Posts
Happy Saturday!
Today was spent getting caught up on grading. Tomorrow I take on the daunting task of posting all of these grades on the gradebook program and waiting for Bruce to return. I miss him when he is gone this long. When I spoke with him last night he said all was going well, but he was really tired.
Prayer: “Father, thank You that Your way is perfect and Your Word is true. You don’t need to prove anything to me, yet daily You provide me with more than sufficient evidence to show that You are trustworthy. I thank You for being my shield and my strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Psalm 18: 30, 32 “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him…It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”
The story goes like this…a grandfather was visiting his three year old grandson. The grandson had a tree house in his backyard. The little one climbed up into the tree house and stood on the edge and looked down at his grandpa. The grandpa looked up and said, ”Jump to me and I will catch you.” The little boy looked down at grandpa and said, “Go get my Daddy.”
This little guy knew and trusted the strength of his dad and would only jump into the arms he knew had the strength that would safely catch him. When I heard this lesson I thought how wise this little guy is. We should all be so wise. How many times when trouble came have we jumped into something thinking that it would solve the problem or save us from trouble instead of going to God first? We need to remember is that God is trustworthy. God’s arms of grace are strong enough to handle the problem. God’s Word is true and the promise is found in Isaiah 26:4, ‘Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” God promises that His everlasting strength is forever. It is impossible to break God’s promises by leaning on them. He will cradle us when we jump.
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 remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.
Prayers: Please remember Bruce, the Kairos Team and the inmates as they close down their weekend tomorrow afternoon. Pray for the team as they travel home. Thanks. Peace, gc
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Greetings from Austin St. via Wichita Falls
Happy Friday! This writing along with the two previous entries leaves my hands and travels into the hands of my editor and beloved husband, Bruce. Today I checked off one more item on the list of pre-retirement activities. Five years ago while teaching at Burton Hill, I came up with an activity to end the teaching unit on Texas. So, for the last 5 years we have held a school-wide chili cook-off. We joined the cook-off with a competition between our first grade students and their parents called, “Are you Smarter than a first Grader…Texas edition.” We (the first graders) went into the competition today undefeated and we left today’s competition still holding our undefeated standing. The chili cook-off was really great. We have really wonderful teachers in our building and one of them put their chili in a bio-hazard container displayed with a slightly melted plastic spoon. It was too funny!
Prayer: “Lord, today I trust You to be my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold. You are worthy to be praised. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
Psalm 18: 2,3 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Tonight’s passage of scripture tells us about the attributes of God as David saw God. David chose these powerful words to praise God and to declare Him worthy to be praised. David was on the run from Saul for about 10 years. In that time I am sure David sometimes did not know where he was going to sleep and he must have felt alone and scared. David at times did not know whether he would live another day. David trusted God to lead him and God delivered David from his enemies and made him king of Israel. In that ten year time while David was on the run and hiding I think God was preparing David to be the leader He wanted him to be.
The safest place we can ever be is in God’s will. So in all of our circumstances, issues, situations, roads and journeys we do not always know where we are headed, but God knows and we must place our trust in Him.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers remembering that we are all fighting some sort of battle. 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 Friday! This writing along with the two previous entries leaves my hands and travels into the hands of my editor and beloved husband, Bruce. Today I checked off one more item on the list of pre-retirement activities. Five years ago while teaching at Burton Hill, I came up with an activity to end the teaching unit on Texas. So, for the last 5 years we have held a school-wide chili cook-off. We joined the cook-off with a competition between our first grade students and their parents called, “Are you Smarter than a first Grader…Texas edition.” We (the first graders) went into the competition today undefeated and we left today’s competition still holding our undefeated standing. The chili cook-off was really great. We have really wonderful teachers in our building and one of them put their chili in a bio-hazard container displayed with a slightly melted plastic spoon. It was too funny!
Prayer: “Lord, today I trust You to be my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold. You are worthy to be praised. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
Psalm 18: 2,3 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Tonight’s passage of scripture tells us about the attributes of God as David saw God. David chose these powerful words to praise God and to declare Him worthy to be praised. David was on the run from Saul for about 10 years. In that time I am sure David sometimes did not know where he was going to sleep and he must have felt alone and scared. David at times did not know whether he would live another day. David trusted God to lead him and God delivered David from his enemies and made him king of Israel. In that ten year time while David was on the run and hiding I think God was preparing David to be the leader He wanted him to be.
The safest place we can ever be is in God’s will. So in all of our circumstances, issues, situations, roads and journeys we do not always know where we are headed, but God knows and we must place our trust in Him.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers remembering that we are all fighting some sort of battle. 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, March 31, 2011
Happy Thursday!
Today was busy as the first grade is preparing for the 5th Annual Chili cook-off. Here at home I have two pots of chili in crock-pots. We are dressing western for tomorrow and I learned a valuable lesson tonight. Do not polish your boots in an enclosed space like your bedroom. Big mistake!
Prayer: “Lord I come to You this morning because You are merciful and because You have said You will hear the cries of my heart. I will be joyful today because my trust is in You and I know that You already know what this day holds. I celebrate another day to give You glory. Thank you for hearing me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Just to let you know Bruce is tired but says the first day went really well at the prison.
Psalm 5: 11,12 “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
Have you ever considered the psalms as David’s private journal? In all of his writings you can read about his joys, sorrows, anger, pain, times of peace, times of turmoil and his most intimate conversations with God. In Psalm 5 shows David is discouraged. And he asks God to hear his cry for help. As David sort of wallows in his discouragement he later says that if we put our trust in God then we can be encouraged.
Have you ever turned a situation from sadness to gladness simply by praising God? I have. It is not easy, but this action tells God that we are ready for Him to take control of the situation. When we do that then God will give us encouragement. When we surrender over to God that which is troubling us then God defends, blesses and protects those who love Him. Since God is “absolutely trustworthy” we have reason to rejoice.
Life does not always hand us our favorite pie. Sometimes it hands us turnips (I really do not like turnips.) and when the turnips come we do not need to rely on our own strength or our own abilities to get through. We still might struggle during the time of trial but we will never struggle alone because the God who loves us so much stays with us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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.
Today was busy as the first grade is preparing for the 5th Annual Chili cook-off. Here at home I have two pots of chili in crock-pots. We are dressing western for tomorrow and I learned a valuable lesson tonight. Do not polish your boots in an enclosed space like your bedroom. Big mistake!
Prayer: “Lord I come to You this morning because You are merciful and because You have said You will hear the cries of my heart. I will be joyful today because my trust is in You and I know that You already know what this day holds. I celebrate another day to give You glory. Thank you for hearing me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Just to let you know Bruce is tired but says the first day went really well at the prison.
Psalm 5: 11,12 “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
Have you ever considered the psalms as David’s private journal? In all of his writings you can read about his joys, sorrows, anger, pain, times of peace, times of turmoil and his most intimate conversations with God. In Psalm 5 shows David is discouraged. And he asks God to hear his cry for help. As David sort of wallows in his discouragement he later says that if we put our trust in God then we can be encouraged.
Have you ever turned a situation from sadness to gladness simply by praising God? I have. It is not easy, but this action tells God that we are ready for Him to take control of the situation. When we do that then God will give us encouragement. When we surrender over to God that which is troubling us then God defends, blesses and protects those who love Him. Since God is “absolutely trustworthy” we have reason to rejoice.
Life does not always hand us our favorite pie. Sometimes it hands us turnips (I really do not like turnips.) and when the turnips come we do not need to rely on our own strength or our own abilities to get through. We still might struggle during the time of trial but we will never struggle alone because the God who loves us so much stays with us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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, March 30, 2011
Greetings from Austin St. and Wichita Falls,
Happy Wednesday! Give thanks that Bruce arrived in Wichita Falls safely. Please pray for the ministry of Kairos throughout the weekend.
Prayer: “Father, I know that You will walk with me through this day. Thank You for being my shield and protection from anything that Satan might try to use to hurt me. I will trust in You. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”
2 Samuel 22: 2-3 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. “
What a great passage for Bruce, the team and inmates as they approach this weekend. In my meditation tonight there was a quote from Oswald Chambers, “A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see. “ Even in our darkest days, God is working out the good in the situation and ultimately in our lives. Whatever God has aimed for us is always to make our lives better so we can trust Him.
So here are all of those inmates with boatloads of problems. The team will take the heart of the gospel into these men and encourage them to cry out to God and trust Him to give them what they need. The message to be delivered is that the trust placed in God is not based on who we are or what we have done, but who God is and what He has done. God is a God of perfect trust and we can depend on Him for wisdom, strength and deliverance. The Lord will not fail us!
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 remembering that everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and pray for my sleep, 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 joy! I registered for fall classes. I got into all of my classes for the fall and I am on a waiting list for my summer class. Thank you for your continued prayers for my studies and future ordination. Peace, gc
Happy Wednesday! Give thanks that Bruce arrived in Wichita Falls safely. Please pray for the ministry of Kairos throughout the weekend.
Prayer: “Father, I know that You will walk with me through this day. Thank You for being my shield and protection from anything that Satan might try to use to hurt me. I will trust in You. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”
2 Samuel 22: 2-3 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. “
What a great passage for Bruce, the team and inmates as they approach this weekend. In my meditation tonight there was a quote from Oswald Chambers, “A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see. “ Even in our darkest days, God is working out the good in the situation and ultimately in our lives. Whatever God has aimed for us is always to make our lives better so we can trust Him.
So here are all of those inmates with boatloads of problems. The team will take the heart of the gospel into these men and encourage them to cry out to God and trust Him to give them what they need. The message to be delivered is that the trust placed in God is not based on who we are or what we have done, but who God is and what He has done. God is a God of perfect trust and we can depend on Him for wisdom, strength and deliverance. The Lord will not fail us!
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 remembering that everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and pray for my sleep, 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 joy! I registered for fall classes. I got into all of my classes for the fall and I am on a waiting list for my summer class. Thank you for your continued prayers for my studies and future ordination. Peace, gc
Happy Tuesday!
I am really excited for tomorrow! Tomorrow I register for the summer semester at Brite. It is an intensive study course, Christian Theology of Religion. It will last for 5 days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I figure for 5 days I can endure almost anything. And then on to the fall where I am registering for 9 hours. That means three classes; Interpreting the Hebrew Bible, Christian History from the Reformation through Modern, and Christian Education. I began to get excited after I completed advising. I will let you know tomorrow if I was successful in registering for these classes. The funny thing was that Dr. Feille (pronounced: fail, terrible name for an advisor!) warned me that one of these classes began at 8:00 AM. I just sort of looked at him and said that I had been in a classroom at 8:00 for the past 30 years and so it was not big deal.
Prayer: “Lord, help me remember that I can get through anything that happens today because You are with me. Whenever I feel afraid, I will trust You. You are my strength and the song I will sing throughout this day. Amen.”
The one thing I have not liked about graduate school is that all of my classes have been at night. I arrive at school in the daylight and leave in the dark. The walk to the car after class right now is a bit of a hike as they are doing construction in the area and I have to park a couple of blocks away. I do not like the dark anyway and walking to my car in the dark is not something with which I am comfortable. So I do two things the help curb my fear. First, I usually walk out with a hot drink and then I call Bruce. I wear a Bluetooth earpiece which allows me to talk hands free. Bruce walks me to my car each Tuesday evening. So I figure that any dangerous folk will think I am a bit nutty and that I am talking to myself. Bruce’s voice in my ear is a soothing, secure and a protective presence in a few moments of fearfulness. I know if anything were to happen that Bruce may not be able to get to me, but he could get help to me if necessary. I am grateful for my phone, Bluetooth and Bruce’s voice as God’s provision to battle a brief bout of fear.
King David was grateful that God granted provision through rough, rocky and scary times. We need God to make it through the worst that life can throw at us. He is our rock and He will deliver us. God did not deliver King David from his troubles, but guided him through his trials.
Just like my weekly walk to the car in the darkness I do not know what is ahead of me or what awaits me, but I do know that I must keep going until I reach my destination, trusting that God is with me. Even if times become really rocky I know there will be a way through and that I will never go wrong in trusting the One who died for me.
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 remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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: Please pray for Bruce and the Kairos team as they prepare to take the gospel into the prison. May the Holy Spirit prepare the way for that gospel to go inside and the hearts of those who will receive it.
I am really excited for tomorrow! Tomorrow I register for the summer semester at Brite. It is an intensive study course, Christian Theology of Religion. It will last for 5 days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I figure for 5 days I can endure almost anything. And then on to the fall where I am registering for 9 hours. That means three classes; Interpreting the Hebrew Bible, Christian History from the Reformation through Modern, and Christian Education. I began to get excited after I completed advising. I will let you know tomorrow if I was successful in registering for these classes. The funny thing was that Dr. Feille (pronounced: fail, terrible name for an advisor!) warned me that one of these classes began at 8:00 AM. I just sort of looked at him and said that I had been in a classroom at 8:00 for the past 30 years and so it was not big deal.
Prayer: “Lord, help me remember that I can get through anything that happens today because You are with me. Whenever I feel afraid, I will trust You. You are my strength and the song I will sing throughout this day. Amen.”
The one thing I have not liked about graduate school is that all of my classes have been at night. I arrive at school in the daylight and leave in the dark. The walk to the car after class right now is a bit of a hike as they are doing construction in the area and I have to park a couple of blocks away. I do not like the dark anyway and walking to my car in the dark is not something with which I am comfortable. So I do two things the help curb my fear. First, I usually walk out with a hot drink and then I call Bruce. I wear a Bluetooth earpiece which allows me to talk hands free. Bruce walks me to my car each Tuesday evening. So I figure that any dangerous folk will think I am a bit nutty and that I am talking to myself. Bruce’s voice in my ear is a soothing, secure and a protective presence in a few moments of fearfulness. I know if anything were to happen that Bruce may not be able to get to me, but he could get help to me if necessary. I am grateful for my phone, Bluetooth and Bruce’s voice as God’s provision to battle a brief bout of fear.
King David was grateful that God granted provision through rough, rocky and scary times. We need God to make it through the worst that life can throw at us. He is our rock and He will deliver us. God did not deliver King David from his troubles, but guided him through his trials.
Just like my weekly walk to the car in the darkness I do not know what is ahead of me or what awaits me, but I do know that I must keep going until I reach my destination, trusting that God is with me. Even if times become really rocky I know there will be a way through and that I will never go wrong in trusting the One who died for me.
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 remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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: Please pray for Bruce and the Kairos team as they prepare to take the gospel into the prison. May the Holy Spirit prepare the way for that gospel to go inside and the hearts of those who will receive it.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Happy Monday!
Let no one ever tell you that a weather change does not affect the behavior of young children. The kids were very talkie today!
Let us pray for the victims of the accident on I-30 this morning. I thought about this accident all day and my heart goes out to the families of those involved in the accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Prayer: “Father, help me to trust You and seek You with all of my heart today. I am so grateful to You for always guiding me through the good times and the bad. You are my rock and my strength. Give me the wisdom to please You in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
1 Chronicles 5: 19-20 “They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodah. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in him.”
God never promised an easy life. What He did promise is that if we would trust Him as our first and best hope then He would answer our prayers. Not only would He answer our prayers, but He would help us in time of need and walk those roads with us that are so difficult. When we pray, even when we trust during our prayers, the answer is not always yes. Sometimes the answer is no and sometimes (and I think this one is the hardest) He says wait. We are not very good at waiting.
Our microwave, click on, online world is a world of instant answers and instant gratification. But as the prophet Jeremiah tells us, “God’s ways are not our ways and His ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.” But His thoughts are always about us, His children. Sometimes I think God wants us to trust him even before we see Him moving in our lives. Maybe we should practice trust every day so when the difficult times come we already know God so well that we believe He is with us and will remain with us until the end of the road and beyond.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your payers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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 Request: Please pray for Bruce as he prepares for leadership in the Kairos Prison Ministry this coming weekend. He will leave on Wednesday and return on Sunday. Please pray for the Brothers in white as God prepares them to receive the Word from the men who are given the ministry of taking the Word into those in prison. Thanks. Peace, gc
Let no one ever tell you that a weather change does not affect the behavior of young children. The kids were very talkie today!
Let us pray for the victims of the accident on I-30 this morning. I thought about this accident all day and my heart goes out to the families of those involved in the accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Prayer: “Father, help me to trust You and seek You with all of my heart today. I am so grateful to You for always guiding me through the good times and the bad. You are my rock and my strength. Give me the wisdom to please You in all I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
1 Chronicles 5: 19-20 “They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodah. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in him.”
God never promised an easy life. What He did promise is that if we would trust Him as our first and best hope then He would answer our prayers. Not only would He answer our prayers, but He would help us in time of need and walk those roads with us that are so difficult. When we pray, even when we trust during our prayers, the answer is not always yes. Sometimes the answer is no and sometimes (and I think this one is the hardest) He says wait. We are not very good at waiting.
Our microwave, click on, online world is a world of instant answers and instant gratification. But as the prophet Jeremiah tells us, “God’s ways are not our ways and His ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.” But His thoughts are always about us, His children. Sometimes I think God wants us to trust him even before we see Him moving in our lives. Maybe we should practice trust every day so when the difficult times come we already know God so well that we believe He is with us and will remain with us until the end of the road and beyond.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your payers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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 Request: Please pray for Bruce as he prepares for leadership in the Kairos Prison Ministry this coming weekend. He will leave on Wednesday and return on Sunday. Please pray for the Brothers in white as God prepares them to receive the Word from the men who are given the ministry of taking the Word into those in prison. Thanks. Peace, gc
Blessed Sunday to you all.
Okay. Who turned off the warm? My Mamo always said there would be another cool snap before Easter. Perhaps this one is it. So you know what I did today? I changed out the closet from winter wear to spring and summer wear. But for the next day or two I have kept out a couple of sweaters and plan on wearing my boots.
Today we celebrated Pastor Marc Hander’s 10th anniversary of ordination. It was a wonderful service with our Associate Bishop, Pastor Stan Meyer, preaching. He preached on the story of the Samaritan woman.
Prayer: “Lord, I will see many of my Christian friends this weekend. It will be good to see them, but it will be even better to see You! I am humbled by You and confident in You. With You there is no pretense about who I really am. You know me better than I know myself. In spite of my flaws, use me for Your purposes, and I will bless and glorify Your holy name. Amen.”
John 4: 13-14 “Jesus replied, Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Here is the woman whose job it was draw water. She brought her bucket to the same well each day. She may have been drawing water for her household or her community. But she most likely arrived at the well around the same time each day. Perhaps because of her shame she came each day when she knew there would be no one else there. But this day was to be different from all other days. Today when she arrived there was a man at the well. Not just a man, but a stranger who asked her for a drink of water. She had known many men in her life and was probably especially wary of this one for she was a Samaritan and He was Jew. This one asked her for water. I reread the passage several times and it never says whether she gave him a drink or not, but I know she came for a bucket of water to quench her thirst and left with water for her soul for a lifetime.
We are so like the Samaritan woman. We are drawn to the well hoping for just a brief drink of water. Jesus meets us there and we leave the well with a supply that never runs dry. So here is the question…what did she do next? Do you think that she kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart? No, she continued her conversation and then ran back to her village and told them about the living water, this living water full of forgiveness and grace. When she told the villagers about Jesus they came “streaming” to see Him.
Here is the question we all must answer…after we have had an encounter with Christ what must we do? Are we going to keep this encounter to ourselves as if it was a piece of precious gold, not willing for others to know or share this experience? Or are we going to be like the Samaritan woman and tell everyone about the forgiveness and grace we have received? Are we going to tell others where to find Jesus so that they too may receive the living water? Where will they find Jesus? Can we tell them to look no further than our own hearts and in our faces and actions? Who would ever think that the godly life could be modeled in one such as the Samaritan woman?
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes (and a sweater). Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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.
Okay. Who turned off the warm? My Mamo always said there would be another cool snap before Easter. Perhaps this one is it. So you know what I did today? I changed out the closet from winter wear to spring and summer wear. But for the next day or two I have kept out a couple of sweaters and plan on wearing my boots.
Today we celebrated Pastor Marc Hander’s 10th anniversary of ordination. It was a wonderful service with our Associate Bishop, Pastor Stan Meyer, preaching. He preached on the story of the Samaritan woman.
Prayer: “Lord, I will see many of my Christian friends this weekend. It will be good to see them, but it will be even better to see You! I am humbled by You and confident in You. With You there is no pretense about who I really am. You know me better than I know myself. In spite of my flaws, use me for Your purposes, and I will bless and glorify Your holy name. Amen.”
John 4: 13-14 “Jesus replied, Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Here is the woman whose job it was draw water. She brought her bucket to the same well each day. She may have been drawing water for her household or her community. But she most likely arrived at the well around the same time each day. Perhaps because of her shame she came each day when she knew there would be no one else there. But this day was to be different from all other days. Today when she arrived there was a man at the well. Not just a man, but a stranger who asked her for a drink of water. She had known many men in her life and was probably especially wary of this one for she was a Samaritan and He was Jew. This one asked her for water. I reread the passage several times and it never says whether she gave him a drink or not, but I know she came for a bucket of water to quench her thirst and left with water for her soul for a lifetime.
We are so like the Samaritan woman. We are drawn to the well hoping for just a brief drink of water. Jesus meets us there and we leave the well with a supply that never runs dry. So here is the question…what did she do next? Do you think that she kept all of these things and pondered them in her heart? No, she continued her conversation and then ran back to her village and told them about the living water, this living water full of forgiveness and grace. When she told the villagers about Jesus they came “streaming” to see Him.
Here is the question we all must answer…after we have had an encounter with Christ what must we do? Are we going to keep this encounter to ourselves as if it was a piece of precious gold, not willing for others to know or share this experience? Or are we going to be like the Samaritan woman and tell everyone about the forgiveness and grace we have received? Are we going to tell others where to find Jesus so that they too may receive the living water? Where will they find Jesus? Can we tell them to look no further than our own hearts and in our faces and actions? Who would ever think that the godly life could be modeled in one such as the Samaritan woman?
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes (and a sweater). Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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, March 27, 2011
Happy Friday and on into Saturday!
The land is cleared for the patio! One step down and several to go. I will keep you posted.
Prayer: “Lord, it is a Friday, the day You designed to lift our spirits from the routine of work. I don’t want to just finish today, but finish strong. In my walk, my work, my life, may the day be filled with a sense of completion. I am truly thankful for what You began in my heart, saving me from my sin. My desire is to be transparent enough that others can see You in me. For the tasks ahead, strengthen me. For a faithful life, establish me. I am Your vineyard. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”
Colossians 2: 6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Each day I sign off with the words Take joy in the journey. Life is such a journey taking us to somewhere or someone or taking us away from a place or someone. When we enter into a relationship with Christ our journey into the Christian life begins. God roots Himself in us. The older I get and the longer I spend in this Christian life there is one thing I am being convinced of daily - standing on God’s Word is the most solid surface offered to us. God’s Word becomes rooted in us and flourishes within us when we study and put His Word into practice. We are given new strength and stability to walk the journey that God has in store for us.
We are forever learning that” we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint” as it says in Isaiah 40:5. The only way we can continue to progress in this life of faith is to depend on the One who gave us life. This power to progress begins in our new life in Christ as we are born again in Him. This rebirth enables, enriches and allows us to live an abundant life.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other in prayer remembering that everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.
The land is cleared for the patio! One step down and several to go. I will keep you posted.
Prayer: “Lord, it is a Friday, the day You designed to lift our spirits from the routine of work. I don’t want to just finish today, but finish strong. In my walk, my work, my life, may the day be filled with a sense of completion. I am truly thankful for what You began in my heart, saving me from my sin. My desire is to be transparent enough that others can see You in me. For the tasks ahead, strengthen me. For a faithful life, establish me. I am Your vineyard. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”
Colossians 2: 6,7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Each day I sign off with the words Take joy in the journey. Life is such a journey taking us to somewhere or someone or taking us away from a place or someone. When we enter into a relationship with Christ our journey into the Christian life begins. God roots Himself in us. The older I get and the longer I spend in this Christian life there is one thing I am being convinced of daily - standing on God’s Word is the most solid surface offered to us. God’s Word becomes rooted in us and flourishes within us when we study and put His Word into practice. We are given new strength and stability to walk the journey that God has in store for us.
We are forever learning that” we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint” as it says in Isaiah 40:5. The only way we can continue to progress in this life of faith is to depend on the One who gave us life. This power to progress begins in our new life in Christ as we are born again in Him. This rebirth enables, enriches and allows us to live an abundant life.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift each other in prayer remembering that everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.
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