A Place for The Young and a Place For The Old – Part Two

This is the last post in this two part series I have been doing.

Last week I spoke to the seasoned people and if you want to know what “seasoned” means I encourage you to go back and read last weeks post.

Last week I talked about how we really don’t have an expiry date. In fact the only expiry date we have is when we die. Everything before that is open season.

I also talked about how God can you use anyone no matter how young or old you are. Don’t let your age limit you.

Today I want to talk to the young people.

God wants to use you and He doesn’t care how old you are. This is the time to ignite that fire for him. It’s time to pursue Him with all that you have. Look at what happened to the boy with the few fish and loaves. Jesus used that little boy and look at David, Jonathan, Mary and so many other young people.

Even though there is a lot to do at school and life make sure you are putting God first.

Get rid of the distractions that can so easily hinder you from achieving what God has called you to do.

Parents, make sure you are speaking to your little ones about the great plans God has for them. Make sure they grow up knowing that they are not a cog in a huge machine but that God created them on a purpose to do amazing things. Teach them that God can use them at the age they are now.

Proverbs 22 verse 6 says,

Direct your children onto the right path and when they are older, they will not leave it.” NLT

As I close I want to say one more thing to the seasoned readers.

Last week I spoke about how Caleb went to Joshua and asked for his mountain at the age of 85 years of age. Age was just a number to him. But there is something else in that story I want to show you.

“Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, amd Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him.”

Joshua 14: 6 NIV

I will stop there. When Caleb went before Joshua to ask for his mountain, he didn’t go alone. He went the rest of the tribe of Judah. He managed to pass on his faith to the people he was leading. They too had faith and that is why they went with Caleb.

We all have something to pass on to the next generation. The experiences you have gone through and the lessons you have learned are for a reason. God has put so much in you. Not just to use to accomplish what He has called you to do but to pass on to, to the next generation. There is a whole generation that needs mentors, that need men and women of God to love on them and show them the way. Will you be that person to step up to the plate?

As I end remember that God can use anyone no matter how young or seasoned they are.

Don’t let your age limit you.

Bless you friends

Rolain

He wants to use you….His power is available

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest 

the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

1 Corinthians 1:17

 

There is a power available to us, a power far greater than we have ever imagined.

When Christ died on the cross and rose again we were delivered.

We no longer had to rely on our own strength. We were empowered by what happened on the

Cross.

But let me tell you, I am convicted reading this because I don’t think I have been using this power enough.

I try at times to use my own strength, to get the focus on me but that’s not what Christ intended.

He is my strength, He is the reason I can do stuff.

 

The men and women of old did mighty acts not because they were amazing on their own but because

they accessed the power of YAH. They were very clear about who the “power” was.

 

I look now at my life and see a severe deficiency. I am not using the power of Christ to its limit.

When I teach I could be relying on the the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and use me more. I don’t ever want to

be okay with using my own eloquence, wit, cleverness and many other things to get by.

There is only one thing that touches and changes the heart of a man/woman and that is the Spirit of God.

I am just a vessel, not the power!

 

And here lies the problem, whenever I think I am the power and not the vessel I empty the Cross of Christ

of its power. When I stand in front of the kids I teach on Sunday or wave a flag for worship and think “it’s me”

I empty the Cross of Christ of its power.

 

The Lord wants to use us to do some incredible things but they can only be done when we lean on His

power, His ability, His strength.

We are called to minister in His power and not our own. I hope you have been challenged by the

word you have read today. To touch people, to do what Christ has called us to do we need His power.

We can’t do it on our own steam.

 

Bless you friends……

 

Rolain

 

 

Thinking about the next generation…….

It’s been an amazing weekend indeed.

If you didn’t know, I work at my church’s children’s ministry. It’s such an honor

working there.

This weekend was amazing because we had a grade seven graduation. Grade seven’s

are twelve year old’s and every year we release them from children’s ministry with a

dinner and graduation. The dinner happens on a Friday night and the actual graduation

happens on Sunday in the main service. It was really emotional because as leaders we

have been with the children from the time they were six. So seeing them become

men and women of God before our very eyes is something so amazing that cannot be put into words.

My desire for them is that they grow deeper into YAH and not stray from the

path they are on.

 

But that got me thinking about the next generation. We need to do all that we can to teach them

the way of the Lord!

You may not be serving in a children’s ministry like I do but I want to challenge you,

 

Is there something you can do?

 

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 6:6.

I know it addresses the parents but we can get involved!

David writes in the book of Psalms,

 

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might

to another generation, your power to all those to come. “

Psalm 71:18

 

There is a generation that is coming that needs to know there is a God who

loves them and has a plan for their lives.

There is a generation that needs to know there is a God who will never forsake them.

There is so much they need to know about YAH and His ways……

 

The enemy doesn’t want the next generation to grow up knowing YAH.

He wants to take them out. But we can’t let him!

When YAH sees you, He doesn’t just see you, He sees the generations in you.

Look at Abraham.

YAH had a plan for his life and that plan included the generations in him!

So I will ask the question again,

 

Is there a way you can touch the next generation?

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It really starts with me…!

 

It feels like I haven’t written for ever but it’s been just over a

week. I attended a children’s ministry training and a few days

later I went for a Children’s ministry camp. It’s been kids,

kids, and more kids and I love it. Camp was amazing. I know the

kids had fun but I enjoyed it just as much as they did.

A scripture has been on my heart ever since I got back.

 

“Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness

[to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the

wife

of your youth, against whom you were faithless. Yet she is your

companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage

vows].

And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not

One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God

make you two] one? Because He sought a godly  offspring [from

your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one

deal treacherously and be faithless to his wife of his youth.

Malachi 2:14, 15

 

I love this passage of scripture. In this passage we see how God

loves marriage. He created it. But there is something else. From

this passage we learn one of the reasons God created marriage.

 

“And why [did God make you two] one?

Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. “

Malachi 2:15

 

One of the reasons God brings two people together in marriage

is because He is seeking a godly offspring from their union!

Let me take it a step further, He already knows your

child and the plan He has for him or her! When God joins

two people together He is not just thinking about the two

people but He is thinking far ahead. He is thinking about thier

children and their children after them and so on! God has a plan

for your children. He loves them and He is thinking about them.

 

So, young man, don’t rush when it comes to choosing the woman

God has for you. There is so much more than meets the eye. He

wants to bless you and He wants to bless your children and thier

children after them. Young women, wait on God’s timing!

He is faithful.

 

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and]

heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be

[first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

 

You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate,

and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and]

hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your

 house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and

when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

 

This verse ministered to me deeply. It starts with me, it starts with

you. God wants to work on you first so you will be able to teach your

kids. He wants His words to be lodged deep inside you first.

His words must first do thier work in you before they can impact

the next generation.

 

Young man, young woman, is the word first in your life?

Do you have a relationship with the Lord?

If yes, is it deep, is it growing?

Do you love the Lord?

Is He the most important thing in your life?

 

 

Like I said in the beginning, there is so much more to

marriage than meets the eye. Young man, God expects you

to lead your family but how will you lead if you have not

allowed the Lord to lead you?

 

The responsibility of teaching children the word of God lies

on the man. It’s your responsibility young man. It’s an

awesome responsibility and one not to be taken lightly.

Are you living your life in a way that will benefit your future

generation?

God sees generations when He looks at us. Let’s remember our

actions have a direct impact on the future generation!

 

Rolain

 

image credit: google images

Challenged by a soldier.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

Then Jesus turned to the captain and said,

“Go. What you believed could happen has happened.”

At that moment his servant became well.

Matthew 8:13 (MSG)

 

I read this scripture last night and thought to myself,

Is faith really that simple? Have I made it out to be

complicated, and mysterious?

I was challenged by the Roman centurion’s faith. It was

bold, unwavering…..sure!

 

Jesus offered to go to his house but the centurion refused!!

If I was in his shoes my answer would be a big yes!

“Off course You can come to my house Jesus……”

But not the centurion! He had so much faith in Jesus that

he knew just a word from the Savior would heal his

servant!!! Can you imagine that? That was bold!

 

 

“What you believed could happen has happened. At that

moment his servant became well.”

 

As I meditated on that verse I looked at my own life.

What am I believing for in my life?

What do I believe can happen in my life?

You may have the same questions and let me tell you,

these are important questions.

 

The Roman centurion believed Jesus would heal his servant

and he received what he believed.

 

In my believing, in your believing, are you confident Jesus

will come through for you?

 

Do I believe I will get what I am believing for, do you?

 

Like I said, these are important questions and they must be

answered.

There are things I am trusting God for and after reading this

scripture I am challenged to hold on to what I believing for

no matter how “impossible” they seem.

God will not let me down. When I put my faith on the line

He will respond, it may take time at times, or He may respond in a

way I am not expecting which is almost always the case but

the fact is this, He will respond when I believe in Him, when

I trust in Him completely and He will most definitely respond

to you.

 

He is control friends. Don’t be afraid to believe in Him.

He responds when we put our trust in Him and that is a

fact! All glory to Him!

 

Rolain

 

Will things ever get better…?

Will things get better? When will things get better in my

country? When will it turn around for the good?

These are the kind of questions I have been asking myself.

My country is in a very critical position right now.

Corruption has escalated much (but which country hasn’t)

Most businesses are closing. Unemployment has risen…..and,

and, and…….the list continues.

 

But is that not the story of the world?

The world is not getting brighter, easy to live in,

and so on. On the contrary, it is getting darker,

more evil, more corrupt…

I was waiting for things to get better in my country.

But there is a chance it might not get better but instead

deteriorate even more!

 

That is when with the help of a friend I realized I am

waiting on the wrong thing. My focus is wrong.

I serve an Almighty, Powerful God. He is not looking at what’s

happening around me to determine if He can bless me.

He is not moved by the darkness, corruption

and the evil in the world. If He wants to bless me He will

regardless of what is happening around me.

Can God provide for me in a desert??  Yes!

Let’s look at a few scriptures:

 

He split the rocks in the desert and gave them an ocean

of fresh water.

He brought a stream of water out of the rock and made it

flow like a river!

Psalms 78:15, 16 (ERV)

 

But you would be fed with the finest wheat;

with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Psalms 81:16 (NIV)

 

Think about a rock. It’s one of the hardest substances

on earth. You can’t break it easily. You will get nothing

from it. You can’t rely on it for sustenance but God says:

He will feed you with honey from the ROCK and

make water flow out from it……!

 

The conclusion is this: God CAN provide for you in the desert!

You can be surrounded by the worst circumstances ever

but God will still make a way for you. Don’t wait for man.

Don’t look to anything except God. There is hope for you.

The world wants you to think you are out of options.

It teaches you to look at what is in your hand and what is

happening around you to decide what you can have. But it’s a

lie……That is not faith!!

 

I am not waiting for things to get better anymore. I am not

waiting for the economy to get better because God is my

Provider.

I don’t know where you are in life and what you are trusting

God for but know this: there is more!

God wants you to have more. You can pursue your dreams

even if there is nothing in your hands. You can ask the impossible,

pray the unthinkable because God is your God!

He surely is our amazing God!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why am I going through this???

 

Ever feel overwhelmed with life?

Ever feel like everything is too much and you just want to tap out?

 

I was reflecting on my life this week (I have been doing a lot of

that lately). A lot has happened already this year good and bad.

Its easy to get discouraged these days. It’s easy to think God has

abandoned you! It’s easy to give up. I say that because as I was

reflecting on my life and the plans I had for this year, things I

want to do, places I want to go to, eveything felt so overwhelming!!

I cried out to God in that time. I asked Him to help me! I looked

to God for some sort of answer to the craziness I was feeling…..

Then it came, the answer,

 

I realised God is in control, He knows exactly where I am. Not sort

of or a bit confused but He knows EXACTLY where I am!

 

Then another thought came to me,

 

God intentionally allowed me to be here because He knew the

next opportunity, the next door will only open when I am here! No

matter how hard it is, how hopeless it seems this is the place that

will make it possible for the other door to open!

I need to be in this space if I am to walk in the next amazing door

God has for me! This place is preparing me for the next place where

ever that “place” is!

 

Think about Jabez:

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 AMP)

He was in a difficult situation. His story is not just about being named

Jabez. From the day he was born he was called Jabez. Who knows

the ridicule he went through as a teen. All we know it got to a point

that he had enough! He cried out to the Lord!

He needed to be there for God to move on his life!

He needed to be in that place for the next door to open!

Did he enjoy being ridiculed and the struggle?

Did he feel helpless and hopeless?

I would like to think so but dispite all that,

GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIM!

 

What about Joseph?!!!

He had a dream but he was sold into slavery! After things seemed

to turn around he was then  thrown into prison!

And Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the state prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison. (‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭20‬ AMP)

But as we all know, Joseph had to be in Egypt!! Joseph didn’t

understand at first but he needed to be there! Yes it seemed like

God abandoned him, yes it seemed like God was cruel and heartless

but the truth is, God was with him every step of his way!

For the next door to open Joseph had to be in Egypt! For

Joseph to accomplish God’s call on his life he had to go to

Egypt!

 

What does all that mean you might be thinking?

You might be in a place that is hard, a place where nothing

seems to be happening, a place that seems like a dead end but

that’s not true! That “dead-end” is where the next door is going

to open! It’s where that next big promotion will come through!

It’s where you will get to know God more!

It’s where breakthrough will come through!

Don’t quit, don’t tap out, but trust in the Lord.

Your promotion is around the corner, amazing things are in store

in that hard, frustrating place!

Things may seem dead and inactive but that’s not true! There is a lot

happening in the background! God is busy, He has gone ahead

of you to prepare the way!

 

So to end my story, after realizing all this I realized I don’t need

to worry! My life is in God’s hands. He knows everything I am

going through.

He has an amazing plan for my life.

I just need to trust Him consistently!

Where I am is exactly where He needs me to be because

the next door will open here and no where else!

And that is the same for you if you will trust Him!

He has only good things in store for you! Amen  😄

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Valentine’s Day and fine china have in common……..

Today is Valentines Day and love is in the air. If you are single then

not so much….haha

But I am a bit disturbed. Fifty shades of Grey was released this

weekend. I am disturbed at the amount of publicity this movie

has generated. This is not a post about what’s wrong with the movie,

because there is too much on that topic.

 

I have noticed how the world is trying to define what love is, what

intimacy is, what connection is! Young people are going in their

droves to watch what the world has to say about relationships,

intimacy and love!!

 

I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sit too well with me. I am

not up for the world shaping my view about love, intimacy,

and relationships! I want God to do that. I want godly men and women

to show us the way, to teach us! I will do my part teaching the truth,

and repacing the lies the enemy is selling us! Because when it comes

to love, and intimacy the enemy doesn’t know anything! What the

enemy knows is how to pervert a good thing!

 

Can you believe that was the introduction??!!  😁

Lets move on…..

 

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with

your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner

and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing

will hinder your prayers.  1 Peter 3:7

 

I have been reading a book titled “Hero” by Fred Stoeker.

I shared some very intersting thoughts he had on the 1 Peter 3:7

on Instagram. Being it Valentines Day I thought it would be

appropriate to go over some of those points for those of you

who never got the chance to read them, so here goes!

 

In in the original Greek language, the term for “weaker partner”

can also be translated “fine china” which I think is a better

translation in this context.

How would you handle fine china? With respect as you tenderly

appreciate its finest points. You don’t slam fine china around

or put it through the blast of the dishwasher.

– end of statement –

 

Fine china….

I like that. Let me talk to the men for a little bit…..What would our

relationships look like if as men we treated the women in our lives

as fine china and not some bust up, rusty tin can??

Rusty bust up tin cans are thrown around, and disgarded!

They are not treated with any respect.

Rusty bust up tin cans are treated as COMMON!

Rusty and bust up

This Valentines Day I would like you to think about your relationship.

Are you honoring God in your relationships? Are you treating the

women in your life like fine china or a rusty busted up tin can?

Honor God by honoring the women in your life by treating

them like fine china. I am not saying it’s easy, I am not saying

it’s a walk in the park. What I am saying is we need to honor God

by honoring the women in our lives! On that note I will

sign off….Happy Valentines Day and remember, somewhere out

there a duck is looking your way……😁😁

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

Purity and dating….What really matters here???

 

I had a thought the other day about my blog. I have rarely written anything

about dating. I have written a few posts here and there but nothing really substantial

about this very important piece of my life. It’s what I pray about constantly and talk to

God about. It’s an area I struggle trusting God in. If there is one thing I have

realized when it comes to finding the one, it’s we as people have no control over who we are to be with.

What I mean is God is the one directing us and guiding us in our relationships. He is involved

In the choosing process, it’s not just us. If it was up to me only I would of being married by now,

I would of chosen someone and that would have been that. But that is not the case for me. God has

really used this area of my life to teach me to trust in Him wholeheartedly! That is what I believe and

that is what I have experienced. This won’t apply to everyone. We are all unique and God works

differently in all our lives.

 

What is your point you might be asking??? Please bear with me a little longer. I am getting there….

 

I had a great week last week. It was great because God spoke to me about grace. I have always

known what grace is but last week was different. I got a whole new perspective on grace. But with

that perspective certain areas of my life were highlighted. The area of dating and relationships

was one of the areas that were highlighted in my life.

Let me explain. I have always prided myself in the values I have been taught concerning dating.

 

–         I have never dated in my life ever!

–         I have never kissed anyone passionately (That honor will go to my wife)!

–         I signed a covenant of chastity even.

 

 

There are others but this post is not about what my values are and getting the praise but about

what God showed me. These are the things that made me proud and even conceited. Because of the

values I had I thought I could dictate who I wanted. God, I want this kind of woman and she must

be that and and and………

I am so ashamed writing this because I was seriously misguided. This is not how God works.

One of the things I prided myself in……
But what matters is God’s grace!

 

Last week He showed me how getting a wife was not because of all the things I had done,

and the high standards I had and the values I believed in but because of His grace!

It is because of His grace that I will find the One. It won’t be because of my intelligence and

how holy I appear to be and how together I try to be but it will be because of His grace!!!!

This is one area He will get the glory! He wants the glory in every aspect of our lives.

When I realized this I was dumbfounded. How could I have not seen this?

 

Please understand me here, keeping yourself pure and all those other decisions about purity

you have made or should make are important. But those things need to be done to glorify God.

I had that intension when I first started out but it changed some where. It became about me

some where down the line.I will meet the woman God has for me because of His grace. I won’t

have anything to add on and say to God “but it’s because I did this or that…..no!”

That is how amazing God’s grace is. His grace extends to every other area of our lives and not just in

our relationships.

 

Will you lean fully on His grace? Don’t rely on what you have done or what you can do and and and….

Rely on His grace!

 

Rolain

You have got competition…..

I had an amazing time at kids church today. It was one of those weeks where the kids were very responsive. It was great. My responsibility at kids church is to lead praise and worship and I love it. After church though one of the other leaders came to me and told me I had competition…….I know, you probably wondering, and that affects this story how????  🙂

For the past year I have been leading praise and worship at kids church. On any given Sunday we have two teams that teach. One team will teach the really small kids and another team will teach the older kids. I lead praise and worship for the older kids, but this week I was teaching the younger kids and I was not able to go and lead praise and worship like I usually do. So one of the leaders came to me when we were done and told me I had competition. He told me how one of the other leaders led the kids well in praise and worship. I went on to tell the leader that it’s not a competition because it really isn’t. I have been taught that as a leader you need you be able to duplicate yourself. I am glad when there is someone else who can do what I do. A leader without followers is not a leader. What is the point of being the only person who can do a specific thing? In Africa this is our biggest problem. We don’t want to teach others what we know because we are afraid we will lose our job. We are afraid we will lose the attention. We are afraid we will seize to be important. And that is why we don’t grow. We can be so much better than we are now and I believe there are people who are starting to see how important it is to pass down the knowledge they know. A real leader has followers, people he is leading. It’s not a competition. It is about extending the vision, it’s about growth.

When I used to work at a Thai restaurant the head chef was like that. He was afraid to teach other people what he knew. Instead he would teach them a portion of what he knew but not everything or he would teach them the wrong thing. He thought he was being wise but he was wrong. As leaders it is our job to duplicate ourselves. It’s a shame to be the only one!!!! Please remember, it is not a competition. God will bless you because you liberally gave what you know. I am here because someone stepped out and taught me what they know. They did not hold back. Are you like that? Do you freely give what you know? A leader is not a leader if he doesn’t have followers. And a leader has not succeeded if he is the only one that can do what he can do. There is a much bigger picture at work here. It is not a competition. Be eager to teach others and watch and see how God will bless you.

Rolain