Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! Lots going on as we move closer to Christmas. I’m excited to see our Christmas choir perform this Sunday for the first time. They’ve been working hard under Jamie’s leadership so it should be a special morning.
Last chance to contribute to our food mountain Our mountain of food in support of Royal City Mission continues to grow! If you’d like to contribute, your last chance is this coming Sunday. Thanks to Helen and the Care Ministry team for leading this. Christmas at GBC While everything we are doing around Christmas has been announced and is on the calendar, I thought it would be good to put it all together in one place. May we all engage in the joy of the season! Friday December 22- 7:00pm- Community Christmas Carol sing in the parking lot- invites friends, family and neighbors Sunday December 24-10:30am- Our Christmas themed service with our choir singing and relevant message for the season Sunday December 24- 6:00pm- Family Christmas Eve Service featuring carols, readings and a topical devotion. Come early for hot apple cider and a chance to connect with your church family! The church office will be closed from Dec 21st to January 3rd but you can still reach Pastor Dan for any emergencies at [email protected] Updating the church directory Come to church this Sunday prepared to have your photo taken if you didn’t last week as we update our online church directory. We would be happy to send to you a digital copy of the photo for your own personal use if you would like, make sure to let our tech assistant know the email address you would like it sent after your photo is taken. "You are to give him the name Jesus"...Redemption has come. Join us Sunday We continue our closer look at the Christmas story. We will be looking at the prophecies telling of a coming savior and then the event itself with the idea of better understanding what this means for us as we prepare for Christmas and celebrate that redemption has come. As I mentioned above, this is also a special Sunday as our Christmas choir will be performing. Pastor Dan will begin to look at the Christmas story itself from Matthew’s gospel and its implications for today. If you want to prepare, please read Matthew 1:18-24. If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website: www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Thought for the day: Immanuel means God is with US Immanuel. I talked a bit about the word on Sunday and its often heard at this time of year. But what does this unusual word mean for the Christmas story? When the angel, quoting Isaiah 7, said to Joseph: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" This had implications for not just Joseph but for us as well. I like how singer Michael Card put it: "The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what may seem bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know." Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and he is "God with us," then he must want to share in those moments of great joy, and even in those times of silly laughter and fun. God does that, really? Yes, he does. He wants to share in our joy too, that’s another meaning of God with us. This Christmas, and yes, even when its impacted by inflation, war, illness and such, when those inevitable moments of joy and laughter break out, be sure to invite God in to share it with you because at Christmas, how can you not? In His grip, Pastor Chris
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Good morning! Sunday’s service was such a joy for me (in keeping with the theme!). Thanks so much to all who made it a special morning- to Jennifer and Kid’s Church team, to Esther and the youth team, Linda and the hospitality team, Caroline and the youth music team and Dan C and the tech team. You are SUCH a blessing to me and to our church. Thanks for letting your lights shine!
Help our Community Christmas Carol sing community outreach We need some people to deliver post cards this week and weekend in the neighborhood to invite people to our community Christmas carol event on the 22nd. If you have some time, would like to get some exercise and would like to help out, please let me know. Winter Precept Bible Study classes available Here are the upcoming Precept classes that have openings for the winter term: DANIEL - God's Blueprint for Bible Prophecy (NISS - 15-30 minutes of homework each day) Orientation plus 13 week study Though you don’t know what tomorrow holds, you do know who holds tomorrow. Strengthen your faith in a steadfast God through this study of Daniel. Orientation Monday January 15, 2024, 7:00 p.m., in-person with Ann Clark 1. If you have not already, register by email at [email protected] 2. Workbooks will be provided for purchase in class - $15.00 HEBREWS PART 3 - Jesus, The Author and Perfecter Of Our Faith (Chapters 11-13) Precept Upon Precept or In & Out (NASB) - You are able to join even if you have not attended part 1 and 2 - Orientation plus 6 week study Without faith it is impossible to please God. So what is faith? Where do I get it? And what does it look like lived out in my life? This study will answer these questions and more. Orientation Thursday January 18, 2024, 9:30 a.m., in-person with Ann Clark 1. If you have not already, register by email at [email protected], indicating PUP or In & Out as your workbook choice 2. Workbooks will be provided for purchase in class - $17 Precept Upon Precept, $15 In & Out (less homework) Register by replying to this email by December 29, 2023 to ensure you will have a workbook. Thought for the day: The Greatest Christmas Gift What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? I spoke about one on Sunday but I can think of lots over the years that have been very special to me and even today I remember with a smile. I also reflect a lot at this time of year about the gift of salvation that Jennifer and I received one December many years ago. It was there, for the first time, I understood my need for a Savior. In many ways this is the heart of Christmas: not the tree, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ. But there’s a big difference between Adam’s sin that led to all our problems in the world and God’s gracious gift of Jesus. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ, who was fully God and fully man. The Bible tells us: for Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s gift leads to our being made right with God; for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. So, this Christmas, lets remember that Jesus is the greatest gift! Each year we are reminded that Christmas isn't just about giving and receiving presents. Yet, if we honestly consider the heart of Christmas, it is. If we really think about it, the gift of Jesus is one given that needs to be received. May this spur all our other activities on. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father. In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week. As we get closer to Christmas there’s lots going on as you’ll see below. May the Lord be with you as you go through the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the season. May you experience the joy of the season.
Sunday is our annual Kid’s Church and Youth Group Christmas Presentation and lunch Our always-popular Christmas service featuring our Kid’s Church and Youth Group is this Sunday. Friends and family are heartily invited to come out and join in this look at Christmas through some different perspectives. Also, back is the post-event lunch. Enjoy the presentations and message for the morning then stay and enjoy lunch as we build community. I will be building off the presentations as I speak about the joy of waiting. If you’d like to prepare, you can read either Christmas accounts in Matthew or Luke. If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website: www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE ‘Plan to Protect’ training on Saturday This is a reminder for our Plan to Protect training this coming Saturday, December 9th, from 9-11:30 am (light breakfast available at 8:30). All kids' ministry volunteers are required to complete this training. If you volunteer with minors at GBC in our nursery, kids', Oasis camp or youth ministries, we'd encourage you to make it a priority to attend, please. Updating the church directory Come to church this Sunday prepared to have your photo taken as we update our online church directory. We would be happy to send to you a digital copy of the photo for your own personal use if you would like, make sure to let our tech assistant know the email address you would like it sent after your photo is taken. We will also be taking pictures next Sunday, the 17th, as well if you miss this one. Thanks all! Help our Community Christmas Carol sing community outreach We need some people to deliver post cards late next week in the neighborhood, over the weekend and early the week following. If you have some time, would like to get some exercise and would like to help out, please let me know. Thought for the day: Christmas- a message worth sharing Remembering the story of Jesus’ birth is a wonderful part of Christmas. It may be hard to believe that in 2023 so many people have never heard it before! Or if they have, they don’t understand what it has to do with them. The Christmas story has been lost in the shuffle of everything else going on this time of year. And even for those who know the basics of the story, many have no clue as to why Jesus came to earth or why He was born. Everyone needs to know, not only that He was born, but the meaning of His birth, we’d probably all agree. So, ‘what is my part?’ I’m glad you asked! This is likely the easiest time of year to talk about the Good News of Jesus birth, life and importance. While you can’t predict who is open to the gospel, my bet is at this time of year everyone is aware of it. This is a great door-opener! And hey, the only way to find out is to share the message of Jesus with them! So, this Christmas, I’d encourage you to share the gospel story of the birth of Jesus and what it means. Sow seeds abundantly. When the angels appeared to the shepherds nearly two thousand years ago just outside of Bethlehem they shared this message: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” In many ways that’s still our message today. So then, who can you share this same idea with this Christmas? In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. We’re into December and Christmas season is here. As most of you know, I LOVE Christmas time. My office is decorated, I’m listening to Christmas music, I go full in. But Christmas really changed for me when I became a follower of Jesus. I still enjoy all the fun elements of the season but now I can pause, remember and celebrate the coming of Immanuel, God with us, my savior and your savior. With all the distractions and busyness of this time of year, find time to pause, remember and celebrate.
Oasis@Midweek tomorrow Our popular children's ministry event Oasis@Midweek happens tomorrow night. This will be our last one for the year. Kids JK to grade 6 are invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and this time our Kid’s Church is leading. 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. Announcing our Community Carol Sing On Friday December 22 at 7pm, please join us for our community Christmas carol sing. We’ll be singing seasonal favorites under the stars (hopefully!). Please mark the date and think about who you can invite to come with you. There will be an opportunity to distribute some post card invitations as well coming up. Please pray that we’d have many from the neighborhood and community join us as we lift our voices in praise. Thought for the day: At Christmas, it’s go, not just come! Not surprising, I will be sharing Christmas-related thoughts for the rest of the year. One of my favorite Christmas carols is ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’. That invitation to the messiah, the savior to the world, is a cry from the heart. But he HAS come (and is coming again!) so we find in this message a call to go, as in go out and share this good news. The tendency during the Christmas season is to focus on inviting people to come, rather than going to them. We plan events and parties, inviting people to come to them. And often they do come. More people attend church at Christmas than any other time of the year. These events have an impact, no doubt. After Christmas though, many never return. So here’s where we see a need for balance in activities. We invite people to programs, like our carol sing, or program on Sunday. That’s great, but its only the starting point. It’s also not the same as making disciples. Could Christmas become more about disciple-making and not only about inviting people to church? If we’re honest, sometimes its easier to invite someone to come to something rather than to go to them where they’re at and stay with them on their journey. What if we went and shared the Good News of the birth of Immanuel, God with us, with our friends, neighbors, and relatives? What if we went even further and offered to do a study or something similar with them? I know…I know…I’m getting carried away…but what if? In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! We’ve had our first substantial snowfall of the year which means Christmas is coming. Tuesday I sent out an advent devotional and Sunday we start our Christmas series. May we all not just enjoy but grow through the season.
Our annual Kid’s Church/Youth Christmas (With lunch!) is next Sunday! One of my favorite Sunday’s of the year is our annual Kid’s Church and Youth Christmas program. The event will feature presentations from each group along the Christmas theme and is followed by a free lunch which all are invited to attend. This is always a popular event and the lunch just adds to it. I hope you’ll mark your calendar and be with us Sunday December 3. GBC December calendar Our December calendar was emailed out and is at the back of the auditorium. There’s lots of ways to be involved, grow and serve. Also, be in prayer for what God is doing in and through here. "You are to give him the name Jesus"...Redemption has come. Join us Sunday We pause our series on the book of Luke to take a closer look at the Christmas story. We will be looking at the prophecies telling of a coming savior and then the event itself with the idea of better understanding what this means for us as we prepare for Christmas and celebrate that redemption has come. This Sunday Pastor Dan will be looking at probably the most famous of the prophecies and its implications for today. If you want to prepare, please read Isaiah 9:1-7. If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website: www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Thought for the Day: Final thoughts on developing character like Jesus I don’t know about you, but I’ve been challenged personally by what I’ve been sharing about developing positive character traits using Jesus as our guide. Before I begin to share some Christmas related thoughts I have one last one to thought that Jesus showed so often: Humility Jesus had every opportunity and right to demand praise and honour for His miracles and teachings, but He never did. Even when the crowds sought to make Him king, He rushed away from them. He didn’t want to become a sideshow performance that people could enjoy. Rather, He wanted to seek and save the lost and offer forgiveness for sinful people. Yes, He could have traveled around in order to show off His powers in other towns, but He chose not to. As we read in Philippians 2, he humbled himself, became nothing, acting like a servant. Wow! What an example. So, that’s it. That’s what I’d like to share. As for some final thoughts I’d say this: While the world needs more positive role models, what it really needs more of is Jesus—the ultimate role model. People will not find a better person to emulate positive character traits from than Jesus Christ himself. With that in mind though, its important to remember that Jesus was God and so was perfect. While we can learn from him and his example we have to be careful how we measure ourselves against him too. We’ll never be perfect this side of heaven like he was so the key then becomes using him as a guide and being the best possible versions of ourselves we’re capable of being. It’s a tough challenge but a worthy endeavor. Strive! In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning! My son Isaiah, who is in the army, is in the middle of doing his parachute course in order to qualify to be a paratrooper. It’s a physically demanding challenge but one that also takes an attention to detail since it is a, literal, life and death situation. But he shared with me the importance of the one packing your parachute since you don’t do it yourself. He explained the level of qualification these highly skilled technicians have and the confidence that can be placed in them as a result. Life can feel like a freefall sometimes but remember God provides the parachute and he’s the one packing it. You can trust him as you take leaps of faith.
Christmas is coming! This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in advent. The Church will be decorated for Christmas and we will be starting our Christmas series and singing Christmas songs. Our service will close with singing "In the Bleak Midwinter" - a lesser-know carol, at least to GBC. Though we do not know the time of year when Jesus was actually born, we do know that Israel, at any time of year, was not the windy, frozen scene the opening stanza of this hymn depicts. Nevertheless, the world was not a friendly place for Jesus even though the thermometer was above freezing. The middle stanzas describe the contrast between the glory of heaven from which Jesus came and the poor reality of the earth He came to save. The final stanza is a commitment that, in recognition of that sacrifice, we will devote ourselves to God. You can listen to the carol at the following link: In The Bleak Midwinter - Holst - Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short - YouTube Thought for the day: Be patient and self-controlled As we continue to look at some of the character traits of Jesus and how they could apply to our lives I have to confess that the ones I’m looking at today are likely the hardest ones for me personally but have born the most fruit when I’ve gotten them right: patience and self-control Throughout the gospels, Jesus clearly gets portrayed as a very patient man. After all, He was surrounded by disciples who constantly doubted him, Pharisees and Sadducees who continually attacked Him, and large crowds who wouldn’t leave Him alone. Despite all of that, He kept His composure and responded appropriately to every individual. Patience is the ability to see something through to the end, especially something that might be challenging or unpleasant. Patience is a character trait, but also a skill we can work on to improve. I know I am! Related, in a way, is self-control. As I talked about on Sunday, before His ministry was launched, Jesus spent time being tempted by the Devil in the wilderness. Although He was offered food, power, and many other things, Jesus controlled His desires and submitted them all to the will of the Father. Yes, He had desires for food and such, but He had a greater desire to obey the Father and accomplish what He’d set out to do. Self-control is the ability to deny oneself something for a greater objective. We live in a society that encourages us to deny ourselves nothing. This is something we can all grow from and through. Patience and self-control, two difficult but valuable things. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Nothing of value comes without cost. In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! While it’s American Thanksgiving its a time for all to pause from the busyness of life, forget Black Friday and meditate on what we’re thankful for. Can you name 5 specific things you’re thankful for right now? It’s a great habit to get in too.
Reminder of baby shower for Leah Lewis this Saturday Please join us for a baby shower for Janet and Kevin Lewis’ new baby, Leah this Saturday (November 25) from 2-3pm. It will be an open house in the side auditorium. Let’s join with this new family and celebrate God’s blessing! ‘The Dawn of Redemption’ A series on the book of Luke. Join us Sunday We continue our fall series on the book of Luke. We are looking carefully at this key book in the months to come as we examine Doctor Luke’s gospel so we may have certainty in what we believe. In this particular series of passages we look at God’s plan to bring salvation to the world. This Sunday I will be looking at the temptation of Jesus by the devil. More than just a powerful story, there is much we can learn as we deal with our own trials. Join us Sunday and find out. If you want to prepare, please read Luke 4:1-13. If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website: www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Thought for the day: Building Character Takes Commitment I’ve been looking at how to develop character and been using Jesus as a guide. While there are certain elements of character inherited there’s much we can do to develop it as well. It’s not easy and does take work but is so worth it. This thought brings us to our next character trait: commitment. Jesus had no lack of commitment. Wherever He was, or whoever He was with, He was fully in the moment and fully committed to His goals. Despite praying fervently in the garden of Gethsemane to avoid having to bear the cross and all that physical torture, He knew it was the only way to pay for everyone’s sins, so He stayed completely committed to His goal. There were certainly many obstacles during His ministry, but He stayed on track and finished strong. It also takes commitment to live out the next key character trait of Jesus: Forgiveness. One of the most startling things said in the Bible is found in Luke 23:34, when Jesus is on the cross and says: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even while bleeding and experiencing pain, Jesus had His heart set on forgiveness—even forgiving those who put Him there in the first place! This is definitely contrary to the everyday mantra of looking out for number one and obtaining personal justice. Jesus was not concerned for His own life; all He wanted was to provide a way for forgiveness. What an incredible challenge for all of us. Who can you forgive today? That’s how you show character! In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning! As I mentioned Sunday, I was at the Grey Cup breakfast in Hamilton on Saturday as guest of Athletes in Action. It was a powerful event where a number prayed to receive Jesus as savior. Their theme was ‘your story matters’. I loved that since it’s so true and we can often forget this. Your story matters to God, to me, and to the world around you. So, share what God has done in your life to the world around you and let your light shine.
Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow Our next installment of Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow night. Join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp-themed evening of music, games and this week our popular drama which is led by our youth minstry. This event is for kids JK to grade 6 and is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to learn how to ‘shine Jesus light’ and be STELLAR. Operation Christmas Child: Thanks GBC! This year we collected 64 boxes which is up from last year. Thanks to all of you who filled a box and shared God’s love in this tangible way. It’s small things like this that often make a big difference. Let’s pray now they are placed in the right hands and the power of the gospel goes forth. Thanks also to Andrea Thornton for continuing as our coordinator! We appreciate your ministry. Thought for the Day: Be a loving servant We’re continuing to look at the character traits of Jesus. Character is what distinguishes, us, its who we are. May we look to be like Jesus in this way. What do I mean? Well, he was a servant Without a doubt, Jesus was the ultimate servant. I’ve been struck anew by this as I watch The Chosen. Although He was praised as a great teacher and even had a decent following, He made sure to teach them to be servants by actually doing it himself. In Mark 10:45 Jesus even tells everyone: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” Despite having the authority to get anything He wanted, have people praise and pamper him, He did the exact opposite by lowering himself and serving others. What a great example, and challenge for us as we go about our day. As well, he was loving Obviously, Jesus had a love for others. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t be compassionate nor a servant. Jesus claimed that there is no greater love than to die for one of your friends—and He did just that. If anyone doubts His love, all they have to do is look at the cross and see the agony that He bore for our sakes. He experienced that horrible death so that all can be saved. That, very clearly, is true love at its finest. The question I ask myself, then, is who can I love sacrificially? I’d encourage you to do the same thing. And that is what character looks like! In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week! I hope you get a chance to enjoy this beautiful day. I’m starting a new series of thoughts today on the character of Jesus and what we can learn from them. I hope they challenge you as much as they do me as we journey together the path of discipleship.
From Pastor Dan: for Our Edification: Pastor Dan would strongly encourage you to read this beautiful article which considers how we as members of the church can contribute to a culture of warmly welcoming those who are new: https://gcdiscipleship.com/article-feed/the-church-a-family-of-redemption ...and after you've read it, he would challenge you to intentionally meet and welcome someone you haven't yet met this coming Sunday. ‘The Dawn of Redemption’ A series on the book of Luke. Join us Sunday We continue our fall series on the book of Luke. We are looking carefully at this key book in the months to come as we examine Doctor Luke’s gospel so we may have certainty in what we believe. In this particular series of passages we look at God’s plan to bring salvation to the world. This Sunday Pastor Dan will be looking at the baptism of Jesus and genealogy in preparation for the launch of his ministry. What happened and what does this mean for us? Join us Sunday and find out. If you want to prepare, please read Luke 3:21-38. In addition, you can look at Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42:1-9. If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website: www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE Thought for the Day: The Character Traits of Jesus This fall I finally started to watch the popular series “The Chosen”. I have been so impressed by the attention to detail, culture and history they have presented but what has really struck me is their portrayal of Jesus. The actor who plays him does an amazing job in my opinion and I’ve been struck in a new and fresh way just the depth of character of Jesus and how that impacted his followers. The idea of character, and what it means to be a person of character as a follower of Jesus, has been on my mind as a result. So, for the next few weeks we’ll be looking at this thought as I give a brief overview of some of the character traits of Jesus that we all should be looking to emulate. Where do we look when those who we admire fall? Christians, and even many non-Christians, agree that Jesus is a great role model to have. From His faith, perseverance, generosity, and even His intelligence, people see the best qualities that mankind can possess. The Bible teaches everyone to become more like Jesus each and every day, so it’s helpful to learn about some of the character traits he had. Here’s the first one I want to look at: Compassion Jesus never looked away from people; He always looked at them, seeing them for who they were and had compassion on them. We see this in the story of the man with leprosy in Matthew 8. Compassion is an awareness of the suffering of others along with the accompanying desire to do something about it. Whenever people were around him, Jesus understood what their real needs were and sought to address them. For some, physical healing was necessary, for others the root issue was spiritual. In all cases though, Jesus took the time to actually notice that people were hurting—and His compassion drove Him to help them. It takes a person of character to stop, look, and then take the time to show compassion in the distracted and stressful world we live. With this in mind, I’ll leave you with this question: how can you show compassion today and to whom? In His grip, Pastor Chris Good morning. I had the opportunity on Sunday to go with Jennifer to hear my son preach. For those who are newer to GBC, my oldest son is a pastor. It’s an interesting stage in life to see your children spread their wings and soar establishing their own lives and direction. It was a real joy. I wonder if God looks at me the same way in similar moments. As my heavenly father, I suspect he does.
Oasis@Midweek is tomorrow With the freezing rain that happened last week we had to reschedule Oasis@Midweek to tomorrow night. Join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games and this week a fun craft courtesy of our Kid’s Church team. This event is for kids JK to grade 6 and is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to learn how to ‘shine Jesus light’ and be STELLAR. Baby shower for Leah Lewis Please join us for a baby shower for Janet and Kevin Lewis’ new baby, Leah, on Saturday November 25. It will be an open house in the side auditorium from 2 to 3 pm. If you would like to contribute to a group gift, please give your contribution to Andrea Thornton or e-transfer to Andrea’s personal email [email protected] Thought for the Day: How To Be Truly Thankful – Allow God To Use You, Even If It Means That He Will Break You As I wrap up this series of thoughts on being thankful, 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 here’s the thing- 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 |
Pastor Chris"At GBC we're serious about the Bible, serious about the truths that are found in it and living in Him but also like to laugh, cry and experience life together." Archives
January 2024
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