Big Problems, Bigger God!

There will always be giants to fight, trials and difficult times that come our way but we must always remember that

no matter how big the giants are, or how threatening the trials and problems seem, that God is bigger than ALL the

problems we face.

In the midst of the problems you face remember that God is bigger.

There is NO problem that you are facing right now that is bigger than God.

And it’s especially important where you are focused. Make sure that you are not focused on the problem alone.

Focus on the Lord in the midst of what you are going through.

The enemy wants you to focus on the problems, and the giants that are in your way so much that they seem bigger and

stronger than God. That’s what happened to Israel when they faced Goliath.

Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

1 Samuel 17:8-11 NLT

And this happened for 40 days and nights. (1 Samuel 17:16)

They were so focused on the GIANT problem in front of them that they forgot that God was bigger and much stronger than Goliath. But that was not the case with David. He knew God was bigger than Goliath. He was confident that God would destroy Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

Friends, I want to encourage you to look to God in the midst of the difficult things you are going through today.

He is bigger than EVERY problem you will ever face.

No matter what you are going through call on Him.

You don’t need to go at it alone. You are not alone in the fire.

God is with you and He will deliver you!

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.”

Psalm 18:2 NLT

Bless you friends

Rolain

God Knows Where You Are

God has your address. He knows exactly where you are.

Whatever you are facing at the moment know that God knows. You are not alone.

This truth is shown in the story of Sarah and Hagar.

Sarah couldn’t have children so she let Abraham sleep with Hagar.

But when Hagar gave birth to a son, Sarah got jealous and after speaking to Abraham,

chased her away.

Hagar wandered in the desert and was in trouble but God knew exactly where she was, not just

physically but spiritually. He knew what she was going through.

In the desert alone God found her and blessed her by telling her the plans he had for her son.

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: You are the God who sees me,”

for she said, I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Genesis 16:13

We serve a God who sees us where ever we are.

I also think of Jonah who tried to run away from the Lord. He found him and provided a huge fish

to shallow him.

In the deep, in the heart of the earth where no man could hear Jonah’s cries for help God knew exactly

where he was. In a place where no man could reach him God reached him. He heard his prayer and

delivered him.

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

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

Jonah 2:2

As I close know the Lord knows exactly where you are.

You are not alone in whatever you are going through.

Bless you friends

Rolain

When People Let You Down

“Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary that you come with

swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there

teaching every day.

But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.”

At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Matthew 26:56 NLT

“At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Jesus’ closest friends abandoned him when He needed them the most. In His darkest hour

there was no man standing with Him. But His trust was not in man but in His Father.

And even though man let Him down and deserted him, His Father didn’t.

That is a truth we can hold on to when people let us down, because it will happen.

When people let us down, God will not fail us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

He won’t desert us.

And that is why we need to trust in the Lord completely.

Who is your faith in when things get difficult?

Are you trusting in people or in the Lord?

I am also reminded of Paul who had people abandon him as well,

“The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me.

Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might

preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear.

And He rescued me from certain death.”

2 Timothy 4:16 NLT

Once again we see this amazing truth in action.

When Paul’s friends abandoned him the Lord remained by his side.

He delivered him from the enemy.

In a dark time of Paul’s life when it seemed like he was alone, he really wasn’t.

The Lord was with him.

So as I conclude I want to encourage you to trust in the Lord completely.

He will not fail or forsake you ever. He will remain faithful to you.

And remember that when people let you down, He won’t.

Bless you friends

Rolain

Even when you don’t sense it, He is with you!

In the midst of pain, confusion, storms, uncertainty, unrest, fear and

all the other stuff we are not alone.

Things are a bit crazy at the moment in my country.

But in the midst of the craziness I know YAH is with me. I don’t know what’s going to

happen but that’s okay because I am not in this alone.

I will keep looking to YAH for it’s in Him my hope lies.

 

I was so encouraged as I read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego this week.

It put things into perspective for me.

The king made a statue and decreed that everyone bow down to it when they heard the sound

of music. (Daniel 3:4)

But the three friends refused to bow down to the image.

Because of that they were in serious trouble. They had to bow down or be thrown in the furnace!

(Daniel 3:6)

 

The whole city was against them. It seemed like they would die because of their

decision. No one came forward to defend them.

It was the three friends against Babylon and it seemed like they would lose.

But something amazing happened,

 

“Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot,

the flame killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these

three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning

fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his

counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look! he answered, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire;

and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel 3: 22-25

 

YAH was with them all along even in the fire! The fire was intense but they were not hurt by it because

YAH was with them. He wasn’t watching from a distance. He was right there with them!

That really encouraged me and I hope it does you.

We are not alone. No matter what we facing at the moment He is with us right

by our side. There is nothing to panic and fret about.

Not only is He with us but He will deliver us. He will save us from whatever is threatening

to drown us.

So don’t panic and fret when storms, fear, and uncertainty come.

He is with you through it all and will carry you. He will protect you.

Look to Him in whatever situation you going through.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

Something to remember when you are going through stuff…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 41:10

 

Life can be so hard at times. In the midst of the trials we face we can forget

we are not alone.

In hard times we can so easily get into a thing of dealing with situations

on our own.

But YAH is with us every step of the way. We are not walking in the fire alone!

We need to remember He is with us always!

The enemy wants us to believe we are alone. He wants us to believe that YAH

doesn’t care but it’s all a lie.

We are not alone! Let’s take a look at a two scriptures,

 

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them;

for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Psalm 34:17

 

Whatever you are facing right now call to Him.

You don’t have to face the storm alone because you

are not alone!

Amen

 

Bless you friends…..

 

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

He didn’t want to go that way………!

And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites
[and Midianites, these mixed Arabians who are approaching], and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers consented.

Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the well. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph [captive] into Egypt. (‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26-28‬ AMP)

We know the story of Joseph very well. He had a dream from God and was not shy to tell anyone! His brothers hated him for the dreams he had been given and his parents rebuked him but the fact remains, God had great plans for him!

God had great plans for Joseph but he was thrown into an empty well by his brothers! What kind of thoughts did he have sitting in that dark empty well???
I can imagine him crying out to his brothers for mercy, pleading to them, begging them to set him free!

If that was not enough his brothers sold him into slavery!! The word gives us a clue into what happened that day:

“They said to each other, “We are being punished for the bad thing we did to our younger brother Joseph. We saw the trouble he was in. He begged us to save him, but we refused to listen. Genesis 42:21

God had a plan for Joseph that is very clear but,
he was first thrown into an empty well then
sold into slavery!!

Did he lose hope?? I would think so……! Was he confused and felt abandoned by God, maybe?

But look at what the word says about Joseph in the darkest time of his life:

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant.
[Gen. 45:5; 50:20, 21.]

His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron,

Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him. (‭Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭17-19‬ AMP)

God had a plan for Joseph but God knew Joseph had to go Egypt if he was to accomplish God’s call on his life! And the only way Joseph could get to Egypt was as a slave!!! Just imagine if God showed Joseph all that before it actually happened?? I think Joseph would have refused. If Joseph had any say in the creation of his purpose, he would of chosen the most comfortable path! He would of chosen the easiest path! So,

Are you confused at how your life is going right now?
Do you think God has abandoned you?
Does anything make any sense right now in your life?

Just know that God is in control of your life and He loves you! He is guiding you!
Let me share one more scripture with you:

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger,sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him, [Gen. 37:11, 28; 45:4.] 

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions andwon him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
[Gen. 39:2, 3, 21; 41:40-46; Ps. 105:21.] (‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭9-10‬ AMP)

In all the difficult things Joseph went through, God was with him!
God delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions!

In your dark times, in your trying situations, in your times of testing,
God is with you and He will deliver you! You are not alone!

Joseph thought he was alone in the empty dark well but God was with him, crying with him!
He thought he was alone when his brothers sold him into slavery but God was with Him!!
When he felt rejected because his brothers sold him into slavery God was with him!

As Joseph headed for Egypt he may of thought his dreams were finished but little did he know they were just beginning! You may feel like it’s end of the line for you but it’s actually the beginning! The enemy is lying to you! Your story is just beginning! Trust the Lord because He is with you!

Rolain

She was a nobody but faith………

This is part of three of my series on Hebrews 11. Read part two here. As I start this post I would like to share a verse that got my attention,

[Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity]. Hebrews 11: 31

Rehab is a hero of the faith but I wonder if she sees the same thing?? If we spoke to her now would she say she is a hero proudly? A lot of people read her story and are inspired and it is good but let us look deeper into her life. She was a prostitute and that meant a few things:

– She slept with men for money. It didn’t matter if the man was married or a drunk, or abusive, as long as they had money she would sleep with them.

– She was looked down upon by society.

– It’s very possible she struggled with a low self esteem

– She was finding it hard to make ends meet and maybe that is why she became a prostitute.

– She lived in fear (it’s possible she was threatened by men she slept with)

– No one respected her.

– She may have broken a few families up. It’s possible wives found out their husbands slept with Rahab and left!

– She must have dealt with guilt and condemnation on a regular basis because of the things she had to do. .

– Did she try to commit suicide???

I would like to make something clear before we move on,

I look up to Rahab and in no way am I trying to tear down her reputation and what God had done for her. I am trying to paint a picture of what she probably went through to make you understand what God saved her from. Because despite all the bad she did and all the bad that happened to her, through faith she was saved. Her name is recorded among the Greats because she trusted God! Because of faith she saved her family and was found in Jesus’s lineage!! (Matthew 1:5)

We need faith and without it we can do nothing pleasing to God. Do I understand what faith is? Not really. What I do know is God did amazing things through the people who trusted Him. No matter what people labeled them, or where they grew up, they turned the world upside down!

This is what the word says about these great men and women of faith,

[Men] of whom the world was not worthy–roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. (Hebrews 11:38 AMP)

Think about all Rahab could of gone through. How could God use her, one could think but in the end what matters is He did! No one is too far off for God to use!

You might feel like you are of no use and your life doesn’t count for something. You might think you have committed too much sin to ever do anything great or you may be plagued with guilt and condemnation but know God has a plan for you! He wants to do great things through you and that is why He wants you to trust Him. Only God can turn your life into something great but you have to have faith in Him!

Rahab did that. She stepped out in faith to God despite what she had done and what people thought and saved the spies. As she used her faith her life changed never to be the same ever. What an amazing testimony for her. I am going to look forward to meeting her and hearing her story! Her story is an example of what God can do with someone who has faith in Him!

Our faith in God can do things we never imagined ever. It can open doors only God can open. Have faith in Him.

Rolain

How the wars in your life are won!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

 

We all have wars to fight. We cannot run away from battles. They are a part of life but how are we to deal with them?

How do we become victorious? We find the answer in the book of Samuel.

 

David strengthened himself with trust in his God. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, Bring me

the Ephod so I can consult God. Abiathar brought it to David. 

Then David prayed to God, Shall I go after these raiders? Can I catch them? 

The answer came, go after them! Yes, you’ll catch them! Yes, you’ll make the rescue! 

1 Samuel 30: 6-8

 

When the Philistines got word that David had been made king over all Israel, they came on the hunt for him.

David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Rephaim Valley. 

Then David prayed to God: “Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them? 

Go up, “God replied. Count on me. I’ll help you beat them.”

2 Samuel 5:17-20

 

Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim

Valley. David again prayed to God.

This time God said, don’t attack them head-on. Instead, circle around behind them and ambush them from the grove

of sacred trees. When you hear the sound of shuffling in the trees, get ready to move out. It’s a signal that God is going

ahead of you to smash the Philistine camp.

2 Samuel 5:22– 24

 

Time and time again we see this pattern throughout scripture. Whoever it was, they always sought The Lord first.

As we face the battles that come our way we need to realize we can come to God. He is our Defender and He will fight for us.

The mistake we make is we think we can do it on our own. But it’s not true!!!! We are not strong enough, and smart enough. We need

Gods help. He is the One who will deliver us. I have tried at times fight on my own only to fail. David as great as he was,

and as great as an army he commanded always sought The Lord first. He didn’t rely on his own strength and on the strength of his mighty men.

 

Who are you relying on when you go to war?

Is it the weapons you possess or the connections you have or the family you come from or the riches you possess?

The experience you have, the intellect you possess????

That means nothing if you don’t seek The Lord. You will fail if you go out alone!!!

Rely on The Lord when you go to war! Rely on God when you face the giants in your life!

 

Rolain.