GBC Community Update: Be filled with love

​Good afternoon!  It’s Thanksgiving weekend and while things are different and may not look like what you’d choose, we still have a lot to be thankful for. As the old song goes: count your blessings, name them one by one. That’s a great practice not just for times like this, but anytime we may be tempted to grumble or see the glass half empty!
 
 
Join us on Sunday!
We’re going to pause in our new series on the seven churches of Revelation this Sunday.  Richard Fangrad will be speaking this week and asking the question: ‘is Jesus God?’. It’s very relevant for today!  I hope you’ll join us either at GBC or on our livestream.  Though our numbers are growing we still have space for you!
 
 
Interested in being baptised?
Next month we will be having an opportunity to participate in believer’s immersion baptism. If you’ve never taken this step of obedience you’ll have the chance to do it then.  If you’re interested, would like more details, or have questions about our practice of baptism, let me know. I’d love to talk to you about it.
 
 
Update from the Elders
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those of you who are coming to our Sunday service for following our protocols. It’s been great to see more of you coming back and even some new people starting to call GBC home but I also know its been difficult to adjust to having to wear a mask through the service and now have to keep you coats with you since we’re not making the coat racks available.  I appreciate your willingness to comply and though it seems a simple thing it’s a way we can let our lights shine to the world around us. So thank you!
 
 
Thought for the day: Be filled with love
God is love and those who follow God must also be filled with love.  If we want to get rid of fear, we must replace it with something. If we keep our minds empty, fear can easily return.  That’s why we read in I John 4:18: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  Now, here’s one of the most important keys to getting rid of fear: We must be filled with love.  We can cast out fear with love.
But how?
Love is an affection and emotion that does NOT produce any fear. In fact, if we truly love God, we should not fear anything.  We don’t need to fear death because after death, if we are secure with God, we can be confident that we will meet our Creator during our next waking moment.  As long as we have love in our hearts and lives, we can expect fear to never bother us. The moment that our love wavers, that’s the same moment that fear starts to creep in again.
When love prevails, fear stops from existing.
When love overcomes, fear is suppressed.
And when love reigns, fear is banished.
Sounds pretty good, huh? Let’s be filled with love!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris