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

Look ahead with confidence

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

As David faced Goliath his confidence was in the God who had delivered him from the lion and the bear.

David knew Goliath had no chance against him because of what God had done before.

As you look ahead it’s important to remember what the Lord has done for you. As He brought you through last year with all its challenges and trials He will bring you through this year.

You can look ahead with confidence because the Lord who rescued and delivered you from the trials and challenges last year will do it again and again. He never let David down. He didn’t let the giant be victorious over him.

And it’s the same with you. He won’t let you down. He will deliver you and rescue you from the enemy who is standing against you. You can trust the Lord always!

Bless you friends

Rolain

In hard times we have a chance…trust God!

The Israelites didn’t stand a chance if God wasn’t on their side. They would have died

in Egypt in slavery had the Lord not saved them. They would have been swept away

by the powerful enemies that fought against them in the desert had God not stepped in

and fought for them. They would have been swallowed up by the giants that resided in the

promise land if God had left their side.

 

We don’t stand a chance if we go at life on our own, in our own strength and power.

We need the Lord so desperately friends. This life is hard, painful, disappointing but in spite

of all that God is with us. He is on our side and He will get us through the hard times we are

facing. It doesn’t matter what mountain is standing in our way, we will get over it because the

Lord is our strong tower of Refuge. He is our Protector and Deliverer.

 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”

Psalm 34:17

 

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”

Psalm 34:19

 

We will face hard and difficult times but we need to always remember that the Lord will be with

us through those difficult times. We don’t need to rely on our own ability and strength which is

useless in the day of battle.

We don’t stand a chance if we depend on our strength, intelligence, and ability but we have every

chance in the world when we put our hope and trust in God.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

The last say.

“When the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, 

and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and by force and power

made them cease. 

Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped. It stopped until the second 

year of Darius [1] king of Persia.” 

Ezra 4:23, 24 

It seemed like the enemy had won over the people of Israel by stopping the building of the temple.

It seemed like he delivered the deadly blow. But as I read the rest of the story I realized something that

brought me some encouragement that I want to share with you.

The enemy is constantly trying to stop us. “he roars around like a lion” the bible tells us. he may appear

powerful but he is not. It may have appeared like the enemy was powerful when he stopped the building

of the temple but that’s not the case.

God has the last say on all things and that’s what really matters.

It seemed like the enemy had the last say when the building of the temple was stopped but God was the

One who had the final say.

The building would continue and be completed! (Ezra 6:14, 15)

As I read the story I know God spoke to me. The enemy doesn’t have the last say in our lives.

It may appear so but the truth is, he is not powerful enough to have the last say.

What the Lord has started in us He will complete. The enemy will make us fall at times but the Lord

will pick us up always.

What has the enemy seemed to stop in your life?

What has he seemed to put a period to in your life?

his periods are really comma’s in our sentence of life.

Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep hoping.

If you are in a place where the work in your life has seemed to come to a standstill know there

is so much more the Lord needs to do that no one can stop.

His plan for you hasn’t stopped just because the devil has thrown a spanner in the works.

Setbacks will be overcome and that’s our story!

Be blessed friends!

Rolain

Bad news doesn’t mean the end of you…

We live in a world that is saturated with evil. But how do you respond

when bad things happen? Just the other day I got some news that was bad but I had to stop myself. How was

I going to respond to it. was I going to freak out and lose it? Was I going to let fear get the best of

me?

We always have a choice of how we respond to bad news.

 

Jairus was in trouble. His daughter was very sick and he needed help. That is when he decided to go to

Jesus for help. All was going well. He met with Jesus and told Him his problem and Jesus agreed

to go with him to his daughter. But on his way to his daughter something happened;

 

“While He was still speaking, there came some from the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], 

Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further?”

Mark 5:35

 

In that split second Jairus’s world collapsed. His daughter died. Despair was already walking through the

door of his soul.

Like I said before, we live in a world that is saturated with evil. Bad things happen. But how we respond

is so important. Let’s move on.

 

Despair was almost through the door but before it could make itself comfortable Jesus stepped in.

 

“Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 

Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.” 

Mark 5:36

 

In the face of bad news, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not give in to fear. He told him to believe

that He could turn things around.

We don’t have to give in to the bad news that comes our way. I don’t know what kind of news you

have received today but you don’t have to accept it. There is another option. You have another

choice. You can keep on believing…

You can decide to keep trusting God instead of giving in to fear, instead of accepting the bad news

you have been given. It takes faith to do that. Choosing to trust God over believing the bad news

takes faith and only faith.

 

King David was another man who had to deal with some really bad news. When he got back to

Ziklag he found his home had been plundered. The enemy had taken everything of his and his soldiers.

Their families were taken, their possessions were gone. There was nothing left.  There was even talk

among the soldiers of killing David. He was in a really bad place but he did something really amazing.

Let’s take a look at what he did;

 

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them

all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. 

But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 

1 Samuel 30:6

 

His hope in the face of the bad news was in the Lord. He didn’t let fear overcome him. Instead,

he encouraged himself in the Lord. He reminded himself of how good the Lord was to him.

He brought to remembrance how the Lord delivered him from his enemies!

(That’s what I think he was doing!)

 

How do we respond to bad news? I hope you can see it’s really important how you respond.

You can either accept what has happened or make a decision to put your hope in the Lord.

Let’s make the right decision today, the decision to trust God.

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

He delivers us from trouble.

“For He has delivered me out of every trouble, and my eye has 

looked [in triumph] on my enemies.”

Psalm 54:7

 

What trouble are you facing today? God will deliver you.

Which giant is standing in your way? God will move him out of your way.

 

The enemy thinks he is powerful but is not. he is under the impression that he has a

chance against you but he is so wrong. Because God is with you, victory is yours!

God will deliver you out of EVERY trouble you face, not some troubles but EVERY trouble.

That is the truth.

 

As I end I want to share a testimony of what God did for me.

Things have been pretty crazy in the country right now and our economy is in a bit of a

state with everything doubling or tripling in price but salaries staying the same.

So a few days ago I went to the shop to buy groceries because I had run out but as I swiped to pay

I had the dreaded insufficient funds message! I panicked a bit as the month is not

yet over. My mind started racing. How was I going to survive the next week and a

half with no money? How was I going to do when I ran out of fuel?? It was crazy.

But when I got home I remembered to pray about my problem. So I did. I brought it

to God.

A few days after that a friend blessed me with some money! He didn’t know I had nothing.

The money would get me to the end of the month and help me with the things I was worried about.

 

All praise to God.  I hope that testimony encourages you and helps you to realize the

Lord will deliver you from every trouble you are facing.

Call to Him. Tell Him what you going through. Ask for His help. Don’t remain silent.

He will come to your rescue.

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

 

What the past teaches.

The past has not been easy. It’s been difficult and at the time it was hard to make sense of all that was

happening. But the past as difficult as it was revealed an important truth, a truth that helped me face

the storms and trials of today.

 

As crazy as the past has been I am still here. When I was going through it all with no idea of how things were

going to turn out God carried me through it. No matter how dark things got God always carried

me through and continues to.

 

The lesson is this; If God could deliver me back then, He will do it again today. 

 

Learn a lesson from the past. The Lord will be there for you as He was back then. Whatever storm you in

now, know that God will deliver you like He did before. Look at all the things He has brought you through

and be at peace knowing He will do it again and again.

 

Sometimes we go through some really intense times and think this is the time when our luck runs out but

listen to me, it won’t happen. God will never let you down no matter how many times the enemy tries to

destroy you.  he won’t win. And that’s the lesson the past teaches.

God will always be victorious. He will always bring you through the darkness.

 

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

Watching from afar…….?

Word of the day.

Does the Lord see our pain and afflictions? Does He stand afar looking at all the things we go

through? Does He stand afar refusing to intervene, letting the enemy have His way in us?

 

He does see our pain and afflictions. The news gets better, He does not watch us from afar.

He is protecting us and watching over us. The enemy would like us to think we are alone but

that’s not true. Let’s take a look at what YAH says about that;

 

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction, 

You have taken note of my life’s distresses, and You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; 

You have set my feet in a broad place.” 

Psalm 31:7, 8

 

The Lord sees our pain friends. He sees what we are going through but He doesn’t stop there. He

comes in and protects us. He comes in and helps us.

 

Don’t stay discouraged. The Lord is with you and will stop the enemy from accomplishing his evil plan in

your life. He will set your feet in a broad place. That’s a promise!

 

Bless you friends…..

 

Rolain

Run to Him always……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Be glad that you are His. 

Let those who ask the Lord for help be happy

Depend on the Lord and His strength. 

Always go to Him for help. “

Psalm 105:3, 4 (ICB)

This is something so easy to do but do we always do it?

Do we go to the Lord for help ALL the time?

I don’t. I catch myself at times striving in my own strength, worrying, fretting, and panicking.

I forget to go to Him always.

But the word is clear, “Always go to Him for help”

Don’t hesitate, ask Him for help. Even if you made the mistake, the wrong decision, go to Him

for help. He is our strength and able to help us in every situation we going through no matter

how difficult and complex.

“Some sat in gloom and darkness.

They were prisoners suffering in chains.

They had turned against the words of God.

They had refused the advice of God Most High.

So he broke their pride by hard work.

They stumbled, and no one helped.

In their misery they cried out to the Lord.

And he saved them from their troubles.

He brought them out of their gloom and darkness.

He broke their chains.”

Psalm 107

Psalm 107 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. It shows us how merciful YAH is and

in the midst of our weaknesses and failings He extends grace to us and helps us.

Yes, we are weak, and yes we are going to make mistakes but don’t let guilt and condemnation

stop you from asking Him for help. The enemy is behind that. He wants you to keep silent.

He doesn’t want to see you delivered, freed and helped.

ACT ON IT  – The action point is simple today: Think about areas in your life you haven’t asked YAH for help

and cry out to Him. Ask Him for help right now!

Make sure you write down the things that come to mind so you can have a record of how YAH helped

you in difficult times.

If you can’t go to Him for help because you feel guilty and condemned then meditate on the following two

scriptures (there are so many more)

1. Romans 8:1

2. Psalm 103:8-12

And that is all I have to share with you today. He is our Helper!

Bless you friends.

Rolain

Patience in the fire……

“And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My
hand and swore that I would give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have
the pledge of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].

Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses
because of their impatience and anguish of spirit and because of their
cruel bondage.”
Exodus 6:8, 9

 

This verse spoke to me this week. In the midst of crazy battles this scripture spoke to me.
The Israelites had a word from YAH but they refused to listen to Him
because of their impatience, anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

The fact they were impatient spoke to me because in the midst of storms
and trials we need to be patient. It’s not an easy thing to be patient when you are in a fire.
In the trials I am facing in this season I am have been challenged to be patient.
Patience is important because it reflects our faith in YAH’s ability to bring us through the storm.

No matter what you going through be patient. He will carry you through the storm soon enough.                                                     He will deliver you most definitely.
Let’s look at one more scripture that brought everything into perspective for me concerning being patient,

“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exalt and triumph in our troubles and
rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce
patient and unswerving endurance.
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity).
And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.”
Romans 5:3-5

Amazing right, or crazy depending on how you see it! Exalt and triumph in your troubles!
Rejoice in your sufferings!
It’s really hard to do if I am to be honest. The pressure can get so much that rejoicing
is the last thing I want to do but one thing is clear from reading this scripture,
YAH has a plan in the storm. The enemy has a plan too, to destroy but not YAH.
He is thinking about growth, blessing, new levels, maturity, endurance and so much more….

We need to change how we look at trials and challenges. We don’t need to be afraid. YAH will bring us

through. He is at work for our good.

 

Bless you

 

Rolain