Generous gifts

“Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Today is language class our teacher had to leave the room and asked us to practice pronunciations of words on the board. I jumped up and conducted the class, and then invited the other students to take a turn. When successfully accomplished we all roared our delight. The teacher returned delighted that we had be so attentive.

Praise is cheap but highly valued by others. Acknowledgement of others is not difficult but highly appreciated. Little moves are valued more highly than we imagine. Make someone’s day and bless them with involvement and praise. Amen!

Abundance

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When Jesus said, ‘the amount you give will determine the amount you give back’, He was serious. It works for good and bad. If we are mean to others, meanness will come back to us not in equal measure but, pressed down, shaken together, running over.

Conversely, if we are generous, generosity will be returned to us in abundance. This applies to words spoken, acts done, attitudes displayed. Giving relates to all acts: giving a smile, an encouraging word, making time, giving finance, giving space, even thoughtfully making cookies.

I have a friend who is gluten-free and I made her a batch of peanut butter cookies. She loved them. She had shared her banana cake with me and I reciprocated with cookie, in abundance.

However, I did not share the cookies with my flatmates and so they made themselves a batch of sweets which they kept to themselves. I understood why they did this, fortunately, I did not want their sweets as they were pure sugar and sesame. However, I was compelled to explain that the cookies were made for my friend who could not eat wheat.

When I am selfish I am aghast at my behaviour. I try not to be selfish, but it happens when I least expect it. I was at college two days ago and was hungry and took out a small packet of crackers and ate them. I sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted me to give a cracker to the young girl sitting next to me, I didn’t. Although I reasoned it away I knew I was wrong and repented.

I thank God I have a saviour! I praise Him that He is teaching me to be selfless. May I learn this lesson. Amen!

Yield

“So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today was my second day at the offical Nepali Language college. I was a little concerned that my hearing is not the best, but I was determined to eat deafness for breakfast. The room was ghastly. It echoed badly and we needed an overhead fan. I wear a hearing aid and it picks up fan noises in an unwelcomed way.

However, I had prayed that I would hear and understand my teacher, and I did. I also discovered the lack in all my fellow students was equally disturbing for them. I sat next to a young Korean girl who spoke neither English or Nepali. She communicated with the teacher via an Ap on her phone. I could see that there are other disadvantages apart from hearing difficulties. I led the cheer squad when we all had to introduce ourselves in Nepali.

I have mastered ordering my motorbike taxi and am confident that I will progress. I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with a good teacher and wonderful fellow students.

We must yield control and trust our God for the outcome! Amen!

What is important?

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Raising young girls to love the Lord and obey His commands is important. I have two granddaughters and both have been raised in a Christian environment. The youngest has a father who passionately loves the Lord.

As I write this I think back to my own daughter at four in the back seat of my car praying with me in tongues so that we could get a break in the traffic. We lived in an estate that was bordered by a busy road and at times it was busier than others. 

Parenting as pastors can be tricky. Peopel always want your attention and your children can learn to be quiet and not speak up when they also have a need. I think this was the case for my daughter more so than my son. As a consequence she pulled back.

We can spend so much time before a mirror as women and try to make ourselves presentable to those we meet. Often times women waste time and money on things that just aren’t important. We colour our hair, have our nails done our faces done etc. now that I live with two younger Nepali women and see them preen I realsie how empty it was all those years I also did it.

The gates are open

“And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We no -Jews are those that this scripture references. I am so glad our God decided to graft us into the vine.

For thousands of years the only people God dealt with were the Jews, now, through Jesus the gates have been opened to all. Praise God!

For thousands of years the Jews believed that God onky inhabited the borders of Israel. However, He is bigger than that. David said, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David had discovered that God indeed inhabited areas outside of Israel. During his time of evading Saul, who sought to kill him, David lived for a time with the Philistines. When He sought the Lord about recovering the families taken from Ziglag, God spoke to him.

God is omnipresent, this means He is everywhere. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He may be silent but He is present. Amen!

Everyone

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Note this says, ‘everyone’, not ‘someone’. As we come to the Lord and seek Him, genuinely seek Him, not offhandedly seek Him, we will find Him.

There were two criminals crucified with Jesus, one sought Him the other reviled Him. The one who sought Him was saved the other condemned.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life, no man or woman comes to the Father but by Him. However, who so ever who calls on His name, will be saved.

We had a family visitor stay over last night. I pray she is blessed by the atmosphere in this house, the presence of the Lord. I pray she finds Him as her source and life. She attended our bible study and prayer. Praise God! He is life no other gods have life. Amen!

He lifts us up

“I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry. He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.”Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This picture talks of a loving Father and a small child. We watch many video clips of small children falling into danger and heroic parents who come running to save them. Our Heavenly Father is like this. He loves us more than any earthly father. 

Today I saw a clip of a dog which fell into an icy pool. The owner, a woman ran and jumped in to save the dog. She had no considerstion for her own welfare, her sole focus was to save her dog. How much more than a dog are we worth?

My flatmates and I have had the honour ministering to one of their ill relatives who is a young married Hindu woman. She has so many diseases. God spoke to my heart to tell her He would give her a new heart if she cried out to Him. One of her problems is her heart. We are praying she opens her heart to Him. He loves her even though she rejects Him.

Our God is faithful and loving! Amen!