It has been rather a tumultuous week in our area, especially regarding the weather, with floods affecting many parts of South Yorkshire. Many affected by the floods in 2007 have faced anxious times wondering if their homes will again be flooded and pictures from Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and parts of Barnsley have shown that it will be some time before any kind of normality will be seen. It has been very strange hearing such familiar names as Bentley, Fishlake, Meadowhall and Parkgate on national news and understanding something of the devastation caused first-hand, rather than being detached from such news because it is happening ‘somewhere else.’

In addition, some church members are facing difficult times regarding job situations and others are facing health problems. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when such things happen and particularly when more than one situation hits us with force. We are often left reeling, wondering how to adjust and how to cope.

God’s word reminds us, however, that God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. (Ps 46:1) Ps 121 is a particular comfort at times of bewilderment and confusion, reminding us that ‘my help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth’ (Ps 121:2, see also Ps 124:8) and that the Lord watches over us and guards us (Ps 121:5-8). We may well feel battered and anxious, but we are not left alone in any difficulty. God has promised to help us, deliver us and save us (see Ps 37:40, Ps 40:13, 17; Ps 60:5). As we call out to God for help, we can be sure He will provide it!

Back in May, I took my granddaughter to an event at Phoenix Park in Thurnscoe which involved learning about nature and outdoor life. We got to hunt bugs (which neither of us particularly liked, interesting and informative though this was!) and learn about different trees, and then at the end, the rangers in charge showed us how to toast marshmallows and make popcorn. (It’s a sad reflection of our interests that we found this much more interesting than the bug-hunting!)

I had never made popcorn before, probably because I’m not that fond of it. I know it’s the staple diet of many at the cinema, but I find popcorn chewy and tasteless, so I had never really bothered with it before. I was surprised to see the size of the kernels before we roasted them; they looked so small and insignificant.

Once heated, however, the kernels expanded to become the more familiar size:

All that was needed to transform the kernels into edible popcorn was heat. And that reminds me that sometimes our faith gets heated up from the fires of life, from the troubles and traumas which the Bible describes as ‘refining’ our faith (1 Pet 1:3-7), and what seems so small and insignificant becomes something sturdy and solid. I don’t really think faith is like popcorn, but I do think that the ‘heat’ of life has the potential to build our faith rather than destroy it, if we will accept God’s refining trials.

Today (9th November) is the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The wall was built in Berlin in 1961 to mark the division of Germany into the German Democratic Republic (East Germany, under Communist rule) and The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany, part of Western Europe) and was a symbol of the ‘Cold War’ which raged throughout my childhood. As late as 1986, I travelled to work in Bad Harzburg, near the East German border, and travelled there from Hanover on a train which continued into East Germany; I remember being terrified that I got on the right carriage or I might end up in East Germany!

(By Noir, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1402275)

The Berlin Wall was called the ‘Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart’ by East Germany, while the West Germans called it ‘the Wall of Shame’, a vivid reminder that perspectives matter enormously in life. A fear of communism and nuclear war overshadowed my childhood and the wall seemed utterly impregnable. When I became a Christian in 1983, I discovered that the charity Open Doors had just instituted a prayer campaign, ‘Seven Years of Prayer’, for the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe to fall and for the church to be allowed freedom from persecution. I too began to pray that God would do something amazing and overturn what seemed to be an implacable force against Christianity.

In 1989, a series of revolutions in Poland and Hungary (hugely influenced by Christians) ultimately led to the demise of the Berlin Wall. After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on 9 November 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, euphoric people and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the Wall. The Brandenburg Gate in the Berlin Wall was opened on 22 December 1989. The demolition of the Wall officially began on 13 June 1990 and was completed in November 1991. The “fall of the Berlin Wall” paved the way for German reunification, which formally took place on 3 October 1990.

It’s perhaps difficult for anyone aged 30 or under to grasp the enormity of what happened that day thirty years ago. I can remember being transfixed as I watched the news and saw answers to prayer visibly happen before my very eyes. I firmly believe that it was as a result of the prayers of so many people that God moved in the hearts of those in authority. Radio 4 has run a series of news bulletins this week interviewing people directly involved in the momentous happenings at that time, and I was struck by one East German woman who said in effect, ‘I did not believe our government would ever take notice of what was happening elsewhere; I was dumbfounded when the edict came through.’ For decades, East Germans had risked being shot if they tried to cross the wall; on that day, they could go freely.

God is able ‘to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’ (Eph 3:20) That applies on a national and international level, as well as on a personal level. There are different political challenges facing us today, but the same level of despair abounds in many of us. We need to remember that God can do ‘so much more’ and believe Him for great and marvellous deeds. History reminds us of many such miraculous interventions. We have a God who can do anything!

We are heading towards the season of Advent and preparing for Christmas, and as I ponder these times, I look at Advent calendars. These are big business these days. In our society, it seems that anticipation isn’t enough: the calendar where you simply open a door and count down the days seems boring!

The most common kind of Advent calendar (I think) is the chocolate one, but even these range from relatively cheap chocolates to luxury ones:

Then there are the speciality calendars, offering perfumes or alcoholic drinks:

Or the Advent calendars for pets:

I’m all for anticipation and preparing our hearts to make room for Jesus, but I think there’s perhaps a simpler way of doing this than succumbing to retail therapy. It’s called ‘counting your blessings.’ My Advent challenge is to make a list of all the ways God blesses you throughout the season of Advent. Write them down. All that’s required for this Advent challenge is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and a thankful heart that will ponder God’s blessings. I can guarantee there are far more than 24 blessings to be found, so maybe you should start now!

‘I was blind, now I’m seeing in colour.
I was dead, now I’m living forever.
I had failed, but You were my Redeemer.
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure.

I was lost, now I’m found by the Father
I’ve been changed from a ruin to treasure
I’ve been given a hope and a future
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season You are good to me.

You were there in the valley of shadows
You were there in the depth of my sorrows
You’re my strength, my hope for tomorrow
I’ve been blessed beyond all measure.

Surely Your goodness pursues me
Surely Your heart is still for me
I will remember Your mercies all my days
Through every storm and gale.’ (‘Counting Every Blessing’, Rend Collective)

On Thursday, our area faced one month’s rainfall in one day and there was widespread flooding. All my family was in the affected areas of Sheffield and for many hours I was uncertain what was happening to them. Because they were travelling, it wasn’t always possible to get in touch with them, and then my phone battery ran out of energy. I was without a phone charger and felt very much the lack of communication. There was nothing I could do to help them, but as I prayed for God to help them through the floods, I realised that our prayers are far more effective than anything else we can do.

Life can often feel like a flood to us, overwhelming us with situations over which we have little or no control. We are swept away by circumstances. Illness comes unexpectedly. Our job security can vanish in a moment. Relationships can be severed without warning. We can feel caught up in situations which baffle us and confuse us and we are left afraid, insecure and troubled. Ironically, as floods were battering South Yorkshire, there were news reports of bush fires in Australia which were raging. Danger can come from varied sources!

The only answer to troubled times is God, and He promises His help at all times. (Ps 46:1) Phil Wickham’s song ‘Eyes Fixed On You’ reminds us that through fire or flood, through wind and the waves, God is with us (see Isaiah 43:1-4). Because of Him, we are safe. Because of His presence and favour, there is ultimately nothing to fear. We need to have our eyes fixed on God. (Col 3:1-3)

‘I look up towards the sky,
Eyes fixed on You.
Your presence is where I hide.
Above every fear I rise,
Eyes fixed on You
And You’ll never leave my side.

Through fire or flood
Through wind and the waves
I follow Your voice through the darkest of days.
Whatever may come
You carry me through
Oh, You are the One I choose.

Eyes fixed on You
Eyes fixed on You

I walk with You on the waves
Eyes fixed on You
You’re with me, I know I’m safe
Completely You captivate
Eyes fixed on You
I trust every word You say.

Whom shall I fear? – for You are with me.
Whom shall I fear? –  You are by my side.
You are for me; who can stand against me.
God, on You I fix my eyes.
Whom shall I fear?-  for You are with me.
Whom shall I fear?-  You are by my side.
You are for me; who can stand against me.
God, on You I fix my eyes. (‘Eyes Fixed On You’, Phil Wickham)

Here are some dates for the diary:

Wednesday 20th November is our next ‘Churches Together’ prayer meeting at 11 a.m. at Furlong Road Methodist Church. Later on that day, at 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army, we will be preparing the Goody Bags for the Christmas show the following week. These are given out to local school children who attend the 4FrontTheatre production ‘Back In Time For Christmas.’

On Monday 25th November, 4FrontTheatre will be back with us, performing their Christmas show ‘Back In Time For Christmas’ for children of Goldthorpe Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School. The evening performance at GPCC at 6.30 p.m. is just about sold out! Please pray for the actors and for each performance of this great show.

On Friday 6th December we’ll be opening up to serve refreshments, offer craft activities and a Christmas present wrapping service during the Goldthorpe Christmas Market (run by Goldthorpe Development Group). If you can help on that afternoon/ evening (4-8 p.m.) or provide baking for the event, please let Julie know. We’ll be singing carols outdoors at 6 p.m., so please for fine, dry weather!

Don’t forget also our carol services at Cherry Tree Court on Sunday 8th December at 10.30 a.m. and at GPCC on Sunday 22nd December at 6 p.m.