A thought about the impossible!

                                             photo credit: google images

 

“Lord,”Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my

brother would not have died.

But I know that even now God will give You whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise in the resurrection

at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The

one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

Do you believe this?

John 11:21-26

 

I had to share the whole passage with you because it’s key to

what I want to speak on today. I was supposed to share

what I am about to share with you last week but something

happened last week to shake my faith. I was trusting God

for something huge and it didn’t happen! I was broken and

wondered why it never came to pass. But I realized

something. Just because something doesn’t happen in our lives

doesn’t mean it is too much for God, it just means it wasn’t

part of His plan for our lives. It took time processing that.

 

Anyway, lets move on. Last week God showed me something

that gave me so much hope! I was thinking about the big

things I am trusting God for but there was one thing in

particular I was doubting. As I was doubting if this thing

would happen I had a thought and wrote it down in my

journal:

 

We all know God does the impossible but there is

something you need to get into your spirit,

God can do YOUR impossible.

Whatever I am believing for that I think is impossible,

God can do. He is doing my impossible!

 

Look at Martha. She believed Jesus was the resurrection

and the life. She believed Jesus could do the impossible!

That was not the issue. But Jesus wanted her to know He

could accomplish her impossible! There is a big difference

between believing God can do the impossible and believing

He can do YOUR impossible!

 

Nothing in your life is too big for God to handle. When

you read of all those great things Jesus did in the bible

know He can do those same things in YOUR life. He cares

about you……

I was so encouraged when I got that revelation. I thought

to myself about the things I was trusting God for. I could

pray to God about that thing. He actually wanted me to

come to Him with “my impossible” things!

 

God has great things in store for you and no matter how

impossible they seem please understand He is the God of

the impossible, the God of YOUR impossible! Don’t doubt

Him. If something doesn’t happen after you have brought

that thing to Him then know that it wasn’t in His plan!

There is no such thing as, too big for God!

He wants to show Himself strong on your behalf!

Trust Him.

Amen!

 

Rolain

Contemplation of a disciple…..

I was thinking about the disciples yesterday. They seen some crazy things and heard a lot of strange things right? What went through their minds as all these things were happening?

A coin found in the mouth of a fish…. Matt 17:24-27

We all know the story. Peter was asked if his Master paid taxes and his answer was yes. The word continues and says:

“But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the  first fish that bites. Open it’s mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.” – Matthew 17:26, 27

 

What went through Peter’s mind? Did he get the revelation that Jesus was His source? Was he confident that ALL his needs would be taken care of if he only trusted God because he found a coin in the mouth of a fish!!?? Exactly as Jesus had said! Was he amazed, perplexed? Did he get it, I mean really get it???

Jesus, talking to a Samaritan woman!  John 4:1-42

Jesus does the unthinkable, He talks to a Samaritan woman. His disciples were shocked. What was on their minds?

“Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. The couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of woman. No one said what they were thinking, but their faces showed it.”  John 4: 27

 

Did they see the bigger picture? Did they realize that Jesus was seeing a much larger picture? The gospel was not just for a select few but for the whole world!!! Did they realize that? Did they know God loved the WORLD and was about to lay down His life for it?? Did they have a clue?? Did they know how much He loved people? He loved people no matter who they were, no matter their bringing up, what they had done in the past. He had a heart for the lost!!!

The “strange” teachings of Jesus.  John 6:51-56

The disciples had a real battle to decipher what Jesus meant. Some of his disciples abandoned him because of His hard sayings. We read one such saying in John 6:53:

“And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life and the saving merit of His blood]. 

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has (possesses now) eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. 

For My flesh is true and genuine food, and My blood is true and genuine drink. 

 

When the disciples heard this, many of them said, This is a hard and difficult and strange saying (an offensive and unbearable message). Who can stand to hear it? [Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?] John 6:60

 

What were they thinking when Jesus spoke these words? How would you have responded if you were in their shoes? “Eat my flesh, drink my blood”!!! They never realized Jesus was speaking about spiritual things. They never realized Jesus knew the future! He was speaking life and they didn’t even know it! How the disciples were tested constantly! We are not called to understand everything about the God we serve but called to trust Him no matter what even when our understanding is limited.

The abundant healing’s Jesus performed. Matthew 8

Part of Jesus mission was to heal us. The disciples saw Him heal people on a daily basis. What were they thinking?

“And behold, a leper came up to Him and, prostrating himself, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. 

And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.”Matthew 8:2,3

Did they ever come to a realization that He was The Healer! Did they ever make the connection that Jesus wanted to heal them soul, body and spirit? He was “willing” to heal and He is still “willing” to heal us today! He is our Healer. He has not changed His plan for us. 

 

The death of Jesus (hope lost) Luke 24:13- 20

“That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jesrusalem. 

They were deep in conversation, going over all these things  that had happened.” 

 

Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that He was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. 

 

The disciples had lost all hope of victory. Their savior had been crucified. What were they thinking? Did they know the story would turn out differently? Did they know His death would save the entire world? Did they give up on Jesus by ignoring what He told them while He was still alive? Did they dare to believe something as crazy as resurrection?

In their darkest hour, when their chances seemed dim, the greatest victory man would ever experience in ALL of history was about to take place. Jesus death signified His love for them and for us, they just didn’t realize it yet. What were they thinking? Did they regret following Jesus? Were they confused? Were they in despair?

When all hope was lost or so it seemed Jesus had a plan. In the midst of death, life was to emerge. You might have lost hope like the disciples but God has a plan. The darkness you see is not really darkness! Trust Him!

 

I honestly could go on and on but I will stop here. The disciples went though a lot. They had a lot to digest, a lot to learn but God was faithful to them! As He was faithful to them He is faithful to us. Let us take comfort in that fact. We may not understand all He is doing, but we must trust Him. It took the disciples a while to get with the program but eventually they did. Each and every one of them was martyred for their faith in a God. Let us trust in The Lord…..Amen

Rolain.

The things God is behind……

Easter is over but at the same time it’s not! How can we go on from here as normal? There are things that must change. yes there is reflection, but that reflection must translate into something meaningful. There has been so much revelation I have got from Easter. I will hold it in my heart and make sure that revelation is acted upon. Today is a new day. Today, the day after Easter marks a new way of living, a new way of thinking and a new way of doing things. There is victory and there is hope! Will it be hard? Yes! But I can’t live my life the way I lived it before Easter….I just can’t! There is too much that I have been shown. I am accountable for the revelation I have been given.

Don’t let Easter just be a holiday! It is more than that…..

Anyway, that was a side note. That was not the main topic. On Saturday I read a scripture that really got me thinking. It is from Judges 14:3, 4 and it says,

His parents said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among the girls in the neighborhood of our people? Do you have to go get a wife from the uncircumsised Philistines? 

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the one I want – she’s the right one.”

(His father and mother had no idea that God was behind this, that He was arranging an opportunity against the Philistines. At the time the Philistines lorded it over Israel.)      Mesage.

As I read this passage a few things came to mind. Samson’s parent’s had no idea that Samson’s desire for a Philistine woman was part of God’s plan. He was behind that. But I think Samson had no idea as well. I don’t think he knew God gave him a desire for Philistine woman because it would lead to events that would lead to the down fall of the Philistines! He may have known, but I strongly think not.

But what does that mean? Could that mean there are things in our lives that are confusing and that look out of place that God is behind???

Samson’s parent’s must of been confused, and worried. But the fact remains, God was behind it. It didn’t seem like it, but He was.

God is behind a lot of things in your life. And it’s poosible you may not even have the slightest clue.God knew how He was going take down the Philistines. The parents didn’t. God knows how your life is going to take shape and you don’t but He want’s you to trust Him.

As I read this passage I was encouraged. Encouraged in the fact that God is in control of my life. Even with those things that don’t make sense at all. Now I know He is behind it all. Nothing is happening in my life just for the sake of happening. God is orchestrating all those things to meet an end, a good end!

That could be you. There may be things happening in your life that just don’t make sense at all! God may be behind it. Ask Him and seek answers. Did the parent’s eventually know the plan? I don’t know. They knew what the angel told them but did they know where their son’s desire would lead him too? Did they know it would lead to the deliverance of Israel? I don’t know. Let us trust God in the midst of confusing times. When things don’t happen as you expect, trust God! When something happens that confuses you trust God! He has a plan and His plan is always good.

Rolain.

What you need to know about times and seasons…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”   Acts 1;6-8

I was reading my bible when this passage jumped out at me. After the resurrection Jesus was with his disciples and they asked Him about the restoration of Israel. His answer is what has been resonating within me.  

“You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.”  Acts 1:7   (The Message)

I will stop right there. There have been so many things I have wondered about. When God, when? has been a frequent question. But the word is clear, Timing is the Father’s business! God knows where I am at, He knows where you at. He has not forgotten about you. Everything will happen at the right time. If things haven’t happened then the timing is not right yet. 

Be patient and trust in the Lord. Whatever you are waiting for and trusting God for this year know that, Timing is the Father’s business!!!

Rolain

Cry Out For Justice!

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What is justice? To be fair I think we have a pretty fair idea of what it is. I am not going to write a whole post defining what justice is….My goal in this post though is to bring more understanding about what justice is. The word says this about justice:

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.    Psalms  33:5

The last scripture says:

Evil men do not understand justice but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.    Proverbs 28:5

By the end of this post I hope you will have a clearer idea of what justice is. Very simply put justice is defined as, “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair but this morning after my quiet time I was reading a book written by Bob Sorge entitled “Unrelenting Prayer” which I found very interesting, especially when he spoke about Justice. This is what he had to say about justice:

“We may tend to think of justice in a very narrow way, such as punishment for a crime. But justice is a far reaching term, as wide in its scope as every conceivable form of evil. Even as injustice afflicts men and women in virtually every arena of life, justice is the righteous answer to every wrong”.

– When justice comes to sickness, there is healing.

– When justice comes to poverty, there is provision.

– When justice comes to infirmity, there is wholeness.

– When justice comes to loss, there is restoration.

– When justice comes to torn relationships, there is reconciliation.

– When justice comes to anarchy, there is order.

– When justice comes to imprisonment, there is release.

– When justice comes to reproach, there is vindication.

– When justice comes to rejection, there is acceptance.

– When justice comes to abuse, there is comfort.

– When justice comes to prejudice, there is equity.

– When justice comes to oppression, there is liberty.

– When justice comes to slavery, there is freedom.

– When justice comes to tyranny, there is compassionate leadership.

– When justice comes to crime, there is punishment.

– When justice comes to wrong, there is right.

– When justice comes to indebtedness, there is repayment.

– When justice comes to death, there is resurrection of life.

– When justice comes to destruction, there is reparation.

– When justice comes to calamity, there is relief.

– When justice comes to hunger, there is nourishment.

– When justice comes to weariness, there is rest.

– When justice comes to fear, there is peace.

– When justice comes to violation, there is dignity.

– When justice comes to barrenness, there is fruitfulness.

– When justice comes to abortion, there is protection for the unborn.

– When justice comes to darkness, there is light.

– When justice comes to pain, there is alleviation.

– When justice comes to blindness, there is sight.

– When justice comes to families, there is unity.

– When justice comes to dysfunction, there is health.

– When justice comes to loneliness, there is companionship.

– When justice comes to depression, there is joy.

– When justice comes to anxiety, there is confidence.

 

Please note, this is not a nice poem just to warm your heart. This is what justice is. When I read this I cried out to God for justice. I need justice. The enemy has come and plundered me and he cannot get away with it. You cannot let him get away with all the wrong things he has done in your life. He needs to pay for what he has stolen. He needs to account for all he has done and that is why you should cry out for justice. God is truly the God of justice!!!! I hope you see the power justice has in your life when you cry out for it.

Rolain