Never give up

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I know my body is becoming older, however it causes me to walk in faith. I say to the Lord, “You are my beauty and strength”. Then I step out and refuse my body authority to speak negatively.

Right now a virus is attempting to set up camp. It must leave in Jesus’ name. I have work to do!

Each day the renewing power of God is available for me. I can appropriate it. I can walk in His power and authority.

Today ai go with a friend to immigration. She has to pay a late fine and apply for a tourist visa until college starts. We will then go to my college to mark application for next term. I have promised to make sheets for another friend and am planning a trip to Sindhulpalchok next week to see a flat my young colleague has found to rent for the work there teaching children about trafficking. I will furnish this flat for that purpose as many people will stay there over time.

There is no time to sit and commiserate with sickness. It ai out of the pit! It must leave! Amen!

Streams in the wilderness

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today marks the first day of 2026. It also marks the beginning of new things for me in Nepal. I received notice that I passed my last language exam and now face enrolling for another term. I had thought I would enroll in a pottery class to use to train ladies in Sindhulpalchok but it is not to be. I was informed that I might not be accepted, therefore I did not pay the entrance fee, knowing that the University would keep 25% of the monies paid. It turns out I did the right thing as I am facing expenses in setting up a base in Sindhulpalchok and expenses in provisions for the social work to be done there by my team.

I was also convicted by a comment made by a Nepali man in my Bible study group, he said, “You need to keep learning the language”. I didn’t want to hear that as the tripping to class takes almost an hour each way in heavy traffic. However, he was right. I did a degree in linguistics before I came to Nepal so that I could learn the language. I must remain faithful to that purpose, as apart from college I am not forced to speak or read Nepali and I know I want to learn it. Sooo, off I go again in February to college.

I dream big plans but have to take small steps. It is God who will bring all things to pass, not me in my impatience.

Streams are being created in the wilderness! Praise God!

The light

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have friends who are dare devil cavers. Recently I heard how they took friends caving and went through a worm hole crawling on their stomachs. They entered a small cave where it was so dark their eyes could not adjust to the darkness and were unable to see anything. Then they turned on their lights to the relief of the friends who went with them.

We live in spiritual darkness. The world is a deprived place. However, the light of Christ that the above verse speaks about can overcome it. The write, John the apostle, was writing about Jesus. He was aware of the difference Jesus made to the world.

When we receive the Holy Spirit into our lives we have that light resident within us. Our role is to allow that light to shine, not try and compete with it, believing we have our own light.

I can trust Jesus to make a difference in this world through me. As I allow Him to lead me and be the driver, I discover that His grace, love and mercy shine through me. Then, I am most fulfilled.

I am here to bring the kingsom of God to earth by living a life that is dependant on the light of Christ. This humility causes the light to shine.

Today Lord, shine through me! Amen!

A new Person

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Coming to the point of realising ‘I am not happy with who I am, or the way I behave’ is a starting point for change. Being aware of sinful behaviour is even better. Sinful behaviour is where I know I am a dreadful in the way I treat others, a am a bad role model, I suck at parenting, I need help!

Awareness of wrong leads us to ask, “How can I change?” You can do all manner of mental gymnastics and make all the New Year’s resolutions you like but without a power source to change you will flop around like a wet fish. You can read all the self-help books and try all the gurus but there is only one source of purity, that source is Jesus.

I came to the point of knowing that no good thing dwelt in me. This was when I came to Jesus and asked Him to forgive me for thinking I could do this by myself. I invited Him into my life and asked for His Hoky Spirit to inhabit me. Now, I have the power source. Now, as a Christian, I have One I can turn to.

Prior to this I had the spirit of the world. It was an unclean, greedy, obnoxious spirit that hated what is pure and lovely. Now, I love all things pure.

If you are at this place pray this simple prayer: ‘Jesus forgive me for going my own way, I know I am sinful and ask for you to cleanse me and make me new. I invite you Holy Spirit to come and live in me and show me a better way. I invite you to take the wheel and be the driving force within me! Amen’

Focus

“And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭61‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse is a part of the benediction King Solomon spoke over the people who came to the dedication of the temple he had built. It is an eternal word. Even today, us Christians need to hear it.

As we approach 2026, it is my heart’s determination to seek the Lord more fully next year. I want Hisz so presence in all I do. I want to know He goes before me and I want His presence to touch the lives of the people around me.

I have Nepali friends who want a New Year’s Eve party and I want to be quiet and seek the Lord. If He does not go before us and with us we will be in trouble. 2026 will be a year of increased trouble in the earth as manind turn away from the Lord. I, therefore, need to be solely focussed on Him.

May Your kingdom come Lord , Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Amen!

Generosity

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As God provided all I need. The surplus is available to give to others. He ensures there is surplus to give. That surplus is not to waste on rubbish to store in garages, but to use for others. In Nepal there are no garages, there are carports but not locked garages. What appear as locked garages are shops. Inside the houses there is limited storage space. There is not, yet, a mentality of accumulation of stuff that I might use, one day.

I am here to be a blessing to others, not sit and play with stuff! I do not have a TV, it is useless stuff to me. I do not need entertainment! My spare time is to study God’s ways and God’s word. Eternity is a long time and I want to have all I need there.

Generosity is the kingdom way of living. Generosity to the poor is imperative. My surplus is for them. My greatest concern, living in Australia, was there was no surplus. Rent took all I had and left me with little else. Here, rent is small and leaves an abundance. I am blessed!

Generosity is a mindset! Think generosity and an abundance will be available! Amen!

Confession

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The word confession carries overtones. The villains are led to confess their crimes; the sinners are led to confess their sins and receive absolution. Yet, their is a confession of faith that is most powerful. As I confess that I am a follower of Christ it causes things to happen: heaven notices and so does hell. Persecution follows, however, as a Christian I now have access to the arsenal of God. My prayers carry weight, I can command adverse circumstances to change, I can pray for the sick to be healed. 

As I speak, I speak either life or death. I must be careful with my mouth to speak life. As I speak life I change the atmosphere around me. I bring life and light into dark places. As I sing I bring the presence of God into dark places.

Light needs to shine in the dark places. Use your voice to bring that light into your world. You are the source of change! Amen!