Barnabas Ministries UK

Oct 31st – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

Hebrews 12:28 (WEB)
“Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe” – Heb 12: 28

Even the most rock solid mountains on this planet can be shaken. The highest mountain can crumble at the blast of our Father’s nostrils. Wars, rumors of wars, economic recessions, global strife, and many other things can cause even the strongest of men to tremble. Such is the kingdom of this world. It is here today and gone tomorrow.

But the author of Hebrews is speaking of another kingdom that cannot be moved. This kingdom is part of our inheritance. It is a kingdom that cannot be shaken. It is a kingdom that is safe and secure and beyond the influence of fallen men. It is a kingdom where the greatest will be the servant of all and its citizens, little children.

We are receiving a kingdom right now that cannot be shaken. Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-11) …your kingdom come, your will be done as it is in heaven. May we never take this kingdom lightly. May the fear of the Lord fill us with an ever increasing awareness of this unshakeable kingdom that we are receiving right NOW!

May we be reminded of who we are and who we belong to as we read this Scripture passage that just precedes today’s promise in Hebrews 12:22-23(a)… But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. (NIV)

WISDOM THAT WORKS
SECURELY ANCHORED – Rev. Bob Stevenson

“The wicked man’s fears will all come true and so will the good mans hopes. Disaster strikes like a cyclone and the wicked are whirled away. But the good man has a strong anchor”. Read: Proverbs 10:24-26 If we expect to go though life having everything easy and going our way we are in for a rude awakening. Good or bad alike have to face stormy situations that come upon us in all kinds of guises.

We talk of stormy relationships and how hurtful those can be? We talk about ill winds of adversity that blow nobody any good! We even describe seasons of minor illness as being under the weather not to mention the more serious physical attacks, which can strike fear into everybody’s heart.

In whatever guise our adversity comes, and it surely will, it’s what we have sown into our lives that is going to see us safely through these storms. lf we have sown into a fearful disposition then those very fears will seek to assert their influences. lf we have sown into a positive hope filled disposition, then that will tend to get the upper hand.

Ultimately the best anchor we can ever have is to make sure we are anchored in Jesus. As the hymn writer of old put it, We have an anchor that keeps the soul, Steadfast and sure while the billows role, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!” – Amen!

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
INTELLIGENCE

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift – Albert Einstein

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it – Henry Ford

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see – Arthur Schopenhauer

A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether – Roy H. Williams

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

UTTER CONFUSION – Genesis 11; Philippians 4

It is an awful state to be in – confused! I recall, a few years ago, seeing a young man in the local market place with a T-shirt and on it were the words inscribed – ‘I’m KONFUSED´. One immediately got the message, as well we know, confusion does not begin with the letter K. He simply reflected the actual state of the world of mankind because this is what exists in the minds and hearts of all. The sons of men are in a dazed, bewildered and muddled condition of being and require sorting out.

There came a state of utter confusion in the land of Shinar as man began to populate the earth – Genesis 11: 2. There appeared to be a spirit of rebellion against God manifested as they worked together to build a tower to their own glory. There would seem to be no interest in God or His kingdom only their own. They thought it would cement society. Within a moment, God brought total disorder and disaster by confusing them with different languages and tongues.

“In order to break the self-willed strength found in this unity, God intervenes with His creative and divine power to confuse their language and to scatter mankind throughout the earth”

Oct 30th  – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” – 1 Peter 5:10

Our destination is secure. We are called to God’s eternal glory, centered in Jesus Christ our Lord. No matter what life throws at us. No matter how uncertain the future gets, this is the bedrock of our hope. Eternal, unending, everlasting glory. No more pain. No more sickness. No more heartache. Just the weighty presence of our God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The NIV version of 1 Peter 5:10 says it this way… And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (NIV) You will notice that this verse does talk about suffering because suffering is a consequence of the fallen world that we live in.

Though we may suffer now, we can take great comfort in knowing that our future is secure. We can set our hearts at rest knowing that the God of all grace will restore us, make us strong and be steadfast as we continue to walk towards the eternal glory that soon awaits us.

WISDOM THAT WORKS
HAVE FUN – Rev. Bob. Stevenson

“A fools fun is being bad; a wise mans fun is being wise”.

Read: Proverbs 10:23 Today’s proverb is terse and to the point. “A fool’s fun is being bad; a wise man’s fun is being wise.”

It never ceases to amaze me how some folks get their enjoyment. The whole gamut of entertainment pastimes and the various sporting codes are testament to this.

However, when it comes to having fun by being bad and doing bad things for the fun of it — this I find hard to accept. How on earth people can genuinely enjoy the buzz they get from seeing other human beings brutalized, ripped off, taken advantage of and emotionally destroyed is beyond me. But the harsh reality is that our daily newscasts on Radio and TV give us ample evidence that doing evil for the fun of it is very much alive and well.

Is there any antidote to such intrinsically evil attitudes which find enjoyment in being ad’? At the very least we can seek to influence our world’s foolishness by each one of us doing our part to disseminate God’s wisdom by every means at our disposal —

And at after all, life is for living so let’s enjoy it whilst we can! Hallelujah!

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
MOVING ON

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself – Walter Anderson

To help yourself, you must be yourself. Be the best that you can be. When you make a mistake, learn from it, pick yourself up and move on – Dave Pelzer

It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure – Ernie Harwell

Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward – Maxwell Maltz

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE
A TOKEN FOR GOOD – Genesis 9: 8-17; Psalm 86

The Lord realised that after a very rough and tough passage through the building of the ark, and then over a year’s stay in the ark, Noah needed some further assurance as to the future for himself and the rest of civilisation. Would such a thing ever occur again? Would there be another threat of this nature to destroy mankind? Could God be trusted not to judge the world of humanity in similar fashion? There did need to have some affirmation from God in order to give some confidence for the future. God in His love and wisdom knew this, and did something about it, and so created the rainbow as a permanent witness and token. Man must not be paralysed by fear every time it rained. This multicoloured bow represented God and His word on the matter. It was to be and is an expression for good.

David expressed himself on one occasion like this to the Lord. He said: “Show me a token for good . . . . .because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me” – Psalm 86: 17. There are occasions in our lives and situations when we do need the Lord to step in to manifest His grace in giving us a sign and evidence of His care, commitment and ability. Thankfully, He is willing to do this to prove that He loves us in great measure and that there is nothing He cannot do whatever the demanding circumstances. He is not limited to show both His heart and hand on your behalf.

In facing this day, you may require an intervention from the Lord to meet a particular circumstance. The Lord not only puts rainbows in the sky, He also places the rainbow of His love and power in your life giving covenant promise that He will answer all your need. Expect Him to turn up and demonstrate His help in His way!

Oct 29th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death” – rev 2: 11

We have an amazing future in store for us! We do not have to be afraid of judgment because Jesus Himself promises that those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. When I think of this promise, I think of the verse in 1 Corinthians 15:55 that says… “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (NIV)

Praise God that death no longer has a sting over us! We don’t have to live in fear of death because our Elder Brother Jesus has conquered death and sin and the grave once and for all. Another Bible verse that comes to mind is from Hebrews 2:14-15…

14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (ESV)

Jesus has destroyed the one who once held the power of death so that we can experience true life and freedom of the fear of death! To echo again the words of 1 Corinthians 15:55… “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (NIV)

WISDOM THAT WORKS
FABULOUSLY RICH
Rev. Bob Stevenson

“The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it”.

Read: Proverbs 10 22

I may have mentioned Sydney Broughton before in these daily reflections of words to the wise and maybe not so wise. In any event, this man deserves more than one mention, because his influence during the ninety five years of his life here on earth was incredibly impacting, to say the least.

I mention him here because he used to send all my four children a card on their birthdays and did so right into their adult lives until he went to be with the Lord. Inevitably he would include the verse from Genesis 12 where God says to Abraham, “In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying will multiply you.” His intention in quoting this verse was to convey to my offspring that there was nothing better than having the blessing of God on your life.

Syd lived in a working class suburb in the city Kingston-upon-Hull in his little terraced house, which was by my standards , very modestly if not frugally furnished His mode of transport was a bicycle right up to two weeks before he went to his reward in heaven but I never heard him ever complain about what seemed to be his meagre lot in life.

As far as he was concerned, God’s blessing was his greatest wealth, and his memory serves as testimony to that fact that he was indeed fabulously rich.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
STRENGTH

Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved – Mattie Stepanek

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength – Arnold Scharzenegger

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle – Napoleon Hill

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles – Chrstopher Reeve

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

THE BLESSING OF GOD – Genesis 9: 1-7; Job 42

It is good to read of the action of God following the sacrifice that Noah had made to the Lord. Having been blessed by Noah’s spiritual response to the salvation from the Flood, the Lord makes a positive move towards him and his offspring with the design and expression of blessing – v1. From His words it is possible to discover that He wanted their prosperity, satisfaction and success in every way. It was to be a new beginning with an order of blessing to superintend life.

God brings us through enormous crises and difficulties with the intention that He might bestow yet greater things upon our lives. He desires that our future, following things that have been difficult to handle, be crowned with His goodness. There are always fresh chapters to be written in our experience that will reflect the grander movements of the Lord in our affairs. Begin to expect a sudden and dramatic change in your situation because of His plan to bless.

Following the turning of Job’s captivity from sickness and pain, there came a fresh demonstration of God’s bounty in blessing. It affirms in v12 “The Lord blessed the latter end of Job than his beginning.” The commencement was good, but the climax was greater. It can be the same for you, too, as you hold true to God, He will remain loyal to you to the end with untold blessing – see Psalm 23: 6.

Oct 28th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE
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The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him – Romans 8: 16,17

This is one of my most favorite passages in the Bible! I share it often when I speak at churches and I love to talk about the implications of what the Apostle Paul was saying when he wrote these words under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It actually says that we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think about what it means to be a joint-heir with Jesus? From my own limited understanding of Scripture, I think it means that whatever Jesus has through inheritance has become ours through the very same inheritance.

It amazes me to think that Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is pleased to share the richness of His Father’s inheritance with me! I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with my Elder Brother Jesus… and so are you if you have received Christ as your Saviour.

May the weightiness of this revelation settle upon each one of us today as we ponder the amazing life changing truth that Jesus is happy to share the vastness of His inheritance with us because we are children of God and joint-heirs with Him! May the Holy Spirit bear witness with our spirits today and make this truth a reality for each one of us.

WISDOM THAT WORKS – EMPTY WORDS
Rev. Bob Stevenson

”When a good man speaks he is worth listening to, but the words of a fool are a dime a dozen. A godly man gives good advice but a rebel is destroyed by the lack of common sense”.

Read: Proverbs 10: 20,21

Have you ever heard it said, “Talk is cheap? means that it’s easy to spout off platitudes especially when you have no intention or even the ability to follow through with profitable action.

Empty words are of similar ilk! Empty because they lack the thoughtfulness required to come up with a positive solution on the issue being spoken about. They are verbal garbage and are easily disposed of. They are cheap because they lack the backing of either insight or experience and therefore have an absolutely hollow ring about them. They are cheap because they cost nothing except the cost of the energy took to push them through the vocal chords.

They don’t cost the speaker anything apart from the time it takes them to utter such nonsensicalities but it does however cost the hearer the pain of having to politely listen to unprofitable and unhelpful emptiness.

The Bible aptly describes these worthless words as a ‘dime a dozen’, whilst on the other hand, when a good man speaks he is worth listening to — why? Because his words a aimed at providing positive advice backed up with common sense and a willingness help if necessary.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
IMAGINATION

You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus Mark Twain

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere – Albert Einstein

They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. – Edgar Allan Poe

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will – George Bernard Shaw

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

A GRATEFUL HEART – Genesis 8; Hebrews 13: 5-15

Immediately on coming out of the ark Noah did a very commendable thing. Noah raised an altar to the Lord in thanksgiving for his goodness. He was not told to do so but he sensed it was the right thing to do. It must have been gratifying to the Lord to discover this beautiful deed of this godly man, His desire to honour the Lord for his preservation. It was a spontaneous act that thrilled God. It rose as a ‘sweet smelling savour to the Lord.’

The Lord does seek to nurture a spirit and practice of thankfulness in the hearts of those that are in a close relationship with Him. The rule of spiritual life and living is expressed in Hebrews 13: 15 – “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to him.” In the light of God’s grace and blessing to us in Christ we should always be in the position to express our gratitude to God in explosive praise. WORSHIP

“My happiest moments are when I am worshiping God, really adoring the Lord Jesus Christ, and having fellowship with the ever-blessed Spirit. In that worship I forget the cares of everything else. To me it is the nearest approach to what it will be in heaven” – Spurgeon

Face today with a raising of your altar of thanksgiving to the Lord at the outset, knowing the immense pleasure it brings to Him. It is both the best and right thing to do. See the differences it will make to your inward being and the whole of the day.

Oct 27th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil”- 1 Peter 3: 12

God never slumbers and He never sleeps. His eyes are always watching the righteous and His ears are always listening for their prayers. There is never a moment when God takes His eye off of you. He is always attentive to you and knows what you need before you even ask for it. (Matthew 6:8)

If we try to comprehend this promise with our human understanding, we will most likely have a brain freeze and short circuit. How can God be so attentive to me and millions of other believers all at the same time? My simple answer is “I don’t know how…but I know He does!”

King David said in Psalm 139:17-18 that God was always thinking of him and that His thoughts outnumbered the grains of sand on the seashore. David was aware of how focused God can be on each one of us …all at the same time! He is watching over you right now. He has stilled His heart and is listening for your prayers right now.

What an amazing God and Father we have! May we bask in the revelation of this truth every day and never take for granted His amazing attentiveness. Thank you Father for watching over me and listening for my prayers!

WISDOM THAT WORKS
CHATTER- CHATTER- CHATTER – Rev. Bob Stevenson

“Don’t talk too much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow”.

Read: Proverbs 10:19

What a gloomy world it would be without verbal communication. The next time you are in a cafe or a restaurant just take a look around at the various groups gathered around the tables. Inevitably you can always spot the chatter box in the group. The one who keeps the conversation alive and then on the other side, the less verbally animated who just chip in to the conversation here and there.
All this is very wholesome and necessary, because the need for human interaction is essential for our social development as well as providing us with the necessary affirmations that such group activity offers us.

The problem arises when we try to talk about something we may know nothing about. We get taken into territory that is so unfamiliar that we take the risk of manifesting our ignorance to one and all, and all for the sake of keeping the conversation flowing. Whether knowingly, or unconsciously, we can be making verbal blunders when the best thing we could do would be to turn o the flow and let someone else take the initiative in keeping the conversation alive.

The Bible says we are to be more ready to listen than to speak and even more so it we have a tendency to keep putting our proverbial foot in our mouth.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
LAUGHTER

A day without laughter is a day wasted – Charlie Chaplin

love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person – Auidrey Hepburn

f I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide – Mahatma Gandhi

Good humour s a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment – Grenville Kleiser

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with – W.C. Fields

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE
PRESERVED BY GOD – Genesis 7: 1-24; Psalm 91

One of the aspects that God is exceedingly good at is the protection and preserving of those that trust Him. In no way does He want them to be alarmed or distressed with regard to their safety and security. This is illustrated for us in the life and experience of Noah and his family. Centuries ago He knew how to care for a man and his household that was threatened by floodwaters by reason of divine judgement. Instead of falling foul of death like the others around, he was miraculously preserved. Having proved his faith and loyalty to God, God proved His fidelity to Him.

God had told him to build the ark and it was God that called him into the ark at the right moment. He also shut the door and bore the ark through a tumultuous and tempestuous time. When all around others were filled with fear and panic, he was possessed with faith and peace knowing the Lord would look after the ark and its contents. All outside was agitation and torment, all inside was assurance and rest. The name Noah means rest-bringer and God brought rest to him and his loved ones. In this world of immense conflict, uncertainty and disaster, you too can know a divine peace as God calls you to rest in Him.

There is an assured promise in Psalm 121: 5 that you need to lay hold of. It states: “The Lord is thy keeper.” It is needful to appropriate this word by faith and trust Him to look after us at all times and in all circumstances. Everyone and everything may falter and fail but not the Lord. Go through this day with a sense of His covering and do not allow fear to move in and rob you of your rest. He saw Noah through horrendous days and He will do the same for you.

Oct 26th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4: 7

God wants to impart a peace to us that is so deep and so profound that our minds can’t actually fathom it! The Prince of Peace Himself is offering us the very same peace that causes His own heart to be at rest all of the time. (John 14:27)

In the busyness of life, when you feel like you are being pulled apart in many directions, God has promised that His peace will guard both your heart and your mind through Jesus. I like how the Amplified Bible translates Philippians 4:7…

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (AMP)

Jesus has already secured God’s peace for you. This peace cannot be grasped with a human understanding, but can only be received by faith in Jesus Christ. I pray that the overwhelming peace of God will rest upon you today and provide the protection that your heart and mind needs to live at peace, even in the midst of life’s storms.

WISDOM THAT WORKS
THE SLANDERER
Rev. Bob Stevenson

“To hide hatred is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool”.

Read: Proverbs: 10: 18
It is no wonder that slander is a chargeable offence in the Criminal Justice Code because the intention behind a slanderous remark is to destroy somebody’s reputation or make an assault on their integrity. Verbal annihilation can be as damaging to a person’s well being as sticking a knife in their back.

Slander is the act of declaring publicly something that is untrue or at least has no foundation in fact. Even in the safety of parliamentary privilege, there are a host of verbal boundaries beyond which you, as the perpetrator of such statements, will not be permitted to go without getting severely censured.
To slander someone also means you have had to dig around in order to get some dubious information and your intention for engaging in this exercise can only be one of two motivations. You either hate the person you seek to slander or you are getting some reward for your efforts. In either case you are on dangerous ground.

Once vitriol becomes the means of venting your hatred you are on a slippery slide that will not only hurt your intended victim, but has the potential to rebound on you and severely damage your own reputation.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
HEALTH

It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver – Mahatma Gandhi

Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account – Anne Wilson Schaef

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost – Billy Graham

Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work – Ralph Marston

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE
KNOWING GOD’S FAVOUR – Genesis 6: 8-22; 2 Peter 3

It must have been quite a terrible time in the days of Noah. The divine record has it (and it does not lie), “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” – v5. All that God saw and witnessed made Him sick at heart. It must have been a hard and difficult time to be alive on planet ear

th. It was so bad that the only thing open to God was to judge and destroy the people. He would have desired that things be different.

In spite of the appalling situation there was one man who could not be classed amongst the society of his day, Noah. It called the generation of his day – ‘the world of the ungodly’ and he is declared as ‘the preacher of righteousness.’ He lived in direct opposition to those around him, producing a life that was acceptable and approved unto God. He discovered the matchless favour of the Lord towards him – v8. Instead of perishing with the rest He was miraculously saved along with his family through the goodness of God. He made world history because of God’s grace.

There is no need for you to fall foul of evil today in spite of its attractiveness and intensity. Although all those around you may be overcome of evil you can be preserved from its influence, power and rule. If Noah could rise up and challenge by life and word the wickedness of his day, so can you. It is God’s plan to show you His love and grace in rescuing you out of the disaster that is yet to hit the world. All those who love and serve God will be saved from the ultimate judgement that is to be poured out in this end time. God’s grace will both save and keep you from evil and secure from the coming divine judgement.

Oct 25th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE
“And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins” – 1 Peter 4:8

I like how the NIV Bible translates this verse… Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (NIV) When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, they realized that they were naked and felt shame for the first time in their lives. It is terrible to feel uncovered and exposed. That is why so many of us try and cover our own spiritual nakedness with activities, accomplishments and possessions.

I love today’s promise because it says that love actually covers us. Not only does it cover all our sin, but love covers every area in our life where we feel naked and ashamed. The best definition of love that I know of can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It talks about how patient love is, how kind it is, how it doesn’t get easily angered, how love believes all things, hopes in all things, and endures all things.

The love that we were created to receive will never fail. Ever. If you are struggling today with a feeling of being uncovered in some way, be encouraged to know that love will cover you completely, for that is what love does. It always protects.

WISDOM THAT WORKS
CORRECTIONS
Rev. Bob. Stevenson

“Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance”.

Read: Proverbs 10:17

Corrections are a common fact of life which unfortunately some folk imagine cease the day you leave school. How upset I used to be during my school years when I would get some work back from a teacher which had their red pen marks scribbled all over it. Apart from it offending my inborn sense of neatness, I was often even more upset to see the red corrections on a page which I had imagined was a perfect piece of work.

I did have some teachers whose classes I just loved to attend but there were others i just plain detested. The corrections I received from the teachers I liked seemed to be more palatable to accept than the teacher I didn’t take too kindly to. However, the fact remains, that we all have, on occasions, to receive some form of correction in order to put some wrong things right and also enable us to make the necessary adjustments to mistakes. Alter all, nobody can claim perfection and we cannot possibly be right all the time.

Happy are the people who learn to accept corrections, from whatever source, because the alternative is to rob your self of an opportunity to put wrong things right, and this can only happen if there is a willingness to stand corrected.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
GRADUATION

God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings, not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process, and when we create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all, suffering will cease – Bernie Siegel
We don’t stop going to school when we graduate – Carol Burnett

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that ‘individuality’ is the key to success – Robert Orben

You know what has made me the happiest I’ve ever been? Seeing my son and daughter graduate from college. More than wanting them to be educated, I wanted them to be nice people. To see that they have become both is just a wonderful thing –
Gil Scott Heron

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

MISSED OPPORTUNITY – Genesis 6: 1-7; 1 Samuel 16:

God makes it clear and plain that He puts an all out effort by His Holy Spirit to reach and constrain all men to seek Him and the ways of righteousness. He gives Himself to an honest and earnest endeavour to save people from adopting evil practices that can only lead to personal disaster and ruin. It is by and through the Holy Spirit, the inward voice of God within man working on the mind, spirit and conscience to prevent a spiralling procedure of sin that can only spell tragedy.

There are those people who say, “Why doesn’t God stop the people in and on their evil tracks and mission?” It has to be noted that God is a personal God and does deal with each personally. He seeks to encourage every individual to live a good and godly life and to restrain from all that is of an evil and destructive order. He does not leave anyone to the mercy of sin and evil unless they choose to proceed on such a course. He adopts all kinds of measures and ways by His Holy Spirit to talk to the mind and heart of each one so that there will be a rejection of all that is wrong. The important thing is not to silence the voice and activity of the Holy Spirit within us but always be sensitive to His call and direction.

Saul, the first king of Israel, fooled around with his God-given opportunities of really making good and discovered that God eventually left him. He failed to recognise the importance of listening to and immediately responding to God’s voice and plan. Things could have ended up so differently. Take time today to be conscious of the promptings and directions of the Lord within. Give room, time and space to hearing from God and acting according to His will. The worst thing that could happen to you is for God to withdraw from you and to cease to speak.

Oct 24th – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you,  which you have from God? You are not your own” – 1 Cor 6; 19

God’s Holy Spirit is the very core of His being, just like our spirit is the very essence of our existence. It is amazing to think that He has entrusted us with His precious Holy Spirit. It amazes me to think that we could be the resting place for the living God.

Today’s promise tells us that we belong to God and He delights to rest upon us. In the Old Testament, we read about the Holy Spirit coming upon people at certain times, but in the New Testament there is a whole new level of interaction with the Holy Spirit that we have a privilege of knowing. He lives in us. In John 14:23, Jesus said that not only will the Holy Spirit live in us, but Jesus and the Father would too!

There is no greater honour that we could receive other than to be the temple of the living God. I pray that each and every one of us would take a moment right now and thank God for trusting us with His presence. May we never take His indwelling for granted!

WISDOM THAT WORKS
MONEY WELL SPENT – Rev. Bob. Stevenson

“The rich mans wealth is his only strength. The poor man’s poverty is his only curse. The good mans earnings advance the cause of righteousness. The evil man squanders his on sin”.

Read: Proverbs: 10:15-16

l have come across quite a few colourful characters in my lifetime, not the least being a Derbyshire man by the name of Sam Froggat. Sam was the most generous and likeable man you could ever wish to meet. I could fill a whole chapter with all the many deeds of kindness he would engage in, but the one l have selected so vividly illustrates this proverb.

When Sam retired from the workforce he took on a part time position as a handy man for a local chemical factory. His age pension took care of his daily needs so all the money he earned from his part time job was sent to support missionaries and disadvantaged orphan children in the third world. Sam’s material needs were very basic in every respect and he was never wasteful or extravagant.

Sam has been in the story as a living illustration of years now but his works are following him as I recount his righteousness with his earnings. May the Lord help us all to be good stewards of the resources God has given us and be to give a generous portion to advance the cause of good in the world.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
GOODNESS

Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people – Dennis Prager

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing – Edmund Burke

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people – Martin Luther King – Jr.

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it – Benjamin Franklin

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

WALKING WITH GOD – Genesis 5: 19-32; Hebrews 11: 5

This is the thing that is high on the agenda of the Lord. He is seeking for men and women who will walk with Him. Walking is symbolic of a conduct that is revealed in a friendship and fellowship, and God is seeking and reaching out for people who are ready to be brought into a close communion with Himself because He has so much to say that will benefit in every way. It means being lifted on to a new and higher level of life and inspiration. This changes a person’s focus and direction.

Enoch came to know the reality of God at 65 years of age and from that time developed a personal and meaningful relationship with Him. This became top priority with him. The thing that mattered above all else and influenced his life in his thinking, attitudes and deeds sprang out of this dynamic union. God became the centre and circumference and from this stemmed a life and work that pleased God in every way. This was his daily devotion: walking with God. And it lasted over a long period – 300 years, and then he went for an eternal walk with God and he is still on it!

Cultivate the art today of opening up all your life and affairs to God and He will raise you into a vibrant fellowship with Himself that will bear fruit now in so many ways. He will touch every aspect of your life with His presence, power, grace and words so that you will welcome each new day as an opportunity for Him to furnish your being with all that is divine and worthwhile. Seek to get as close as you can to Him so that the maximum input from Him will be yours. Learn to journey with Him!

Oct 23rd – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace” – Psalm 29:1

Two things that we all need in our lives every day are strength and peace. There are so many challenges that life presents that will ‘zap’ our strength and steal our peace. The world is looking for these blessings in many vain pursuits but our God and Father has promised to give them to us simply because He is a good Dad.

So when you are feeling weak and are in need of strength, remember this promise so that you can be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10) And when you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He has promised to give His peace to you (John 14:27) just because He loves you!

The Lord is faithful and will strengthen you when you need it, and He promises to bless you with His peace. You can take this promise to the bank! Be encouraged by the words of Paul the Apostle in Philippians 4:7…And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

WISDOM THAT WORKS

HOLD YOUR TONGUE – Rev. Bob Stevenson

“Men with common sense are admired as counsellors, those without it are beaten as servants. A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows; that only leads to sorrow and trouble”. Read: Proverbs: 10: 13-14 How well l remember the times when having been chastised by my mother about some issue, l was tempted to retaliate with my own brand of verbal justification. Feeling peeved at my mother’s rebuke l would try to express my resentment but would only be silenced by her well remembered admonition, “Now hold your tongue young man or you’ll get more than you bargained for”.

I didn’t realize it at the time but it taught me a valuable lesson that has helped me on many occasions to avoid digging a big hole for myself with my mouth.

We have often heard it said, “I’ love to give them a piece of y mind”, meaning that we would get great pleasure out if telling somebody exactly what we think of them. The Bible cautions us against such action even though it might give us an intense sense of personal satisfaction and more especially when we feel we have truth on our side.
The wise man, we are told in this proverb, holds his tongue, because even speaking the truth that we know to be right can prove to be hurtful and counter-productive if it is not spoken in love, and could cause more sorrow and trouble than it’s worth.

CHOICE QUOTATIONS

HOPE

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning – Albert Einstein

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us – Samuel Smile

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them – Desmond Tutu

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness – Desmond Tutu

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

DIVINE CORRECTION – Genesis 4: 1-16; Hebrews 12: 5-11

We should never feel hurt or harmed when God pulls us up in our tracks and reprimands us. There are occasions when He needs to step in to challenge and chasten us, especially when we are adopting a wrong mind and attitude that can lead to our great undoing and possible ruin. It has to be realised that He does it because He loves us and that He is seeking our welfare and good both temporally and eternally. There is no way that He wants to see us messed up.

His treatment of Cain reveals this particular factor. Although He had favoured Abel, He wanted to be and do the same for him. God has no favourites but all must do what is right and good if they are to know His approval and favour. Cain failed to get the message and learn the lesson. He should have reflected on where he had gone wrong and certainly reviewed what the Lord had said to him. The foul spirit and mood must be gotten rid of and quickly. The Lord assured all would be to his benefit as he rightly reacted. Unfortunately he turned a deaf ear to God and hardened his attitude.

Is the Lord correcting you on some point and issue? Be wise enough to sense it and take the remedial course of action that will secure your spiritual advantage and progress. Instead of ‘sin lying at the door to destroy’ let His abounding love and grace be demonstrated. Don’t be jealous; be victorious today!

Oct 22nd – 2015
Rev. E. Anderson
WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome to this Christian Website which has now been going for a number of years. Over 130,000 people have visited it since 2006. On the left hand side of the introductory page is a host of subjects and material that have been placed during this time and is there for your interest, study and perusal.

I feel it is time and right to change the format and to present day by day something a little simpler and trust will benefit and bless those who visit it. It will consist of A Golden Promise from the Scriptures, Wisdom that Works by Bob Stevenson, Choice Quotations and daily Meditations, working through the whole Bible. something to focus your mind on are included that can be developed more fully by you. I trust you will find such refreshing and helpful.

A GOLDEN PROMISE

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work” – 2 Cor 9:8

It is by grace that we are saved and it is God’s gift to us so that we won’t be able to boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8) It is this same grace that abounds to us and meets all of our needs so that we will overflow in every good work. The NIV Bible says 2 Corinthians 9:8 this way… And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (NIV)

This Bible verse really speaks of the principle of abundance. God wants us to overflow with His grace at all times and in every situation. I believe the key to this principle of abundance is found in Matthew 10:8. This is where Jesus is sending out His disciples to proclaim the good news of the gospel. His charge is simply this… ‘freely you have received, freely give’.

One of the things that I am learning in my walk with God is that I first need to be in a place of receiving before I can have anything to give to others. I am convinced that it is out of the overflow of His love and grace in my own life that others are touched.

So my simple encouragement today is for you to learn to receive all the grace that God wants to give you. As you receive the abundant, never ending supply that flows from heaven, it will overflow in your life so that you will have all that you need to do every good work that He has planned for you.

WISDOM THAT WORKS
CARRYING HURTS
Rev. Bob Stevenson

“There is living truth in what . . . a good man says, but the mouth of an evil man is filled with curses”.

Read Proverbs 10: 11. 12

I come from quite a large network of family members due to the child bearing fruitfulness of both my grandparents. My father had seven brothers and sisters and my mother had thirteen so you can imagine the variety of characters amongst the motley crew.

I well remember the family Christmas celebrations we used to have when l was a small boy. On one of these occasions one of my aunts had a disagreement with another aunt which ended up in them never talking to each other again for many years. The acrimony was quite hostile and was never forgotten for a long time afterwards.

I don’t know what the issue was about but the hurt of it affected all the family for untold years. It is easy to stoke up old hurts and stir up old quarrels, and let’s face it, we have all been hurt or insulted at some time or other.

However, I like the word that’s used here to deal with situations like this. It’s the word ‘overlook’. To overlook does not mean pretend it didn’t happen, but it does mean that I have to be prepared to look above or over such situations until the issue that fuelled the fire eventually fades away.
How grateful I am for those who have been prepared to overlook some of my comments!

CHOICE QUOTATIONS
GOD
We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls – Mother Teresa

My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I’m sick or in good health, whether I’m in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am – Brennan Manning

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty – Peter Marshall

God used beautiful mathematics in creating the world – Paul Daric

DAILY MEDITATIONS – A COURSE THROUGH THE BIBLE

GAINING DIVINE RESPECT – Genesis 4: 1-4; Hebrews 11

It is evident that Abel is a person that is divinely commended for consideration with regard to both his character and deed for it states, “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering.” There was not only the matter of the gift but of the character of the man and both are linked together. He is in the divine record book as an individual that met the approval of God and stood in His favour. The reason why he figures at the outset is because he had it in his mind and heart to please God and so the inward motivation of his being was as it should be. So with us: the primary pure desire that should govern our daily lives is the pleasing of God and the receiving of His acknowledgement – see John 8: 29.

This man would be aware of the facts of the situation from his parents, of their beginnings, and of how things had gone wrong because of their bad and evil choice. Maybe he learned from them on how things were before the fall and must have delighted to hear of their experiences with God and he became properly switched on to desire and know God for himself. There was no hard attitude to the Lord, only the will to enter into a fellowship with Him and to live in a way to glorify Him. He resented the evil and wanted God and the good. Let the passion of our lives today be to relate to Him in a way that He approves and gives Him pleasure.

v4. In Hebrews it states he offered – ‘a more excellent sacrifice.’ He knew what was acceptable to God in terms of gift. Whilst sensing his own unworthiness he placed his faith and confidence in a substitute that was pure and innocent and so was justified and accepted of God. We have a more excellent sacrifice in Christ. He is the best and through Him we can give our best and be favoured by God.