God Turns Our Ugly Story Into A Beautiful One.

“ And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.”

2 Samuel 12:24 KJV

In David’s darkest time , in the midst of the monumental mess he made, God turned that situation around into something beautiful.

Solomon came out of that mess and the Word says God loved him.

I always think to myself, why didn’t God do something through Abigail who was an amazing woman. There was no drama there but I think it’s for a good reason. The reason I think is because God wanted to show how powerful He is.

The enemy had been victorious over David in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah. There was no doubt about that and I believe it was the devil’s end goal to stop David’s purpose. But God in His power went into that mess and turned it into victory so the defeat could be turned into triumph and God would get the glory, not the devil.

The enemy will not have the last say in your life friend. He would like you to believe so but it’s not true. God has the last say and as you are in a dark place right now know that God will turn your ugly story into a beautiful one. That’s how much He loves you.

And it’s not about what you can do, your strength, how intelligent you are etc.

It’s about God’s amazing grace, His love, His mercy towards us, His strength! The devil is totally powerless against all of that.

I am also reminded of Peter who also made a huge mistake.

“Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter – before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you know me.”

John 13:38 NLT

Peter denied Jesus and if you are thinking of an ugly story that just about tops it. But once again his ugly story was turned into a beautiful one. The devil did not have the last say in Peter’s story. He thought he did but once again he was very wrong and he is wrong about your life. And we see the same pattern in Peter’s life.

Peter’s story was changed because of God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness. Jesus knew Peter would deny him.

“But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:32 NLT

So no matter how bad it seems know that God turns your ugly stories into beautiful ones.

We must not listen to the devil’s lies. He is going to try everything he can to get you to focus on the ugly. He is going to use that to bring in shame, condemnation and guilt. He is going to make you feel unworthy of being used and loved by God. He will try to isolate you so he can take you out. But it’s a lie.

God loves you and forgiveness is available to you. All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you and receive the grace He freely offers you.

So as I close remember that your story is not even close to finishing. He is turning your ugly into something beautiful.

Bless you friends

Rolain

Fixing my priorities.

On the road of purpose getting your priorities in the right order is critical.

I struggle with this at times. When I am supposed to be writing or doing something that feeds into my purpose I get distracted with something totally random.

But if I am going to accomplish the things God has for me I need to get my priorities in the right order.

How are your priorities looking?

When Nehemiah was busy at the wall his enemies tried to distract him. But Nehemiah knew what God called him to do and because he knew, his priorities were in the right order.

 

“So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6:2-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Nehemiah was not going to get distracted. His focus was laser sharp.

It’s time to realign our priorities. It easier to arrange them when we know what our purpose is.

If you don’t know what God’s purpose for your life is, I pray God will reveal it to you. He wants you to know the amazing plans and purposes He has for you. He is not hiding it from you. So get your priorities right today.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

Dried up but not finished…

I love eating fresh chillies. When I go to the supermarket that’s one of the first things

on my list.

Anyway, I bought a packet of fresh chillies a few weeks ago but made the mistake of putting them

in the fridge. A few days later they started turning color. I took them out of the fridge and made

a decision to throw them away. A few days had gone by and I still had not thrown them away. By then

some of them had dried up.

 

But one evening as I was cooking a thought came to me. I decided to try one of the dried chillies and to

my surprise it was hotter than a fresh chilli. I am not talking about a little hotter. I am not exaggerating

when I say it was 6 to 7 times hotter!

(And yes, it was at that time I realized how to make dry chillies……haha)

 

As I pondered on this I was encouraged. The chilli was about to be thrown out. It seemed like it had

come to the end of it’s life but there was so much in store.

Did the chilli even know the potential it had??

It may have dried up but it was brimming with untapped potential.

 

Don’t let anyone count you out. Don’t count yourself out! There is so much God has put in you.

Like the dried up chilli there is so much more in you than you realize.

The chilli was designed that way by God. It’s not a mistake that it gets hotter when dried.

You may think you have reached your max but that’s so far from the truth.

Don’t give up friend. God’s plan is still being revealed in your life.

There is so much more to discover and walk into.

 

Bless you friends…

 

Bring it all to God.

“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation]

under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,

once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

1 Peter 5:6, 7

 

I want to focus on the last part of that verse today. The word says to bring ALL your anxieties,

worries and concerns. But how many times do we try to deal with problems on our own.

I had to stop myself the other day from worrying, from trying to solve a problem on my own.

The truth is the Lord wants to fix every problem we face.

 

The call is to bring everything to Him. We don’t need to carry a single thing.

But because we have been taught to be strong we try to go at it alone. But all that will do is

tire you out. The more I try to go at it alone the more worn down and weighed down I feel.

 

Like I have said so many times before, the Lord is not impressed with our show of strength.

He is impressed with our faith in Him, with the confidence we put in His ability.

Give it all to Him and don’t hold on to anything.

 

Blessings to you friends.

 

Rolain

Written in a book.

“My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and 

curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region

of darkness and mystery].

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever

they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.” 

Psalm 139:15, 16

 

“and in Your book all the days of my life were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there

was none of them.”

 

I love this!!  Your life is not random. The events that happen are not accidental. The Lord took care

when He made you. There was thought, there was effort, there was intent.

When your life gets crazy and you have no idea what is happening know that YAH knows everything

about your life. There is nothing that happens in your life that catches Him by surprise, nothing!

He is in control of everything. All your days have been written in His book.

 

I am so encouraged to know all the days of my life have been written by Him. Even when I can’t

make sense of what’s happening the Lord knows and that makes the difference.

When I am overwhelmed or discouraged about the way things are going the Lord knows.

When I seem to be at a dead end, there is actually more journeying to be done.

The Author of my story loves me and is good so I don’t need to panic or fret.

He has the best in mind for me.

 

Turn to Him in your confusion. Call out to Him when things don’t go according to plan.

He wrote all your days in His book. Not some but all!

So the darkness you in now will change. The problems you have will be solved. The questions, the

concerns and the pain will be fixed and answered. The Lord is not done with you yet.

His plan for your life is amazing so trust Him with it…..

Blessings to you friends…..

 

Rolain

 

 

 

It’s not your burden to carry…..

I have been worrying about a certain situation this week. It actually started last week. It wasn’t too

serious but enough to warrant a response from me. But in the midst of the worrying a few thoughts came

to me. Was my worrying warranted? What does YAH think when I worry?

Surely it’s okay to worry here and there?

 

Reading the word brought some clarity and that is what I want to share.

No matter how bad things are, no matter what comes our way, His desire for us is to always bring

our problems to Him.

He doesn’t want us wasting even a second worrying.

The call to not worry is a command from the Lord.

Let’s look at a few scriptures in light of this,

 

“Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, 

by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants

known to God.” 

Philippians 4:6 (emphasis mine)

 

“Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives

do I give to you. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated

and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 14:27 (emphasis mine)

 

There is no suggestion or invitation here. it’s definite, resolute.

And that is so for a reason.

 

We worry about things but the Lord wants to take it all.

He doesn’t want us to waste time worrying because He cares for us and loves us. He wants to help us.

He is stronger than anything we will ever face and He knows that.

 

So as I end I want to make us see that worrying does not accomplish the purposes of the Lord in any way.

Worrying opens the door to anxiety, stress, fear and a lot of other harmful things.

When worry comes we need to take it to Him instantly. Don’t hold on to it.

Whatever you are worrying about today know that it’s not your burden to carry.

It’s the Lord’s burden, He wants it to take it from you. Will you let Him?

 

 

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, 

for I am Your oasis. 

Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, 

humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. 

For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” 

Matthew 11:28-30 (TPT)

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

It’s time to move…..

Life is constantly teaching us stuff and to grow we need to learn what we are being taught.

Unfortunately there is a lesson I had to relearn this year (this week to be more precise) that I ignored

last year. It’s so frustrating because the lesson had a financial cost. That really got me thinking though.

How many lessons have we ignored that keep coming back but we just don’t learn. For whatever reason

we make a decision to do nothing.

But YAH wants us to learn the lessons that come our way. Those lessons once learned will make us grow.

 

I am reminded of the Israelites. They too didn’t learn their lesson and because they didn’t, they had to go

round the same mountain.

 

“And the Lord spoke to me [Moses], saying, 

You have roamed around this mountain country long enough; turn northward.”

Deuteronomy 2:3

 

It’s time to stop going round the same mountain. It’s time we start learning the lessons we are supposed

to learn. I am tired of going round the same mountain. I want to grow, I want to move.

I don’t learn because it’s hard at times, or because of laziness and so on and so on….

But that needs to stop.

It’s time to move!

 

ACT ON IT – What lessons have you refused to learn because they are difficult? 

Ask the Lord to show you the most critical lesson you need to learn so you can grow.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

When the enemy seems to be winning the war…….

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph,

And to the kings who were in the north in the hill country and in the Arabah

south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and in the heights of Dor on the west;

To the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,

the Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below [Mount] Hermon in the land

of Mizpah.

And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

Joshua 11:1-4

 

Jabin wanted to eradicate the Israelites from existence. I think he heard all the stories

surrounding these peculiar people.

 

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, (italics mine)

 

What did he hear?

– YAH parting the Jordan river so His people could pass (Joshua 3:14-17)

– Jericho’s massive walls crumbling when the people shouted (Joshua 6:20)

– The sun and moon not moving from their positions for a full day! (Joshua 10:12, 13)

– Rock missiles falling down from heaven crushing the southern kings. (Joshua 10:11)

 

He saw how the southern kings failed in their endeavor to eliminate YAH’s people. But he

had a plan, he would muster up the largest army ever to do the job. His goal wasn’t to cripple the

“enemy” no, he was thinking total annihilation!

YAH’s people didn’t stand a chance or so he thought. This is how the word of God described his army;

 

“And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

 

His army was compared to sand. Sand is uncountable and so was his army, innumerable,

“incontestable.”

 

I am sharing this story because this is a picture I believe of what it is like between me, you and the enemy.

The enemy is constantly trying to attack us because we have a purpose. There is no such thing as

an “easy road” if you are a son or daughter of YAH. The enemy doesn’t want you accomplishing what

YAH has for you at all costs.

He wants to take you out however he can. He is going to play dirty, and unfairly.

But we don’t have to fear because the Lord is fighting for us. The enemy will not be victorious.

The worst thing to do is try to live this life on your own, in your own strength because by yourself

you will lose.

It makes sense why the battle is so intense.

We need to know there is a battle but we also need to know that the God who fights for us has already

defeated the enemy.

 

The Hebrew word satan means “an adversary, one who resists”

That’s his very essence, to resist, to be an adversary.

 

It’s a fact we will face opposition when we are out to accomplish something significant for YAH

Think about Paul who had a mammoth task from Yeshua. This is what he said,

 

“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and 

promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.” 

1 Corinthians 16:9

 

Be assured that no matter what the enemy tries, no matter the horde that is in

your way, know this;

 

“The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is His name.”

Exodus 15:3

 

Satan is a defeated foe and he doesn’t have the last say, far from it!

The “Man of War” has the last say and He is on your side. When you are surrounded by the enemy

call out to Him. When the enemy seems to be winning in your life cry out to the Lord. He will

come to your rescue!

Pursue the calling YAH has for you. He is with you every step of the way.

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

No matter how hard things are, the Lord has a plan.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Joshua spoke to the men who had spied out the land. Joshua said, ‘Go into the prostitute’s

house. Bring her out. And bring out all the people who are with her. Do this because of the

promise you made to her.

So the two men went into the house and brought out Rahab. They brought out her father,

mother, brothers and all those with her. They put all her family in a safe place outside the

camp of Israel.”

Joshua 6:22, 23

 

Rahab’s life was going one way before the spies came. She was a prostitute and as you might

of guessed, she was welcomed by some and rejected by others!

Her life must have been hard I can imagine.

But despite what people saw YAH saw something entirely different.

She had made so many mistakes with no way out but that was all about to change.

The Lord had a plan for her life and despite her past, her mistakes, bad decisions and people’s

opinions of her that plan was completed.

YAH turned her life around in a way no one could ever imagine.

 

The word today is simple;

YAH has a purpose for your life, full stop!

Don’t let your past hinder what YAH has planned for you.

Don’t let the opinions of others stop you from trusting the Lord for something amazing.

Don’t let your current situation deter you

Rahab was a prostitute. In the eyes of everyone around her she wasn’t much but not so in

the eyes of YAH. He saw something different.

The Lord sees you differently to what man sees.

It doesn’t matter if you not strong enough, smart enough, rich enough and so on,

the Lord has something amazing planned for you.

And that’s all I have to share today.

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

What does God see when He looks at us?

“God has not beheld iniquity in Jacob [for he is forgiven], neither has He seen 

mischief or perverseness in Israel [for the same reason]. The Lord their God 

is with Israel, and the shout of praise to their King is among their people.” 

Numbers 23:21

 

This is a pretty amazing verse if you ask me. Balak hired Balaam to curse

the people of Israel but things were not going according to his plan.

Blessing was happening instead of cursing. Balaam could only speak what YAH

told him. But that’s not the amazing bit, whats amazing are the words YAH put in

Balaam’s mouth to speak (declare).

 

Up to this point Israel had rebelled against YAH in so many ways. They were back

in the desert because they failed to believe YAH could take them to the promise land

even though they were by the “door”.

 

They complained, tested, grumbled, and worshipped other gods (the golden calf) so you would think

YAH would allow the cursing to happen as a way of punishment for all the wrong things they

had done to that point. But that is not what happened.

 

Instead of allowing Balaam to curse them, He let him bless them!

He had forgiven them completely. Through all the bad they did and all the bad they were

going to do YAH still forgave them. He didn’t hold their sin against them.

This is a picture of how merciful our God is. We deserve worse because of our sin

but that’s not what we get.

The Israelites failed YAH so many times and yet He still loved them, He still forgave them,

He stopped Balaam from cursing them.

Do we really understand how great YAH’s love is for us?

I think the enemy lies to us that our sin is unbearable to YAH and because it’s so

unbearable, He will keep His distance from us. That’s a lie.

 

I am not saying it’s okay to sin, what I am saying is that YAH loves us no matter what.

There are consequences for sin and that is shown by the Israelites who never made it into the

promise land because of their unbelief.

 

But to say that the Lord hates us and can’t stand us because of sin is a lie. When He sees

us, He sees His children. He loves us so much.

You may have messed up and are continuing to mess up but know that you can repent.

Confidently cry out to Him when you fall. He doesn’t disown you when you sin. He picks

you up and that’s how much He loves us

We are truly blessed….

 

Rolain