Thinking about the next generation…….


It’s been an amazing weekend indeed.

If you didn’t know, I work at my church’s children’s ministry. It’s such an honor

working there.

This weekend was amazing because we had a grade seven graduation. Grade seven’s

are twelve year old’s and every year we release them from children’s ministry with a

dinner and graduation. The dinner happens on a Friday night and the actual graduation

happens on Sunday in the main service. It was really emotional because as leaders we

have been with the children from the time they were six. So seeing them become

men and women of God before our very eyes is something so amazing that cannot be put into words.

My desire for them is that they grow deeper into YAH and not stray from the

path they are on.

 

But that got me thinking about the next generation. We need to do all that we can to teach them

the way of the Lord!

You may not be serving in a children’s ministry like I do but I want to challenge you,

 

Is there something you can do?

 

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 6:6.

I know it addresses the parents but we can get involved!

David writes in the book of Psalms,

 

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might

to another generation, your power to all those to come. “

Psalm 71:18

 

There is a generation that is coming that needs to know there is a God who

loves them and has a plan for their lives.

There is a generation that needs to know there is a God who will never forsake them.

There is so much they need to know about YAH and His ways……

 

The enemy doesn’t want the next generation to grow up knowing YAH.

He wants to take them out. But we can’t let him!

When YAH sees you, He doesn’t just see you, He sees the generations in you.

Look at Abraham.

YAH had a plan for his life and that plan included the generations in him!

So I will ask the question again,

 

Is there a way you can touch the next generation?

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You don’t have to stay as you are!


Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah)

he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old 

[previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. 

Behold, the fresh and new has come! “

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

 

“The old has gone and the new is here!”

 

I love this passage of scripture. It really is good news for us as

sons and daughters of the Most High.

A few weeks ago I did a test that helps you identify what your

God given gifts are. I have done this test several times

throughout my life. In the past I always had a really low

score for administration which wasn’t good.

But when I did the test this time around, my administration

gift wasn’t low any more. It wasn’t in the top three but it was high

enough.

That really left an impression on me. Change had happened and

I have the Lord to thank for that.

The Lord is constantly working on me. Day by day I am being

renewed into the person He created me to be.

Does that mean I won’t make mistakes? No!

Does that mean change is a walk in the park? Heck no!

 

“And Saul was [not only] consenting to [Stephen’s] death

[he was pleased and entirely approving].”

Acts 8:1

 

Paul was a mess but God intervened in his life and turned it

around in such an amazing way. Paul is our example.

If God could totally transform Paul into a mighty man of God

who did mighty exploits for the kingdom, He can certainly do the

same thing in our lives.

 

What is your attitude towards change?

 

We need to change our attitudes.

God wants to change us but we need to get our attitudes

right.

If you think you will never change you are wrong. The Lord

has already made you new!

Who you are now can change with the Lord’s help alone.

You cannot change yourself! You need help.

 

The point of this post is to make you see that you can change

because you have already been changed into a new creation.

You may see flaw after flaw as you look at yourself but remember

the Lord is with you. He is with you changing you to be more

like Him.

You don’t have to stay as you are.

 

“The old has gone and the new is here!”

 

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where does your validation come from??


i-am-of-worth

As humans we crave applause, attention and acceptance.  We

want to be validated but how far will we go to get it?

As I talk about validation I really need to talk about self esteem

because in my eyes these two things are linked closely together.

When we esteem ourselves highly the less we look to man to

validate us.

 

One of my mentor’s described self esteem this way, self esteem

is your estimation of your own worth!

 

How much value do you place on yourself?

Do you esteem yourself highly?

 

People may have their own opinions about

you but you should value yourself highly. You should be your

biggest fan no matter what.

But what should your estimation be based off? What is your

measure?

The word of God should be your measure!

God knows the truth about you so seek out what He says about

you.

His word has so much amazing truths to declare to you about you….

 

Be real about your shortcomings but be wise how you approach

them. Tearing yourself down is probably doing more

damage than people’s negative  words to you!

 

So like I said, be honest with yourself. When you make a mistake

admit it but correct yourself in a way that still

maintains your value. I was really bad at doing this. I used to tear

myself down badly. I thought that was the right thing to do

but I was wrong. No matter how wrong I am God would NEVER

tear me down so why do I think it’s okay??

We all sin so it’s natural to speak negative. We don’t need to put

much effort into speaking and thinking

negatively. It’s hard to NOT speak negatively. It’s hard to NOT

gossip. It’s hard to NOT think negatively.

We have to be very intentional and deliberate about being positive

and encouraging and we need help!

 

We need affirmation, we need encouragement, we need support but

is that the main drive behind everything we do?

 

But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many

believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after

seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing.

But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because

He knew all [men];

And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man

[needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself

knew what was in human nature. [He could read men’s hearts.]”

John 2:23-25

 

Jesus didn’t seek validation from man. He was content because

God validated Him!

 

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. 

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of

God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love;

with Him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16, 17

What just happened there? Jesus was being validated!

He wasn’t looking for applause or encouragement from man,

He came to accomplish the mission He was given by God!

 

We need to be careful when it comes to who we look to for

validation.

Man never created you, God did so He is the only one qualified

to tell you who you really are.

Your best friend may know you better than the average person

but that doesn’t mean they know the real you.

It may be argued that your family knows you best but it’s just

not true. They know you better than anyone else but they still

don’t know the real you.

God is the only One who knows you in and out!

You can’t even trust your own assessment of who you really

are because once again, you didn’t create you, God did! So stop

with the “this is the way I am” statements because your

assessment is not 100% accurate.

 

Think about a house for a minute. Let’s say you are selling it.

It would be crazy asking a friend or random

stranger to tell you what the value of the house is. You have to go

to the real estate agency to get an accurate value.

Stop letting people tell you what your value is.

Today you have an opportunity to make a decision.

Just because someone sees you one way doesn’t mean that’s

who you are. (that’s really good news!!)

That’s the way they see you and not the way God sees you.

Because we are flawed we see in part. No one sees perfectly,

just God, remember that.

You don’t have to confine yourself to the perceptions of others.

You can break out of that.

You can decide to be the person God has created you to be. Let

Him show you who you really are. I believe there is so much to

still discover about ourselves. If we stop at, “this is the way I am” or

believe someone’s assessment of who we are then we limit

ourselves. If God really created us (which He did) surely there is

more right??

Surely there is more to us than what people see? !!!!

 

And on that note I will stop here.

If you are struggling with a low self esteem and you need to talk to someone click on the

link below.

 

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/i-need-someone-to-talk-to-about-my-problems-but-where-do-i-turn/

 

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

Will you be that friend??


 

 

 

 

 

And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.    Matthew 1:19

This is such an inspirational verse and it is one of my favorite scriptures. As I read the scripture this time round relationships came to mind.
In verse 18 we see that Mary was found with child through the power of the Holy Spirit but Joseph didn’t know that. It normal circumstances it meant Mary would be stoned to death. Was Joseph hurt? It could be possible. He had every right to be angry at her and tell everyone what she did but he didn’t……
Instead, he protected her, he covered her. Men, we need to learn to have that same mindset. We need to protect the women in our lives. We need to cover them. But I don’t want to just talk to the men. Let us look at this passage in the context of friends. As friends we need to be there for one another. The word says Joseph was NOT willing to expose her publicly! We need to cover our friends and not expose their faults for the whole world to see. If you see something not adding up in their life then you have a right to confront them but in a way that builds them up.

When you are confronting them or rebuking them do it with the mindset Joseph had. He didn’t want to expose Mary publicly even though it seemed like she slept with another man.
He didn’t want to disgrace and shame her. I would dare to say that his relationship with her was far more important than the “sin” he thought she committed.
Our friends need our support and love. They need us to be transparent and real. They want us to have their back. Will you be that friend?

Rolain