God loves To Come Through For Us

“But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house.

And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug.

I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

1 Kings 17: 12

The widow at Zarephath was in a crisis. The little food she had left was about to run out.

She had gone to gather a few sticks she could use to cook the last meal for her and her son then die.

Like I said, crisis.

But God came through for her. He sent Elijah and when she obeyed him by making him a meal

first the Lord provided for her in an amazing way.

“So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.  

There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised

through Elijah.”

1 Kings 17:15, 16

I share this scripture because it teaches us a truth about our God – He loves to come through for us.

No matter how bad things get God has got your back.

No matter how deep you are in trouble, God will help you out.

When there seems to be no way out of the trouble you face, He will ALWAYS come through for you.

Throughout scripture we see this truth play out over and over and over.

With Daniel when he was thrown in the lions den

With David, when King Saul was hunting him down

When Hannah was being ridiculed for being barren

When the Israelites were trapped by the Red Sea as the Egyptians chased them

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.

God loves to come through for you.

So in whatever trouble you find yourself no matter how bad it is, remember that

God is for you. He wants to help you.

Ask for His help always!

Bless you friends

Rolain

What’s the big idea?

During this Covid-19 period the amount of books I read has increased drastically. I love reading so in this season I have had a  chance to read, read and read. Anyway, this year I was introduced to Myles Munroe. Before 2020 I had never read any of his books but am I glad I found him. In the book I am currently reading there is a chapter he talked about ideas. The way he explained what ideas are, made me realize some very important and critical things that I would like to share with you. Here are a few points he made about them:

• Ideas are more powerful than death and ideas produce everything.
• Everything began as an idea and is the result of the conception of an idea.
• The most difficult thing to fight against is an idea.
• Ideas can be transferred and live on for generations.

There are two more points that are the reason for me writing this post,

• The only way to defeat a bad idea is with a better idea.
• Ideas are destroyed by ideas.    

(This reminds me of one of my favorite movies, Inception! 🙂)

We all have an idea of who we are, about life, about what we are going to do, where we going to live and so on but I realized I was still living with some outdated ideas about myself and what I can do. The source of those ideas predated my days as a Christian.

But I was so encouraged to read that those ideas can be replaced by better ones. The only way to destroy a bad idea that I have been living with for years is by replacing it with a better idea and when I say better I mean with God’s word.

That was so liberating. There is hope. We all have a chance to change. We don’t have to accept the negative ideas we were given about ourselves.

We need to be habitually giving ourselves better ideas. It can’t be a once off thing but a lifestyle. And as sons and daughters of the King we have a true source of ideas in abundance.

I want to live out the ideas the Lord has for me because they are amazing, graceful, and they are truth. He created me so He knows better than I know myself.

What ideas are you living with today that are limiting you, that are keeping you from living to the full potential God designed you to live?

Prayer

Lord, reveal areas where bad ideas are reigning supreme and help us to replace them with better ideas, with Your ideas.

Break the power of fearful and limiting ideas in our lives.

Give us Your amazing ideas from this day on.

Amen!

Blessings to 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

Who are you really??

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.

Judges 6:12

 

Before the angel appeared to Gideon, he was convinced his tribe was the weakest and he was the least. That was probably all he was ever told but that was not the truth.

When the angel appeared, He told Gideon the truth and it is then that his life started. God had amazing plans for him but He needed to replace the lies he had been told with the truth.

We need the truth because that is when we really come alive. When we get true information about who we really are that is when we can step into all the amazing things God has for us.

But we can only get true information about ourselves from our Creator. He made us and is the source of truth.

Do what you need to do to be connected to Him. Read His word, spend more and more time with Him because you really do need true information about who you are. Stop looking to other sources for identity and purpose. The information from those other sources are incomplete and false and are designed to keep you from walking in your purpose.

There is so much to discover about yourself as you connect to the true source!

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

What is God really up to in the midst of the pain I face???

I finally finished reading, Live, Love, Lead written by Brian

Houston. What a journey it’s been. I loved every chapter

of it. I would like to share something he said in the last chapter

that spoke to me deeply. It has been a source of peace for me

in this week:

 

“We know that all things work together for good to those who

love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

 

“Simply put, life has moments that we could not describe as

good, some simple inconveniences and other serious trials.

But in case there is any doubt, let me drive the point home

for you.

In Romans, the Bible is talking about ALL THINGS.

All things means inconvenient things, difficult things, upsetting

things, hurtful things, confusing things, painful things,

shameful things, sorrowful things, and ucertain things.

God wastes nothing, and somehow, he weaves everything

together for his glorious future, as only he can. All things

includes connections and disconnections, things coming

together and things falling apart, your best day and your

worst day, opportunities gained and opportunities lost,

good seasons and tough seasons, problems and solutions,

conflicts and resolutions, trials and triumphs, relationships

and acquaintances, sickness and health, poverty and wealth.”

 

What a profound thought. I have always read that scripture

but the way it was explained really blew me away. God works

ALL THINGS for our good. No matter how bad, no matter

how confusing, no matter how frustrating, all things work

together for good. God knows exactly what He is doing.

I am comforted that in the hard times, God is working things

out for good.

 

It’s amazing to think that the bad that has happened is not the

end of my story. There is a better end.

You may be going through hell but God is working things out

for your good. The enemy may think he is working things out

for the worst but he is seriously misinformed. No matter what

he throws at you, God is working it out for your good! He is

working all things together for your good. There is a man in

the bible who experienced this truth first hand. His name was

Mephiboseth.

 

Jonathan, saul’s son, had a son whose feet were crippled.

He was five years old when the news [of the deaths] of

Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. And the boy’s nurse

picked him up and fled; but it happened that while she was

hurrying that while she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became

lame. His name was Mephiboseth.

2 Samuel 4:4

 

Of no fault of his own, Mephiboseth was crippled. That must of

been hard to deal with. He didn’t ask to be crippled. It just

happened. What were his thoughts like?

Where there days he wanted to give up?

Did he hate his life?

Had he forgiven his nurse who dropped him? Things would

of been very different if she had been more careful.

To top that all off, his father had been killed in battle. How

much of his father did he remember?

Did he see King David as the enemy?

Did he think things would ever turn around for the better?

 

He may of thought things would never change but the fact is,

God turned his situation around for good. In the baddest of bad,

God turned things around for good in his life.

 

“And the king said, “is there no longer anyone left of the house

(family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and

graciousness of God?”

Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan,

[one] whose feet are crippled.”

2 Samuel 9:3

 

David gave him everything that king Saul

owned. He also told him he would eat at his table for the

rest of his days. (2 Samuel 9:11-13)

Things turned around for good in a way Mephiboseth never

imagined! No man could ever orchestrate how things would

turn out for him.

But God who is true to His word turned things out for

Mephiboseth in such an amzing way.

I love that.

 

I love that through the pain, the confusing times, the intense

times, the good times, God is working all those things out for

my good.

And that is true for you. He is working all things together

for your good! The enemy will not win. Things will not stay as

they are. God is working all things for good. Will you trust

he is working all things together for your good? You may not

see it, and it may not seem like it but things are working

together for your good! That is the God we serve and He is

worthy to be praised! Amen

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

Use your faith…….

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

One of my pastors wrote something so powerful that I would like to

share. It spoke to me and I pray it speaks to you too…..

 

Do you believe that God is able to deliver you from your situation?

It’s not what God can do for you, it’s what you can believe.

1 John 5:4 – This is the victory that overcomes the world, even 

our faith. 

The people who will enjoy the blessings of God in 2015 will

be the ones who use their faith. 

Your faith determines your blessing. 

Read Matthew 9:28, 29

According to YOUR FAITH let it be to you. 

 

I thought this was a word in season! The issue is not God’s ability.

He is well and able to deliver you from whatever situation you

are in. The issue is your faith! There is a lot to digest here.

I will end with this question,

Do you believe God is able to deliver you from your situation?

Rolain

Staying pure in your singleness!

I have been reading a book called “Hero” written by Fred Stoeker. It has been a Godsend. It has really challenged me concerning my purity! This is not a review of the book. I want to encourage you to read it if you are single especially if you are a man! It is up there with books like “Boy meets girl”, and “I kissed dating goodbye” by Joshua Harris. (I am biased towards Joshua Harris because I am still to find a book on dating I have enjoyed as much as his books!)

But this is why I am writing this post, because I HAVE found a book that is as good as or even better than the books I have read! As I read “Hero” purity was and is on my mind. Do we really understand what purity is in the context of life and relationships??

The first thought that came to mind was singleness. What is God’s purpose for singleness? Why does He allow us to go through a season of singleness? Singleness is not a time of nothing! It is not the “trailer before the movie”! God has specific purposes and plans for us in our season of singleness! After reading “Hero” I am convinced one of those purposes is to understand what purity is and walk in that understanding!

After reading “Hero” I made a decision:

I will fight for my sexual purity with all that I have! I will not allow the enemy to take it away through his deception and lies! It is my responsibility as a man to take up my sword and fight for my purity! It’s a gift from God which honors Him and will bless my wife! I will not wait for someone else down the line in my family who is more disciplined and who loves God more to fight this fight because I am weak! It stops here….. I will fight for the future generations! I am the one God has called to fight this giant and strike down with His help of course!

Purity is more than abstaining from sex before you get married! Let me show you what I think it is now:

1. It is about watching what you watch! Stop watching those illicit movies! Pornography has to go! What are you watching?

I DICTATED a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl? Job 31:1

Job had to make a covenant with his eyes so he could stay pure and we need to do the same! When it comes to purity we can’t play games! It’s a war against anything and everything that will threaten it.

 

2. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasoning’s and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Being able to control your thoughts is what purity is all about. After reading “Hero” I realized I had mindsets and thoughts I had adopted from the media which were wrong and not biblical. They had to be torn down and that process is still happening! Bring thoughts that have exalted themselves against Christ.

 

3. I have addressed what you should do with your eyes and your mind. Purity means making a covenant with your eyes by watching what you watch. It is being careful what you think about. Every thought must be brought captive to the obedience of Christ. The next thing is watching what you say.

A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequences of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life] Proverbs 18:20-21

Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. Proverbs 4:24

What’s the point if you have decided to watch what you watch and watch what enters your mind when you have a filthy mouth so to speak? It doesn’t add up. Life and death are in the power of the tongue so are you using it to give life or are you killing with that tongue of yours???? Being pure means being able to control how you speak, it means dispensing life with your words!

 

This is the final point:

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart with all that you have! If your heart gets corrupted you will find yourself in a whole heap of trouble! How do you guard your heart?

You guard it by analyzing everything you allow. Everything should be tested. Don’t believe everything, don’t listen to everyone, measure everything according to the word of God! Is the heart pure?? I don’t know! But the one thing we can do is guard it.

 

It looks like there is a lot of work to do in the season of singleness!  It’s an important season of your life. Use the time you have wisely! You won’t be single forever. That is what I think purity is now and that is all thanks to “Hero” the book I read. As I read it purity began to become clear to me! It was then that it dawned on me we have a lot of work to do in our singleness! I hope you will get a copy of the book if you haven’t read it. With that said, please have a great weekend!

Rolain

Life as a pencil…….

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

A friend sent me something I thought I would share with you. Hope you enjoy it.

A pencil marker taught the pencil 5 important lessons:

1. Everything you touch will always leave a mark. 

2. The mistakes you make can always be corrected. 

3. Your most important asset is what is inside of you. 

4. In life you will undergo some painful sharpening that will make you a better pencil. 

5. To be the best you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you. 

Like a pencil you must allow God to be the HAND that guides you throughout your life.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading that like I did my fellow “pencils”.    Hahaha

God bless.

Rolain

How to pray for your future wife!

This post is a response to a post I read a few days ago, a post that  challenged me to the core. If you are a single woman I urge you to read it. The title of the post is called, “Dear Future Husband” and it is written by Samantha Hardcastle. You can read it here.

Men, I urge you to read it as well. It is an excellently written post and I think as men we need to know the kind of women we want and Samantha does a great job of holding up a Proverbs 31 woman. Anyway, let’s start. After reading the post I realized how important it is for us as men to do our part. We too need to pray for our wives. Samantha says,

‘These women don’t know if he has brown hair or orange hair – if he enjoys his coffee black or sweet – or if he’s been through hell and back. But they all share a common thread that all too easily, could be a lost art in one’s love life – and that is the act of praying.”

Men, prayer is important. Prayer is powerful and not to be taken lightly. I say that to you and to myself as a reminder. But I would like to go further with this because as men our responsibility is so much greater not because God made men better than women, but because God has a plan. We are to be the head. We are called to lead our families. We are called to protect and take care of them. The responsibility we have been given is very serious. So the question stands, how are we as men to pray for our wives?

I mentioned the first point. The actually act of praying is very important and key.

For the second point I would like to share something else from Samantha’s post,

“As I go through my past letters, a common theme I have prayed over him is that He would be a bold man for the things of God, bold in loving others, bold in living selflessly, bold in risking his personal comfort for more of Jesus. A man who is bold is the kind of man I want to hold”.

Another way of praying for your future wife is by preparing yourself in your singleness.

What habits need to be changed now? We don’t start when we get married, no! We start now. Ask God to show you habits that are not honoring to Him and ask your closest friends about the things you do that annoy them. Maybe you talk with food in your mouth or people can hear you from the other side of the world when you eat. Maybe you like getting up late every day or maybe you can’t resist flirting with other women, I don’t know. Just change habits that need to be changed.

Have a vision. As a man you are going to lead your family but how will you lead if you don’t have a vision? Let me rephrase that. How can you lead your family if you don’t know what your purpose is? Everyone has a purpose from God. Ask God to show you His purpose for your life.

Seek God with all of your heart. I put this third but it’s actually the most important thing a man can do. Without God we are nothing. He must be first in your life. He must be your consuming passion. He must be the one who occupies your thoughts constantly. He must be the one that completes you. Please listen to me on this point. A woman will not complete you. God is the only one, I repeat , the only one who will complete you…..The media has lied to us through movies and music that a man or woman will complete us but that is so not true. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL COMPLETE YOU. Ladies, if you find yourself relying on a man for meaning and purpose then you have been deceived! God is the only one who can give you that.

I will stop there for today. I have lots to share but I will stop there. I hope you got the gist of what I am saying. As men we need to pray for our wives too. They need our prayers as we need their prayers……It’s a two way thing.  Be vigilant; don’t take the assignment you have been given by God lightly. Your future wife is depending on you, she is praying for you!

Rolain

As the storm rages….!!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY!

It has been a crazy week for me…..a week where I really needed God! I always need God but this week was really needed…….But God is good because He spoke to me. He spoke to me through a picture! Well, He spoke to me through a post which had a picture. The post was really deep. Check it our here. The author has a sad story but in the midst of that there is a message! I would encourage you to read her story here…..There is a messaqge for women and men alike!

Without wasting any more of your time here is the picture that spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you too…..  🙂

 

 

Rolain