GBC Community Update: God is preparing us for eternity

​Good morning everyone!  With the announcement from the premier yesterday it looks like we’ll be able to gather on Sunday the 21st. I can’t wait to see those of you who are comfortable coming back!
Sorry for the technical difficulties we experienced partway through our livestream on Sunday.  We’re having some bandwidth issues. Our amazing tech team is working on this and I’m confident they’ll find a solution that’ll smooth things out and get us back to normal. Thanks for your patience and prayers for this vital ministry team.
I’m wrapping up my thoughts on finding hope in times of trouble.  I’m glad this has been an encouragement to many of you.  Starting Thursday, I’m going to share some thoughts on what it means to truly ‘follow’ Jesus.
 
 
40 Days of Prayer starting February 17!
As I mentioned last week, we have an exciting new prayer opportunity coming next week.  In preparation for Easter, and to strengthen us as a church, we’ll be holding a 40 day time of prayer.  The prayer guide will be available soon to guide you through each day as we get ready for Easter and also pray for our church. This is a great opportunity to come together collectively and pray in unity for our church and each other as we get ready to remember the cross and celebrate the empty tomb.  I hope you’ll be a part of it.
 
 
Wednesday Prayer
Join Jacob and Karen Ginter for a time of prayer on Wednesday afternoons at 3pm here at GBC in the Side Auditorium.
For questions or further details please contact Jacob at– [email protected] or text 519-803-4453
 
 
Thought for the Day: God is preparing us for eternity.
So, what have we learned about living with hope in times like this?  As with my sermon on Sunday, we know that God is preparing us for eternity but also helping us each day until that point.  When you really understand this truth, it’ll change everything about how you deal with difficulties. God is using everything in your life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to prepare you for eternity.

Peter describes this so powerfully in his first letter : “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold”.

You will certainly have trials in 2021. You may have a more difficult year than 2020; not a happy thought! But wait for it, better days are ahead.  1 Peter 1 reminds us that our trials are temporary. They will pass one day.

In the meantime, these trials will help you grow. They’ll test your faith—and strengthen it. You’ll be better because of them and that can give us the hope we need to not only carry on, but let our light shine! I hope this truth encourages you today.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris