A new life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Beofre coming to Jesus my life was not joyful, I had happy times because of happenings, but the joy that bubbles from deep within eluded me. 

The night I encountered Jesus was the happiest and most joyful moment of my life. Whilst happiness has come and gone, joy remains. The joy of knowing my future is in His hands, not mine, is satisfying indeed.

Yesterday my missionary friend and I spoke of visiting China, particularly Tibet. I have longed to visit China for a long time. Maro Polo revealed a new world to me as a child, the stories of the faithful missionary men and women inspire me as an adult. China is a huge land of beauty and full of faithful followers of Jesus. They have been beaten, imprisoned and abused and yet they love the Lord with a passion. These beautiful people inspire me and challenge all self-pity I experience. 

If I had never come to Jesus I would have been bound to a miserable life back in Australia; constantly seeking fulfilment through self-help and failing miserably. Whereas, my life now is full of Jesus and adventure. He is my shepherd, He leads me into pleasant places, He restores my soul.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=lCurAnLiwiY&si=TnJf0XS6xgu27bvH

Purpose

“So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I needed to read this! I have been struggling to overcome a fleshly appetite and found myself powerless. However, this scripture reminds me that by abiding in life-union with Jesus I have His power to overcome.

The Lord has a work He wants to accomplish and as I abide with Him I see an impact that I could only dream about. 

My flatmates and I are conducting a New Year’s Eve outreach. We have sent out our invitations. All except one are Hindu folk who we live in community with. They are lovely, cherished folk. We will do the expected Daal Bhat and I am commissioned to make a chocolate cake, with icing in the middle and outside (a special request) coated with choc buds. We have games planned for the young and not so young. We also plan to tell them why we celebrate Christmas, as there are a lot of ideas floating around, not many true.

As we approach Tuesday night a lot of distractions are attempting to disrupt our event. I have purposefully cut them off. I need focus and peace. I realise I could be accused of heartlessness by those severed, however, they have an agenda of their own which does not relate to our purpose. Just as the Father pruned off wayward branches I am cutting off the wayward branches. My eyes must be straight ahead.

Jesus did this as He approached His purpose, the cross. I can trust His purpose, nothing else. Amen!

Resurrection

“Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.”Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Our natural realm has many distractions: travel, food, enetertainment, and work. However, a whole heavenly realm is waiting to be explored.

When I was a child I remember one school holidays watching a series about the explorations of Marco Polo. He was an European who travelled across Asia to reach China in the Middle Ages . This series opened my eyes to foreign lands. I wanted to explore and have the same adventures also. I now am.

However, I also had an encounter with the Lord as a child and longed to know Jesus. He made Himself known to me when I was 19. Since then I have longed for heaven. Nonetheless, I am confined to earth for the time being and search out the mind of Christ while I wait.

The things of this world are temporal, my home is heaven. I look forward to meeting the saints there, but most of all being in the presence of Jesus. The apostles had this for three years. Living with the divine. Jesus in His heavenly realm will be that of a king. When He first came to earth He came as a servant. He gave His life for our sins and cleansed us from all wrong doing. Now I can live for Him. 

Thank You Jesus!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=lCurAnLiwiY&si=krkrNh_ayXz7w036

Minister

“Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Yesterday my fellow missionary and I met with a woman from Britain who is here in Nepal short-term to support a local church community. She was struggling with a vision and motive to help blind Nepalis. After much discussion we discovered the root problem, our friend had attended church but had not accepted Jesus as Lord. Her life was full of peripheral Jesus. By this I mean, she believed in Him but did not allow Him ownership. 

We spoke of committment and the need to forsake all. We explained that Jesus at the centre gives correct vision and enables us to endure trials. We offered to pray with her, but she declined. We told her we would be praying for her.

We did not hold back from the truth and now we are praying that the truth will set our new friend free. Our God is faithful and He honours His word. Amen!

True knowledge

“We cross the threshold of true knowledge when we live in obedient devotion to God. Stubborn know-it-alls will never stop to do this, for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge.”Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Obedient devotion is not hard when you love. A practice of a loving relationship results in obedient devotion. It also brings the best results.

Yesterday when I returned to my flat in Kathmandu, my flatmates told me that our landlords son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren went to their church. They arrived in time for the fellowship lunch and enjoyed themselves. This was a huge blessing to us all as we had prayed for them. They have also agreed to come to a New Year’s Eve party we will throw. We are planning games, food and the gospel.

I am now sleeping well and my blood pressure is down, praise God! While other healt issues attempt to rule me I confess: ‘it is well’!

How good is our God! He overcomes all the plans of the enemy of our souls. It is well!

Suffering

“For God has graciously given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him. For you have been called by him to endure the conflict in the same way I have endured it—for you know I’m not giving up.”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We all suffer is some way: from rejection by those we love to being imprisoned for our faith. We perceive suffering differently. Our perception is based on our expectation. If our lives are based around people loving us, we will be disappointed. There is only One who truely loves us and will always be faithful to us. We will be hurt by the level of our expectations.

Yesterday was Christmas Day here in Nepal. I spent the day in a lovely motel in a place called Nagarcot with a fellow female missionary. My family all live in Australia. I was surprised that I did not long to be back in Australia. This is good. As much as I love my family, my path is different to theirs and we all know that. As my friend and I have given all to be in Nepal we gave ourselves a treat. We had a hot spa, a trek to look at the Himalayas, and fine food. Leading up to yesterday we were both busy and gave ourselves to others to bless them with the true depth of Christmas.

Before we left for the mountain retreat I shared a special breakfast with my Nepali flatmates and we exchanged gifts: slippers and socks as our floors are very cold. We plan to invited our Hindu landlord and his family to visit New Year’s Eve. They had been invited to church but had not accepted.

2025 is the year of outreach for me, both in my immediate neighbourhood and in a remote community in western Nepal. I want to share the joy that I have with others. I will continue my language studies with a private tutor instead of college and then begin my research project.

Daily I pray for the persecuted church. I know that what they suffer is the most extreme form of suffering. When Paul wrote the above passage he was in prison in Rome. He knew suffering.

Let us embrace the walk before us and not behave like emotional cripples when suffering comes. Amen!

Good News

“But when the time of fulfillment had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. Yet all of this was so that he would redeem and set free those held hostage to the law so that we would receive our freedom and a full legal adoption as his children.”Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Before I received Christ I was under law and judgement. I wa miserable because I wanted a relationship with Jesus. When He came to me and revealed Himself I was the happiest girl alive.

Today, although feasting and gifts abound, nothing takes the place He has in my life. Knowing Jesus, His ways and His peace is all I need. He keeps me and brings me into a relationship with His people.

May today be filled with Him and His goodness, as we are celebrating His birthday after all. Amen