Ransomed

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Israel had been plundered and was in captivity when this word was given. The reason for the captivity was sin. However, God was speaking hope.
If we remember, Jacob was a rogue, yet God called Him and used Him to birth the sons that would be the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. The sons were not a godly lot, in fact Joseph stood out by his faith in God to preserve him in captivity in Egypt where his brothers sold him as a slave.

When I look back on past failures, especially with people God gave me, I am repentant. However, right now, the people He gave me are faring better, because I understand His ways more. I pray I continue to learn His ways and treat people as He would have me do. I can trust Him to work in me to will and so His pleasure, not mine. Amen!

That is why!

““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What is that?? If we look at the previous verse we see:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How is being concerned about what I have to eat and wear? Apparently these concerns are tied to mammon. 

Right now our house is aware of a Christian Nepali family who have been turned out of their home and declared bankrupt. They are anxiously living in the church building and looking for a new place to live. My flatmate Martha went out yesterday to help look for a flat. She found two: one who would not allow church gatherings, and one who would not allow eating of pork and buff. I kid you not, some homeowners are strict Hindus.

Last night we hosted a farewell to a Christian missionary friend in our flat, we ate buff and had worship. We are blessed with our house owners, abundantly blessed.

Tomorrow my research friend and I go to the Tribhuvan University to gain support for our research. We need to have $3,000US in our bank accounts each and enough money to pay for our visas, another $1,000US. This can be challenging as many missionaries borrow from friends to show the money in their bank account. It can be a stressful time.

My God wants me to see Him as my supply! He is in charge. He alone faces off the difficulties with peace and a knowledge that He holds all things in His hands. This is where we are now!

May mamon lose its hold! Amen!

Completed

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I pray this for my children and grandchildren. That I will see them flourishing in the work of the Lord. I am grateful that this promise is to me also.

Our God is not a quitter. He pursues us, and pursuers us and pursues us. His love is merciful and gracious. While ever we have breath He pursues us, to bring us into his embrace. We give up on people, however, He never will.

Paul is writing to the Philippians church who have supported him faithfully. He goes on to tell them of his love for them: “God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Faithfulness is highly valued by those out on the front lines. The ones who faithfully pray, follow us and support us are a treasure.

There are many observers and critics, selfishly attempting to destroy, but the faithful trump them. God will reward their faithfulness. Amen!

All glory

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In my exuberance I oftern boast about what I am doing or am about to do, that God is leading me to do. Each time I am convicted that all glory belongs to the Lord. Yesterday my research colleague and I received approval from the school in Mangri, Mugu, Nepal to conduct research in their school. However, we have another school in a place called Takha, that is yet to respond. 

In Bible study last night I asked my friends to pray for approval. Praise God against all odds and difficulties we are making headway. We have waited for this day for five months now. On Sunday we visit the Tribhuvan Uni to request covering for the research. This will enable us to obtain research visas.

In the school that has given approval, I will conduct choral work as a part of my research. I have in mind the song they will learn but have yet to have my Nepali translation checked. I plan to teach The Sound of Music, as the area where Mangri is situated is hilly, in fact mountainous. I see the hills filled with music.

As a Christian I am not permitted to proselytise but bring joy I can. May God use me in the way He wants. Amen!

Grafted in

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

By laying down my ‘rights’ to live as I choose, I am allowing the Holy Spirit to guide, reprove and train me in all godliness. 

In chapter 11 Paul discussed the fact that the Jews failed to believe and therefore we Gentiles have the opportunity to be grafted into the tree, which is represented by Abraham who believed God and was righteous before Him. We are reminded that the Jews were blinded by unbelief until the full number of Gentiles have come in. 

This does not mean that God has forsaken them, He still loves them. They are His chosen people. However we Gentiles are grafted in and become His loved ones. This does not mean we can live for ourselves and treat His gift lightly. He is able to remove us as well.

Our task is to live wholly committed to Him, in all we do we are His representatives. Our bodies are His temple and we cannot live in the lusts of the flesh, but rather in the spirit. Amen!

The headwaters

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Right now, in this day, a vast awakening to God is underway. People are coming to Him in record numbers. I sense this prophesy is coming to pass. This is so good! I am praying into this space.

Lately I have had two dreams, very vivid dreams. In the first I was watching my daughter who was a business woman. Her heart was hard towards God. Her focus was worldly wealth. The Lord had decided it was time for her to come back to Him. She was on the bank of a river watching a black boat, in which she had just placed all her treasure. The black boat capsized and was lost, rather than repent she ranted and raved at the captain of the boat. I saw a hard heart, and sensed that same heart was in me. It caused me to repent and ask for forgiveness that I might have been the cause of her hard heart.

In the second dream I was a married woman. I was on a bank looking down where a group of businessmen were meeting. My husband was one of those men. The next scene we were in a car together and he said, “we have just become very wealthy.” I asked how much, and he replied, “millions perhaps billions. What will we do with this money?” I asked how it came about. He said, “I said that the headwater would not break and it didn’t. Everyone else said it would. I alone stood believing it would not break. (It seemed like a gamble)” I said, “we must pray and ask God what to do with it”. I knew I did not want to be drawn into the love of it. I could sense the draw of the love for it.

Why I am dreaming about business I do not know. Perhaps these dreams mean something to someone.

Faith is..

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Faith is a gift given to each of us to use in our relationship with the Lord. Many do not use it, they misunderstand it and rely too much on their own hand.

Faith must be stepped into. If we read the gospels and do a word search where Jesus said: ‘you faith has made you whole’, we discover instances where people did something in their contact with Jesus. They came, they touched Him in Faith, they refused to be silenced. For me faith is just that, I must step into it. I must pursue the prize in faith.

I have done this with my health, my finances my relationships. Self-pity had to be destroyed first. All offense, all self-help and wrong attitudes and focus on Jesus and His provision. There is one area I am constantly challenged, my hearing. However, I have stepped into relationships with people, creating space for people to belong. I love on them and make them welcome. I refuse to be kept silent. 

Yesterday in pouring rain and hail, my friends Chelle and I went on a long scooter ride to visit our Karmarong contact to complete some research for our upcoming research application with the Tribhuvan University here in Nepal. Once granted we can travel up to the far reaches of Mugu province and connect with the people there. The Karmarong write with the Tibetan Script. The weather tried to stop us, the traffic tried to hinder us but we went and praise God we did. A hot cup of tea awaited us and a complete list of Karmarong words. However, the best part was the communication and friendship given.