My passion

“I’m obviously not trying to flatter you or water down my message to be popular with men, but my supreme passion is to please God. For if all I attempt to do is please people, I would fail to be a true servant of Christ.”Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

When I went to the village of Magri I knew I wanted to return there to conduct my research project that looks at how music affects learning. I plan to bring the music of heaven to them. The village is isolated. To reach the village I must trek. The reception we received when we went there was good, as the guide had lived there for 2 1/2 years as a teacher. I am praying into the project and seeking God for His way. My friend, who initially was willing is now unwilling and rather than cause me to vere away it has caused me to strengthen my purpose. My concern is my ability to communicate. I want to communicate well.

My friend wants to go to another people group. I am not sure how she is being influenced by the man who took us as his passion is elsewhere also. I will have to pray and trust. Just as Barnabas and Paul had to go separate ways we may also. I pray that if I must that God will provide me a Silas as He did for Paul.

I am ready to go back to studying Nepali today. I pray that I will be successful. I do not want to waste a moment of time.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=_mjI1axEs98&si=8SuNXY_qveL_x2m3

Renewed mind

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Being in Nepal, and not having a full grasp on the language, I do not fully know the ideals and customs of the people around me. Whilst I know they live in fear of their many gods, I imagine their ideals are to be as affluent as the west. There are a growing number of motor vehicles on the road and those who drive them are smug and self confident.

The disparity between those who have and the who do not is huge. Outside of Kathmandu, the further one travels, the poorer the inhabitants become. However, there are people in remote western Nepal who are content, without motor cars and fancy houses. This is where I want to go. 

Today I begin my language learning again. I am not waiting for college to begin, my private tutor will teach me. The more Nepali I know and understand the more I enjoy living here. Praise God!

A new thing

““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have a whole 366 days ahead of us, what will unfold? I am trusting for great things. Last night we celebrated the New Year and gave thanks for the old. At our flat we had a vibrant bunch of neighbours in the welcome in the New Year. We ate daal bhat, roti, tharkari, and finished with cake, on which two fire crackers were lit. After eating we played games, such fun. I saw a funny and beautiful family from upstairs perform together. A smaller family from downstairs was more subdued,  perhaps it was because they were the servants to those upstairs, perhaps it was other reasons. We prayed to Jesus for our food and finished the night with thanks to the Father for a wonderful year and bequests for this New Year.

This was my first cross-cultural, cross-faith celebration. I am grateful to our neighbours for being open to us. One of my flatmates was able to testify about why we celebrate New Year as people of faith. This is the beginning of our street outreach.

I have never enjoyed a New Year’s celebration as much. It was full of love and grace. Oh to have a full year of such blessing!

My Lord I thank You for being my saviour and allowing me to experience Your grace in this foreign land. I honour You, and pray that 2025 will be filled with You. Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=iI81b5y-QgE&si=o66dXJf2B_CNyOTU

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!