Humbling

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How do I humble myself? By refusing to take the high road with another person; by refusing to judge another person; by taking the lowest position and not insisting on rights to higher positions; by seeking God as a lord and not insisting I am Lord myself.

Moses was reputed to being the most humble man who ever lived. Why was this? He had been raised in the house of Pharoah, but also knew he was a Hebrew and identified with his Hebrew  brethren. When God called him to be the deliverer of Israel he begged off knowing he was nothing.

Yet, God uses the nothings to confuse the wise. Jesus was humble and lowly but God used Him to be the deliverer from sin. He confronted those who thought they were wise with God’s wisdom.

The Lord can use the humble! Amen!

Recall

“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.”Psalms‬ ‭77‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Remembering good is harder in bad times, all the previous bad hop on board to amplify the experience. However, just like King David did, I must recall the good times. I must encourage my faith.

Last week I was told by my doctor that I had haemochromocytosis (high iron in my blood). Left untreated it can cause damage to internal organs. My father had this disease and he died from cancer. Whilst cancel is not a given organ damage is. Fortunately the treatment is easy: low iron diet and giving blood several times a year. This came as a surprise. It was not expected. It came on top of bad financial news and was followed by bad family relationship news. I find myself smashed and needing, like David, to encourage myself in the Lord.

The result of David seeking God after all was lost was God encouraging him to chase after his family who had been taken by an enemy. Upon his return he discovered an invitation to be crowned king of Judah.

Smashing can be good and now I look for the good. God has a plan and will make it great! Amen!

Finish the task

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all know what assigned tasks look like in the world, it may start at home with chores to do. School gives us assignments and so does uni if we go that route. The army will give assigned tasks. If we are not used to obeying or hearing the tasks then we are in trouble. If we are permitted to avoid tasks from childhood then we are in bigger trouble as we proceed through life looking to continue this behaviour.

How do we know what our tasks are? The above verse tells us: winning souls to Christ. You might argue but that was Paul’s assignment he was an evangelist. Jesus told His disciples the same: “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now if you are particularly obtuse you might argue ‘that was to the disciples then!’ So, why then are you a Christian? Do you not have good news? Do you not share good news with friends and family?

In The Lord’s Prayer we pray: ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done!’ What is God’s will? That all men might know Him! How do they know Him if they do not hear?

Paul answers this question in Romans 10:14,25

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!””

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Want praise for beautiful feet? Go!

Thanks

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭57‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am still grateful some 50 years later to the Lord for setting me free from sin and the penalty of it, eternal desth. Whilst my earthly body will die my spirit and soul will live for an eternity.

The original plan was eternal life, however, Adam and Eve messed up that plan and sin came into a perfect world where God walked with His creation in the cool of the evening.

Those of us who have come to Christ, humbled ourselves and confessed our sin, He has restore to Himslef and given us eternal life to look forward to. Life is so good with Him! Amen!

Heard

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God heard Jesus’ prayers but there was one He did not answer, ‘deliver Me from this cup’. When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane He prayed this prayer three times but ended with: ‘but not my will but Yours be done!’

Right now there are many praying for deliverance from enemies, from sickness, from financial ruin or family breakdown. Gon alone knows which He can answer and which will be needed for people to walk through.

As it was for Iesus it is for us: ‘not my will but Yours be done oh Lord!’ Amen!

Comforted

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To comfort means to ease or reliever someone’s difficulty or stress. The Lord takes us to Himself and holds us. I find the best thing He does for me is even in difficult times His presence shows up and I am at peace.

He is worthy of praise for this! He is good! When people pray for me I sense this. It is sooo good!

The best thing I can do for God is love Him and respond to His love; the best thing I can do for others is pray for God’s presence and peace to be with them.

Jesus said: ““I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Our response should be gratitude!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ah_zfqbxEVk&si=XyNiauLHxWLe9P0H

Plans

“We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬, ‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We make plans thinking they are right, but the Lord weighs them and values them, those that are His are established and those that are not His are frustrated.

Back in March/April a good friend of mine and I had determined to travel to Tibet in China. I was free to enter but my friend, being American was not. The trouble was: we had to book all our journey and present it all to immigration at the Chinese Embassy. To our dismay they rejected my friend’s application and I had to cancel all the travel plans. In April we went to the Tribhuvan University to seek support to undertake a a research project in North-West Nepal, it was rejected because of my American friend’s visa. I soon realised I was not to attempt projects with my friend as the Lord had a different path for each of us.

Our plans, to us, we’re good. They were to reach people of Tibetan origin. However, God had a better plan. I returned to Australia for a month and used the time to visit relatives and friends who needed to know what I know, how good my God is and the sweetness of His love for us.

This plan was not heroic, or adventurous but is was God’s plan.

 I must trust Him in all I do. Amen!