GBC Community Update: Keep your gaze on Jesus

Good morning!  I hope you’re making this a great week!  No, its not Thursday, yesterday was a busy day so I’m sending it out now. Happy Friday!
 
No updates next week due to Oasis Camp
There will be no updates next week as I will be involved with Oasis Camp doing the Bible teaching. Please pray for our camp that we would shine Jesus light and show the love of God to the campers.
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on livestream as we look at the book of Joel
This Sunday pastor Dan will begin leading us through the book of Joel as we go through an introduction to the book and the genre, and look at Joel 1. 
In preparation, would you please take some time to watch this 5 minute video (https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/the-prophets/), and consider reading through the book of Joel.
If you can’t make it, 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: When tempted to turn inward, turn your gaze to Jesus
Under threat, scarcity and stress we sometimes find ourselves understandably becoming self-protective. We turn inward, we think only of ourselves. And yet, the demands of these days call us outward, to the world around us. The needs of those around us—whether children, aged parents, neighbors, a spouse, those who are sick—require our time and energy. This puts us in a bind. We want or need to move outward in love to others, especially those in greatest need, but our own internal resources feel strained and thin.
 
How should we act as followers of Jesus in times like this?
Paul gives us this advice: “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:4–5).

It’s important that we remember that we are disciples of the living, ascended, and enthroned God. When Jesus called his followers to go and make disciples, they did not make followers of themselves. Rather, Jesus called them to announce the availability of an ongoing discipleship relationship with himself. Every Christian is currently in an intensive, interactive, discipleship relationship with the person of Jesus, and that school of discipleship is always in session. The Jesus who said, “And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” remains with us today by his Spirit. When we are tempted to isolate and turn inwards, we need to repeatedly turn our gaze to the availability of Jesus. Throughout our days we need to develop the habit—now more than ever—of finding encouragement and comfort in the real presence of Jesus’ love. It’s hard to look inwardly when we’re looking at Jesus.  And when we realize this, we then in turn should share it.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris