What are you practicing?

Hi friends. 

I was going over an old journal of mine recently and came across a post that I wrote based

on a devotional I had read. The post was about the power of action or practice. 

What are you practicing today or what are you taking action on today? 

These are the questions the devotional was asking me to answer. 

It’s not enough to listen to something and at times we can fall into the trap of thinking listening

is the main thing but it’s not. The change and the growth comes in the action, in the practice. 

So we can attend the best workshops, and webinars, or read the top books in the industries we are in but

if there is no mindset of, “what do I need to act upon”, then growth and change won’t happen. 

And when it comes to faith, James chapter two states that faith without works is dead. Faith is faith when action is applied. 

Reading the word has some benefit but reading and acting upon the word is where the real power is. 

The author of the devotional went on to talk about how we need both the abstract and the practical. 

The abstract is the faith, the belief, the hope which are not tangible then there is the practical part which is the action or practice. 

We need both. 

So as I close, what are you practicing today?

Do you have both the abstract and the practical locked down? 

Have a great weekend 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

 

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

Throw away that script!!

 

All his life he was abused. His dad was a drunk and his mom was having an affair, an affair that led to divorce! His school life suffered greatly! Who cared about science or geography when life was falling apart! His world as he knew it had been destroyed and was still a living nightmare and yet he was still required to engage at school!!! His teachers called him stupid, his seniors ridiculed him daily. He had no where to run but in himself but even that was hopeless because the person inside would tear him to bits, the person in him would tell him how pathetic he was……no one understood him not even his family….

His script.

I am a nobody and no one loves me! I am better off dead…..I am of no use on this earth! If there is a God, He really really hates me!!! No one understands me.

The boy grew up and for a lot of his life he held on to the script that had been given to him through experiences he went through as a child. He wanted nothing to do with his family, he was treated like trash but it never bugged him because his script said he was trash! He was poor but that was okay with it because his script said he was a nobody and he didn’t deserve anything good! He never expected love from anyone because his script said no one loved him and so it went until…..

Something happened, something that would change his life forever. The boy who was now a man found God or may I say, God found him! God changed the way he saw. God started showing him flaws in the script, not only flaws but lies and deception! It was a difficult time for the boy turned man. A lot of the lessons where painful. The crazy thing about the whole situation was there was a part of the man that wanted to hold on to the script!! It was what he knew and even though it was destroying him he held on to it and didn’t want to let go!

But God in His grace and love saved the man. After years and years of rebuilding and restructuring, and pounding and pain the man began to see something else. He began to see what God had for him…..He began to believe in love again! The script he once had was nothing but a memory now.

It would still come back to haunt him at times but by God’s grace he stood tall and strong knowing who his God was and is, knowing the plans God has for him, confident in the God who loves him!

This is what I would like to say to you. The script you have been given is false. God loves you and cares for you and has a plan for you. Your life can turn out differently despite what people are saying. Your life WILL turn out differently. God did not compose the script you are living by now not if it is a negative one and not if it undermines who are in Christ.

You are not destined to fail.

You are not a loser.

You are not ugly.

You are not useless.

You are not stupid.

You are not just a statistic.

You are not a burden.

You are not clumsy.

God has someone amazing out there for you.

You will succeed, you will win, you will prosper, you are loved, you have been forgiven, you are beautiful, you are rich, you are precious, you are important and so much more……

You don’t have to follow the script you have been given. God wants you to look to Him and trust Him. He wants to give you the best. The script is not true. Throw it away!

* Depression is real and needs to be taken seriously. If you want to understand it more and know how

to deal with it please click on the link below*

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/depression/10-depression-quotes-that-may-change-your-life/

Rolain

He knew all along…..

As I look back at my life I realize how God had a plan for me. There were times when it didn’t seem like it but He had a plan…….

– As a child going through abuse He had a plan for me
– Being told by my teachers I would amount to nothing, He had a plan
– When my family fell apart and got divorced He had a plan
– When I had to move in with my grand mother because of the divorce He had a plan
– On days when I constantly tore myself down (which was all the time) He had a plan for me
– When people laughed at me because I stammered He had a plan
– During times of hopelessness and despair over my future He had a plan

A lot has happened but God has been true. I couldn’t see Him at work through all that at the time but I see now how He kept me alive and safe. He preserved my destiny in spite of how messed up my life was. It’s amazing to think as I was going through all that, God had a plan already planned out for me. When I lost hope and belief in anything good God had something amazing in store for me. I didn’t even know Him for crying out loud but He had something in store for me, when I was in fear of being abused He had a plan for me, when my heart was broken because I thought I was a nobody God knew the plans He had set up for me……And that is what God does. I believe it is just the beginning and I look forward to more.
You might be going through trials and hardships that seem unbeatable but the fact is that God has a plan for you. Your life might be in pieces but know God has a plan for you. You might be abused at home but know God has a plan. You might be in the darkest of  nights in your life but know that God has a plan for you. He has so much in store for you. Don’t give up, don’t quit. He knows who you are and He knows what you are going through……He will never leave you. Don’t believe the lies. Trust in Him.

Rolain

The Tale Of The Complimentary Milkshake!!!

I had a very interesting experience this past week when I was at work. We had a crazy weekend one where customers all came in at the same time. I work in a coffee shop on top as well as running my own company. The coffee shop I work in is owned by the church I attend so we get a lot of Christians. Anyway, as I was working I served two very interesting ladies.
As lunch was about to end one of the ladies called me and asked me for a complimentary milkshake. I was in no position to give it to them even though I am a manager at the coffee shop reason being I am still on probation.
I told her I would ask the general manager but in my head I knew he would say no. She said she was a regular customer but in the time that I have been here which is about a month I had never served her! As I left the table to go ask the general manager she stopped me and told me that she usually gets what she wants because she has favor!!!!
I know…. I was surprised at her statement! I still went and asked the general manager and sure enough he started asking me questions like, why she wanted a complimentary milkshake and if she was a regular customer? I honestly didn’t know her and that is what I told him but instead of saying no he actually said yes!!! He didn’t know her as well but he said yes and he told me to give her the milkshake!

This really spoke to me. This lady knew who she was and she was not afraid to declare it. What do you believe about yourself? Are you declaring what God says about you? This lady was not afraid to declare what she believed even to a stranger (me)! If you know you are blessed are you declaring it? If you know you have favor are you declaring it?
Get the picture?
It is time we start declaring what God says about us. Our words have power and we need to act like we believe it!!!

Rolain.P

What Unbelief Will Do To Your Life.

How dangerous is unbelief to a person? Unbelief is disasterous to a person’s life. Hebrews shows us how dangerous it is. To find the answer we will look at the Israelites. They were God’s chosen people. They saw God’s awesome power. They were witnesses to His amazing miracles. They were led by Moses a man full of faith and hunger for God.
Hebrews 3 is one of many scriptures that sheds light on the danger of unbelief in our lives.
Out of all people the Israelites were supposed to be the most passionate people. They were supposed to be the most hungry for God. They were supposed to be the most believing. Why? Because they saw things. They saw their tormentors being destroyed by plagues. Then they saw the Red Sea being parted. After that they saw rocks turn to water, quail falling from the sky, manna on the ground, a pillar of cloud and fire, clothes not getting torn, sandals not being damaged. They saw God as fire, they heard His voice! They saw and heard things.
And yet they failed to get into the promise land. Hebrews says they failed to enter God’s rest. Why?

Let us look at Hebrews 3:12 which says:
[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.
But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamour of his sin may play on him]. (Amplified)

Unbelief will harden your heart towards God. It will seperate you from Him. The bible warns us of an unbelieving heart. But the thing is this, unbelief will come in stealthly. You won’t even know it until it is too late and that is the why we need to constantly check our heart condition. Unbelief cannot be left unchecked.
When I read this passage I started looking at myself. I asked God to show me if I had unbelief in my heart. You can believe that God can heal but at the same time you may doubt God as your Provider. You may believe that God is faithful but at the same time you may doubt His love for you at times!
Unbelief will creep into every area of your life. In which areas are you living in unbelief? Where are you struggling in?
The Israelites went through a lot when in slavery and that may have played a part in them doubting God. Don’t let your bad experiences make you doubt God.

Let us look at one last scripture which reads:
So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].
Hebrews 3:19 (Amplified)

As I end I would really like you to see how unbelief stopped Israel from walking into God’s rest. Dispite all the amazing things they saw they refused to believe in God and because they refused their hearts got hardened. Unbelief will seperate you from God.
We need to eradicate ALL unbelief! We cannot entertain it. Ask God to help you as you search your heart.
We will enter our rest because we live a life of trust in God.

Rolain.P

What Does Your Tomorrow Look Like?

What is the difference between you and the next person? What is the difference between someone who drives around in an expensive Range Rover Sport and you? What is the difference between a family that travels to the best resorts in the world every holiday compared to a family that are struggling to make ends meet? What is the difference between a person who stays in a penthouse in a high priced suburb compared to someone who stays in a shack in a poor part of town?
What is the difference between a teenager who gets accepted into the best universities and the teenager who is struggling to get accepted at any university?

Believe it or not but there is an underline similarity in all these cases. I live in a place that overlooks one of the most expensive penthouses in the city. So one day as I was sitting and staring at it I started thinking, why am I here and not there? Why are the people who stay at the penthouse, at the penthouse and not here or anywhere else? Why do they drive the cars they drive which are very expensive and why am I struggling to buy a car?

The reason is simple but hard to come to grips with. My mentor taught it to me. I remember the first time he highlighted it, I was rocked. I tried to think of other reasons which I, did find. But he taught me this was one of the main reasons I was were I was. The reason is, in the way I think compared to the way they think! And that is the underline similarity between all those cases I mentioned in the beginning. And because the way we think is different our expectations are different. Thier expectations in life are higher compared to my expectations. Let me give you an example of how that works.
There is a guy who thinks about travelling all the time. He reads magazines on travel and he watches travel network. He is totally obsessed with it. What do you think his expectation is? Travelling! On the other hand we have another guy who is thinking of failure in his business. He worries and complains that things are not going his way. He losses all hope that it will get better. What is his expectation? Failure.
I hope that illustration has helped you to understand how our thinking can determine our expectations.
And please understand what I am saying. I am not saying bad things happen to people because they think wrong. We live in a broken world and because of that we cannot escape brokeness. What I am trying to show you is that you have a part to play in the story of your life. And the way you think is one of the main things that will determine where you are tomorrow. Just thought to make myself clear on that.

Which boat are you in? What does your “tomorrow” look like? What you think about today will determine your “tomorrow”. And remember that the difference between you and someone who is crazy successful is in the way you both think. Begin to change the way you think.
I will end this post with two scriptures:

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverance and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
Philippians 4:8

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7

Rolain.P