Here are a few dates for the diary/ calendar!

The ‘Churches Together’ prayer meeting will be on Wednesday 16th February at 1.30 p.m. at the Salvation Army.

The ‘Churches Together’ family fun day is on Wednesday 23rd February between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at GPCC.

Looking ahead to Easter, we are starting a 6 week course of Bible studies throughout Lent, using the book ‘Sharing The Easter Story’ by Sally Welch to explore the themes of repentance, forgiveness, hope, trust, sacrifice, love and change. These studies will start on Friday 4th March at 11.45 a.m. and we will have a light lunch followed by the Bible study. Please contact Julie (07729 421405/ email julie@gpcchurch.co.uk) if you want to attend so resources can be ordered and catering organised. Come along to find out why Easter is so important to Christians and to learn more from the Bible.

Dearne Churches Together will be taking part in the Spring Fair at the Railway Embankment (pencilled in for Saturday 9th April) andwe will be involved in planting flowers at Thurnscoe Park (10 a.m.) and at the Railway Embankment in Goldthorpe (11.30 a.m.), followed by craft activities and refreshments at Furlong Road Methodist Church (12.30 p.m.) on Wednesday 13 April.

GPCC Easter services will be on Good Friday (15 April @ 5 p.m. with a fellowship meal and Holy Communion service) and on Easter Sunday (17 April) at 10.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

The cartoonist Kim Casali gave us many definitions in her famous series of cartoons (each one starting with the words ‘Love is…’), some of which may make us smile.

Some of these have definite ties with Biblical views on love:

If we want to find the real definition of love, though, we have to start with God, since He is love (1 John 4:8) . Probably the best definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, which shows us the need for love at the heart of our living.

Tonight we looked at that definition, recognising that this love describes God’s love first and foremost. There are positive and negative aspects of love in that chapter: love is described as patient and kind, trusting and persevering, hopeful, protective, but it is also described as not being arrogant or selfish, boastful or envious, easily angered or keeping a record of wrongs. Love focuses on others and rejoices with the truth. We are told that ‘love never fails’ and see that we all need God’s help to love in this way. If we want to please God and see others come to faith, then love must be first in our lives. (John 13:34-35)

The good news is that God helps us and pours His love into our hearts. So as we consider the approach of Valentine’s Day on 14^th February and think about how we can show love to other people, we need to let this definition of love – rather than the world’s definition or focus only on romantic love – shape how we live so that we can reflect God’s love to other people.

Garry spoke from Gen 41:1-13 this morning about results and faith. So often, we are known by our achievements; a salesperson is only as good as their last sale, a sportsperson only as good as their last event, for example. Many places of employment speak about setting SMART goals (specific, measured, agreed, realistic and timed.) There is much we can learn from the world about management and work, but ultimately, we see from God’s word that results cannot always be easily measured.

Joseph had displayed faith while in prison and interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker correctly, but in actual fact, he then remained in prison for another two years. When God moved, He moved swiftly and Joseph ended up interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams and landing a job he could never have imagined, but this did not happen instantaneously. In that intervening period of time, it must have been easy to think that he was not in the right place or had failed in some way, but this was not true. In the same way, Daniel had to wait to hear God’s answer to his prayers (see Daniel 10:1-5, 12-13). Sometimes, depending on when we look at our lives, we may see no positive results at all! William Carey, a famous missionary to India of whom Vishal Mangalwadi said, ‘he did more for the transformation of the Indian subcontinent in the 19th and 20th centuries than any other individual before or since’, arrived in the country in 1793 and did not see one person converted until 1800. In those intervening years, his son died from dysentery, he suffered from malaria and his wife suffered with delusions and was thought to be insane by some. It must have been a testing time for him and we can imagine that he frequently felt discouraged. Nonetheless, he continued to obey God and live by faith. This is the only way God wants us to live, but it can be difficult.

Faith is not just required at the start of the Christian journey; it is required every day of our lives (see Gal 3:1-5). We can come to church, read the Bible, pray, live a good life, work for God, and witness without faith – but it requires faith to come to church and meet with God; it requires faith to read the Bible and have God speak to us and then act on what He says. It needs faith to pray and see God move; it needs faith to live the good life which is impossible in our own strength. It needs faith to work for God and achieve great things; it needs faith to witness and make an impact. It needs faith to achieve eternal results – which we may not see on earth.

How do we know when God is speaking to us? God will often confirm what He is saying to us, but we often have to step out in faith without ‘knowing’ or ‘seeing’ all the results. He often encourages us (think of the words God spoke to Abraham in Gen 18:10, giving him some eventual insight into timescales as to the birth of a son), but we need to be prepared to hold on, to trust, to continue in faith despite what our eyes see. William Carey is known for saying, ‘expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.’ When we do this, we can leave the results to Him!

The prophetic voice challenges the mainstream worldview, bringing us God’s word as a truth-tipped javelin (to use Eugene Peterson’s phrase.) The prophets used vivid imagery, shocking language and bizarre human theatre to convey God’s truth. Satire is another tool in the prophetic armoury.

I’ve just listened to the new album from Casting Crowns (‘Healer’). This contemporary Christian group often speak to my heart in prophetic fashion, seeing the issues of our modern Western society through the lens of Scripture. Many of their songs have a prophetic ‘bite’ to them (‘Stained Glass Masquerade’ points to the hypocrisy often seen in churches; ‘City On A Hill’ shows us the need to refrain from internal divisions, for example.) The final song on the new album (‘2nd Opinions’ – listen here) has a jaunty country and western tune that houses bitingly satirical lyrics about how we value the world’s opinions and soundbites more than the truths of God’s word. I laughed out loud at the line ‘it’s high time we turned our interest to God’s word instead of Pinterest’, but as with all satire, once the laughter fades, the truth has a chance to linger and change us.

The song looks at our tendency to want a cosy life, following our heart ‘where ere it leads’ without the need for discernment or obedience. It speaks of our reluctance to change (‘it’s just the way I am – I got all the proof I need right here in my Enneagram’) and the beliefs that sound Christian but only go so far, never acknowledging the need to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Christ. It talks about our desire for conformity and compromise, believing all roads lead to Heaven without understanding ‘there’s one throne and I’m not on it… Jesus is the truth, the life, the way.’

The fact that God is a loving heavenly Father directly causes Him to act in loving ways towards His children. This does not mean that life is without troubles or struggles, but it does mean that we don’t go it alone and have direct help from the God who made all things.  Jesus promised that as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, ‘all these things will be given to you as well.’ (Matt 6:33) The Bible affirms this promise in many other places:

• The Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withholdfrom those whose walk is blameless. (Ps 84:11)

• I was young and now I am old,yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (Ps 37:25)

• Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Ps 9:10)

• God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)

• Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

The antidote to worry lies in absorbing these truths about God’s character and trusting that out of His grace and mercy, He will meet all our needs and help us in our everyday lives.

During the first lockdown of 2020, we often used to walk in Howell Woods and were blessed to see all the wildflowers growing there, especially the bluebells in May. I particularly like the random nature of wildflowers, how they just seem to spring up in different places, bringing colour and diversity to the woods. They remind me of the wonder and wildness in life and the fact that God cares so much about beauty to give us these little pictures of perfection.

Jesus spoke about the flowers of the field as a sign to us of God’s care (and ultimately to point us to His provision): ‘Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?’ (Matt 6:28-30) So much of our lives is spent in pointless worry, fretting about the necessities of life as if we were responsible for everything. In commanding us not to worry about these things, Jesus used the illustration of wildflowers. They represent beauty, extravagance and diversity, and most of all, point to a God who looks after His creation.

Winter is a barren season, when few flowers flourish. But spring is coming, with all its glorious wildflowers, and if you are feeling burdened and anxious, fretting about the practicalities of life, I recommend going on a walk and looking at these flowers, holding God’s words to you in your heart as a reminder that when we seek His kingdom and righteousness above everything else, He will sort out the practical things and provide for us. (Matt 6:33-34)