Biting and devouring

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We bite and devour when we are walking in the flesh. If we think our opinion is greater than our neighbours opinion about a matter we turn on them. Why? What does it matter if church starts at 9:30 or 10? What does it matter if one group of people seem to get all the opportunities to sing? Perhaps they prepare and are eager to sing, why are you critical?

These are a few examples of the pettiness that transpires in churches. I have seen people I considered friends tear down a preacher on social media. Why? Who is the judge? What does He say about the matter?

Jesu was our example. He had authority to set the captives free and He opposed those who would bind them up with useless laws. Our role is to set captives free.”, to use our freedom to serve one another in love! Amen!

No trouble

““I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My Jesus gave me this gift of peace, I can look storms and troubles in the face and say, ‘I am not buying into your drama, go away!’ I can choose to believe He has won the victory, that He has given me the victory and that He is keeping me in all my ways.

I am watching my flatmates suffer with terrible colds and flu and know I cannot go there. I’ve been there before and know how once the spirit of infirmity gets hold of you it is reluctant to let you go. I don’t want to go there again. A sneeze will come upon me or a cough and I say, ‘I am not buying!!!’ 

Yesterday my friend Chelle and I went for. Trek and stopped at Snake Lake to worship the Lord. There were army soldiers there doing some work on the lake and so Chelle asked that we did not sing until they had gone, we hummed along to the tunes. When they left we sang. We had one immediate witness. A man who comes every time, he speaks English. Last time he spoke to us about going on a cruise. I think when I see him next time I will share the good news with him.

Today is church. I am looking forward to this. I am responsible for corporate prayer after the message. My role is to listen to the message and pray it into being in our lives. Now that I have responsibility for a Pakistani family I am looking forward to seeing them today and organising to visit them this week. My goal is to establish the parents in a business that they can use to provide for their family.

Father thank You for Your Son. Thank You that He gave me your beautiful peace and protection. Thank you that you live in me and are working to create Your Son in my life! Amen!

Turn away

“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬-‭14 NLT

A simple remedy, but one that is difficult to maintain. All it takes is someone to be unfair and unjust and the shackles go up. May we remember the Lord’s Prayer, especially: ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive others’. We are forgiven by the measure we forgive.

I am tested here regularly, my flatmates tell it like they see it. The individualism of westerners is seen as selfish. It is not nice to be called selfish, but that is what it is. Nepali households are community.

When offended we want to retaliate. However, the Lord said: ‘vengeance is mine!’(Romans 12:19) as we leave our issues in the Lord’s hands He sorts them better than we do. I have a friend who for the longest time transferred money from Australia by a means I would consider illegal. Last week he informed me that the Nepali government had closed down that loop hole. God was good to my friend as he was not prosecuted. I had warned this friend so many times and when I finally gave up, it was sorted. God’s ways are definitely not my ways.

I must trust the Lord in His role as God. His role is definitely God, mine is daughter and friend. His ways are so much more gracious than mine. May He retain Lordship! Amen!

Peace and victory

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I am challenged to pass up the snotty spirit that is causing havoc in the lives of my two flatmates. My God has delivered me from broken bones and kept me through two bike accidents, surely He is great enough to deliver me from colds and flu.

I have to keep in mind that this is an evil spirit, viruses can only be manufactured in hell. I have to say, “I’m not stopping to shop at your store darkness!” Psalm 23 tells me: ‘though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear because you are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me’ (vse 4)

I am passing through to a better place!

I will continue to walk and praise the Lord! In the last two days I walked long distances and yesterday I swam as well. I want to be outside in the sun and see the fields and rejoice in the Lord!

I rejoice in the Lord for He is my salvation, He redeemed my soul from sin. I praise Him for He is good! Amen!

Suffering and peace

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We suffer in small ways with sickness, offended family and friends, isolation. However, some suffer in extreme ways. Some are beaten and tortured for their faith. Our church hosts Pakistani refugees. These people have fled their homes for the sake of the gospel. We have many Chinese members and we know if they are caught in China they will be imprisoned. Next door to China is North Korea, as many as 80,000 Christians are imprisoned for their faith. India is now ramping up its persecution of Christians and this is spilling into Nepal.

What small suffering I experience, I am reminded it pales compared to my North Korea, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani brethren. How can I complain?

My Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for me, how can I turn my back on Him and seek comfort? He promises me peace in the midst of all I will suffer. Praise Him! Amen!

Stop fighting

““Stop your fighting — and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

As I read this I am aware that a Egypt is making ready for war. It has established battlements on the Sinai Peninsula even though it has an agreement with Israel not to do so. Israel is surrounded by nations who want to destroy her. Egypt has been studying Israel’s war tactics, why? 

James tells us why we fight, we want what we cannot have, we don’t ask the Lord for what we want and when we do, we want it for selfish motives.

Being told we are selfish pricks the pride. I’ve been hearing that a lot lately and am endeavouring to seek the Lord for His opinion rather than react.

President Trump is laying the axe to many departments in America and people are reacting. The thought is, ‘how dare he take what is mine!’ Whether what he has taken was right for America’s or not is another question. What is good for the whole?

Today I examine my motives and ask the Lord for His judgement. I can trust Him. Amen!

Grace

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yesterday I worked on my research proposal. It was a challenge to find pertinent information. However, progress was made. My language lesson was delayed until after four and by that time my head was foggy and unwilling to persevere in learning new and difficult things, even though I like them.

I awoke this morning to a prayer request from a friend who recently broke his ankle. His wife is still in England as my friend’s mother has dementia and his wife was trying to get her into a care facility. He received word last night that his wife had a mammogram and was called back. He asked for prayer as there is a family history of problems. I put a request through to the prayer team at church.

I know I can pray and will do so. I sought the Lord and sensed His love. I can trust Him to answer. He is faithful! Amen!