After an enjoyable time of praising and worshipping God, several people told of occasions in their lives when God had done great things for them, saving them from death or helping them in difficult situations.
Debbie then sang a beautiful solo, 'Christ in Me', about Jesus being our shelter from life's storms and with us all the time.
Pastor Jonathan Fiddy read from Psalm 103, which speaks of all the blessings which God pours into our lives when we trust in Him. Some verses from the Message translation say "He forgives your sins... He heals your diseases... He redeems you from hell - saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy... He wraps you in goodness... He renews your youth... God makes everything come out right, He puts victims back on their feet" (v3-6).
There is so much goodness available to us in God if we reach out to Him for it. God helps us get through every situation - we can't control our circumstances, but we can be victorious in them. Isaiah 61v3 says God gives us: "the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Sometimes we have to choose to reject a spirit of heaviness and depression, and remember the good things God has done for us. He can then fill us with joy and praise to Him.
Sometimes life can be tough - God doesn't always take us out of our difficulties, but He helps us through them and brings us out at the end much stronger than at the start. Our emotions can go up and down, but He gives us joy through it all, and 'the joy of the Lord is our strength' (Nehemiah 8v10).
God provides us with everything we need, He heals our sicknesses, and He forgives us, even when we do wrong. Sometimes we make mistakes, but if we confess our sins to Him and put it right, He forgives us and helps us to live right.
God wants us to enter into all the good things He has for us. As the hymn says: "What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear, What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer." We need to thank God for all the good things He's done for us, and take to heart God's Word and what He says about every situation.
Pastor Fiddy is available to talk to on (01834) 871975, and our website is emmanuelgospelministries.org. CDs of the messages can be bought for £1.
All are warmly invited to a barn dance in the church hall on Friday, February 27, at 7.30 pm, tickets £5, with all proceeds going to the Christian charity, Release International.