Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Greetings from Austin St.

Happy Tuesday! Another snow! WOW! God really does good work!

Today’s event was that our fridge went out. Geni discovered it late last night. It is a new fridge (purchased less than a year ago) and Lowes, true to their service agreement is bringing a new fridge tomorrow. Praise God!

Psalm 62: 10 “Trust not in oppression and become not vain in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

This passage causes me to kneel before the throne of grace and ask forgiveness. I must admit that there are times I pray for more money. But the wealth God provides is wealth that never runs out. God never hoards His gifts and does not squander His treasure as I often do.

God provides the wealth sufficient for my needs and for the work He needs me to do. God’s wealth doesn’t always come in dollars. His wealth comes in faith, grace sufficient for every need (such an emergency fridge and one that is an upgrade from the one we currently have…God met the need with more than we asked) and lots of forgiveness.

God’s greatest gift is His constant presence in our lives. He gave us Jesus for our salvation and then sent the Holy Spirit so that His spirit, His essence is with us constantly. What an amazing treasure God has provided and what love He has shown to us by wanting to be with us all the time.

Let us give thanks for God’s loving presence in our lives and always keep our hearts open to Him.

Take comfort and joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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 Tomorrow we are leaving for San Antonio to spend the New Year with Carme and Dave. Please pray travel mercy for us and the safety of Geni and Travis as they remain here.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Happy Monday!

Psalm 138: 6 “Though the Lord be high, yet has He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knows far off.”

One of the pieces Bruce sang on Sunday morning was titled A Strange Way to Save the World. These are Joseph’s questions to God about his role in all of this mysterious story. Joseph asks, “Why me? I’m just a simple man of trade.” “Why her? She’s just an ordinary girl. “Why here? Beside this manger filled with hay with all of the rulers in the world.”

We are all God’s children; the rich and the poor, the mighty and the lowly and the righteous as well as the outcast. God came to the earth in the form of a baby into a family. Jesus was not born into a rich family. No, He was born into a poor family. Jesus never lived a life of wealth. He lived a life of poverty. God came to earth in this way so that those who were outcast might know love without conditions and acceptance. Jesus showed the poor that the path of salvation was not paved with money, but faith. And isn’t it interesting that God chose to announce His revealed presence to a bunch of shepherds and have His son to be born in the lowliest of places, a stable, and place His child into the loving care of a young couple with no status in the community and no wealth? Here is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace being brought into the world not within the palace walls, but in a stable with only the animals and stars for witnesses. Jesus came to us by a lowly birth. Jesus modeled that godly life from His very first breath in the lowliness of a manger.

As we journey out of the barn and out into the world I ask you to remember how the Savior came to you. I don’t know about you, but when I asked Jesus into my heart as a teenager I was on my knees. The journey I have made with Jesus did not begin in a barn, but it did begin when I surrendered my heart over to Him. How about you?

Take comfort and joy in the journey my friends and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Prayer Requests:
Please continue to keep Mom in your prayers. She sounds great and she is doing better, but is still in the hospital.

Please keep Shaleena Russell in your prayers. She is the daughter of our best friends David and Carmella Russell. She is having an eye surgery this week. Thank you all mighty and wonderful prayer warriors. gc
Blessed Sunday to you all!

Bruce and I led worship in the Christian churches in Rocket and Palmer Texas today. These are two lovely small congregations made up of primarily elderly people. These are lovely people who are greatly loyal to their congregations and were very kind to us. It has been a while since Bruce and I sang duets together and it was a great joy for both of us.

Isaiah 44:2 “I Am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born,” says the Lord.

Travel back in time with me 2000 years. Put yourself in Mary’s sandles from the first meeting with the angel to the birth of our Savior. Can you imagine the how Mary must have felt? How frightened she must have been. How unworthy she must have felt? How she questioned the decision God made to have her carry His Son? Do you suppose God whispered this scripture to Mary while she carried Jesus?

This passage of scripture would have been a comfort to Mary. Even though Mary was called to such a high purpose, God knew she was up to the task because it was all in His plan. God says in this passage that you are in my care and were in my care even before you were born. God has had each of us in mind before we were born. We are the focus of His love and the most valuable of all His creations. None of us are accidents. Out of His love for us God created each of us because it was His desire, He wanted to. When God created each of us He created us for a purpose. He gave each of us talents. Our gift back to God is that we return our talent to Him in service and to glorify His name. But I believe His purpose for each of us is to act as Jesus on the earth. God has called each of us to act with love and compassion to those we meet. God has called each of us to forgive because we have been forgiven and to obediently serve in His name with gladness.

The next time a task comes before you that seems more than you can handle, remember that God created you. God gave you talents to use in his service. Take a deep breath, say a prayer and give thanks to God for where He will lead you in this journey.

Take comfort and joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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 Mom is doing well and still in the hospital. Keep her and Daddy in your prayers. Thanks mighty prayer warriors!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Happy Saturday, day after Christmas!

It has been quiet today around here, other than the fact that I received a phone call from my Dad this morning telling me that he put Mom in the hospital for congestive heart failure. I heard the wheeze in her voice over the phone on Thursday as she was reciting her pecan pie recipe. I heard the wheeze on Friday as we were at their house for Christmas Day. To have warned her would have done absolutely no good because she was determined to have Christmas Day with her family. Daddy put her in the hospital around 3:00 am today. The good news is that I spoke with her this evening and she sounded really good. She says there are monitors everywhere, but she is feeling better, but has no idea when she will get out of the hospital. She assured me she would be fine. Pray for her please dear friends and mighty prayer warriors. Pray for my Dad, too, please.

1 Corinthians 2:7 “God’s wisdom…goes deep into the interior of his purposes. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out His best in us.”

Bruce and I have been asked to lead worship tomorrow at two small Christian churches as their pastor has gone out of town to visit family. The services have been planned with these instructions from their pastor…”these(prayers and announcements) are only suggestions, you can do what you wish.”

We are going to follow the worship as printed in the bulletin as we are guests, but we have selected pieces and duets to sing in lieu of a spoken sermon. We have selected beautiful music to sing tomorrow, music that is not only pleasing to the ear, but words which have such wonderful messages. We are still guests in other sanctuaries and it will not matter how smoothly we lead the services and sing our sermon in song, what will matter is that we extend the hand of fellowship to congregations of strangers and that we share what Christ means in our lives.

This passage of scripture says that wisdom goes deep into the interior of His purposes and that God is determined to bring out His best in us. It is all about God. It is not about personal fulfillment; it is about living and doing for God and for His glory. Living and doing for God is not exclusive for the pastorate or the serving of a congregation. It is for all who believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ, living and doing for God in our everyday lives as wives, husbands, parents, sisters, brothers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, day laborers, postal workers, clerks etc…Living and doing for God is our purpose in this life. It is not about doing our best under our own power, but for God to bring out His best in us through the wisdom of being obedient through the surrendered life.

Take comfort joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you all dear friends and mighty prayer warriors, 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.
Merry Christmas to you all!

How about all of that snow? It was so beautiful! Bruce was reading on Face Book from one of our friends that her young daughter came bursting into their room this morning and instead of saying “Santa came! Santa came!” She said, “Mommie, Daddy the snow is still on our yard!” White Christmas’s are so rare and beautiful that they even supersede Santa!

We went to Mom and Dad’s today for Christmas gathering. The food was delicious and we had such a wonderful time. The trip was a bit treacherous with ice on bridges and on some parts of the highway. We were a bit nervous about the road by Mom and Dad’s house as it is hilly and we were afraid it would be a solid sheet of ice. But it was not too bad and we arrived safely. I said prayers for each accident we passed and each time our tires went sideways instead of straight ahead. The most encouraging sign I saw today was that of all of the accidents we saw, there seemed to only be body damage to vehicles and no injuries to the people involved. Praise God!

Colossians 1:16 “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in Him and finds purpose in Him.”

Here we are on Christmas Day. Children are now sleeping and dreaming of their gifts received today and how they will play with them tomorrow. Parents are tired. We have played, cooked, talked, hugged and driven under the tension of ice and snow. But when we put all of that aside and we ponder Christmas day…that Christmas Day 2000 years ago was about a family. This family did not have an easy journey either. Mary rode a donkey at nine months pregnant. Joseph led that donkey and tried to find a warm place for this child to be born. But, alas God had different plans.

That brings me to this point. It is all about God. It was not about that lack of room in the local inn and the difficult journey. It was about God announcing His presence in the world through a choir of heavenly angels. The angels did not announce this birth to kings and kingdoms. The angels announced the birth of Jesus to a bunch of shepherds. It was about God being born into a family. From the beginning, it was always about God. Mary and Joseph had to learn to live for God through this child and not for themselves. They knew their purpose was one of an extremely high calling. They knew that their purpose to raise this child was far greater than any personal fulfillment they might achieve.

Our purpose in life is to live for God. This is the greatest calling in our lives. As we begin to put away the Christmas trappings of tree, ornaments and leftovers, let us begin to look to the new calendar year that is rapidly approaching. Let us begin by remembering that it is all about God and as we make decisions that we consult the One who gave us free will in the first place and how much He loves us.

Take comfort and joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

It is so hard to believe that Christmas Eve is just about an hour away. WOW! Remember on yesterday’s entry I told you about “All is calm and all is bright and how it could translate into all is well?” Well today I got a chance to put my faith where my mouth is. One of Bruce’s customers was unable to pay him for making repairs to her home. It was a bit of a blow to our plans, but I prayed for Bruce, his customer and us. I claimed victory over this setback and believe that all would be well. I have tried very hard not to dwell on this while I have gone about the business of the day and asked God to take the situation and lead and guide us. When Bruce phoned and told me what happened, his faithful response was “I will brush off the dust and move on.”

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which you are called…and be thankful.”

I really needed this verse and meditation today. Peace happens when you lift your burdens to God and believe that He receives them then blesses you with His faithfulness. This peace that passes all understanding is what others should see in us. We are not always happy, but we should always be at peace because of God who lives in each of us. This is not peace like a truce drawn us with evil. Rather this is peace in assurance that evil has been conquered. Everything does not live in harmony. Any parent with more than one child knows that harmony seems like something you have only heard about. Peace is the knowledge that, no matter the consequences, God is in charge. Sometimes it is hard to let God handle our problems, but we have to practice letting go. Just like in music, harmony has to be worked out and after practice, harmony is beautiful.

Peace is in the belief that the harmony you seek will work out and God is the author of that peace. God calls for peace to rule our hearts. Even though we had a setback today, we have offered this to God and believe that He will make thinks okay. All is calm…all is well.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and walk with God in the way of Peace. 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.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Happy Tuesday!

I am trying something new this year with Christmas cards. I sent Christmas cards to all on my list-friends and family…and then I stuffed some extra cards and wrote our return address. We have received cards this year from some friends for the first time. So when I receive one of those cards then I take one of my ready cards, address it and send it out.

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."

“All is calm. All is bright.” The words to that song are so very comforting. In this passage of scripture the psalmist tells us to fear no evil. God has conquered evil. God has placed us under His protection. Mary and Joseph were under the protection of God when they escaped to Egypt. God assured them that they would be safe if they would just walk in obedience to His commands. We have the assurance that whatever it is cannot harm us. God is over all the things in our lives. He is God of the little things and the really big things. We need to remember the words of the song “all is calm, all is bright.” All is calm could translate into all is well. If we practice “all is well” in the little things throughout the day then when the really hard moments come then we will be in the habit to say “All is well. All is calm.” Right now each time Bruce comes in and tells me that he has scheduled another week’s worth of work I say a prayer of thanksgiving.

In my morning devotional this suggestion was made. Make your requests known to God one time. Then immediately give thanks for the answer that will be forthcoming. The devotion said that when we make the same request repeatedly it causes tension and sort of tells God that we don’t think that He really heard our request. So I have been practicing this prayer model. Each time I hear something for which I have been praying I say “thank you Lord.” I am learning to trust that God knows what is best.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.
Happy Monday!

It is the first day of the holiday break. The wreath is on the door. My living room is covered in boxes of ornaments, strings of lights and two very confused dogs. We think there is still a missing box full of ornaments and the tree skirt has not yet been found. Right now a blanket purchased at MD Anderson hospital two years ago suffices nicely for the skirt until the missing box can be located in the attic.

Our 29th anniversary will be January 1st. Many years ago at one of the luncheons in which I was honored, each guest was to bring a Christmas ornament for use for when we celebrated our first Christmas together. Our first tree was a tiny Norfolk pine in a pot covered in red foil. We loved it and decorated it with the treasured ornaments. I still have a few of those ornaments and remember the friends and family from whom they were given. That is the box that is missing!!!

Luke 19: 17 “And He said unto him. Well, you good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you have authority over ten cities.”

Three shopping days until Christmas. I see frazzled people and stressed parents of young children and the shelves at Wal-Mart are beginning to look a bit sparse. What I am not seeing are the smiles this season should be bringing.

Let’s travel back to the days in Nazareth and that night in Bethlehem and the story of Mary and Joseph once again. This miraculous birth did not happen by accident. God planned and ordered each step of the way these two young people were to travel. God told Mary ahead of time what was expected of her. Mary accepted this responsibility. Joseph was ready to walk away from Mary and God spoke to him in a dream and told Joseph of His plan. God told Joseph not to leave Mary for she was to bear the Son of God and that he, Joseph, was to be this child’s earthly father.

Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem in time to have this child just as the prophets had foretold. Then when the evil Herod sent his soldiers to murder all of the babies, God spoke to Joseph once again in a dream and told them to leave Bethlehem and travel to Egypt for safety.

None of these events were ordered or planned by Mary and Joseph. God planned and ordered all of these steps. Mary and Joseph seemed to willingly follow the will of the Father. If left to their own devices these plans might not have followed the plan God put before them. But Mary and Joseph seem to say, “Have your way, God.” They seemed to know that God would lead them and that His response to their obedience would make their way as easy on their feet as possible.

So my dear friends when your feet ache from shopping, cleaning or cooking or your heart aches when you think what you are doing is not enough, remember this young couple traveled on foot to bear this most precious child and again on rough rugged roads to protect Him from Herod’s army. I think they wore comfortable shoes.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you all so much, 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.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Blessed Sunday to you all!

Pastor Joel spoke of peace today in his continuing series of messages about Peace in a World in Pieces. In his message he recounted memories of singing Silent Night as a child and how it always made his Christmas complete. As an adult he has some different thoughts on that wonderful song. Pastor has also caused me to do some deeper thinking about that night.

Let me begin with Mary. Hebrew tradition proclaimed young girls marriageable when their monthly cycles began. So Mary was quite young when she became pregnant with Jesus. She fell in love with a much older man who was probably not the man her father would have chosen for her. Then she had to explain to her mother, father and fiancƩ about this pregnancy. Mary and her family had to endure the shame and humiliation of Mary being pregnant without being married. Joseph had to deal with the feelings of betrayal with the knowledge that he was not the father of this baby. This was not a time of peace for any of these characters.

Fast forward to that night in the manger. Here are these two people, one very young and one about to be asked to do something traditionally reserved for only the women. Joseph would be given the task of bringing this mysterious child into the world. Would he know what to do when the time came? He would not be outside with other men waiting to be told when this child was born. The community would celebrate this birth as other neighborhood births were announced. On this night he and he alone would be there with his very young wife in a cold cave with only straw for a bed and the animals as witnesses. Not a time of peace for these characters either.

Pastor Joel then made the most profound statement. Pastor said, “Peace of the sleeping Christ child did not come until after the pain of birth.” As a mother I have given birth three times. I remember very clearly the pain of those deliveries and as soon as those children were delivered the pain was gone.

Real peace does not happen without struggle. When we become pride swallowing people Christ’s peace can happen. When we are willing to give up ourselves then Christ’s peace can happen. When we are willing to walk in faith and go through the struggle in obedience to Christ, then peace, true peace, happens. Peace costs a lot. Peace does not cost in dollars. It costs us our will and allowing Christ to be more of us than we are of ourselves.

We, too, can sleep in peace. Peace comes to us in forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ and through the sleeping baby in the manger. Give up the struggle and be born again and allow the peace of God to replace the pain.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Life is too short to wear shoes that hurt your feet! Love you all so very much, 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



Happy Saturday!

We had such a wonderful day! After the loss of Casey we have made some conscious decisions to make new memories. Every memory we have has Casey in it and Bruce and I felt that in order for all of us to heal we needed to do some things differently than in years past. So last year we began a new tradition and have for the second year in a row gone to Terrell to the Walls Christmas Tree Farm and cut our Christmas Tree. We have such a wonderful time. Upon our arrival at the farm there is a big red barn where they serve complimentary coffee and cider. They also sell bags of shelled pecans, cracked pecans and pecans still on the shell. Then a hay wagon ride takes us out to the part of the farm where the Christmas trees are found. We then hike around until we find the one that is just right. Travis cut the tree and we return to the barn where they shake the tree of its dead needles and bag the tree for transport home. I don’t know how many more times this tradition will continue, but I hope to continue it for as long as possible.

Psalm 144:15 “Happy are they whose God is there Lord.”

This morning I had a few moments when I missed Casey quite a lot. I don’t even remember what brought on the memories but there were very close to my heart and I missed that smiling face, blue eyes and his big old kind heart . He loved Christmas so much he would so have loved to go out to the tree farm and be a part of this new tradition we are creating. So if you had asked me this morning, “How are you Gaylene?” My answer would not have been “just fine.” On the contrary, I was quite a mess.

How often does someone ask each of us “How are you?” Our answer is most likely, “just fine.” Have you met other Christians who, when asked this question, never have a response that is positive? I know I have met those people. Their answers are something negative about their health, or that they didn’t get something they really wanted, or they are not going to get to do something they really wanted to do or that they just wanted to be left alone to finish something. Are these folk so focused on what they don’t have they are blind to see what they really have?

We as believers have an eternal home in heaven that no mortgage company can take away and a family that nothing or no one can divide. All of our sins have been forgiven completely and eternally and has been nailed to a tree. We are children of God with salvation that is eternal.

When asked, “How are you?” Our response should be “I am blessed.” What we don’t have is far less than what we do. This is a joyous time of the year and even though the tree might not be near a full as it has been in years past, we can fill our hearts by remembering how much we are loved by the God of Christmas who saw fit to send us His Son to love and cherish so that we could see how to love each other.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Life is too short to wear shoes that hurt your feet. 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.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Happy Friday!

Today was the last day of school until after the New Year. It has been such a wonderful semester with this class of students. However, the prospect of not having to get up at 5:00 tomorrow morning is something in which I look forward. A blessing this week has been that Geni has taught at Burton Hill for the last three days. One of our kinder teachers has had to be hospitalized and Geni was able even with her finals at UNT to teach 22 5 year olds. She is quite a young lady and has really enjoyed the classroom experience with its excitement this close to a holiday break. I am very proud of her.

John 15:16 “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Have you ever given thanks because you believe in God through Jesus Christ? This is something in which we should take great joy and give thanks in our prayer time. Believer and non-believer are not treated the same. Yes, rain and sunshine fall on the just and the unjust. Yes, worldly blessings are given to the believer and the non-believer. But the blessings of the Kingdom are only given to those who believe in God through Jesus. Those who believe are brothers and sisters to Christ making them inheritors of all of the riches of the Kingdom. All of the blessings we as believers receive are given in love.

God chose us to be His children. We are all God’s children. However, not all believe in Jesus. According to scripture the “only” way to the Father is through belief in the Son. When we believe in God through Jesus then we receive the sun and the rain, the worldly blessings and unlike the non-believers, eternal blessings of heaven. We become “ordained” or set apart to carry on the family traditions of sharing Jesus with those do not know Him. We are to bring forth fruit, new believers, and our fruit will forever receive the blessings of God our Father.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Happy Thursday!

I got at B+ in Ethics. My GPA is 3.00. I was so excited. I am just glad Ethics is over and I have met the requirement needed for Ethics for my degree.

One more day and we are off for the Winter Holiday. The kids and students are very ready for this day to come. The catch phrase around the building today was “one more day.”

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The opening phrase of my devotional reading tonight is “Lord, give to us, Your Joy, that Joy that no man, no poverty, no circumstances; no conditions can take from us.”

God gives us His Joy. Joy is one of God’s names. When we come into relationship with God through Jesus one of the names we are given is Joy. But sometimes joy is hard to realize when the road is long and bumpy. God promises that Joy will come. Joy is the reward for staying the course and being faithful and obedient to God even when we don’t understand. Joy is the reward for patience (don’t we love being patient! ) Joy is the reward of trusting in times of darkness when we cannot see what is ahead.

I think the first gift we receive from God after receiving salvation is faith and the reward for faithfulness is joy. Each night I ask you to take joy in the journey. Joy is believing that God is faithful and will remain with us no matter what our circumstance or condition. For many of us Christmas will be a bit leaner than in times past. But the true joy of Christmas is remembering that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus as a baby to grow up among us so we could know Him.
Joy didn’t wrapped come in pretty papers and ribbons with a Dillards sticker on the box. Joy came wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Joy came into this world under adverse conditions. Joy came into this world in the poorest of situations. But Joy came and nothing or no man could stop it!

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Tuesday!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So the song says. Each morning for the last few weeks I have been listening to a new drive time devotion called, “Jesus Calling.” It is a series of daily devotions where the writer has devoted time each day to prayer, meditation on God’s Word and listening to revealing voice of God.

This particular day’s meditation is taken from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10: 39-42. In this passage Martha becomes angry with Mary because Mary is spending time at the feet of Jesus instead of helping her in the kitchen. Jesus reminds Martha and says, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”

Martha needed to be reminded that devoting some time to Jesus each day is the most important thing we can do today and each day. When we take time to be with God and learn of Him then the remainder of the day usually falls into place. Even if difficult times come our way, our time with God equips us to face whatever the task or the situation. God blesses us in our time with Him by His presence throughout the day. His presence will not be taken from us. Enjoy the meditation from Jesus Calling…

Relax in My healing presence as you spend time with Me.
Your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today’s plans and problems.
Bring your mind back to me for refreshment and renewal.
Let the light of my presence soak into you as you focus your thoughts on Me.
Thus, I equip you to face whatever the day brings.
This sacrifice of time pleases Me and strengthens you.
Do not skimp on our time together.
Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done.
You have chosen what is better and it will not be taken from you.
Father, let us learn from Mary so that we may learn of You.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Happy Monday!

What an awesome day!! First, I (even though I emailed my final paper to Dr. Day) I left early and slipped a hard copy under her door around 7:30 this morning. Second, the first grade classes rode the bus to the Stockyards today and rode the Tarantula Train that has been transformed into the train from The Polar Express. We all wore our pajamas and bells. We sang Christmas songs and listened to the classic poem The Night Before Christmas. We had the most wonderful time.

Revelation 4:8 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. He was, He is, and He is coming.”

When do we worship? Is worship simply the rituals we go through on Sunday mornings or during special seasons such as Advent or Lent? Worship happens when we stop what we are doing and give God our undivided attention- giving praise, adoration and proclaiming that God is God and God is Holy. God is above all others, all things, all powers, all struggles and every storm. God is the giver of life, every good and perfect gift, the author of our salvation and lord of all.

Tonight my devotion likened worship as the “act of magnifying God.” When anything is magnified the actual object remains the same size through our uncorrected eyesight. When we look through a magnifying glass the details of the object become very clear. Imagine being in the cockpit of an airplane in the air. Even though everything on the ground has stayed the same because we are in the air our perception of the earth has changed. When we are on the ground our vision is limited, but when we are in the air we are able to see things farther and wider. The objects and areas have not changed, but how we see them has changed dramatically. That is what worshiping God is like. When we worship God we magnify God’s presence and begin to understand how God can not only be Lord of all, but also how He can see each one of us at the same time.

In this season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of the Christ Child, may we be like the shepherds who came to worship and adore: not asking anything just kneeling (if only in our hearts) at the feet of the babe in the manger in awesome wonder as we look upon the face of God and whisper “holy.”

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you all so very much, 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.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Blessed Sunday to you all!

Today was the Christmas Cantata. The music was so beautiful. The orchestra and singers really did a beautiful job. Thank you to all who participated.

THE PAPER IS FINISHED AND SENT TO DR. DAY! I AM FINISHED WITH ETHICS! When I began the ethics class I realized I was in way over my head. There were too many times that the professor announced the lecture topic, cleared her throat and that was the last I understood. I wanted to drop the class on more than one occasion. I thought this class was going to be impossible. The only thing that kept me from quitting was the knowledge that I would have to retake the class again at some point. (No Way!!) So I hung in there. I wrote the papers and wrote the final. All through the semester there were several of us who helped and supported each other through this difficult class. I had other believers (classmates) who were on the same path and we helped and supported each other along the way.

1 John 1:3 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son.”

Each night I sign off with the phrase “Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes.” Everyday is a journey with Christ. If we take Joy (a name of God) in our daily lives, we can have fullness of joy in each step we take for it is then that we allow Christ to plan and guide our steps and lead our journey. Did you hear that word ”fullness?” God doesn’t tell us we can only have some joy or a little or a lot. God tells us we can have fullness of joy. We can have Him, the Father, the Creator of all in fullness. We can have a God-guided life.

A God-guided life would assure a life without impossibilities. As scripture says, “Nothing is impossible with God.” I don’t mean to say that there will not be some tough times along the way, but I am assured that even when the times are tough and the road is rocky and full of pot holes that God will be with us. To walk with God and think anything is impossible would be a sin.

In this God-guided life we do not walk alone. God walks with us along with the other members of the family. We are given fellowship with Christ as we continue to open ourselves up to the leading of God through the Holy Spirit.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you, 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.

Saturday, December 12, 2009




Happy Saturday!

Today I met a friend from Brite at the TCU Bookstore to go over our notes for the ethics paper we both have due on Monday. While we were there, Grady Spears, owner and head chef of the Reata Restaurant in Fort Worth was there having a book signing and a tasting. I purchased a cookbook, he signed it and allowed me to have my picture taken with him. He is a delightful gentleman and seems very down to earth. He served these wonderful little cornbread BLT sliders with chipotle mayo. So yummy! I think I am going to recreate them for lunch tomorrow!

Geni lost her voice so I have been pressed into service to sing in her place during the Christmas cantata in the morning. She was to sing a duet with Bruce and have a solo part in the cantata. I have quickly learned two pieces and rehearsed with Bruce, orchestra and choir. The music is lovely. I ask you to pray for my voice as it is not in much better shape than Geni’s.

Isaiah 14:3 says “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give you rest from your sorrow and from your fear, and from the hard bondage where you were made to serve.”

Love and fear cannot live together. Love not grounded in the life of Jesus can be torn about by fear while the perfect love of God through Jesus casts out all fear. Perfect love that trusts in Christ is immediately the conqueror and fear is vanquished.

God is love. The only way to obtain this perfect love is to have more of Christ in our lives. We can only rid ourselves of fear by God’s presence in our lives and by calling on His Name. My devotion tonight says, “Fear of the future?--Jesus will be with us. Fear of poverty?—Jesus will provide.”

We must not let fear enter into our lives. When fear tries to enter, talk to God and love Him more and more. When we talk to God more His power becomes greater in us than the fear that is trying to rule our lives. As I recall there were these shepherds who were in the presence of some angels. The first words of the angels to those frightened shepherds were “Fear not! I bring good tidings of great joy. God is with you!”

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.
Happy Friday!

Prayer updates: all three of the friends we have been praying for from school this week are all okay! All tests and scans came back negative. Praise God! And Ashley, my team member came through surgery just fine and will be back in class on Monday. On behalf of these three wonderful, courageous women I give thanks for their health and well-being being restored and for all of your prayers. You are such mighty prayer warriors.

Psalm 118: 24 “This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Remember when you were little and sang this song in Sunday School? You remember it was an echo song. It was also very upbeat and if you did not watch yourself, you would walk around singing this simple little chorus echoes and all! So tonight I write to all who have had cares and woes. Having cares and woes does not mean you don’t have faith, it just means that times are kind of hard right now and it is time for something to change. I think God sends us a sunrise gift when we read this verse. I have been awakened to this song on lots of Christian weekends and it always helps the day to begin with a little more pep in my step and a smile on my face.

God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Perhaps when we rise and begin to think of the daily tasks ahead we could take joy in the day and use God’s strength to help us through the daily tasks. Then maybe those daily tasks won’t seem so ordinary. After all, there is nothing ordinary about a gift from God! Rejoice and be glad!

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, a warm jacket and sing praises as you travel. 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.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Happy Thursday!

Prayer and praise update. Our counselor, Marcie Stephan (one of the one I asked you to pray for) received a favorable report from the surgeon today. The tumor that was detected returned the result of being benign. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Please continue to pray for the other two for whom I have asked for prayers. I have not heard results from them yet. Thank you.

Also, please continue to pray for me as I continue on with the writing of my final paper for ethics. I have two thirds of it completed. It is my hope to complete the paper tomorrow night. Bruce and Travis are handling dinner so that I may get to work. The paper is due on Monday.

Song of Solomon 2:10 “My beloved spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

I look so forward to my morning drive when I am alone in the car with God and my drive time devotion. I usually listen to the devotion about three times and stay quiet trying to remember all of the wonderful words I have heard and how I am going to apply them to my life on that day. Isn’t this an interesting passage of scripture? In this one verse passage, God is calling each of us to a quiet time with Him. God asks us to come away with Him. God desires intimacy with each of us through times of quiet listening and reflection. This quiet time with God is when we grow more into the knowledge of God. Sometimes God will ask us to sit silently and just be in His presence. This time of waiting can bring peace and comfort just being in each other’s presence.

The end of the day when I begin my Bible and devotional reading is a time I look forward to each day. I keep several devotional materials close by the computer and read different passages until I sense an idea forming that I would like to explore and on which to reflect. After reading this verse, I think that perhaps God is calling me to this time not just for reflection, but for a time of quiet intimacy with Himself. It is during these times that I feel the assurance of God’s love.

Having this quiet time each day allows me to talk in prayer or just sit and listen for God’s voice to either equip me for the day or cause quiet rest for the night.

Take joy in the journey simply means to bring God with you as you go through the day. Find a time during the day for some quiet moments with God.

So friends, take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, a warm jacket and sing a song of praise as you travel. 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 Bruce no longer works for UTS (the door company). It became official yesterday. I ask your prayers for the Toolbox (our home repair service) to begin to flourish once again. God has blessed us and we are at His mercy. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Peace, Gaylene

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Happy Wednesday!

Today was a long day after a short night. I worked on my paper until almost midnight last night which is why I did not write last evening. My apologies!

Psalm 91: 11 “For He shall give His angels change over you to keep you in all your ways.”

Today at school we had three of our staff receive difficult news. Our counselor received an uneasy report from her latest mammogram. Our school secretary was told her daughter had nodules on her lungs and one of my team members is having surgery tomorrow to repair some nerve damage in her hand. Our prayer group met this morning and we knew of one of these issues, but not the other two. I have placed these names in our prayer book that we keep. I would ask you to keep these three women, their families and the outcomes of their final diagnosis in your prayers.

God has compassion on those who are ill. His tender mercies surround those who are sick strengthening them with His healing power and His infinite grace. God cares so much that He sends His angels to guide your steps in the path to healing. This verse says that His angels will keep you in all of your ways. When difficulties come then we must trust God in His strength and His tender mercies for our well being and healing. My prayers for these three friends are they will be drawn closer to God and learn to completely lean on Him for peace.

Take joy in the journey. Wear a warm jacket sing as you travel. 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.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Happy Monday!

Prayer alert! I have completed one of the case studies on my ethics final. Tonight I began reviewing the articles for the second case-study and hit a brick wall. I am meeting with a classmate tomorrow and hopefully the wall will crumble and I can write tomorrow night.

John 4:34 “Jesus said unto them, My meat(food) is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.”

How appropriate this verse is for me tonight. I have something I need to finished.

Jesus said these words to His disciples. He was trying to explain the union between believers and the Father using the ordinary object of meat. Around our house meat is eaten at lunch and dinner. (Have you seen Travis?!) Our meals are balanced with meat and vegetables. Eating well balanced meals helps all of us to stay healthy and able to do the things to which we are called and are responsible. We eat balanced healthy meals to help sustain our bodies.

Jesus wasn’t talking about steaks and chops when He spoke to the Disciples. He was speaking about meat(food) that would sustain our souls. We live in a world where people are physically starving. We also live in a world where people have “soul-starvation.” Soul starvation happens when our spirits are not fed with the divine food given by God through Jesus. The meat on which we need to desire to feast is doing the will of God.

Desiring the will of God in our lives will feed our souls. Practicing a life in piety will allow us to dine on not just a balanced meal, but a heavenly banquet. A life of prayer, study, service, fellowship with other believers and a life lived in faith will fill our plates to overflowing and we will never go hungry. When we have been nourished at the hand of the Father and feasted at His table of grace then we will be prepared to serve in the kingdom.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. Save your fork because the best is yet to come. 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 Prayers for Gaylene, Geni and Travis as we are all in the midst of end of semester finals and papers. Praise God that Bruce has work for a couple of weeks.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Blessed Sunday to you all!

I went to the 8:30 worship service this morning for just a few minutes to hear the bell choir in which Bruce plays. Their playing and music were so lovely. As I watched the bell players I remembered how much Casey loved playing bells with Bruce. I was once again reminded how much Casey loved family, church and music. I began to cry and Bruce and I just held each other in the Gathering Room remembering how much Casey was looking forward to Christmas at home. In truth He did have Christmas at home, his heavenly home.

When we go to the 11:00 contemporary service we discovered we were singing some traditional Christmas carols. I then told Bruce that even when we sing traditional music, it does not sound like traditional music with the addition of the band instruments, electric piano and the wonderful rhythms Addie and Jeremy add to our music.

I was lector today. I really love reading scripture. This morning I read from Isaiah 9. This passage is the one we can all do from memory beginning with “For unto us a child is born…Wonderful Counselor.” I always sing The Messiah to myself when I come across this passage.

Proverbs 14:21 “He that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

Every year around this time there are many pleas to help those who are in need of items for Christmas. At church today, I dropped off our donation of children’s’ socks and underwear into the box at church for distribution at Christmas. At school, my class traditionally collects hats, gloves and mittens during the season and I take them to Mission Arlington. There are bell ringers outside the door at Wal-Mart braving the cold and collecting monetary donations for those in need. We rarely pass without dropping a dollar in the pot. I am sure all of us do something like this during this time of year.

I was reading a story about a family which had decided to adopt a family for Christmas. The adopted family had a father in prison, mother working three jobs and small children. The mother of the first family was trying to explain to her son what they were doing to try and help this family in need. So they go to the store and the little boy’s eyes lit up and every commercial he had ever seen for every toy suddenly came to life and the mother was really wondering what she was going to do. It was then the little boy said, “That boy would love this game. The sister will really love this doll and they both need some clothes.” There was pride in the eyes of the parents at the selflessness of their son when the little boy said, “Jesus was right, Daddy, it is better to give than to receive.” As this family paid for the items to be given to someone else they were given a glimpse of heaven as their child chose others over himself.

There are lots of people out of work. In one of her movies, Dolly Parton sings about the hard candy Christmas. I know there will be lots of them this year. A child born in a stable began the spirit of giving and gave us a glimpse into heaven within the lowliness of a stable. May the babe of Bethlehem be born once again in our hearts and may the joy of giving be ever in our thoughts.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. 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.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Happy Saturday!

I began to work on my Ethics final today. I have the first part of the first case study completed. The case studies are on human genetic engineering, euthanasia and the living wage. I am not allowed to give my opinions on these subjects - I have to state in fewer than 12 pages how these ethical thinkers would respond to these subjects. It is going to be an interesting week. Depending on how the week goes and the writing flows, Bruce may be doing some of the writing his week. Thank you, darlin’. He is so great to help out.

1John 3:23 “This is what God commands…that we love each other.”

Did you ever think about how we learn things? Anything? Nobody learns alone. Someone had to teach us something along the way. It is our task to take what we learn and apply it in our lives. I learned to cook in my Mamo’s and Mother’s kitchens. I also love to sing. Yes, I was born with some natural ability, but my high school choir director took me under his wing and taught me to sing properly and to have a great love for music.

Most people will tell us to love, but only God gives us the power to love. Christ’s dying words were words of love. Three men hung on crosses that day on Calvary. One of the men mocked Jesus. The other man rebuked the first man saying that they were there because of the crimes they had committed, but Jesus had done nothing wrong. The second man did not even ask to be forgiven, just remembered. Jesus told him that today he would be with Him in paradise. Jesus loved the man in spite of whatever crime he had committed.

God loved the unlovely, the backstabbers, the liars, the cheaters the unfaithful ones and those who had no kindness in their hearts for anyone. God through Jesus asks us to love the unlovely and those who hurt us and others. How are we to do that? How can we love as God loves?

By being loved.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Happy Friday!

It was a cold but beautiful day. I began the day with a flavored coffee called Mistletoe Joe. I turned on the Charlie Brown Christmas music in my classroom and the children in my classrooms said, “Mrs. Chrystie that is Snoopy!"

I heard some great words today :"Your term of jury service is over." I was so glad. I have been having to check-in with jury services daily for the last three weeks to see whether I am being called to serve. Talk about a large inconvenience!
Tonight I opened my email and found this wonderful epistle by Garrison Keeler sent by a friend from church. I found many of the phrases and sayings about Lutherans completely true and some sent me into full blown laughter. I found the ones about coffee and Star Wars especially funny. So in lieu of my regular journal and hope you enjoy the following writing by Garrison Keeler and may you come away blessed whether you are Lutheran or not.

Prayer request: I will begin my final Ethics paper/ project tomorrow. It is due on the 14th so I ask for your prayers as I begin this final. Geni and Travis are both working on their finals also so I ask prayers for them as well. This house is a hot bed of academia and will remain so for the next week or so. Also, please give thanks that Bruce has worked most of the week and seems to have work for a few more days to come with a new client. The door business seems to have "closed" (pardon the pun), but God, in His infinite kindness and grace is opening up the Toolbox once again and providing for the needs of each day. The Toolbox is Bruce's home repair service. We are so blessed. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

SINGING WITH THE LUTHERANS
by Garrison Keillor

I have made fun of Lutherans for years - who wouldn't, if you lived in Minnesota ?

But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn.

We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like they do.

If you ask an audience in New York City , a relatively Lutheranless place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Lutherans they'll smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!

Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It's a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We're too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment.

I once sang the bass line of Children of the Heavenly Father in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.

I do believe this: These Lutherans are the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress. If you're dying, they'll comfort you. If you're lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you're hungry, they'll give you tuna salad!

The following list was compiled by a 20th century Lutheran who, observing other Lutherans, wrote down exactly what he saw or heard:

1. Lutherans believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud.

2. Lutherans like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.

3. Lutherans believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there.

4. Lutherans usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins.

5. Lutherans believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate.

6. Lutherans feel that applauding for their children's choirs would make the kids too proud and conceited.

7. Lutherans think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace.

8. Lutherans drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament.

9. Some Lutherans still believe that an ELCS bride and an LCMS groom make for a mixed marriage. (For those of you who are not Lutherans, ELCS is Evangelical Lutheran Church Synod and LCMS is Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, two different divisions of the same Protestant religion. And when and where I grew up in Minnesota , intermarriage between the two was about as popular as Lutherans and Catholics marrying.)

10. Lutherans feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall.

11. Lutherans are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at church.

12. Lutherans think that Garrison Keillor stories are totally factual.

13. Lutherans still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna noodle casserole add too much color.

14. Lutherans believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously.

And finally, you know you're a Lutheran when:

*It's 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service;

*You hear something really funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can;

*Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee;

*The communion cabinet is open to all, but the coffee cabinet is locked up tight;

*When you watch a 'Star Wars' movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," you respond, 'and also with you';

*And lastly, it takes 15 minutes to say, "Good-bye".

May you wake each day with His blessings, Sleep each night in His keeping, and always walk in His tender care.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, a warm jacket and sing each step of the way! 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.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Happy Thursday!

My goodness but it was cold today. There was also a full moon. If you combine a very cold day with a full moon and no recess you have the perfect storm for some very active and noisy first graders!!

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.”

Each night I close this journal with “take joy in the journey.” I remember when I began to use this phrase. I was in Houston with Casey and things were not going well. It seemed the only news we were receiving was bleak and Satan was working overtime to rob us of our joy. Finally one day I got fed up and posted a sign on the door to our room that simply said, “Satan, you have no power here!” I decided then and there that somehow there was going to be joy in the journey.

I don’t mean joy like all giggles, giddiness and smiles, but the joy that comes from knowing that God was with us all the time. There were situations that had to be worked out, solutions that had to be found and questions that needed to be answered. Even when the answers and decisions were not filled with the promise of healing, the joy was still that God walked the path with us and never left us alone. Maybe someday if there are answers to questions in heaven God can answer a few of mine. Maybe the answers I seek cannot be given to a set of earthly ears and are only able to be heard and understood as a citizen of heaven.

God doesn’t show us the end result at the beginning of the journey. He only shines the light at our feet for us to see where we are going for the next few steps. The best assurance we have is that the journey is made with God. Even though there was great pain and suffering with Casey’s disease and separation from family and friends; all of these things caused me to come into a close intimacy with the One who held all answers in His hands and more importantly the God who held us as close as our very next breath. God’s light shined in the darkness of the unknown and on all of our fears as a constant reminder that He was with us at each stage of the journey and guided each step we took.

Find ways to grow closer to God. When adversity hits hard try to stand in the midst of the presence of God and simply say “I trust you Father.” Then take joy in the journey because God is with you now and forever.

My dear friends, take joy in the journey, wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. Love you all so very much, 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.

Update on Jeremy from last night. He ran out of gas late last night just north of Pecos with no one to help him. The Sheriff finally brought him some gas. He made the interview in El Paso, and, as of this writing, is on his way home.
Happy Wednesday!

It is quite late. Today was extra long with Bible Study with teachers at school, teaching all day, my LAST ethics class, a hurriedly eaten meal at church, worship and finally Praise Team practice. I am tired! It was a really wonderful day, but a really long day!

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

In my classroom we are talking and studying about changes as we age. We talk about getting taller, losing teeth, outgrowing our clothes and shoes etc…Children grow in other ways too. We have talked about the changes they have gone through since being babies and becoming “kids.” We have talked about the things they can do now that they could not do in kindergarten. We have talked about how, when they go to the doctor for a check-up, the doctor tells them how much they have grown.

As Christian adults we need to grow and change too. If we are in the same place spiritually today that we were six months ago then maybe we need to go and get a check-up. We don’t need a physical check-up we need a spiritual check-up. We need to see “Dr. Jesus.” (This is a reference to a Randy Travis song.) Upon our visit with the great physician He can tell if we are practicing good habits. He will ask, “How is your prayer life? I haven’t heard from you in a while.” Or “How is your study time going?” “How is your fellowship with other believers?” How is your service to others in the kingdom?” Friends, this is how we grow and stay spiritually healthy. We stay connected to the Father by practicing good spiritual habits.

God might ask all of us these questions, but the most important part of us He would check is our hearts. How much love does your heart hold and how often do you empty it in My name? Does your heart get enough exercise?

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket. Love you all so much, 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 Please pray a special prayer for Jeremy Brewer. He is our Praise Team director. Tonight, he is driving to El Paso for an interview for medical school. His interview is at 8:45 in the morning and then he is driving back. Please pray travel mercy on this wonderful young man. Love you, gc

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Happy Tuesday!

Today it was wet, raining and cold. I had car line duty at school. My room wasn’t very warm either. All I wanted to do was get home to my warm and cozy house. I was at Loop 820 before my feet began to thaw and my hands warmed up. When I got home, it was warm and Geni and Travis and I sat down and ate dessert with some new coffee I had purchased and we had a fun time around the table just talking and laughing. I am sure the temperature in the house warmed up even more with the fun and fellowship had around our table. The cold day turned into a wonderful, warm time and I stayed warm for the rest of the evening.

Daniel 6:16 “May the God you serve all the time save you.”

Here it is the first of December. There are Christmas movies on so many stations. The mall has been decorated for seemingly months, I placed a new wallpaper on the promethean board in my classroom and I broke out the Christmas box of activities for the month of December. My thoughts turn to decorating, music and my final exam that I will receive tomorrow afternoon.

As I read this verse I was reminded of the song written and performed by Mark Lowery, Mary Did You Know? One of the lines in the piece asks the question: ”Mary did you know, that this child that you’ll deliver will soon deliver you?” Mary was so young and in such a strange situation. Mary was from a small town, poor, pregnant, unmarried, betrothed to a man who was not the father of her child and was being asked by the creator of the universe to be the mother of the Son of God. (Soap operas got nothing on the Bible!) And yet, Mary obediently followed the path of God’s will for her life. I am sure she took the ridicule, the whispers of the townspeople, realized the humiliation her family faced and the heartbreak of Joseph who loved her so very much. And yet, Mary obediently followed the path of God’s will for her life and the life of her child.

Mary served God the only way she knew how. Mary prayed. She surrendered herself over to the will of the Father. God honored Mary’s obedience and willingness to serve by returning Joseph to her. The stories tell us that Joseph was several years older than Mary. Mary was going to need a mature person to help her raise Jesus. Joseph also acted in obedience when, instead of divorcing her, he faced the trails of being an unmarried father and taking Jesus as his own son knowing that Jesus was not a son of his body. Mary and Joseph served God and provided for them and His Son. The angels heralded the birth of this holy child signifying the deity of Jesus and the Shepherds found Him in the lowly manger representing His humanity.

Joseph and Mary faced difficult trials as the parents of Jesus. They followed the path of obedience and God delivered them each time. Do you suppose they ever thought that this child they would raise, love and care for would be the Savior of the world and bring them to salvation?

How about us? Is our path of obedience worthy enough for the salvation of God? I can tell you that it isn’t, but, by the grace of God though Jesus, when we serve or when we stumble and fall God still brings us to His salvation.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, a warm coat and carry an umbrella. 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 The new coffee is called Mistletoe Joe? It is delicious.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Happy Monday!

B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r! Baby, it’s cold outside with possible snow on Wednesday morning. OMG!

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is our refuge.”

Psalm 20:1,2 “The Lord hears us in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defends us; Send us help from the sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Zion.”

Did you ever think of the psalms as a prayer book? I know it was written as songs of praise and lament to the Father, but for me many of those wonderful poems are verses of assurance born out of passion and thanksgiving and the need for comfort in times of uncertainty.

A long time ago during a particular time in our lives we were going through great personal crisis. On Christmas Eve night, while I was very pregnant with Travis, we went to the Christmas Eve service. As I walked down the aisle in the candlelit sanctuary not knowing what the future was going to hold, I was hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Our pastor met me at the altar with the bread and the wine and simply stated, “Gaylene, find your strength here.” I will never forget those words and that moment as I needed a place of sanctuary.

The psalmist also says, “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.” God is our sanctuary when the world seems to be running over us. “When there is nothing left to do, we need to just depend on You (God) and the power of Your name” ( from In the Name Of the Lord – Sandi Patty). Think about a sanctuary. If you are a Disney fan perhaps you have seen the animated story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The outcast people in Paris knew that all they had to do was claim “Sanctuary” and they would be free from persecution and safe from harm. The cry of “Sanctuary!” was honored in this church because it was a holy place. It was a place where God resided.

The psalmist does not speak of a concrete building as a sanctuary. The psalmist speaks of God as being our sanctuary. The psalmist speaks of God being an ever-present help in times of trouble - not just when God has the time or when God thinks we deserve His help. No, the promise is an ever-present help.

Step into the presence of God and claim His ever- present help and He will not only give you sanctuary, God will be your sanctuary.

Step in the sanctuary of God’s presence, be a part of His divine presence and gain the strength to conquer the enemy.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm coat. 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.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Blessed Sunday to you all.

I will echo Pastor Marc’s greeting this morning with Happy New Year! Today is the first Sunday in Advent. It is the first Sunday in the new year for the church. The first Advent Candle was lit today. Today was the candle of Peace. Peace comes from God because of His love for us.

Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”

If two of you shall agree... I have claimed this passage many times. When praying for something so very important and heartfelt such as healing, choices and the lifting of one another’s burdens, I have often claimed God’s presence in the midst of those with whom I am praying.

Have you ever thought about what it means to pray God’s presence in the midst of your prayer time? When you ask God to be present with you and another believer(s) you must first be gathered in God’s name. We are bound in a common faith and belief in God through Jesus Christ. You must also pray the desire for God’s will to be carried out. When we invite God to be present and you along with your prayer partner or group are voicing and agreeing on the petitions you are setting before God then your request (God’s presence) is granted. For me this is prayer on a different level.

When I am in my private prayer time I do not always remember to ask God to be present in my prayer and I picture God on His throne and just listening. Sometimes when I am really passionate in my prayer time I visualize myself walking into the throne room and addressing God face to face. Both of these conversations are very one sided. But when I claim God’s presence the prayers are no longer monologues, but change to dialogues. I speak and then listen for God to enter into the conversation. When God enters the conversation it does not mean that God agrees with my request, but that He will listen critically as I am praying with believers who are praying the same prayer. That is when I realize that I must first desire God’s will to be accomplished above all else. There is great power in two or more believers gathered in the name of the Lord, united in Him, bound by a common loyalty and wanting only His will to be accomplished.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and pray with a friend. 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.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Happy Saturday!

Today we had our holiday fling. We went to the TCU vs. New Mexico football game today. We had so much fun. TCU kept their record untarnished by defeating the Lobos 51 to 10. We sat behind the band, proudly wore our purple, yelled loud and proud and made the sign of the horned frog all afternoon. It was a great way to end this brief holiday vacation.

Today at the game, heroes were being honored. Military heroes, police officers and fire fighters were also honored. In honor of the fire fighters the TCU Marching Band played Amazing Grace. I had never considered a marching band as a medium for that particular piece, but the band did such a beautiful rendition that the entire stadium was completely silent as the band played. It was so moving.

1 Peter 3:18 “Christ Himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but He suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God.”

Many of you know that I am somewhat directionally challenged. I do not feel confident in driving to new places by myself. I am pretty much a landmark girl. You know turn right at the Arby’s or go past Wal-Mart and turn in front of the Payless, etc…I am so grateful for the invention of the cell phone and a patient, road-savvy husband who will answer and redirect me when I get lost even if I can’t exactly tell him where I am. He also tells me when I get lost to call him back when and if I need Him again. Thanks darlin’.

In the Christian life however there is only one landmark we need to keep in our sights. We need to keep the cross in our vision. When we get lost or become separated from God we can look to the cross and find our way home. The cross is the one landmark that never moves. Arby’s, Wal-Mart and Payless will pass away someday to make room for something else, but the cross of Christ remains in the same place forever. The cross is where we meet Christ and His forgiveness. The cross is where the most compassionate eyes of love look down at us and tell us how much we are loved. The cross is where instead of our guilt and shame separating us from God, they draw us closer because our sins have been taken away and replaced with forgiveness, love and grace.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and keep Christ in our sight and we will never be lost again. See you in worship. 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.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Happy Friday!

Today I did not even venture out of the house until around 9:00 pm to go to Kroger to get the makings for turkey soup. That whole crowded mall thing is not for me (even if I did have money to spend!) Instead I put the summer wardrobe away in the cedar chest and pulled out the sweaters and holiday wear, made two bags to take to Mission Arlington and watched a movie or two. It was a wonderful day.

Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but Thy will be done.”

Jesus speaks these words in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion. Jesus is praying to the Father. He is saying, if there is any other way to accomplish Your plan here on earth please let me not have to suffer and die this horrific death. But no matter what, Your will must be done. If this is Your will then I go willingly.

When I read the meditation on this passage tonight I really had to stop and think about God’s will. Then I thought about the sentence in The Lord’s Prayer; “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The citizens of heaven have learned to love God’s will for their lives as they see God face to face all the time for all eternity. They bask in the glory of the Lord and trust Him without giving it a second thought. God’s will for their lives is their very existence.

Here on earth is another story. We all have a sinful nature and willful spirits that want for our will to be done and hope that God will go along with it. God wants us to desire and love His will for our lives (as it is in heaven). If we desire and trust His will then happiness will be ours and our restless spirits will rest in the love of God and trust in Him for all things. Whenever we feel that we cannot leave the choice to God then pray to not be able to accept His will, but pray to know and love Him more. If we pray to know and love God more than we will have the assurance that God only wants the best for each of us out of His love for us.

So, friends, as we walk this daily path of life let us learn a little more about God each day and may our conversations with the Father say something about learning to desire His will for our lives and learn more about of His love.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I pray your day was as wonderful as ours. We went to my brother’s home in Allen. Mom and Dad, Ken, Sheena, all of their girls and one boyfriend, the Chrysties, Ryan (our nephew on Bruce’s side) and Bianca, Ryan’s wonderful young daughter were all present. The Thanksgiving meal was full of tradition, variety in its wonderful tastes, aromas and textures. We had 4 different kinds of pumpkin pies and a Mexican Wedding Cake made by Mom who teased Bruce unmercifully about it being loaded with jalapeƱos. HA HA! Mom. (Bruce does not like anything spicy and the cake did not have jalapeƱos!) There was lots of playing with the Wii game today - even my Mom. She is so cool. Everybody had a great day!

1 Peter 2:23 “People insulted Christ, but He did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but He did not threaten.”

Several years ago I entered the pie competition at the State Fair of Texas. It is a fun event and I have occasionally won a ribbon or two. All of the pies are beautiful and there are pie makers out there that far outrank me in pie making. On this one occasion, one of the pies made by the ranking pie making queen was a lemon meringue pie. The meringue on this pie was perfect and in the center of this perfect meringue was a yellow rose fashioned from lemon gumdrops sliced so thin you could read though them. It was an absolutely perfect looking pie and I am sure it tasted perfect too as it was judged as Best of Show.

My pies are not particularly beautiful, but usually taste pretty good. As I sat out in the audience watching anxiously as the judges tasted and sampled each pie I had the opportunity to listen to the conversations going on around me. Some of the comments about pies and their creators I overheard were, “She did not make that pie. Her mother made that pie!” “Look at that meringue. It is weeping all over the place!” These are die- hard pie makers who have been entering these competitions for years and for them this competition is the Miss America of pies.

Jesus came to the earth in a human body. Scripture tells us He was not particularly comely in His appearance that others would follow after Him because of His looks. Jesus was after a far greater reason for a following. Jesus wanted others to follow Him so they could learn about the loveliness of God. I can only imagine Jesus as looking like any other Jewish man; long curly hair, olive skin and angular nose with one exception: His eyes. I picture His eyes as being a beautiful dark brown that shined with love, compassion; deep and piercing so that when they looked at you, you would think those eyes could look through to your very soul.

This man did not have physical characteristics that would distinguish Him particularly from others Jewish men in His age range, but His soul and His very countenance would distinguish Him above all others. That countenance would cause Him to be criticized, insulted and mocked. That loving heart, that grace filled soul and that compassionate Spirit would keep Him from returning the insults hurled at Him and would not allow Him to threaten His accusers. That obedient will was the thing that would allow Him to walk the Via Dolorosa to the hill of Calvary and be crucified, knowing that that path was His Father’s plan. Jesus laid His own will down and took the insults, pain and humiliation with these words “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and may the meringue on your pie never weep! 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.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

It is about 10:30 pm and the dressing is in the oven. The turkey is sliced and in the fridge. The pumpkin pie ( a new recipe) is on the table and only needs the flavored whipped cream and then all will be in readiness for the trip to Allen for Thanksgiving Day. It feels nice to sit down. I am really tired, but I am thankful that I am tired because I have had food to prepare for my family. I am tired, but really happy.

John 10:9 “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

I am sure there are many tonight who are tired from the days cooking chores. Even though each onion chopped and celery diced and every ladle of broth spooned over the turkeys today was a labor of love. The place of rest tonight is going to feel really great.

God offers us a place of rest. He offers His pastures by still waters for those who are in need of rest. Those of us who believe in God have been to the pasture and God has given us a place to rest because of His love for us. But what about those who have rejected God? How about those who have rejected and disdained His Son, Jesus? There are those who do not feel the need for a relationship with God. (How sad!) God still offers those who do not yet believe that same place of rest. He offers those who reject Him salvation. He offers those who continuously shut the door in the face of the Savior new opportunities to learn of Him because He loves them so much.

We know of God’s love for us through Jesus, now we must show those who reject Him and continue to slam the door in the face of the Father about His love. We must humbly and patiently continue to pray for those who are difficult to love because we were once difficult to love and yet God loved us.

Take joy in the journey. Be safe in your travels. Wear comfortable shoes and have a blessed Thanksgiving. 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.
Happy Thanksgiving Eve, Eve!

I think in the last two days I have made about 40 trips to either Kroger or Wal-Mart. I have noticed that the stores are already beginning to run out of some items. At this writing I am chilling the brine for my turkey breasts in preparation for smoking them tomorrow.

Tonight was our Thanksgiving Eve Eve Soup and Sandwich Supper followed by worship at Advent. The food was delicious. There were many pots of soup and lots of sandwiches and I don’t think there were any two soups alike. I made one of our family’s favorite sandwiches; bacon, cheese, tomato and spinach quesadillas.

Luke 17:11-18 is the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers while on His way to Jerusalem. How courageous of these ten to come into town. They must have heard that Jesus was coming through town and of His healing powers. These ten did not even come close to Him, they shouted from afar “Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!” Jesus responded, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” It was law when someone was healed from leprosy that they must present themselves to the priests and be pronounced clean before being allowed back into the community of their town or village. They had to be pronounced clean by the priest before they could be reunited with their families. All ten were healed, but only one came back and gave thanks. The one who came back and gave thanks for their healing was a Samaritan.

The question Pastor Joel posed tonight was why did the other nine not return to give thanks. Why did the one, the one most hated, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks?

I thought about me. Would I have acted as the Samaritan and returned to give thanks to the Master Healer, or would I have been so taken by the miraculous healing that had occurred that I would have forgotten to thank the Giver of every good and perfect gift? Sometimes I am one of the nine. I receive so many blessings from God out of His love that I think I take them for granted and often times forget to say thank you.

The greatest thank you I ever need to give is that Jesus died to heal me from my sinful nature by the blood of the Lamb. This is something I need to give thanks for each and every day. So I think I will add another sentence to my prayer time each day. I always ask for forgiveness and now I will remember to give thanks for that forgiveness.

So friends, let us give thanks for the food on our tables, the health of our family and friends and for the God who loves us so much that He would send His own Son do die for us so that His blood would be the cure for our sins.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you all so much and give thanks for you daily. 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.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Happy Monday!

Daily jury update: I was not called to serve today. My instructions are to check back on Friday, the 27th after 3:00 for further instructions.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Geni is a fan of the Twilight popular literature series. In case you are not familiar with the series, the stories are about vampires and their relationships with non-vampires. The leading male character, Edward, chooses tell the world who and what he is; a vampire. In this literary work, the vampires have sparkly skin when they stand in sunlight. When Edward decides to reveal himself to the world, he steps out into the sunlight and his appearance becomes very luminous. He makes this decision to reveal himself out of his heartbreak of losing the one he loves.

God asks us to let our light shine before men in joy. God tells us that when we reveal who we are, His children – Christians, that joy would be made manifest for the entire world to see. When others see joy in our lives then they know without any doubt that our joy comes from trusting God. It is through trusting and relying on God that we are able to get through the really difficult times. Even though the situation may not seem a time of joy we must be joyful in the knowledge that God loves us so much and is always there with us promising never to leave our side no matter what.

God’s light is revealed in Jesus. Jesus is the light that is reflected in each of us out of His love for us as we choose to be obedient to God and His will for our lives. When we act and choose to model the godly life then God is glorified and joy is the radiance of God working in and through us.

It is almost Thanksgiving and we have so much for which to be thankful. Let us be thankful that we can help someone else and that God will be glorified in our service.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. 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.

Prayer requests: Delfina Nunez, one of my colleagues, lost her mother on Saturday. The service is tomorrow. Please keep her and the family in your prayers.

Praise report: Gil Ginn, one of the members of our congregation, was diagnosed with cancer some months back. At his latest Dr,’s visit Gil was pronounced in remission. Praise God!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Blessed Sunday!

My apologies for not writing last evening. We attended the Allen vs. South Lake-Carroll High School play off game at Cowboy Stadium with my brother and his family. We had the most wonderful time, but alas, Allen came up one point short of victory. It was a heartbreaking game with two overtimes. Both teams played their hardest, but South Lake Carroll came away victorious. Anyway, the game did not begin until 9:00 pm and was not over until after midnight. We arrived home well after 1:00 am. After midnight as we were leaving the stadium, we sang Happy Birthday to my brother. We are 5 years and 8 days apart in age, with me being the elder. He really was wishing for something more than a song. He was wishing a victory from Allen!

Yesterday I planted my winter pansies. I had begun this project last week on my birthday and added to the flower population using primarily yellow pansies with a few beautiful violet/yellow variety and some beautiful pumpkin orange colored ones. I still have one more small project to go. I will trim back the chrysanthemums surrounding the Casey tree to prepare them for their winter sleep.

John 1:16-17 ”From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.”

This morning as I was getting ready for worship I was listening to Mark Lowry. He is a former member of the Gaither Vocal Band, a very fine singer and a very talented Christian comedian. But today he was speaking prior to his singing about what he was like when he first joined the Vocal Band. He described himself as a rock. As he continued being around the Gaithers with their musical direction and their spiritual direction, his life really began to change. He began to grow in his faith because of the people God placed in his life. When he compared himself to a rock in the hands of the Potter, he said, “it was like God was chipping away a piece at a time until all that was left was grace.”

This sentence was the piece to a puzzle that has been rambling around in my head for a while now. God takes things like rocks, things that are dead and forms and fashions them until they are fit for His use. I am learning the lessons of the plants. Some plants are meant to survive the cold of winter and others are meant to sleep and reawaken in the spring. God takes things that are seemingly dead and chips away at them until all that is left is grace. My chrysanthemums have to be trimmed back now and again in July for their beautiful blooms to be seen in the fall. But the pansies will be pretty all winter if I continue to take care of them.

If I continue to read and study the Word, if I continue to pray, if I continue to worship and serve then God will continue to chip away at me until someday all that will be left is grace. I must be willing to surrender all of my sin, guilt and faults to the Potter and allow Him to shape me until I am fit for His service and use. God works with us out of His love for us. Only what is done in Love lasts, for God is love and only the work of God remains. So my friends, offer yourselves to God and let Him chip away the pieces until all that is left is His grace.

Take joy in the journey and wear comfortable shoes. Love you all so much, 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.