The day with dianne Louise

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ What are people really saying when they speak? What are they saying when they post on social media? Are they masking up? Most likely! We have come to know that most people do not really care for how we really are, and so we mask up. How effective is this? Disasterous! We need somewhere and someone with whom we can be brutally honest. We will not find that on social media because most people are ill equipped to handle it, as they have never found a place to be truely honest on SM. We scroll through looking at pictures-and things that make us feel soft or make us laugh. Things that annoy us make us angry, and if politicians are involved they are usually roasted. We do not trust them. They are salesmen.  Where then can we go for honesty? The Lord is the only faithful One who is willing to not interrupt, love us unconditionally and encourage us ...

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Do you see people listening to answer? I do! This shows impatience with my opinion and preference for their opinion. However, are you like this as well? At times we can be. So then how do we practice listening? First we can practice listening for what God is saying through scripture and through people around us. If we expect Him to speak then we are blessed with hearing Him speak. Second we can choose to love the person who is speaking more than our desire to speak and give our opinion. This requires intentional relationships. Does it matter that we give our opinion? Does it help the situation? Is God wanting to use us to speak? If so He will definitely love the person speaking enough to listen, this is respectful. When people came to Jesus He would ask them, “what can I do for you?” He knew what she could do but allowed them to engage. Impatien...

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Today I floated my idea about creating teaching podcasts for pastors. Timothy liked the idea and wanted to further that to UTube videos. He has a translator and we have a speaker. My role will be to find source material and push translation along. I will also need to fund it. I know how desperately I rely on podcasts and video clips to sustain my walk, especially during hard times. Pastors have it harder, they have to source their material and preach it, then disciple. I want to feed the pastors. This afternoon I went and looked at an electric scooter for me to buy. I liked it. It arrives tomorrow for me to try out. Today I went by myself in a taxi to a swimming pool and home again. It was a long trip, but the pool was refreshing. It was good ...

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37-40‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment by a man seeking to trap Him. The man had to confess that ahe answered wisely. We see this in Mark 12:32, and Jesus said to him, “you are not far from the kingdom of God”( Mark 12:34) So, if these two are the greatest commandments we would be wise to consider them. Loving God with my heart, soul and mind is with everything. If I love Him with everything then, I love my neighbours as myself. When I return home to Australia I plan on doing housesitting jobs for accomodation. Two particular jobs that I applied for did not answer for the longest time, which was frustrating. However, I thought it through: anythin...

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Paul is urging the Philippians to remember and practice what they saw him do. In first and second Peter he does also. Peter and Paul were concerned that the saints not be infiltrated by infidels preaching a carnal gospel. Today, we must be aware of the dangers of carnality also. Modern man lives for self and calls it godliness. However, if we create an idol of our own interpretation of the gospel then we haven fallen into carnality. Today we must heed the call to godliness and holiness because Jesus said, “you must be holy as your heavenly Father-is holy.” Without holiness we will not see God. We need to digest this fact. Amen!

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Paul had won converts and disciples them. The above words are urging the Philippians to continue in the discipleship they had received. Isn’t it interesting that Paul cites his behaviour as worthy of copying. In fact our behaviour is an example, it is evidence of our inward condition. Paul was sold out to Christ and this was evident in his behaviour.  If a sweet fragrance flows from our behaviour then people will know God is present and at work in us. If the sweet fragrance is absent and rather a sour stench is present, our words rankle like clanging cymbals. They turn people away from Christ rather than draw them to Him.  Our behaviour matters and revels our time with Jesus. Amen!

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have had times of intense grief and have wept for a night. However, my spirit yearned for the Lord. I needed to find Him as He is my solace. People are nice to hold but are empty of His solace. He is the only one who’s balm heals the soul. Without the Lord I would be so empty. I would have become angry and bitter and vengeful. Praise God He rescued me! As I yield to Him He frees me of bitterness and rage. Self-control is a fruit that can be released within me. His Holy Spirit empowers me. Amen!