Category: Be Inspired

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV)

How often do we find ourselves crying out to God without the response that we expect? If you have ever found yourself in this situation, you are in good company. The apostle Paul found himself in this exact situation. On three occasions he prayed for what he called “a thorn in the flesh,” possibly a physical ailment. Paul never received the response he wanted, but rather a declaration from the Lord.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” As we face the struggles, sorrows, and shortcomings in our lives, we often need to be reminded that in Jesus, God has penetrated our humanity to the core of our being. He stood in our place, clothed in our flesh and has reconciled us to the Father. Yes, his grace is sufficient! We can be encouraged in the fact that he shared in all that we are. Amid our difficulties, we can trust in His sufficiency for us and allow for his power to be revealed in our weaknesses.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I ask that by your Spirit you give me the peace that will soothe my soul in every situation. May you grant me the understanding of the sufficiency of your grace and the strength that I need amid my struggles to experience you at a deeper level.

 

By Heber Ticas

The Celebration of Life memorial service for Pastor Allan Barr, will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at:

Liberty Baptist Church
1077 Highway 314
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Click the image below to access the May 2019 Prayer Guide.

We Are GCI Series is a collection of videos where various GCI leaders and members are highlighted.
In this episode, GCI Pastor, Jonathan Martinez, is joined by his beautiful family and shares a little about himself and why he likes to serve in GCI and in what ways he connects the most with God.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

In the face of persecution and the spectre of death, Paul writes to the believers at Thessalonica to help strengthen their faith and encourage them of the glorious return of Christ.

He reminds them that God is so committed to us that he himself works in our lives and performs the sanctifying and redeeming work that we desperately seek. His work in our lives is so complete that his cleansing touch reaches every fibre of our being: spirit, soul and body. Being made in the image of God, we are trinitarian beings in microcosm having diverse faculties of spirit, soul, body – yet united in and as one fundamental person, like a single, seamless fabric. The “fall” affected every aspect of our being. Nevertheless, our God of peace will restore the inner peace that will resonate the fullness of life within us.

As we wait upon our Lord, who will surely come, let us be assured that our God remains committed in restoring us to the glorious creation that he meant us to be. The process of sanctification is not a “do-it-yourself” program but the dynamic activity of Father Son Spirit in our lives. Let us be encouraged to submit, participate and persevere in the restoring work of our creator. “The glory of God is a human being who is fully alive,” said St. Irenaeus.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that your love is so vast that you remain committed to see me restored to the fullness of life. Thank you for reaching into the very depths of my being and removing the brokenness to ultimately reflect your life and love through me. Help me to remain faithful and allow your cleansing work in my life.

 

By Danny Zachariah

The Celebration of Life memorial service for Pastor Allan Barr, will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at:

Liberty Baptist Church
1077 Highway 314
Fayetteville, GA 30214

We Are GCI Series is a collection of videos where various GCI leaders and members are highlighted.
In this episode, GCI Pastor, Mike Urmie, shares a little about himself with why he likes to serve in GCI and how he sets aside 30 minutes every day for his guilty pleasure.

 

And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25

Venturing out to sea can be an uncertain prospect. The weather can change quickly. In a small boat, the disciples of Jesus knew this all too well when they were caught in a storm for many hours. It must have been terrifying. When Jesus came to the disciples walking on water, it was around the fourth watch of the night. Though his friends had been in the storm for 6-10 hours, they were not lost to the depths; he was not too late. We can take encouragement from this passage that Jesus sees us in the storms of our lives, he is not distant, and disinterested. He is Emmanuel—“God with us.” Jesus not only has a solution he is the solution, and when revealed it will not be too late for us and we will not be lost!

Prayer: Father please help us rest in your faithful embrace. Jesus, it is awfully hard not to panic in the storm. Help us trust you for who you are and that you have rescued us already. And Holy Spirit, it is difficult to show love to others as we frantically bail water from our fragile boats. Please tutor us in the ways of love.

 

By Bill Winn

We Are GCI Series is a collection of videos where various GCI leaders and members are highlighted.
In this episode, GCI Pastor, Anthony Walton, shares a little about himself with why he likes to serve in GCI and how his guilty pleasure has zero guilt.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

In what is commonly known as the “farewell discourse,” Jesus tells his followers what they should expect to transpire in the near future. But he tells them—as well as his followers in the 21^st century, to not be discouraged, for he will give them Comforter, who will dwell with them (verses 16-17). The “peace” he mentions is a rendering of Shalom, which was used as a greeting and as a farewell. But more than a greeting it gives a sense of wholeness or completeness.

This Shalom/Peace was again mentioned by Jesus when he appeared to his disciples behind the locked doors after his crucifixion. He then breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:19-22).

Like those disciples, we are often confronted by stress, fear or simply overwhelmed by our day-to-day lives. That’s when we need to turn those moments over to the Holy Spirit, and live in this Shalom/Peace. It is that shalom/peace that wraps around us like a young child wrapped up tightly in her baby blanket when the night is cold or she is in need of comforting.

Prayer: Jesus and Spirit, help us to give our stresses and fears over to you. Surround us with your wholeness and may we feel your comfort to be able to weather the storms of life.

 

By Bill Hall, National Director – Canada