The good shepherd

““I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.”John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Here, Jesus is teaching the listeners about good leaders. The Pharisees and Sadducees loved position and recognition, but did not care for the people.! Jesus often referred to the people as lost sheep without a shepherd. He then tells them He is the good shepherd as He lays down His life for them, unlike the hireling who runs away when trouble comes.

In this day of ‘me first’ do we find many good shepherds? Or do we find hirelings. We ourselves must consider our role and know what it means to lay down our lives for the sheep. The sheep are the people God has given us to care for. 

Laying down our lives can be a matter of denying self and thinking of those we care for. Selfishness does not cut it with our Lord. He gave His all, and wants us to give our all also. Amen!

Forgiven

“You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.”Psalms‬ ‭85‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This verse is from a Psalm written by the sons of Korah. The sons of Korah had the task of being the gatekeepers in the temple of God. They also had the task of standing up in the people and singing praises to God. One of their beautiful psalms is psalm 42:

‘As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God!’ The psalmist is deeply depressed and seeking God.

‘Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all the breakers of Your billows have swept over me’. The psalmist answers himself:

‘Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope to God, for I will still praise Him, my saviour and my God’. (HCSB)

 

The writer had a revelation that salvation only comes from God. We need to be mindful of this!

Yesterday I did the second lots of exams. I did fine. Today I have an unknown text to listen to in Nepali and questions to answer in Nepali. I have an inkling what it will be, I believe the Lord has reminded me of one such exercise we did a few weeks ago. Tomorrow I am interviewed by my teacher and have to respond to his questions in Nepali. That is the finish!! Yay!! Holidays are coming!!

I have to continually trust my God with all I experience here in Nepal. The future is His! Amen!

His coming foretold

““ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’”Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a prophesy about Jesus’ coming. It was given hundreds of years before the event of His birth. Yet, this prophesy is still to be fulfilled when Jesus returns to rule and reign.

All the Old Testament predictions about Jesus either have come to fruition or will come to fruition. God is faithful to His promises. We can then know He is faithful to the promises He has given us.

Yesterday, I had my first exam, it was grammar. The Lord promised me I would pass, I will pass. I answered all the questions and know some were easy to complete. Today we have dictation, comprehension and writing. I will be fine as I trust the Lord and His promises to me.

I would rather focus on Jesus and His coming. May His kingdom come, His will be done! Amen!

The promise

““The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. “In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’”Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah lived in the time when kings refused to listen to word of God. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern, jailed and abused for the words he brought. Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would fall into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The people looked for prophets that would tell them otherwise, but they did go into captivity for seventy years.

Nonetheless, God also gave Jeremiah words of hope. The above scripture is speaking of Jesus. However, this then caused them to look for a future king who would deliver them from their enemies. Jesus didn’t come as a king when He came first, that is for a future day. He came as a deliverer from sin and a witness to what the Kingdom of God looked like.

 

Jesus came as a small baby and grew up in Galilee for 30 years before He went public. Then, for three years He preached about the kingdom of God, healed many and gave His life on the cross for the sins of all. Three days later He rose from the dead, conquering death. He then confirmed to His disciples and family He was indeed the Son of God. His brothers who had opposed Him now became ardent followers.

We can refuse to believe that the baby celebrated at Christmas is the Son of God, but the day is coming when we will face Him and know we made the wrong choice. Today I choose to believe. Eternity is waiting! Amen!

Guard your heart

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I want to focus on the last sentence here, because it is explains why the first. I have an old friend who used to say to me, “Di let peace be your governor”. It was easier said than done. I was going through some very difficult times when he told me that. However, he was right.

Yesterday was a difficult day in part. I had determined to give my body a day of rest. I walked several kilometres to church and attended the prayer meeting. Unfortunately, after the prayer meeting I was best by refugees wanting my help. It became very frustrating and by the time the service started my insides were a mess. Afterwards I knew I should have waited until after church to talk to them and I should have places boundaries in place. Even though I do not represent all the refugees they see me and come to me. This increases my load, and I do not have authority to act for them as they have their own advocates. Unfortunately their advocates are not always there. Some have ministry away from Kathmandu and stay in touch with their charges on WhatsApp.

I had spent Friday and Saturday morning studying and was tired. Tomorrow the exams start. By the weekend it will be all over. Praise God! 

However, I need to navigate this week well to maintain peace. My heart does not function well when not at peace. Peace is important. Peace with God and man are all important. I cannot abuse people because I have lost peace. I need more of God each day. Being filled up with His spirit will keep me safe. Worship will keep me there! Amen!

Endurance and Comfort

“Now may God, the source of great endurance and comfort, grace you with unity among yourselves, which flows from your relationship with Jesus, the Anointed One.”Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

God gives us, through the Holy Spirit endurance, comfort and grace. We can be unified in faith as we refuse the thoughts from the enemy of our souls and run to our God. He is our rock, our safe place, our strong tower over all our fears and anxieties.

As I prepare for my exams the enemy is determined to disrupt. I see him coming and refuse his advances. I am equipped for battle. This battle is for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. As I take ground in this small way now, I make room for miracles. I am praying for miracles this week as I need to remember difficult texts, hear the teacher in dictation and read with clarity. This week is the last week of term. In one week I am free. However, this week is integral, this proves God is the God of miracles.

Yesterday my friend Chelle took me for a walk to Kathmandu Uni. This will be where I study pottery next term, starting February. I want to study pottery so that I can enable the poor in Sindhulpalchok to earn money, that’s the plan.

I enjoyed the walk and knowing it is my next step. When I am at the uni I will attend class two days a week and continue to study language on three with a tutor. There will be no more exams, praise God!

As I am now 72, I need less stress. Exams are stressful! I can learn language in a stressless environment. Amen!

Close

“The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one.”Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

It is interesting that sometimes we need the Lord to be close in a trial because it hurts us, another time we need Him to guide our response, another time He uses us to heal the bringer of the pain.

Yesterday I realised things that broke me last year do not this year. My heart has been healed. Offence was caused by me yesterday and when the offended one attacked me I spoke to her heart. “Do not be offended by me or my behaviour!” I was not attempting to act in pride, but rather reconciliation.

However, waking at 3am the Lord showed me I had let that spirit in by a conversation I had with an American friend. I had been cross about the behaviour and policies of a support group I am in. I was critical about the groups policies and behaviour. Well, criticism walked in then and it attacked my innocent friend who did not need it. She then found fault with me. Needless to say I repented. I cannot afford to allow darkness into our home.

I have to be careful around certain friends as they love to criticise and often see the dark side of things. My role is to not give room to the enemy.

Lord, today I ask for grace to keep my mouth sweet! Amen!