Ears to hear

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse is a part of God’s response to Solomon’s building and dedication of the temple. God warns that at times, if the people turn from Him, He would send famines and plagues to get the people’s attention, then if they turned to Him and humbled themselves in prayer He would listen and heal their land.

Many Christians have taken this scripture for themselves to be a reminder that they can see their land healed through repentance and prayer.

Yesterday, in Australia, there was an uprising of ordinary Australians parading in capital cities to tell the government they had lost their way. One of the major parties was having its annual conference and absent. I noticed that the churches went on as usual with their services. Did they also miss what the people were saying?

People are hungry for righteous and godly governments who hear and listen to their cries. Are they also giving the churches the same message by gathering, not to church, but together in parades?

Lord may we have ears to hear!

Mother to the motherless

“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 with a start.

In Bangladesh Grameen Bank was started to overcome this and was successful. A similar organization began in Nepal to do the same, but many business in Nepal become top heavy and the poor on the bottom become neglected.

I am praying for a godly solution. Please pray for me!

Commit

“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 gone to glory or Australia, He knows.

Thomas, my ministry colleague views me as his mother. His relatives all see me as his mother as I resemble her. I am honoured. My flatmates view me as their mother as they lost their mother when they were young. I can see my role is that of mother. I am honoured.

Being willing to allow the Lord charge of our plans works best! Amen!

Tender hearted

“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 called to be kind, tender hearted but also forgiving. Yes! Forgive others their faults! I’ve noticed that living in Kathmandu foreigners can develop a cushy lifestyle and think that is enough. I am being a missionary! I live in a third world country. Are you? Isn’t there a mission to take the gospel to the lost?

I am glad that I am now able to go into the countryside of Nepal. It keeps me focused. It makes me aware that many live in poverty and in need. It makes me grateful. 

Lord help me to keep my eyes on You!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9-UNer6MQ&si=ndTMycGxE9fTHMZn

He goes before us

“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 apply to do voluntary work with said NGO. The day before we left on our first mission to teach in schools in Sindhulpalchok, my colleague Thomas was given an NGO. Not just any NGO but one which spells out the work we will do. I was amazed. Praise God!

This Saturday we will meet Thomas’ uncle who deals with motor vehicles. We need a 4WD. I am praying for a miracle. May God provide! Amen!

Always

“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. Amen!

An unusual prophesy

“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 was lovely to watch.

Thomas, my colleague lost his mother many years ago. All his relatives say I look like his mother, but I have white skin. I am amazed, and happy for Thomas. The Lord has given me a second son. A son who will work with me here in Nepal.

On Saturday I preached twice in local churches. I know God’s heart is that first we be reconciled to Him. Then may we be reconciled to each other.

Lord may Your kingdom come, your will be done! Amen!