Tag Archives: Christ

When It’s Good to be Weak

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I think we can all agree that no one wants to be weak or even to be seen or thought of as weak. Whether we are talking physically, spiritually or mentally, no one wants to be weak. We try to eat right, work out, study, read the word so that we can be strong. Check out 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 though, whenever I read this scripture, I want to be weak. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Sometimes, we have to come to this place of utter weakness and dependency so we can learn what it means to really trust in God and let Him be God. No back up plans, no doubt, just pure faith. We are weak without God because only He can give us the strength we need. When we are broken, done trying to do stuff on our own, then we are most useful to God. He has all the space in the world to show Himself as strong and mighty, to show his power through our lives… and we will know it was Him who came through. We have no choice but to exercise faith in Him. This faith and lack of hope in ourselves and anyone or anything else is how we bring glory to His name. 

If we know we are working for and with God then why should we let anything come against us? When something is yours, nothing and no one can stop you. No failed meeting, bad grade, bad interview, lack of experience, broken relationships, no negative people should be able to make us stop believing that God is faithful. 

So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work. “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD. ” Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. (‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭28‬:‭10, 19-20‬ NLT)

I lovee this passage. Sometimes I think we forget how the characters in the bible are no different than us. I’m sure Solomon looked at that plan like whaaat!? That’s why David had to remind Him who he’s working for and with and where those plans came from. God has chosen us not expecting us to know it all, but wanting us to completely depend on Him and seek Him wholeheartedly to accomplish what He has called us to do. We are not meant to to do anything on our own. Isn’t that cool!? That makes me happy 🙂 

God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31) God will always be found and He will give us clear instruction as we seek Him. If we first let God give us His plans and instruction and we give God our plans, only then will we be successful. Proverbs 16:3 says to commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed. 

He has already prepared us in advance for the job He has for us and He’s equipped us with everything good for doing His will (Ephesians 2:10 and Hebrews 13:21). Wherever He has called you, you are already equipped with what it takes. He’s just asking you to trust and depend on HIM to get you there, not yourself. 

Pray and ask God to bring you to a place of weakness. If there’s something you can’t let go, you know it’s just not in you to let it go, you may need to be weak so that God can show you His power. It may not be easy for you, but God can do it. I believe what He will do in your life will be so powerful that your testimony will glorify God in a big way and be a huge blessing to others.

With love, 

Rinny

Being Frustrated with God

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Keeping it real as you can tell with my title lol. Ever since I really gave my career over to God, it’s been a roller coaster. At least that’s what it feels like, tons of uncertainty, doubt, ups and downs. Sometimes I question why I quit my job, where would I be if I didn’t quit my job and start my own company? I heard a sermon last month, A Temporary God Appointed Wilderness, that really put some things in perspective. (Must listen if you feel like you’re in a wilderness… crazy how direct this sermon was for me!)

When our circumstances don’t look like what we want them to be, we began focusing on our situation and ourselves. We take our eyes off of eternity, which is what God wants us to focus on. We start thinking “maybe God has forgotten about me”, questioning why He doesn’t hear us or why we aren’t hearing from Him in our most helpless place. We start focusing on the wrong things, success defined by wordly standards, our job or lack thereof, our failed relationships, loss of a friend or family member, our empty bank accounts or whatever it might that’s troubling us. What we forget is that in all of these things is that God is still with us, he hears us, he has answered us. There is purpose in our struggle (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5).

I lovee this passage that I read in Isaiah: Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:18-21) If you’re like me, you might be frustrated, you might want to give up. Reread these scriptures and think about how powerful these words are, especially vs 19, “As soon as he hears, he will answer you.”

Our difficulties, our trials are much bigger than us. They are for eternity. Think of it as a growth period, sometimes short and sometimes so long that it feels like an eternity to us lol. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” The unseen is eternal. Eternity is being obedient to God in the now. Success to God is being obedient to Him. God is most concerned with eternity, which is why He takes us through the wilderness. He is preparing us for His eternal work through our lives. Sometimes, there is no easy way out.

So, keep praying, keep waiting, keep believing. In the midst of waiting, He’s breaking our trust issues with Him. He is dealing with our faith, our character, our spiritual maturity. In all honesty, we actually have no reason to be frustrated with God. God’s word says He is waiting to show us His mercy, His grace (Isaiah 30:18), His favor. He wants to give us every good and perfect gift. He know the plans He has for us… we just have to believe and endure as He has called us to.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for you (Psalm 138:8). He who started a good work in you will finish it (Philippians 1:6). It’s His promise!

With love,

Rinny

Living on God’s Timing

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Trusting God’s timing is not always easy. It can get frustrating actually… God, do you even hear me? Even though I know everything happens for a reason and the season (good or challenging) I’m in is making me learn and grow in whatever way God wants me to, it’s kind of easy to stop giving thanks despite the outlook and to start getting discouraged.

Shouldn’t this be simple though? There’s ALWAYS a reason to give thanks. God is faithful, He gives us His best, He promises us good things. God doesn’t lie and He isn’t a God that changes His mind (Numbers 23:19). He’s planned out every second of our lives, including our tests and trials. If we keep our focus on Him, won’t we always find victory?

“God has set a time to deliver and send His favor upon us—and it usually comes in our worst hour of trial. That’s the time when we’re no longer struggling to do things on our own. Instead, we admit, ‘Lord, I can’t do it—it’s a mess. I give it all over to you.'” I heard this and it made me think how much God wants us to truly understand dependence, how dependent we should be on Him, to have faith in Him and what He is doing and wants to do through us. Once we reach that place of total surrender, then God can really move.

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12-14‬ NLT)

God is always faithful. We are the ones that neglect Him, lose focus and direction, especially in our tough times when we start looking to everyone and everything to give us an answer. We forget that through our struggles, trials or tests, we still have purpose. We start taking care of ourselves and focusing on ‘self’ instead of letting God take care of us. If we take care of God’s ‘house’ first in our lives, then our ‘house’ will be in order (Haggai 1:7-11). Don’t lose focus. God has us where we are for a reason, so why give up? Everyday, we are being molded, changed and pruned for something greater than we can see. Someone needs you to push through, someone needs to hear your story, to see your victory.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). Trust God 🙂 Continue to seek Him and spend time with Him daily… read the word! Think of it as food lol. It will give you strength and sustenance for your journey. Remember that God loves you so soo much and will never forget about you.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:35-36).

With love,

Rinny

You Are Worth More

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…than your career, a relationship, your fav designer shoes. Sometimes we place so much value on these things that they began to define us. We want the next promotion, more money, the newest gadgets, and enough is never enough (Luke 12:15, Ecclesiastes 5:10). They become our identity.  When we feel empty or we are looking for something more to fulfill us, it’s easy to turn to the things society deems as important.
 
Reality is, this only leads to confusion because we are so much more than these things. Career, money, power and even relationships are all temporal things. We should be kingdom focused, storing up treadures in Heaven, Matthew 6:19-21.

I love this quote from author/writer Richard E Simmons, “We live in a culture that measures greatness by building a business, amassing some great fortune or being a celebrity. But in my mind, true greatness is measured by the impact you make on the lives of other people.”

If you are you looking for something more in life, what are you looking to? Are you fulfilled in Christ first? I know this might be a bold statement for some of you, but, if you’re not, you’ll forever be searching. 
 
Ephesians 3:19 says, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
 
So how can you be made complete or find contentment where you are? To be made complete, you must first believe in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:8-14).
As far as contentment, a couple of things: depend on Christ to strengthen you, to take care of you, trust God and be thankful no matter what your situation or circumstances are (Philippians 4:10-13, Ecclesiastes‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬).
A lot of us are not where we want to be… trust, you’re not alone lol. But, you’re where you are for a reason. You’re learning, you’re growing and as long as you’re focused on God, you’re one step closer to the next thing He’s called you to do, so keep going! 🙂
With lots of love,
Rinny

God Wants You To Be Happy

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Just a reminder 🙂 Sometimes we get really caught up and forget what God really wants and has for us. I was reading Ecclesiastes 3 today and came across these scriptures (specific to work)… This whole chapter is about there being a time and place for everything.

So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭12-13‬ NLT)

So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ NLT)

God wants you to be happy with what you’re doing and to enjoy what you work for. Colossians 3:23-24 says to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Work unto him and everything will work out for you. If you’re not happy where you are, it might be time for a change! Change isn’t always easy, but is it time to take a step of faith and make that move?

Jesus lovess you and cares and wants you to be happy. Remember that 🙂

With love,

Rinny

Lonely On Valentine’s Day? This Is For You!

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Heyy y’all!

Happy Valentine’s Day 🙂 I just wrote a post about loneliness on my church’s Strictly Young People (youth ministry) blog.

Here’s a snippet of the post:

If you’re not smiling today because you think Valentine’s Day is just another day to remind you of your loneliness, I hope that this blog puts a smile on your face. And for everyone who feels “ugh not another Valentine’s Day to remind me how single I am,” this is especially for you… you are not alone!

You’re probably like, well yeah I am. I don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend. My friends are all going out on dates… I’m sitting at home alone. I live in this hugee city with millions of people and so much to do, but I still feel empty. There is no one for me. I am lonely.

Firstly, let me say that loneliness is biblical. It is a desire to be with someone because that’s the way God created us…

Finish reading it here: Lonely on Valentine’s Day? This is for you!

Be blessed and have a great day y’all!

P.S. Last year I wrote about what I think is The Best Kept Relationship Secret. Check it out!