2nd February 2012

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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings!

There are many things we should do if we love God. One of those things is to spend time getting to know Him, and one of the ways we can achieve this is to read His Word, the Bible.

James 1:22-25 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

That's a pretty good promise to be blessed in all you do, but you can't do what the word says if you don't know what it says or understand it.

Philippians 2:14-16 - Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Again you can't hold firmly to the word of life which is God's word written in the Bible unless you know it.

Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the armour of God to protect ourselves in  the spiritual battle, which we all find ourselves involved. Part of the armour of God and a very important part is mentioned in v17.

Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Again if you don 't know the word of God it is very difficult to quote it at when you need to.  I find quoting scripture out loud when I am anxious or fearful very helpful, no matter what the situation.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

The other day I was chatting to a Jehovah's Witness who was door knocking. She mentioned that often she talks to Christians who go to church regularly but don't know their bibles.  That made me so sad and I want to encourage you to read your bible more and not only read it but understand it. There are many study aids out there at many different levels to help you, if you can't afford to buy one I'm sure your vicar or pastor would be happy to lend you one of theirs.

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Words in Scripture Explored

Spiritual Armour

To help His people resist satan and to fight spiritual warfare, God has designed spiritual armour for us to wear during our constant battle with sin & temptation. That's what Paul talks aobut in Ephesians 6! This armour is what God wears according to Isaiah 59v17, when He goes out to battle! What are the hallmarks of this spiritual armour?

• Truth - know, understand and live truth. Your life is to be controlled by truth as revealed in the Bible. When you know truth, you will be able to recognize the lies of the enemy! Righteousness - live a righteous life. As a Christian Disciple, you have been granted the righteousness of Jesus Christ! But that righteousness needs to be lived out in every aspect of your life!
• Gospel - be ready to share it and rely upon it. You have peace with God if you are a Christian, but you are to exhibit peace with others. Where peace is, the discord of our enemy cannot prevail!
• Faith - show total trust in God for your life. The faith you have is a defensive weapon against the mistruths that come into our head: lies, blasphemy, lust, greed, selfishness are all little darts thrown at us by satan. By maintaining our trust in God's promises and God's power, these little darts are extinguished.
• Salvation - assurance of salvation. Be assured! Let your mind be controlled by the Holy Spirit, so that you will not be led astray. Your salvation rests in nothing apart from God's promises and Jesus' righteousness!
• Bible - read and study God's Word. The Word of God, the Bible, is your attack weapon! Allow the precious Holy Spirit to lead and reveal it to you as you read it! Read it and grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus!
• Prayer - talk to God. This is how we are energized! When we talk to God, we strengthen our relationship with Him! Prayer is a sign of intimacy between God and yourself! It develops your relationship with Him! When we ask other Christian Disciples to pray for us, Church unity is strengthened!

Put on your spiritual armour daily, just as you do everything else. How do you put on the armour? It is not through some mystical, deep and secret process that the spiritual armour is put on. It is by doing that the armour is put on! When God is glorified in your life, you are wearing the spiritual armour! When you are living an abundantly fruitful life for God, and giving all glory and honour to Him without compromise, you show that you are wearing your spiritual armour! It is your responsibility to wear it and use it with confidence. By using God's strength and being clothed in His armour, as a Christian you will prevail and overcome.

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Psalm 148

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¹ Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Praise him from the skies!

² Praise him, all his angels!

Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

³ Praise him, sun and moon!

Praise him, all you twinkling stars!

⁴ Praise him, skies above!

Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!

⁵ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,

for he issued his command, and they came into being.

⁶ He set them in place forever and ever.

His decree will never be revoked.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,

you creatures of the ocean depths,

⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,

wind and weather that obey him,

⁹ mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

¹⁰ wild animals and all livestock,

small scurrying animals and birds,

¹¹ kings of the earth and all people,

rulers and judges of the earth,

¹² young men and young women,

old men and children.

¹³ Let them all praise the name of the Lord.

For his name is very great;

his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

¹⁴ He has made his people strong,

honoring his faithful ones-

the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!

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6th February 2012

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G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 6^th of February 2012. Let's go over to Jim and Joy and discover what they are sharing with us today. Over to you, Jim!

"Be patient in well doing" sound familiar? Yes, its in the Bible. (Romans 2:7) What does it mean? Patience is the quality that does not surrender to the circumstances or succumb under trial. It is the opposite of despondency. God is never in a hurry. Have you ever heard that? Have you ever received a promise from God and you are still waiting for the fulfilment of it?.

Sarah (Abraham's wife) couldn't have a baby(Genesis 16-18 ). She had no doubt prayed and tried many times but no sign of it. Eventually she could wait no longer and wanting to hurry God along she told her husband to take a handmaid to produce the heir she desperately wanted.. To get it done quick? That was not good advice as God had it well in hand to give Sarah a baby in His own time . Patience was certainly not a quality she possessed.

The Israelites suffering in Egypt for many many years languishing in Egypt in bondage but God had promised many years before that they would be delivered and even told them the number of years they would be kept there in slavery.

It was a very long time but God is sovereign and is never in a hurry. He prophesied how long Israel would suffer and it came to pass.

When the time came for their release brought about by the ten plagues sent by God to make the Egyptians release Israel it was a perfectly timed prophecy. But it didn't stop there. There would be more tests to come, testing their patience and trust in God. Another test of patience and trust in God would come quickly as they began their journey, hot on the heels of the last test. Hurrying from Egypt as fast as they could they suddenly discovered they were trapped and closed in by mountains on each side of them and a huge army from Egypt behind pursuing them to take them back into slavery. There was no way forward either as the Red sea appeared ahead of them. What was their response? They were angry at Moses. Moses was now on his knees before God prayed "Things are bad here Lord I am under attack from the people what shall we do?. There is no way forward." Difficult to be patient in those circumstances isn't it? .The answer from the Lord was "Stand still and see what I will do you only have to lift up your rod over Red sea leave the rest to Me." The Lord then miraculously opened up the way for them. 1 million people needing to escape, soldiers bearing down upon them, mountains hemming them in, an impossible sea to cross but... God had it all in hand. A miracle was required and a miracle took place.

It is not easy putting into practice the scripture "Let patience have her perfect work" when there seems no way forward. However patience did have its perfect work in the lives of God's people and the Red Sea opened up and Israel escaped from evil Pharaoh's clutches, slavery and domination.

In the New Testament we find The Lord exercising amazing patience with Peter one of the disciple.. He was a rugged fisherman who had failed in his faith and patience several times but the Lord had planned to use him powerfully as a leader to His church later in his life and that is what he became. A very strong leader among the apostles following Christ's death, resurrection and ascension.

Jesus had spent three years training the disciples and surely must have said many times "How long have I been telling you these things and still you have such little faith?

The pastor who has faithfully served in a new parish for several years may say "How long before we really see things moving here?" It takes a lot of patience to wait for God to work in a persons life. I knew of one lady who had to spend 38 years waiting to see her husband saved? Worth waiting for? Yes it was!

12 years praying daily, waiting for God to work in my Dad's life? Worth waiting for.? Certainly without a doubt.

Forty years to wait for another members of my family to be saved. Oh to see the joy on the face of someone and the tears shed when the time comes. The key word is patience and faith in God's promise. Which promise is that? "God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ." so pray on and trust for many years if necessary. Patience is not a only a virtue its an absolute necessity for the people who believe in their God.

Joys Prayer.

Dear Lord reading the Old Testament we see the promise made of a coming Messiah.

Isaiah prophesying 800 years before Jesus came described many details concerning His person but would it happen?

Eventually in the fullness of time Jesus came and patience had her perfect work in the lives of many including two, Simeon and Anna who were waiting for the Messiah to come and when Jesus did arrive for a dedication service with Mary and Joseph they knew and recognised Jesus the Messiah.

Lord, give us patience in all the struggles we are going through, that we may trust in your promises to meet all our needs in protection and provision. Your timing is always right and we are always wanting it to come asap. but give us that confidence to wait till the right time. We are praying for financial help and our friends are praying for the healing of a relative from illness, and a business to pick up,

Help the young people in their studying, understanding why certain things are happening in our lives we don't want to go under Lord so please help us get through our pain and suffering. We love and trust you!

In Jesus name

Amen

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Luke Looks Back

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G'day! Today we start a new weekly Sunday spot. It is Luke Looks Back and is recorded for us by friends of mine, Roger & Margaret Kirby.

It is primarily a set of bible studies looking at the Early Life and Galilean Ministry of Jesus as recorded by in Luke 1 - 9.

Each of the studies has a mixture of notes and questions. The aim of these questions is to give those taking part some real knowledge and spiritual understanding as a result of discussing the answers to them.  While they are designed for a small group, they would also be valuable as a weekly devotional.

They were first written for use in a group in England. In putting them on the Internet I know they may be used in very different cultures from ours and not all the questions will make good sense in every culture. So feel free to down load the studies, modify them as much as you like and translate them into your language if you wish. With translation in mind they have been written in simpler English that will hopefully make that task easier for whoever does it - may you be blessed in that work.

The questions are a mixture of the easy to answer (study 1, question 2) and some that are more difficult (study 1, question 5). Some are deliberately unexpected in what they ask (study 1, question 6), hoping to make people think. Included are some questions on the way Luke wrote and the structure of his writing in order to identify what Luke saw as the main points he wanted to make, believing these are therefore the points the Holy Spirit would wish us to understand as the most important (1 Pet 1: 10 - 12; 2 Pet 1: 20,21). The ancient texts did not have headings, paragraphs, sentences or even spaces between words so the only way of conveying structure was in the actual words.

The English version of the Bible used in writing these notes was the NIV. They include 'icebreakers'. These are to get everybody talking and help folk to know more about each other in a non-threatening way.

A study covers a section of the gospel rather than a single session of discussion. Many of them will take two or more sessions to complete.

Each study will print on an A4 page as two A5 pages. Printing on both sides of the paper and then cutting down the middle will give two convenient A5 double-sided copies.

These will be available in Adobe PDF format and standard mp3 audio files. Thank you.

Bibliography. The following (English) books would be helpful for discussion leaders where available:

• Saviour of the World: Message of Luke (The Bible speaks today) by Michael Wilcock
• According to Luke by David Gooding
• Luke for Everyone by Tom Wright
• Luke by Darrell Bock (NIV Application Commentary)
• Luke by R Alan Culpepper in the New Interpreter's Bible (unfortunately only available as half volume IX)
• Jesus from a Middle Eastern Perspective by Kenneth Bailey (This new book written by an American who has spent both his childhood and most of his working life in the Middle East is highly recommended. It explores questions of structure and brings a new and very interesting and informative perspective to the culture of the gospels. Many comparisons with life in the developing world are possible.)

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There Is None Like You

Evard, Beatrice and team

G'day and welcome to Partakers! Today, I introduce to you Evard, Beatrice and the team from Uganda, with this short music video. Evard and Beatrice live in Mbarara, Uganda. Evard is an evangelist, and with his wife, Beatrice, plus their worship band, travel to remote places in West Uganda sharing the good news about Jesus Christ.

“It’s true! There is none like Jesus Christ!  In all situations He is there to encourage and strengthen us. Friends can forsake you, but He will never forsake you! Be blessed as you worship Him together with me.” Evard

You can find out more about Evard by clicking here and proceeding to the Seeds2Sow website.

You can download the mp4 video file of this to share, by clicking here

2nd February 2012

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G’day and welcome to Pauline's Thursday Ponderings!

When we are going through a difficult time it is sometimes hard to believe that you are the apple of Gods eye. God gave me a picture once. I asked God what I was worth. God tied a tag round my neck with a piece of string, the kind of price tag that they have in old fashioned shops. The tag read £10, then he removed the tag and replaced it with one that read £100, then he removed that one and replaced it with one that had £1000 on it. He replaced the £1000 price tag with one that read £100,000 and then replaced that one with a million pound price tag. The final price tag simply had ‘ONE LIFE’ written on it. I find it mind blowing that God chose to let His Son die a hideously painful death so that I can enjoy a personal relationship with him that I am so valuable that even if I was the only human being that existed, God would have allowed Jesus to die on a cross for me.

Remind yourself of this fact frequently and you will get a glimpse of your father’s heart. He loves you to bits and is proud of you no matter what you have done in the past - if you have said sorry and meant it - it is forgotten. The slate is completely clean. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says’ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come’

God’s love for you is unconditional. God created us with a thirst to be secure, to have self worth and to have a sense of our own significance. That thirst is intended to be quenched by God himself, by His unconditional love for us and unconditional acceptance of our work. I John 3 verse 1 says’ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.! And that is what we are!’ Ephesians 2 verse 10 says’ We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepares for us in advance to do.’

Unfortunately many of us try and get our security and sense of self worth from our spouses or parents. Whilst that can be okay if we have a particularly adoring spouse or an encouraging mum and dad, it goes badly wrong if we have a critical spouse or a parent that withholds praise. Our self esteem really suffers in the case of a verbally critical spouse or parent and is affected just as badly by someone who is slow to give praise.

Galatians 4: 7 says Because you are sons,” God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave but a son and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.’

Our aim should be to please God and fulfil his purposes for our lives. If it is we will discover a sense of security, value and significance in God and then it will not matter if our boss does not appreciate us or if our spouse criticises us.

We should be aiming to enjoy God, to have a life of worship and to get to know God better each day. God adores us and considers us adorable, He is proud of our achievements but is so much more thrilled with our efforts to get to know Him better.

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Words In Scripture Explored

Peace

The world we live in, wants peace! The world is unified around the concept of peace! However, the peace the world wants requires the manipulation of circumstances. God's peace, however, comes regardless of circumstances.

Peace Definition: 'Shalom' was the Hebrew word used in the Old Testament. It means a wholeness of well-being & mind; the total absence of conflict and turmoil evidenced by an untroubled mind and a heart that does not fear! It is total harmony with God, man, circumstances & self. That is true peace!

History of Peace

The end of peace was when Adam sinned and fellowship was broken with God and between humans. God is a God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23). and the Kingdom of God is about peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9v6). As a Christian Disciples, you have peace with God through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection! There are three scopes of peace.

Peace with God.

As a Christian Disciple, you have peace with God because you are justified by faith. This peace gives you access into God's grace and blessings (Romans 5:1-2). Jesus Christ is your bridge of peace between God & yourself. Jesus is also the peace between other people and you, and all hostility has been removed (Romans 2:13-18).

Peace with Others

You are to live at peace with everyone and not to be proud or vengeful (Romans 12vv17-20). You are to do what is right in the eyes of other people and exhibit positive goodness. You are to make every effort to do what leads to peace & mutual edification Romans 14:13-19, and not place stumbling blocks in front of others!

Peace within

As a Christian Disciple, you have the gift of peace with God, from the God of peace (Philippians 4:4-9) given to you by Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace! (John 14:27). You are to be a peacemaker, by having internal peace, this shows the fruit of the Spirit. When faced with troubled times & a troubled world, you can have peace through an untroubled, unfearful heart & mind (John 16:33).

How do you gain peace within?

As you live a life in obedience to Jesus, you bear the fruit of righteousness, which is peace, quietness and confidence (Isaiah 32:17). A mind controlled by the Holy Spirit of peace gives a life of peace and total trust in God! (Isaiah 26v3; Romans 8v6). Lastly, when you are content whatever the situation , this enables the peace of God to guard your heart & mind (Philippians 4v11-12). Go, and be at peace with God, others and yourself!

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Psalm 85

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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.

85:1 Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land.

You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.

85:2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people.

You have covered all their sin.

Selah.

85:3 You have taken away all your wrath.

You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.

85:4 Turn us, God of our salvation,

and cause your indignation toward us to cease.

85:5 Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you draw out your anger to all generations?

85:6 Won’t you revive us again,

that your people may rejoice in you?

85:7 Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh.

Grant us your salvation.

85:8 I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak,

for he will speak peace to his people, his saints;

but let them not turn again to folly.

85:9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that glory may dwell in our land.

85:10 Mercy and truth meet together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

85:11 Truth springs out of the earth.

Righteousness has looked down from heaven.

85:12 Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good.

Our land will yield its increase.

85:13 Righteousness goes before him,

And prepares the way for his steps.

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30th January 2012

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G’day and welcome to Partakers Thinkspot on Monday, the 3oth of January 2012. Please do feel free to download or listen to the audio mp3 file!

Recently on one of our local health walks in the countryside I was in conversation with a knowledgeable chap who had seen an interesting programme on television about birds and was bursting with interesting facts to tell me of this amazing bird called a swift. He then passed on some interesting facts about them which I want to share with you today. Swifts are amazing birds, and here are some reasons why!  We shall think about them and then learn some valuable truths from their habits.

1. After leaving the nest where they hatched, they'll keep flying non-stop for three years! Isn't that amazing?

2, They even eat, mate (at high speed in what are known as screaming parties) and they even sleep in the air while flying! they can actually 'snooze' with one side of their brain resting while the other is working, and then switch to the other side. Isn't God's creation incredible?

3. Also some of 'our' swifts migrate from Great Britain as far as South Africa for winter. How fantastically strong they are though small. In addition they are the fastest bird at level flight. (up to 70mph). Sometimes they are mistaken for a swallow. Their shape is similar

4. The parent birds gather insect snacks for their chicks, carrying as many as 1,000 at one gulp! How dependant the chicks are upon their parents to care for them.

5. Swifts also choose to live in our houses and churches - they squeeze through tiny gaps to nest inside roofs. God has indeed provided for all his creatures.

I was astounded as I was being told of the incredible abilities of some of these smallest and the youngest of these creatures who fly with amazing strength and skill, do incredible things while flying with accuracy to distant parts and have utmost confidence in their parents to supply all their needs.

In case you didn't take it all in the first time let me repeat these amazing truths. Swifts neither touch the ground or tree or building for the first three years of their lives!. They keep flying eating, mating at high speed and even sleep in the air.

Summing up they can feed from their parents who gather insect snacks for their young carrying as many as 1,000 at one gulp. The young have absolute confidence in their regular meals being supplied to them. Neither do they worry about their living accommodation as to where they live or the size of their home. They slip between very narrow gaps contentedly.

What an example for us who believe in God and want to be active with and for God. Always we want to move forward making every moment count for God with the abilities He has given to us and not giving time to consider where our next meal is coming from, where we shall live or stay overnight etc.

In our Bibles we find Jesus certainly is the best example of this kind of life.(Matthew 8:20;) "The foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." "I must do the works of Him who sent me, while it is day said Jesus, the night comes when no one can work" Jesus never wasted a moment.

God has promised to meet all our needs as we 'fly' with Him and 'seek' to do his will. One day when Jesus was talking with a Samaritan woman which was surprising enough to his disciples for Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, they said "you must be hungry" he replied that his food was to do the will of the Father who had sent Him and to accomplish His work." (John 4:32)  He went on to say he had food the disciples knew nothing about.

As we look at these examples of God's extraordinary creation we are reminded that God is looking for a faithful people who will be diligent in service for Him. God's people should aim to be single minded in their lives putting God first in all things and desiring His will above their own in every instance. Following in His footsteps.

Jesus followed that maxim every day. He had no home to call his own but spoke of swallows, swifts and other birds having their nests but he had nowhere to lay his head. And although he never 'flew' he certainly was always on the move. He was up extremely early each day to pray for the needs of the day before going early in the morning to the temple to meet and talk with people and it wasn't to discuss the weather! He spoke of heavenly food he lived on when talking to his disciples when they were concerned about him missing a meal.

Like the swift getting through many miles in travel he must have covered a lot of ground in three years accomplishing enough to fill a library of books with his activities and the many transformed lives through his ministry. (Read John 21) The way we live our life is important but......Remember that Jesus has first to become our Saviour and only then our example.

Joy’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

It is with wonder we look at your marvellous universe full of wonderful and so varied creation. From the splendour of mountain grandeur to grassy plains that can stretch for miles and miles to the small and larger animal kingdom as well as beautiful birds that fly across your majestic skies sometimes to be seen by the naked eye full of planets stars and moons.

You are an amazing God and we do glory in your name and your mighty power and wisdom and your own incredible design of earth and sky.

We praise and delight ourselves in your goodness to us and especially for Jesus our Saviour Lord and Friend.

Thank you Lord for the privilege of living in your world and for all its benefits.

We love and adore You

Amen.

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