Pioneer

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Passion Translations says this:

“We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!”Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Jesus taught us where to focus. He kept His eyes on the Father. He had 30 years to learn this and He did it well during the three years of His revelation to His people, and His ultimate death on the cross.

Right now, all my plans to celebrate Christmas seem to have fallen through. I was planning a trip to the snow with friends. However, the weather reports say ‘no snow’. I wonder what the Lord has in mind?

I will make a back up plan but prefer to trust the Lord.

He knows who and when He wants us to meet people, what He wants us to say to them and how He plans to use it in their lives. I will trust Him! Amen!

Making allowances

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Making allowances is something we do only for those we really love. However, as Christians we are called to love all. Paul in the above verse is talking to the church, so we assume just believers.

Yet, there are believers who test our patience. We struggle more when we are unwell or tired, or they are unwell or tired. As we approach Christmas we can fall into a ‘have to’ mentality and fail to enjoy and love the season of ‘goodwill to all mankind’. May we pull back and gear down a cog and enjoy.

I was planning to take my flatmates to the snow. However, it is reluctant to snow within a few hours of Kathmandu before New Year. Whilst that will be fun, it will also be a trial as snow can cause you to be bogged, snow melts and you become wet. I must maintain the joy of seeing my flatmates experience snow for the first time.

Remembering why Christmas is important! Amen!

Children of God

“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus came to a world that did not recognise Him, the demons did, however, the people expected a king and were looking at a man who would save them from their sins. They did not understand their plight and need of a saviour. They did not comprehend His offer, until the Holy Spirit came upon them and revealed the truth of what Jesus came to give, eternal life.

 

For us who do believe and have received His gift, we are grateful. He is the eternal One, the beautiful saviour, the door opener. There is no eternal life but His.

I am currently living in Nepal which has many gods and can easily see Jesus as just another God. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me!” John 14:6.

There is no other God for me! I am content in knowing Jesus! Amen!

Faith

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hearing about Jesus is a beautiful gift we can give to the people of the world. If they do not hear, faith cannot arise. We must look for ways to share the good news.

I like good news! I believe everybody likes good news. We don’t like to hear about the people that are killed because they are Jews or Christians, or just because they are children. Yesterday, in Australia 12 people were killed, 11 were of the Jewish faith, one was the gunman.

However, last night a group of us gathered to sing Christmas carols and celebrate Christmas here in Nepal. It was a joyous occasion.

In Africa many are killed because they are Christians. The enemy of our souls is hatefully seeking to main, kill and destroy. Praise God Jesus came to bring life and it is the news about Him that brings change.

We are blessed to know Him! Let’s tell others about Him! Amen!

His coming

“You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.! James‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To the many persecuted Christians the cry of, “how long Lord!” Will be frequent. We see this in the book of Revelation. “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.”Revelation‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The cost of the outpouring of the Spirit of God is the relentless attacks on the saints of God. Satan is angry and he is attacking Gods people, but all his attacks do is purify the church and win more souls. Yes he kills our babies and children and saints of God, but the fire grows stronger.

May the fire fall Lord! Amen!

Living in love

“We have come into an intimate experience with God’s love, and we trust in the love he has for us. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them.”1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This verse is speaking to people who have accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Those who have not done so do not experience His love, because it comes in relationship. It is likened to a marriage. The love between two married people is different and more intimate than between casual friends.

I have the best times when I am immersed in God’s love. I then enjoy loving others and life to the full. It is a wonderful experience. The opposite is not a pleasant place to be at all. Selfishness is a horrible and unlovely place.

Today I have successfully passed through a week of trial. I endured four exams in the Nepali language. They were hard but my God was with me all the way. He lifted me. He told me what text to study and carried me through the difficult patches. 

Today I look forward to the next exciting chapter. I will learn to make bonsai pots. There is a market for these in Nepal and I believe it might be a business opportunity which carries with it a business visa and ability to employ the poor. This will free up my time to do presentations in the hills of Sindhulpalchok on human trafficking, and perhaps save some children who otherwise would be destined to be sex slaves.

God has a plan and His plan is fun! It stretches me but what an adventure!

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!

Love, where did it start?

“We love each other because he loved us first.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

John had a handle on love, especially the love of God. He knew Jesus loved him. He even said in his gospel, he was ‘the disciple who Jesus loved’. Therefore, anything that John writes about love is worth noting, and in fact breathing in.

John wrote one gospel, three epistles and the Book of Revelation. Why did Jesus reveal the end times to John? Perhaps He loved him and trusted him.

We can think we wal in love but later discover how fleshly our love has been. I had that experience this morning. I awoke around 5 and lay snuggled in my warm bed being aware that God was wanting to clean house. I began to see the past with the eyes of truth, and came to repent for my previous understanding of love. As someone who functioned as a pastor for 13 years I saw my selfishness in the mix. At the time I thought my heart was pure, however in hindsight I see the mistakes. It led me to repentance.

I want to be trusted by my God to love those He gives me to love. I want to do this in purity and holiness. I see my grandchildren battling sexual sin and look at the doorways that sin walked through. What movies did we allow, what licences did we take? What stands did we fail to take? I am now battling for my grandchildren and the first part of it is my own repentance. I want to shut all doors that open to uncleaness.

Forgive me Lord for the wrong and the licence I gave! Amen!

Praying in tongues

“You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Half-hearted prayer are a waste of space. If we are going to pray we need to be engaged with our heart. As I have prayed for the same 27 things for several years I have to find this engagement with the prayer or they fall flat. When I am struggling praying in the Spirit (praying in tongues) is essential.

The gift of tongues is for every believer. I received this gift when I was 19 on a youth camp. No one prayed for me to receive it.  The worship was powerful and each song ended in singing in the spirit. When we returned home on Sunday I was asked if I had been baptised in the Spirit. I replied, “I think so!” I asked what the baptism in the Holy Spirit was and when told I said yes that has been what I’ve been doing. I was prayed for but had already received it. My hungry heart stepped into what it had longed for, communion with my saviour, for the longest time.

I am grateful that I can pray in tongues. It encourages me, lifts me and fills me. It completes my prayers. I am not alone in my prayer. I believe I am praying for things that sit on my Lord’s heart and the Holy Spirit is happy to help.

Seek it today! Amen!

Pray always

“Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.”Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Prayer is so vital! I make a habit of praying for 27 people or groups of people every day, plus as my Lord prompts me. Each of those 27 needs are inportant to the Lord. They cover family, friends, the persecuted, the unborn, the oppressed, the government, the church, Nepal, Muslims, Buddhist’s, Israel and dying and more. I long to see souls in heaven. 

Today is my birthday. Being an Aussie I awoke to birthday blessings from friends and family there. One in particular was from my autistic grandson Ryan. He is a loving young man. He wanted to inform me he had a job and a girlfriend. Both of these I have prayed for him.

I regularly ask the Lord to show me answers to prayers, and He does. This encourages me to keep praying.

 

Get on the Lord’s payroll today! It is the best place to be. Tonight I have Bible study in my flat and have some unsaved friends coming! I am praying they have ears to hear tonight! Amen!

Generosity

“Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Being generous with your time, favour, money, your smile, your voice pays dividends. As you live as a fountain of love you will be loved.

Withholding what you have in fear of running out causes you to lose even what you have. I find the more I give the greater the stretch is available with my finance.

I have given and given some more. Yesterday, as my flatmates and I were at table I looked out our front window and a man came carrying two large mats. One was the exact colour I loved. I had planned, for a long time, to buy a large mat for the lounge room as the floor has a thin vinyl cover on it and winter here is cold. We have Bible study here often and I wanted my guests to be warm, and us also. I asked one of the girls to run out and ask the man ‘kati ho?’ (How much). I went out to see the man unravelling the mat on the carport floor to show its design. I liked what I saw and asked Monika (my flatmates) how much does he want. She told me and then I asked what should we offer? She told me and we did. The man accepted. What is amazing is it in only 2,000R dearer than a much smaller mat I bought when we first came to live here. (1,000R equates to around $10AU) This was an unexpected blessing! The seller was also happy!

The stretch had just happened in my finances and I knew I could afford the blessing. It makes us so smile when we come into the room.

We are now praying how we can be a blessing to our neighbours as we approach Christmas. Lord guide us! Amen!

Keep watch

““Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some versions say: ‘stay awake’. In the Old Testament we read about watchmen. Watchmen had the role of watching out for enemies, but also for runners who were the postmen of the day. They would bring news of the wars being fought and other important pieces of news. Watchmen could not fall asleep. I suspect this is where we derive the word ‘night watchmen’. Night watchmen keep an eye on the property they are employed to protect.

Here in Nepal you may walk past large properties such as schools, factories, government buildings where watchmen or guards are employed. I walk by a factory where there are several watchmen in raised boxes with guns to protect their employers property.

We are the Lord’s watchmen. We must keep watch over our souls and the souls of our community of believers. We must protect them and make them aware when the enemy is prowling around to destroy them.

Paul regularly addressed the fact that we are being built into God’s house. We are His temple, jointly. We must care for each other.

Encouraging Christians to see themselves as belonging to a community is important to me. When we hurt our friends care for us. When we laugh together it is much more fun.

See

“See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”Isaiah‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am learning how much my God has come to save me! When faced by insurmountable odds He is there. Sometihing Joyce Myer said in a message struck a chord with me: “if the problem seems too big for you, it is, it is not your problem it is His!” Amen to that.

I face so many things that are too big for me. I will give them to the Lord! He is well able to solve them!

Nepali language is one such problem, caring for refugees is another. Buying a four wheel drive with no money is another. Praise God He is able!

Give it all to Him! Give it up, give it up! Amen!

He has come to save me

“See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”Isaiah‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse comes from a song of salvation. The chapter before speaks about Jesus and all He would do. It is fitting that this chapter comes directly after the description of Jesus.

How does this apply to me, now? It aptly describes what Jesus has done for me. For all He has done, is doing and will do, I praise Him.

Yesterday college was difficult. My teacher speaks in Nepali as if he is speaking to another Nepali and this is very challenging. However, in the previous night’s homework I had to write about a friend. I chose my friend Chelle, an American who has lived in Nepal many years and speaks the language very well. He had taught Chelle and when he saw her name he became very excited. He asked after her and I was able to satisfy his curiosity. At the end of class he was telling us about our upcoming exam. At one point he looked at me and said something deferential. I don’t know what he said so I will have to wait and see. However, I do know my God is going before me. I will pass onky because of Him.

I cannot be afraid but step out in faith and trust my Lord! Amen!