God has a name for you.

“And they journeyed from Bethel and had but a little way to go to Ephrath [Bethlehem]

when Rachel suffered the pangs of childbirth and had hard labor. 

When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, Do not be afraid; you shall have this son

also. And as her soul was departing, for she died, she called his name Ben-oni [son of my sorrow]; 

but his father called him Benjamin [son of the right hand]. 

Genesis 35:16-18

 

As Rachel was dying she called her son Ben-oni and rightly so in her mind because she was about

to die. Because of the pain she was experiencing she named him but Jacob gave him another name.

A name of blessing which spoke of God’s plan and purpose for his life.

 

The temptation is great to listen to the names people call us because we think they “know” us.

We allow the words of man to define us because we think they really do know us. Either because

they have been friends for a really long time or because they are family but the truth of the matter

is that God is the only One who really knows us. We need to look to Him to tell us who we are and

not man.

 

I am not saying we should stop listening to the encouraging words of friends, family, mentors, teachers

and the other people in our lives but what I am saying is that we need to be very careful we don’t stop

with what they tell us we can be or do.

 

Rachel is a picture of man who makes decisions about us and speak based on what they see.

Jacob is a picture of God and what He sees. Even when it’s not clear to us or anyone else, God knows

the plans He has for us.

He knows all the great things we will do and that’s what He speaks over us.

 

“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.”

1 Chronicles 4:9, 10

 

Jabez was given a name by man but he prayed for God to bless him. He was tired of being called

Sorrow-Maker. He knew God had something better for him so he prayed and God granted

his request! I love that so much. You don’t have to live by what man says you can or can’t do.

Just because man thinks you can’t doesn’t mean that’s true. What matters is what God thinks and

says about you!

 

For a long time I lived by other people’s scripts. I was okay with living in the box they made for me. But

when I gave my life to Christ things changed radically. The Lord opened my eyes to what He had in store

for me. He showed me a glimpse of what He had in store which was so much higher and greater than

what man said I could do. Bit by bit the chains began to be broken off.

Don’t let man define what you can do. Let God’s word be what directs you and drives you.

Don’t be limited by all the perceptions and images man has put on you.

 

God has an amazing plan for your life.

Let go of the words that have been spoken over you that have limited you and live

by who God says you are.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

A time of endurance…

“So Moses and Aaron gathered all the elders of the Israelites. 

Aaron told them everything that the Lord had told Moses. 

Then Moses did the miracles for all the people to see. So the 

Israelites believed. They heard that the Lord was concerned about them

and had seen their troubles. Then they bowed down and worshipped

Him.” 

Exodus 4:29-31

 

The Israelites were in bondage for a really long time. Things had been really

difficult for them. So when Moses and Aaron told

them that God was concerned about them and had seen their troubles they must have

been encouraged.

 

But the hope they had quickly disappeared when the pressure intensified. The joy, the hope,

the faith they had was replaced with doubt, fear, and anxiety. They were not patient with the

Lord. They wanted the deliverance to happen that very instant.

 

“As they were leaving the meeting with the king, they met Moses and Aaron. 

Moses and Aaron were waiting for them. So they said to Moses and Aaron, “May the 

Lord punish you. You caused the king and his offices to hate us. You have given them 

an excuse to kill us.”

Exodus 5:20, 21

 

That story spoke to me today. We need to endure as we wait for God’s promise

to materialize in our lives. His promise for our lives, our families, and our countries will be

contested against by the enemy. There is no way he is going to just sit and let you

stroll into what God has promised you. he is the adversary and by the very nature of

that name he opposes and fights against everything good that God has prepared for us.

 

The Israelites thought it would be a walk in the park but it wasn’t. They had to trust God with

all that they had. They had to believe His word was true. They had to endure.

God’s promise was true and He would deliver them and they needed to understand that no matter

how bad things got.

 

“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant. His feet they hurt with fetters;

he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into iron. 

Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.”

Psalm 105:17-19

 

When the promise seems like a fantasy we must keep trusting, we need to endure. His promise

is true, it will come to pass. The Lord is not a man that lies. His word is sure and if He promised

it will come to pass.  Difficulty doesn’t mean the promise won’t come to pass.

There is nothing that can stop the word of God from coming to pass.

Hold on in the storm. Endure, put your faith in Him.

He will fulfill what He promised you.

 

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

 

What is the real cost of a negative word??

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips

comes to ruin.”

Proverbs 13:3

 

In my previous post I spoke about trusting God in spite of the circumstances

that surround us on a daily basis. . But there is something

we need to be aware of that can quickly stifle God’s work in our lives. And

that is to do with the words we speak.

The thing is this, we know the power of our words. There is so much teaching

in the word about the power of our words. The understanding is there but we

need to do it more and more.

 

It’s NOT okay to speak negatively once in a while. Every time we are reckless with our

words something happens! This life is war friends and we can’t afford to speak death,

even if it’s once in a while. It’s not okay to speak negatively even if everyone is doing it.

 

Everyone at work may be talking about the boss but it’s not okay for you to join in

with them.

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

 

Things may be falling apart in the country you living in and “everyone” is tearing down

the government with their words but once again, it’s not okay to join in and tear them down

with your words.

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

 

Your friends may be gossiping about someone but it’s not okay to join in with them.

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

 

We need to step up our vigilance with the words we speak.

Our words will make a way for God to do great things in our lives or stop His

miracles dead in their tracks!

How can YAH move on your behalf if you always talking about how there is no

way for you and your family?

He can’t move on your behalf if you telling everyone how doomed you are, how you

will always to struggle to pay school fees, and so on!

 

I am not saying don’t talk about the difficult things you face. Storms are a

part of life on this earth. Speak about the problem but remember to speak

about the God who saves. Speak about the God who delivers,

about the God who answers prayer.

The focus should be on the God who will carry us through whatever comes

our way and and not on the problems!

Our conversations need to change for sure if we are going to see change.

Let’s look at one more scripture.

 

“Who is the man who desires life,

and loves many days, that he may

see good?

Psalm 34:12

 

I don’t know about you but I desire life, and I want to live long

to see good.

The author mentions a few things we need to do

if we are to have life, and have long life.

 

We are to depart from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

 

But look at what’s at the top of that list,

 

“Keep your tongue from evil,

and your lips from speaking deceit.”

Psalm 34:13

 

Like I said before, we are at war.

We can’t let the hard things we face suck out every trace of faith in our words.

It’s the faith in our words that YAH responds to.

That’s what opens doors, that’s what makes a way for YAH to move in our lives!

 

This is a challenge to us all,

 

“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips

comes to ruin.”

Proverbs 13:3

 

Bless you friends….

 

Rolain

 

 

A word to those who have been abandoned…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against

a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me.

But the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

Then they all forsook Him and fled.”

Mark 14:48-50

 

“Then they all forsook Him and fled”

 

Jesus was abandoned by those closest to Him in His time of need.

In His most trying time there was no one to rely on for

support. He was going to endure the cross alone.

Let me rephrase that, no man would be with Him in His most

trying time.

 

You may be feeling alone because you have been ignored, rejected or abandoned

but know you are not alone.

Jesus understands fully what you are going through because He went through the

exact same thing!

He knows what it feels like to be abandoned by the people closest to you.

He knows the deep pain that comes from rejection.

You are not alone friend.

Cry out to Him in your pain.

Man will fail us but not Jesus. He is right there helping us, carrying us!

As I end I want to leave you with a scripture,

 

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from the love of money [including

greed, avarice, lust, craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present

[circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself  has said, I will not in

any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not,

[I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!

[Assuredly not!]”

Hebrews 13:5, 6

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

God in the mundane….in the ordinary!

I came across one of the most amazing passages of scripture

today! It’s so beautiful, it makes my heart leap! I never noticed it

before but today, I noticed!

 

“Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers.

And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to

Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. “

Ruth 2:3

 

(the last part is what I want you to see. It’s the amazing passage

of scripture!)

 

“and she happened to come to the part of the field

belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech! “

 

Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my marbles…haha

I love that phrase because it shows the beauty of how God

works in the lives of people! Let me explain,

 

I have written so much on Ruth. She is totally amazing and no, I

will not stop writing about her! 🙂  She is one of my favourite people

in the bible. So no surprises if I tell you I was reading Ruth today!

I shared on this particular scripture before but I got another

revelation today that I would like to share. In actual fact, it’s been

on my mind and heart the whole day. The truth it teaches is so

powerful.

 

“So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the

field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find

favor.”

And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers.

And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to

Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

Ruth 2:2, 3

 

I love this…..My heart jumps at how good God is.

Ruth thought she was simply going to glean grain but God

had much more in store for her. God was directing Ruth’s

steps in such an amazing way. On the surface, her gleaning

grain seemed so mundane, so ordinary but it wasn’t. In the mundane

God led her to the field of Boaz. At the time, she didn’t know

who he was. She had no idea she would be married to him.

He was a man of God and he would cherish her all the days

of her life.

She had no idea she would be a descendant of David and

Jesus Christ!!! She would be part of the lineage of Jesus Christ!

Wow….What an honor! All made possible by God who just

“happened” to lead her to the field of Boaz!

 

Her story teaches us that no step we take is aimless, of no

purpose! Every step we take has a purpose!

God is directing our every step. In the seemingly mundane

details of our lives, He is guiding us. He has carefully

prepared our every step.

Don’t take for granted the leading of the Lord. Don’t doubt He is

leading you to something amazing.

 

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his

steps and makes them sure. “

Proverbs 16:9

 

“Man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a

man understand his way? “

Proverbs 20:24

 

“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by

the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself

with his every step].”

Psalm 37:23

 

Today, I was reminded what it means to be led by God.

This is not a “nice” passage of scripture. A ‘feel good” passage.

This is truth and it’s alive, powerful and active. I was challenged

to believe, to have faith.

I declared, like Ruth, God is directing my steps!

God is directing our steps and that is amazing!

Like Ruth, He is directing your steps!

Amen

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

 

 

He prayed much…..

 

“Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter

of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan-aram, the sister of Laban the

Aramean. “

Genesis 25:20

 

What happens when you don’t have all the answers to the

problems in your life?

There will be times we will come up against impossible odds,

situations we will be completely powerless against.

Isaac was blessed with an incredible woman by God but she

was barren! God led Abraham’s servant to her family. There

is an entire chapter (Genesis 24) dedicated to the servant

finding Isaac’s wife! There can be no argument she was the one

but she was barren……

The only explanation I could think of for that was, God had a plan.

He wasn’t caught off guard by Rebekah’s barreness.

Let’s read the next verse;

 

“And Isaac prayed much to the Lord for his wife because she was

unable to bear children;

and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife

became pregnant.”

Genesis 25:21

 

At face value the impossible situation in Isaac’s life was

resolved so easily. Isaac prayed, God heared and answered

his prayer. Lesson learned!

But it goes much deeper than that. Let’s take a look.

 

“Afterward his brother came forth, and his hand grasped Esau’s

heel; so he was named Jacob [supplanter]. Isaac was sixty years

old when she gave birth to them. “

Genesis 25:26

 

Jacob got married at forty right. According to their culture I

don’t think it took long for them to try to have a baby.

Let’s give it maybe a year.

If that is the case, Isaac prayed for nineteen years give

or take for a baby!

Isaac prayed much, the word tells us and he got his answer.

What is it like praying for something that long?

Who knows the things Isaac and Rebekah faced as they

trusted God for their baby?

Just know this, it took about nineteen years for Isaac to

get an answer to his prayer. He never gave up on God.

He never lost hope, instead he prayed much!

I am encouraged as I read their story because there are

things I have been praying for for a long time.

 

So let’s go back to that impossible sitution I was talking about

in the beginning of the post.

It’s not a mistake you are going through what you are going

through just like it was not a mistake when Isaac married

Rebekah even though she was barren.

God was very much in the know about that and He had a plan.

All I would say to you today is, don’t give up. God has a plan.

Isaac didn’t complain or murmur about his problem, he

prayed much!

Are you praying “much” in your impossible situation?

That could be the answer.

 

Be encouraged, be hopeful, because God sees what you are

facing. He has the answer and He will not let you down!

Pray much…..

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

The true gift……

                                    photo credit: google images

 

I want to bring something back into order, something that

has been tarnished, and diminished in the world

today. The world may have forgotten but we must not forget.

We cannot forget. “What is he rambling on about”, you might be

asking??

 

What do you think is the best gift God can give you?

Salvation yes…!!!! But I am talking about what comes

after salvation.

The world has put value on possessions. Some think God’s

best comes in the form of money. But the word is very

clear about what God’s best gift is:

 

Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?

The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Psalms 127:3 (MSG)

 

We have been deceived as the body of Christ because we have put

other things first. We have desired other things which is not a

bad thing. Don’t get me wrong….God has so much in store for us.

But we must not lose sight of His greatest gift to us, children!

Parents need to teach their kids about family and legacy!

As single men and women we need to think about our legacy.

Our career is important but I feel we have put that ahead of

everything else. It’s not “cool” to think about family anymore!

God’s definition of the best gift is children but do we think like that?

As I write this it is cutting me as well. It’s a hard

thought. We have become so selfish. We only think about

ourselves and what WE can get. But God is thinking so

much grander…..

May we get a revelation today…….Amen!

 

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

 

 

 

 

Is Christmas still relevant today?

I love Christmas!

But I have a question.

What does Christmas really mean?

(Deep in thought……)

Christmas is about Santa Claus

It’s about giving and spending time with family. It’s about food (lots of it) haha

It’s also about the birth of Christ! For Christians this is the main purpose of Christmas.

It’s that time of the year we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

But as I reflect on Christmas a few things come to mind:

The 2014 Isla Vista killings – where a man shot and killed six people and injured thirteen others before committing suicide! I can only imagine what the families are going through!

The disappearance of Malaysian Airlines earlier this year which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives! Hundreds of families will spend Christmas alone!

The death and loss caused by ISIS. There are people still fleeing for their lives. There are people still losing loved ones. There are lots of people living in fear because of ISIS.

The kidnapping of 200 girls by the Boko Haram.

Women and girls who have been trafficked and haven’t been rescued!

The list goes on and on!

As I thought on this I thought to myself,

Surely Christmas is more than gifts, food, Santa Claus, and family? Those things are important but what does Christmas offer to the person who has lost everything?

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10-11‬ NKJV)

We were lost doomed to die but Jesus came and changed that. He reversed our death sentence to one of life! When I think of Christmas, I think of the hope it brings!  A hope that the world desperately needs. A hope WE desperately need!!

Christmas offers hope for everyone! No matter how bad things are, no matter how hopeless they seem, there is hope! Don’t be discouraged, don’t lose heart. You have been given a second chance!

Christmas is a beacon of hope to all that need hope!

Bad things have happened and are still happening but the birth of Jesus Christ is the answer to the pain and the terror that has happened.

When you think of the birth of Jesus Christ, His death and what He accomplished should come to mind! You cannot separate those two powerful, world changing events!

He came to give us life, peace, joy, a reason to live again, hope and a whole lot more!

If you are in pain, if you are alone, if your future looks hopeless know this:

There is hope for you……

You have a second, third, fourth chance!

God cares for you and looks after you.

Christmas represents HOPE for everyone!

Merry Christmas to you all.

Rolain

The Tuesday that changed everything……..

I have not written in a while. Not because I had nothing to write about, but because I was involved in a car accident! To be honest I didn’t want to write, I guess it was shock! It is not easy writing about the accident but after a week I know God has been challenging me to write about what happened!

 

Last Tuesday……

I was on my way to do shopping when a man ran out on the road unexpectedly! Thank God it was raining because it made me drive slowly! Anyway this guy ran out on the road and before I knew it he was in front of me. I tried to avoid him by turning sharply away from him but I was not successful. I hit him with the side of my bumper which sent him falling to the other lane.

But another car going much faster bumped him and sent him flying in the air. He landed on his head. I was not alone in the car so we jumped out of the car and ran to the man. We called the ambulance a few minutes after that. When they finally arrived they tried to revive him but it was too late, he had lost too much blood. He was declared dead…….

I can’t begin to describe to you the feelings and emotions that I went through. I was in shock! I couldn’t believe he had died! I just stood there in the rain looking at the corpse! I saw life leave him…….

 

God’s goodness……

During this traumatic time a few things happened which I can only describe as God’s amazing love. A friend who I had not seen for at least 5 years saw my car and stopped to help!! I had seen him earlier in the day which was amazing in its self but a few hours later in another part of town he stopped to help me! That was God indeed.

In a few minutes of him leaving another close friend of mine who heard the news arrived! As a guy I was putting on a strong front for the people that were at the scene but when my friend came he understood. He saw through the front I had made. I broke down when he came. We embraced and he kept on telling me, “It wasn’t my fault”! Once again I can’t tell you what that did for me! God knew what I needed. It wasn’t something I could put into words but He knew. When I stopped crying my friend left. But those few minutes he spared were so crucial that day! Sometime after that another friend came. He was driving when he seen me. He turned his car around and came and asked if I needed anything. There was nothing he could do at that precise moment so he left but as I left the scene of the accident with the police he returned with a hot cup of coffee! I had been in the rain the whole time and I was freezing but I never noticed it until he handed me the cup of coffee….!!  God is so good.

 

Lessons learned…..

Things have changed since that day. My relationship with God has gone deeper. It’s crazy to think but a few weeks before the accident I would have days where I would get nothing from the word, just dryness! Nothing would jump out at me but after the accident, it was like I was reading a different bible. The bible I was reading was alive. Every day had something new and something for me, something I could hold on to. My prayer times where different. In actual fact they still are. Something has changed. It’s like the blinders have been taken off. I see God more clearly! When I read my word I see Him, when I listen to music (worship music) I hear Him, I see Him in people when they come to encourage me, and pray for me, when I spend time with Him I feel Him!

Whatever pain or tragedy you are going through know that God has a plan in the midst of the pain! He wants you to run to Him. And as you run to Him, He will comfort and deliver you. He will not leave you to go through the pain alone! He will be with you every step of the way! His hand will be on you……That’s a promise!

 

Today……..

I am still waiting on the police. They are still working on the case and I am waiting for them to come to a decision. They can press charges or let it go. I am believing for the latter! I would really appreciate your prayers in this time!

I am much better than last week. I realize I will never forget what happened that day and I need to make a decision how I go from here. I can live in guilt and blame myself and I can live in fear of driving and so on or I can trust God!

Rolain