God’s kindness

“Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.”Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We appreciate kindness when we have suffered, but can become numb to it when we have plenty and life is good. Gratitude is a good attribute to practice no matter what our circumstances.

I am away from Kathmandu on a trip to discover what God would have me do. we found a village that inspired us to conduct research there, stay a while, and get to know the people.

Yesterday we returned from a trek to Rara Lake at an altitude of almost 10,000’. It was a struggle for me, as I am battling a cold, and the hotel we stayed at was very basic. The people were not kind and we had to trek over stones and steps to return to our jeep driver who was waiting for us. The whole exercise was an expensive exercise.

The cough that had taken hold became a hardship and I needed to rest.  My glasses are still broken and my vision is blurred. However, our hosts in Gambadhi are amazingly kind.

Our God shows us His kindness in welcoming us to come to Him through His Son Jesus. We do not deserve His kindness, it is freely given. There is nothing I can do to earn His grace, or kindness. In myself nothing good lives (in my natural self), however, He has given me His Holy Spirit to dwell within me, to comfort and guide me. Amen

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=R6jKFzcS824&si=kMZRa5wrrjjfTiX0

His Way

“For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬, ‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yesterday we visited a Buddhist village. Buddhist’s believe in reincarnation until you reach Nirvanah. It is self-effort. No saviour lay down His life for them.

I prefer my saviour! He gave His life for me, His Holy Spirit lives in me and He promises eternal life. When I die I am confident I will meet Him and be welcome.

My friend Chelle and I plan to return to the village to live for three months next year. We will see what God can do. Amen!

More important

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We must focus on what is true, clean and lovely not our circumstances which scream for attention.  Right now I cannot see very well as yesterday I sat on my glasses and broke them. Even the local optometrist could not correct them. Today we travel to Magri and the enemy has been out to disrupt me. I had an attacks from my sister over a trivial matter.

My throat is sore and head stuffy, but I am going! The kingdom of God is more important than the kingdom of darkness. Amen!

Chosen

“For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My God chose me from the 1500 people who lived in Bingara, NSW. The eldest child of a nobody family living its life in rural NSW, Australia. I was 4 when I first encountered his call, a visitation in the night of God’s messenger who marked me with a passion for Jesus. Why me? I have only a chance idea that my great grandmother may have prayed for me, for she alone knew Jesus, personally. My mother’s family were all non-believers. My father and his siblings grew up in Catholicism, but this was not their history, their forebears were Anglican.

I am currently in a nowhere town in rural Nepal sensing God’s hand on a group of young children, a young man who serves them, and their children’s home parents. God has brought me here for a purpose. He has a plan and I want to be involved.

I sense God’s love for these people. What are His plans for them? Last night they heard how Jesus had come as saviour into our lives, and sent us to bless them.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=wIMR0BjMdxw&si=NkgNWiLlIMeLj_UF

The law

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can come to view the Law of God as a task master, however Paul tells us it is good and holy:

“But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.”Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus summaries the Law as: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus taught that the Law was deeper, He said “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We excuse ourselves but then judge others, there is no place for that. We are not God, Jesus is Lord. When we stand before the Father He will ask what we did with the free gift His Son gave, He will not ask our opinion.

Sin wants to rule us, Jesus set us free. We should embrace that and live in His freedom! Amen!

The point

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.”Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse can be confusing, as we still adhere to the laws of the land; we still obey our God and His ways. However, we do not live to just be a law-abider, we live in faith for what Jesus has won for us. Keeping the law will not make us holy, He did that. Our relationship with Him is what matters. He is not only our saviour, He is our friend and lover. Our good deeds are a result of that relationship.

Yesterday, my friend Chelle and I travelled for 14 hours over a landslide deveststed terrain in a Jeep. My deriere attests to the journey, it is bruised and sore. Twice we stopped to allow excavators to clear the road. Huge boulders sat proudly on our thoroughfare, causing the excavator to create a path around it for the traffic. We still have another six hours to travel today to a province called Mugu. We carry a huge suitcase (29kgs) full of supplies for a children’s home. Fortunately we will fly home, I could not endure such a beating again. I am told today will be beautiful as we travel towards the alps.

I am grateful for a late start today. 10am is much more reasonable. As we head north the weather is becoming colder. As we pass shacks perched on the edge of eternity, I try to imagine what life is like for the children here. They seem to be having fun. Children know how to enjoy themselves. Yet, one landslide from above their homes and they are no more. They are not living in fear. 

This reminds me to live with my God and spend time enjoying all He has made. He is my creator, my saviour and source of life. Amen!

No longer slaves

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We are free from sin’s hold. We do not need to submit to our fleshly reactions ans appetites anymore.

Jesus died for sin, once and for all times. Our sin was nailed on the cross. We do not need to lives as if it is in control. Not only have we died with Christ we have been raised with Him. His victory over sin and death is ours by faith. I do not need to sweat or struggle anymore. Praise Him!

Today my friend Chelle and I travel in a keep all day up through the midlands of western Nepal. Our trip will take two days. Both of us went to bed with an upset stomach last night. We need them settled for you rugged journey today.

Today, may we live with Christ in His divine victory. May we see as He sees and so what He is doing. Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-QVXGtJudTQ&si=F5fucIr3ljBHrV02