Faithful God

“Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’ “All who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced. All who contend with you will perish and disappear. You will look for your enemies in vain; those who war against you will vanish without a trace! I am Yahweh, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: ‘Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!’”Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I claim this promise, although it was given to Israel, I am grafted into the branch through faith in Jesus Christ. I love the second sentence: ‘ never turn your gaze from Me, for I am your faithful God!’ I constantly hear the Lord whisper ‘look at Me, look at Me!’ As I look at Him He fills me with His dreams and visions, and He blesses me through watching my son march forward in evangelism.

Satan has tried to destroy me many times and constantly attacked my mind with doubts about my physical abilities. Yet, Sunday I collected my result sheet from the college here in Kathmandu and I discovered the subject with the best score was the one I was least prepared for. I had to listen to a passage read in Nepali, answer questions about said text, in Nepali, and write my answers in Nepali. I scored an 85. For someone challenged in hearing this was a miracle. I had been absent from class for over four weeks and not been present when the class practised this exercise. Praise God!

There are other areas where my God has and is going to fight for me. He is filling my heart with His vision and it is delightful and fun. I pray I am able to fulfill all He puts before me as this would be the pinnacle for me. Each day, now, I look forward to the next exciting instalment.

Each night my flatmates and I sit by the heater, read our bibles and pray and then knit. Such peace descends. I am reluctant to leave. The beauty of the Lord is present. Last night I read several psalms and enjoyed the Lord in them.

Today I will take my next step to answer the Lord’s call. May He open doors wide for me, wider than ever before. Amen!

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!