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Salty salt

““You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ For the longest time I have not understood this scripture fully but last night I saw the meaning more fully. My study Bible gave three cross references to salt in the Old Testament and I followed them. “Using the usual techniques of the incense maker, blend the spices together and sprinkle them with salt to produce a pure and holy incense.” Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Salt was used to make incense pure and holy. In the book of revelations we see incense burners full of the prayer of the saints. Incense now is the prayers of God’s people. Why does it need salt? Is it because our prayers must be holy? Purified by salt! Here is a deep thought worth pondering. “Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God’s eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.” Levitic...
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Dark valleys

“Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬ We all walk though times that feel very black: a loss of a loved one; rejection and isolation; financial devastation; a sickness. David experienced being chased, continually,  by a mad man who happened to be the king, all the while knowing that he had been annointed to be the next king.  Recently I visited what was once the royal palace here in Kathmandu. The royal family had been mowed down by bullets in one day, some survived, one was absent and went on to be the next king. He abdicated in 2008 due to political unrest. There are many countires where the royal families have been slain by revolutionaries. Political conflict is the frequent cause for violence. Iran is facing a revolution as the people are ris...
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Pay back

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Isn’t it interesting that Jesus said, “the Law and the Prophets required you to treat others as you would have them treat you”? It means that murder, theft, false speaking and covetousness would not happen if we treated others as we wanted them to treat us. We would not judge others if we treated them as we wanted to be treated. All judgement and misalignment would cease. Wow! Yesterday, I hand the run around with immigration. I had been investigated as to my purpose for being in Nepal and was approved for a visa by one department and then sent downstairs to another who sent me home for my papers, I returned to be told another document was required. This document I had never needed before, however was assured that it was always needed. It meant I did not get my visa. I have to return today after obtaining this document from my college. I could have ex...
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Anxiety and worry defeated

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“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Last night I read Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: ““So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ ““So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” ‭  I would add another to this list: where you will live. I have a friend who was a full-time inhabitant of Nepal recently was sent back to America for twelve months.  She does not have a...
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The Race

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Imagine being in a 400m race. The shot sounds and off you all go. Are you excited? Afraid? Indifferent? You hear the crowd shouting, people you don’t know are calling to you to run as fast as you can. What do you do? Do you pick up your pace? Have you forgotten to remove your backpack? Is it full of rubbish you meant to dump? Are you still wearing your tracksuit? Are you wondering why you started?  We Christians are surrounded by those of faith who have gone before us. They want us to win, to conquer our fears, laziness, indifference. Can you hear Joesph? He conquered 13 years in jail to be made a ruler over Egypt. What about David who conquered about the same amount of time in exile, being chased by king Sa...
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Godliness is better

““Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I love physical exercise, walking and swimming are my favourites. I’ve trained for triathlons in the past and had a life of exercise. However, what is more important to me is spiritual exercise. Daily I spend time reading God’s word, praying in the spirit and singing worship songs. Whilst I have tended to read Bible plans, this year I am using my hardcover study Bible to also study the gospels. I am taking my time and chewing over the scriptures. My time with God is more important than anything else. His thinking, His desires, His power and authority come first. If I live out of Him (abide in Him) then I treat other well. If I abide in Him life is so much better. I am attending a filthy college to learn the Nepali language. The teacher does not speak much English and writes on the board what is written in the text book. As I don’t s...
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The test

“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.” ‭‭James (Jacob)‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬ We face many tests: how will I handle the difficult person; how will I handle a hard experience; how will I handle a good experience; how will I handle a wonderful person? Good and bad, they all test me. This past week had been difficult. I struggled from Sunday to Wednesday to obtain a visa to stay in Nepal. Realistically, many others have been through worse. Monday, I began college with a teacher who speaks little English. We are copying text from a book; many new words and in a echoey room, which plays havoc with my ears. Suddenly we had a test on said text and although I felt overwhelmed, I survived, completed and past, with a little help from my teacher. I finished the week exhausted.  Yest...
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