The Strength To Have Courage.

Having strength in the middle of the storm.

I know it's been a while since my last post. I know you guys have missed me (just jokes). But anyway here I am.

So I recently went through a hectic time. Things I never thought would happen to my family, happened. In a moment I thought everything is over. Alas God had a different plan. Just as I'm going through it all I was asked to MC and event, not only that, I was asked to preach!! I literally asked myself how much more could I take? Well it was really hard to stand on stage and talk about how Good things are and how amazing God is, when all I wanted to do is crawl into bed and cry. That's not the point though, through it all I realized that what I was going through is small in the eyes of a big God. It doesn't mean that my problem is miniscule but it means that no matter how big or small it is. God is still there right beside me, leading me through still waters.

If I'm being honest I didn't really believe while I was in the middle of it but now being on the other side I understand.

Anyway that was a long rant. Here's the message that I had the privilege of sharing not so long ago. So take your time and enjoy it.

1 Peter 2:7-10 NLT

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honour God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

• 1 Peter was Peters first letter which was addressed to the persecuted Christians who lived in various areas in Asia.

• He was telling them to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ in their distress.

• He was telling them to remember that Jesus died and rose again just for them.

• When you are going through it it’s easy to forget that God is with you. It's easy

to have tunnel vision and focus only on what problem is in front of you.

• I want to remind you that God sees you

• He sees your pain and he is right there to encourage you.

• He even says in his word:

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Psalm 119:35-37 NLT

1. Even in the storm,God is there.

- It takes a lot of strength to face a storm, face the enemy head on and to not give in.

- We need to put on the full armour of God and tell the enemy to get his hands off your finances, off your children, Off your inheritance he has no place there.

- When things don’t make sense, you can stand on Gods promises.

- He said he will never leave nor forsake us, he will never see he’s children begging for bread and he is close to those who are brokenhearted.

2. Everything you need is already inside of you.

- God knew us, he called us, he formed us in our mothers womb. He sanctified us and made us Holy.

- The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us.

- You have the power to trample on snakes and scorpions.

- So tell that mountain to move!! Declare Gods power and might in every situation.

- Yes its going to be scary, yes you might not fully understand it. So do it.

- The devil comes to kill steal and destroy and he knows that you are a threat so he is definitely going to try and take you out.

3. Don’t give up!

- Its easy to crawl into bed and give up, throw in the towel and say you’re done. BUT GOD DIDN’T GIVE US A SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER LOVE AND A SOUND MIND!!

- All we have to do is keep pressing in, keep our eyes on God and all he has done for us. Remember the Cross and DON’T GIVE UP!

- HAVE THE STRENGTH TO HAVE COURAGE AND KNOW HAT GOD IS RIGHT THERE BESIDE YOU!

- Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.

I truly pray that none of you have to go through tough times but they are inevitable. What we can do when we are going through a tough time is remember that it will not always be this way and this too shall pass. It's going to be hard to get through that's for sure but the good thing is that we were never meant to go through it ALONE. Jesus is right there, next to us.

You are not alone and you never will be. He (God) loves you and wants to take care of you. I can't promise you that it will be easy but I can promise it will be worth it. So hold on to that as I am holding on as well, I gotchu:)