Is God Really Good?

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1 NLT

If there is something we as sons and daughters of God need to always remember is that God is good. At His core of who He is, He is good. And it’s important to have that truth secured in your heart because the devil will try to challenge that truth by using the painful things we have been through, the heartbreak, the rejection, the loss, the unanswered prayers and so many other things. And we need to be careful to not listen to the lies he tries to tell us as he reminds us of the painful things that happened to us. A good example of that is with the people of Israel. God delivered them from 400 years of slavery but destroying Pharoah and his people but even on their journey to the promise land they doubted God. Their trust in him failed numerous times. Let’s look at what happened when they reached their destination.

“Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness! they complained. Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:1-3 NLT

God in His goodness had led them to the promise land to give them what He had promised but the people didn’t understand that. Instead they thought God wanted to kill them and their children!! And this kind of talk happens a few times in the desert.

The enemy wants us to believe God is a cruel God, he wants us to believe God is evil, unforgiving, mean, hateful, uncaring, unloving and so many other negative things but we can’t let him convince us because at the core of who God is He is good. He loves us so much.

So let me ask you this.

What do you believe about God in the difficult times, when your prayers haven’t been answered, when things are not going your way? Or let me ask it in this way. Do you believe God has got you in the midst of all the terrible things you have been through? Do you believe there will be a turnaround in your situation because He is good? Look at some of the people in the bible. Job went through some terrible trials but God showed him His goodness by revealing Himself to him and restoring double what he lost. Then there is Hannah who was barren. God gave her a son eventually. He showed his goodness to Abraham and Sarah by giving them a child in their old age and fulfilling the promise he made to them. And then David. Even though he sinned numerous times God in his goodness extended his grace and mercy to him. He called him a “man after his own heart”

God at His core is so so good. Hold on to that truth no matter what comes at you. As I close I want to share one more scripture;

He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.”

Proverbs 11:27 AMPC

So because God is good we need change our expectations. We need to expect good. The Word says we must SEEK good because when we do that we seek God’s favor! We go through so many tough things that at times we just expect bad things to happen. “No good things happen for me” is what we tell ourselves but that’s contrary to God’s word. We need to expect and seek His goodness to show up in our lives. Expect Him to answer your prayers. Expect the breakthrough to come. Expect the door to open for you. If I could sum it all up I would say,

Expect Him to be good to you! Period.

So with that I have come to the end of the post.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Bless you friends!

How to pursue holiness….

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The growing continues this year. Life hasn’t reset just because it’s a new year. The battles we were

fighting are still around. The giants are still holding their ground.

But each year brings with it new hope, that life will get better, that YAH will fulfill what He promised.

That the battles we fighting will be finally won and the giants will fall (they will)

Let’s keep sober and vigilant this year. Continue fighting, continue trusting YAH.

 

With that I want us to look at a scripture;

 

“Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and

of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self indulgence.

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean

also.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed

which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything impure.

Just so, you also outwardly seem to people to be just and upright but inside you are full of pretense and

lawlessness and iniquity. “

Matthew 23:25-28

 

The Pharisees focused on the external a lot. They didn’t give any attention to the inside. They didn’t think

working on the inner man was important.

 

This year may we put more work into the inside. The outside isn’t as important as the inner man.

Let YAH come in and work in you. Don’t be like the Pharisees who thought working on the outer man

was more important.

We want to be like YAH who is holy and who calls us to be holy.

 

We need to take all those ugly things that have taken root in our hearts to the Lord. We don’t

want them being a stumbling block to us. This won’t take a day, a week, a month, a year.

I don’t know how long it will take. All I know right now is that I need to do this.

What about you?

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

 

 

There is another level…….

“Arise [from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a

new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory

of the Lord has risen upon you”

Isaiah 60:1

 

There is another level to move up to in the new year.

This is what has been on my mind in the past few weeks. The level I have been on has been great

for the things I have done so far but that needs to change.

This isn’t about new year resolutions. This is about my life and your life.

Consider this, there is another level, a higher level to operate from than the one you are now.

In your relationship with God, there is another level you can go to. You can go deeper in your

relationship with Him.

There is a new level of revelation, a new level of sensitivity to His voice, a new level of hunger for

His word, a new level of prayer you can go to…..

In your career, there is another level you can go to, in your personal life, there is a new level of

growth you can go to.

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.

We need to understand God has more in store for us, so we don’t stop dreaming, so we don’t

stop aspiring. No matter your age, it’s not time to slow down. It is time to pick it up, it’s time to

advance, it’s time to pursue, it’s time to engage because there is more, there is another level for us.

Our light is growing brighter and brighter.

 

“But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn,

that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in]

the perfect day [to be prepared].

Proverbs 4:18

 

So what about doubts, limitations, hesitations, fears and a host of other things that are holding us

back from going to the new level? They are not going to just sit back and let that happen without a fight.

I can’t ignore the fact that it’s because of those things I am still on this level. I have been too weak

to advance on my own. I failed countless times. So why would this be different?

Aren’t I doomed already? Aren’t we all doomed to fail?

 

That would be true if we were trying to do this in our own strength. YAH is with us and no matter the

amount of times we have fallen and failed He has picked us up and will continue to.

We can’t give up, we can’t lose hope!

YAH will take us to the new level if we truly look to Him.

Even though we haven fallen we still have hope! The things that have held us back will not be able to

hold us back for ever. YAH will win for us because He has already won the war.

Trust Him, cry out to Him for your life.

You don’t have to remain in the same place. It’s time to arise……..

 

“Arise [from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a

new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory

of the Lord has risen upon you”

Isaiah 60:1

 

Blessings to you friends!

 

Rolain

 

I despised being a man…..!

 

I have been in Kenya for almost a week. I went on a music tour with my church which was amazing. I got back last night. So I will share some of my experiences and things God showed me while in Kenya. But this post is not about how my trip went but it’s about the things I learned concerning being a man. Here is what I learned……

– Every time we go on tour the men HAVE to carry the ladies suitcases. We have to offload their bags and carry them to their rooms. I thought our leaders were being unreasonable at first. They had no idea how heavy those suitcases were. The women never packed light and in my mind I thought they should have to suffer for the way they packed their suitcases. “Let me carry their own suitcases so they learn to pack lighter” was my other thought!  mean right?!!!    hahaha

– As men there is always an expectation to lead. In prayer men should lead, in devotionals we need to be the first ones to take the responsibility to share. This was a hard lesson because there were times I didn’t feel like leading. I didn’t want to be the one who carried such a weight…..

– As men we were told to protect the women. Our job was to protect the women on tour. Protect them by not singling them out. Treat them all the same. There should be no favoritism. Treat them like sisters is what we were told. Don’t play with their feelings by leading them on.

I despised all these things and more but this time around as I was loading all the ladies luggage onto our shuttle with a few other men I realized something. I am glad for all those lessons I was taught by my leaders. They taught us how to lead the women in our lives in love, they taught us how to be real men. They showed us the value of being a man. I am glad I was made the way I was, a man! We have a a mandate from God. We were made the head for a reason. I don’t mind carrying the ladies luggage now!! I welcome it…haha. But this is not only about carrying luggage…..it’s about embracing the things that make me a man. God created us men to be strong, to lead, to be the head.

God has a special calling on the men! If there was a time when men were desperately needed to take their place it is now! The world needs men of God. Men who trust in God. Men who know who they are in Christ. Men who take care of their families, love their wives, guide their children in the way of The Lord. May we be the men God has called us to be!

Rolain

The truth about the Proverbs 31 woman…..!

The title might be a bit much but I thought it would be really fitting for what I am about to write….
As men we have been told about the Proverbs 31 woman. Every Christian single man wants her. He prays for her.
Ladies, you may think you know Proverbs 31 but what you know cannot be matched with what we as men know about Proverbs 31. We sleep Proverbs 31, drink it, meditate on it, dream about it and so on and so on!
By now you must be thinking to yourself, common Rolain, let’s be serious please!   🙂
OK, let’s be serious. We may not drink it, and meditate on it as much as I say or dream about it but the fact remains, it is important to us. We want a Proverbs 31 woman. Ladies, you have been told to be a Proverbs 31 woman but what does that mean? We read stuff like this and are in awe… :

– A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman – who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. Proverbs 31:10

– She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. Proverbs 31: 17

– She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. Proverbs 31:27

As men we read this and develop this crazy idea that you are perfect!!! I don’t say this in a derogative way. For years I has this perfect image of a Proverbs 31 woman.    My wife will be flawless I thought to my self. She will be perfect……But is that what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman??
Ladies, this goes the other way as well. If my wife is expecting someone perfect then she is going to be seriously dissapointed!
I am human and I am trusting God to guide me in righteousness everyday. I lean on His mercy and grace everyday! I sin everyday! Does that mean I am not Mr Right???
Does being a Proverbs 31 woman mean perfection and flawlessness??? After all, Proverbs 31 doesn’t mention anything about her struggles with sin and failings or so we think! It doesn’t mention her having any battles so we think. We don’t see her in a confused state and we don’t see her struggling with fears so we conclude she is perfect! But that is not the picture Proverbs 31 paints. It paints a picture of a woman racked with sin who puts God first!! Don’t hide your imperfections. Men, don’t hide you faults. Our job is to put Him first. He should be the One you praise and direct the glory to.

But the truth is this. The Proverbs 31 woman is not perfect. Her trust is in God daily. She falls and makes mistakes. Ladies, Mr Right is in the same boat. He is flawed more than you know. Sin has left its mark! Don’t look for perfection. Expecting perfection from a person is impossible. They will never be perfect in this life. So if that is the case, what are we to look for in Mr Right and The Proverbs 31 woman? The end of Proverbs 31 puts it nicely:

Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears The Lord, she shall be praised!   Proverbs 31:30

This is what makes the Proverbs 31 woman a Proverbs 31 woman. Her strength is in God. Her confidence is in God. She is not perfect but she has a relationship with a perfect God! Mr Right has flaws. He doesn’t try to hide them and paint a false picture of who is. He shouldn’t! His trust is in God. This is what defines them, their relationship with God. We are all a work in progress. So as I end, men, we need to go into a relationship with the right image. You are flawed but so is the woman God has for you. She is not perfect and the same goes for you too…..Let us depend on God to help us in our relationships!
God bless…..

Rolain.

 

Don’t let your circumstances have the final say….four reasons why!!!!

What is happening around you? What kind of environment are you living in? What are you being exposed to on a daily basis? I ask these questions because these things have an impact on you. They have an impact on the way you think and they have an impact on the way you view life. This is a constant battle I find myself in. It has always been a battle. The challenge is to not let your present circumstances determine your destiny. It’s ok if your present circumstances are positive, but what happens when it’s bad? What happens when everyone is talking negatively, and everyone is discouraged? What happens when your future looks bleak, or you THINK it looks bleak, what then?

Here are 4 reasons why you should not let your present circumstances have the final say in your life –

1. Just because things are not going well now does not mean your future is going to be the same. Your present circumstances are not forth coming attractions of your future. Things will get better, much better.

2. Your present circumstances have the potential to determine the kind of choices you make. Even if things are hard and you see no end to the misery make a choice to trust God. The fact is, there is an end to the hard times. Winters always end! Don’t let the “winter” you are going through right now determine and dictate what choices you will make. Step out, pursue what God has called you to do. Don’t shrink back, don’t fear. I have done the latter two a lot! Because things were hard and seemed bleak I thought my future was pretty much the same. But that is not the case. And this is the battle I fight constantly. God has an amazing plan for us and no matter what the enemy brings our way we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and what He has spoken to us.

3. The next thing I have found is that my present circumstances tend to dictate what I should expect! If things are hard and difficult don’t expect much I am told. Just get by. Don’t trust God for too much…….!

Please, don’t let your current circumstance determine what you expect. Maybe you don’t have the money you need but don’t let that stop you from pursuing what God has called you to do. Don’t allow your circumstances determine your expectations. Expect God to do great things in your life even if things are falling apart in your life. He will come through for you.

4. The last thing is so important. All the points I have mentioned are important but this one needs special consideration. Don’t let your present circumstances dictate your faith in God. Your present circumstances have a way of blurring God’s greatness. It’s hard to see God when things are crazy in your life. It’s hard to see God when nothing seems to be working. Don’t let your circumstances dictate your faith in God. Keep trusting in God. Don’t lose heart. God can be trusted. If everything fails your faith is the one thing that should remain. I have to make a conscious decision to trust God. Even when I feel discouraged, even when nothing seems to be working and even when things don’t look like they are going to change.

I hope this post helped you. In fact I hope it made sense to you! If not, please don’t hesitate to ask me for clarity where unclear or if you need to add something, please feel free to do so.

When I talk about present circumstances I am talking about the difficult times we go through, the hard times, the confusing times. I just thought I should make that clear. I pray your faith continues to be strong in the face of adverse circumstances. God wants us to trust Him because He knows the end. Things will get better, much better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and winters always come to an end! It’s all because of God’s grace…..Amen

Rolain

Are You Seeking For The Right Thing????

He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.   Proverbs 11:27

He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.
Proverbs 11:27  (Amplified)

This scripture really spoke to me this yesterday. What are you seeking in your life right now? The word is very clear about what we should be seeking. “Seek good“, the word tells us. You are not being selfish if you seek good. A lot of us would feel guilty about seeking good but there is no need to feel guilty. The first translation says you are seeking for grace when you seek for the good and the second translation says you are seeking God’s favor when you seek the good!!!
I want God’s favor in my life and I want His grace! Do you??
It can’t be that easy you say. Yes it can and yes it is. Don’t fall into the trap of being “realistic”. The next part of that verse says, “but he who is looking for trouble will get it”. It’s that simple! If you seek trouble it will come upon you!!!
If you want to fail you will fail.
If you want to be poor you will be poor.
If you want to be sick you will.

What are you looking for??? Why don’t you seek good? Trust the word of God. I am not bringing a new thing. This is not my idea. I am just showing you what the word says!!!! The word is saying seek good. You may have your reasons for not seeking good but just do it.
We live in a broken world and it has killed the hope in us. We have been  hurt so badly that we have adapted. We expect failure, we expect disappointment, we expect brokenness but God wants us to see and live on another level. He wants us to get up when we fall. He wants us to be able to see victory when we fall!!!! He wants us to have hope. And that happens when we seek the good!!!

So seek good things to happen to you. Expect that breakthrough, expect God to answer your prayers. I am speaking to me as well. Let us seek good always!!!!
God is good indeed!!!! Let us thank Him for his grace towards us…

Rolain.

The Essence of God’s Dreams.

One of the main reasons for having this blog was to inspire people to pursue their God given dreams. We all have a dream given to us by God and we are all designed with a purpose. There is no one on earth born without a purpose, no one! We all have a mission to carry out from God but this is the thing, we have an enemy who doesn’t want us to fulfil all that God has for us. A pastor once said it like this, “the enemy is afraid of our assignment” because he knows how much of an impact we will have if we find out what our “assignment” is and carry it out! We all have an assignment from God, do you know what your assignment is?  Assignment, calling, dream, destiny call it what you want, do you know what it is?

I was reading a book on destiny the other day and there were a few very important points on the importance of God’s dreams that I would like to share with you. I hope these help you in identifying God’s plan for your life. The first thing that he said was,

– So here’s the not-so-small print that maybe you never read at the start of your journey: God’s dreams for you are ultimately not really about you. 
Oh don’t misunderstand. They’ll bring you some of the best days of your life; you will be fulfilled beyond any imaginable expectations. But God’s dreams take form only when they are about others, for the benefit of others. Loving them. Guiding them. Serving them. Influencing them. Filling their heads with dreams and hopes. There are no other type of God dreams.

Wow right!! God’s dreams are not about us but they are about people! His dreams for us are to be an impact in someone else’s life. There is no room for selfishness and pride in God’s dreams . And that is one way you can tell if the dream you have is from God, is it all about you getting what you want and you being comfortable or is it about people??!!

– God’s destiny for you will never be so trivial as building a kingdom for you to enhance your acclaim. Such is a kingdom of dust and lint.

I have already spoken about this in the last point. A person who has dreams of grandeur for himself and him alone is on the wrong path. But please don’t get me wrong here. It is OK to want a car a house, money and so on. Those desires are fine. The problem comes when those desires are the things that consume us. The problem is, when that is the only desire we have or they are more important than seeking God and touching people!!

– The dream He has prepared custom for you is explosively beautiful and alive. It’s about His glorious kingdom-a plan involving you from before there was time!

Do you believe that? The enemy has lied to us by telling us that God’s dreams for us are dull and boring! They are not. They are fun and exhilarating and fulfilling!!!

– This stunning dream always involves others. Others being freed, healed, convinced of who they really are, convinced that they can fly, convinced His dreams in them can come true.

– Think about it – God’s dreams for us reflect His heart. If we are not maturing in sync with His heart, how would we distinguish other-centered dreams from self-centered dreams?

– God wants to reveal Himself to us in authenticity. Because one of God’s dreams is that we influence others far more out of who we are than out of what we do. So above all else, your destiny requires that you be a maturing person.

I like it when the author says God’s dreams for us reflect God’s heart. And for me, that is why I think it’s important not to go through life aimlessly without a goal or direction because we are supposed to express God’s heart in the way He created us to do it. People get to see who God is when we walk in what He has called us to do! But to do that we also need to mature. We mature by taking responsibility for things in our lives. We mature by acting on the Word of God. Are you someone who is growing? Is your spiritual man growing stronger by the day or you are at the same place you were 5 years ago? Remember what he said, “God’s dreams for us require us to influence others far more out of who we are than out of what we do“.
I know you have the title Pastor, Bishop, Priest, and any other important title out there but God wants you to influence people out of who you are rather than your title!
What good is it calling yourself pastor but you have no self control and you are lazy? or what good is it being a fitness instructor but you eat like a pig and don’t exercise outside of the times you train people!! It does not work.

And that is the essence of God’s dreams. Let us pursue them with all that we have. If you don’t know the reason you were born ask God! He is eager to show you your purpose. He is a good God!!!!  🙂

Rolain