Purpose

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Esther had reached a place where it was not glory and good times. She received word that a wicked man called Haman had a plat to kill all the Jews (isn’t it amazing that a group called Hamas are wanting to exterminate the Jews again). Esther was implored to speak to the king and ask for mercy. Esther knew the court rules: ‘if you went before the king without an invitation you could die’.

Esther had to trust God to give her favour, and He did. The king welcomed her suggestion of a dinner she would provide for him and Haman. It was not at the first banquet did she speak but rather she asked for a second and was granted her request. As the king was joyful and enamoured with love and grace she told him of Hamans plan to kill her people. The king rose up in her, and their, defence. Haman ended up dying on the gallows he had made for Esther’s uncle Mordecai.

Esther faced her fear and was blessed. The king had fallen in love with Esther and was more than happy to defend her. Haman did not know that Esther was a Jew, it was her secret that she divulged only at the right time.

What secret do you hold that God is wanting you to divulge at this time? Where has God placed you in His plan? Are you willing to trust Him? He will protect you!

Everything is used

“Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.”Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jonah rebelled against God and ran. God provided a lesson in the rebellion. A huge storm arose and swamped the boat on which a Jonah was travelling away from God’s purpose. He knew the cause of the storm was himself and told the captain of the boat, ‘throw me overboard’. He may have thought his end had come, but God had a plan. Jonah was swallowed by a huge whale and he spent three days inside repenting. What a smelly place to sit and contemplate his sin!

Imagine sitting inside and being washed constantly as the whale swallowed plankton, it would have been a wet, disturbing experience. However, Jonah was an irritation to the whale and needed expulsion. After three days he was vomited up on the beach, back where he started. This time he went to Nineveh, the place God wanted him to go. He did not go with a good heart nonetheless. He did as the Lord commanded, he preached a need for repentance. The people repented and Jonah became sulky.What a rebellious, self-righteous man!

Do we represent Jonah? Have we become sulky because God did not act as we would have Him act when He shows mercy and not judgement? Yes! I have a friend who continually flouts laws surrounding what he wants to do. I want God to smack him, however, God graciously removes him from involvement by shutting down loop-holes, without a comeback on my friend. This is exactly what God did for Nineveh. As the people repented He released them from judgement, for a time. They were eventually destroyed for the same sin, but God gave them time.

Sef-righteousness wants judgement on others, not self, of course. It is a stinky sin! Help us find repentance Lord! Amen!

Boldness

“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I want more boldness for Christ. Being wary of prosecution makes me cautious. I don’t want souls to miss God’s best for them.

I want my life to honour Christ. Only He knows if I have been successful. I am aware that recently I was in a coffee shop and one Nepali man was trying to engage me in conversation. I carry a small card on which is written: ‘Jesus loves you’ on one side and on the other: ‘for God so loved the world that He gave His Son’. I had purposefully put that card in my bag that I take swimming. I felt a prompt to give the man the card but didn’t because I was unsure of the environment. I should have trusted the Lord. Please bring the man back Lord!

I have a friend who has lived here for 16 years and she has been expelled for proselytism. Her voice is ever in my head.

I need to find the Holy Spirit’s boldness and step up when He commands. I have to trust Him for my safety. Amen!

Recognition

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

John was able to recognise Jesus as the Messiah. How was he able to do that?

“And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on — He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God! ”John‬ ‭1‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Jesus was John’s cousin. As John had grown up in the wilderness perhaps they had little to do with each other, John’s parents were old at conception and although they knew about Jesus, John may have not. Or else he was stating that he received his revelation from God and not man.

How do we know Jesus is the Messiah? We also have a divine revelation, our eyes are opened to the fullness of Jesus in the scripture. The Holy Spirit also works in us to reveal Jesus. I remember the day it happened for me. Suddenly I could read scripture and know that Jesus was all it said He was and He was my personal saviour.

This same revelation is wanting to be made available to all mankind, and it so our task to take the good news, just as John had done. Amen!

Shelter

“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Several nights ago I was awake early praying for my children and grandchildren who we caught in the path of cyclone Alfred. I saw the Lord as a great bird with wings spread shelling them from the damage intended. I had a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord and sensed His intense love. I knew He had this, and He did, the cyclone lost strength and was downgraded to a low. Praise Him!

I must always run to Him for shelter.! Yesterday whilst helping a good friend move house Kathmandu had another earthquake. We did not feel a thing. My friend is moved into a beautiful new flat, the first and only one to occupy the units as the landlord lives in America and wants the flats upstairs to be his holiday home. She has complete control of the whole building. Now, that is a blessing for my dear friend!

My two flatmates are troubled with constant colds and cannot break free. My Jesus has an answer! He is God and we must run to Him in faith. Amen!

Great gratitude

“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord! ” And she told them what He had said to her.”John‬ ‭20‬:‭18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Mary had had several demons cast out of her. She knew such gratitude and love because of the freedom Jesus gave her. She was at the tomb early on Easter Sunday morning and when she found Jesus gone she was grief stricken. Jesus had compassion on her and met her need to find Him. He had not ascended to he Father and told her not to hold Him, or attempt to. 

We find that people who know great deliverance love much and those who have come from a relatively good life love less. I am one of the latter but am grateful Jesus revealed my sin to me before I came to Him. I am grateful for Him rescuing me when I see so many caught away from Him. I look at my siblings and know I would be just the same if not for Jesus.!I grieve for them and pray they find Him.

Right now my family are caught in the midst of cyclone Albert. They are safe praise God. I am grateful!

Take time to be grateful! It will save your soul! Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Y_zR_om9c&si=rYfgBQFFIk4wdOxJ

Every part

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every part means every part not just those areas that are ever present before our eyes. I cannot take liberty whilst in Nepal and ignore the road rules. If I cause an accident and people are injured how will they be compensated? If I am driving illegally then I will face prison and eventual deportation.

I know foreign nationals who flaunt these rules. What is their behaviour saying about their hearts towards others? Towards their God? The above scripture saying to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in all areas. 

If we say we cannot hear Him correcting our behaviour what does that say about our hearing? Have we dulled our ability to listen because of self-will?

Because I am sensitive to following the law I am not free to walk around in critical judgement of those who do flaunt the rules. My challenge is to get out of the way of the Spirit and let Him rule. 

Lord I ask for Your focus for me today, to allow you to rule in my heart. May a your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen!