GCR Women

We've been talking a lot lately about what really matters.  While we may differ with each other on some of what matters to us, one thing I hope we can all agree that Christ Jesus is the way to God. We just back from a wonderful trip to one of our favorite places:  Virginia.  Before we went, we planned our trip.  We selected places to visit while we were to be there, what we wanted to see at those places,and how to get to those places.  While we were there, we tried to stick to our plans but sometimes circumstances changed and we had to deviate from our original plan and wing it.  More than once, we got lost.  Now getting lost is a relative term.  We knew where we were but we didn't quite know how to get to where we wanted to go.  So we had to stop once in a while and re-evaluate our location and our route to our intended destination. It seems to me that's how it is in life sometimes.  We start off with a planned route and destination...

Just days before leaving on vacation, I received a green card in the mail inviting me to JURY DUTY immediately upon my return.  Why do we react to this summons with such dread?  It can disrupt our routine, but what if the shoe were on the other foot?  Wouldn't we want good citizens responding to their summons to serve on our jury so we could be confident of justice?  Maybe that's part of what we're afraid of. Many of you have heard me tell this tale before but bear with me.  During the Civil War a young soldier was brought before General Robert E. Lee under charges of desertion.  He was visibly trembling and so to reassure him, General lee reportedly told him, "Don't be afraid, son.  You'll receive justice from me."  To which the young soldier replied, "That's what I'm afraid of." We all stand before the Judge of the Universe.  We all stand guilty.  But we have a wonderful advocate standing on our side: our Lord Jesus Chris...

I've been babysitting my grandson.  He's 3 and a half - that is to say, he ONLY 3 and a half.  I've been looking forward to our visit.  I love him so and he's such a delight to me.  Sometimes working with a little boy can be frustrating but it's up to me to remember that he's 3 and a half - that he's ONLY 3 and a half.  It requires lots of love and lots of patience. Being 3 and a half means he can do so much more than he used to be able to do.  He can climb and slide safely without me hovering over him.  He can use a fork easily to eat his breakfast without me feeding him one spoonful after another.  Life can be exciting when you're 3 and a half. But since he's ONLY 3 and a half, there's much he can't do yet.  He can't play the pinball game on my home pc by himself.  He needs me to help him with that.  He can't fix his own breakfast.  He needs me to fix it for him.  And when it's bedtime, he needs me to ...

Tuesday, I visited with a friend who works with people in crisis.  She told me that the main reason someone takes her own life is when she loses hope.  Hope.  A short four letter word.  But one filled with power - for some, the power of life or death. What do we face each that drains our hope?  Financial problems?  Health issues?  Family concerns?  Fear?  Drought?  Storm?  When what we hope in is susceptible to failure in some way, it's little wonder when someone loses hope. So, what do you hope in?  We "know" we should hope in God.  But do we live what we "know"?  Our beliefs mean little if they don't transform the way we actually live our lives.  What would our lives look like we really believed God and took Him at His Word and lived in the victory He has in mind for each of us!  I want more in life than I can provide for myself.  I want what only God can provide.  I want to have the l...

I've had a difficult time putting my thoughts into words today.  I want to please God in the way I live my life.  I want to interact with others the way He wants me to.  But I find myself falling back into my old ruts of fear, bitterness, arrogance and self-righteousness.  These are just symptoms of a bigger problem:  trusting God. Do I trust Him to take a broken situation and mend it?  Do I really believe He can take our pitiful disputes and settle them?  Do I think God is big enough and powerful enough to accomplish His will? I realize that God doesn't need me to fix anything.  He needs me to trust Him to fix things.  He'll let me know when He's ready for me to take action .  He'll give me a clear understanding of what I should do and what I should say - if I trust Him. In the meantime, He's telling me :  "First things first, Patrice.  Learn to walk in love."  So, here's my verse for February 15, 2012: ...

My newest grandchild was born yesterday, January 31, 2012.  A beautiful baby girl!  A new life filled with new hope and possibilities. And that's just who we are when we're in Christ - new!  In Christ, the old life is gone and we're given a new life filled with new hope and possibilities. My challenge is living in the newness - remembering that I no longer have to live as a slave to sin, that I now have the Holy Spirit living in me.  I am free!  Free to live in love.  Free to do God's will.  Free to walk by faith in Christ Jesus.  Oh the possibilities! Patrice 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Change - It's constant.  Some change I like.  Some I don't.  Change takes work.  But I need changing.  I certainly don't want to stay like I am forever.  A couple of weeks ago, we sang a song during worship that goes:  "Ancient words ever true, changing me and changing you."  That's the kind of change I need - the change only that God's Word can make in my heart. If I let Him, what change could God make in me?  Where would He start?  Where could He take me?  Will I stay changed?  Lord, give me the courage and strength - day by day - to choose You.  Lord, change me! Patrice Psalm 51:10 (NIV) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.