When courage is lost.

“[Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; 

their courage melts away because of their plight. 

They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end [all their 

wisdom has come to nothing]. 

Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.”

Psalm 107:23-30

 

“Their courage melts away because of their plight” 

 

I can understand that. Life throws things that have the potential to melt away your

courage. It can throw things that render you hopeless and weak.

Situations that leave you clueless and powerless.

But what I want to look at and discus is how you deal with those situations. There will always

be giants stronger than us. We will always be faced with hard things that we don’t have answers to.

But knowing how to deal with those situations will make all the difference.

 

Psalm 107:23 paints a vivid picture for us. There were sailors out at sea and a storm

arose. The sailors knew a lot about the sea and you would expect that knowledge would help them,

but it didn’t. Their wisdom came to nothing. With all their experience and knowledge there was

nothing they could do. They didn’t have answers.

All hope they had of being saved was crushed. Their courage was lost.

But things turned around because of one thing and one thing alone, God. Their situation turned around

not because they were skilled, not because they were sailors and had tons of experience, and not because

of their strength.

When they cried out to God in their trouble He heard and saved them. The bible says it this way,

 

“Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.”

 

When you are at your wits end, when your courage is lost because of the enormity of the

storm cry out to God. He doesn’t expect you to deal with the storm by yourself. He expects you to call Him.

He expects you to trust Him in the fiercest of storms.

 

When the sailors cried out to God, He delivered them from their distress.

What are you going through today? What trouble are you facing?

Has your courage gone because of your plight? Is your hope lost?

Don’t lose heart in the storm.

God is with you and He will carry you through.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

The challenges of a righteous man….(part 1)

Good day friends!

I will be doing a four part series on David the man after God’s

heart. David loved God with all of his heart but it wasn’t easy.

He went through a lot and his relationship with God was tested

immensely! I want to talk about some of the challenges he faced.

There is no doubt God had an amazing plan for David’s life but

we need to realise that the enemy didn’t sit back and let it be. he

fought and at times he seemed to be victorious BUT

God was with David and saved him from all of his trials! I hope

and pray this series is a blessing to you. Let’s get started….

 

“Then the Jebusites said to David, You shall not come in here.

But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

And David said, whosoever smites the Jebusites first shall be

chief and commander. Joab son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister]

went up first, and so he was made the chief.

1 Chronicles 11:5, 6

 

This was one of David’s worst decisions. This decision would

impact his life in a way he would never expect. Instead of

seeking the Lord like he always did he turned to his flesh!

He left the decision of who would be his chief and commander

to a test of physical strength! Now get me right, there are a

few things Joab did right but the bad things far outweigh the

good.

You might think I am over exaggerating but look at the

consequences of David’s decision:

 

Joab murders Abner against David’s wishes.

(Read 2 Samuel 3:21-30)

Okay fair enough, Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel but

Joab still went against David’s wishes.

 

Joab kills Absalom, David’s son (Read 2 Samuel 18:14, 15)

Yes, Absalom took over David’s kingdom and even sought

to kill him but after being instructed by David (2 Samuel 18:5)

to not kill Absalom, Joab still went ahead and killed him.

 

Not convinced Joab was the wrong choice? Let me share a

few more incidents that will convince you otherwise:

 

Joab kills Amasa (Read 2 Samuel 9:10)

 

Joab betrays David by supporting Adonjah rather than Solomon

the promised king. (1 Kings 1: 7)

 

To conclude read 2 Samuel 23:8-39

All of David’s mighty men are mentioned but Joab’s name

is not there.

 

Look at how one decision made in the flesh impacted David’s

life. David always sought the Lord in his decision making.

But this one decision made in the flesh cost him much.

We need to always seek the Lord when making decisions. And

please understand,

I am not talking about deciding between drinking coffee

or tea tonight. 🙂  That’s not the kind of decision making I am

talking about. I hope you get the gist of what I mean.

David made a mistake. He made a really important decision

without seeking God and he paid a hefty price for it.

May we always seek the Lord in everything we do.

As we seek the Lord for His direction and guidance in the

decisions we have to make know it pleases Him.

It shows Him our faith in Him.

So as I end the lesson is this,

 

Seek the Lord! Things go horribly wrong when God is taken

out of the decision making process. Seek the Lord in every decision

you make!

Bless you….

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

The “truth” he shouldn’t have lived by…..

Jabez was honorable above his brothers; but his mother

named him Jabez [sorrow maker], saying, because I

bore him in pain.

 

Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You

would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your

hand might be with me, and  You would keep me from

evil so it might not hurt me!

And God granted his request.

2 Chronicles 4:9, 10

 

This is a very well known story. Jabez life was not going

well. Nothing seemed be going well for him.

The bible tells us, “Jabez was honorable above his brothers,

but his mother named him Jabez [sorrow maker]”

As he grew up those words became a part of him. Every where

he went those words were being reinforced!

 

But this is the thing, his mother called him “Sorrow Maker”

because SHE had a painful experience!

It’s crazy to think how her experience shaped the life of her

son.

It’s sad because her truth was not Jabez’s truth. God did

not create Jabez to be a sorrow maker. That was not what

God had in mind when He made him.

 

Like Jabez, we have believed other people’s “truth”.

Just remember, thier truth no matter who they are

is their truth. It becomes your truth when you accept it.

For a season, “sorrow maker” was the truth Jabez lived

by. For a season he allowed his mother’s words to shape

him and define him.

 

What about you my friends? What “truths” have you

allowed into your lives?

For a long time I lived by other people’s truth’s. They

saw me a certain way and imposed what they saw.

But God showed me how to live by His truth! Taking advise

is okay, accepting correction is okay but I am constantly

reviewing what other people are trying to impose on me.

I want to live by God’s truth and not man’s.

The problem with living another person’s “truth” I found

is this, their truth always falls short of God’s truth. Their

“truth” always puts me in a box. It creates a very small

world to live in when God’s world is so much bigger and greater

than I can ever imagine!

Encouraging words from friends I accept, words that build

I accept, words that inspire  me to be all that I am I accept

because that’s all in line with God’s truth. If it doesn’t

match up to His truth I probably won’t listen to it.

 

God wants us to break free of the negative words people

have spoken over our lives. We have to make a decision

to live by the real truth.

I am not saying stop listening to everyone. Instead I am

saying be more careful what you listen to. If it contradicts

what God has put in your heart then say no. Don’t just accept

anything anyone says.

 

Let’s get back to Jabez.

God’s plan for Jabez was to always bless, protect, and enlarge.

And when he realised what was happening he cried out to

God for help. And guess what, God granted his request!

Jabez was tired of living the way he was living. He wasn’t

happy with his circumstances. He didn’t want things to

remain the same any longer.

 

There was a time Jabez’s name was associated with sorrow but

God changed that and now it is associated with blessing!

What the enemy meant for harm God turned for good….

And He will do the same thing for you if you cry out to

Him.

So whose “truth” will you live your life by?

 

God bless you friends!!

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

 

 

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

They threw down their crowns……!

And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.                                                                                                               

And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities),                                                     

The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,          

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.        Revelation 4:8-11

 

This passage of scripture intrigues me. It intrigues me and fascinates me so much. I envy the four living creatures. They get to be in God’s presence all the time. They get to see Him face to face……I know God has a purpose for me on this earth but I can’t wait for the day when I will see Him face to face. To be in His presence for eternity!!!!                                                                                                 What an honor it must be for the four living creatures! What has the presence of God done to them? How do they see? How do they speak? What do they think of God?

As I was meditating on the passage of scripture a thought came to me. The word says,

“Day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”

If I had to say Holy, holy, holy for a whole month non-stop I think I would get bored. I am just trying to be honest. So how did they do it? Before the earth was created and for eternity they will be crying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord so how is that possible? Maybe I am being crazy for trying to reason it out with my mind but it’s a thought I had. Don’t shoot me down just yet.   J

Then the answer came to me:

“He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb.” Revelation 5:7, 8

Is it possible they have been able to cry Holy, holy, holy from the beginning of time because God revealed a new aspect of Himself to them???

Is it possible their praise has been a reaction to what God has shown them that they have never seen before??

In other words every time the four living creatures cry Holy, holy, holy it is because God showed them something new about Himself that they didn’t know and they will continue for eternity because God is so big that no one can ever say they know God fully!!! We can never get to a place where we can say we have seen ALL of God!

I want to be like the four living creatures where I see God working all the time. I don’t praise God enough not because He is not working but because I am distracted! I want to be able to see more of God at work in my life and in people’s lives and respond in praise to Him! Why wait till I get to heaven to start crying Holy, holy, holy! I can start now by being more sensitive to what God is doing, because He is working all the time!

The last thing I want to touch on is the twenty four elders. The word says,

The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever, and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out, Revelation 4:10

They threw down their crowns. I think those crowns were significant. They meant something. They had meaning and they were precious. They were a gift from the Master but the twenty four elders were so overcome by God that nothing was more precious and important than God!! Yes, the crowns are important but for eternity they will throw them to the ground as a sign and declaration that God is the only One who is important!!  In worship, it’s not what we have that is important but the God we serve and the twenty four elders understood this. Nothing and I mean nothing came close to God no matter how precious it was. Can we be like them? The word says they “threw” down their crowns! They didn’t carefully place them down but threw the crowns!! May we get an understanding of how awesome our God is!

 

This post is different because I am rambling. I have been thinking about this passage for most of the day and this is what I have been coming with. I am going to leave it like this and hope you get the message behind the post. I am still trying to understand what it means for me. All I know right now is, I want to be more aware of what God is doing in my life and respond, like the four living creatures I want to cry out Holy, holy, holy day and night because I saw something about God I had never seen before; I want to be like the twenty four elders who threw their most precious gifts at God’s feet! Everything paled in comparison to God! Such passion, such devotion!!!!God is worthy of all our praise and may we see more of Him at work in our lives and respond!!!

Rolain

When the doubts come……

 

“If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.” Mark 9: 22

That is a very bold word from our Lord don’t you think? As bold as it may seem this is what I believe God is saying. The man had asked the disciples to heal his boy but they could not so when Jesus came down the mountain the man must of thought it impossible.

I have to admit and say there are things that I ask God without even thinking twice. I just know He will come through and then there are things that are harder to ask for. But from this whole passage we see this should not be so. We are to trust in God. Mark 11:22 says,

And Jesus replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. (Amplified)

When we come to God we must not come doubting. It must be in total trust. But the story continues and we see something very important.

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, Then I believe. Help me with my doubts! Mark 9: 24

We want to believe and we do believe but doubts get in the way. What are we supposed to do? The man cried out to the Lord for help. We need help when it comes to our doubts. If you don’t struggle with doubts then bless you……But for those who struggle with it then look to God. There are no “ifs” in God’s vocabulary and there shouldn’t be in ours.

You may be in a place where you think “it’s too much, I can’t ask God for that” or “can He really give me what I have asked for” but know that there are no “ifs” when it comes to God. It’s either, ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Nothing is too big for God. Bring your requests to Him in total faith and if you struggle with doubts then cry out to him for help. He will help. He wants to help us in our areas of weakness…..God bless

Rolain.

Why Are You Afraid???

But as they were sailing, He fell off to sleep. And a whirlwind revolving from below upwards swept down on the lake, and the boat was filing with water and they were in great danger.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And the disciples came and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! And He, being thoroughly awakened, censured and blamed and rebuked the wind and the raging waves: and they ceased, and there came a calm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  And He said to them, [Why are you so fearful?] Where is your faith (your trust, your confidence in Me – in My veracity and My integrity)? And they were seized with alarm and profound and reverent dread, and they marveled saying  to one another, Who then is this, that He commands even wind and sea, and they obey Him.  Luke 8:23-25

This story always amazes me and it’s what I have been thinking about today. The disciples were in real danger. There lives were at risk. So their answer is totally normal. But why would Jesus answer them like that. Why did He equate their fear as a lack of faith in Him? When your life is in mortal danger the normal response would be to respond the way they did or is it? That got me thinking. Is it that, God wants us to look to Him first no matter what trouble comes? What is your natural reaction when trouble comes? Let me give you an example of what i am talking about. A lot of change has been happening at work and the first time I was told I freaked out! I was so scared. I was thinking about moving jobs and I was thinking about how I would not be able to meet the new standards. “I am in deep trouble”, I told myself! Extreme, yes!! But that is what was going through my mind. My situation was serious and the changes were happening but the way I was reacting was not in faith. I really felt challenged about trusting God in this situation. Instead of allowing all the negative thoughts to come I felt challenged to bring the situation to Him and simply trust Him to help me. I hope that makes sense in context of the scripture I shared.

God wants us to look to Him all the time. As hard as it is and in the face of real dangers He wants us to learn to call Him first. Responding in fear just shows our lack of faith in His power. The fact that Jesus was on the boat made the difference. Jesus has saved us and calls us His sons and daughters and that makes all the difference. It is understandable if a non-christian doesn’t call on God because they have no one to help them but we don’t have an excuse. We have a Savior and He gave His life for us. Let us trust Him completely for help.

Rolain

 

Holiness Is Deliberate…..

This was something God spoke to me about a few weeks ago. God is holy and He has called us to be holy. (1 Peter 2:9)  But what does being holy mean to you?
When I think of holiness I think of consecration. I think of being set apart. But this is the thing, a lot of people don’t understand about holiness. Holiness doesn’t just happen. It is a very deliberate thing. God strengthens us as we cry out to be holy but He doesn’t just make you holy with a click of a finger! Instead, He reveals areas of your life that you need to surrender to Him. He also asks you to give up things that He knows will defile you.

This is a partnership. I like the way someone illustrated this life we live. He said, we think God is looking at us with all of our sin and shaking His head but instead He wants to stand with us looking at our sin and discussing how it needs to be dealt with!

I like that illustration very much. Holiness is deliberate. Once we understand this principle we will live our lives very differently.
God understands how weak we are so He is not expecting us to do things in our own strength. Instead, we are to look to Him and cry out to Him for help. We need to get accountable, read the word, pray, fellowship but most importantly of all trust in the Lord and rely on His strength to help you be holy!

So as I end please remember, Holiness is deliberate!!!

Rolain.P