The place of isolation.

“So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, send me David your son, 

who is with the sheep.” 

 

David was in an isolated place away from people and yet Saul knew where to find him.

How did that happen?

He was alone for the most part of his day. It wasn’t the coolest, hippest place to hang out

I can imagine but it’s in that place that David’s relationship with God was developed. It’s in that

place he communed and worshipped God. He learned to trust God in that place. It’s in that place

he fought a lion and a bear and God delivered him from them both. (1 Samuel 17:37)

 

You might be in a place where people don’t see you or even recognize you but know this,

the Lord knows exactly where you are. Be patient where you are. The Lord is at work in you

and is directing your every step.

 

“Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, 

The Lord has not chosen any of these. 

Then [he] said to Jesse, Are all your sons here? [Jesse] said, There is yet the youngest; 

he is tending the sheep. 

Samuel said to Jesse, Send for him; for we will not sit down to eat until he is here. 

Jesse sent and brought him. David had a healthy reddish complexion and beautiful eyes and

was fine-looking. 

The Lord said [to Samuel], Arise, anoint him; this is he.”

1 Samuel 16:10-12

 

David’s father forgot about David and had to be asked if he had another son but that will never

happen with God.  Like I said before, He knows where you are.

Don’t despise the place you are in today. It might not be the most exciting place to be or the most

fulfilling and can even be frustrating but God has a plan for your life. He knows what He is doing.

 

“Now Eliab his eldest brother heard what he said to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled

against David and he said, Why did you come here? 

With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and 

evilness of heart; for you came down that you might see the battle.” 

1 Samuel 17:28

 

“With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?”

 

Did David’s brother have an understanding of what was happening in the wilderness with

those “few sheep”?

I don’t think he had the slightest clue.

The place of isolation was very important. It prepared David to fight Goliath and win!

It prepared him for the things God planned for him.

 

So today, don’t underestimate what God is doing in you and through you. He has not forgotten you.

He is working in and through the circumstances you are facing and even though it may seem like

you are alone you are not.

I was getting frustrated with where I was in my life but I began to realize that God was in total control.

He IS in total control and there is nothing that happens in my life or your life that catches

Him by surprise. You may have been in a place for a long time and it seems like things won’t change

but I am here to say that things will change for you. God is faithful and will not abandon you.

Man will let you down but not God. Look to Him alone.

He sees you in your place of isolation!

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

Does the Lord get amnesia??

“Then God remembered Rachel and answered her prayer. 

God made it possible for her to have children.” 

Genesis 30:22

 

Rachel couldn’t have children and in that time of history, women were looked down upon

if they couldn’t have children. It must have been hard for Rachel because Leah was bearing

children while she was unable.

But things didn’t stay that way for her because the day came when the Lord remembered her…

 

He hadn’t forgotten about Rachel. He hadn’t discarded her prayers or the desires of her heart.

He had them at the very front of His mind never to be forgotten. It’s not like the Lord gets amnesia

and totally forgets what you need. He loves you and knows exactly what you need so don’t lose heart.

 

The Lord has not forgotten you. He knows what’s in your heart and His desire is to bless you

beyond what you can ever imagine! He is listening to you and even though it may seem like

He is silent the day will come when He will speak up. The day will come when He remembers you.

Keep trusting, and keep praying.

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

 

 

 

She was a nobody but faith………

This is part of three of my series on Hebrews 11. Read part two here. As I start this post I would like to share a verse that got my attention,

[Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity]. Hebrews 11: 31

Rehab is a hero of the faith but I wonder if she sees the same thing?? If we spoke to her now would she say she is a hero proudly? A lot of people read her story and are inspired and it is good but let us look deeper into her life. She was a prostitute and that meant a few things:

– She slept with men for money. It didn’t matter if the man was married or a drunk, or abusive, as long as they had money she would sleep with them.

– She was looked down upon by society.

– It’s very possible she struggled with a low self esteem

– She was finding it hard to make ends meet and maybe that is why she became a prostitute.

– She lived in fear (it’s possible she was threatened by men she slept with)

– No one respected her.

– She may have broken a few families up. It’s possible wives found out their husbands slept with Rahab and left!

– She must have dealt with guilt and condemnation on a regular basis because of the things she had to do. .

– Did she try to commit suicide???

I would like to make something clear before we move on,

I look up to Rahab and in no way am I trying to tear down her reputation and what God had done for her. I am trying to paint a picture of what she probably went through to make you understand what God saved her from. Because despite all the bad she did and all the bad that happened to her, through faith she was saved. Her name is recorded among the Greats because she trusted God! Because of faith she saved her family and was found in Jesus’s lineage!! (Matthew 1:5)

We need faith and without it we can do nothing pleasing to God. Do I understand what faith is? Not really. What I do know is God did amazing things through the people who trusted Him. No matter what people labeled them, or where they grew up, they turned the world upside down!

This is what the word says about these great men and women of faith,

[Men] of whom the world was not worthy–roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth. (Hebrews 11:38 AMP)

Think about all Rahab could of gone through. How could God use her, one could think but in the end what matters is He did! No one is too far off for God to use!

You might feel like you are of no use and your life doesn’t count for something. You might think you have committed too much sin to ever do anything great or you may be plagued with guilt and condemnation but know God has a plan for you! He wants to do great things through you and that is why He wants you to trust Him. Only God can turn your life into something great but you have to have faith in Him!

Rahab did that. She stepped out in faith to God despite what she had done and what people thought and saved the spies. As she used her faith her life changed never to be the same ever. What an amazing testimony for her. I am going to look forward to meeting her and hearing her story! Her story is an example of what God can do with someone who has faith in Him!

Our faith in God can do things we never imagined ever. It can open doors only God can open. Have faith in Him.

Rolain

The weakest link.

Today was a real eye opener for me. We have been teaching the kids about praise and worship for two weeks and today was the last week of the teaching. God really came down and touched the kids and I will boldly say we had a tangible manifestation of God’s presence. Words fail to express how amazing the service was.

 

But this was the eye opener for me – I never prepared sufficiently for the service. It was important for me to have planned because I am the one who decided on having a time in the year where we have a service specifically dedicated to teaching our kids the importance of praise and worship. I have been doing this for 6years and this was the 7th. But like I said, I did not plan sufficiently. I was not prayed up enough. I was not ready for today. I had feelings to deal with as well. I felt guilty for the sin I committed through out the week and thought it inappropriate to ask God for His help. I was not ready on all levels.

I realized how in this relationship I am the weakest link. I haven’t brought anything to the table. My contribution to this relationship is nothing…..I am the weakest link but unlike the game where the weakest link gets eliminated, God still works with me. He doesn’t eliminate me but bestows me with His grace. He covers my faults with His amazing grace and mercy. I was blown away today because God’s presence came down and touched the kids not because I had been prepared or prayed up, or because I was smart enough but He used me in spite of that! ! And thinking about that I realize how that happens everyday. We are the weakest link in our relationship with God but He stays with us. He still gives us a purpose that is bigger than we can imagine and loves us. He doesn’t tell us We are useless but instead makes us useful…….

Even though you are the weakest link in your relationship with God He will never leave. You will not be eliminated. It’s because you are weak that He will use you. You will do incredible things in your weak state because He will cover you. He will give you the wisdom you need, the strength you need……thank God for that. He is amazing.

Rolain

4 Lessons to learn from Joseph about destiny…..

Some time ago I wrote a post entitled, “3 lessons  from David about destiny“. Well this time I am going to touch on someone who is another inspiration to me – Joseph. His story was pretty amazing as you know and there are things we can learn from him about destiny.

1. Joseph had a dream but as we see, it was not all roses for him. Yes he had a dream but he had no idea what he was about to go through for that dream to come to pass. I don’t think he had the slightest idea he would be sold into slavery or be wrongfully accused. As far as he was concerned, he had a dream……
Please note, I am not trying to instill fear in you concerning dreams. All I want you to see and know is, there is so much more to your life than what you see.  There is a process that must take place. That process will involve testing. With testing comes reward, if you pass! Don’t be afraid of the testing, because God will be with you through it all. He was with Joseph when he was sold into slavery, He was with him when he was wrongfully accused. He was with him in prison. God was with him through it all…….He never abandoned him for a single moment! That is great news for all of us.

2. But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a  successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Genesis 39:2

This verse shows us, even though Joseph was in a hard place God was with him. Wherever you are just know that God is with you. If you are on the right path you will have favour.

3. But think of me when it shall be well with you and show kindness, I beg of you, to me, and mention me to Pharoah and get me out of this house. 
For truly I was carried away from the land of the Hebrews by unlawful force, and here too I have done nothing for which they should put me into the dungeon.   Genesis 40:14, 15

Joseph tried to take things in his own hands. He tried to direct his own life. He got tired of waiting on God. I can identify with Joseph. When the chips are down and nothing is working for you there is a temptation to take the steering wheel and drive but we always need to remember, God is control. He knows exactly what He is doing. I constantly try to keep this on mind always. He is in control and He knows exactly what He is doing.

This is the point. At times we try to do things on our own because we are not patient. We give up waiting on God because we think He has forgotten us or abandoned us. But that is not the truth. God knows exactly where we are.

4. After two full years, Pharoah dreamed that he stood by the river [Nile]. Genesis 41:1

Can you imagine how he must of felt. The butler was a free man but he never said anything to Pharoah for two whole years……..I wonder what he must of being thinking. Did he give up on God? Did he complain? The one thing he had to learn was patience. Yes he tried to take matters in his own hands but he had to be patient. He had to wait and trust in God. We will need to do the same. God’s call on our lives is not a day journey or even a year long journey. It takes a much longer time. Will you be patient and wait on Him?

And that is all I would like to share with you on the life of Joseph………God did amazing things through him. Please note that the way God worked in the life of David is completely different compared to the life of Joseph and it will be different for us. There are a few things we can learn that are universal but in the whole scope of things, God will work differently in each of our lives. The plan He has for us is exciting, fulfilling and amazing……Praise be to God, the maker of our dreams!!

Rolain