Blessed be the Lord

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”1 Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

These were the words of King David on the day he dedicated his son Solomon to be king in his stead, gave his wealth to build the house of the Lord and encouraged the people to also give. It was a day of joyful giving, sacrifice and praise to the Lord.

David lived a life with a heart after God! His psalms speak of his longing and joy in the presence of God. Out of his heart flowed a desire to build a house for the Lord. The actual temple Solomon built was a testimony to the expanse of David’s love for the Lord.

I can learn from this! Father may I never attempt to replace my affection for you with people or things. I pray that You stay with me and guide me into more of You! Amen!

The good fight

“So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before the multitude of witnesses!”1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We fight many fights that are senseless and of no value. The fight we need to engage in is one for our eternal prize. This involves dying to our selfish attitudes and ways; high opinions and ideals; arrogance and pride. Instead we need to take up the cause of our God and reach out to those who are perishing.

The Lord fills me with dreams of how to accomplish His purposes. He is wanting to use all that I have been trained in to bring this about. I have a creative side to my life and He wants to use this to open doors. 

In my younger life I aspired to be a doctor and focussed my study on Maths and Science, and loved it. However, He began my creative training in childhood. I was taught to play the piano and sing. When I play the piano I go to a special place where He is and it is here He is able to talk to me. In Nepal I do not have a piano yet and so I am teaching myself the ukulele. I love to cook and do handicrafts, these I learned later in life. However, it is music He is using and wants to use for His glory.

I cannot dictate as to how the Lord will use me. I must be willing and open for any encounter! Amen!

Sabbath rest

““Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Nepal today, Saturday, is the church’s sabbath, whereas tomorrow is the west’s sabbath. Today, as in most Saturdays I go for a trek with my friend Chelle, I enjoy God’s creation, return home and share my food with Chelle and play a game. To us it is rest. Tomorrow we go to church and enjoy the fellowship of the saints as we worship the Lord together, we usually have lunch at a restaurant and return to my place for coffee and a game. My Nepali flatmates attend a church service both today and tomorrow. They are gone for most of the day. Sometimes they go to visit people who they are outreaching to.

Business is not a part of my schedule on the weekend. It is restful! I usually have food already cooked so that it just needs reheating. I do not like busyness. I like rest. Every morning I like to take a long time with the Lord, reading His word, sharing it with others via social media, worship, and prayer. I actually resist the urge to race in the morning, perhaps it is my age or the length of time I’ve walked with the Lord, or both. Anyway, I can take time and so I do.

There was a time in my life where to have time with the Lord was fraught with difficulty. No matter how early I would rise my young children would interrupt. Now, I enjoy peace. When back in Australia even there my youngest grandson Ollie is up early. Here, quiet!

I remember reading that Charles Wesley’s mum would cover her head with her apron to indicate ‘mum is having time with the Lord’, and no one dared interrupt. If we create a precedent it stands. Amen!

Two or three

“For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!”Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This promise is true. I see God fulfill the prayers we pray in our flatmates and my fellowship each night. We read the Bible and pray together. Our prayers are for the lost, mainly. Our Lord continually gives us opportunities to touch the lives of others. 

Recently I visited local cheese-makers. These people make the tastiest ricotta cheese I have ever tasted. I bought some cheese and butter from them yesterday and came home and made my first pasta then lasagna. I invited a friend to share. It was tasty. I believe the connection with the cheese-makers was God ordained. I had trouble using my phone app to pay and said I would need to go to an atm and get cash. The man said I could take my products and return, however, I remembered money I had hidden for my tithe and I said, ‘I’ve remembered money I had put aside for my tithe’. He stopped and looked at me. This man knew what a tithe was. I am now praying for  an opportunity to share more with him. I can easily get more money for my tithe on the way to church on Sunday.

My flatmates and I prayed for this man and his wife. We are expecting an opportunity. God does not waste a moment. Amen!

Harvest

“So now, beloved ones, stand firm, stable, and enduring. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures.”1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭TPT‬‬

There are times when we see nothing, hear nothing. It is easy to assume we have failed, however, when I seed is in the ground nothing is visible. At the right time the rains come, the sun shines and the plant grows. We are encouraged to not be weary in well doing, in due season we will reap (Gal 6:9). Paul tells us: “God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest.”Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Our challenge , then, is to continue planting good seed. It is winter here in Nepal, yet, I see young seedlings for sale. The local people here know when to plant so that they can produce food for their families. As Christians we must be aware that all we do and say are seeds. We cannot let frustration cause us to plant wrong seeds. The seed we sow will benefit or destroy us and our families.

I am watching my son flourish in the gospel and evangelism. I am grateful for the seed that was down is bearing fruit. The seed he is sowing is bearing fruit. I am waiting for his sister to fruit as she will flourish as a great leader. I must trust the Lord that nothing is wasted. Amen!

His way

“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We can make our plans and they seem tight and fool-proof, however, circumstances change and cause us to rethink. When our plans fail we can become anxious. Fortunately, as a child of God I can go to Him for my needs and He will provide. I have noticed that His measure of what is a need, or merely a want, is sifted by Him.

When I conceive a plan, I am fully aware that God may have deviations; or different outcomes in mind. If I let go my hand from control and allow Him to drive the car, all is well.

When I began my long—term residency in Nepal I purchased a single bed. Little did I know how difficult it would be to find fitted sheets. The mattress came with one fitted sheet, however, it quickly fell apart. Yesterday, after much searching, I took possession of two newly made fitted sheets. They were made according to my measurements. I praise God they are well-made. It took one of my flatmates coming with me to a large store and organising a king-size flat sheet to be cut into two and made up into fitted sheets. I almost did not receive them as they were to be delivered, but the delivery man wanted payment before delivery and I want to inspect before purchase. We arranged for him to return the sheets to the store and for me to go there to collect, only he did not keep to the agreed time (a common orrurrence in Nepal). A compassionate young staffer took it on herself to bring them to a meeting place, not my home, to deliver them. Praise God all worked out well.

 

Rather than me ranting and raving, but allowing God to provide I was blessed. The store only saw me as a good customer. Praise God!

The adulteress

“She has pierced the souls of multitudes of men— many mighty ones have fallen and have been brought down by her.”Proverbs‬ ‭7‬:‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This proverb deals with promiscuity, adultery and sexual sin. The Passion Translation also connects the proverb will religion, false religion, that steals hearts away from a relationship with Jesus.

Religious observation without a relationship is dead and will lead to eternal separation from God. Beofre coming to Christ, I believed in Him and practised my belief in a Catholic religion which was empty of relationship. The night Jesus brought me to Himself was the most joyous ever. He cleansed me of all my self-efforts, and brought me into a relationship with Him.

I now live free of religious observation. I have a loving relationship with Him. I trust Him to be by righteousness, my life, my standing with the Father. I cannot save myself by being ‘good’, but only by accepting His free gift of salvation. I have been set free of all self-efforts and can now live free in love with Him.

Jesus thank You for setting me free from sin and religious rituals. Thank You for being my saviour. Help me live for You now. Teach me Your ways. Amen!