Turn away

“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬-‭14 NLT

A simple remedy, but one that is difficult to maintain. All it takes is someone to be unfair and unjust and the shackles go up. May we remember the Lord’s Prayer, especially: ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive others’. We are forgiven by the measure we forgive.

I am tested here regularly, my flatmates tell it like they see it. The individualism of westerners is seen as selfish. It is not nice to be called selfish, but that is what it is. Nepali households are community.

When offended we want to retaliate. However, the Lord said: ‘vengeance is mine!’(Romans 12:19) as we leave our issues in the Lord’s hands He sorts them better than we do. I have a friend who for the longest time transferred money from Australia by a means I would consider illegal. Last week he informed me that the Nepali government had closed down that loop hole. God was good to my friend as he was not prosecuted. I had warned this friend so many times and when I finally gave up, it was sorted. God’s ways are definitely not my ways.

I must trust the Lord in His role as God. His role is definitely God, mine is daughter and friend. His ways are so much more gracious than mine. May He retain Lordship! Amen!

Peace and victory

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I am challenged to pass up the snotty spirit that is causing havoc in the lives of my two flatmates. My God has delivered me from broken bones and kept me through two bike accidents, surely He is great enough to deliver me from colds and flu.

I have to keep in mind that this is an evil spirit, viruses can only be manufactured in hell. I have to say, “I’m not stopping to shop at your store darkness!” Psalm 23 tells me: ‘though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear because you are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me’ (vse 4)

I am passing through to a better place!

I will continue to walk and praise the Lord! In the last two days I walked long distances and yesterday I swam as well. I want to be outside in the sun and see the fields and rejoice in the Lord!

I rejoice in the Lord for He is my salvation, He redeemed my soul from sin. I praise Him for He is good! Amen!

Suffering and peace

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We suffer in small ways with sickness, offended family and friends, isolation. However, some suffer in extreme ways. Some are beaten and tortured for their faith. Our church hosts Pakistani refugees. These people have fled their homes for the sake of the gospel. We have many Chinese members and we know if they are caught in China they will be imprisoned. Next door to China is North Korea, as many as 80,000 Christians are imprisoned for their faith. India is now ramping up its persecution of Christians and this is spilling into Nepal.

What small suffering I experience, I am reminded it pales compared to my North Korea, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani brethren. How can I complain?

My Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for me, how can I turn my back on Him and seek comfort? He promises me peace in the midst of all I will suffer. Praise Him! Amen!

Stop fighting

““Stop your fighting — and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

As I read this I am aware that a Egypt is making ready for war. It has established battlements on the Sinai Peninsula even though it has an agreement with Israel not to do so. Israel is surrounded by nations who want to destroy her. Egypt has been studying Israel’s war tactics, why? 

James tells us why we fight, we want what we cannot have, we don’t ask the Lord for what we want and when we do, we want it for selfish motives.

Being told we are selfish pricks the pride. I’ve been hearing that a lot lately and am endeavouring to seek the Lord for His opinion rather than react.

President Trump is laying the axe to many departments in America and people are reacting. The thought is, ‘how dare he take what is mine!’ Whether what he has taken was right for America’s or not is another question. What is good for the whole?

Today I examine my motives and ask the Lord for His judgement. I can trust Him. Amen!

Grace

“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 ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yesterday I worked on my research proposal. It was a challenge to find pertinent information. However, progress was made. My language lesson was delayed until after four and by that time my head was foggy and unwilling to persevere in learning new and difficult things, even though I like them.

I awoke this morning to a prayer request from a friend who recently broke his ankle. His wife is still in England as my friend’s mother has dementia and his wife was trying to get her into a care facility. He received word last night that his wife had a mammogram and was called back. He asked for prayer as there is a family history of problems. I put a request through to the prayer team at church.

I know I can pray and will do so. I sought the Lord and sensed His love. I can trust Him to answer. He is faithful! Amen!

Good examples

“Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.”

‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What is the bad example referred to? A man called Diotrephes who was controlling a church and not supporting travelling teachers. This man is now remembered in scripture as a man who opposed John and attempted to control a church. There is no record that Diotrephes repented.  John says above: ‘those who do evil prove that they do not know God’.

Attempting to control a church or a group of people is not good. Fortunately this is not the case at my church in Kathmandu. I am grateful that I have a group of friends who stand up for themselves and not one of us controls the group. We are all strong personalities and can defend ourselves. However, we also know how to submit to church authority.

Yesterday our church had a community lunch after the service. It is mostly attended by Pakistani refugees with a smattering of foreigners. The message was good yesterday. Our pastor talked about not showing favouritism. He asked if we prefer our friends over others in the church? It was a good question, and one that provoked me to examine my own attitudes. I now belong to an advocacy group in the church called Empowerment of Displaced Communities. Our refugees are displaced from Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries around Nepal. This group keeps me focussed on helping my neighbours and not keeping to my selected group of friends.

John’s word speak to me about keeping the Lord’s focus and not being selective in my connections but welcoming all.

The world

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All the world is a large place, however, God can give you a patch where you need to turn your light on and shine. We have work to do, it is not time to sit in comfort and focus on self.

Today is Sunday. Apart from serving at church I need to have my eyes open to those who need to hear. I have been allocated people to care for as an advocate. These people are refugees from Pakistan, not all know the Lord. I can help them. We are having a community lunch after church and I will take time to be with the people I need to care for.

After lunch my friends and I will visit and Englishman who had injured his foot and broken a bone. As he is alone I will take food to help. We will spend time in fellowship with our English friend.

Back in Australia people either go home after church or have lunch with friends. Some have a focus for outsiders, some do not, it is the same here.

My prayer is that I have eyes to see who I need to include, sensitivity the Holy Spirit in how He wants to minister and who needs to hear the Good News. Amen!