November 25th, 2021

Good afternoon!  I hope you’re making this a great week.  We had another excellent night at Oasis@Midweek last evening. Thanks to all those who prayed for it. God continues to work in this place in so many ways.
 
 Christmas Decorating
Yes, its that time of year again!  For those who like to decorate, we’re looking for a few people to help out on Saturday night at 5:30pm. There will be a pizza dinner and then decorating to follow.
If you’re interested, let Carroll Chapman know If you can come and give number of people coming with you.
[email protected]
519 836 5643
Families and kids welcome!
 
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 Prayer on Sundays (November 28th to December 19th)  
For the next four Sundays, starting this Sunday, November 28th, we are inviting you to join with GBC leadership in prayer for 30 minutes after the service in the Adult Ministry Room on the first floor.  The prayer will focus on items relating to the transition of Pastor Chris (e.g., the search for an associate Pastor in the coming year) and items related to highlighting our Savior Jesus during the period leading up to Christmas. 
 
 
Thought for the Day: How To Be Truly Thankful – Allow God To Use You, Even If It Means That He Will Break You
Next week, not surprising, I’ll be sharing some Christmas-related thoughts. Until then, here is one last idea on thanksgiving before we move on (and before Black Friday hits!).  This may be the hardest one I’ve shared thus far.  The best way to be truly thankful is to walk in the center of God’s will and allow him to use you.  But that may mean He will do things that are unpleasant and may even break you of things that He doesn’t want for you.
We read this in Isaiah 64:8 “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”
Have you ever seen a potter give up on a piece of wet clay? No, they will continue to shape it until it comes out in the form they desire.
But there is a breaking point.
Potter’s will give up once the clay is no longer pliable or usable.  The point for us today then is don’t allow yourself to dry up. Stay hydrated in the Word of God and connected to him through prayer.  God will always use us, the clay, for His purpose. He’s the potter  and we don’t get to choose if we turn into a statue, a vase, a jar, or a plate. We can pray that God will use us for His glory, but we don’t necessarily get to choose our path for that glory. Sometimes that glory is seen in our weakness… in our eventual redemption… or even in our battle with disease, with no healing in sight.  Your Father is using you for great things, but they are HIS things, and it’s only through His eyes that we can clearly see our place in His masterful plan.
Can I get an “amen”?
Let’s be thankful for God’s knowledge and purposes, even when we don’t understand it or its not pleasant.  That helps me be thankful no matter what, I hope it is for you as well.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris