GPBC Blog

By Gina Smith--

I have a co-worker who has a four year old daughter named Eleanor who is precious and precocious. One of my favorite Eleanor stories is when when my coworker told me he walked into the living room and Eleanor was sitting on the couch. She was alone and she was crying. Alarmed, my friend asked, "Eleanor, what's the matter?" Eleanor stopped crying and said, "Oh nothing, daddy, I'm just practicing." 
  
There was nothing wrong with Eleanor that day. She had simply decided to take the time to practice for a time when her performance as a very good crier might come in handy. 
  
The Bible also encourages us to practice so that we are prepared. Not prepared to manipulate someone into giving us what we want, but to be ready to give answers when asked why we believe. The Bible is God's Word for teaching and instructing us to be righteous, competent and equipped to do God's work at any given moment.  
  
On the anniversary of this pandemic, we now know the speed of which our lives and our world can change. We have survived store shelves void of toilet paper and wet wipes and have watched the face mask evolve to the point of being a fashion statement. 
  
But, despite what is going on in our ever changing world, we are instructed not to be disheartened or fearful. The Word reminds us over and over again to not be discouraged, not to conform to this world, and to keep our eyes on Jesus. Every day is a day the Lord has made, even during a pandemic. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  
  
On a personal level, I'm wishing I would have better used this pandemic year at home to draw nearer to God. I certainly can't say I have been too busy to spend time in ways that honor God and draw me nearer to Him. I would have hoped that during my approximately 4000 waking hours of un-busyness, I would have memorized Scripture, updated my 3-minute testimony, read a few of the inspirational books stacked on my nightstand and filled a journal. Or two. Or three.  
  
But God! 
  
I love it when I read the words in the Bible, "But God!!" Whenever we see that, it is followed by something God has done.  
       But God remembered Noah 
       But God has seen my hardship 
       But God meant the evil in Joseph's life for good 
       But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side. 
       
The list of where 'But God' is seen in the Bible is quite long because God always makes a path in the desert. He always fulfills His promises. He is always good. 
  
Despite my lack of proper self-discipline, I am going to boast. Not in me, of course, but in God and the work He has done through the church leadership and community of Greater Portland Bible Church. 
  
Over the past year, GPBC never stopped obeying the call to minister to those who are hungry physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially; to care for one another; to encourage others; to answer the call to worship through sermons, songs, emails, and drive-bys; and to continue to lead us and teach us that God is alive and active. I have seen the glory and goodness of God through our church. And it is good. Paul recognized that the church is not a building but a body of believers. Even during a pandemic, we are called to praise and glorify God. When the church building closed, we zoomed, we streamed, and we are emerging with our foundation solid and strong and, praise God, a growing congregation. 
  
We are called to be a light for Jesus. Even during a pandemic. How? Practice joy, practice thankfulness, practice not thinking too highly of ourselves, practice being the hands and feet of Jesus. The world seems to want us out of practice, distancing, apart from one another, masked and relying on the media to direct us on how we should behave. Thankfully, we have God's Word to guide us in every situation.  
  
Little Eleanor knew that practice would prepare her should a situation arise when her exceptional ability to cry encouraged others to give her what she wanted. As believers, we no longer seek ways to get what we want, but instead seek ways to draw near to Him. As believers, our happiness doesn't depend on our ability to manipulate a situation. The joy we seek is found only in Jesus. He is our present and future hope. He is our source, our force, and our course.