GOOD FRIDAY

On Good Friday we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ who was crucified on behalf of humanity. Why us it ‘good’? The horrors of crucifixion cannot be called ‘good’. The murder of an innocent man by jealous religious leaders conspiring against Him can’t be called ‘good’. The rejection of One who healed the sick and blessed the poor can’t be described as ‘good’. The mourning of His family and friends can’t be called ‘good’.

Yet it is ‘Good Friday’. It is a memorial of the day when one sinless man – the Son of God, Jesus Christ – was put to death on behalf of the remainder of mankind who had no eternal hope because every one had sinned and missed the mark of God’s glory. God Himself, both just and loving, became a man and received the penalty of sin in Himself as He was crucified on the cross. Now, anyone – however far they have fallen in life – can call on Him because He has paid for their failures Himself, and receive forgiveness and eternal life. That is GOOD! This is the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. He has loved us to the very end! Why not step into it for yourself this Easter?

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Our Good Friday Service is at 10:00am,

in the Firehouse Chapel, Newton Avenue, Coney Hill, Gloucester, GL4 4NS

MY ROAD TO LIFE

A few weeks ago Ian brought us a passage that seems relevent now:

MY ROAD TO LIFE

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a referee waiting to blow the whistle…. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on when I met Christ it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was on the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I went the ways I know. It was rather boring, and predictable… It was always the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, ‘Keep Pedalling!” I worried and was anxious and asked, ‘Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and slowly I began to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered in the adventure. And when I’d say, ‘I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey.

And when we were off again. He said, ‘Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” so I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ!

UNFAILING LOVE

Sunday 13th March

by Jean Packer

Come drink of unfailing love
Come feast on unfailing love
deep, deep love

He’s calling out to you
Come away with me
Beloved, the winter is past
Sorrow is past
Unfailing love

I’m so loved by you
Nothing can ever fade away
Thank you this morning
for such Incredible love!

I’m so loved by you
Loved with everlasting love
Nothing can ever separate
You embrace us with
Everlasting love

You have brought us to your banner
of unfailing love
Written over our lives
of mistakes, weaknesses, struggles and failures

I am so loved by You For Eternity
Nothing I can ever do can take
Your love away from me
You have loved us and
written over all our lives

Wes sang this beautiful poetic prophesy over the whole church during our worship time this morning. God’s love was tangible and there was a powerful sense of family, warmth and comfort as we rested in His arms. We were at home, together! Bex continued our worship time through encouraging us to give our praise and thanks to God. We have such richness in our worship and it was good to have Nathan joining in with his Bass guitar, and Julie with the ‘Bongo’ drums.

Wes began to teach the word from a prayer of realisation from Ephesians 3:14.
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Matthew 22:37 – Jesus said to him “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind’ This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the law of the prophets.”

God wants us to sing of His love for us. He is calling us into position and love is the hook that we hang on. If we don’t have this hook – we fall. So much of church life is often law based and not love based. Past revivals and movements of the Holy Spirit gradually become structures and programmes. It’s all about love and we need to get the roots into us. 1 Corinthians is known as the love chapter. It shows us what love is, yet we cannot produce fruit in a vacuum. We must first produce love and the fruit will then grow naturally. In this generation, the heart of God is pushing outwards to the nations. We need to be firmly rooted and grounded in love.

Wes pointed out that there are three loves that we are commanded to have:
1/ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul
2/ Love your neighbor as you….
3/ Love yourself

This week, Wes focused on loving ourselves. He showed us that we cannot love God or others the way He loves us – until we love ourselves first. How do we do this? Love is often lacking in our society today. We have so much guilt and shame that we carry around with us. The devil sows lies into our hearts and shame causes us to hide because we believe that there is something intrinsically wrong with us. How do we become the people that God has made us to be?

Good News! The price has been paid! God has picked up the bill! Jesus gave His life on the cross for you and for me! God has clothed us with righteousness. If we don’t value ourselves, we won’t value the promises over our lives which are Yes! And Amen! We are worth it! If we don’t value ourselves we won’t ask and receive from God. Loving ourselves is agreeing with God what He says about us. Jesus said ‘Lay down your life’ (John 15:13) We can only give away what we have first received. We love because He first loved us. We limit God and others if we don’t love ourselves and position ourselves through Him.

Jesus lived His life out of the bosom of the Father. How does God love you? God created you in His own image and said that it was very good (Genesis 27 – 31). You are fearfully and wonderfully made and God knew you before you were born (Psalm 139). John 3:16 declares – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The good shepherd left 99 sheep to go and find one that was lost (Luke 15:3-7). Father stands at his drive every day waiting for his prodigal son to come home (Luke 15: 11 – 32). If you don’t love yourself the way God does. You will not bring His gifts in you to fruition.

Start resting in His love. The gospel is good news!

We were encouraged to ask the Holy Spirit to show each one of us our core beliefs about ourselves and to pray that God would practicalise His word in us. Ask Him to show us what memories we have, and where they are, to ask for His healing in our hearts.

DEDICATION SERVICE

How exciting it is when there is a child dedication service!
As Christians many parents want to acknowledge that their child(ren) are a gift from God, given to them on trust, to raise and care for. They want to ask for His help in this enormous task, and to ”give’ (or ‘dedicate’) their children back to Him – as Hannah did with Samuel in the Old Testament, and Joseph and Mary did with Jesus.
This is what will be happening this Sunday in Golden Valley Church, where we have a dedication service for two children.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me and do not forbid them..”

GET RID OF FEAR

That’s the title of tonight’s ‘Winter Bible Study’ – Get Rid of Fear.

This is the second out of three studies on ‘Fear’. Fear is a natural, and sometimes healthy emotion, but at other times can paralyse us and rob us of experiences and growth that are ours. So often Jesus tells us, “Fear Not!”

May His love that drives out fear impact us as we study the Bible together and pray for one another.

Tonight’s study will be led by Ian Bull.

POWERFUL TEACHING ON THE FATHER’S LOVE

As part of our “All Things Are Possible” conference Scott and Hilary Dalton delivered a powerful session of teaching and impartation of God the Father’s love, and a revelation of what He is really like.
Most, if not all of us, have a distorted view of God – compared to the way Jesus saw and understood Him. Jesus came to bring us a true revelation and experience of abiding in the Father.
Last night’s session was a deep and intimate time of God revealing Himself through a fresh look at the story of the Prodigal Son and powerful ministry time. Thank You God!!
The conference continues today. Why not come along? Sessions are 10:30am and 2:30pm.

ALPHA TO RUN IN BEAUTY SALON

A new lunchtime version of the highly successful ‘Alpha’ course is due to commence at ‘Pleroma Hair and Beauty Salon’ in Churchdown, Gloucester later this month.

The long running Alpha course is designed primarily for people who aren’t churchgoers and each course is open to everyone who would like to attend. Alpha courses attract a wide range of guests of different ages and backgrounds and according to the ‘Alpha UK’ organisers there  are currently over 7,000 courses running across the UK.

This isn’t the first time a lunchtime Alpha course has been held in Golden Valley Church, but it is the first in this setting. Penny and her team are looking forward to gathering their guests in the salon for a light lunch, time to chat and make friends, followed by the short talk on an aspect of the Christian faith, such as “Who Is Jesus?”, or “How Does God Guide Us?”

For further information please contact Golden Valley Church office on 01452 739442.