Happy Thursday!

We ate our first meal of the season on the deck tonight. The weather was just right. It was warm, but not too warm. The wind was calm, the yard smelled freshly mowed and it was really nice. During the spring and early summer we will eat out there quite a bit. I made the first sun tea since last summer and picked a sprig of spearmint from my window herb garden and just let it soak in the sun all day. It was delicious!

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.”

Is that the most exciting scripture you have read in a while?! It is for me. I am in the process of a turning point in my life and career. I am planning to retire from teaching next spring. We met with an insurance agent this week and have begun the process toward retirement. It will take probably most of the next year to get everything in place for a proper retirement to happen. Also, I am changing my degree plan at Brite from Master of Theological Studies to Master of Divinity and making the journey to ordination and to a hospital chaplaincy. I have had to reapply to the seminary and write another essay as to why I am changing my degree plan. In my essay I told the story of Casey and our journey from Arlington to Houston and back to Arlington. I think the main point of the essay is that because I have walked the road of suffering and loss with Casey and understand the hope that comes in death that there is eternal life with Christ that I would feel called to help others as they walk this journey themselves or with a loved one.

I really was praying about taking a summer class. There is not very much offered in the summer especially in a time when I can attend class. The class that was offered in a time where I could attend did not really interest me, but would satisfy a requirement and I was going to take it. And then…another class is being offered, “Introduction to Pastoral Care.” I am so excited. I believe that God answered my prayer and this will set me on the path towards my goal which is to do pastoral care in a hospital setting. We just never know how God is going to answer our prayers, but we can always trust that God will answer. God will answer in the proper time and way that is best for each of us out of His love for us.

Call on God. Claim His name in your prayers and ask for what you desire. Pray that your desires are what God has planned for you and then accept His answer. In my meditation tonight it said that wonderful things are coming “Joy—Assurance—Peace—Security—Health—Happiness and Laughter.” These are all names for God and attributes of His heart. God wants to give all of these to us. Trust in God and call on His name.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. 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.