Greetings from Austin St.

All Saint’s Day will forever have a new meaning for us. Bruce and I carried a candle for Casey and placed it on the baptismal font this morning. Our music ministers sang a piece that Bruce and I have sung before, “Remember Me.” We sang it the year Geni graduated high school as pictures of all of our graduates were being shown on the screens. The pictures were from throughout their lives from being babies to cap and gown. And today instead of singing those words I listened and heard the words “old enough to leave.”

Bruce held me back in the choir loft and we wept together as we remembered our son and how much we miss him. And our broken hearts began to bleed again. But then we sang a song of praise, “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.” And I remembered where Casey is and how happy he must be. I remembered that instead of being sad for the years we will not have Casey with us, for the wedding we will never see and for the beautiful grandchildren he and his bride would have presented us, we need to give thanks for the blessings of the 24 years he was with us. I also gave thanks for the 21 years Geni has been with us and the almost 18 years Travis has been with us. What a joy all three of our children are to us and to treasure each of them and each moment with them. The song says, “Every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Our children are a blessing to us and we praise and give thanks to God for them.

Casey’s bed went into storage, with the help of our friend, Al Rearick. Then Bruce and Al assembled a patio table in the dining room. His wife Cindy and I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a table cloth, place mats and napkins. Next stop was Home Depot for folding chairs. Tonight, Bruce, Travis and I sat at the table and ate dinner together. It felt so good to sit at a table once again. Jackson and Lamar (our basset boys) found their place once again under the table and waited for a treat to be slipped to them. We still have some things that need to go into storage or to charity and they will in time.

Titus 2:14 says, “He gave Himself for us so He might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to Him.” And Matthew 5: 8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” On Sunday evening I usually reflect on the sermon given by Pastor Joel. Tonight will be no different. Pastor Joel spoke today on the verse from the Sermon on the Mount. The first 10 verses are the “Beatitudes.” These familiar verses hold the wonderful blessings of God. Jesus told those people 2000 years ago that the love the Father had for them was not a conditional love. He would bless them because He loved them and His love was just that. Love. They did nothing to earn it nor could they ever do enough works to merit His unconditional love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. Jesus did not say if you work hard and stay out of trouble you can be my child. He simply said, “Blessed are you…you are called children of God.”

When Jesus was speaking to this hillside full of people His Words became His own transforming presence in their lives. He shared with these simple shepherds, fishermen, merchants and farmers insight into Himself. Jesus instructed this hillside classroom in the ways of heaven and how we should treat each other while here on earth. Christ in obedience to Gods plan for Him emptied Himself into the people of Jerusalem and into our lives 2000 years later. God wants to fill our hearts with His transforming presence. As Pastor Joel spoke this morning, “God cannot fill cups that are full.” When we are without hope and feel so alone, that is when God can fill us with His love. When we are filled with God’s love then we become imitators of Christ and we will be merciful to others, pure in heart, righteous (doing things God’s way) and when we are poor in spirit then Holy Spirit will come upon us and we will be the face of God for others. Finally, those of us who mourn the loss of a loved one either family or friend, Jesus promises that the Father Himself will bring us comfort.
God brings us comfort in the warm wonderful hugs from friends and family. God places His Word of comfort in our hands and reveals Himself to us just as He said. He comforts us in placing praise in front of us when we want to cry. And then He allows us to cry for He knows that tears are a part of healing. Wherever you fall in this journey called life I pray you are receiving the blessings and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May your week be blessed and you become a blessing to others.

Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.

PS In the continuing g saga of my car. The “Old Girl” is no longer a resident of the Mansfield High football stadium parking lot. It is now at the home of our mechanic and will soon be repaired. Something about the fuel pump has gone out and the fuel pump is located in the gas tank. Serious bummer! But in the relative scheme of things, it is a small inconvenience. See you soon. Gaylene