You Have A Compelling Story.

For the past couple of weeks I have been catching up on the Olympics. In times past

I never really watched it. I would watch a race here and there but that was it. I was

never really interested in Olympics as a whole but this year has been different.

I have been engaged and I am enjoying it so much. A few days ago I was wondering

why I enjoyed it so much and it came down to one thing – the compelling stories.

No matter the discipline there is a compelling story to follow. That was what has kept

me engaged and on the edge of my seat. For example, the men and women’s

BMX Freestyle competition. There have been some amazing stories on both the men and women’s side

but I want to focus on the women.

First of all, this was the debut of BMX Freestyle. That was history in the making.

Then Charlotte Worthington from Great Britain won the gold medal which was amazing

but her story continues. The way she won was even more amazing.

She successfully attempted a backflip 360 which has never been done in any women’s

competition ever. On the biggest stage in the world she did a backflip 360 for the first

time ever, landed it and won the gold. Talk about a compelling story!

And as I listened to compelling story after another I thought about you and me as sons

and daughters of God.

Do we have compelling stories too?

And the answer is a resounding yes. God has a compelling story for you and me.

Jeremiah 29:11 confirms this truth,

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you a hope and a future.”

I think about Nick Vujicic who was born without arms and legs and in the beginning he struggled

to reconcile why he was born and tried to take his own life but God intervened and turned his

life around. Nick has travelled the world encouraging and inspiring people with his story.

What a compelling story right…

In the word of God I think of Esther. She had no parents and was raised by her uncle but God

used her to save an entire nation!

I also think of Paul who hated Christians and did his best to exterminate them. He imprisoned them

and killed them but God stopped him and turned his life around. He gave him a new purpose and

new direction and used him to bring the word of God to the Gentiles and so much more.

I share all those stories to encourage you that God has amazing plans for your life. He has a

compelling story for you.

But it doesn’t end there. You have an enemy who doesn’t want you to accomplish God’s purpose

for your life. He is trying to stop the compelling stories God has written for you from happening.

There is a war.

You need to stand up and trust God with everything within you.

You also need to stand up and do your part by taking the steps of faith He is leading you to take.

This is a bit of what makes up a compelling story.

You need to be strong and courageous like Joshua as he led God’s people into the promise land.

God kept telling him to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid.

So as you walk in the amazing purpose and plans God has for you remember that He is with you.

He will never leave or forsake you and will bring your compelling story to completion.

He is fighting on your behalf.

Put all of your trust in Him and step out in faith as He leads because He has a compelling

story for you.

Bless you friends

Rolain

What is my food?

“Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing

about.”

John 4:31, 32

 

Jesus knew why He was on earth. He knew His purpose and that dictated what He did. 

 

Thinking about it more, Jesus could have told the crowd to wait while He ate something

but His “food” was more important than eating at that moment. He understood His “food” 

had eternal consequences and would change people’s lives forever. 

 

There are so many times in my life when I have put making a living and surviving before

my “food” but the truth of the matter is that God has given us a purpose and a mission on 

this earth. He has promised to provide for our needs but how hard it is to balance the two! 

 

Do you know what your “food” is? 

If you don’t, ask the Lord to show you. Ask Him to reveal to you what your purpose is. 

He is not trying to hide it from you but He wants you to discover the amazing things He has 

in store. 

 

The world we live in is getting crazier and crazier and people need the truth. The “food” we have 

been given will bring light into a world that desperately needs it. 

So what is your “food”?

 

Bless you friends 

 

Rolain

 

When faced with the impossible…

“Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘I am too old to have a baby? 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

No! I will return to you at the right time a year from now. And Sarah will have a son.” 

Genesis 18:13, 14

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

 

The Lord was trying to show Sarah that her seemly “impossible” situation was not impossible for Him.

It really was impossible in human standards but not to God. He is bigger than anything we deem “impossible”.

What are you facing right now that seems “impossible”?

 

I am facing an “impossible” situation as well in this season. There doesn’t seem to be an answer to the

situation I am faced with. There is an option of just giving in to fear and hopelessness but this word

spoke to me.

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

 

I know God is challenging me to look to Him and trust. He has been speaking to me through that

verse. There is absolutely nothing in this world that is too big for Him to handle.

Where we make the mistake is trying to go on by ourselves in our own strength but that

won’t work. We will always fail when we try to do it in our own strength.

 

This is not a new struggle. I think of Moses who doubted God’s power and capacity. The Lord had

to remind Him how big He really was.

 

 “The Lord said to Moses, 

Has the Lord’s hand (His ability and power) become short (thwarted and inadequate)?

You shall see now whether My word shall come to pass for you or not.” 

Numbers 11:23

 

Your “impossible” situation may seem like a Mount Everest standing in your way but remember

there is nothing too big for God to handle.

 

 

Bring your fears, your anxiety, and your worries to Him. Put all your hope in Him.

There is nothing too hard for Him!

 

Bless you, friends…

 

Rolain

The failed rescue mission………

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

 

“Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed [over what he had done] and set his mind on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the sun went down to rescue him.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

Daniel was about to be thrown into the lions den and the King

who at the time was one of the most powerful men tried to deliver

him. But for all his power and prominence he couldn’t help Daniel.

He labored until the sun went down but all his influence

couldn’t save Daniel!!

 

Man at his best is just a vapor.

 

In the fire, in the lions den we need to look to God. Daniel didn’t

rely on the King to save him. The word is very clear about where

Daniel looked to for help:

 

“Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel should be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no hurt of any kind was found on him because he believed in (relied on, adhered to, and trusted in) his God.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

It was because of his trust in God that he was delivered from the lions,

not because of his trust in man.

God is the only one who can deliver you from the lions den!

 

As I look at my life I see how God put me in situations I had to

trust in Him completely. There were times people had to leave

so I could stop looking to them for help. It was a hard lesson

because at times there was no one. I had to trust in God and if

He didn’t come through I was finished! That’s how bad it was.

But I see now what He was doing. He wanted me to learn to depend

on Him alone! In all those times there wasn’t one time He let me

down. He always came through for me.

So I encourage you to look to God. Learn to trust in Him

completely. He can be trusted!

 

photo credit: Google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

I want to follow you Lord, but……!!

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:21-22‬ ‭MSG‬‬

What a sad story. Jesus called the young man to follow Him.

What an honor, what a privilege BUT the word tells us he was

holding on tight to a lot of things and he was not about to let

those things go….

 

Think about that for a minute.

 

There is no doubt that Jesus is calling us as well. So what

are some of the things you are holding on tight to?

We can’t be like the young man who was unwilling to let

them go.

I can think of a few things I am holding on tightly but I need

to let them go…..

Will you obey the call to follow the Lord by releasing those things

you are holding onto tightly??

That’s my challenge today.

Rolain