The day with dianne Louise

“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.” Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I am not father to the fatherless but mother to the motherless. I am grateful that the Lord is Father. He is a good Father. He trains us in His ways. His training is not brutal, but lovingly persistent and kind. The Lord defends me. I am not a widow but a divorcee. He still defends me. Praise Him! He does not discriminate.  There are many orphans in Nepal. Either through desth or neglect. However, the government is not allowing any more children’s homes due to wanting to  exclude Christian organisations. Those who have permits are doing all they can. Still, many children are neglected. There are families where existing fathers are drunks. They steal all the money they can for another drink. This robs the children of food, clothing and schooling. A way around this is to empower the women to create businesses that support them and the children. However, they need help wit...

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have many plans! However, I trust the Lord that they are in His hands and will proceed according to His directions. I have learned over time that my hands on my plans frustrate the plans, my yielding to His ways bring about the right result. I had been willing to go to Sindhulpalchok and speak to children about trafficking but found my God had given me my heart’s desire to preach His word. He gave me equal opportunities to preach His word.  I searched for the right entity for our work and discovered an NGO (non-government organisation) would be best and He gave us one, free of charge. This organisation does not give me the right to a visa. I humbly accepted that I will still have to do a student visa to stay in Nepal. However, I think my God has a plan there also. I am aware that I am having to set my my beautiful Nepali friends to continue the work of ministry after I am gone. Whether it is...

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬ My attitude is probably the area I struggle with most. I have to be so tough on myself that I become somewhat impatient with the frailties of others. Grace and patience is then needed. Praise God He has it in abundance and I can access it. Being tender hearted means I reall must seek God’s love for people. Fortunately He has it in abundance. Jesus remonstrated with the disciples for their impatience and lack of grace. James and John wanted to call fire down on a group of people who would not accept Jesus.  “But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭55‬-‭56‬ ‭NLT‬‬ If He was present with me He would be giving me the eye, which would say, “seriously, I am patient with you, you be patient with others!” It is easy to overlook our own faults, but they are still there. Forgive one another. Not only am I ...

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ People may abandon us, but God does not. People may be disinterested in what we are doing but do we do it for them or God? I will spend enternity with the One that matters and whose opinion really counts. It is His ‘well done’ I seek, not man’s. When we expect close friends to rejoice with us and mourn with us and they are not there, we can be disappointed, however, God was with us when we went and He was vitally interested in what we did. It was He who used our simple efforts for His glory. I notice that God is moving ahead of me in the work He wants me to do. I anticipate a need and He goes before me to provide, miraculously. I have researched many entities for the work in Nepal and realised we needed to create an NGO (non-government organisation), I am excluded from being named because I am a foreigner, but I can...

“Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Always is something we promise in wedding vows, but seldom is it something we abide by. I rejoice when I see marriages that last the distance. Mine didn’t. The enemy of our souls knows how to lay traps. During a time of extreme pressure the attacks come. However, our God is eternally faithful. He does not depart. No matter what I endure, my God is faithful. I am not alone in the problems I face. Many are here in this place. Not having an easy life is not an excuse to abandon our faith. Jesus told His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him. This they did with most dying at the hands of those who hated the gospel. As I write this many in Nigeria are losing their lives because they follow Jesus. Many in India, the country below Nepal, face the same fate. We cannot expect a cushy life from following Christ. However, we can expect the beauty of the Lord to be with us. He is worth any sacrifice...

“His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I had to get out my Bible and a commentary to discover who ‘He’ was. This verse refers to the previous Vera about a Elijah the prophet coming again. Now, John the Baptist was referred to a second aelijah the prophet, but did he reconcile sons to fathers? He was more about repentance from sin as a whole. The Bible does not mention healing of relations between fathers and sons.  My Bible commentary and the Bible Hub commentary indicate another figure coming who will reconcile sons and fathers. May that be so! I have some reconciling to do myself. I have been away on a weekend mission to Sindhulpalchok in northern Nepal. I saw families living in community and saw my colleague meet his mothers sister and his mothers brother on a bus when we were travelling to a school to conduct a presentation. It...

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Yesterday, I was up early and ready to preach at two churches. I had one message, but in the first service the Lord gave me one word, ‘faith’’ for the second. Fortunately, I am an avid blogger and used to writing sermonettes on the spot. At the first church I preached about us being salt and light. The Lord ensured it was a humorous message. The pastor got up after me and built upon my message. In the second church I taught on faith. Fortunately, it all went well as it is what I have had to live. The people responded well. I have been asked back to teach a group of pastors on faith. Last night I presented the Jesus movie to a third church high up in the hills. I had arrived early and they were just finishing their service. Some stayed on all afternoon, mainly children. I could see the small two had n...

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have just been reading about king Jehoshaphat, one of the good kings of Judah. He relied heavily on the Lord is all things but his relationship with the kings of Israel. He continually tried to work with them, each time disaster struck. However, God always rescued Jehoshaphat. Unlike his grandfather Asa, who was faithful to the Lord in most things, but developed a disease in his feet, and he did not seek the Lord for help. King Jehoshaphat encounter attacks by enemies but he sought the Lord and God fought for him, he just had to show up. Today I am in Chautara. My journey here last night was tortuous. We were to catch a nice micro bus but the bus failed to appear and then torrential rain began. We waited in a lean-to cafe along with many Nepalis. I entertained a small girl. We finally found a bus, an old, groaning beast that entertained us with loud Nepali music. There were huge blac...

““So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭TPT‬‬ We are told to seek God’s Kingdom. Where is that and what does it looks like? God’s Kingdom came among the people Jesus interacted with. They saw grace, forgiveness, deliverance, healing and miracles. Daily Jesus sought the Father in private prayer. He asked what His ways were for the day, His priorities. What does God’s righteousness look like? Righteousness is right living, right with God. We cannot produce this in ourselves but we must live it by faith in Jesus. He alone was sinless and lived sinless. He sacrificed Himself for our freedom from sin. My focus cannot be stuff. Jesus classes things as less important. He provides these less important things as secondary and not needing focus, God would provide them when needed. My challenge is relegating things to ‘not important’ and God’s kingdom to ‘very important’. Today a...

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I find I can be more joyful as ai ensure I have time of worship each morning. I seek the word of God for my life each morning and His wisdom in decisions I make, constantly. I refuse worldly enetertainment and listen to preaching on UTube. I cannot afford to stop in the ‘pleasant looking places’ because I have seen the faces there, they are not joyful. I am constantly pushing forward. Lately my language class has become very difficult. The teacher is now speaking only in Nepali. I have to attempt to glean what he is saying from the text he also uses. Tomorrow I go, again, to Sindhulpalchok. My colleague has things planned for me, a full schedule. I leave after class tomorrow afternoon and take a three hour rough ride in a micro bus. Fortunately, I sleep in a soft bed the first night. The next night I am on the floor i...

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I like the Passion translation of this verse: “Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your Word makes my pathway clear.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭TPT‬‬ I must take truth into my life, especially in areas I have been deceived into believing a lie. My enemy trades in lies. The word of God has truth for every lie. I must be open to know that I have been deceived. I discover this the more I press into God and open my heart to His word. Deception comes in the form of wrong thinking. It can also be in wrong senses and feelings. I can be trapped by a sense from the pit that masquerades as truth. I must test everything! This is especially true if I have depended on ‘feeling’goodness around me. May true goodness and mercy follow me and deliver me from all my enemies. Amen!

“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬ If we don’t think we have an enemy, we are already deceived. Our enemy hates those who believe. He hates it even more when we do things that promote the gospel. I know when I am on track as the opposition starts. Last week my colleague in human trafficking prevention in Sindhulpalchok was threatened with blackmail. Fortunately, his blackmailer was convinced that my colleague was not as rich as he thought. When he discovered that my colleague could not pay and would not pay the blackmailer went away. The blackmailer threatened to go to the authorities claim wing he was proselytising, this is illegal in Nepal.  What this did was sharpen my awareness of caution in what I do and say. Yesterday there was a news report that missionaries had convinced a woman to convert to Christianity promising that al would be good an...

“How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord; within their hearts are the highways of holiness!” Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬ We do not need to be told, “You are strong!” We need to be told, “Your God is strong, you have become strong because you trust in Him!” Our ego needs deflating! Pride needs destroying! Satan’s sin was pride. He knows it well and tempts us with it. Last week fellow students praised me because I was studying Nepali at 71. I accepted their praise but it is God who enables me. I said, ‘ the ability to do something is all in the mind!’ I stole His glory! I repented, but am aware that it is easy to accept glory when it really belongs to another, the Lord of glory. Within humility and trust are found the highways of holiness. Holiness is something I seek. I will find it in humility, and truthful confession. Amen!

“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 So many saints known and unknown have gone before us. They are watching our race. How will they see our race, our preparation and our diligence? We will have all eternity to speak to these and hear their testimonies. What is my testimony looking like! Does it engender faith in those on earth who watch? Do they see my humanity? Do they make allowances or do they criticise? What matters most is that Jesus be evident.  Do the saints of old look on and sigh? ‘No don’t do that or don’t go that way!’ Or are they cheering me on? I want to live a good and righteous testimony. Is anything hidden or is all seen? The One I most want to please is my Lord. I have had a dream in which He praises me for my endurance. Howev...

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Do you ever think, ‘I can’t be good today!’ ‘I don’t have the power to beat this temptation!’ Then you are wrong as Peter tells us above. We have His divine power to overcome. You might say, ‘But I don’t feel any different! So, since when does how you feel dictate the powers ability to help. If you believe you have it and step into it, you have it! For the longest time I have had a battle with a particular temptation and most times lost, because I tried to beat the feeling. However, I’ve discovered the battle is in my mind not my flesh. There have been many books written about the mind being the battlefield. Joyce Meyer wrote a good one: Battlefield of the Mind. Paul teaches us the we must defeat strongholds in our minds:  “We use God’s mighty w...

“For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭49‬ ‭NLT‬‬ These are Mary’s words when Elizabeth had proclaimed how blessed she was because she believed in the word of the Lord through the angel and was to bear the child Jesus. Before her another woman sang a song when she became pregnant and bore a child, his name was Samuel. The mother was Hannah. She had sought the Lord for a son and prayed that she would give him up to the Lord, and that is exactly what she did. Her child was Samuel one of the greatest men of God in the Old Testament. When God’s word to us comes to pass we should give Him praise and honour. The results are not our doing but His. He goes before us! He keeps us! He is good! Amen!

“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Paul, here, was boasting about the fact that he had been working for his keep and supporting others with him. He used a saying of Jesus to back up his claim. At midnight I was awake aware of three people who needed finance and my limited supply. I prayed for wisdom. This morning I gave, more than planned, but joyfully for the sake of the gospel. The past two weeks have been expensive, but still there was more available to give. We must have a liberal mentality. We cannot second guess people’s motives. We must rely on God’s guidance. He is the Lord and master and holds all wisdom. What was the plan to give? What is the Lord’s heart in giving? Who is He directing us to give to. We must seek the God Ask!  Money is a tool. What should it be used to do? Feed the poor...

“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” ‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have moments when it seems I am immersed in trouble, at these times the Lord is my refuge as I seek Him and run to Him. I must do the seeking. The enemy of my soul attacks my physical being with something new each time. Each time I must seek the Lord for He is my health and strength. When I was in Australia last the doctor suspected I had haemochromocytosis (high iron). My Father had this. It is genetic. I’ve just had tests, not a problem. Just because there are disasters waiting does not mean I must embrace them. When I returned from Australia I had what seemed to be the precursor of a stroke. All tests were negative. What these episodes do is deplete my finances. I have a friend who houses young people. One of her young men was in hospital with suspected parasites in his brain, not so. All he ended up having was constipation. That episode cost her 77,000R. My episo...

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬ First we must have good deeds. What are they to you? My heart is filled with ideas for me to do. My spirit is singing praises to the One who gives me those good deeds to do. I have just spent the weekend travelling to a place called Pokhara in Nepal. My purpose was to talk to people who recycle waste. I was looking to solve two problems: poverty and a land polluted with recyclable waste. To reach Pokhara I travelled on a bus. The trip took seven hours going and 10 hours returning overnight. I arrived back in Kathmandu yesterday at 5am. I went home, rested and had breakfast, went to have a blood test, as I was due for a check up after a supposed mini stroke. I then went to college which took all morning and returned to the hospital for the results and an appointment with my doctor. I was given the all clear and went to an appointment with another r...

““Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The whole book if chapter 60 speaks of a future Jerusalem inhabited by Jesus. It paints a glorious picture. Many Christians take this verse and apply it to themselves. Whilst we are called the lights of the world and encouraged to see ourselves as light this chapter in Isaiah is about Jerusalem. This encourages me to see what Jerusalem will be like in the Millennial period when Jesus rules and reigns for 1,000 years. I often think what it would be like to be on earth during Jesus’ reign and what it would be like to experience 1,000 years. I am almost 72 and to me this has been a long life with many memories. What would 1,000 years be like? Especially serving Jesus! It would be a glorious time. Eternity then begs recognition. Those who die in Christ will experience the joys of eternity with Jesus in a heavenly home described in The Book of Revelation. What...

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Are you ready? The time draws near! Many are coming to Christ! The worldwide revival has begun and will culminate in the coming of Jesus.  This does not stop me! I will continue to work until Jesus returns. I want to usher in the revival here in Nepal. We need an open heaven over areas we minister to, this is needed in Australia, as well as other parts of the world. We can usher this in in heart felt worship and living a God-focused life. We can leak the presence of God, as Bill Johnson puts it. Come Lord Jesus come in power and might! https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qL709aNis&si=1X6pPCPSqgCnE1iv

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬ A woman who fears the Lord says and does what He is doing. To be able to say that she seeks Him and follows His ways. A woman who cares onky for her looks, is consumed with self and spends all her time amd money on image. Being caught in the web of deceit is not a good place. In that place the enemy controls much like having puppets on strings. However, a woman who fears the Lord is free in His presence. A woman of God prays instead of giving opinions. She waits for God to speak and then she talks out of His reserve. I do not always do this and can recognise the hollowness when it is just me. Scripture tells us think on what is good and clean and lovely and things above, not things of the earth. We are all going into eternity and will live there forever. The life on earth is a learning place. We prepare for eternity. Choose life!

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I just watched Roland Baker speak about the cost of serving the Lord in Madagascar. He, and Hedi his wife, have been on their desth beads several times. They have face climatic disasters, financial disasters, threats by terrorists and more. Whilst he did not say all this I know from following them they are true. I have a dear friend here in Nepal who is under attack, again, as one of her young charges is in hospital and the tests done and to be done are costing a mountain of finance. I was there myself four weeks ago. It looked like I had a mini-stroke. After much expense and tests showing nothing serious I was discharged on blood thinners. There is a cost of following the Lord! There is a cost in serving Him. We know this and still we follow. We could not fathom a life without Him. In all things He provides and is with ...

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We may not like the title ‘sinner’ but that is what we were and still struggle with. We were born into sin and apart from the free gift of salvation we are unable to be sinless . However, as one who Christ died for I have been given the priveledge of being filled with the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit is a deposit of God’s power enabling me to walk in a way that is sinless. By the power at work in me I can be free from the dictatorship of sin. Sin is, basicaly, missing the mark of sinlessness. I have no power in myself to be holy. It is Jesus who is holy. I must walk in faith in the work He has done in me. Jesus died for us all, we do not have to earn His free gift of salvation, but accept it by faith. Salvation is being rescued from certain death, spiritual death . Spiritual death sends us to eternal fires, spiritual life to eternal life with Jesus. We can rejec...

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We judge! We have opinions about every one and everything! Social media sharpens our pencil! Yet, the God of heaven never did. He mentioned various events happening in Israel only to highlight God’s lack of judgement. His main target were religious leaders who He did unload on calling them white washed walls. These people were supposed to shepherd His people and He called them ‘blind guides’. We need our Lord’s opinions. He never criticised the Romans, and they ruled Israel. He was interested in the souls of mankind. How different! He was here to do the will of His Father. Father, what is your will today? May Your kingdom come, your will be done! Amen!

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Weariness can be caused by many things, some medical, some spiritual, some emotional. We can carry an expectation that our age makes us weary. However, there is another: information overload and grief. Of late I’ve become upset with my country and its support for Hamas, the sending of funds they cannot afford to Gaza in the belief they are the saviours of the Gazans. The world has blamed Israel for all that is happening and foolishly bought all Hamas’lies. My new government is pursuing al the foolishness in f Europe and not thinking or researching things for themselves. I am ashamed! Nevertheless, I am in Nepal to serve the Lord and serve Him well I will. It involves caring for the young and sexually abused and the poor. I am learning the language so that I can speak to them. Good progress is being made. My heart is for a harvest and I...

“But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This was Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation to turn rocks into bread after a 40 day fast. Jesus would have been very hungry, however, He saw God as His supply. He did not have to lift His hand in self-effort. After Satan had finished with tempting Him angels came and fed Him. I wonder if He saw them waiting? The wait can be a challenge, however God’s provision is always best. During the wait, especially for finance, God has me give seed money and ththes especially when pressed for funds. This releases the storhouse doors and provision flows. I am in that place now as ai look for ways to help the poor in Sindhulpalchok. I am investigating industry and micro loans. I am enjoying the process. Last month I  investigated biomass. When I discovered that the poor keep there biomass agricultural waste for their animals I knew th...

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Have you’re heard the saying, ‘head in the clouds’? It usually refers to a dreamer, someone not grounded in reality. As a child ai was one of these. In my dreams I was an adventurer. In my later years I am just that, an adventurer. However thinking heavenward is not quite the same. A dreamer think about themselves as the centre of their universe, a Christian thinking of things of heaven allows the Holy Spirit to fill them with God thoughts. It is not about them but Christ in them and His Kingdom. I now spend my spare time thinking about bringing God ways and principles to earth. How would He solve trafficking? How would He solve poverty? As ai walk along rubbish- ladened roads I think about cleaning it up and keeping it clean. I remember when PET bottles lay around near paths in Australia. All it took was a cash for trash to become the vogue and people were more careful. I want that here. How to do ...

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ There are still many people who have not heard the gospel! Yet the church longs for the rapture. Who must miss out to satisfy us? We can be selfish even about things of God. We become tired of the fight and long for freedom. I advocate for refugee familes who, on the most part, want to escape Nepal. Some have managed to find spsinsors others have not. However, Nepal has charged them for their illegal stay and the new country want them to have $$. How can refugees afford this? They can’t, and therefore remain stuck in a land that does not want them. They long to escape. This is the story of many Christians. They long to escape but none is provided. Who will help them?  In the book of Revelations we read about the voices of the martyrs who cry out to the Lord, “how long Lord?” ...

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Let’s be honest, once a day usually suffices. Yet, here is God telling Joshua, a leader, to study the word of God continually (meditate upon it). I am learning the Nepali language so that I can speak to the people. I spend a lot of time studying it and attempting to converse in it.  If I want to know God and His word then I need to spend a lot more time in His word. Lately I have been listening to more sermons, studying scripture day and night and in spare time. I have been beset with all manner of sickness and determined to free myself. Healing scriptures throughout the Bible carry life. Today I meet with a man who is in business in Nepal. He is a Christian. I need to know what I will face if God does open the way to create a business in Sindhulpalchok to help the poor. I am aim...