The fight

“You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. * * *”2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

These are Paul’s words to Timothy. Paul was in prison in Rome  and facing death at the hands of Nero. He was able to say he stayed faithful.

I am approaching the age of 72 and can say I know the time is coming, but not yet, when I must depart. I have stayed close to the Lord and sought His path constantly. The closer I get the closer I want to be. When I sense I am not close I determine to rid myself of what hinders me.

I am reminded of the scripture in Hebrews about running the race and throwing off all that hinders. I cannot allow darkness to consume me. My God has an excellent plan and it is that which I must follow. Amen!

His plans

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Although this verse is a favourite for the church, it was written as a part of a letter Jeremiah sent to the people of Israel who had been taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. In the letter Jeremiah tells the people to prepare to stay in Babylon for 70 years, to marry and have children and have them marry. God, through Jeremiah also tells the people to pray for the city so that all would go well for them there.

 

God’s plans for us may be a period of removal, isolation from all we know. However, if that is the case, it is for a period of time only. Restoration is coming! Amen!

Plans

“Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.”Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

As I had spent many years writing financial  plans for people, I am used to plans. However, as a Christian I am well aware of how wrong I can be in my goals or my ideas about how I will achieve those goals.

I, now, tend to wait on the Lord for His plans, His heart about a matter, and not be too frustrated when my ideas fail or take forever to materialise.

For six weeks now I have been waiting for my ministry colleague to organise an NGO. Each fortnight when I am paid my pension I have the money ready for that purpose. However, God has had other plans. There are many needs here in Nepal.

He would have me spend according to His need, not my perception or plan. As I willingly go along with His plans my money stretches and lasts and is able to fulfill many needs, it is quite fun!

Yesterday I had a dentist appointment as I had broken a tooth. I was trying a new dentist, a woman. She was brilliant and the half hour she spent on me only cost the equivalent of $35AU. The same proceedure in Australia would have cost hundreds.

The Lord is definitely call the steps! He is a good boss! Amen!

Just as Jesus did!

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here is the ‘rub’ so to speak. We cannot say we live in God but live in hate for others. We are deceiving ourselves.

John goes on to say:

“If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Love must guide our behaviour. God’s love in us should be reaching out to break down walls. It should not allow us to build walls of offence and disagreement. If there are walls of division they must be broken down. We should allow God’s Holy Spirit to rule in our hearts. He will show us the best way! Amen!

Treasure

““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can be so focussed on our finances that increase brings euphoria and loss devestation. I know both of these. I worked as a financial planner in the past and the task was to make people’s earthly wealth grow exponentially. Unfortunately, the opposite often happened due to market fluctuations and people became very upset with me.

Now, God has me relying on His provision of and expansion of a fortnightly pension. However, the goal is not so much to save for retirement, but help others as well as save for the next visa here in Nepal. When you are faced with a starving family and their needs for rent and food, you cannot choose blindness over personal security. The unusual thing is, the more I give the more my remaining money stretches.

Jesus went on the say:

““Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “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 ‭6‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Note the last sentence: ‘you cannot serve God and be enslaved to money!’ It is interesting that how we see things is called ‘the lamp of the body’. It is so inportant that the light in us is His light and not worldly darkness. Amen!

Fear is being generated

“But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart.”Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Fear is being generated: claims of ufo sitings; claims about unusual activities by a comet; claims that the earth is ready to explode with massive earthquakes and more. To top it off earthquakes are happening in Australia, a reasonably safe place from earthquakes.

Jesus said, “Expect to witness amazing and perplexing signs with the sun, the moon, and the stars. The raging of the sea will bring desperation and turmoil to many nations. Earthquakes will bring panic and disaster. What men see coming to the earth will cause the fear of doom to grip their hearts, for they will even see the powers of the heavenly realm shaken!”Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬

What do we do? Do we submit to the fear? No! We need to use our biblical understanding and trust God. The Bible does not tell us that men from outer space will come and destroy the earth, it tell us the God will destroy the earth, eventually. Yes there will be heavenly involvement, fiery balls will fall in the sea, a third of the sun, moon and stars will disappear, but it will be all God. In the Old Testamant, when God was using the prophets to warn of destruction they named the people God would use. There has been not mention of aliens from outer space.

So what is causing all the disturbances? Good question! Some evil purpose is afoot. As we draw near to the return of Jesus Satan must have ready an explanation for why thousands of people will disappear.

 Jesus is returning soon, but first the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will bring in many souls. When the number is right then Jesus will return. Only the Father knows when that will be. Amen!

Meantime, keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of our faith! Amen!

Whole heart

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We tend, as a people, to not be very wholehearted about relationships. A relationship with a God we cannot see is hard work, much harder than one with people we can see.

However, the fruit is there! The benefit of seeking God is there! I had sought the Lord from childhood. I wanted to know Jesus. For the longest time I used the only means I had, the Catholic Church. However, it failed me. At the right time He came to me, showed me my sin and welcomed a repentant heart in. Having found Him I cannot turn away from Him.

The Lord has me use the same principle with people. I have to search for their hearts and bring them in. If I fail I lose an opportunity to know the special deposit God has placed within them. This is the part I love! When I succeed I am able to fellowship with that beauty and become a better person. In the process they benefit as well. I also have a deposit of God within me. As we fellowship with each other in the presence of God we are functioning as His body. How cool is that!

I have a few friends who have kept themselves only for the Lord. They carry a special beauty that I love and hunger for. Their faithfulness and love for the Lord draws me.

We need to seek the Lord with all we have and be hungry for His beauty! Amen!