In the face of overwhelming odds……

“And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, 30 000 chariots and 6000 horsemen and troops like sand 

on the seashore in multitude.” 

1 Samuel 13:5

 

Saul and his army were in serious trouble. The enemy outnumbered them 1000 to 1 (it could have been more).

The enemy had cornered them with no way of escape, they were trapped!

 

As I read this story I think about the battles, the trials, and the storms we face. They vary right?

Some are not as devastating, then there are some that have the potential to rip your world apart.

But whatever the case storms are difficult. They test us, they rock us to the core. They show us who we

really are and where our faith and focus are.

 

Saul and Jonathan were in real danger. To add to the fact that the army they were facing outnumbered

them 1000 to 1, they had no weapons! (read 1 Samuel 13:19-22)

The only people with weapons were Saul and Jonathan. It’s crazy to think they had 2 swords

between them!  How big was Saul’s army? He had a 600 strong army (read 1 Samuel 13:15)

 

So as you can see, their chances looked grim. But this is where the story gets interesting because against such

overwhelming odds something amazing happened. What happened is a lesson, a strategy for us to use as we

face the terrifying storms, the trials, and the challenges.

Let’s take a look at what happened;

 

“One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, “come let us go over to the Philistine garrison

on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.” 

1 Samuel 14: 1

 

So to backtrack a bit, the only people with swords were Saul and Jonathan but Jonathan decided to go over

to the Philistine garrison without telling his father which meant he had one sword.

With one sword Jonathan would face an entire garrison! Had he lost his mind???

Look at what he told his armor-bearer;

 

“Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, “Come. 

Let’s go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. It doesn’t matter

if we have many people, or just a few. 

Nothing can keep the Lord from giving us victory.” 

1 Samuel 14:6

 

Jonathan was brave but his dependence was on God. That’s why he was so confident, so sure.

His faith wasn’t in his ability with a sword. His faith was in a God who was stronger than any enemy

he would ever face. And it wasn’t his sword that delivered him. It was his faith in God. That made all the difference.

And that’s how powerful faith in God is.

What situation are you facing today? What kind of storm are you in? Is your faith in God or are you focused

on something else??

It’s not the people you know, your intelligence, where you work,

how much you serve in your church that will get you through the storm.

It’s faith through and through. Faith really does move mountains.

Faith in God is not a lost cause.

There are times when it seems like God is silent and taking matters into our hands seems like the next

best thing but it isn’t. Give God room to move. Put all of your faith in Him and see the things He will do.

God knows everything. There is not a single thing that gets past Him.

In your darkest season trust Him. It’s your faith in God that makes all the difference.

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

 

 

 

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Take a step, attempt, try……

I went to a camp recently with the kids that I teach. It was our first time going to this particular

camp site and the kids really enjoyed it. Compared to other camp sites this one had a lot more activities.

One of the activities we did was the climbing wall. It was really high and after the kids got their turn, I gave it

a shot and got half way up. My arms felt like lead and I had no power to pull myself up to the top.

I have to admit it was a bit intimidating before I did the climb.

The kids responses were varied. Some were afraid, some were hesitant, and some were happy.

 

Anyway, after the exercise the instructors got the kids together for a feedback session. After all the feedback,

the instructor said something that really stuck with me. He didn’t have a sheet that rated everyone

on how high they went and there was no prize giving ceremony for the people that made it to the top.

Instead, he congratulated everyone for attempting. In his eyes, attempting the course was winning.

The mere fact of putting on the harness and taking the first step up the course was the victory. It didn’t

matter to him who won.

 

That really struck me. There is so much emphasis today on being number one, and winning but could that

be a partial picture?

Is there a place for a first step, an attempt, pursuing, trying?

 

The journey we are on is long and hard. Yeshua is not looking for number one. His desire is for us to

finish the race. No matter how difficult things are take the step, attempt, try. If you fall, get back up and

try again. Just don’t stay in one place, don’t freeze, don’t give up. Rely on Him for strength.

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

The life He wants us to have……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy,”

John 10:10

 

This is a very known passage of scripture, a scripture that gives us insight into who the enemy is and

what drives him. The plan is very clear and we know what he is about.

But how many of us know the last part of that scripture which talks about another plan, Yeshua’s plan

for us. Let’s take a look at it,

 

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)”

 

I love this! He wants us to enjoy life and have it to the full. Despite what our circumstances say, the Lord

wants us to have abundance, He wants us to enjoy life!

Are you experiencing these things?

If I am honest with myself I don’t look for those things enough. I don’t demand them enough!

 

That doesn’t mean a life without trials and challenges.

Those things will come but there will also be victory, there will be peace, there will be

freedom, there will be reconciliation, there will be forgiveness a whole host of other things.

His plan for us is good and only good.

 

And the thing we need to realize about this is that the Lord’s plan is stronger than the enemy’s plan.

Yes his plan is all bad but he doesn’t have the final say. The Lord has the final say and He says, He has 

come so we may have life and enjoy life and have it in abundance!! 

The enemy would like us to believe his plan is our reality but he is a liar. The stuff he stole will be restored,

and his weapons will not accomplish what they were designed for. They are powerless against us because

the Lord is our Shield and Protector.

Yeshua has the final say over what our lives will be, not the enemy.

Have a great weekend friends…..

 

Rolain

When the enemy seems to be winning the war…….

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph,

And to the kings who were in the north in the hill country and in the Arabah

south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and in the heights of Dor on the west;

To the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,

the Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below [Mount] Hermon in the land

of Mizpah.

And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

Joshua 11:1-4

 

Jabin wanted to eradicate the Israelites from existence. I think he heard all the stories

surrounding these peculiar people.

 

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, (italics mine)

 

What did he hear?

– YAH parting the Jordan river so His people could pass (Joshua 3:14-17)

– Jericho’s massive walls crumbling when the people shouted (Joshua 6:20)

– The sun and moon not moving from their positions for a full day! (Joshua 10:12, 13)

– Rock missiles falling down from heaven crushing the southern kings. (Joshua 10:11)

 

He saw how the southern kings failed in their endeavor to eliminate YAH’s people. But he

had a plan, he would muster up the largest army ever to do the job. His goal wasn’t to cripple the

“enemy” no, he was thinking total annihilation!

YAH’s people didn’t stand a chance or so he thought. This is how the word of God described his army;

 

“And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

 

His army was compared to sand. Sand is uncountable and so was his army, innumerable,

“incontestable.”

 

I am sharing this story because this is a picture I believe of what it is like between me, you and the enemy.

The enemy is constantly trying to attack us because we have a purpose. There is no such thing as

an “easy road” if you are a son or daughter of YAH. The enemy doesn’t want you accomplishing what

YAH has for you at all costs.

He wants to take you out however he can. He is going to play dirty, and unfairly.

But we don’t have to fear because the Lord is fighting for us. The enemy will not be victorious.

The worst thing to do is try to live this life on your own, in your own strength because by yourself

you will lose.

It makes sense why the battle is so intense.

We need to know there is a battle but we also need to know that the God who fights for us has already

defeated the enemy.

 

The Hebrew word satan means “an adversary, one who resists”

That’s his very essence, to resist, to be an adversary.

 

It’s a fact we will face opposition when we are out to accomplish something significant for YAH

Think about Paul who had a mammoth task from Yeshua. This is what he said,

 

“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and 

promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.” 

1 Corinthians 16:9

 

Be assured that no matter what the enemy tries, no matter the horde that is in

your way, know this;

 

“The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is His name.”

Exodus 15:3

 

Satan is a defeated foe and he doesn’t have the last say, far from it!

The “Man of War” has the last say and He is on your side. When you are surrounded by the enemy

call out to Him. When the enemy seems to be winning in your life cry out to the Lord. He will

come to your rescue!

Pursue the calling YAH has for you. He is with you every step of the way.

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

Why wait till tomorrow??!!

“Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that He may take away the frogs

from me and my people; and I will let the people go that they may sacrifice to the Lord. 

Moses said to Pharaoh, glory over me in this; dictate when I shall pray [to the Lord] for you, your servants,

and your people, that the frogs may be destroyed from you and your houses and remain only in the river. 

And [Pharaoh] said, Tomorrow. [Moses] said, Let it be as you say, that you may know that there is no one

like the Lord our God.” 

Exodus 8:8-10

 

I am stumped! The land of Egypt was overrun by frogs (this was the second plague in a series of plagues).

When Pharaoh couldn’t get rid of them he called Moses and Aaron to pray to YAH to get rid of them.

When they came, Moses gave him an interesting proposition if you can call it that,

 

“dictate when I shall pray [to the Lord] for you, your servants, and your people, that the frogs may be 

destroyed from you and your houses and remain only in the river.”

 

Instead of saying “immediately” Pharaoh told Moses to pray “tomorrow”!!!

And that’s what got me stumped! Why wait till tomorrow???

The plague could have stopped immediately but instead, the plague would stop the next day!!

 

How many of us are like that though?

How many of us are tolerating today waiting to pray tomorrow??? (I am guilty of this!!)

Yeshua is waiting to move in your life today not tomorrow, next week, next month or next year.

He wants to move in your life today. He wants you to pray today, to put your faith in Him today!

You may think you need to wait for everything in your life to get right before you pray but that’s a lie.

The time is now!

The time to seek Him is now, not when you are perfect.

 

Pharaoh’s problem could have been solved straight away but he decided tomorrow would be the day.

Please get the heart of the message. Now is the time to get your breakthrough.

Yeshua is ready to move today and not tomorrow.

Don’t wait to ask, don’t wait to pray.

Your victory is not scheduled for some day in the future so be expectant today.

Expect YAH to move in your life today because today is the day!

Bless you friends….

 

Rolain

 

 

 

How to pursue holiness….

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The growing continues this year. Life hasn’t reset just because it’s a new year. The battles we were

fighting are still around. The giants are still holding their ground.

But each year brings with it new hope, that life will get better, that YAH will fulfill what He promised.

That the battles we fighting will be finally won and the giants will fall (they will)

Let’s keep sober and vigilant this year. Continue fighting, continue trusting YAH.

 

With that I want us to look at a scripture;

 

“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 men’s bones and everything impure.

Just so, you also outwardly seem to people to be just and upright but inside you are full of pretense and

lawlessness and iniquity. “

Matthew 23:25-28

 

The Pharisees focused on the external a lot. They didn’t give any attention to the inside. They didn’t think

working on the inner man was important.

 

This year may we put more work into the inside. The outside isn’t as important as the inner man.

Let YAH come in and work in you. Don’t be like the Pharisees who thought working on the outer man

was more important.

We want to be like YAH who is holy and who calls us to be holy.

 

We need to take all those ugly things that have taken root in our hearts to the Lord. We don’t

want them being a stumbling block to us. This won’t take a day, a week, a month, a year.

I don’t know how long it will take. All I know right now is that I need to do this.

What about you?

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

 

 

There will be rejoicing again…….

“The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings

of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly

and achieves strength!”

Psalm 118:15

 

I love the picture this verse paints. What a statement right?

 

This verse is prophetic for me in this time. There were seasons in the past

where the sound of rejoicing had been heard in my home.

But not at the moment.

There are things I am waiting on God for, things I am praying for

and that is why this verse spoke to me.

 

The victorious rejoice, the sick woman who has had her prayer for healing

answered rejoices, the man who has finally gotten a job rejoices, a young

man or woman who has received a full scholarship to the university of their

dreams rejoices.

 

Like I said before, this verse is a prophecy, a prophecy for the person who is in the

dark right now, for the person who is crying out to God for an answer, for

a miracle!

It’s declaring that, even though things may seem to be falling apart

in your life and things may seem like they are never going to get better,

and the pain will never go away, don’t despair because the day of rejoicing will

come. The day of rejoicing will come friend.

 

The healing will come, the breakthrough will come, the answer will come,

salvation will come!

That is a promise!

Let’s read that verse again,

 

“The voice of the rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings

of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly

and achieves strength!”

Psalm 118:15

 

No matter what the enemy throws at us there will be rejoicing and salvation in our

homes. No matter how hard he tries to keep us down he will not succeed. Let’s

look at another amazing passage of scripture,

 

“When the Lord brought back the captives [who entered] to Zion, we were like

those who dream [it seemed so unreal].

Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing.

Then they said, among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.

The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!. “

Psalm 126:1-3

 

I love this passage of scripture! The people of Israel condemned themselves when

they forsook the Lord.

They were taken captive because of their unfaithfulness to God.

Their enemies thought they had won. They thought they had eradicated them

for good. But that was not the end of the story for them.

He delivered them from the land of their captivity!

He turned their mourning and their darkness into rejoicing, into laughter!

There was singing and laughter where there was once dismay, pain and crying.

Where there was guilt and condemnation there was now favor and grace!

Where there was hopelessness there was now hope!

 

This was their testimony,

 

“The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!”

 

Your winter will end. The sound of rejoicing and salvation will be in your home!

You will not die, but live!

Believe in God’s word. No matter what you facing today believe there will be rejoicing

and salvation in your home. You will be rejoicing because God has been good to you.

There will be rejoicing because your prayers have been answered.

You will rejoice because the Lord has been faithful and continues to be faithful to you!

As I end I want to leave you with one more scripture,

 

“I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts

of the Lord.”

 

Bless you friends……

Rolain

 

When I am at my weakest…..

“He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me;

For they were too strong for me;

They confronted me in the day of

my calamity,

but the Lord was my support.”

2 Samuel 22:18-20

 

I love this chapter. King David sang this song

when God delivered him from all his enemies,

and Saul.

God is a God of war and our enemies don’t stand

a chance against Him!

No matter how strong your enemy is the Lord will

deliver you!

 

“They confronted me in the day of my calamity but

the Lord was my support”

 

Of all the times to attack, the enemy chose to attack him

in the day of his calamity! Simply said, the enemy chose

to attack him when he was at his worst and weakest!

That wasn’t good news for David.

At his worst and weakest he was vulnerable.

He didn’t stand a chance!

 

 

The enemies tactics haven’t changed. He still tries to attack you

when you are at your weakest.

Why do you think it’s so easy to think negatively

when you are discouraged and crushed??

Some of the reason is because we are flesh and we

have a natural proclivity to be negative but the other

part of that is because we have an enemy

who doesn’t want us to accomplish all that God has for us!

As I look at the times I was discouraged and

down I remember how easy it was to think negatively.

But the truth of the matter is a bad day is simply a bad

day. It’s not a reflection on what the rest of your life will be.

It’s not a forthcoming attraction of what you are to expect in your

life!

 

 

“They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the Lord was my support”

 

The Lord is my support at my weakest.

That is why the enemy will not win.

I may be at my weakest and I may be having the worst day

but the Lord is my support!

I don’t have to fear because God is by my side.

 

When you are at your weakest turn to God.

He will deliver you from your strong enemies.

The enemy will not cut you down. He will not be

victorious over you!!

 

The warrior’s cry!

I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be

shaken.

Psalm 62:1, 2

 

There is no doubt that David was a mighty man of war.

He killed his tens of thousands. He also had a crazy army.

Men who killed giants, killed lions, took on a whole army

single handedly……! David and his army were feared in the land

but as we look at the scripture above, David doesn’t rely on

any of that. For the scripture to make sense let’s look at

the context:

 

So many enemies against one man –

all of them trying to kill me.

To them I’m just a broken-down wall

or a tottering fence.

They plan to topple me from my high

position

They delight in telling lies about me.

Psalm 62:3, 4

 

So get this, there are people who want to kill David.

And it isn’t just one man but many! They are telling lies

about him behind his back and they want to topple him.

He is in some very serious trouble. Life threatning stuff

but instead of using his strength and power to take on his

enemies, he waits quietly before God!

 

He waits silently before God!

 

The enemy is strong, very strong but instead of

fighting, he waits silently before God!

Was it easy for him to wait? I don’t think so.

 

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken.

Psalm 62:5, 6

 

Another translation says,

Patiently wait for God alone, my soul!

For He is the one who gives me confidence.

Psalm 62:5

 

You can almost feel the battle he is fighting on

the inside. There is the one side that wants

to do something, to fight, but he silences that part.

The warrior sees more benefit in waiting silently

before God than resorting to his weapons and fighting!

His waiting reflects his incredible faith in God! It takes

a lot to wait instead of fight.

 

Can you picture it?

There is David, waiting quietly

before God even though there are men trying to kill

him!

Lies are flying behind his back but he

waits silently before God!

The enemy has gathered together, planning his

dimise, strategizing how to take him down but

David quietly waits before the Lord!

His conviction is strong:

 

“my victory comes from God,

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken.”

 

“My victory and honor come from God

alone.

He is my refuge, a rock where no

enemy can reach me. “

 

His conviction is our conviction and our truth!

We may be in a dark place, a hopeless place but we

need to wait quietly before God.

The victory is coming!

The enemy may have us surrounded, too strong for

us, but instead of fighting back in our own strength

we need to quietly wait before God.

He will deliver us from our strong enemy!

In the storm know that God is with you. He has

not abandoned you. Don’t lean on your own understanding

but lean entirely on Him!

Our victory comes from God and only God!

Amen!!

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

Loved by God – Guest post

                                    Photo credit:   google images

 

I have been wracking my brain trying to recall if I have

done any guest posts ever and after all the wracking the

answer is no, I think…..!      🙂

Well, there is a first time for everything……..

 

My friend Luna loves to inspire people and I would encourage

you to go over to her blog and take a look at some of the stuff

she writes. I think you will enjoy this post from her…..

 

Do you feel loved by God?

If not here is some inspiration, some sound truth about

how much God loves you.

So without taking any more of your time please proceed

as you read what she has to say!

 

When You Feel Unloved: 14 Quotes That Declare God Loves You

 

Have you ever woke up one day feeling unloved?

Or have you woke up constantly feeling nobody cares and nobody even notices you exist?

Feeling unloved is by far one of the most miserable situation one can experience in a lifetime.

It can be sad, hopeless, depressing.

But one thing is guaranteed. We may open our eyes one day and nobody on earth love us at all. But up in heaven Someone cares deeply about us, appreciates us, cares for us and are with us wherever we go (even if we do not notice it).

Someone above has our best interests at heart, prepared the best future ever realizable for us and is willing to go for any lengths to prove it (and He did 2000 years ago).

Someone loved us so much to the point of dying in our place, even if we do not deserve it and even before we came to have loved Him.

His name is Jesus.

And if ever you woke up on some days struggling because you feel you don’t matter, know that you do. Below are 14 Scriptures to prove how deep is God’s unconditional love for you.

1. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. – I John 3:1

2. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35-39

3. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5

5. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

6. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103:2-5

7. 1 John 4:9-11 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

8. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

9. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17

10. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. – Psalm 103:8

11. The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. – Jeremiah 31:3

12. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

13. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. – John 15:9

14. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

Satan will attack us when we are at our weakest but we know that we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. We know that he has been defeated and the victory is ours through Jesus.

So if you know a friend or a family member who is broken and lost, tell them about Jesus’ love. Remind them about how they matter because of Jesus. Show them through the Scriptures how their worth is based on Jesus’ sacrifice and not on what the world says about them.

Let us praise God and thank Him for His unconditional love for us.

 

BIO: Luna Darcy is the founder of Organized Lunacy, a blog that strives to provide inspiration and motivation for people from all walks of life. You can follow her on Twitter at @OrganizedLunacy or visit her website at http://www.organizedlunacy.net.