Mom update: She is still in the hospital. She is totally sick of the hospital and to quote Mom, ”your daddy is beside himself.” Her heart rhythm went wonky again. Doc Benson, her PCP, is going to talk with Doc Issacs, the heart doc, and figure out what to do now.

Deb Koplen update: she has changed rooms. She is now in 3206. She is still sleeping a lot, and pain management is going well. Doc is trying to manage her pain meds now and keep her more alert at the same time so she can spend more awake time. She still needs visitors. Go and see her if you get a minute.

Luke 1: 17 says, “the angel said, “With the spirit and power of Elijah, John will go before Him…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” I have so much to do and I am on a deadline. I have a theological belief statement and an online final due by midnight on next Tuesday the 16th. This week I studied on Monday, Travis had a concert on Tuesday, worship tonight, choir practice tomorrow, Travis’ show on Friday and…then there is school to teach and family to feed and…mom is in the hospital and our good friend Deb and…the list could go on and on.

Jesus came into the world through the birthing process. I have to believe that from age 0 to 30 that God prepared Jesus for His calling here on earth. God came to earth in the body of Jesus so that we could know Him. And then there was one sent ahead to prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, the evangelist called to prepare a nation to receive a Savior into their hearts and lives. How did John prepare the people? John told the people to prepare their hearts through repentance and to ask for forgiveness of their sins. He did not ask them to prepare their homes, he told them to prepare their hearts.

How do we prepare our hearts for the entrance of Jesus? Scripture tells us that in order to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child, we, too, must be born again. We must begin again as a blank slate willing to be taught all things new. We must be taught to love as Jesus loves, serve as Jesus serves and forgive as Jesus forgives. Are our hearts prepared for the coming of this one precious child? I heard this saying on the radio a long time ago and it seems to fit the thoughts for tonight. “Jesus could be born again a thousand times in Bethlehem, but unless he is born again in our hearts once then it is all for naught.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord! 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.