What God does with your little…….

“By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman

as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made

a promise would do what He said.

That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shrieveled

loins there are now people numbering into the millions.”

Hebrews 11:11-12

 

I really love those pictures! They are so powerful.

The first picture is one of an old woman (Sarah) who was way past

the age of bearing children but because she believed God would

follow through on what He promised her, gave birth to a child.

 

The next picture is just as amazing. The picture is of an old man

whose loins are dead and shriveled. Naturally, it is impossible

for the man to have children, he is just too old!

But from this man (Abraham) there are people numbering into

the millions!

All because He trusted the Lord!

 

You may think you don’t have much and your life is going nowhere

but that contradicts what the word says!

Abraham and Sarah could not have children period!

It was impossible for them to have children but because they

trusted in God’s word to them they were able to have a child and

not just one but millions!

 

As you look at your life you may see nothing that indicates greatness

and the fulfillment of God’s promise but have faith.

Your little is exactly what God needs to move!

Don’t let your present circumstances trick you into believing

“this is the way things will always be!”

 

Your life may be one big mess at the moment but that doesn’t mean

It will remain like that for the rest of your life.

Things will change. Your life will change if you choose to reject

the lies of your present circumstances.

It will change if you trust God’s word for your life above the voices

of your peers, the government, and so many other “well meaning”

voices that have told you how your life will be.

 

Just the other day I was looking at my life. I was discouraged as I

looked at the problems.

I was discouraged at the amount of work that there is still to be

done.

I am nowhere near perfect, not even close!

“Is this it”, I asked myself?

Have I reached my limit? Is this where my potential ends?

Is this the life I should accept?

 

But that is when I read the scripture I shared with you

earlier (Hebrews 11:11-12)

That gave me hope.

That encouraged me to keep trusting the Lord where I am.

My life is not over!

I have not reached my limit!

There is still so much in store for me.

There are new heights to be reached, new places to see, fresh

blessings to walk in to!

I will not let up, I will trust in the Lord even more today than I

did in the past.

 

Don’t call it quits friends. You are not washed up!

Your story is not ending, it has just begun!

The Lord has so much in store for you even if your circumstances

don’t say it.

He has so much in store for you even if you have nothing in your

hands.

Even when your life seems like it will always be a mess know

that things will turn around!

It may seem like nothing is happening but things WILL happen!

What’s happening around you is not a good indicator at all.

Faith is what you need! It’s only by faith that you can receive

all that He has for you. Doubt and fear will only set you back.

Trust in Him! Believe in the word He has spoken to you.

 

“That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shrieveled

loins there are now people numbering into the millions.”

 

Amen….

 

Rolain

 

When the fire becomes too much…….

 

“SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Jesus was on a mission here on earth. He was here to fulfill

the call of God on His life. Was it easy??

Far from it. He encountered some really hard times. The

Pharisees constantly opposed Him. People left Him because

they didn’t understand Him. His disciples didn’t believe He

was who He said He was. There was constant doubt, fear, and

who knows what else. Why am I sharing this?

 

I am am sharing this because in life we walk through the fire.

But as we walk through it we need to remember what Christ

went through. There will be times the fire becomes too much

and in those times we NEED to remember Christ. We need to

patiently suffer the things we are facing. Why? That is what Christ

did. He could of given up or commanded an army of angels to

come and take out the people who were trying to kill Him but

He patiently endured the suffering.

 

As Austraila is around the corner I have been in a fire. It’s totally

unrelated to my trip but involves something very close to my heart.

It doesn’t even make sense. I am literally in a fire and it feels like it’s

too much. I wanted to give up. I wanted to throw in the towel.

Then there were days when I thought I could shrink back.

Crazy right. But then I read the scripture I shared in the

beginning of this post and a few things were revealed to me.

In the fire I need to hold on. In the fire I got to keep the main

thing the main thing. There is a purpose in the fire. God is testing

me.

 

“Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

I read this and was like what????

Firstly, I must not be amazed in the fire. There is a purpose in the

fire. The next thing the word tells me is to rejoice!! If I am sharing

Christ’s sufferings then I should rejoice! If I endure there will

be a glory that will be revealed and that is why I am to rejoice.

I will triumph, I will win says the word. The fire won’t consume

me. Even when the fire seems too much, even when it seems

too strong for me I must rejoice. There is a glory that will be

revealed if I hold on.

Are you in a fire right now? Are you on the verge of giving up?

My word to you is hold on. Jesus has a plan in the fire.

He will bring you out of it. The fire is meant to make us stronger,

not so we can go through it alone but stronger in our faith in

God. Christ knows exactly what we are facing. We are not in it

alone. Be encouraged…….

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

If God wasn’t for me…….

This week has been a very testing week for me. It is said, you know more of who you are in times of hardships and trouble and I agree. On Monday I was called in by the officer in charge of my case. If you have no idea what I am referring to then please read this here.

Meeting with him was not the problem. It was the conversations I had after I met him. I met with one of my friends and he talked about jail and how the police were trying to pin the case on me. Fear gripped my heart after that! I started thinking about all the bad things that could happen. I could go to jail, I won’t be able to travel until the case is resolved, and many other thoughts……

But in the midst of fear God has been speaking! He has been using people and His word!! Today I was deeply ministered by the story of Peter walking on water which was written by Anna. Click here to read her post! It is so powerful! I was also ministered by a word I read which has really helped me in this time!

“If God hadn’t been for us – all together now, Israel, sing out!          Psalm 124: 1

That is how it starts. Let me share a few of the things that jumped out at me as I read the scripture:

“If God hadn’t been for us when everyone went against us,

we would have been swallowed alive by their violent anger,

swept away by the flood of rage,

drowned in the torrent;

We would have lost our lives in the wild, raging water.”

 

If God wasn’t for us we would be in deep trouble. We would be helpless and we would have no hope! That would be our testimony IF God wasn’t for us! But He IS so our story is different! Because God is for us we have a chance!

Because God is for us we will live!

Because God is for us we will not drown!

Because God is for us we will win!

Because God is for us we will be saved!

I was was so encouraged as I read that. No matter how bad things appear I know God is for me and because of that I have a good ending! I will not be left alone, I will not lose.

“Oh, blessed be God!

He didn’t go off and leave us.

He didn’t abandon us defenseless,

helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.” Psalm 124:6

I am at peace as I read this. I am not alone in the storm! He is with me every step of the way and He is with you too…..!!! Don’t lose heart! Your story is not finished. The enemy will not have victory over you. He will not have the last laugh! Never!!!

Your testimony starts with, “Because God is with me…..!!!!

Look at what the last part of the chapter says,

 

“God’s strong name is our help,

the same God who made heaven and earth.”

 

The One who created heaven and earth is the One who is helping you!!!! Think on that, meditate on it! What a powerful truth!

The Creator of heaven and earth is the One who is helping you!

I am lost for words……! We truly serve an amazing God! Look to Him, and trust in Him! He is with you…..Amen!

Rolain

 

Why Are You Afraid???

But as they were sailing, He fell off to sleep. And a whirlwind revolving from below upwards swept down on the lake, and the boat was filing with water and they were in great danger.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And the disciples came and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! And He, being thoroughly awakened, censured and blamed and rebuked the wind and the raging waves: and they ceased, and there came a calm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  And He said to them, [Why are you so fearful?] Where is your faith (your trust, your confidence in Me – in My veracity and My integrity)? And they were seized with alarm and profound and reverent dread, and they marveled saying  to one another, Who then is this, that He commands even wind and sea, and they obey Him.  Luke 8:23-25

This story always amazes me and it’s what I have been thinking about today. The disciples were in real danger. There lives were at risk. So their answer is totally normal. But why would Jesus answer them like that. Why did He equate their fear as a lack of faith in Him? When your life is in mortal danger the normal response would be to respond the way they did or is it? That got me thinking. Is it that, God wants us to look to Him first no matter what trouble comes? What is your natural reaction when trouble comes? Let me give you an example of what i am talking about. A lot of change has been happening at work and the first time I was told I freaked out! I was so scared. I was thinking about moving jobs and I was thinking about how I would not be able to meet the new standards. “I am in deep trouble”, I told myself! Extreme, yes!! But that is what was going through my mind. My situation was serious and the changes were happening but the way I was reacting was not in faith. I really felt challenged about trusting God in this situation. Instead of allowing all the negative thoughts to come I felt challenged to bring the situation to Him and simply trust Him to help me. I hope that makes sense in context of the scripture I shared.

God wants us to look to Him all the time. As hard as it is and in the face of real dangers He wants us to learn to call Him first. Responding in fear just shows our lack of faith in His power. The fact that Jesus was on the boat made the difference. Jesus has saved us and calls us His sons and daughters and that makes all the difference. It is understandable if a non-christian doesn’t call on God because they have no one to help them but we don’t have an excuse. We have a Savior and He gave His life for us. Let us trust Him completely for help.

Rolain

 

The Dungeon and Praise!

There is power when we praise God and there are benefits when we praise God. As I was reading my bible this morning I read the story of Paul and Silas. Because they cast a demon out of a girl they got beaten and where thrown in a dungeon without being given a trial!!! If you want to talk about injustice that is a perfect picture of injustice. It was not fair but it happened. (Acts 16)
We have things happen to us as well but how do you respond to them? Paul and Silas praised God in the midst of their pain. Were they discouraged, maybe?! But they made a decision to praise God. They were in a dungeon but they praised and thanked God. (Acts 16:25)
You may feel like you are in a dungeon but praise God. I don’t think Paul and Silas were praising and thanking God for the dungeon. We don’t thank God for the trouble we face but we praise Him in the midst of the trouble. There is a difference!

As they praised the Lord we read how the prison doors opened but that is not the amazing thing about the story. The amazing part was seeing the jailer give his life to Christ, him and his whole family!!
(Acts 16:28-34)
And that is the power of praise. Getting out was not the miracle. A family being saved was and who knows who else was touched. When we praise God it is not for ourselves. When we live a lifestyle of praising God, He will use us to bring people to His kingdom. I don’t know how that works but it does. It is a mystery….!
When we praise God it gets our attention off ourselves and gets us to focus outwardly. God has a bigger purpose for praise than just delivering us!!
God will teach us to praise Him in the dungeon so He can show Himself strong on our behalf but to also save others.

It is a mystery indeed. So let us praise God in the dungeon in faith that He will deliver us because He will. But also know as you praise Him a bigger purpose is being accomplished.

Psalm 69:30-32 says, 
I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving, 
And it will please the Lord better than an ox or a bullock that has horns and hoofs. 
The humble shall see it and be glad; you who seek God, inquiring for and requiring Him [as your first need], let your hearts revive and live!

Rolain.

Just Because God Said……

 

I was speaking to a friend a few days ago and he was telling me about the challenges he was facing in getting his drivers licence. After he left I started thinking. It seems like the things God has for us need to be fought for. It is never easy. A lot of us think just because God said, it should be a walk in the park, but that is not the case!!!
I think of the Israelites who were promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Once they got there they had to fight. The enemies were mightier than them but with God they conquered.Obtaining what God had promised them was no walk in the park. There are so many other examples in scripture of people who had to fight and work hard to obtain the prize and that is why I am writing this post.

 

Just because God said………
– doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing from here on. On the contrary things will get a lot tougher!!

– doesn’t mean you will never face opposition. It is because GOD SAID, that you will face heavy opposition.

– doesn’t mean you don’t have to do your part. You have a responsibility.

– doesn’t always mean you will get what God said you will get. It is possible to disqualify yourself of the things God has for you. (Look at the Israelites and look at King Saul)  

– doesn’t mean there will be no battle. There will be a battle and you will need to engage.
 
– doesn’t mean you are exempt from pressure.

This is the conclusion of the matter. I have realised, just because God says something doesn’t mean there will be no resistence. It doesn’t mean easy as pie! What matters is how we respond to the call of God. Will be break under pressure or will we stand and keep on trusting God? Will we freak out and lose it or will we be found trusting in God?

Rolain.P

What Is Truth?

What I am about to share with you is a revelation I got from my quiet time. There are “truths” that we live by but do you know there is a higher “truth” you can live by?
Let us start in Mark 4:38-41.
Jesus and the disciples are at sea and they encounter a storm of hurricane proportions! The boat is sinking and the disciples skill and knowledge of the sea have come to nothing. They cannot save themselves so they wake Jesus up who was sleeping.
What I want you to see in this passage of scripture is that there were two truths the disciples were faced with. One truth was, the boat was sinking. Their lives were in danger! The word says:

And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled. Mark 4:37

The other truth was, Jesus was with them and He could save them and that is why they woke Him up.
And it is the same for us. We have “truths” that are real like the boat sinking, it could not be denied but then we serve the Creator of the Universe! We serve the King of Kings. You can live by that TRUTH or the other “truth”.
We find another example of this in the next chapter of Mark. It is the story about the woman with the issue of blood. To read her story go to Mark 5:25-34.
She had lived with a “truth” for so long. She had suffered with a flow of blood for twelve years and there was nothing doctors could do for her. She had spent all she had and on top of that she was getting worse! But she heard about Jesus and all the things He had done. She chose to believe Jesus who is the “TRUTH” we need. And when she chose to believe the “TRUTH” she was healed! The word says:

For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.
And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, and [suddenly] she felt in her body that she was healed of her [distressing] ailment. Mark 5:28,29.

What I am speaking about is not easy. It needs faith and can only be done by faith. When I saw this I saw things in my life I didn’t want to keep accepting. I have just accepted things for so long but not anymore. Jesus is the “TRUTH” I need to believe. His arms are open and He wants me to trust in Him. Will you trust in Him? Will you step out of the boat in faith? As the disciples and the woman believed the “TRUTH” the other “truth” had lost its power. You have real “truths” that are happening in your life right now but please know that there is another “TRUTH” you can live by. He is The Truth and no other “truth” is higher than Him. All other “truths” have to bow down to Him. You don’t have to keep on living in poverty or in sickness or alone or without hope!

Will you join me as I apply this principle? I said at the start of the post that I just got this revelation. It is new to me but I will apply it because I trust God’s word. I have presented a principle from the word and it is up to you to believe it. Let us do this together. Let us choose the right “truth”!

Rolain.P