He leads us on purpose……

“Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps 

you take to get there.”

Proverbs 16:9

There is one fact we can’t deny, the Lord is directing our every step. I look at where I am and where

I have been and can clearly see the Lord’s hand in where I am now. I could have never in a thousand

years planned where I am now. I shudder to think where I would be today if I was left alone to direct

my own steps.

But I can also see countless times I fought, scratched, shouted to go the way I thought was right,

because the Lord’s way didn’t seem to be the best, the times I thought He made a grave mistake.

At the time it didn’t make sense, it was confusing and frustrating but the Lord kept urging me to trust

Him even when I didn’t understand what He was doing. We can trust His leading.

Let’s look at the word for a bit and go deeper into a story that shows us how the Lord leads our steps.

From the time of Yeshua’s birth to His death and resurrection, the good news was only preached to the

Jews. After His death his followers reached out to His chosen people, the Jews. No one saw the bigger

plan. Yeshua had died for everyone and not just the Jews so He needed someone – Peter.

“Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.”

Acts 9:32

This was important because in Lydda, Peter healed a man who was paralyzed and was bedridden for 8 years.

When he healed the man the word tells us everyone in Lydda and Sharon  turned to the Lord (Acts 9:35)

Peter being in Lydda was important because in a nearby town of Joppa a woman named Dorcas who was well

known by the community died. The disciples in Joppa heard Peter was in Lydda and since it was so close

they sent for him. (Acts 9:38)

Side note: Peter may have had no idea why what was happening was happening but the Lord did. There was

something much bigger going on that Peter wasn’t aware of. But as the Lord directed Him, he followed obediently. 

Let’s move on.

Peter arrived in Joppa and brought Dorcas back to life. (Acts 9:40) which was amazing. Peter may have thought

that was why he had come to Joppa which was partly true but there was more. Something much bigger,

something that would impact the world. It’s while Peter was in Joppa that we hear of Cornelius the Roman

centurion who was visited by an angel and was commanded to send for Peter.

Peter goes without reservations and sees the “Gentiles” receive the Holy Spirit like the Jews!

The way of salvation was now officially opened to the “Gentiles” and Peter was instrumental in that happening.

He was obedient to the the Lord’s leading. He never complained or grumbled. He trusted!

Don’t take Lord’s leading lightly. You are where you are for a reason. Stay humble, be obedient, trust

that He knows what He is doing. He sees the bigger picture and we don’t but that’s okay because He has

our best interests at heart. We just need to trust Him and know He would never led us to destruction.

There is a purpose in His leading, there is love in His nudging.

Bless you friends.

Rolain

“Get me out of here”!!!!

“Only think of me when it goes well with you, and please

show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharoah and get me

out of this house.

For in fact I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews

by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for

which they should put me in the dungeon.

Genesis 40:14, 15

 

I think you will agree with me that life gets crazy at times.

Being in the place God has called you to be is not easy at times.

There is joy, happiness and memorable moments but there is

the other stuff. There is the stuff that doesn’t make sense.

There is the stuff that makes you doubt what God told you.

There is the stuff that wants to make you throw in the towel….

 

Yes, I am talking about the call of God. All this stuff, the good,

the bad define purpose! Joseph knew this so well.

There was a time he wanted out! He felt betrayed and unfairly

treated. He was confused and hurt.

 

Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and

he placed the cup in Pharoah’s hand. But he hanged the chief

baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Yet the chief butler did not mention Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40:21-23

 

It would take two years before the butler remembered Joseph.

It wasn’t easy for him. He had to overcome a lot of things

on the road to fulfilling his purpose. He had to forgive a lot

of people. There was a lot of growing up that had to

happen. It was intense…..

 

“Now two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine

came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,

bore to him.

Joseph named the firstborn, Manasseh (causing to forget),

for he said, God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship

and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.

Genesis 41:50, 51

 

All I want you to see are the hard times Joseph went through.

God had a plan in the midst of the pain and hardship.

The story of Joseph is one of my favourites. It reminds

me that no matter how bad things get, God has a plan.

When things seem at their worst, He has a plan. Don’t

give up. Don’t throw in the towel. When the odds are

stacked up high against you look to God. You are not

enough on your own! God will bring you through…..

 

We need to trust in His goodness friends. God is so good.

He is not partially good. He is all good. He has good things

in store for you. The fire you are in will not consume you. You

will come out victorious. There will be good times. There will

be laughter. There will be joy. He will fulfill what He planned for

you…..and that’s a promise!

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beauty to unveil……

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom what God has done from

beginning to end.    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time”

 

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you had

an amazing holiday so far!   🙂

Let’s get started…..

This scripture has really ministered

to me in this season. There are a lot of things I am

waiting on God for and at times I get frustrated, I

get discouraged, I lose sight of things but this verse

brought a lot of things into context. In 2016 I have

resolved to wait on God. There is a reason He wants

me to wait….let me not get ahead of myself. Let me

explain what I am taking about.

 

The world has conditioned us to think “instant”but God

teaches us to wait. I want you to see

there is a “time” that has to pass as you wait on God. When

you wait on God you put yourself in a position to see His

beauty unravel in your life.

We are too impatient at times.

Let’s look at a passage of scripture for a moment,

 

“He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as

a slave.

His feet they hurt with shackles;

He was put in chains of iron,

Until the time that his word [of

prophecy regarding his brothers]

came true,

The word of the Lord tested and refined

him.

Psalm 105:19

 

This passage of scripture in my opinion perfectly

illustrates what I am trying to say.

God gave Joseph a glimpse into his future but

there was a “time” that had to pass. Was it easy,

heck no. He was sold as a slave to a foreign land to a

foreign people. He was in chains and shackles and it

was painful. In the time of waiting he was being refined.

The word tested him. Waiting is never easy friends.

But we see something amazing in the midst of his trials.

God was making something beautiful. At first it seemed

like there was only ugliness but God had a plan. He was

creating something beautiful of his life. Joseph had to wait on God.

Was he confused, most probably, but he continued to trust

in God.

 

Because God loved Joseph he made him wait!

 

Just because something hasn’t come to pass in our lives

doesn’t mean God has abandoned us even though at

times it feels like it. Like Joseph, God makes us wait

because He loves us. He makes us wait because He

wants to give us His very best!

Making us wait is His way of showing His love for us.

 

Waiting is one of the processes God uses to bless us.

 

As I have waited on God I feel like my love and trust in

Him have been tested to the core. There is nothing like

waiting on God to reveal where your faith and heart are at.

 

When I got that revelation, I saw impatience for what

it really is.

Impatience stifles God’s beauty in our lives.

If we are impatient we are saying we don’t trust Him.

We must stop being impatient. We must learn to wait

on God.

The way God sees waiting and the way we see waiting

are very different. We must see waiting as an expression

of love, a very real love that God has for us.

 

I want to see His beauty in my life and even though it’s

hard I will wait on God. I don’t want to disqulaify myself

from His goodness because of impatience. He loves me

and that is why He makes me wait.

My life is in His hands. I have waited for a long time

already but if He is calling me to wait even more

then I will do it because I trust Him!

 

My encouragement to you friend is, keep on waiting.

God loves you so much and has only the best for you.

Don’t give up or let up. Wait on the Lord. He will come

through on His promise. He will not let you down. He is

making something beautiful in your life.

Will you wait?

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

God’s plan for him took him to Egypt…..!

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy

and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt;

but God was with him,

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and

won 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.  Acts 7:9, 10

 

Joseph’s brothers held nothing back. The word is very clear

how they felt about him. They were boiling with envy, hatred,

and anger toward him. They wanted to do him harm!

When they sold him as a slave they thought that was the

end of him!

I think the enemy does something similar. he brings things

in our lives to take us out, to do us harm. he doesn’t want

us fulfilling our destiny.

But he is seriously misinformed. Like Joseph, God is with

us in the desert, in the storm, in Egypt!

Consider this:

God had a plan for Joseph but he had to go to Egypt for it

to come to pass!

I believe we all have an “Egypt”

to go through but that is not the most important thing to

remember. The most important thing to remember is,

God is with you!

 

Because God was with Joseph in Egypt the word says,

 

He delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions

(which in reality are many). God will deliver us as well.

 

He won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and

understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, King of Egypt!

Wow….!!!

 

Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and all his house!

 

That is so crazy right! That all happened in Egypt!!

His brothers wanted to take him out but God stepped in

and turned things around. He delivered Joseph from

the evil plans of man.

God protected him. Anything could of happened to him

but it didn’t because God was with him!

Did Joseph understand at first? Off course not. He had

dreams in his heart, dreams he believed were from God!

But even though he was confused and even though he felt

abandoned, even though he was in fear, even though he

was rejected, even though he was misunderstood, even

though his faith in God waned, even though he was locked

up,

God was with him through it all..…!

 

Friends, please let that truth sink in deep. He is

with us. He knows exactly where you are, what you are

facing. He has not abandoned you, He has not cast you

into the darkness, He has not disowned you, He doesn’t

want to harm you….never! He is with you. He loves you

with an everlasting love! Don’t ever forget that.

be encouraged…….God bless you!

Have a great weekend!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

When you don’t know what to do…….

 

I have come to a realization! What I thought God had planned for me is not what God has for me!! I have been holding on to something I thought was from God but really originated from my own mind! This week I surrendered that plan to God which means I don’t know what God has for me in the next season of my life! I have nothing to fall back on. It’s all or nothing! It’s crazy because I felt secure because I had a plan. I was confident and had no fear. But everything has changed. It has all changed because of something a friend said to me a few days ago:

“The best position your heart can be in, is where you don’t know what to do!”

At first I was like, what????? But upon further meditation I realised how deep that statement was. It is in that position that we get on our knees and seek the Lord for answers and clarity!

It is in those times of “I don’t know” that God shows up!

We grow the most in those times because we are desperate for answers and direction.

“Desperation is a native language in heaven”……,.

 

The best example that comes to mind is found in 1 Samuel 1. We are introduced to a women named Hannah. She didn’t know what to do. The Lord had not given her a child and she was being ridiculed by her husband’s second wife Peninnah. How hard it must of being. Her pain drove her to tears constantly! What was she thinking? Did she have it altogether? I don’t think so. But in the midst of her pain, in the midst of “I don’t know” she sought the Lord and the Lord heard her!

Remember this:

The best position your heart can be in, is where you don’t know what to do!

If you know everything why would you need God???

If everything made sense all the time would you really need God???

If God showed you everything He had planned for you and I mean everything would you still seek Him???

I realised something, not knowing is not a bad thing. In fact if we are to grow in God we need MORE of those times! I am now in a place where I don’t know what to do or where my life is going but I know God is good and that is what matters. I trust Him to guide me! Even though I don’t know, He knows!

If you are confused about some things in your life, if you have no idea what the answer is to what you are going through then turn to Him! He allows us to have those times so we can seek Him and get deeper into Him! He is so good……..

Rolain

P.S      Please pray for me as I will be traveling to Botswana tomorrow! I will be in Gabarone for a music tour with my church. We will be there for about five days. I truly believe God wants to show me something new and everytime I travel is an opportunity to see. So I want to see what He wants me to see. This is a time to get refreshed in His presence because I will be in a different place! Please pray I have a safe journey. And pray I will be impacted by being in Botswana! I would really appreciate your prayers!

 

 

The “Man” who walked out on a city………!!

That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to Him, the whole city lined up at His door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew His true identity, he didn’t let them say a word. 

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. They found Him and said, “Everybody’s looking for You.”

Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also. That is why I’ve come.”   Mark 1:32-39 

 

I guess the disciples were pretty confused! Why did Jesus want to go to another town when the whole city was lined up at their door??!!! It was something they probably couldn’t comprehend. They had become rock stars literally overnight, people knew them by name but the star of the show wanted to leave, let me rephrase that, was leaving…..!

It wasn’t like they were doing something meaningless. They were teaching the masses, healing the sick, casting out demons and so much more, amazing things were happening at that place, but Jesus wanted to leave..!!!

They were popular but that was not enough of a reason for Jesus to stay. Have we missed something in this day and age? It seems like being popular takes precedence over everything else.

Jesus didn’t do what he did so He could be popular. He wasn’t looking at how many “likes” or “comments” he got. His mission was to save us and that took precedence over everything else!

He wept for people, His heart broke for people, He reached out to the outcasts, He ministered to the little children, and the list goes on and on…..He did things that made Him unpopular but that didn’t matter……the call of God on His life was more important to Him. Please understand what I am saying, I am not attacking you if you have a large following and I am not saying get rid of your following if you have one….Jesus was always been followed but his focus remained on the real mission, saving people! The magnitude of the people that followed Him didn’t change His focus.

What is important to you as you live this life? Is being popular more important than ministry? Does it take precedence over everything else in your life? Let us evaluate our hearts as we walk the path God has set before us.

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. they found Him and said, Everybody’s looking for you.” Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also.” This is why I’ve come. Mark 1:38, 39.

Jesus was clear about what was important to Him after he prayed. He may have been clear before but the word showed Him going to pray and making a non-negotiable decision. You may be confused about your purpose or confused about what is important but prayer will make it clear, very clear! That is how powerful prayer is…….

Rolain

 

His heart breaks for you….

 I was on a plane to Kenya when I read this scripture. It ministered to me so much. We serve a God whose heart breaks for us…..

Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives.

When He looked out over the crowds, His heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. Matthew 9:35-38

This is our story. We were once aimless without direction, without hope but He came and saved us. He gave us hope, He gave us direction.

He saw us in our broken state and repaired us. He healed us.

He healed our diseased bodies and hearts.

He healed our bruised and hurt lives.

“When He looked out over the crowds, His heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.”

The Lord’s heart breaks for us. He sees the pain we go through and his heart breaks.

He sees our tears and His heart breaks.

 He heals us, cares and mends our lives. He hates seeing us confused. He wants us healed.

This is what I was shown on the plane on my way to Kenya. This is day 1. He is so good……..His heart breaks for us!

Rolain

The “Gifts” God gives us…..!

I don’t know where to start and I don’t know how to begin this post. All I can say is that the word “gift” has

taken a whole new meaning for me. A few months ago I found out my friend, was leaving the country for good! We were first friends, then he became my boss, then pastor, then mentor, then family!

My world turned upside down that day. I had people leave before and it was painful but this, this was a whole new level.

My pastor’s wife called me and sat me down as she told me the news. I was devastated and confused. Why God I asked?

This can’t be happening I thought. I had known my mentor’s family for over 10 years! I knew them when they

had their first son. They have four boys now and I love them to bits.  Anyway I remember going to God and

crying out to Him for answers to the question why. Nothing came. Instead revelation came……

 

God showed me how they were gifts from Him. I met my mentor when I had just met The Lord. I am a sinner

now but back then I was much worse. If there is a word worse than sinner I was it. I was truly lost. I had no

direction and no plan. I had crazy issues I was beginning to work out. I had just became a Christian and this new

life was still…..new! I was dealing with a lot of things. I had no confidence and I had no self esteem. When he

employed me a year after meeting him I stole money from him! It was that bad. I WAS that bad! But thank God he never fired me or called the police. He gave me a second chance…….

 

I didn’t trust anyone back then and when he tried to help me out I would think he had some evil intension! When he disciplined me at work I would take it personally. When he made a joke about me I would get extremely angry. My stuttering was so bad back then which didn’t really help things! So believe me when I say, things were bad back then, really bad!!!

But God used him and his wife to mold me into who God wanted me to be. They taught me so much. They stood by

me when I had family issues. They helped me out financially countless times. They sat down and taught me so much

about God and life. In one of the darkest times in my life they were there.

 

God showed me how that was not an accident.

He knew all the change that needed to happen in me. He saw all I was going through and because of that He sent them

into my life. They were gifts. We serve a God who is the giver of gifts but the mistake we make is thinking gifts come in the form of money only. That’s not true. God’s gifts are so much more than money. They are deeper than that. During that time I never thought of them as gifts. We had our good times together and we had hard and difficult times.

 

The fact of the matter is this. God sent me gifts in the form of my mentor and his family. I just didn’t know it at the time and I never gave them the honor they rightly deserved. I wish I never took them for granted. I wish I honored them more and thanked them more for all they had done for me. I can’t put into words all that they did for me. A lot of who I am is because of their input in my life.

They saw so much potential in me and stood by me patiently. They are my family. I am telling you all this because….

…….they left on Wednesday this week! It’s been a hard week I must admit. They had my back. But in the midst of the pain God showed me how He will bring other “gifts” into my life after all; those “gifts” came from Him. He is the giver of all gifts. My mentor and his family never willed or planned to do all they did for me. God was behind it all. My mentor never knew the kind of impact he would have in my life but God did because He planned it. God was behind it all……

Yes, I am sad and broken at them leaving but I am also at peace because God has some amazing “gifts” in store for me.

I pray I be a “gift” to someone else as well. Would God use me to be the kind of “gift” my mentor was to me……

 

Have you acknowledged the “gifts” God has put in your life? There is a reason He has placed them in your life.

Don’t take them for granted. Thank them for all they are doing for you. It is not easy for them. There is always a

sacrifice on their part. May we always appreciate the “gifts” God has given us, always!

 

 

* This post is dedicated to the Stewart family. *

The Stewart family!

 

Rolain.

The call of wisdom.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

  “Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?

   Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!”

    It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,   Proverbs 9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

What an amazing portion of scripture. Are you confused about your life??? Wisdom will help you.

Wisdom will bring clarity to your situation.

“It’s through me that your life deepens” claims Wisdom. So deep, so profound!!

Come have dinner with me she says…….She wants you to understand what is happening in your life.

She wants you to have clarity about the confusion in your life.

She doesn’t want you living life confused and unsure. She want’s to give you understanding!

Cry out for wisdom. Don’t wait any longer.

Through wisdom, “the years of your life ripen“!

If that doesn’t get you excited I don’t what will!!!

Wisdom is amazing…….

Will you heed the call of Wisdom. She is waiting…..

Rolain

When I Don’t Know The Right Path To Take…..

How many of us are in “situations” but don’t know what to do or don’t know which path to take? That was me a for a couple of days. Its actually almost been a week. I would like to say I was strong and never panicked and everything was OK but it wasn’t.  I was worrying and fretting. A weight came over me and stayed! I was carrying a burden but didn’t know what to do with it. I knew I should trust God but I didn’t. I also knew that I should not worry and be anxious for nothing but I was. I knew it was crazy and something needed to give. There is a promise in Proverbs that I hold on to when I am confused or just unclear about stuff and I would like to share it with you. It has helped me in this turbulent time. I hope it helps you..

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight and understanding.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.                       Proverbs 3:5,6   (Amplified)                

This is a well known passage of scripture but people are only really familiar with verse 5. Verse 6 is what I would like to focus on. There is a promise from God. There are so many things that try to get us to panic and worry and fret but God is saying, if we in those times acknowledge Him and recognize He is in control and if we know He is for us and He has our back, He will direct, make straight, and plain your path. The path you were not sure about will be made clear, things that seemed confusing will become plain and those crooked paths will be made straight! If you want direction in a situation that you confused about and you don’t know which path to take then you need to acknowledge, know and recognize Him!

My situation is much better. It hasn’t all been solved but God is solving it. I am learning to trust Him more and more. As I keep on holding on to the scripture I shared God is bringing more and more wisdom. The path is getting clearer and clearer, straighter and straighter and I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. If you are in the same boat then realize that God doesn’t want you to be confused. He wants you to be clear about your life and about where you going. He wants you to bring those situations to Him and leave them with Him and He wants you to trust Him. He is in control. I like the way “The Message” says it:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the One who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God!   Proverbs 3:5

Rolain