The word of the week is surprises. This week has had a few of them. I’m surprised how many GCC families are in grief. In a few short weeks, Michele Andreson, Shannon Hull, and Win Wood lost their fathers, Ruth Trice and Garry Buttner lost their mothers, and Jim Morton lost his aunt. Last week was the 10th anniversary of the death of Brad Arms in the second battle of Fallujah. That is a surprising number of families feeling the ache of loss and grief. God did not make the world with grief, but with joy in mind. Jesus will come back and make all things new. I pray He may come soon.
We had a wonderful surprise on Sunday. Christian recording artists Kim Hill and Paulette Wooten sang in our worship service. This was because they came to support Ruth Trice in the loss of her mother. There were some beautiful voices raised in praise to God and in encouragement to His people. That was a great surprise! Please remember to pray for Paulette Wooten as her mother is in the hospital - she was overcome by her own grief as she played her beautiful song about God’s faithfulness.
Thanksgiving is the theme of the week. I pray that divine light may surprise you and refresh you. May it not be hard to praise Him because your eyes are opened to see the Lord’s goodness.
In Him,
Don