The best and sure way to know you are growing in your walk with God….

How much emphasis do you place on growth?

As a Christian there needs to be consistent growth in our lives.

When I talk about growth I am talking about it in the context of

our walk with God.

We need to be able to see growth clearly and not have to guess if it’s

happening. There are many ways to grow but let’s look at a

way that makes growth quantifiable.

 

“And this is how we may discern [daily by experience] that we 

are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand and 

become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, 

observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments).”

1 John 2:3-6

 

I urge you to continue reading up to verse six.

The easiest way to know you are growing in the Lord is

to look at how much Word you apply in your life. That is a

sure way of assessing your growth in the Lord.

I believe reading the Word of God is significant (Romans 10:17)

but we must not stop there. We must apply the word into our

lives. Let me ask you a question,

 

How much of the word are your applying into your life?

 

I was challenged by the message I am sharing with you now.

As I read 1 John 2:3 I realized I needed to step up.

As I see it, there is always room for improvement.

My desire is to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ

and that will happen when I take His amazing word and

apply it into my life. As I end I will share one more scripture

that challenges me every time I read it,

 

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your

life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living.

They are foundational words, words to build a life on. 

If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart 

carpenter who builds his house on solid rock. Rain poured

down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that

house. It was fixed to the rock. 

But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them 

into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house

on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came 

up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” 

Matthew 7:24-27

 

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

The true face of grace……

Grace is wild. 

I didn’t understand what that statement meant when I first read it. I asked my friend
who had posted it and got some idea but only now am I beginning to understand what
it really means…….Grace is wild indeed!

As I sit here writing this post I realise I am where I am because of God’s grace. It is
because of God’s grace that I am here.

My life in its entirety is a testament of God’s grace!
Forget intelligence, wit, resourcefulness and so on…..

My life is a testimony of God’s grace and nothing else!

The reason I am alive is because of God’s grace

The reason I have hope and a destiny is soley because of His grace
Looking at my life it doesn’t make sense why I am here doing
the things I am doing. With the kind of past I had I should be
poor, lost, abandoned, without hope, purposeless and so much more….
but His grace brought me here…..

I may not have reached my destination but it’s because of His grace
I am even traveling!!!
Do we really understand how amazing His grace is..???

Because of His grace I am doing things in normal situations I am

not supposed to be doing. Some of those things are:

 

I teach kids every Sunday but when I started I stuttered badly!

God enables me every time I teach. I don’t stutter now! That is grace!

I love writing but I never pursued it at school. I have never went to

writing school.

 

I have lived in a country that has had one of the worst economies in

the world. The country came to a stand still, we ran out of food and

our dollar crashed and yet I am still here……!

 

Because of abuse I had NO self esteem, nothing whatsoever!

I avoided crowds and hated speaking in front of people. I hated

myself but here I am today knowing who I am and helping others

discover who they are in God. I don’t know about you but that

is grace! The person I am today is because of God’s grace!

 

God’s grace is not to be taken lightly. It’s His grace that carries us

everyday!

We have a chance at life and we have favor because of His grace!

We can face giants because His grace is on us.

We can walk through the valley because it’s His grace that leads us

out of it.

 

I have come to the conclusion that the enemy has no concept of grace.

He doesn’t understand it. If he did he would stop fighting. He would

stop trying to fight against God’s people because he would know his

efforts are useless because God’s grace is with us and protects us! He

may not understand but we do…..

If grace has got me this far what more my future?! I can look with confidence at my future because I know His grace is with me. Grace opens doors that I can’t open in my own strength.

Grace enables me to face giants

Grace gives me permission to ask the impossible.

When we are humble we begin to understand grace more fully!

Pride hides the true face of grace!

My desire and prayer is that you will begin to see more of God’s

grace in your life. His grace is truly amazing!
Amen

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He didn’t want to go that way………!

And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites
[and Midianites, these mixed Arabians who are approaching], and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers consented.

Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the well. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph [captive] into Egypt. (‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26-28‬ AMP)

We know the story of Joseph very well. He had a dream from God and was not shy to tell anyone! His brothers hated him for the dreams he had been given and his parents rebuked him but the fact remains, God had great plans for him!

God had great plans for Joseph but he was thrown into an empty well by his brothers! What kind of thoughts did he have sitting in that dark empty well???
I can imagine him crying out to his brothers for mercy, pleading to them, begging them to set him free!

If that was not enough his brothers sold him into slavery!! The word gives us a clue into what happened that day:

“They said to each other, “We are being punished for the bad thing we did to our younger brother Joseph. We saw the trouble he was in. He begged us to save him, but we refused to listen. Genesis 42:21

God had a plan for Joseph that is very clear but,
he was first thrown into an empty well then
sold into slavery!!

Did he lose hope?? I would think so……! Was he confused and felt abandoned by God, maybe?

But look at what the word says about Joseph in the darkest time of his life:

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant.
[Gen. 45:5; 50:20, 21.]

His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron,

Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him. (‭Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭17-19‬ AMP)

God had a plan for Joseph but God knew Joseph had to go Egypt if he was to accomplish God’s call on his life! And the only way Joseph could get to Egypt was as a slave!!! Just imagine if God showed Joseph all that before it actually happened?? I think Joseph would have refused. If Joseph had any say in the creation of his purpose, he would of chosen the most comfortable path! He would of chosen the easiest path! So,

Are you confused at how your life is going right now?
Do you think God has abandoned you?
Does anything make any sense right now in your life?

Just know that God is in control of your life and He loves you! He is guiding you!
Let me share one more scripture with you:

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger,sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him, [Gen. 37:11, 28; 45:4.] 

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions andwon him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
[Gen. 39:2, 3, 21; 41:40-46; Ps. 105:21.] (‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭9-10‬ AMP)

In all the difficult things Joseph went through, God was with him!
God delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions!

In your dark times, in your trying situations, in your times of testing,
God is with you and He will deliver you! You are not alone!

Joseph thought he was alone in the empty dark well but God was with him, crying with him!
He thought he was alone when his brothers sold him into slavery but God was with Him!!
When he felt rejected because his brothers sold him into slavery God was with him!

As Joseph headed for Egypt he may of thought his dreams were finished but little did he know they were just beginning! You may feel like it’s end of the line for you but it’s actually the beginning! The enemy is lying to you! Your story is just beginning! Trust the Lord because He is with you!

Rolain

When we can’t see God’s plan for us……

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5:4, 5

There is a something I have been declaring to God for the past couple of days which says, 

I can’t see Lord! But I make a decision to trust You. 

I have come to a place where there are a lot of things that don’t make sense.A lot of things that are happening that I don’t understand. I don’t have control over a lot of things, a lot! I can’t see the whole picture. But even in these circumstances I make a decision to trust God. Like Peter who had been fishing for the whole night and caught nothing. Jesus told him to cast his net and even though he didn’t understand, he obeyed God. He couldn’t see the end result but he just obeyed. That is how I feel.  

You may be unclear of the future, or unclear about other things that are happening in your life but God is in control. He can be trusted. He sees everything. He sees the beginning and the end. When things get confusing, when things are unclear, you can either fret and panic or wait on God. You can trust God. He has a plan for you and even though you may not see the whole picture trust in Him.

Let us be like Peter and just obey. Let us be like Peter and just trust! 

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

God bless

Rolain

What does God see when He sees you?

I will sing of the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation. Psalm 89:1

I have established the fact that God has a plan for you. But there is more. God has a plan for you but He has a plan for your children and their children and their children and so on. God doesn’t just see you. When He looks at you He sees generations. He doesn’t want to just bless you but the generations after you!! We need to begin to see like He does. We need to think like Him  in every sphere of our life. When you make a decision concerning your life, know that it is going to affect the generations after you. Where will your kids be and what will they believe, who will they worship? Do you want them to be blessed? Do you want them to do great things for God? Well, you have a part to play in that.

For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children within you. 
Psalm 147:13

God has already blessed your children within you! If you are single, know that your kids are blessed. If you are married and you have kids, God has blessed them. God has a plan for them and He has a plan for their children. There is more to God blessing you than just blessing you. There is a part you are to play in all of this.

When King David dwelt in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
The king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. 2 Samuel 7:1, 2

We know the story. Nathan comes back to him and tells him he will not build the house for God but because the thought came into his mind God would bless his children.

And when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up after you your offspring, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 2 Samuel 7: 12
(read the whole of chapter 7)
God blessed David by blessing his generation to come!

“Your throne shall be established forever.” 

Wow!!!! I hope you are beginning to see it. You are not just living for yourself but for the generations to come after you and God doesn’t just see you but the generations that are to come after you. He is not just blessing you but He has blessed the generation after you! When you understand that, the way you live changes. The way you make decisions changes.
Remember, when God sees you, He sees generations. Amen

Rolain

Your Help in Time of Need……….

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever –
John 14:16

As I was reading the word this morning a scripture stood out. I have always read it but today was different. My eyes were opened to what the role of the Holy Spirit is. I know who the Holy Spirit is but after reading this scripture I got more understanding. The Amplified makes it so clear. This is what I was shown about Him:

The first thing the verse calls the Holy Spirit is Comforter – When we are alone, when we have been hurt, when we have been abandoned, when we have been abused, when we have lost someone close, the Holy Spirit is there to comfort us! Look to the Holy Spirit to comfort you because He is the Comforter and the word is very clear when it says, the Holy Spirit is to remain with us forever!!! Praise the Lord…..

He is our Counselor – When you are confused or not sure about something turn to Him because He is your Counselor. He is to be our first point of call. He is more than capable to lead us down the right path, or to help us make the right decision. When you don’t understand call on Him. When you are unsure about your life, call on Him. He is able to make things clear in your life!!! He is your Counselor!

He is our Helper – How we need help in our everyday lives. The fact of the matter is this, we are not strong enough or capable enough on our own! It’s the truth. We need help. What happens when we get to a hard and difficult place that is too much for us? A place where our strength is not sufficient? We look to the Holy Spirit. What happens when your kids are losing their way and you have tried everything humanly possible to change the circumstances but to no avail? Look to the Holy Spirit. He is your Helper!! There are so many other impossible situations that need the hand of God….

He is our Intercessor – We need someone to stand in the gap for us. The Holy Spirit intercedes to God for us. We are not perfect and we fail constantly but the Holy Spirit is forever interceding on our behalf….
Thank you Lord….

He is our Strengthener – When we are weak, He strengthens us. When we cannot finish, He gives us the strength to do so. When we don’t have the strength to do anything He comes to our aid and strengthens us. We constantly need God’s strength to do what He has called us to do. He is our Strengthener!

He is our Standby – Through the pain, the confusion, and through the storms, He stands by us. He doesn’t leave us. In the midst of darkness, He stands with us. When we are abandoned, He is with us. When we are rejected, He stands by us.

The Holy Spirit is truly amazing. He is worthy of all our praise!!

Rolain

Where The Pharisees Missed It.

What comes to mind when you think about the pharisees? A lot comes to my mind when I think about them.
In the word Jesus had a lot of things to say about them. Jesus was never euphemistic when He spoke to the pharisees. He called them vipers, pretenders, blind fools and so on…..
What I would like to do in this post is talk about where they missed it. The pharisees followed the law of Moses. They were THE leaders in their time. They tithed like we do and probably more consistent than we do, they fasted consistently, they prayed as well, they went to church and taught, they memorized scripture and were probably more committed than us. The Bible was their history book so they could probably recite it! If we could compare them to some pastors of today, they could probably beat them hands down but they missed it somewhere. Jesus shows us where they missed it. I believe we can learn from the mistakes the pharisees made.

Jesus makes a very important statement concerning the pharisees in Matthew 23:1,2–
Then Jesus said to the multitudes and to His disciples,
The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses seat [of authority].
So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.

I could stop the post right there, “for they preach, but do not practice”.
Jesus hit the nail on the head. The pharisees did not practice what they preached. They focused on teaching but never applying what they were teaching and what they were taught. They never meditated on what the Word was saying to THEM. They never allowed the word to work in their hearts. What was important to them was what people saw them as. It was all about putting on a show. They tithed not because they loved God but because it was law. They thought their actions were more important than what was in their heart!
They thought God was more impressed with their “show” of holiness than what was in their hearts! They neglected focusing on what was harboring in their hearts. There was evil in their hearts but they never dealt with it.

In Matthew 23:25,26, 27 it says,
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence.
You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean also.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead mens bones and everything impure.

The pharisees never took time to look at what was in their hearts. They never took the time to really look at the state of their hearts instead everything they did was focused on what people saw. What people saw them doing was more important than what was on the inside. They cared more about what people thought of them than of what God thought. They wanted the praise of man more than God’s approval. I have not come across a scripture where I see the pharisees crying out to God. I have never heard them repenting of their sins or being humble!!!!

And this is where they missed it. Let us learn from them. Let us take stock of our hearts. Are we people who preach but don’t do? Are we always doing things that will be seen by people so we can get their praise or are we focused on pleasing God??
The pharisees did all the things a Christian is supposed to be doing but they thought works was the only thing that mattered. Works are important but they only make up part of the picture.  They never trusted their lives to God. They refused to surrender their lives to God.

Let us allow God into our hearts and deal with us. Let us cry out to Him and allow Him to work in us. Let us be humble. Let us also tithe and fast and pray but understand those things should be done from a heart of love and not because of law!

God bless.