For your pleasure

““You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you created all things, and for your pleasure they were created and exist.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Last night in Bible study we read Romans 1:18-32. Basically it deals with the fact that we have no excuse for not acknowledging our God as creator because His work is so well displayed in nature, the skies and in our own bodies. However, many do deny Him and live as if He does not exist. Romans tells us that the wrath of God is poured out on unbelief. 

Today I live in a flat in Nepal where sickness has been poured out, yet we believe. It is winter and viruses are swirling. One of my flatmates has been badly affected. She had a cold and almost recovered and was slammed with a worse virus. She has a brain tumor diagnosis and we pray against this constantly. It has not grown but the threat of it is ever present.

M flatmates rely on teaching for their income. However, as they cannot teach when sick their income dries up. They have strong faith in God’s provision, and I am aware that I may just be that provision right now.

Although tough times come and go we rely on the Lord. He is our breakthrough, He is our strong tower. The virus has tickled the edges of my life as well, but I refuse to bow down. Today I visit another refugee family to see how our church can assist them. My God is good!

We were created for God’s pleasure! Let us sing and bless His name! Amen!

An oldie but a goodie!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=evGo6N706J8&si=GbHDyZD36LIiUW5k

With my mouth

“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”Psalms‬ ‭59‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This scripture reminds me of a chorus we sang a long time ago, it fills my heart with song on this chill morning in Nepal.

Yesterday I visited a refugee family and heard their griefs and concerns. This morning I know that the Lord has an answer for them, I am not able to solve all their problems. However, as I sing over the problems I know nothing is too hard for my God.

My flatmate has been told she has a brain tumor that needs removing. The expense is huge. The alternative is radiation. The cost of that is expensive to her body as well as her pocket. We must come to Jesus and say to ourselves: what would Jesus do? He would command healing.

I sit and sing: ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever, I will sing, I will sing. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness, Your faithfulness. With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations’.

I do not have an answer for problems except Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Amen!

Repaid

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!”Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Today I go to meet a refugee family in their home and see how I can advocate for them. Our church hosts refugees and gives them support. The support is limited to that available and has to be handled carefully so that abuse may not occur.

Nepal has refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Siri Lanka, China and sometimes India. They are all different. Some retain financial support from their mother country, some do not. Some have papers some do not. Those without papers fare the worst.

We see tent cities in African countries where refugees congregate. Fortunately, it is not the case here. Nonetheless, our refugees still struggle for finances and without finance they cannot afford housing, food and clothing. They then must beg for help. Begging is demeaning for them.

I remind myself this could happen to me. As the persecution of Christianity rises I know anything is possible.

Lord let me see with Your eyes today and feel with Your heart. Amen!

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!