Spend time with God today…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Don’t underestimate the power of a quiet time.

This is something the Lord has been showing me in this season. It seems like the amount of distractions

have increased exponentially today. But we must keep at it, we must fight through, we must put down the

phone/turn off the TV and spend time with Him.

This is something we must take seriously. Let me show why;

 

“The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John,

especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training.

Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him.

Standing there with them was the healed man, and there was nothing further they could say.”

Acts 4:13

 

“Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him.”

 

I love this so much. Something happens when we spend time with Yeshua. We are empowered, we are

changed. Look at the disciples for instance,

They had changed. The Pharisees who killed Yeshua noticed something different in them.

They were bold, and fearless and had just performed a miracle. They had only seen that in one other man,

Yeshua!

Time with Yeshua had changed them. They were no longer the same. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

All of this and more happened as they spent time with Yeshua.

I have found this to be true in my life. The more time I spend with Him the more sensitive I am to His voice

and leading. The more empowered I am…..

 

The world is getting darker and darker in need of light. We can be that light, the answer to the darkness but

we need to spend time with Him. The disciples were able to turn the world upside down because of the

empowerment they got from spending time with the Him and I believe that’s His desire. He wants us to

be a light in the sphere’s we are in.

It’s in His presence we find peace, purpose, identity, strength, joy and love. So in other words everything we need.

The answers to the storm we are facing are found in His presence.

The strength we need to endure are in His presence.

The wisdom we need now, is in His presence.

There is always room to be better and I want to be better. I want to spend more time with Him.

Let’s do all we can to spend as much time as we can with Him…..

Blessing to you

 

Rolain

 

 

 

Expect Him to move in your life today…..

“Expect the Holy Spirit to move.

Your faith will never rise higher than your level of expectation”

 

This statement was a wake up call to me this week. It was a wake up call to be expectant.

Am I expectant all the time? Not really.

Sometimes the cares of the world weigh me down and I get stuck. But YAH doesn’t want me there.

He is great and mighty and cares for me and wants to be there for me…..

 

The level of my expectation needs to rise. The higher my expectation the higher my faith level.

The woman with the issue of blood comes to mind. She wasn’t like, “oh well, let me see if I can get

a healing. If Yeshua heals me, great but if He doesn’t, at least I tried.”

What!!! Crazy right??!! The woman had a high expectation. She wasn’t thinking, “what if”.

She was going to get her healing full stop! (Luke 8:43-48)

 

Friends, we need to raise our expectancy level. We can’t have a ‘whatever happens, happens’ approach to YAH.

Expect the Holy Spirit to move in you and through you because He is going to move! (that’s for me!!)

Another friend of mine shared her thoughts about expectation,

 

“The definition of expectation is, “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in

the future.” 

Our expectations for Yeshua can be set high.”

 

We need to turn the level up of our expectation. We can’t be mediocre about this. Our expectation will

always be challenged but let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us live expectant every single day.

What areas in your life is your expectation low or non existent?

Bring those areas to Him. Let Him breath new life into those dead areas.

I have found that because of deferred hope/disappointments our expectations can be hampered but I believe

YAH wants us to be expectant in Him again. No matter what has happened in the past we need to live expectant.

We need His help to do this.

Let me share a scripture with you,

 

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the

power that worketh in us.”

Ephesians 3:20

 

Nothing is impossible for Him, so be expectant!

Expect, hope and trust without restraint!

That’s my challenge and your challenge in this season!

Bless you friends….

 

Rolain

The girl who beat me……!

 

This is not going to be an easy post to write but write it I must.

I love all things healthy. I love exercise,  eating healthy and so on

but in the last couple of months I had lost the vision. I stopped

going to gym and I stopped eating healthy. I just stopped. I can give

all the excuses in the world but that is all they will ever be,

excuses!

 

But that all changed last week when I started exercising again.

It was good to be back. On the day I started I saw a lady who

I exercise with.

Let me rephrase that, the lady I used to see every time I went

out to train. I would get up every morning

to exercise and I would see this lady go for a run. I have never

spoken to her in all of our exercising and we never crossed

paths. Anyway, on my first day of getting back, I saw her,

again. Like clock work she was about to go on her run……

At that moment a thought came to me;

 

And that is what makes her better than you.

That is why she will be fitter than you.

That is why she will win and achieve her goals.

 

Because she has stayed consistent!!

 

And I was like, “ouch”!!

She has been disciplined to keep up her routine on a daily

basis. When I do exercise I hit it hard, very hard but that

doesn’t matter because I am not consistent!

I haven’t stuck to it, haven’t done the things that need to be done

on a daily basis!

 

Isn’t that how life is though? The disciplined people, the people

who don’t give up, who push through no matter how painful

it is, those are the people who win.

A disciplined person will win over the undisciplined person

any day. The focused and diligent person can have anything

they want.

 

I was so challenged by her dedication and persistence!

I want to be disciplined. I can have all the

passion in the world but it will come to nothing if I am not

motivated, disciplined. I won’t get it right all the time but

I need to keep on pushing!

It was hard writing this. It’s never easy writing about

your own weaknesses but I know I have a chance. I can make a

decision to learn from her or choose to ignore what I saw.

I can change and AM changing! The person I am today can be

and will be different tomorrow. As long as the Holy Spirit is in me

I have a chance and so it is with you. There may be things you

don’t like about yourself but there is hope. Ask for God’s help.

The process is not easy but it’s worth it……

 

And that is how I was beaten by a girl!  🙂

 

image credit: google images

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

He found them…….

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to yearn for Him with all their heart’s desire and with all their soul; (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬ AMP)

 

I think you will agree with me that we are living in crazy times.

As the world has got crazier the church is been tested like crazy

and some of them are buckling under the pressure. What we

believe is being tested like crazy and if we are not rooted in

the right thing we will surely be blown away!

The scripture I shared has been on my heart for some time

now. It was during the time of King Asa that the people made

a covenant to seek the Lord with everything in them.

 

This is a call to you, to me, to everyone else! As the world

has lost it’s mind we need to make a decision.

This is a simple call:

 

To make a covenant to seek the Lord and to yearn for Him

with all of our heart’s desire and with all of our soul!

 

We are living in a time that is demanding us to choose a side.

For those who choose to wait on the sidelines know this:

Not choosing a side is actually choosing. You will be swept

away with everything else……

 

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him [yearning for Him] with their whole desire, and He was found by them. And the Lord gave them rest and peace round about. (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭15‬ AMP)

 

As they sought the Lord, they found Him!!

Our seeking will not be in vain. As we seek Him with our everything

we will find Him!!!

He will reveal Himself to us.

 

In the craziness happening around us we need God more than ever!

Without Him we are powerless and defeated…..

Will  you seek Him with your everything?

 

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

 

 

 

 

Use your faith…….

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

One of my pastors wrote something so powerful that I would like to

share. It spoke to me and I pray it speaks to you too…..

 

Do you believe that God is able to deliver you from your situation?

It’s not what God can do for you, it’s what you can believe.

1 John 5:4 – This is the victory that overcomes the world, even 

our faith. 

The people who will enjoy the blessings of God in 2015 will

be the ones who use their faith. 

Your faith determines your blessing. 

Read Matthew 9:28, 29

According to YOUR FAITH let it be to you. 

 

I thought this was a word in season! The issue is not God’s ability.

He is well and able to deliver you from whatever situation you

are in. The issue is your faith! There is a lot to digest here.

I will end with this question,

Do you believe God is able to deliver you from your situation?

Rolain

Will you be that friend??

 

 

 

 

 

And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.    Matthew 1:19

This is such an inspirational verse and it is one of my favorite scriptures. As I read the scripture this time round relationships came to mind.
In verse 18 we see that Mary was found with child through the power of the Holy Spirit but Joseph didn’t know that. It normal circumstances it meant Mary would be stoned to death. Was Joseph hurt? It could be possible. He had every right to be angry at her and tell everyone what she did but he didn’t……
Instead, he protected her, he covered her. Men, we need to learn to have that same mindset. We need to protect the women in our lives. We need to cover them. But I don’t want to just talk to the men. Let us look at this passage in the context of friends. As friends we need to be there for one another. The word says Joseph was NOT willing to expose her publicly! We need to cover our friends and not expose their faults for the whole world to see. If you see something not adding up in their life then you have a right to confront them but in a way that builds them up.

When you are confronting them or rebuking them do it with the mindset Joseph had. He didn’t want to expose Mary publicly even though it seemed like she slept with another man.
He didn’t want to disgrace and shame her. I would dare to say that his relationship with her was far more important than the “sin” he thought she committed.
Our friends need our support and love. They need us to be transparent and real. They want us to have their back. Will you be that friend?

Rolain

A word to the rejected, outcasts, and nobodies…..

At that time Jesus began to say, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to your honour], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled].
Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.  Matt 11:25,26

We serve an amazing God. He really does great things. This is the will of God, to call the childish and the untaught and unskilled. Can you imagine if God chose us according to the world’s criteria?? A lot of us would be in some serious trouble!

For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.
[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

You may be unpopular and made fun off but know God has a plan for you. You may think you are a nobody because of where you stay but know that God has a plan for you. People may think you are a complete loser because you can’t talk properly but God has a plan. Your teachers may have written you off but God hasn’t. This is the way He works. He takes the foolish things of the world and uses them to do great things. He uses them to confound the wisdom of the world. Listen to what Jesus says at the end of Matthew 11;26, Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure. 

Looking at my life I see this truth so clearly. I was nothing and I was a nobody. I was made fun of at school because I stuttered. I wasn’t good at sports, I wasn’t good at academics and to top it of I was being abused at home. My dad was an alcoholic and abusive, please note, WAS. My parents had a divorce. So from the world’s perspective there was no hope of me doing anything of worth. I was written off but praise God, He didn’t. He had a plan for me all along. He took this nothing (me) and lifted me up and continues to lift me up higher. The amazing thing is He is doing that for you too because that is the way He works. You are not a nobody. You are special in the eyes of God.

Rolain

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

People have tried to answer the age old question of why bad things happen to good people. That is a hectically broad question to answer but I would like to shed some light on the answer. The first thing we need to realize is, the world is inherently broken. We live in a broken world and sin has been decaying it more and more. The world broke when Adam and Eve sinned and has continued ever since. We blame God at times and then the devil at other times (he is to blame for a LOT) but we just need to come to a realization that we live in a broken world.
But what are we to do since we live in a broken world?

We are to be thankful to God for what we have been given. The very fact that we are breathing today is a miracle only God could do. Do you thank God for been able to live another day?
In whatever situation you find yourself be thankful.
Be grateful for the friends you have and the family you have. God has been good even though it may not of seemed like it. You may not be where you are but thank Him. It’s by His grace that you are where you are and not in a worse situation.
Our lives are so fleeting, so short. Make it count now!!! Not a year from now or ten years from now but NOW!
What really matters in life?
John the Baptist had an idea. Talking to the pharisees he had this to say,

Do you think a little water on your snake skins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as your father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire. Matthew 3:7-10  (The Message)

We live in a broken world but John is saying that we got to make our lives count for God. For that to happen we got to change our lives. We have been focused on the wrong things. It’s time to focus on the things that really matter. A lot of people pursue titles and think that’s life but it’s not.

A life that is making a difference in people’s lives is what is important. Has there been a progression in your life? Has it been getting greener and greener?
Being thankful is so important. There is power when we are thankful in the midst of hardship. Learn to be thankful everyday. Find something to be thankful for. Have a thankful heart always.
In a broken world we can’t be familiar with the people God has given us. Familiarity is a killer and it will rob of us of God’s best!!! We cannot afford to be familiar.

In this broken world God has called us to be light. He wants our lives to count.
I don’t know why bad things happen to good people but I hope this shed some light on the answer.

Rolain