Happy Wednesday! It has been the most wonderful day. It has been filled with God’s wonderful presence and His gracious blessings. And we are so very grateful.

First, today was Geni’s last day of summer school. The big group project was due this morning and one of the members of the group was not able to complete their part. Geni was really nervous that the teacher was going to grade the project as a whole and count off on each member’s grade because of the missing pieces. Geni explained the efforts that the group had made to contact their “missing link”, but their efforts had yielded no response. So the group presented their project and the teacher graded their project as is and they all received the credit they had earned. Geni was so relieved. She also does not have to take the final tomorrow. Way to go Geni! PTL!

Next, I was blessed to spend a portion of the day with my mom, aunt, cousin and Geni at a fun-filled shopping trip to Sam Moon’s and then lunch at The Cheesecake Factory in Frisco. We had the most wonderful time shopping, laughing, talking, eating and just enjoying being with “just the girls” for a while. Thank you, Lord, for family.

Last, we had a wonderful prayer answered today. Bruce has to carry liability insurance as one who is self-employed to work for the door company. The new down- payment came due and we did not have the money, so we have been praying for an answer to that problem. Today, when Bruce called the insurance company, he found out that they have changed their rules concerning the huge down-payments of the past. The bottom line is that they are not requiring the huge down payment any more. A monthly payment will put the insurance in force. We could afford the monthly payment. Bruce felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of his shoulders. Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer.

Acts 15:11 “But we believe that we…will be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus.”

Lutherans believe that we are saved by the grace of God and not by anything we can do. Grace is God’s alone. Max Lucado states in his book He Still Moves Stones, that Christians are in two different camps: legalism or grace. Legalists believe in God, but they believe that mankind earns their salvation. Grace filled believers believe that God is our salvation through the death of Jesus. In paraphrasing Lucado’s words; legalists talk the talk, but they do not walk the walk. The legalist is missing joy, because they live in fear, arrogance and failure. Grace filled believers talk the talk, walk the walk, sing the song, hug in love, live in joy, peace and forgiveness (praise God for that last one!!). A spiritual life is not of our doing, rather it is God’s supreme act of love showered on each of us as His children. Grace- filled believers know that the Holy Spirit is grounded in each of us and is energized by the life giving force of the grace of God.

Today’s acts of love and grace lovingly given by the Father were acts we did not deserve and we did not earn, but God loves us so much that He met our needs as a loving Father cares for His children. Thank you, Father, for your kindness and your continued blessings.

Friends, surrender your needs over to the Father and believe that His grace and love for you is sufficient. Believe that God will supply all your needs.

Take joy in the journey and stay in the shade. 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.