Live in the light

“We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Right now Nepal is immersed in worshipping the god of wealth. They have drawn images outside of their homes welcoming in this spirit. We Christians are covered by the blood of the lamb. Some time back, when the locals celebrated the demon snake god I strung a red cloth over our window. It represents the blood of Jesus on our doorpost. We have not been asked what it represents, but I would be willing to testify.

We have the Spirit of Christ in our hearts and the power of the Holy Spirit to live a new life for Him. We are blessed and highly favoured of the Lord.

Yesterday we made our way back to Kathmandu. The flight was delayed and looked like it would not come but I prayed and it arrived. What a blessing to fly over this amazing land. When we arrived in Nepalgunj we had to book our flight to Kathmandu on the spot. Our friend in Gamgadhi organised a man to meet us and he purchase the tickets. He was amazing. We had way too much luggage, courtesy of our friend in Gamgadhi. I was originally annoyed at the amount of luggage we were expected to manage. We were over by 60kg but it still went through. The flight was ready to leave immediately. The plane was packed to the rafters. When we arrived in Kathmandu it was raining and there were no luggage trolleys. My friend went out looking and instead returned to remove the luggage from the conveyor belt. I went out into the rain with prayer and there, right before my eyes, was a trolley. The next hurdle was a taxi. As it was holiday time they wanted a higher, way higher price. We stood in the rain and prayed. Eventually a lovely driver came and blessed us. 

God is good! Always!!! Amen!

A living sacrifice

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This chapter is full of how to live as a Christian. Paul exhorts his readers to live humbly, exercising God-given gifts for all, employing forgiveness and allowing God’s vengeance. His final comment is: don’t be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good deeds.

When unwell we tend towards selfishness, but even here we must watch our steps. If our eyes are on Jesus, we will avoid the pits our enemy digs to trap us. Rejoice always! Amen!

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!