Generosity

“Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Being generous with your time, favour, money, your smile, your voice pays dividends. As you live as a fountain of love you will be loved.

Withholding what you have in fear of running out causes you to lose even what you have. I find the more I give the greater the stretch is available with my finance.

I have given and given some more. Yesterday, as my flatmates and I were at table I looked out our front window and a man came carrying two large mats. One was the exact colour I loved. I had planned, for a long time, to buy a large mat for the lounge room as the floor has a thin vinyl cover on it and winter here is cold. We have Bible study here often and I wanted my guests to be warm, and us also. I asked one of the girls to run out and ask the man ‘kati ho?’ (How much). I went out to see the man unravelling the mat on the carport floor to show its design. I liked what I saw and asked Monika (my flatmates) how much does he want. She told me and then I asked what should we offer? She told me and we did. The man accepted. What is amazing is it in only 2,000R dearer than a much smaller mat I bought when we first came to live here. (1,000R equates to around $10AU) This was an unexpected blessing! The seller was also happy!

The stretch had just happened in my finances and I knew I could afford the blessing. It makes us so smile when we come into the room.

We are now praying how we can be a blessing to our neighbours as we approach Christmas. Lord guide us! Amen!

Keep watch

““Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some versions say: ‘stay awake’. In the Old Testament we read about watchmen. Watchmen had the role of watching out for enemies, but also for runners who were the postmen of the day. They would bring news of the wars being fought and other important pieces of news. Watchmen could not fall asleep. I suspect this is where we derive the word ‘night watchmen’. Night watchmen keep an eye on the property they are employed to protect.

Here in Nepal you may walk past large properties such as schools, factories, government buildings where watchmen or guards are employed. I walk by a factory where there are several watchmen in raised boxes with guns to protect their employers property.

We are the Lord’s watchmen. We must keep watch over our souls and the souls of our community of believers. We must protect them and make them aware when the enemy is prowling around to destroy them.

Paul regularly addressed the fact that we are being built into God’s house. We are His temple, jointly. We must care for each other.

Encouraging Christians to see themselves as belonging to a community is important to me. When we hurt our friends care for us. When we laugh together it is much more fun.

See

“See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”Isaiah‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am learning how much my God has come to save me! When faced by insurmountable odds He is there. Sometihing Joyce Myer said in a message struck a chord with me: “if the problem seems too big for you, it is, it is not your problem it is His!” Amen to that.

I face so many things that are too big for me. I will give them to the Lord! He is well able to solve them!

Nepali language is one such problem, caring for refugees is another. Buying a four wheel drive with no money is another. Praise God He is able!

Give it all to Him! Give it up, give it up! Amen!

He has come to save me

“See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”Isaiah‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse comes from a song of salvation. The chapter before speaks about Jesus and all He would do. It is fitting that this chapter comes directly after the description of Jesus.

How does this apply to me, now? It aptly describes what Jesus has done for me. For all He has done, is doing and will do, I praise Him.

Yesterday college was difficult. My teacher speaks in Nepali as if he is speaking to another Nepali and this is very challenging. However, in the previous night’s homework I had to write about a friend. I chose my friend Chelle, an American who has lived in Nepal many years and speaks the language very well. He had taught Chelle and when he saw her name he became very excited. He asked after her and I was able to satisfy his curiosity. At the end of class he was telling us about our upcoming exam. At one point he looked at me and said something deferential. I don’t know what he said so I will have to wait and see. However, I do know my God is going before me. I will pass onky because of Him.

I cannot be afraid but step out in faith and trust my Lord! Amen!

His Truth

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Knowing Jesus and His ways is knowing the truth. When we struggle with what appears to be truth, we can go to Him for His version of truth. Only His version has the power to set us free.

I have made a stand on what I have known to be truth, but there is no peace there. Therefore, I must go to Jesus for His truth.

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.” If I am feeling heavy laden then I must examine my load in His light. What is He saying? What would He have me do?

Lately I am pressing on towards my final exams and the work is challenging. However, pressure from outside of school coming from people with financial needs are attempting to make me angry and frustrated and lose my peace. Just because someone says they are in trouble and need my help does not mean I must be the source of their help. Wisdom in management of one’s own affairs could solve some of the problems. I am not God and do not carry all the answers.

There is another aspect here also, I may need to grow and not be affected by the demands I face. I have more capacity than I know and perhaps God wants me to expand.

This is where I need my God’s truth. Only His truth suffices! Amen!

I will praise

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David, at times chose to praise when all around him was falling apart. Yet in all his grief he would turn and praise the Lord.  We can move so quickly past things that have happened and not stop to ponder how God was in the midst showing us His love, patience, goodness, favour and comfort.

Yesterday I went to college as I have done every weekday for nearly six months. We are nearing the end, and preparing for our exams. The day started well with a topic I well knew then, suddenly switched to a test scenario. As I do not understand much of what the teacher said I dutifully copied down the questions on the board. The silence that followed revealed to me I was being required to write answers. Panic filled my heart as I struggled to find relevance. Suddenly I was reminded of a passage that had been given to class the past week and turned to it for a reference. I managed to answer all the questions correctly. I was surprised as I did not know if I had the right perspective. Imagine my relief and praise to the Lord for His goodness to me!

Last night we had Bible study and I was required to lead. The passage was wonderful but I could not successfully get a mental picture of the way forward in my mind. The same happened last week. I prayed for the Holy Spirit to take charge. He did! It was a great night!

As I trust the Lord He answers me! Praise Him! He is good and worthy of praise. David was praising the Lird in this psalm for God’s mighty deliverance from all his enemies. He is our deliverer! Amen!

He carries us!

“What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Pause in his presence”Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭19‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I am grateful for my God’s forgiveness and salvation. I knew what it was like to be without it. Now, I can go to God with my burdens. He listens and gives me wisdom.

Today I am burdened with a particular refugee. I have tried and tried to help this man and his family. They do not follow advice and then get in a mess and want me to pay for it for them. I am reminded of my own children. If they did not listen and got into a mess, they had to work it out themselves. 

Whilst this sounds harsh and is hard to follow through on, I am not in Nepal to fund a wayward refugee. I have other responsibilities and missions. I must teach this man wise ways. In doing so I must say, “No!”

My God gives wisdom to those who ask. He is good! I can trust Him for the way to go! Amen!