An unusual prophesy

“His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I had to get out my Bible and a commentary to discover who ‘He’ was. This verse refers to the previous Vera about a Elijah the prophet coming again. Now, John the Baptist was referred to a second aelijah the prophet, but did he reconcile sons to fathers? He was more about repentance from sin as a whole. The Bible does not mention healing of relations between fathers and sons. 

My Bible commentary and the Bible Hub commentary indicate another figure coming who will reconcile sons and fathers. May that be so! I have some reconciling to do myself.

I have been away on a weekend mission to Sindhulpalchok in northern Nepal. I saw families living in community and saw my colleague meet his mothers sister and his mothers brother on a bus when we were travelling to a school to conduct a presentation. It was lovely to watch.

Thomas, my colleague lost his mother many years ago. All his relatives say I look like his mother, but I have white skin. I am amazed, and happy for Thomas. The Lord has given me a second son. A son who will work with me here in Nepal.

On Saturday I preached twice in local churches. I know God’s heart is that first we be reconciled to Him. Then may we be reconciled to each other.

Lord may Your kingdom come, your will be done! Amen!

Trusting the Lord

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yesterday, I was up early and ready to preach at two churches. I had one message, but in the first service the Lord gave me one word, ‘faith’’ for the second. Fortunately, I am an avid blogger and used to writing sermonettes on the spot. At the first church I preached about us being salt and light. The Lord ensured it was a humorous message. The pastor got up after me and built upon my message. In the second church I taught on faith. Fortunately, it all went well as it is what I have had to live. The people responded well. I have been asked back to teach a group of pastors on faith.

Last night I presented the Jesus movie to a third church high up in the hills. I had arrived early and they were just finishing their service. Some stayed on all afternoon, mainly children. I could see the small two had nothing to do but hand around adults talking. I understook to make a doll and some cars out of rubbish lying around. The children loved them. They came alive. My translator told me I should be resting and I replied, “creativity is a good form of rest for me!”

The movie did not finish until after nine and by then I was very tired. I discovered I had a family sleeping in the church with me. They were up late talking and left the main light above me on. This was a little disconcerting. I improvised with scrap material and made a blind fold. I had been told that tigers may roam around at night. I wondered how I would secure the door and found that my co-inhabitants stacked chairs against it. Through the night loud bangs could be heard on the roof. It was not tigers or intruders, it was fruit falling from a tree nearby.

Today I do presentations at two schools then board a bus back to Kathmandu. I have college again tomorrow. However, Tuesday is Woman’s Day and I get a reprieve. Praise God!

I have made many new friends this trip and enjoyed God’s people. I know I am going to enjoy my future times with these people.

Our confident hope

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have just been reading about king Jehoshaphat, one of the good kings of Judah. He relied heavily on the Lord is all things but his relationship with the kings of Israel. He continually tried to work with them, each time disaster struck. However, God always rescued Jehoshaphat. Unlike his grandfather Asa, who was faithful to the Lord in most things, but developed a disease in his feet, and he did not seek the Lord for help. King Jehoshaphat encounter attacks by enemies but he sought the Lord and God fought for him, he just had to show up.

Today I am in Chautara. My journey here last night was tortuous. We were to catch a nice micro bus but the bus failed to appear and then torrential rain began. We waited in a lean-to cafe along with many Nepalis. I entertained a small girl. We finally found a bus, an old, groaning beast that entertained us with loud Nepali music. There were huge black car tyres up the centre aisle. We were dispatched about 20kms from our destination and needed to call a taxi. What were the odds in the rain far from anywhere we needed to be. But God provided. Five people were squashed into a small car and off we went. 2500R later we arrived, in the rain, to our destination. At 9pm at night we had our daal Bhat and went to bed.

Today will be a big day. I am to preach at two churches and present a Jesus movie in Nepali in another tonight. I sleep on the floor in that church and tomorrow go to two schools to do presentations on human trafficking. At 4 in the afternoon we catch another bus back to Kathmandu. Monday I am back at college.

This morning my head is ringing but I am going to fight for souls. May the kingdom of God come to Chautara. Amen!

The Kingdom of God

““So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We are told to seek God’s Kingdom. Where is that and what does it looks like? God’s Kingdom came among the people Jesus interacted with. They saw grace, forgiveness, deliverance, healing and miracles. Daily Jesus sought the Father in private prayer. He asked what His ways were for the day, His priorities.

What does God’s righteousness look like? Righteousness is right living, right with God. We cannot produce this in ourselves but we must live it by faith in Jesus. He alone was sinless and lived sinless. He sacrificed Himself for our freedom from sin.

My focus cannot be stuff. Jesus classes things as less important. He provides these less important things as secondary and not needing focus, God would provide them when needed.

My challenge is relegating things to ‘not important’ and God’s kingdom to ‘very important’.

Today after college I pack and leave on a bus to Chautara where I will spend the night. Tomorrow I am down to preach in two churches in the morning and present the Jesus movie in another at night. I plan to give three altar calls. I pray for souls!

Sunday I present teaching on trafficking in two schools then bus it home again. Monday I am back at language college.

I am 71 and believe the kingdom of God is important. How about you??

Never stop praying, joyfully

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I find I can be more joyful as ai ensure I have time of worship each morning. I seek the word of God for my life each morning and His wisdom in decisions I make, constantly. I refuse worldly enetertainment and listen to preaching on UTube. I cannot afford to stop in the ‘pleasant looking places’ because I have seen the faces there, they are not joyful.

I am constantly pushing forward. Lately my language class has become very difficult. The teacher is now speaking only in Nepali. I have to attempt to glean what he is saying from the text he also uses.

Tomorrow I go, again, to Sindhulpalchok. My colleague has things planned for me, a full schedule. I leave after class tomorrow afternoon and take a three hour rough ride in a micro bus. Fortunately, I sleep in a soft bed the first night. The next night I am on the floor in a church in thick jungle with a pit toilet. I am speaking in a church Saturday morning and showing a movie Saturday night (the Jesus movie in Nepali), Sunday I speak in a school or two about trafficking. Then I catch the same bus back to Kathmandu. College again Monday.Fortunately I have a holiday on Tuesday.

I cannot do all this without my God’s strength. He is my source and supply. So far, I am managing on my government pension. I also pay two translators $200/ month each, to translate David Pawson’s Bible teaching into Nepali. However, to do the work before me I will need support. I am praying into this space and have written to my church at home. The Lord holds the purse! Amen!

A lamp

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I like the Passion translation of this verse:

“Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your Word makes my pathway clear.”Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I must take truth into my life, especially in areas I have been deceived into believing a lie. My enemy trades in lies. The word of God has truth for every lie.

I must be open to know that I have been deceived. I discover this the more I press into God and open my heart to His word.

Deception comes in the form of wrong thinking. It can also be in wrong senses and feelings. I can be trapped by a sense from the pit that masquerades as truth. I must test everything! This is especially true if I have depended on ‘feeling’goodness around me.

May true goodness and mercy follow me and deliver me from all my enemies. Amen!

Be alert

“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

If we don’t think we have an enemy, we are already deceived. Our enemy hates those who believe. He hates it even more when we do things that promote the gospel. I know when I am on track as the opposition starts.

Last week my colleague in human trafficking prevention in Sindhulpalchok was threatened with blackmail. Fortunately, his blackmailer was convinced that my colleague was not as rich as he thought. When he discovered that my colleague could not pay and would not pay the blackmailer went away. The blackmailer threatened to go to the authorities claim wing he was proselytising, this is illegal in Nepal. 

What this did was sharpen my awareness of caution in what I do and say. Yesterday there was a news report that missionaries had convinced a woman to convert to Christianity promising that al would be good and took her to a church which asked for a 10% tithe. When all her problems did not disappear the woman asked the pastor for her money back and when it was not forthcoming she went to the media. Now there is a storm in a teacup brewing.

If we promise a bed of roses as a Christian we do a disservice. When we fail to disciple correctly we do a greater disservice. Our own folloishness works against us. May wisdom guide us!

As I prepare to go to Sindhulpalchok I ask for great wisdom. Lord, keep my eyes and ears open to Your truth! Help me take the message of life to the downtrodden with wisdom and grace. Amen!