Why the Delay God?

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, let us go back to Judea.”

John 11:5-7 ESV

As I read this scripture I couldn’t help but think why Jesus stayed two days longer where He was instead of going to Lazarus immediately? After all the Word tells us that He LOVED Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

Why did He delay?

Because He was about to something amazing. He knew Lazarus would die but He wanted to show everyone His glory. But He was the only One who knew what was about to happen. Mary and Martha on the other hand didn’t. And that must have been hard for them. They knew Jesus loved them so they expected Him to respond immediately but that’s not what happened.

“So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

One thing we can be sure of is that Jesus did not delay because He was trying to be mean or because He enjoyed seeing people suffer. He loved this family.

As you wait on the Lord you need to remember that the Lord makes you wait because He loves you. Even in the midst of delays He loves you and Has a plan. Behind the delays there is love and I know that’s a difficult statement because delays are not an easy thing to deal with. It’s easy to think God has abandoned us or He doesn’t care about us when delays happen. But He does care and He loves you deeply. He knows exactly what you are feeling, the fears, the confusion, the anxiety, the frustration…

He knows it all. In John 11:35 we read a very popular verse,

“Jesus wept.”

He wept because He knew what the sisters were going through. He could identify with the pain they were feeling.

As you wait and as you face delays know that God loves you so much. He understands everything you are feeling and going through. Trust Him in the wait. Trust Him when the delays come.

The Lord has a plan in the wait and in the delays. Don’t lose hope. You are not alone in the wait. He is right by your side. His purposes for your life will be accomplished as you wait on Him in faith! And always remember that He loves you so much.

God bless you friends

Rolain

The Only Reason To Worry And Panic

There is only one reason you have to worry and panic and that’s if God is not with you.

If He has abandoned and disowned you then I would say you have plenty much

to fear.

There is a scripture where this sentiment is echoed.

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,

Let Israel now say-

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,

When men rose up against us,

Then they would have swallowed us alive,

When their wrath was kindled against us,

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,

The stream would have gone over our soul:”

Psalm 124:1-8

The author is thinking about what would happen if God was not on their side.

He sees how the enemy would totally annihilate them. They would have no chance without God.

And that’s what I am talking about here.

Without God on your side then you can worry, panic and fear.

But that is not the case with you and me because He is with us. He is fighting for us.

When enemies stronger than you come against you, the Word says, He is your support.

So bring Him your fears, and worries. He will not leave you helpless friends.

Bless you

Rolain

From inside the fish…

We all know the story of Jonah. How he tried to run away from God but instead

was swallowed by a huge fish. It is there I want to pick up the story.

He was in the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 2:1)

Did he know he would live? Did he think God had abandoned him and was punishing

Him for his disobedience?

All we know is that in that dark, empty, solitary watery grave he prayed!

 

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.”

 

He was at the bottom literally and metaphorically speaking and it is there that he called out

to the Lord. He didn’t remain silent or give up. He prayed.

You may be in a dark place today. A place of pain and a place where God seems to be

absent. I want you to know that He is not gone from you. He is right there with you.

 

Jonah was in the belly of the fish. In the deepest part off the sea where no man could hear

and help. He could have tried to shout all he liked but no one was going to hear him down

there. There was only One who could and did hear his prayer. In that place where no man could

hear and help the Lord heard him and answered him.

 

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help and You listened to my cry.”

Jonah 2:2

 

Don’t remain silent in your pain. Don’t think you are alone in that dark place.

When you have no one to help God is your help!

Call out to Him today because you are not alone.

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

He takes the painful things in our lives and makes them beautiful…….

*I was reminded of something I wrote some time back and that is why I am writing this post today.

This post is dedicated to everyone who has made mistakes and think God has turned His back 

on them. As you will read, that is not true. He loves you and will do all He can to get you back 

on track.*

 

“And when the morning was past, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became 

his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” 

2 Samuel 11:27

 

This was one of David’s darkest periods of his life. He slept with Bathsheba and got her husband killed.

To make things worse he was blind to his sin. He never repented, he never confessed his sin. Somewhere,

somehow his heart became hardened. I want to stop here for a bit.

 

We all make mistakes, we all mess up in life. What we need to pray for is for the Lord to correct, and to intervene

like He did for David. He could have left him in his sin but He didn’t. He confronted him about what he

did and delivered him. Because He loved David, the Lord sent Nathan.

The Lord knew David wasn’t going to snap out of sin on his own so in His mercy and grace He stepped in.

We need YAH to step in for us always. We can’t fight sin on our own. We need Him.

 

David messed up bad but the Lord didn’t abandon him. He was patient with him even when he was blinded.

He was blinded for nine months but the Lord never left. When the baby was born the Lord sent Nathan.

We need His mercy and grace more than we know. We will fall, we will make mistakes but the Lord

will not abandon us when we do. He will pick us up, He will confront us and He will deliver us.

 

But the biggest thing we need to overcome is thinking the Lord’s plan for our life, His goodness, and His

mercy stops when we mess up.

That’s not true. There is hope. Let me show you why I think so,

 

“David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her; and she bore a son and she 

called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved [the child]. 

He sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and [Nathan] called the boy’s [special]

name Jedidiah [beloved of the Lord], because the Lord [loved the child].”

2 Samuel 12:24, 25

 

Out of the horrible mess David was in, the Lord turned it into something beautiful. And that’s how

good Yeshua is. David’s life was not over. The Lord didn’t take back all the amazing things He promised

him. I think of David’s other wives, Abigail to be precise. She was amazing. Surely YAH could have used

her to show David how great, and amazing He was?? He didn’t. Instead, He took a

horrible moment, a terrible situation in David’s life and turned it around into something beautiful.

 

There is a lesson here for all of us. The Lord can take what’s painful, what’s horrible and turn it into

something beautiful. David could not take the glory for what happened. All glory went to YAH.

It was very clear He had performed a miracle in His life.

Don’t throw in the towel today. You may be in distress, guilty, condemned because of something

you have done but the Lord can turn it around. He has not abandoned you friend. He has not

turned His back on you. And that is why He is our God!

No matter how dark your past has been, He can and will light it up. There is nothing too hard for

the Lord. Put all your hope in Him. Call out to Him. Don’t stay silent.

With that have a great weekend friends….

Blessings to you.

 

Rolain

 

 

A word to those who have been abandoned…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against

a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me.

But the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

Then they all forsook Him and fled.”

Mark 14:48-50

 

“Then they all forsook Him and fled”

 

Jesus was abandoned by those closest to Him in His time of need.

In His most trying time there was no one to rely on for

support. He was going to endure the cross alone.

Let me rephrase that, no man would be with Him in His most

trying time.

 

You may be feeling alone because you have been ignored, rejected or abandoned

but know you are not alone.

Jesus understands fully what you are going through because He went through the

exact same thing!

He knows what it feels like to be abandoned by the people closest to you.

He knows the deep pain that comes from rejection.

You are not alone friend.

Cry out to Him in your pain.

Man will fail us but not Jesus. He is right there helping us, carrying us!

As I end I want to leave you with a scripture,

 

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from the love of money [including

greed, avarice, lust, craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present

[circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself  has said, I will not in

any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not,

[I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!

[Assuredly not!]”

Hebrews 13:5, 6

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

He was abandoned by everyone!

“Be diligent to come quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, 

having loved this present world, and he has departed for 

Thessalonica-Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 

Only Luke is with me. “

2 Timothy 4:9-11

 

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord

repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, 

for he has greatly resisted our words. 

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. 

May it not be charged against them. “

2 Timothy 4:14-16

 

How hard it must of been for Paul. He had been abandoned by

so many people.

He was on the Lord’s business and people kept leaving him left,

right and center!

I don’t think it was easy for him.

 

I think we can all think of a time where we have been let down.

It could of been by a family member, a friend, or a co worker.

Whoever it was, it wasn’t fun. It’s hard actually.

 

But that’s what happens when we put our trust in man.

But that goes two way.

I can remember countless times I have failed people. No

matter how hard I tried I still failed them.

What is the answer then?

 

Paul didn’t have one person abandon him, he had several people

abandon him and oppose him! How did he deal with it?

 

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the 

message might be preached fully through me, and that all the 

Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the

lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and 

preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. 

To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! “

2 Timothy 4:17-18

 

When Paul was abandoned by his friends and co workers he

didn’t go into a panic attack. He didn’t send “hate mail” to

the people who abandoned him. Instead, he looked to God

to help him.

And the Lord helped Him and delivered him out of the mouth

of the lion.

The Lord remained faithful to him. Even when man failed him,

the Lord remained faithful. The Lord was by his side.

The lesson I want to get across is this,

 

People will fail us, and we will fail people but our

trust and dependence should be on God always!

What happened to Paul had the potential of sending him

into depression and so much more but he knew Who turn to.

The problem for us begins when we put all our hope and reliance

on man.

The only person we should totally depend on is God.

I am not saying abandon your relationships with everyone

and do everything on your own.

I am saying, understand that people will fail you and you will

fail people.

Depend entirely on God.

He will never let you down.

 

*Do you feel abandoned, thrown aside and ignored but you need someone to talk to.

Click on the link below for help*

 

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/relations/what-to-do-when-youre-feeling-neglected/

 

Bless you friends.

 

Rolain

God silenced her voice…..

“But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah,

but the Lord had given her no children.

[This embarrased and grieved Hannah] and her rival provoked

her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless.”

1 Samuel 1:5, 6

 

There are times I feel like Hannah. It seems like people

are getting on with life and here I am still waiting…….

They look and wonder then ask, dude???

What’s going on? Why haven’t you got that, why aren’t you where

we at? Is everthing okay? What’s wrong with you?

What about you? Do you ever feel like Hannah?

 

I wish I had the answer but I didn’t and that is what Hannah

felt like. She was embarrased and grieved. There was nothing

she could say…..the Lord had left her childless!

Off course there was a reason she was barren. God had a plan

for Hannah but it was hard for her to understand. Peninnah was her

oppressor. It’s hard to understand for all of us I guess. We need to

know that God is good! His plan for us is good no matter how hard

things get.

We hear a lot of Peninnah in the first chapter. She is in Hannah’s

face and in life we will have Peninnah’s. Peninnah was provoking

her out of jealousy. The people who are ridiculing you have their

reasons but don’t worry about them. There will always be

Peninnah’s in your life!

 

But then at the right time God came to her rescue.

 

“The family rose early the next morning, worshiped before

the Lord, and returned to their home in Ramah.

Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. “

1 Samuel 1:19

 

The Lord remembered Hannah!

 

Hannah may of thought God had forgotten her but it wasn’t

true. God was up to something. He had a plan for her life.

He remembered her and gave her her heart’s deepest desire!

God has not forgotten you friends. You are on His mind.

He will silence the Peninnah’s in your life by giving you

what you have asked for! No matter how long you have waited,

He remembers you.

We don’t hear of Peninnah after the Lord remembered Hannah.

We don’t hear her provokings, her ridicules, her words of hate.

God silenced her voice completely and that is His plan for you too.

It grieves Him when people speak against you.

His plan is to silence her voice in your life completely!

 

“Hannah prayed, and said, My heart exults and triumphs in

the Lord; my horn (my strength) is lifted up in the Lord.

My mouth is no longer silent, for it is opened wide over my

enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.”

1 Samuel 2:2

 

Peninnah had managed to silence Hannah’s voice. Hannah

had believed what Peninnah was saying. So she remained

silent BUT God made it possible for her to open her mouth!

Yipeeee….!!!!

The enemy’s goal is to shut you up always. He doesn’t want you

praising the Lord and giving Him the glory. Don’t let the

negative voices in your life silence you. Don’t believe what

they are saying becasue it’s just not true!

We will not deny Hannah was barren but it was never

meant to last. Peninnah underestimated the power of God

in Hannah’s life. Remember, the situation you are in will not

last forever. God will open your mouth again! You will praise Him,

you exult Him because of His salvation in your life…..

 

“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren

has borne seven, but she who has many children languishes

and is forlorn. “

1 Samuel 2:5

 

I believe this is a warning for all those who are proud and a

promise for those who will trust Him wholeheartedly.

Peninnah had children but that didn’t give her the right to

speak to Hannah like that. She got proud and in God’s eyes

that’s was unexceptable. God hates pride.

Pride affects us all but we must fight it. Even if I become a

preisdent, that should never be a reason to look down on anyone!

Humility says, ” I am not better than anyone, no matter

what position I hold, no matter what I own, no matter where

I come from.

 

“Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.”

 

Pride makes the full go out hiring themsleves out for bread.

There is no blessing found in pride.

But we know there is a blessing in being humble. So take

this warning seriously friends. Never get to a point where

you are too important for anyone. Never get to a place where

you are looking down on another person!

That’s a word for you and for me.

 

So after all is said and done remember,

God remembers you! He loves you and has a plan for you

no matter how hard things seem at the moment!

 

Be humble!

 

Blessings to you friends!

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

He was always coming.

 

Now a certain man named Lazarus was ill. He was of Bethany,

the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.

This Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume

and wiped His feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus

who was [now] sick.

So the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, he whom you love

[so well] is sick.

John 11:1-3

 

Mary and Martha were in need of a miracle. Their brother

was sick and it didn’t look like he was getting better.

 

Like Mary and Martha I NEED a miracle! I need Jesus

to come through for me. If He doesn’t come through for me

what am I supposed to do? The enemy will win if He doesn’t

come through.

 

“Therefore [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He still

stayed two days longer in the same place where He was.

So when Jesus arrived, He found that he [Lazarus] had already

been in the tomb four days.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11:6, 17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

I sort of understand what happened here. Jesus could have left

immediately but He didn’t.

Was He testing Mary and Martha’s faith?

 

But let’s look at what was happening with Martha and Mary.

They had called for the Master but He hadn’t arrived yet.

That time of waiting couldn’t have been easy. As time passed

their brother’s health deteriorated.  Where are you Jesus, was

the question on their minds. How long could they keep

waiting? Did they feel abandoned by Jesus, like He didn’t

care what they were going through?

 

Lazarus died…..

Still no show.

 

Day two……

No show.

 

Day three….

It’s hopless.

 

Day four….

It’s over.

 

As all this was happening, the bible tells us that:

 

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He held them in loving esteem.
‭‭John‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters very much. It wasn’t

easy seeing the sisters broken at thier loss. He wept with

them!

He is not up in heaven playing cruel jokes on His

people. He doesn’t get a kick from seeing us in pain.

He has a plan for us!

 

When I read this story I think of the things I am trusting

God for. There were times in my life in my trusting that

I would lash out at God because I thought He had abandoned

and forgotten about me. But it’s not true!

There are still some things I am trusting Him for, things

that I prayed for, years ago. Has it been easy? Heck

no. But I know He can be trusted. He has a plan in the

waiting. He has a plan in the midst of the pain. He has a plan!

As I wrap up I would like to challenge you to wait on Him.

He knows where you at, truly!

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It could of been me…….

I had a busy day yesterday. The school holiday is about to

start which means camps! I went to visit a camp site yesterday

and was quite pumped after viewing it. Our kids will love it there.

 

But on the way back to work I saw two things……firstly I saw

a mountain bike in the middle of the road! I tell you the truth.

It was in the middle of the road upright and no rider in sight.

What made it weird was the road we were on was deserted.

So to see this bike in upright position in the middle of the

road was something!!!

I thought of taking a picture but the idea came too late.  😦

It was funny and weird, not something you see everyday!

 

The other thing I saw were kids in school uniform. On our way

to see the camp site we saw kids in uniform but didn’t

take any notice of them but on our way back the driver told

us that these were the same kids we passed as we came. These kids

had to walk about 15 kilometers back home and that means they

had to make the same journey to school.

Everyday they walk an average of 30km!

 

Instantly, I thanked God for all He had given me. And I thank

Him on a daily basis for His goodness. That got me thinking

though. Why do we have what we have? There are so many

people all over the world who struggle to get a meal a day,

who can’t get basic education, who live on the streets, who don’t

have any clothes and the list goes on.

 

As I see it,

I could of been born homeless but I wasn’t.

I could of been the child with no family but I have one!

I could of been the one scraping the bins for something,

just something to eat that would take me through the next

day!

I could of been the one freezing with no clothes, having

nothing to keep me warm through the night,

It could of been me…..

 

This is what I concluded:

 

God gave me all that I have so I could be a blessing!

He gave me all that I have so I could make a difference in

someone’s life.

I am humbled by all that He has given me and I realize I am

to use it for the advancement of His kingdom. He didn’t give

me all that I have so I could lavish it all on myself.

This is not about condemning those who have but I want

you to realize God has more planned for you that extends

beyond you.

His plan for your life is rarely about you alone, it’s about other

people, touching others. He wants us to spread the love of

Christ to others.

When you think about God’s plan for your life understand

that God wants you to touch others.

It may be as simple as giving a blanket to someone who needs

it,

buying some food for that person on the streets,

giving money to the beggar,

befriending the unpopular kid in school,

telling someone about Christ,

and the list goes on.

 

Be thankful for what you have. Don’t take it for granted!

This is a hard message! It was not easy writing it. I look

at my life and realize I should be doing more. The story of

the ten talents come to mind. I want to be faithful with the

talents God has given me.

The things I have been through, the experiences I have had,

the testimony I have is part of God’s plan to touch people.

God is so good…..

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God had a plan for her on that field….!!!

“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields

and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I

find favor.”

Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out,

entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.

As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz,

who was from the clan of Elimelek. Ruth 2: 2, 3

 

I read this scripture a few days ago when I saw something

AMAZING…!!! Ever wonder where your life is going?

Ever wonder if anything good is going to happen to you?

Ever wonder if things will turn around?

Ever think God has abandoned you on your journey?

Ever think your life was doomed, that all hope was lost

for you?

 

There is good news…….

 

Ruth had gone through a lot. She had lost her husband

and she moved to a foreign land. Her life looked bleak

but in the midst of all that God directed her steps:

 

“Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So

she went out entered a field and began  to glean

behind the harvesters.

As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging

to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek. Ruth 2:3

 

Let’s think about this for a minute. Out of all the fields

in the land, Ruth “happened to work on a field belonging

to Boaz”…!!!!

God is so good….There is no other explanation to give.

God directed her to the field of Boaz….!!!

Naomi didn’t lay out a plan before hand for Ruth.

Ruth didn’t know a thing about Boaz but somehow

“it turned out that she was worked in a field belonging

to Boaz“!!!!

Let me say this, as He directed Ruth I believe He is

directing our steps. The “field” we are in is not some

field! There is a reason we are working in that “field”…!

 

Who was Boaz?

 

He was a relative of Naomi who had the power to

help them. The NIV study guide explains it like this:

Guardian-redeemer – The Hebrew word for guardian-

redeemer is a legal one who has the obligation to redeem

a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55)

 

He was later to be married to Ruth (she had no clue at

the time)

 

They had a son named Obed who was the father of Jesse,

the father of David!  Ruth 4:16

 

She was part of the genealogy of Christ! Matthew 1:5

 

Ruth thought she would go and work in a field but

God had a much bigger plan for her. He directed her

steps in such an amazing way. She had no idea where

she was but God did. He led her to the field of Boaz.

She had no idea the impact that would have on her life!

 

I was encouraged when I read that. How many of us are

like Ruth just working in “some” field? The thing is, it

wasn’t some field…..It was the field God had directed

her to. He cared about her life and there is no man who

could have done what God did for her.

 

Because God guided her a few things happened:

 

“So Boaz said to Ruth, My daughter, listen to me. Don’t

go and glean in another field and don’t go away from

here. Stay here with the women who work with me.

Ruth 2:8

Ruth had favor in the place God directed her into.

 

Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and

follow along after the women. I have told the men

not to lay a hand on you.  Ruth 2:9

Ruth was protected as God led her.

 

As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men,

Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand

her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles

and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.

Ruth 2: 15

She began to experience blessing and prosperity when

she walked in God’s leading.

 

As I read this story I cried out to God. I asked Him to

guide my steps like He did for Ruth. She had no idea

what God had in store but He led her to the field of

Boaz…!!!

You may be like Ruth, just working on some field,

not expecting anything from God, thinking He has

left you or thinking His plan for you IS the field…!!!

That is so not true…!!! God has more planned for

you beyond field. Ruth may of thought she was

just working in some field but she was exactly

where God wanted her to be….! She may of thought

she didn’t deserve anything from God but He had

something so amazing for her….She may of seen

herself as a foreigner but God saw her as a

daughter, beloved and precious daughter who

deserved only the best!!!

Don’t lose hope where you are. God is directing your

EVERY step. Like Ruth, He cares for you

Like Ruth, He has an amazing plan for you

Like Ruth, His favor is on you

Like Ruth, He has not abandoned you

Trust Him as He leads you

It’s not an easy thing to do but it’s worthwhile

Stretch your faith

He has a plan for every step you take

Your life is not meaningless

There is so much more in store

Amen

 

Rolain