Saturday, December 4, 2010



Happy Saturday!

Last evening Travis competed in the deadlift competition at the Metroflex Gym here in Arlington. He won the teen men’s division with a lift of 620 pounds. I text messaged my principal and she said, “That’s a whole cow!” Congrats Trav! But here is the thing. We have now been to a few of these competitions and there were many firsts for all of us last night. First, this is not a gym where you look cute. This is a blood, sweat and tears gym. Hard work goes on in this place. The first thing you notice is the huge cross bearing the words King of Kings and Lord of Lords on the cross pieces. The next thing you observe is the vast amount of scripture verses painted on the walls and the gym motto is “The true strong man knows where real power comes from.” The owner of the gym is a man by the name of Brian Dobson who began the meet with prayer. The entry fee for spectators was $5.00 and that included the food cooked tailgate style outside in the parking lot. Then Mr. Dobson announced that all of the spectators fees and the registration fees for the competitors was all going to a ministry at his church (and his pastor was there) that took backpacks full of toys and other items that are age appropriate to a village down in Matamoros, Mexico. Most amazing thing I have been to in a long time. The sportsmanship and the encouragement given to each competitor by each athlete and the spectators was inspiring.

1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…For all that is in the world…is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Even though the event of last evening was a worldly event with men and women trying to out-lift each other, it was an exercise where each tried to increase their personal best, with the bar set higher than the weight each athlete was striving for. Each of the athletes was judged not only according to the value of the weight on the bar, but by the values of heaven. They did seek the praise of their peers, but more than that, because God was invited to the competition and was within the hearts of the athletes, there was never any booing, jeering or poor sportsmanship. There was instead a strong sense of each competitor being encouraged to do their best with the support of their fellow competitors and the audience. When someone struggled with the weight they were attempting to lift, the owner of the gym and event announcer, Brian, encouraged the lifter to keep trying and when a lifter could not lift the weight on the bar, Brian applauded the athlete, along with the audience, and said “You will get it next time.”

I don’t think most of the world treats its competitors with this kind of value system. Disciples of Jesus (that’s us) must ever seek to set aside the valuation of the world, and judge only according to the values of Heaven. So when the situation is difficult and human help is failing, keep very close to God and let His hand raise you up.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. See you in worship. And let us continue to lift each other us in prayer daily. 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.

PS My final worship class research paper is on a particular worship type that interests me. I am writing about the celebration service I wrote for Casey. Please pray for me to be able to order my thoughts and say what needs to be said as I write this paper. It is due on Wednesday. Thank you for your prayers. gc

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Happy Thursday!

I apologize for not writing on last night. After a very long day and worshiping three times I was “churched up” and “wiped out!” I was too tired to think and kept falling asleep while trying to write.

James 5:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

When we come into God’s presence we are on holy ground. When Moses was called to the burning bush upon the mountain, God told him to remove his shoes for the ground on which he was standing was holy ground. Moses was a wanderer and his shoes took him to all kinds of places from the desert across Egypt, to the Pharaoh’s court and to Mount Sinai and beyond. Those sandals walked through sand, followed behind herds of animals and got pretty dirty.

So when Moses came into the presence of God and received instruction, God asked him to remove his dirty shoes and humbly submit himself. God had been talking to Moses for some time. While Moses was going across the desert after being exiled from Egypt God began to speak to him. Moses began to get to know God in the silence of the desert without distractions. The longer Moses and God communicated the more Moses began to desire to be in God’s presence.

The scripture says if we draw near to God then He will draw near to us. It does not say that God will draw near if He has the time or that we are being placed on a list and he will get to us. The passage says if we come into His presence then He will stay with us, teach us and lead us. We can count on this with utter confidence that the prayers that we pray will be answered and God will be with us.

We need to draw near to God not just as one who is speaks but as one who listens. Remember God is the supplier who will make known His desires and wishes for each of us. I think Mary, who had many questions I am sure, listened far more than she talked. So let us begin to listen to God and hear His voice. Let us come humbly before Him, drawing near to Him and believing that He will draw near to us. The more we are in the presence of God the more we see the son of God.

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.

Prayer alert! Travis competes tomorrow evening in a lifting event. He will be dead lifting a lot of weight. Please pray for his safety. Peace, gc

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Happy Tuesday!

When we all wake up in the morning it will be December. The children in my class have been counting down the days until December. They are really excited.

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

Psalm 20: 1-2 “In times of trouble; may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.”

Every once in a while I tell Bruce that I really need to get away for just a day or two. That translates that I need to get away with him and walk the Galleria or other place that is not on my normally beaten path. No dishes, laundry, write or grade papers etc., so sometimes Bruce is my sanctuary. And when I am really dealing with a difficult situation I can go into the quietness of my own being and think the issue through until I have a plan in place to work the problem out. But when I am dealing with my own inadequacies, shortcomings, failures and doubts I go to the sanctuary of my own heart and meet God. I take refuge in the sanctuary of God’s loving kindness, His compassion and forgiveness until I feel my joy being restored. It is sort of like being a dry sponge and God is soaking me in His loving grace and restoring me according to His will.

Find God in the sanctuary of your heart for He is there waiting for us with love, compassion, forgiveness and a constant reminder of the joy He takes in us, His children.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day. 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

Monday, November 29, 2010

Happy Monday!

Wow! First day back at school after a week long holiday! I was exhausted! It was a good first day back, but pray for all teachers and students because we are already counting down the days until the Winter Break. Just an FYI we are down to 14 days.

Hebrews 10: 25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”

For the last year and a half, a group of women from my school has met together one morning per week for a time of prayer and share. We meet in my classroom for about 40 minutes for a brief devotion, prayer and time of sharing our concerns, joys and praises. We claim a Las Vegas style room and have gained each other’s trust. We keep a prayer list in a prayer journal and then write down private prayers on small slips of paper. After our corporate prayer time we each take a prayer slip and pray for each other throughout the week. Through this time we have not just grown as sisters in Christ, but friends who are bound by the love of God through Jesus.

We gather in the name of Jesus with one desire, to learn and do God’s will in our lives at school and in our homes. When we meet together we ask that God be present as a guest as we place our prayers before Him. There is power in our prayers because we claim the scripture that says “Where two or more are gathered in My name, I will be present.” We know that the power is not in our prayers or in our numbers, but in the One who hears our prayers. I treasure these wonderful women and our time together.

We were not meant to live this Christian life alone. Bruce tells a wonderful story about watching a fire. If you ever watch a fire, the power in the fire, the part that keeps the fire going is the closeness of the coals and the embers that stoke the fire from underneath. If you take one of the coals away and set it to the side without the warmth of the others then the coal grows cold and its fire goes out. But if you place it back into the glowing embers then it warms with the support of the other coals and it is restored.

I pray that each of you have a group of believers to meet with on a regular basis. I pray you feel the warmth and fire of the Holy Spirit and draw your strength from Jesus and those gathered in 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.

Prayer Alert! Our friend Mike had a successful surgery this morning and is planning to go home tomorrow. Praise God from whom all blessings flow and who is the source of all healing. Thank you for your prayers. gc
Blessed first Sunday of Advent!

Luke 1: 19 “Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news.”

Zechariah was the husband of Elizabeth. They were aging and had never had children. Zechariah was a priest in the temple when he had this encounter with the Angel, Gabriel.

Have you ever noticed how angels show up to deliver messages from God? I’ll just bet an angel’s favorite message to deliver is news of a baby. An angel delivered the news of the coming of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (a woman past the age of child bearing years). An angel delivered the message of the coming of John to Zechariah and Elizabeth (also past child bearing years). Then an angel delivered the message of the coming of Jesus to Mary (a woman barely into her child bearing years). All three were miracle babies. Sarah laughed, Mary pondered these things in her heart, Elizabeth went into seclusion and Zechariah was struck dumb until the birth of his son.

Let’s talk about Zechariah. He is standing in the presence of a being who sees God on a daily basis and bringing good news to Zechariah and Zechariah doubts. So God, through the angel, causes Zechariah to be without the ability to speak until John is born. Why? Well, I have a thought. The other night there was a movie on that I have seen several times so I know the dialog pretty well. I had my eyes closed while the movie was on and I heard things I had never heard before. I heard quiet pieces of conversations that I had missed all along. It was really “eye opening.”

God sometimes has to make us quiet so we can hear His plan for us. I know I talk to God far more than I listen to God. On Sunday mornings I take notes during the sermons and listen to our pastors’ discernment of the texts for the day. Being silent before God is a place of forced surrender. God is often silent with us. And even if He is silent before us that does not mean He is not at work, it just means we have to work extra hard and hearing His message.

God sent a messenger to Zechariah with a message of good news.

What messengers have visited us? Sometimes I hear messages in music, or in sermons, in the Word or in unusual places like a movie with my eyes closed. God speaks to us in so many ways and works to get our attention in whatever ways have meaning for each of us. Let us listen for God’s message in the world around us. It might come in prayer, or through a friend, through a sermon or even a movie you have seen multiple times. So let’s stop talking and listen and maybe, just maybe, we will hear some good news.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day. 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 Alert! Mike S. is having gall bladder surgery in the morning. Please pray for all medical personnel to be perfect in their tasks and for Mike to be without fear.

Sunday, November 28, 2010





Happy Saturday!

Two years ago our family began a new tradition. It was the first new activity we began after the loss of our beloved son, Casey. It was our first new memory to make. We began a yearly trek to the Walls Christmas Tree Farm in Terrell, Texas to cut our own Christmas tree. The first two times we went, we went the last weekend they were selling trees before Christmas, but busy schedules dictated differently this year. Yesterday was the first day of the selling season.

We picked a lovely six foot pine, not too slim and not too wide that fits exactly in the space allowed in our living room. We added a hand crafted Christmas wreath for the front door for the first time this year. Geni worked tonight so we will not decorate until tomorrow. During the decorating, the movie “White Christmas” will be watched and popcorn eaten. The house will smell of Christmas pine and it will glow with the ornaments and lights collected over the years. Today the kids said it is a tradition they would like to take into their families someday.

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. Our Praise Team will sing a special piece tomorrow, “Prepare Ye.” The nature of the piece really goes along more with a Holy Week theme, but a long time ago I heard a saying late one night on the radio that simply said, “Jesus could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem, but unless He is born again once in our hearts then it was all for naught.”

How do we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child? Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. Their journey was not an easy one. She was none months pregnant and rode on the back of a donkey over rough terrain get to the appointed place. They went obediently to the place God and had called them to go. So let us start there. In what ways will be journey to the stable this year? Will we attend mid-week services? Will we read our Bibles more and try to understand God’s Word? Will we offer ourselves in service? Will we give some of what we have in order for someone else who has less than we? Will we send cards to someone new this year?

Let’s journey to Bethlehem and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child. 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.

Prayer Alert! Our good friend Mike S. is in the hospital. First indication was that he had a heart attack, but that diagnosis was dismissed and tests are being run. Please pray for him to be restored to health and well being for his wife B.B. Peace, gc