GCR Women

One fall, John and I visited the Mid-Coast region of Maine.     It was beautiful! Lighthouses, fall color, the Penobscot Bay - I could go on and on.   There’s a unique suspension bridge over the Penobscot River near Bucksport that has an observatory at the top of one of the towers. The 420’ elevator ride from the ground to the second floor takes 90 seconds!    It’s the tallest bridge observatory in the world and there are only three others like it: one in China, one in Thailand, and one on Slovakia.    It’s way up there!   The view through the plate glass windows is spectacular!    There are displays showing you what you’re looking at and how far away it is. I wish all of you could experience it.  However, I have a fear of heights. (I know. What was I doing up there then?)    I plastered myself to the inner wall, afraid to take a step toward the windows. My mind knew it was safe but my heart kept telling me the f...

At my age, feeling steady on my feet is one of the most important things I want. Whether I’m standing still, walking, or climbing stairs, I want to feel secure and not fear tripping or falling. I’ve done both and I know I don’t want to do either again. Ever.  I can’t neglect my feet or my shoes. The kind of shoes I wear and the condition of my feet greatly influence my ability to stand. I look for the right shoes. Solid shoes that will give me what I need.  Good support. Non-slip soles. Laces that stay tied. Designed for stability.  The Lord asks me to stand firm with my feet fitted with the gospel of peace. When I obey the gospel, I have peace with God. He accepts the death of Jesus as full payment for my sin debt. He looks at me through the blood of Jesus and I’m in good standing with Him.  That doesn’t stop Satan from trying to trip me up, knock me down, make me fall. But the gospel of peace won’t fail me.  I can’t neglect the gospel. I need to examine it and...

Membership has its privileges. Discounts on flights and hotel rooms.  Access to special events and people. The best seats. The best access. The best of everything. If you’re willing to pay the price of membership, you can have the privileges.   But with our Lord, he’s one who paid the price and instead of keeping it all for himself, he gives us his privileges. When we’re in him, we have access to the Father and the Holy Spirit. We gain all the blessings without paying any of the cost. Our Lord doesn’t just give us his privileges, he gives us himself. We become one with him and everything he is.  Now, that’s amazing grace.  Patrice 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I like to think I’m a good person who conducts herself in a morally upright manner. Sometimes I can carry that off; but deep inside, I know that my righteousness is unsustainable, no matter how good my intentions.  God knows this about me. He sees me trying to live a righteous life by my own efforts; and He knows I can’t sustain it by myself. So, through Jesus, He offers me His righteousness. All I have to do is put it on. His righteousness covers my heart and reminds me of who I am - of whose I am.  When I put on the breastplate of His righteousness, I remember that He is the source of all goodness, not me.  When I put on the breastplate of His righteousness, I remember that I am under His control, not the control of sin. When I put on the breastplate of His righteousness, I remember that He gives me the power to stand against the enemy.  Standing firm by His mighty power, Patrice  Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14b‬ ‭NIV  Stand firm then, … with the breastplate of right...

When you believe something, everything in your life is shaped by that belief. Our confidence or lack of confidence stands on what we believe to be true about ourselves and our world.  These beliefs form a fabric that holds us in such a way that can either make us feel and act stronger or bind us with indecision and fear, frozen in place. But here’s the thing:  beliefs aren’t always true.  The truth of our lives in Christ should be woven from Jesus himself, but many times we are tied with beliefs that have been passed down to us, not really truths, but so closely resembling the truth that we accept them without question. These are the ties that are dangerous and not truth at all. They can keep us living in fear and condemnation rather than the victory and freedom Christ brings.  Only by comparing our beliefs to God’s word will we be able to see if our beliefs are in line with the truth. Jesus taught the truth. He showed his disciples the truth. He said that if we hold...

Every part of our armor has a purpose. In describing God’s armor, Paul chooses his words to craft a clear picture of this armor, words that communicate a precise meaning that creates a whole unit designed by God for our protection.   So, why a belt of truth?  Why do soldiers wear belts?    It’s more than to hold up their pants. A belt provides extra storage to carry essential weapons. In ancient times, the belt was particularly important as a place to carry a sword.  Our belt is comprised of truth. Today, the meaning of that word has been watered down to    the point of diluting the absoluteness of truth. Despite what we hear people say, there is only one truth. We can’t have my truth or your truth. There is only truth. God’s truth. God’s Word.  Our faith is tied up in and secured in place by the truth of God’s Word. When we wrap God’s Word around us, we have our best and strongest weapon right there ready for what ever comes, so we can conti...

There’s a sky walk at the Grand Canyon. It’s made of glass, supported by steel. When you walk on it, I’m told you get the sensation of walking on air, a sensation that’s both thrilling and terrifying. You can’t see what you’re standing on and you have to trust that what you can’t see can support you.   When we stand on the Word of God, we stand in faith. We trust that Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is lifting us up and supporting us. We can’t actually see what we’re standing on but our faith in God and our experience of His invisible help let us stand confidently in Him, knowing He is strong enough, He is faithful.   Even when we’re terrified, even when we’re overwhelmed, even when we can’t see how - we can know by faith that we can stand secure protected by God’s armor, safe in His deep love for us in Christ Jesus.   Standing in Him. Patrice  ‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,…