me on Righteous Road – that’s where I walk – at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing life to those who love me, filling their arms with life – armloads of life! Proverbs 8:21

Wisdom brings life. I have been worrying about a certain situation, which has not been helping. At times I struggle with fear then doubt and so on. There is this weight on my shoulders because I have being relying on my own strength but God is very clear to us. When we get wisdom we get life. I don’t need to worry because God is in control. He is the One who fills my arms with life – armloads of life! Wisdom will do that.

Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. Proverbs 8:34,35

We need wisdom every single day of our lives. Ask God for it every morning and every single moment of your life. Fall in love with wisdom. Let it be the thing you value higher than anything else in your life.
I like the way Proverbs 7:4 says it,

Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion.

Wisdom is the key. It is the answer to everything in your life.
Cry out to God because He is the source of wisdom! He loves you so much……

Rolain

 

It’s Been God All Along!!!!

We have just had our presidential elections and we got the results. A lot of people are not happy with the results so that means there has been a lot of negative talk.
As I was working I got into a conversation about the elections with a friend and he had some very profound things to say to me. He was challenging me to look at the political situation differently.

Governments will come and go, that’s a fact. As people, life goes on. We still have to provide for our families and we still have to live. The government doesn’t know my name. They have not brought me this far, God has!
He has been the One from the beginning of time. He is the One who has been protecting me and providing for me. The government does not know how much hairs I got on my head. They don’t know my name. God does.
This is what I am trying to get at, things may not have gone according to plan for some people but people need to know it’s been God that has got them this far. We are breathing because God made a decision to let us live!
When we had no food God is the One who carried us.
When it seemed like the country would collapse God is the One who carried us.
So even now, God is the one who carries me. My trust is not in a system or in a man but in God and that is the mindset I was challenged to have.

You have been through hell but know that God is the reason you are still standing. He is the reason you are still breathing. He loves you.
You may find yourself in the same situation, but look to God and not man. God is the One who has been cradling you in His arms. He is the One who gave you a purpose, He is the One who gave you direction.
The government is not the one who has brought you this far. They never healed you or loved you so much that they gave their life for you. God is the One who has been doing that.

Rolain