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Share the cross experience

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways.”  Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Do you have things that annoy you? Yes! My landlord using my bin to overflowing with no room for us! There being no power for boiling water, so I put a pot on the gas to boil and the power comes on! I think I am being tested, and yes found wanting. Why do petty things annoy? Because I am still in the flesh at those moments. I am reminded of how upset Jonah was at th Lord’s grace towards the Ninivites and yet he was also annoyed that the plant the Lord provided died. The Lord asked him why he was angry. The book ends before we discover if Jonah repented or not. I cannot let my book end with such a question. Repentance is not an option. Father forgive me for my irritability and sinful behaviour. I need your grace an...
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Let the fire fall

“For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control. So never be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor be embarrassed over my imprisonment, but overcome every evil by the revelation of the power of God!”  2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬ In the past when I operated as a pastor I saw the full rage of gifts of the Holy Spirit move through me. Now that I am serving in Nepal I need to stir up the flame and not fear to step out in faith and be used again by the Holy Spirit. I had wondered why these gifts no longer seem to be evident in my life and now I know I must fan the flame and step out in faith. Paul’s imprisonment may have been a cause for embarrassment, especially if Paul’s enemies were criticising him. Timothy needed to boldly defend Paul and minister in boldness. In verse 6 Paul states: “I’m writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I lai...
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Seek the Lord

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ When I first became a Christian in 1973 this verse had been made into a chorus. I had it on a LP record along with many others. The newness of knowing Jesus as saviour and Lord was life changing. Today as I read this verse and read the commentary in my study Bible, it reminds me that God will not always be found. If we keep repeating sin we may go from forgiveness to judgement. That judgement will not be nice. In 2008 I was working as a nurse and had shared the gospel with a woman who was a difficult patient but I sensed the Lord wanted me to persevere with her. I did for some time. I even went to visit her when she went home from hospital. She refused to repent and about a year later I heard she had gone blind and was in a nursing home. As a Christian I know a relationship with the Lord and am required to live in union with Him. In that union I cannot persist in a sin that I know d...
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Watch out

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”  1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ One thing I have found, watching the war between Israel and its enemies, is that the enemy never saw them coming, most of the time. One lesson I’ve learned from watching the war, is the proactiveness of Israel. They did not sit and wait to be struck, but they struck first. I must behave as a warrior, I must recognise I have an enemy and be vigilant and strike first. The Holy Spirit within me alerts me to danger and, if I heed Him, I can not be surprised by the enemies tactics. I know that anybody, Christian or not, can be used by my enemy to attack me. I must be prayerful, and cover those I am in close contact with in prayer. I must watch over my own heart for the same...
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He was made sin for us

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”  2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This verse encapsulates the song Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin. All out hope is in You Jesus! However, this verse comes at the end on a discourse on is reconciling the world to God through Jesus Christ, the verse, “  “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 If I am a new creation in Christ I am made in His image and have the same commission: to open the eyes of the blind, and set the captives free. I can no longer live for myself, I have work to do, souls to win! We have a role to play, we are His ambassadors to a fallen world. We have good news! Jesus is that news! An ambassador goes into a foreign land and represents their own country working out trade agreements between their own land and the land in which...
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Stay alert!

“And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!”  Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Just when men mock, God does the impossible! Right now many in the world have turned against Israel, few stand with her. I have never known such a time of deception. The hardness of hearts and wickedness has become grievous. Yet Israel prevails! Nonetheless the gospel is reaching many. Muslims are having dreams and visions and turning to Jesus. I am praying for similar for Hindus.  Yesterday, here in Nepal, it was New Year’s Day. I have never seen so many people out and about in one day as yesterday. People thronged to local attractions to picnic and have fun. Where they stood with Christ is shown by the wearing or not wearing of tikkas, the red paint on the forehead. Thousands upon thousands are in the valley of decision. Jesus had a lot to say in Chapter 13 about the end times and we would be wise to attend to it. When the gospel has reached all mankind then the end will com...
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Holy Spirit

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Do you know how easy it is for sheep to stray? So easy! ‘Ooh look there is another green leaf’. That is why they need a shepherd if not fenced in or tied to a tether. In Australia where paddocks are huge they are fenced in but if wild animals come they are in danger. In Nepal they have shepherds who take them out daily for foraging. Sometimes they have dogs to help.  I am convinced that Christians stray easily also. ‘Ooh! Let’s go there! Let’s watch this or read that!’ I am sure this is why Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us. We are not capable to staying on the narrow path, the wild looks inviting. We need the Holy Spirit, we need His guidance! Holy Spirit welcome! Please speak to my heart today and guide me on the right path. My emotions push me around and I'm prone to wander. Please guide me on the right path, Amen! ...
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