GCR Women

At the beginning of 2021, I wrote about how we are new in Christ in so many ways. Events of the past few days have led me to want to end 2021 by moving from new to now.  Now. Work now. Play now. Celebrate now. Serve now. Give now. Praise now. Believe now. Love now.  And again - love now.  There is no tomorrow. There is only now.  Patrice  ‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:2‬ b  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

We were in quarantine last Sunday, so we couldn’t go to church in person. As it turned out, we were able to worship online with our family at Main Street Baptist Church in Georgetown. Our granddaughter sang in the youth choir. Being Christmas time, the entire service was so joyful, so beautiful.  The preacher presented a wonderful sermon depicting the birth and early life of Christ from Joseph’s point of view. Joseph was a good man who loved God but still his faith was tested by the news that Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit.  It was a very moving story. Joseph had faith but he also had doubts. In the end, his faith won out. The way the preacher put it was that Joseph’s struggle had him doubting his beliefs and believing his doubts at first. But because he believed God - because he trusted God - he end up believing his beliefs and doubting his doubts.  When he said that, a light came on. That’s the key to peace: believing our beliefs and doubting our doubts. If we trust God, the

Peace!  What a beautiful thought!  Peace!  An ideal so longed for!  Why is it so elusive? In my little world, many things try to steal my peace and replace it with anxiety, stress, fear, panic. And it happens throughout the day, not just once in a while.  How do I keep myself in the peace God promises? I decide I’m not playing satan’s game. Instead, I take a deep breath and focus on God’s peace. That works sometimes for a while but satan doesn’t give up.  Only repeated reliance on God in prayer provides the connection to His peace. Again, it’s not once and done. It’s a continual prayer and practice.  Sometimes peace eludes me but it’s not because God has taken it away. Sometimes satan’s waves of despair wash over me.  I’m so thankful God is always there with His mighty hand outstretched toward me, rescuing me, pulling me back to His peace.  Oh! Peace, welcome peace! Patrice John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. L