GBC Community Update: Facing fears

​Good morning!  I hope you’re making this a great week.  As summer starts to wind down there’s still time to grab a good book from our library to read.  There’s a variety of topics, stories and even some books on theology that will help you grow. Take advantage of the quieter times of the season and grow through reading.  Curious? Check our library in the Side Auditorium out or our kid’s library in the Children’s Ministry Wing.
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we continue our summer series “Hear my prayer, Lord”: Great prayers of the Bible
Sunday we continue our summer series “Hear my prayer, Lord”: Great prayers of the Bible.    What do we mean by great prayers and what do they look like?  Find out this summer!
This Sunday I will be looking at Hannah’s prayer, but not the one you may be thinking of!  What does it mean when we pray ‘remember me’?  Find out on Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE.
 
 
Summer thoughts to keep you on the journey: Facing Fears
Today’s thought has some similarities to Tuesdays.  This was another thing I addressed in ‘Hot Bible Adventure’ at Oasis. 
Despite our society being back to some degree of ‘normal’, there’s still a lot of fear out there- fear for the economy, fear of nuclear war, fear for the environment to name a few.
To find peace in trying times we have to face our fears like King Hezekiah did. If you remember, I talked about him in our summer series on prayer recently.  Fears can be healthy or exaggerated—and sometimes paralyzing. It takes wisdom to admit that there are dangers around us that need to be properly, and fearfully, respected, and it takes wisdom to see through the exaggerations and fear-mongering of those who use the pains of others for their benefit.
Let’s be honest, we will not have all the answers we could hope for, nor will we fully anticipate all that’s going to happen in the coming days. That can increase our fear. Yet despite that, all of us must accept the responsibilities we have in our given spheres of influence where we are called upon to serve and to lead. We must seek wisdom and make the very best decisions we can as we all seek to act generously and selflessly, in ways consistent with all that we believe as followers of Jesus. 
King Hezekiah, when faced by the seemingly unstoppable Assyrian army took his fear and went to God in prayer. That’s the first place we should go in times like that.
God tells us in Isaiah 41- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  So, face your fears and let your light shine!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris