A story about a kite, love and wisdom!!!

 

This is a story about a kite. A kite is born to fly. A kite was not made to be grounded. But a kite cannot fly without the string attached to it.

A kite may wonder why it has a string attached to it. At times it feels like the string is holding it down. It could fly much higher without it. But we know the truth. Without the string the kite would crash. Without the string attached to it the kite would not be able to take off in the first place. The kite is nothing without the string. The two go hand in hand.

This story is really about how we are supposed to use wisdom in our relationships. The kite symbolizes love. We were created to love. When you see her or you see him love arises. In a relationship emotions run high and that is natural but to make a relationship work love will not be enough. You need wisdom. Wisdom is the string attached to the kite. It is wisdom that keeps love in check. Without the “string” the “kite” would crash. It’s OK to fall in love. It’s OK to feel the emotion of love but it needs something more, wisdom. A lot of relationships have failed because people have let emotions guide them.

Men, when getting into a relationship don’t let emotion be the only thing that guides you. Use wisdom. Emotions will come, strong emotions! And that’s great…..it’s natural!

Just remember to use wisdom as well. Ladies, use wisdom as well. Don’t get carried away in the emotion but ask God for wisdom. Let wisdom guide your relationship as well.

And that is the story about a kite, love and wisdom…..    🙂

Rolain.

When all seems lost…….

What challenges are you facing? Do feel like you up against a wall? Does your situation seem hopeless?? There was a man who was in the same boat. He was in a seemingly hopeless situation. There seemed like there was no way out. His name was Peter.

This is what the word says,

– When Herod saw that this pleased the Jewish people, he had Peter arrested during the Festival of Thin Bread.

He put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him.

Acts 12:3, 4

– The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and the two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail.

Acts 12:6

So let me paint this picture for you. Peter is put into jail and is guarded by 16 soldiers according to other bible versions. He is bound by chains in the jail cell and is being watched over by two guards on either side of him!!! If that isn’t enough there are two more guards guarding the entrance to the jail. It seems like Peter has no chance. It seems like there is no hope for him.

But we know the story. Peter is delivered out of Herod’s hand. But how?

While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5

There are things I have been praying to God for. Some could call them extravagant and unrealistic. Someone might even call it impossible and to be honest doubts filled my mind as I prayed for those things. But the fact is, there is power in prayer. This story portrays this fact perfectly. Peter was in serious trouble with no escape, no way out but because of prayer he was saved!!! Prayer is powerful people. Things will happen when you pray. The enemy is powerless against prayer! My hope was renewed as I got this revelation. I will keep on praying and not let up. God will come through for me.

You may be in a seemingly hopeless situation but you need to know you have a chance. Prayer is that chance!! Don’t underestimate the power of prayer in your life. I am speaking to me as much as I am speaking to you. I needed this…..The enemy wants you to believe there is no way out. He wants you to believe he has won. He wants you to believe your situation is hopeless but it’s not true! There is hope, you have a chance! God has given you prayer for a reason! Don’t give up. Pray to God, He is the God who answers prayer. Deliverance is on it’s way for you! Trust Him!

Rolain.

Why finding your purpose is not easy……

I thought I had a pretty good idea of God’s plan for my life but I was wrong. What I knew was close to nothing. Finding out God’s plan for your life is not as easy as I thought. Knowing God’s will for your life is not a formula. Do this, do that, don’t do that, stay away from that and so on and so on….

God has a unique pattern for each individual. What works for me will not work for you. We are just too different. We can learn though from people that have gone before us. There is always something that we can learn but we are never meant to replicate exactly what they did. We are just so different.

 

For the past two weeks I have been asking God to show me what my destiny is! Like I said in the beginning I thought I knew my purpose but I was wrong. Talking to other people I realized I was not alone in this. I have met very few (very few) people who know their calling. They have an idea yes, but to say they know exactly what God has for them, no……At times it has been confusing and at times it’s been hard to understand. At times I have just been totally clueless! I was saying to a friend that I know God has a plan for me without a doubt. It is an amazing plan. The problem is I don’t know what it is exactly and I don’t know how I will get there. Someone else also told me that God always shows us just a part of our calling. He never shows us everything at once. We wouldn’t be able to take it all in.

Within all this uncertainty and confusion on my part I read a scripture that cleared up a lot of things. Let me read it to you:

 

A man’s goings are of Jehovah; 

How then can a man understand his ways? 

Proverbs 20:24

 

As I meditated on this scripture things began to make sense. The reason I am constantly struggling to come to grips with my purpose and the reason there is such a constant battle trying to understand my purpose and the reason I am clueless at times and uncertain is because I am not the one in control!!!! I am not the one calling the shots. The Person calling the shots is not human, He is not even from this planet, and in fact He created the universe!!! This is what He says about Himself:

 

For my thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares The Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Isaiah 55:8-9

 

What am I trying to get at? If I was left in control of my own life I would orchestrate things in a way that would be comfortable. I would make sure things were easy. Life would be a walk in the park for me. The best example I can use is that of a little child. Can you imagine if he or she had to direct their own lives at that age? They would only think about how to have fun all the time. They would think about sweets and ice cream and cake and more fun……kids are not capable of leading their own lives. I am not saying I am a child and I am not saying I can’t handle responsibilities given to me. What I am trying to say is, my life would be a disaster if I was left to run my own life and direct my own life. As a human I am not capable of seeing everything, I am not perfect. My life would be a monumental flop. Am I glad God is the one directing my steps and not the other way round…..!

 

So after much meditation and consideration I have come to a conclusion. Life is hard to understand at times and figure out not because of the One who is directing us. He is God and He cannot be comprehended. He is just too big to be put in a box. Who can say they have figured out God????

The only assurance we have, the only thing we can be certain of is His love for us. Everything He does for us stems from love. But even with that said, we still don’t know how much He loves us. The important thing is, He loves us. He guides and directs us because He loves us. He wants us to have His best. He wants us to succeed. He wants us to grow. This is the only thing we can be sure of.

How do we begin to understand someone whose ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours? The answer is we don’t.

 

What does this mean then? If you are confused or if you have questions or if you are clueless about your purpose then that just confirms you are human. The One who is directing your path sees so much farther than you. The One who guides you is God…..don’t fret or panic just trust. He has your best interest at heart. His motive for everything He does in your life is love and blessing and growth. He never does anything because He wants to hurt you. He is God……

 

Rolain

What God’s goodness has to do with the Sun and a Shield……..!

I am currently doing a bible study on discovering the will of God. The book I am using is really something. It is unique in the way it tackles questions about God’s will. I started about a month ago and I have learned so much already. I came across a question that I have been meditating on for quite some time now. And it is this question and portion of the study I would like to share with you. I am sure it will be a blessing to someone.

What I will do is write down the questions and the answers I put down. The scripture used is really amazing. Here goes….

Psalm 84:11 is an outstanding verse on how good God is. Meditate on the verse, then answer the following questions.

(I used the Amplified Bible to answer this question.)

For The Lord God is a Sun and Shield; The Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and 

[future] glory (honour, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from

Those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (Amplified) 

– What two things is God like? What does each of these do for us? 

My answer – He is like the Sun and a Shield. 

The Sun brings light. It also brings life! 

A shield protects us. 

The Lord is a Sun…..

As He is the Sun the darkness in my life can do nothing but flee. Darkness cannot reside in the light. The Sun comes to shine in the dark places within me. It comes to give those dead things in me life…..! 

As a Shield He protects me from ALL the weapons the enemy fashions against me. No weapon can hurt me or destroy me. He is my Shield! 

– What does God do? 

My answer – He bestows [present] grace and [future] glory (honour, splendor and heavenly bliss)!

– What does He not do? 

He does NOT withhold any good thing from me! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

and a Shield!!!!

– How do these truths help you? 

Firstly these truths encourage me. They give me hope. They strengthen me. They give me confidence to face the challenges on my path. 

They give me boldness as I go to Him. 

And that is it. As you read the questions take time to meditate on them. Use whichever version is easy for you. The Amplified gave a deeper meaning for me. The truths you find will give you the hope you need. He is our Sun and Shield!!!

Rolain.

The not so great side of Father’s Day!!

I have been online and reading some really inspiring comments about fathers. As I look back in my own personal life I see how I never looked forward to Father’s Day. It meant nothing to me. Father’s Day has been a harsh reminder of what I didn’t have.
– My father was a drunk and very abusive
– I don’t remember a time in my childhood when my father gave me a hug
– I don’t remember if my father ever encouraged me in anything
– I can’t remember if he ever told me he loved me. And because of that I don’t remember a time telling him I love him.
– I lived in fear of my dad for a big chunk of my life.

This is the kind of relationship I had with my dad. As I grew older I distanced my self from him. I never spoke to him because I was very bitter towards him. It was bad. But about a year ago after persistent prodding from the Holy Spirit I made a decision to pursue a relationship with my dad. Last year was a year of firsts for me.
– I told my dad I loved him and he  told me he loved me.
-We had our first conversation about life. It was actually about God and he gave his life to Christ. 🙂
– I sort of hugged my dad for the first time as far as I can remember!
– I started talking to my dad a lot more
– The bitterness and anger I had for my dad finally left last year.

I am not saying it’s easy and we are the best of friends but our relationship is a work in progress which is getting better all thanks to God.
But the truth is I am just one example in a very big big pool. There are a lot more stories of fatherless children! And a lot of the stories don’t have an ending like mine. A lot of the endings are tragic and sad. Just look at these stats

What is the conclusion then?

As a young man I am thinking about the future.  I don’t want to be a dad that is not there for his kids.

You may have had a bad example or NO example at all but that doesn’t have to be your story!!! You can be different. You can the dad that can make a difference in your family’s life. Don’t be discouraged you had a bad example. By God’s grace you will be the difference. If you are depressed and discouraged today please know there is hope for you! God has a plan for you and your family. He is going to use you to bring up your kids in the way of The Lord. Isn’t that exciting…….I am excited!!!!

Happy Fathers Day.

 

Rolain.

Cleansing the ‘temple’………….?

 

For as long as I can remember I have always looked up to King Josiah. He had a heart after God. Unlike his predecessors He followed hard after God. He didn’t turn to the left or the right. He loved God with all of his heart. This past week I read his story and there were a few things that stood out to me.

 

– When the king heard what was written in the book, God’s Revelation, he ripped his robes in dismay.                  2 Kings 22:11

 

–  Then the king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, his associate priest, and The Temple sentries to clean house – to get rid of everything in the Temple of God that had been made for worshipping Baal and Asheroth and the cosmic powers. He had them burned outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and then disposed of the ashes in Bethel. 

 

– He fired the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had hired to supervise the local sex-and-religion shrines in the towns of Judah and neighborhoods of Jerusalem. 

 

– In a stroke he swept the country clean of the polluting stench of the round-the-clock worship of Baal, sun and moon, stars-all the so-called cosmic powers. 

 

– He took the obscene phallic Asherah pole from the temple of God to the Valley of Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it up, then ground up the ashes and scattered them in the cemetery. 

 

– He tore out the rooms of the male sacred prostitutes that had been set up in The Temple of God; women also used these rooms for weavings for Asherah. 

 

– Then Josiah demolished the Topheth, the iron furnace griddle set up in the Valley of Ben Hinnon for sacrificing children in the fire. No longer could anyone burn son or daughter to the god of Molech. 

 

– As Josiah looked over the scene, he noticed the tombs on the hillside. He ordered the bones removed from the tombs and had them cremated on the ruined altars, desacralizing the evil altars. 

 

 

I could go on and on. Please read the whole chapter to see how extensive the cleansing was! Josiah didn’t hold back. Once he heard the word he did everything in his power to make things right.

As I read this chapter I believe God spoke to me. He challenged me to have Josiah’s attitude towards sin. Josiah didn’t tolerate it at all. The land he cleansed and the temple he cleansed are a picture of our bodies, of our lives. He did not compromise with sin. He saw all the idols and images that were set up and he tore them down. What idols need to be torn down in your life? He was ruthless with sin. He didn’t play with sin. I want that same attitude concerning sin. There is sin I take seriously but there is other sin I take too casually! There is nothing casual about sin. I serve a HOLY GOD. Yes, I am a sinner and I have flaws but what I can do in my own power I should do……

Josiah did everything He possibility could and why? Because he loved God!!!!

 

In verse 25 of 2 Kings 23 it says,

 

There was no king to compare with Josiah-neither before nor after- a king who turned in total and repentant obedience to God, heart and mind and strength, following the instructions revealed to and written by Moses. The world would never again see a king like Josiah. 

 

It is time to cleanse the “temple”. Let us not take sin lightly. Let us take it seriously. As Josiah took care of the sin in his land God set him apart. There is a truth we need to know as we plan on taking on sin, we can’t fight sin on our own. We need to ask God for His help. What God wants of us is to see sin as He sees sin. I had taken sin lightly but it was sin that put Christ on the cross, OUR sin……

 

With all that said, how do you treat sin in your life? Are you as zealous as Josiah when it comes to dealing with sin or do you have a laid back attitude? This is a challenge for all of us.

 

God, please help us be like Josiah! He never tolerated sin. He never became comfortable with sin. He saw sin the way God saw sin. Josiah loved God so much that his love translated into a hate for sin! May we have that same love for God……..

( Please note: As I post this I have sinned extensively today and yesterday and day before that…… I have found it extremely hard not to sin! No matter what I try do blows up in my face! I can’t believe it….I have tried day after day but it seems like I have sinned even more!

But is this not the story of our lives? Is sin not a daily struggle which we face ? So how does the “Temple”get cleansed? It get’s cleansed by relying on His righteousness! He paid the price for us. Sin has been defeated. Our job is to trust in His grace and mercy in which He so abundantly gives).

My conclusion has to change then. Have an attitude like Josiah’s toward sin but rely on God’s mercy and grace everyday because we will sin, that is a fact but He provides us an opportunity to ask for forgiveness! We need to realize we can’t deal with sin because it was already been dealt with by Jesus. He died and rose so we could be free  from sin!  Amen

Rolain

 

Rolain

The Compromise of the Calling…..

 

 

We all agree that God has a destiny for each and everyone of us. No matter who you are or how you were brought up or where you lived, God has a destiny for you. Like the people of God you have a purpose and a calling. I would like to make a point but to do so we need to look at a few scriptures. Let us look at Judges 1:19:

The Lord was with Judah, and [Judah] drove out the inhabitants of the hill country, but he could not drive out those inhabiting the [difficult] valley basin because they had chariots of iron.

But the Benjamites did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; the Jebusites dwell with the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day. Judges 1:21

Neither did Manasseh  drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and it’s villages, or of Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their villages, but the Canaanites remained in that land.
Judges 1:27

As you read the rest of the chapter you will see a trend. You will see how Israel failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land. They compromised the call of God. They were specifically told to destroy the nations around them but they couldn’t. Why?

The promise God has for us is not easy to attain! We see this clearly shown in the scriptures I just wrote. Walking the path God has for you is not for the faint-hearted! It is hard, and difficult to attain. God was speaking to Joshua and this is what He told him as he was about to get into the promise land:

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you, Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Judges 1:7

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Is it possible that Israel compromised because they didn’t understand what it really meant to walk into the promise land? Did they expect it to be a walk in the park? Did they not know it was going to be difficult?
Walking into what God has for you is not only difficult but impossible!!! In our own strength we don’t stand a chance,it would be better to give up right now.

When Moses told all this to the people of Israel, they mourned long and hard. But early the next morning they started out for the high hill country saying, We’re here; we’re ready – let’s go up and attack the land that God promised us. We sinned, but now we’re ready – let’s go up and attack the land that God promised us. We sinned, but now we’re ready.” Numbers 14: 39-45

We all know the story. The Isralites were defeated. They could not take the land in their own strength. This is what I would like you to see.
God has a calling and purpose for us. In the natural, it is impossible to accomplish it. The only way to walk in your purpose is to trust God. You will accomplish all He has for you when you look to Him and rely Him.
But even with all that said, to accomplish our purpose we need to be strong and very courageous. It takes a strong person, a person who knows who he is in God to accomplish his purpose!

God will not leave you alone. He will not expect you to finish the race on your own because He knows you can’t do it. We compromise the call of God on our lives when we think we can do it by ourselves in our own strength. The truth is we can’t. God is with us willing to help us. We just need to ask Him for help. As you trust in Him, He will help you and strengthen you.

I can see where God is leading me to next in my walk with Him. I also see it’s going to need me to be strong and courageous as I walk with Him. I also see without Him I will fail, no doubt but in the midst of all that I am confident He is with me. He will not let me down. And so it is with you. As you pursue the desires God has put in your heart know that He is by your side. There will be days when you will feel like giving up but just keep pressing on. He will bring you to the other side! He is good indeed!

Rolain

 

The truth about the Proverbs 31 woman…..!

The title might be a bit much but I thought it would be really fitting for what I am about to write….
As men we have been told about the Proverbs 31 woman. Every Christian single man wants her. He prays for her.
Ladies, you may think you know Proverbs 31 but what you know cannot be matched with what we as men know about Proverbs 31. We sleep Proverbs 31, drink it, meditate on it, dream about it and so on and so on!
By now you must be thinking to yourself, common Rolain, let’s be serious please!   🙂
OK, let’s be serious. We may not drink it, and meditate on it as much as I say or dream about it but the fact remains, it is important to us. We want a Proverbs 31 woman. Ladies, you have been told to be a Proverbs 31 woman but what does that mean? We read stuff like this and are in awe… :

– A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman – who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. Proverbs 31:10

– She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. Proverbs 31: 17

– She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. Proverbs 31:27

As men we read this and develop this crazy idea that you are perfect!!! I don’t say this in a derogative way. For years I has this perfect image of a Proverbs 31 woman.    My wife will be flawless I thought to my self. She will be perfect……But is that what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman??
Ladies, this goes the other way as well. If my wife is expecting someone perfect then she is going to be seriously dissapointed!
I am human and I am trusting God to guide me in righteousness everyday. I lean on His mercy and grace everyday! I sin everyday! Does that mean I am not Mr Right???
Does being a Proverbs 31 woman mean perfection and flawlessness??? After all, Proverbs 31 doesn’t mention anything about her struggles with sin and failings or so we think! It doesn’t mention her having any battles so we think. We don’t see her in a confused state and we don’t see her struggling with fears so we conclude she is perfect! But that is not the picture Proverbs 31 paints. It paints a picture of a woman racked with sin who puts God first!! Don’t hide your imperfections. Men, don’t hide you faults. Our job is to put Him first. He should be the One you praise and direct the glory to.

But the truth is this. The Proverbs 31 woman is not perfect. Her trust is in God daily. She falls and makes mistakes. Ladies, Mr Right is in the same boat. He is flawed more than you know. Sin has left its mark! Don’t look for perfection. Expecting perfection from a person is impossible. They will never be perfect in this life. So if that is the case, what are we to look for in Mr Right and The Proverbs 31 woman? The end of Proverbs 31 puts it nicely:

Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears The Lord, she shall be praised!   Proverbs 31:30

This is what makes the Proverbs 31 woman a Proverbs 31 woman. Her strength is in God. Her confidence is in God. She is not perfect but she has a relationship with a perfect God! Mr Right has flaws. He doesn’t try to hide them and paint a false picture of who is. He shouldn’t! His trust is in God. This is what defines them, their relationship with God. We are all a work in progress. So as I end, men, we need to go into a relationship with the right image. You are flawed but so is the woman God has for you. She is not perfect and the same goes for you too…..Let us depend on God to help us in our relationships!
God bless…..

Rolain.

 

Reflecting on trust……

 

I have been reflecting on one of my favourite scriptures this week. As I read it

I could not move from it. I just kept reading it over and over. With that said I am starting a new category. It is based on Psalm 119:9 which talks about how we are supposed to conform our lives to the word of God. A lot of the time we try to make the word conform to what we think and the way we live but that is wrong. The word is not supposed to conform to our beliefs. It will NOT conform to us. We are the ones who need to conform to it. We are the ones who are to align to what the word says.

My goal in this new category is to hold up the word of God against our lives and see how we can apply its truth. This is what Psalm 119:9 says,

 

Psalm 119:9 (Amplified) says,

How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking head and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

 

Let us start. The scripture I was reading that I couldn’t move past is found in Proverbs 3: 5-7 (The Message).

 

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do,

everywhere you go;

He’s the One who will keep you on track.

 

Here are my reflections…..

 

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;” –

 

In the things I am seeking God for, am I trusting Him completely?

This is not a weak undecided trust but a deep confident trust. The word says,

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart”! This kind of trust realises there is

no one else I must depend on. It realises everything else cannot be trusted. This kind of trust realises there is only One it can look to.

 

The question then is, do we trust God from the bottom of our heart? If not, what is stopping us? Is it fear, is it doubt, unbelief, previous failures??? What is it?

God wants us to trust Him from the bottom of our heart. No matter what you are going through, no matter how impossible it seems, He wants you to trust Him from the bottom of your heart!

 

“Don’t try to figure out everything on your own” –

 

We were not made with the capacity to figure out God. He is too big and too awesome. He is TOO MUCH….!!!! His ways are beyond our comprehension. The

more we try to figure Him out the more confused we get. We are TOO SMALL….!!

Don’t miss this please. We are too small!!!!!

Our understanding is too limited to go down that road.

Does that mean we are broken? Did God make us with a defect then? No!

He made us like that so we could learn to look to Him! He wants to be the One

we depend on. There should never be a time where we are enough for the storms we face. ( I hope you understand what I mean here)

Trying to figure everything out in your life by yourself is not trusting God. It is you saying you are enough for this life and you don’t need the Saviour!

 

In your life where have you tried to figure out things by yourself?

What areas in your life have you not allowed God to take the steering wheel?

 

“Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

He’s the One who will keep you on track” –

 

There is so much I am seeking God for. There is so much clarity I need. There are so many major decisions I need to make concerning my career, relationships, and life in general.

In all those things am I listening for God’s voice to lead me?? Are you?

Am I taking the time to hear what He is saying? Are you?

Do I depend on His voice in every decision I make? Do you?

 

Why is it important to listen for His voice in everything we do?

 

Because He is the One who will keep me on track. He is the One who keeps you on track!!

As I end this post I would like to leave you with this thought – He is the one who keeps us on track! Trust Him, depend on Him, seek Him because,

 

He is the One who keeps us on track!!

 

Rolain