GBC Community Update: To have a mature prayer life, listen

​Good morning!  It was a great weekend. We had a really fun lunch with the seniors and youth. It was nice to be able to do this again. Also, thanks to those who came out and let their light shine at the tree planting event for the Junction Neighborhood Group.
 
 
Our final Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow
Our final Oasis@Midweek for this season is tomorrow night.  This event is for kids JK to grade 6 who are invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and this week our youth group leads which means the conclusion of our popular drama.  In addition, we’ll have some special snacks and food to celebrate the year.  O@M is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to remember how MONUMENTAL God is and celebrate his awesomeness.
 
 
GBC Finance Update:
Here’s the latest from our treasurer:
General Fund Offerings - Year to Date end of May 2023
Budget       $74,460
Actual          75,017
Surplus             557
(The Budget & Actuals above exclude contributions to the Pastor Fund)
 
Pastor Fund
Goal                                            $65,000
Contributions to date         47,800  (incl. the $27,550 contributed in 2022)
Still to be raised                      17,200
Thank you to all who contributed to this over the month, I appreciate your giving to what God is doing here.
 
 
Thought for the day: Steps Towards a Mature Prayer Life- Listen
We live in a world filled with noise. Our lives are busy and we are always doing something. During your prayer time, stop the noise and listen to what God is speaking to you. Take control of your mind and don’t let it wander. Take this time to fully focus on God.  Okay, I know, that’s easier said than done!
With this in mind, here are some practical tips that can help in turning away distractions:
Put your phone into airplane mode (no notifications will come through then)
Set an alarm for however long you’ve set to listen
Put your phone out of sight (less tempting to look at)
Have a notepad and pen to write down your to-do list (and record what God may say!)
The last tip may seem counterintuitive.  The reason behind it is because so often when I sit down to pray and listen to God, I immediately remember all the things I haven’t completed. For you it may have to do with school, family or work. Regardless, its a distraction.  When these things come to mind, write them down quickly and go right back to listening in prayer.
Here's another thing to keep in mind.  We can easily ramble on and on in our prayers, say “Amen” and move on. Prayer is a two-way conversation. It’s important that we learn how to hear God’s voice. If you aren’t sure how to hear what God is saying to you, pray and ask God to show you. That and perhaps do some reading on prayer. We have some great books in our library on this subject, perfect for spring reading!
By being quiet, we are denying our flesh the desire to always be busy and have noise. We are not only being quiet externally (no music or talking) but we are also quieting our minds and hearts as well. We are resting in God’s presence and giving Him our full attention.
Mother Teresa said this: “God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”  I really like this and it’s a great reminder for me. Time to listen in prayer!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris