Happy Saturday!

The picture is of the formal dinner on board the ship and the family with whom we shared a table. We found them to be a delightful family from the Houston area.

I hope you are enjoying our cruise pictures. As I was cleaning house tonight and dusting under some of our cruise pictures that were professionally done I thought, “Did I really just get back from a cruise?” I never thought I would ever be able to go on a cruise and now we are anxious to begin to plan another one. Cruises are great and I highly recommend them!

Now, about plans…

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart devises his way; but the Lord directs his steps.”

Remember how last night I really did not want to go to Tyler to this meeting? I was a bit upset that the announcement was made at the 11th hour and I was not “Here am I, send me”, but “I am not here - send someone else?” Well, in my devotion today, God blessed me with this scripture and then assured me that He was in control and I needed to go and do His bidding. Geni drove to Tyler and I sat in the back seat preparing the worship for the day.

Today I used the God Calling Journal as my guide. Upon entering the meeting I heard about how Satan had been working in the lives of those seated around the table; how he had placed road blocks and stumbling blocks in their path all week long; how he was being quite relentless in his pursuits of these dedicated followers.

I shared with this group of adults and youth that Satan had been at work in me also and then God’s Word came shining through to my soul and Satan vanished. The thoughts shared in this God Calling journal began with “I Am your Lord, Lord of your lives.” God controls our lives and claims us as His children. Not Satan! God in His Word today banished Satan by claiming us as His own. “Controller of your days, your present and your future. (here is the best part) Leave all of your plans to Me.”

Do you remember that wonderful scene in the movie Evan Almighty where God, being played by Morgan Fairchild, just laughs hysterically when Steve Carrel, the Noah character, tells God that this whole Ark building thing does not fit into his plans? God responds with “Your plans!?” And then He laughs for the next several frames. But then the more Evan resists God’s calling, the more God pursues Evan for His purpose. When Evan finally surrenders to the calling of God and His purpose, Evan enters into a God-guided, God-taught life.

How many of us have resisted God’s calling in our lives? God is relentless in His passionate love for each of us and His determination to set about His purpose in our lives. Noah’s job was not easy. He suffered long hard hours of work on a mammoth project. He suffered the taunting of his neighbors and most likely his wife thought he was crazy. But God has a plan and needed Noah to help “save the world.” Noah was reluctantly (at first) obedient. What Noah accomplished was not easy, but it was right because God called Noah to this task.

This week, let us listen for God’s call in our lives. He has given us an amazing life. We just need to step out on our faith and open our eyes to see how wonderful life with the Creator of all, God, our Father, can be.

Take joy in the journey and stay in the shade. Love you all and see you in church. 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.