Has anyone else found the fight against temptation particularly hard over the last 10 months? Exhaustion, boredom, depression, feeling like we’re just repeating the same thing over and over; the desire to escape into areas of self-fulfilment always feels strongest at times like these. Those things that we cling to for comfort, other than our Lord Jesus, feel just that bit more tempting, even if our faith may feel strong.
I find this message from Paul so encouraging and relatable in our battles against sin. When we fall into sin, we really feel like we are doing what we don’t want to do and not doing what we want to do, particularly now. How often do we find ourselves drawn to our phones before our bibles? How often do we spend hours wallowing in sadness before even thinking to pray? How often do we feel the sin within us controlling our desires instead of the Holy Spirit?
We know that sin always follows us in this life. It is always there hanging over us, tempting us in, talking us down. For 11 out of the 12 verses in this last section of Romans 7; the story seems cripplingly sad and inescapably broken. It looks like sin will always beat us in our weak flesh.
But that incredible verse 25 reminds us of our deliverance. It reminds us that sin is a defeated enemy. It reminds us that God has saved, redeemed, and rescued us from the clutches of sin through his son Jesus Christ.
In our painful and scary temptations, we can feel the peace of God which transcends all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We can feel a renewed determination to stand firm against sin, the world and the Devil. And we can know that our sin will never be greater than the love God has for us.

If you were to scroll down to the the Bulletin from last Tuesday you would have read my last bulletin where I talked about being a child of God. Quoting 1 John 3:1 ‘See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are
Well today I’m going to turn the tables…

Imagine this… a child comes home from school one day looking somewhat downcast. You ask them why and they say no one played with them at lunch? 
What do you do?
 
How about this one? An email pings into your child’s inbox. It's from the University they hope to go to. They call you in excitedly. You open it together and it is a rejection letter saying they haven’t got a place.
What do you do?
 
Or imagine this unlikely scene… the kids are playing outside having fun with each and being kids… they start climbing the tree. They know they aren’t meant to. You’ve told them a thousand times not to because they will hurt themselves. You see them do it again and tell them again not to. A minute later you hear a shout and the tears come flooding as they’ve hurt themselves… just like you said.
What do you do?
 
What is the answer to all those… give them a hug, show them love and kindness.
 
In sadness, in rejection and in something that is their own fault as their parent what do you do? Give them a hug, show them love and kindness.
If that is what you would do as a parent, how much more will God.
 
In our sadness he is there.
In our rejections he is there.
Even in our sin he is there.
 
Why?
 
Because that is what a Father does.
God is a Father who we can always come to, in fact, he is a Father who always wants us to, regardless of what we have done.
 
Happy Thursday.
 
(If you have time read Luke 11:11-13 & 15:11-32 and consider what sort of Father God we have). 

On Sunday 31st our post service coffee will not just be a chat but the opportunity to ask questions about the Mental Health Awareness series of sermons on Lamentations 3 so far. This is an opportunity to understand further and discuss together.

It won't be a clinic to share our own difficulties, but there is a place for that, and we want to support and help one another all we can. So if you're struggling at the moment, please don't struggle alone. Get in touch with one of the staff or a trusted friend, or ask us for advice on who might be a good counsellor. It's one thing having a series on Mental Health Awareness, but we need to be able to help one another with this as well. And sometimes that means being able to ask for help too.
​
The series on Lamentations 3 goes on until February 14th, and you can catch up with the previous weeks on our YouTube channel.
Phil

Please click on the link below:
​https://mailchi.mp/af1a66dd6c3e/noticias-3929954?e=714c4585fc

A Call to Courage
​
‘Be strong and courageous’ Joshua 1:9
 
Courage is the sword that vanquishes fear, and we need to wield it more often as Christians. I know that some are ‘timid’ by nature and that their knees buckle at the first whiff of danger. Yet, all believers are called to live courageously for the Lord.
 
What a task was given to Joshua to lead the people of God into the Promised Land. It was already occupied, and the towns were well defended. The people within them were strong, ready to fight and numerous. No walkover victory, you’d think. But to this task Joshua was called by God. ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged’ the Lord said to him here in verse 9 – ‘For I am with you’.
 
We as Christians are called – even commanded – to be courageous. Our real enemies, are, by and large, unseen and fearful. They are the ‘principalities and powers’ in Ephesians 6:12. Normal life has it’s battles too. There are heartaches, disappointments, losses, defeats, griefs, illnesses and even death. But courage looks at these in the eye and faces up to all that comes along. It TRUSTS and RESTS in the Almighty power of God, who promises help, strength, deliverance and His presence. With faith it defeats the fear that lurks, goads, or even jumps out at us. ‘Fear not’ commands the Lord. Faith responds ‘Alright Lord, I’ll be strong, faithful and courageous, trusting in You’.
 
Brothers and sisters in Christ. We are going to need great courage in the days ahead. So, sharpen up your sword ready for battle.
Phil

​A message from Phil:
Thank you so much to all of you who prayed last week for the NHS, whether that was on your own or with others on Friday evening.
​
We want to carry on praying, not just for the NHS, but for our country and beyond during this pandemic.

It's hard to find a good time that everyone can make, but we've chosen every Wednesday at 7.00pm for 30 minutes. For some this will be just before Small Group, so I really encourage you to come to this first, then go to Small Group (even if it's a little shorter to compensate). For others it's children's bed-time. So why not pray for our country with your children every Wednesday? I know many will be doing that already.

I've set aside each Wednesday at 7.00pm until the end of February. We may continue after that - who knows what the situation will be then? But for the moment why not join me in making that commitment to pray for our Country, each Wednesday evening, 7.00pm on Zoom? Join via ChurchSuite, see you on Wednesday.
​
Phil

​
Praying in a global pandemic? Of course we do.

Last Friday we had a good pray for the NHS, and we’ll be praying each Wednesday at 7.00pm for half an hour on Zoom, not just for the NHS but for our country and beyond. When you’re in a pickle the natural response is to cry for help; that’s what we’ll be doing, and I’m sure we’ve all been praying for our country a lot in recent months. Crying for help. And our prayer meetings are a communal call for help.

It’s always particularly struck me how communal the early churches were, and I’ve been reminded of it again just this week. They ate together, they did evangelism together, they met together, they shared possessions together, they suffered together, and when things were good or perhaps particularly when things were bad, they prayed together. Of course they did.

Here’s just one example from Act 12. I love v5 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Of course they were. It’s what we expect isn’t it?
And I think if you asked people around here what they’d expect the church to be doing during a global pandemic, some of them at least would be expecting us to be praying. Together. Of course they would.
Praying in a global pandemic? Of course we do.
Phil

​Inconvenient Love
11 For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another;
16 By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.
1 John 3:11, 16 (AMP)
 
 
It is easy to say the words, “I love you.” But putting these words into action is much more difficult because it requires more of us. It means being inconvenienced for someone – even laying down our lives for one another. Hopefully, we won’t ever have to ‘take a bullet’ or jump in front of a speeding train for someone. However, we may be called to put our agenda to one side and place the interests and needs of others before our own. As Christians, we are called to show this love-in-action to our families and our communities.
 
This calling is costly. It requires that we forgive, speak the truth, carry each other’s burdens, pray for one another, and yes, even lay down our own self-interests. It means living out all those “one another” Bible passages. This is a great calling and one we cannot do on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to love others.
 
But when we love with more than just words, we are following Jesus’ example. To see the grandest gesture of love, look to the cross at Calvary. This is complete, pure and unconditional love in action. When we realise what Jesus did for us, we respond by loving Him – and loving others.
 
 
Dear Lord, the call to love others more than myself is a hard one. I confess that, deep down, I am selfish and prideful by nature. I need Your help to show true love to those You have placed in my life. Help me to love my family through my actions. Help me to love my friends through my tone of voice and attitude. Help me to love my co-workers by gladly doing things for them that seem hard or uninteresting. Thank You that through the power of the Holy Spirit I can be a light for You by the way I treat others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 

​

A real New Years resolution
 
We are back in the post-exilic period again! (See 08/01 for Ezra thought for the day)
 
This time we are in the account of Nehemiah. Ezra is involved, you can find him back in chapter 8, and with the other priests and Levites they are teaching and instructing the people. It may be worth you slowly reading through these chapters at another time, but to give you a summary:
 
Chapter 8 - Ezra and co. teach people what God’s word says
Chapter 9 - The people realise they haven’t lived rightly before God, according to His word, and confess their sins
Chapter 10 - After confessing their sin, the people recommit to God with promises.
 
This pattern we see in Scripture often. God’s Word leads people to repent and to recommit to God.
 
I don’t know if you made a New Years Resolution this year. To be honest, I think it’s gone out of fashion. It could be because people don’t really want to commit to change! It’s much easier to attempt to live up to standard you didn’t promise. But when faced with real truth, the truth of God’s Word, it cuts us to the quick (Hebrews 4:12) and we need to change.
 
So maybe you didn’t make a New Years Resolution this year, but there is always a good moment to turn to God, confess our sins and failings to Him, and to recommit this year and the rest of our live to Him.​

                                                        “Faithful in Prayer”
If you missed the video earlier in the week about praying for the NHS  the video is below.
Reminder that there will be a prayer meeting specifically for the the NHS with Phil and Anna on Zoom on this evening, 7.30. The link is on ChurchSuite or click the button below
​Let’s be Faithful in Prayer for the NHS.

​Ephesians 1:17: remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give u the Spirit of wisdom + revelation, so that you may know him better.  
 
I’m sure you were all asked as children what you wanted to be when you grew up .  You imagined yourself 10 years into the future + dreamed your dreams.  We live in a world where we should - as S Club 7 once sang - 'reach for the stars, follow that rainbow, then all your dreams will all come true.'  But that advice is so cruel, because most of our dreams don't come true. During my childhood I wanted to be a pilot, but I'm afraid of heights! I wanted to be a Rockstar, but my singing voice is average at best! I wanted to be a fireman, but I'm an asthmatic! So often what we want for ourselves is unrealistic and unachievable. 

Now think about what you want for your church.  What are your dreams for you and your brothers and sisters in Christ in 10 years, 5 years, 1 years' time?  Paul's big dream for the Ephesians was that they would know God better.  The God who has revealed himself through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The God who we're told earlier in Ephesians 1 blesses his people with every spiritual blessing.  The God who is supremely glorious and well worth knowing.  Pauls wants these Christians to have an increasing personal, intimate, relational delight in that great God.  

Presumably, that is what Paul would want for us too, but as I read that prayer, I can't help but wonder if it's a cruel fantasy like the S Club 7 rainbow!  Some of you may be feeling quite distant from God right now and knowing him better seems so out of reach.  Or perhaps you see how this could be true for one or two, but really...the whole church getting to know God better? It seems so unlikely.  But this isn't just a dream of Paul's, it is a prayer, which means he must know God CAN answer it! 

As the phrase goes, it takes one to know one.  Well, it takes God to know God.  We need his help. We need his Holy Spirit to be at work in us to give us wisdom and revelation as we open up his word.  We can't do this alone.  But wonderfully, we don't need to.  God wants to help us know him better, which we are able to do if only we would pray for it! 

What are your dreams for you and  your brothers and sisters in the next 10 years, 5 years, 1 year?  How are those dream reflected in your prayer life? Paul would say - in the words of S Club 7- that the stars we should be reaching for, the rainbow we should be following, is to know God better.  That's want God himself wants for us, it's what he wants us to be praying and he wants to help make it happen.  So unlike my childhood dream of being a Fireman-Pilot-Rockstar, this is not an impossible reality out of our grasp! God surely delights in his people praying that they would know him better.  And surely he will answer it.    

So why not make this a regular prayer for yourselves and for one another? 

Hello Everyone
As some of you may remember, we ran a 5-week programme to develop our practical communication skills in October and November last year.
At the time, some people who expressed an interest were not able to join up. In addition, due to our continued focus on good mental health at BH, others may also feel that it's of value to take part now.
 
So what's the course about?
 
It's a very practical, hands-on workshop, which explores communication in terms of our 'words', 'music' (voice) and 'dance' (body language) and how these three components, working together, can help to make what we say, and how we say it, more effective.
 
We then go on to explore a range of tools or techniques, such as how to build others up, how to listen deeply, how to have difficult conversations and how to put your point across in a fair and balanced way. There's lots of working in small groups, to try out the techniques and then apply them to 'real life' situations.
 
The course will be run over 5 weeks, as before, with each session lasting two hours. We'd need you to commit to all 5 sessions, as each builds on what comes before it.
 
Some of those who attended last year have provided their details below and would be more than happy for you to get in touch for an honest evaluation of the programme, what they learned and the difference it's made.
 
Please send me an email (bishophannington@gmail.com) if you'd like to sign up, with your availability for February and March, by Sun 31st Jan:
1. Across weekday evenings
2. Sunday afternoons before the evening service
I'll then confirm the start date and times in due course.
 
Looking forward to working with you.
 
Giles

​It’s a strange thing but people seem to have real difficulty living in the present. Worriers live in the future...come to think of it so do dreamers! The news and Captain Sir Tom have repeatedly pointed us to a better day that’s coming.
Those with a severe case of nostalgia and sometimes those with a deep sense of guilt live in the past. It’s easy to look back with either fondness or regret – sometimes a mixture of both. I wonder how you will look back on 2020?

But there’s another word that’s really important and that’s, ‘NOW’.

Something amazing to consider is that God lives in the perpetual ‘now’. God doesn’t live in the past or the future because in eternity there is no time but the present moment. That’s one reason why God knows everything because everything is NOW to God...and why when we sing ‘when we’ve been there 10,00 years’ it’s delightful nonsense as is ‘10,000 years and then forevermore’. It does, of course, convey a great idea. 😊 In eternity, in heaven, we will truly live ‘now’ - perhaps for the first time.

One of my favourite verses, which God drew to my attention many years ago, is Exodus 6:1a,
“Now you will see what I will do.”

Moses had come to God complaining that since he’d been sent to tell Pharaoh to let the people of God go, things had got worse not better, “O Lord, why have You brought trouble on Your people?” Instead of just having to slave away making bricks out of straw now they had to go to look for the straw and still make as many bricks or get beaten!! And, said Moses, “You have not rescued Your people at all.”

That’s when God pointed Moses to the ‘now’...and from our vantage point we can look back to what God did as He led His people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, especially remembering Passover and what that prefigured - Jesus, our Passover Lamb.
                                                                                              
God had, and still has, a plan – it wasn’t immediately obvious to the Israelites and may not be obvious to us but our part is to keep praying to Him, trusting Him and looking for where He is at work and noticing what He’s doing, now.                                                                                          Is there someone or something for which you’ve been praying - maybe for years??          Perhaps God is highlighting this verse for you, today, saying, “Now you will see what I will do.”

It’s not helpful to live in the past and useless worrying about the future...especially as we can have certainty about our home in heaven when we put our trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

So, let’s live NOW, in God’s strength, in the power of His Holy Spirit and keep watching and praying so that we can rejoice together as we see what He does next.

​We still have some copies of Ian’s book in the church office for sale.
If you would like to purchase a copy please email the office (office@bhmc.org.uk) and forward £5.00 per copy direct to the BH bank account 40.52.40 Account no. 00016162. 

​


See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so                                                                  we are.1 John 3:1a

On Sunday our theme for the morning was church as family. But we started by asking ourselves ‘How are we family’. And the answer was that we are now all children of God because God lavished love upon us by sending his child to seek and save us and bring us home. So today, if you love and trust Jesus, you are a child of God.
Just let that sink in for a moment.
The one who fashioned the stars, the one who holds the oceans in the palm of his hand, the one who knows the beginning from the end, the one who is robed in perfect light, the one who is perfect wisdom and perfect love.
If you are a Christian you are his child. You are his beloved. Your picture is on his mantlepiece.
Whatever today has in store, rest and remember that.
And in the mean time read over this quote from the Theologian J I Packer, and ponder it today and ask yourself how much do I make about being a child of God?​

Please click on the link below:
​https://mcusercontent.com/86116d136cabe9e59290da9bd/files/b700b7d2-0e2a-45ef-9afe-8126f59bdc70/E_Newsletter_January.03.pdf

Pressing on – upwards
 
‘You need to persevere’ Hebrews 10:36
 
I did a pretty foolish thing in my early 20’s, and that was to hike a high Lake District mountain on my own. It was February and the weather was glorious – not a cloud in the sky over the whole of England. I took the ‘difficult’ path up one of the famous peaks. As I got higher, the terrain got more precipitous, it also got icy – really icy! At one stage I was crawling along a ‘ridge’ on my hands and knees. It was scary. At the end of the ridge was frozen snow, and the way ahead almost vertical. I wanted to go back, but couldn’t face that icy ridge again. So, forward, or rather upward, it had to be. I carved footholds in the hard snow and after much puffing, panting and sweating (with fear), I made the summit – alive!! Needless to say I took the ‘easy’ way back to the Youth Hostel.
 
Sometimes in our Christian life, the ‘pathway’ seems pretty treacherous doesn’t it? Did we sign up for this? And, we want – really want, to go back. But forwards is the only way to go – even if the path seems pretty much vertical.
 
The Hebrew Christians in our verse today were in that position. Life had been a real struggle – almost too much to bear. They wanted to go back, to the ease and comfort of their ‘pre-Christian’ days, but the writer of the letter urges them to persevere – to keep on going in the faith. Have a look at v19-39 of Hebrews chapter 10, and hear the words of encouragement. Yes, they were written for those first century believers, but they were also written for us.
 
‘We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved’ (v39).