Saturday, January 22, 2011

Happy Friday!

Update from Carme and Dave. Dave will see the surgeon on Tuesday and is expecting a surgery date to be set. Please continue to keep these precious people in your prayers. Carme and Dave thank all of you for your prayers.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Today let me be reminded of all that I have and all that You have provided for me because of Your great love. Amen

Psalm 100:3-5 “Know that the Lord, he is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

Family! On the mantle in our living room there hangs a simple wooden plaque stating “Families are Forever.” Tonight Bruce was working late (Praise God for work!), Geni was at work so it was just me and Travis, so we had a date. We went out for dinner and then just knocked around a bit. While at dinner I asked him if it bothered him that we have always tried to keep him, Geni and Casey close to us. His response was a resounding, NO! It made me feel good to know that it was okay for him to spend Friday night with his Mom. I treasure the closeness I have been blessed to experience with our children. And even though they will move out someday with homes of their own, it is my hope that they, too, will treasure time spent with their families because we have always treasured them.

Our children are the creation of Bruce and Gaylene out of our love for each other. We have provided for our children all of their lives. We hope that throughout their lives we have shown them good examples of responsible adults who place value on people and relationships above objects and good examples of how to love. God created each of us and provided for our needs. It is our relationship with God that gives our life meaning.

In this psalm we find that the Lord is good, our source of goodness. Our Lord is merciful and has unfailing love for each of us. Our Lord is Truth, His promises and His faithfulness will endure forever. As His children we are given all of these promises. As members of the family of God we are a family forever.

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.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Happy Thursday!

Philippians 2: 1, 2 “If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Each night when I close my writing I tell all of you I love you and encourage you to continue to lift one another in prayer each day. Tonight I ask you to lift up in prayer for David Russell and his wife Carme Russell. They are our oldest and closest friends. We chartered a Sunday School class with them in the early days of our marriage. We have gained and lost weight together, had and each lost a child. They were Casey’s god parents and are now Travis’ god parents. Carme was diagnosed with breast cancer within the last two years and is a survivor of that cancer.

Today Dave was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the form of a renal cell carcinoma. The current plan is to remove the kidney. The good news is that the remaining kidney is good shape. Praise God! And the cancer seems to have localized as opposed to spreading. This affords David to not have chemotherapy and radiation following surgery. Again, Praise God! Please continue to pray for Dave’s healing and for strength in all that they face in the coming weeks as they wait on a surgery date. As I find out more information I will keep you posted.

As Christian believers we are called to be of one account and like mindedness because we are all children of God and brothers and sisters to Christ. We are called to love one another showing mercy, affection and love and offering comfort to those in need. Sometimes it is difficult to show these qualities to those we do not know or ones we do not like. As believers we ask God as did Moses to “Show me Your way.” We want to know the way of God, God’s love, God’s power, God’s compassion and His Word.

One of the ways I need to grow in this ministry to which I have been called is to look beyond the needs, hurts, pain and wounds in my own life and experiences and to understand the needs of the world beyond my own backyard. This causes me to realize that this life is not about me, but about the ways God can work through me and others to show His heart, His mind and His will to others.

In order for this to happen I must ask God to reveal to me anything that needs to be “weeded out” of my own life that keeps me from following whatever God has planned in my service to Him. I must not only look to see the best in people, but to be one who weeps for those who are hurting and helps them to know they are not alone. How about you…?

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and two pairs of warm socks. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift one another 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.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Happy Wednesday!

Prayer: Father, today is the day You have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for knowing everything I will face. Grow me today for the cause of Christ. Amen

1 Peter 1: 13—15 Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not comforting your selves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy in all your conduct.”

Tonight’s prayer and passage are being especially written for Carme and Dave Russell as they are going through a difficult time with health issues. But they are staying steadfast in their faith and believing that God’s plan will be carried out in their lives and that God will receive the victory.

When we walk difficult roads and face the tough situations of life God instructs each of us to have lifestyle without bitterness, rooted in hope and focused on Christ. God calls each of us to be holy in our behavior and He places His holiness in each of us through our faith and belief in Jesus. An American clergyman, James H. Aughy said, “Holiness is not the way to Christ, but Christ is the way to holiness. We do not come equipped with holiness. Holiness comes when we have learned about and experienced the holiness of Christ by giving Him lordship over our lives and experiences. God commands us to “know what we believe.” If we know what we believe then we know that God surrounds us with His peace and comfort and the assurance that He is with us all the time, never forsaking us.

My friends, everyone fights some kind of battle. Let us fix our minds on Christ and become more like Him each day.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift one another up in prayer each day. Stay warm! 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 Tuesday!

Prayer updates: Nothing definitive on Dave Russell, just keep praying. Geni began student teaching today. She went to bed uncharacteristically early from exhaustion. Welcome to the life of a teacher. Just keep praying.

Prayer: “Father, give me eyes that see You and ears that hear You today.”I Jesus name. Amen

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The story goes like this…There was this lion who was watching this herd of buffalo. He knew it would do him no good to attack the herd for the herd was too strong . So the lion waited for one buffalo to be by himself before he pounced. The lion kept patiently waiting for the buffalo one by one to leave the protection of the herd where he would pick them off. And eventually the buffalo herd was destroyed.
How is important is our community of believers?

I am so fortunate. I live in a household of faith. I teach in a school with so many colleagues who are believers and prayer warriors. The congregation with whom I worship is caring, compassionate, with servant’s hearts, and I attend a Christian university. I am surrounded by believers in God through Jesus Christ.

But what of those who walk away from the community and decide to stand alone? Those are the ones for which Satan lays in wait. We are called to “stir up love and exhort one another” so that we surround those who are young in the faith, those who are having a crisis of faith or those who are maybe losing the fire their faith once afforded. We need to lift one another up and be watchful of each other offering love when sometimes love is hard. Offering patience and a listening ear when we are full of impatience and disappointment is difficult. Inviting those who have wandered away back into worship and fellowship, Bible study and service may be outside our comfort zone. Satan does not attack a group because the strength of the group is stronger than one standing alone. The one alone is where the attack will come. Love and care for each other always!

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift one another 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.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happy Monday!

It was nice to have the day off even though I worked most of the day. However, I did get my grades completed and posted to the internet. Now tomorrow between after-school tutoring and my class at TCU I will catch up on the reading for my class.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, give me a heart that seeks after You, a mind that thinks like Christ, and a spirit that desires to know and follow Your Word. Empty me of myself, fill me with Your Spirit, and drive the truth of Your Word deep into my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen

This was my opening prayer of my meditation for today. I think I may copy this prayer and place it in the car and repeat it daily before going to work. I cannot think of a better way to begin my prayer time then to ask for a “heart that seeks after God.” I frequently pray for God to get me out of the way so that His will be done. Why don’t we pray this prayer together for a while and see what works God can do with a community that seeks after Him.

Philippians 2: 3-5 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better that himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

I keep a prayer list. When others ask me to pray for them I try to write it down somewhere and then place it where I keep my prayer concerns. When someone asks me to pray for them I try to pray immediately even while they are still talking to me. I love to look back on the prayer list and see what prayers have been answered and how they were answered. I especially love the times when the answers have brought great joy to the person for whom I have been praying. And even though Bruce and the kids are at the top of my prayer list (frequently) it reminds me that there are so many people with issues far greater than mine who are in such need of prayer. I do not even need to know the situation to say a quick prayer for others.

I think prayer is one of the greatest and most powerful gifts we have been given from the Father. The power of prayer is immeasurable because we are not alone. We can invite other believers to pray for us and with us making our needs and desires known to God. And even if we think our prayer is only known to ourselves we must remember that Jesus stands between us and the Father and prays for us if we but ask.

We learn so much about God when we spend time in prayer. Remember that prayer is a two way conversation. It is okay to be quiet before God letting Him speak to you and it is okay to speak our prayers for ourselves and others. Speaking our prayers for others is one of the ways we place others before ourselves letting God know our concerns are not only selfish. My friend Carme told me tonight to ask that we pray without ceasing. Sounds like good advice to me.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. In Jesus name 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 alerts: First, our friend Davis Russell is in the hospital this evening. Please pray for him. Geni begins her student teaching in the morning. Please keep both of these precious ones in your prayers this week and throughout the coming days. Peace, gc
Blessed Sunday to you all!

Worship today was so uplifting and ever mindful that we are to give glory to God and that we owe our every dependence on Him. This theme was given through the worship music, the scriptures and the message. The worshipers today were engaged as we explored that God has revealed Jesus to us.

John 1: 31 “I did not recognize Him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that He might be revealed to Israel.

John 1: 33 “I didn’t know He was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me. “The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

Did you ever have the experience of being in worship and the pastor seems to be looking right at you and speaking words only you are meant to hear? I have had that experience and, in the message today, so did John the Baptist. John was cousin to Jesus. I am sure they had spent time together as children, but to John, Jesus was just his cousin from Nazareth. But something happened to John that caused him to leave the temple and receive a special calling to announce Jesus to the world. John was the forerunner to Jesus and was given the task to baptize in the name of the One who would be called the Messiah. The Holy Spirit spoke God’s Word to John and revealed to Him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of God coming to save the world.

The scripture says that God did not tell the crowd, but spoke through the Holy Spirit to John the Baptist. When John saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove upon Jesus, John knew without any doubt that it was Jesus, the Chosen One of God. John was reluctant to baptize Jesus, but Jesus confirmed the Father’s Word by commanding John to baptize Him and to fulfill the scriptures.

I think those moments in our worship when the sermon or music or scriptures seem to be for our ears only is God speaking through the Holy Spirit in ways that only the one who is to receive the message is to hear and act upon. No one else in that crowd heard the message of God that day except John. When God speaks to us, He speaks to us in language we understand and leaves no doubt that He has spoken and we are to act on His Word. May God be glorified in our lives as we seek to do His will because we have listened and acted in obedience.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift one another us 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.

Sunday, January 16, 2011




Happy Saturday and Happy birthday Travis!

Travis is 20 years old today. He told me that shortly after midnight early this morning he began receiving birthday wishes via text message. His phone went off many times throughout the day! We went to the Stockyard area of Fort Worth today and ate at Cooper’s BBQ Restaurant. Casual atmosphere, no plates, just heavy paper placemats, open pit and you select your own meat and tell them the portion you want, the usual BBQ sides, beans, slaw, potato salad etc..My family said the blackberry cobbler was the best on the planet and you can also purchase pre-scooped frozen scoops of Blue Bell ice cream that exactly fit on the cobbler dish. (Imagine that!) The food is excellent! Travis thought he had died and gone to heaven. We walked around the stockyards area and were witness to one of the two daily longhorn cattle walks. It was so cool! That is a lot of beef on the hoof!

2 Timothy 1: 6-7 “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I remember the first time I encountered this particular scripture. Casey and I were in Houston and he was afraid to get out of bed for fear of falling. He was beginning to lose confidence and this passage came to me on that evening at my nightly meditation time. After reading the passage I wrote the verses on paper in marker and placed it on the pole that was one the end of his bed so that when he awoke the next morning it would be the first thing he saw and read. We prayed together and he got out of bed. I left that passage up for the duration of our stay.

“If you don’t fuel the fire, the fire goes out.” (Gaylene Chrystie) The Apostle Paul said these words to his “spiritual son” Timothy as he was serving a local church. According to tonight’s meditation, Timothy’s excitement had begun to diminish as he served this congregation. Paul reminded Timothy that he needed to call upon the Holy Spirit which lived with him in his daily life.

These words are meant for each of us. Timothy was serving in a church as their pastor, but the words still hold true for you and me. The fire of the Holy Spirit can begin to diminish as we continue through the spiritual journey of our lives, but never completely goes out. The fire of the Holy Spirit seems to really grow in size and power when we face tough times. Perhaps that is true because we pray more, read the Word more, worship more and fellowship with other believers. But when the tough time is over we tend to become lax in our study, daily prayer time, regular worship attendance and time spent in fellowship with other believers.

We need to learn to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit vibrant and burning in our hearts and lives each day just as Timothy did. The Spirit of God still lives within us all the time. We need to listen and obediently follow the call and instructions especially when the path is level, with clear blue skies and a warm breeze. We tend to forget how we need to live our lives fully and dependently on God through the power of the Holy Spirit and not on ourselves.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes or your western boots! Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other 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.