Saturday, 16 November 2024

With me


“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

To think these words spoken so many thousands of years ago are still relevant today, how good is our God. We must change our perspective from ‘this was spoken to those people’ to ‘this word speaks to my heart’.

Yesterday I stopped at my bank here in Nepal and afterwards visited a gift shop I had seen many times as I walked to church on Sundays. What a beautiful shop. Three levels of gorgeous crafts, carpets and paintings. I had sought a suitable basket to store my knitting wools and needle is.  I found a unique basket that turned my creative crank. I also found a picture I will buy at another time. Hand made carpets called to me, but they can wait, a little while.

As I write this I am aware that the Lord is blessing me. My funds stretch so well here. The Lord has given me a project to work towards at the end of next year. He has showed me how He wants me to prepare and I am quietly excited. Even with saving for this project I live well. I am almost ashamed of how blessed I am (almost).

I love the Nepali language and today with my limited supply I am going out into my street to make friends with the locals with English story books for the children to borrow. I am attempting to create a library for them. I want to love them with the love I have been given. I pray for good success.

My God is so good as He goes before me. He surrounds me with His love and mercy. How good is He? What joy He brings!



Friday, 15 November 2024

Provision

“I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through Jesus Christ!”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Paul had told the Philippians that they were the only ones who had supported him financially when he went out into the mission field. He was grateful for their gifts.

Support in the field is so important. I cannot say I have any one person who supports me financially, but as the need arises God provides through even random strangers. However, I do have faithful souls praying for me, this I cherish greatly.

As I look to the Lord, He provides. Another missionary friend of mine told me she had a need for travel funds and sought the Lord, He provided this week. I prefer to ask the Lord for provision as He is the master Gardner and I trust Him.

I can trust My God to be the best provider and then I know He is involved in what I am about to do. I love His plans and purposes greater than mine. There is life in those purposes. Amen!

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Blessing

“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

Last night I led a Bible study at my flat and I have sought the Lord for a new move of His Holy Spirit. As the person designated to lead the study could not do the study I practically facilitated it all. I have experienced the wonderful presence of the Holy Spirit and wanted the same for those who attended. It was the best it has been for a while and all enjoyed our time together.

A good friend was in attendance and he kept saying, “when this woman prays don’t get in her way or she will run over you!” I did not think I was like that but then he has been a recipient of my prayer, he would know. His comment embolded me to be braver and trust God for more answers in prayer. We were talking about prayer, the prayer of faith. 

Before our meeting my friend went plant shopping with me and helped me fill my balcony with beautiful flowers. I particularly wanted to fill my window, which looked out on an ugly tin shed, with flowers. I even have my Christmas tree, yay!

Today I am blessed indeed!

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Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Hush be still!

“So they shook him awake, saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Be still!” All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.”Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We can be overcome with impending disaster and not have faith to rise up and rebuke what must be rebuked. Jesus, after rebuking the storm:
 “Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?”Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭40‬ ‭TPT‬‬
Other versions say, “why do you still have no faith?”

The bigness of the problem, the storm, can so capture our imaginations that we fail to see what we have been given, faith. Faith rises up and rebukes the problem. Learning to walk in faith is a process that the disciples had to walk and so do we. 

We can speak to the problem and bind its power and release the goodness and greatness of our God! He alone is good!!! Amen!!!

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Carried

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude. Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse epitomises the truth of the gospel. As we place our faith and trust in the work Jesus did for us, we are carried. No matter what accusations come against us we are carried by God, in His arms.

The Passion Translations says it like this:
“What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Pause in his presence”Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭19‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I will often wake in the night and be troubled by my behaviour. The condemer knows how to bother me, with my own sins. Last night I decided to apply a remedy Bill Johnson uses, scripture. I recited the 23rd Psalm. Straight away the presence of God filled my room. I went back to sleep in peace and awoke differently, safe in the arms of my God.

I know that in my flesh no good thing dwells, but I have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. I have been given a new heart and resolve to serve the Lord. When I am more aware of the Lord and what He says about me, my flesh is dead. I can see that I have been battling a foe that has been defeated by Jesus. I need to rest in Him.

Nepal is steeped in work for many gods. I am living in that environment and need to keep Jesus, His word and His focus my focus. He is my strength and song! Amen!

Monday, 11 November 2024

Weakness

“That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I do not like being weak. I do not enjoy finding sin in my life,  realising I am not my own saviour, am flawed and without Christ I am lost. However, I would not be without Christ, I have to learn that when I feel as though I have failed Him and others, I have His grace and mercy to run to. The battle between self and the new me is constant. The new is winning more these days, praise God.

The Lord told Paul He was best in Paul when Paul was weak:
“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was above referring to a ‘thorn in the flesh’. We are not told what it was, suffice to say it kept Paul humble.

I grew up in a works based religion and it is hard to shake off, especially when I do not see its insidious tentacles. Through God’s grace He is setting me free. Amen!

Sunday, 10 November 2024

Surrender

“Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward.”Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Tender surrender sounds like a loving response; a willing response; not a compelled response. Jesus said, “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus was referring to Himself who was the cornerstone.

It is better to yield and be broken than to reject and be crushed. We are on this earth to walk in communion with Jesus and see His kingdom come, there is no other reason. Believing we are here to build our own kingdom is foolish at best and destructive at worst. This is a sharp rebuke to our pride. However, we must ask ‘where did this pride come from?’ Satan’s problem was he was filled with self-love and pride, then he fell. He would love company.

When in conflict it is not about what we will show another person, rather what would Jesus have us do? How can we pray for that person, how can we see them released into God’s best?

Jesus said, ‘love one another as I have loved you’(Jn 13:34).