GBC Community Update: Allow God to use you even if it means he has to break you

Good morning.  I had the opportunity on Sunday to go with Jennifer to hear my son preach. For those who are newer to GBC, my oldest son is a pastor. It’s an interesting stage in life to see your children spread their wings and soar establishing their own lives and direction. It was a real joy.  I wonder if God looks at me the same way in similar moments. As my heavenly father, I suspect he does.
 
 
Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow
With the freezing rain that happened last week we had to reschedule Oasis@Midweek to tomorrow night.  Join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games and this week a fun craft courtesy of our Kid’s Church team.  This event is for kids JK to grade 6 and is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to learn how to ‘shine Jesus light’ and be STELLAR.
 
 
Baby shower for Leah Lewis
Please join us for a baby shower for Janet and Kevin Lewis’ new baby, Leah, on Saturday November 25.  It will be an open house in the side auditorium from 2 to 3 pm.  If you would like to contribute to a group gift, please give your contribution to Andrea Thornton or e-transfer to Andrea’s personal email [email protected]
 
 
Thought for the Day: How To Be Truly Thankful – Allow God To Use You, Even If It Means That He Will Break You
As I wrap up this series of thoughts on being thankful, this may be the hardest one I’ve shared thus far.  The best way to be truly thankful is to walk in the center of God’s will and allow him to use you.  But here’s the thing- that may mean He will do things that are unpleasant and may even break you of things that He doesn’t want for you.
We read this in Isaiah 64:8 “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”
Have you ever seen a potter give up on a piece of wet clay? No, they will continue to shape it until it comes out in the form they desire.
But there is a breaking point.
Potter’s will give up once the clay is no longer pliable or usable.  The point for us today then is don’t allow yourself to dry up. Stay hydrated in the Word of God and connected to him through prayer.  God will always use us, the clay, for His purpose. He’s the potter  and we don’t get to choose if we turn into a statue, a vase, a jar, or a plate. We can pray that God will use us for His glory, but we don’t necessarily get to choose our path for that glory. Sometimes that glory is seen in our weakness… in our eventual redemption… or even in our battle with disease, with no healing in sight.  Your Father is using you for great things, but they are HIS things, and it’s only through His eyes that we can clearly see our place in His masterful plan.
Can I get an “amen”?
Let’s be thankful for God’s knowledge and purposes, even when we don’t understand it or its not pleasant.  That helps me be thankful no matter what, I hope it is for you as well.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris