GBC Community Update: On Christmas day, come as a child

​Good morning.  Looks like we’ll have a white Christmas! Though I’m not a big fan of snow I do like it at this time of year.  These are what I call ‘small blessings’ and something more to be thankful to God for. What ‘small blessings’ do you have in your life? Have you thanked God for them?
 
 
Pray for our Community Christmas Carol Sing (and come out too!)
The post cards are out (thanks to those who helped!), the music and tech team is ready to go, now we need a crowd. I’d encourage you to spend some time in prayer for this event throughout the week. As I shared Sunday, one of the key leaders in the Junction Neighbourhood Group volunteered to hand out postcards on her street.  That is powerful and shows how God is moving. Now we’d love to have many people from the neighborhood and community join us to hear the Good News of the Christmas season.
 
 
Food Mountain Update and Offer       
We had another great ‘food mountain’ this year. Thanks to all who contributed and to Helen for organizing. As I mentioned on Sunday, if you find yourself struggling this Christmas season you are welcome to come and take as much as you’d like from it. This can be done in the morning until Wednesday at noon when it will be donated to Royal City Mission.   If you’d like to get some items, but coming in before the deadline is a problem let Helen or I know and we can make arrangements to pull out what you’d like.
 
 
Thought for the day:  On Christmas Day, come as a child
Christmas morning is probably my favorite day of the year. While I love getting presents the thing that has been the most special to me for years is watching the reactions of my children.  The joy and excitement is something I can’t describe.  Author Erma Bombeck said: "There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
We are to be childlike as we come to God on Christmas Day, as we remember and reflect upon Immanuel, God with us and that speaks to our attitude.  Jesus said in Matthew 18: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
I don’t think there’s anything more exciting than being a child on Christmas morning. And yet this is what God asks of us not just on Christmas Day but each day, to change and become like little children, to put our hope and trust in him and enjoy the wonder of what he offers us. Each day approach God the Father as a child, with excited anticipation of his goodness. Humbly trust that your every need will be met and every care will be under his control. 
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris