GBC Community Update: Be patient and self-controlled

Good morning!  It was great to start our Easter series on Sunday. Thanks for the great feedback I received, I appreciate your encouragement a lot.
I suspect most of us are on various points of the spectrum right now in terms of our experience and views on everything going on right now but we can be united in our appreciation for all God has done through Jesus for us which comes into focus at Easter. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on that and radiate the hope the empty cross and empty tomb gives us all.
 
 
Notice of Annual Meeting
Please plan to join us for our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, March 28 at 12:15 p.m. following our morning service.  The purpose of the 30-minute meeting is to approve the 2020 financial statements, approve the 2021 budget, appoint an auditor and elect Directors to hold office until the next annual general meeting.  If you are member and are unable to attend, please complete a proxy form (emailed out or at office) to ensure that we achieve quorum for the AGM.
We hope to see you there!
 
 
Prayer
On Wednesday afternoons at 3pm a small group of people gather here at GBC for prayer. We’re focusing on the themes in the 40 Days of Prayer for March. Feel free to join us!
 
 
Thought for the day: Be patient and self-controlled
As we continue to look at some of the character traits of Jesus and how they could apply to our lives I have to confess that the ones I’m looking at today are likely the hardest ones for me personally but have born the most fruit when I’ve gotten them right:  patience and self-control
Throughout the gospels, Jesus clearly gets portrayed as a very patient man. After all, He was surrounded by disciples who constantly doubted him, Pharisees and Sadducees who continually attacked Him, and large crowds who wouldn’t leave Him alone. Despite all of that, He kept His composure and responded appropriately to every individual. Patience is the ability to see something through to the end, especially something that might be challenging or unpleasant. Patience is a character trait, but also a skill we can work on to improve. I know I am!
Related, in a way, is self-control.  Before His ministry was launched, Jesus spent time being tempted by the Devil in the wilderness. Although He was offered food, power, and many other things, Jesus controlled His desires and submitted them all to the will of the Father. Yes, He had desires for food and such, but He had a greater desire to obey the Father and accomplish what He’d set out to do. Self-control is the ability to deny oneself something for a greater objective. We live in a society that encourages us to deny ourselves nothing. This is something we can all grow from and through.
Patience and self-control, two difficult but valuable things. Makes sense doesn’t it? Nothing of value comes without cost.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris