Friday, June 17, 2011

Happy Friday!

Today I got my nails done…at 11:00 AM. Now there’s a first for a Friday. All of a sudden I realized I did not have to wait until after school or Saturday. I will get the hang of this retirement thing. You know something else…I have discovered that I have time to mail things. It has become a rather enjoyable task. I, however, am still tying up the loose ends I had forgotten about and so am getting them taken care of. I am in the initial stages of applying for ordination through the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Please continue your prayers as I travel this journey.

I am grateful each day for your prayers of support. Thank you all so very much.

Prayer: “Father I thank you for this new day and for all the opportunities it will bring. Lord, I pray that You would guide me by Your Spirit and give me wisdom and understanding for every decisions I will have to make today. I love You, and I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Proverbs 14: 33 “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known.”

What comes out of our mouths is what is in our hearts. Solomon restates this simple phrase in this passage of scripture. If we are walking in God’s will then wisdom will be in our hearts and minds and will come out of our mouth and will show up in our actions. But when there are those who are not walking in God’s will, they will show or expose what is in their hearts by what they say and do.

Jesus tells the disciples how to identify “false prophets” by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). When we have God’s wisdom in our hearts then we are able to make right choices. Those right choices are the fruit of our hearts that have wisdom and understanding.

Paul’s teaching in Romans 12:2 tells us “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

As I have been going to seminary and received God’s call into the ministry there have been several really tough decisions I had to make. The more I study, the more passages about wisdom I seem to study. I used to equate wisdom with intelligence. But now I think that wisdom is the willingness to be obedient to God’s call and having enough faith to trust in God not only with the really tough decisions, but with decisions that we make daily. It is trusting God with those decisions that might even break our hearts. If we but trust God when we have choices to make then we will make the right choice because we were wise enough to ask God in prayer to help us make the right choice by His will. I think that is what Paul was talking about when he spoke of “renewing of your (my) mind.”

Okay here is the challenge for the summer…Let us ask God to work in our hearts and minds and we will become more like Him. Let us pray like Paul asking God to, ‘give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (Ephesians 1: 17, 18)

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and check in every once in a while to let me know how the challenge is going. If you do not want to respond on the blog then you can email me at Gcapplenotes@aol.com

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.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Happy Thursday!

Okay I have discovered something new about this whole retirement business. I have led such a scheduled life for the past thirty years and all of a sudden (for a few months at least) my time is my own. I have been waking up in the morning not remembering what day of the week it is. It is sort of like each day is Friday or Saturday. Things that I would have always scheduled for the weekend I no longer have to save for those days. Things I would usually schedule for after 3:30 or 4:00 PM I can schedule at my leisure. It is a bit of a weird feeling.

Prayer: “Lord, I am grateful for this new day. As I walk in it, I pray for Your wisdom and understanding. Help me to be kind to others and to serve as a clear witness for You today. Help me to remember that every person’s greatest need is to receive more of You. May my words and actions point others to the lovely Lord Jesus ! Amen.”

Proverbs 9: 10, 11 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.”

Through the Proverbs Solomon reveals to us the wisdom of God with the promises of our years being increased and our days being multiplied. In these verses we learn of the components of long life, wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

According to Solomon wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord. Wisdom of God and consecration to Him leads to a life spent with the Father. Being committed to Jesus and His teachings leads us to happier lives based on the understanding of God’s holiness. Since Jesus is God revealed to us then through Jesus’ teachings we learn holiness. When we understand God’s call to holiness and put our faith and trust in Jesus then we have a personal relationship with the Holy One. In this personal relationship we learn to trust Him, obey Him, and become more like Him in holiness and wisdom.

So my friends let us pursue lives in faithfulness to God. Praising Him for sharing His wisdom and blessing us by His grace as we live according to it!

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When we pray tonight let us remember that God loves us so much that He wants to give us all of His gifts especially His wisdom. His wisdom is our just for the asking. 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, June 15, 2011

Happy Wednesday!

Prayer: “God, thank You for a new day. Thank you for making me healthy and strong enough to be part of this new day. May I be mindful of the value and blessings of Your wisdom in my life. Help me to walk in Your ways today. Give me understanding and guide me so I will be pleasing in Your sight. I pray in Jesus’ holy name. Amen”

Proverbs 4: 7-9 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all you get, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver you.”

It seems I am on a journey to gain wisdom. In the past few months I have read many passages about wisdom and written a reflection. Perhaps as I am looking forward to completing school and becoming ordained God is trying to share His wisdom with me or at least let me know how important His wisdom is in leading a godly life. I have learned that that there is no substitute for God’s wisdom. My meditation says that we should begin each day asking God for wisdom. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

There are times in our lives when we must make really difficult decisions. When given choices to make and we are confused, that is from Satan. When we are under conviction, the conviction is from God. Seeking His wisdom in our decisions is an obedient and humble thing to do. When we ask for God’s wisdom we are giving Him lordship of our lives and desiring a deeper relationship with Him in trust. In asking for wisdom we gain understanding from our Lord and walk in His ways.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When we pray let us confess the sin of self reliance and humbly ask God for His wisdom trusting that His word is true for scripture tells us that he will not just give us wisdom, but will give it liberally to all who ask. 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.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Happy Tuesday!

Prayer: “Father, may I never forget my great need to receive direction and instruction from You every day. I need the wisdom of Your Word. I pray in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

Proverbs 4: 5, 6 “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you.”

Solomon was the son of King David. David passed down his wisdom to Solomon. The best piece of wisdom David passed down was his knowledge of God. David could have taught Solomon about the art of war or the skills of being a statesman, but instead he taught Solomon to love God and trust in Him.

As I think of my own upbringing and the amazing parents who loved and raised me, I remember probably the wisest words that were ever spoken to me from my dad. He told me, “Gaylene, the two best things you will ever do for your children are to love their daddy and to make them mind.” I have never forgotten those words and I have tried to follow those words of advice for the last thirty years.

It is my hope as our children are grown and married that they, too, will follow the wisdom of their granddad. I pray that they have seen that wisdom modeled throughout their life. And I also pray that they have seen the unconditional love of God in their own lives and will pass it on to their children some day.

As Christians, whether we are parents or not it is our responsibility to teach others by leading a godly life. It does not matter whether we have children, other family members, friends or co-workers, we are all called to lovingly and humbly share God’s wisdom with all those with whom we come into contact.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. In your prayers tonight let us remember how much our heavenly Father loves us. He will give us the wisdom we need just for the asking. 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, June 13, 2011

Happy Monday!

Prayer: “Father, as I begin this new day, may I be mindful of Your presence in my life. Having that knowledge, may I walk before You in obedience, putting Jesus on display for others to see. Lord, thank You for loving and saving me! Amen.”

Proverbs 3: 13-14 “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.”

Many people think that having more money or more possessions will bring them happiness. But God’s Word tells us that there is no happiness apart from holiness. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount he speaks of those who are blessed. According my meditations tonight “wise people humbly confess their sins, depend on Jesus for their righteousness and bless others with mercy and peace.” God rewards those who are wise with His gifts of mercy, justification, comfort, presence, purpose and a place in his kingdom. Nothing can compare to the riches of God’s grace.

God gives us these extravagant gifts of grace so that we can be more like Him and accomplish His work here on earth. If you have read God’s Word then you know as I have come to understand that there is nothing in this life more valuable than God’s truth. There is no diamond, new dress or even new shoes that can begin to purchase the presence, power, love and peace that God provides from living each day with Him through Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow I am meeting with the Dallas Area Minister of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. It is my earnest prayer that he will see a godly woman before him and will detect the presence of Christ in me. I ask your prayers as I have a first meeting with this minister.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. In your prayers tonight pray for God to give each of us the wisdom to walk in His presence and to look to Him for all of our needs. 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, June 12, 2011

Blessed Sunday and Happy Day of Pentecost!

MAVS WIN! MAVS WIN!

Jeremiah 26: 13 “Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Today I preached in the churches at Rocket and Palmer, Texas. I preached on the Day of Pentecost; the birthday of the church. I also made a discovery. I read the gospel of John today. John 20:19-23 says that Jesus blew His breath on the disciples and sent them out. Jesus sent the disciples out to spread the gospel to places who had not as yet heard the message of Jesus. Then I read Acts 2:1-21. This passage lists all of the countries represented in the gathering that day. I wondered how all of those people had heard of the story of Jesus. I think that event is directly tied to Jesus sending out of the disciples on the day of the Ascension.

The disciples had been trained for three years for this moment. They were secure and steadfast. They had learned from the Master how to share the gospel. This level of skill had not come just by wishing it. It was built stone by stone with the firm foundation by the acts of obedience and daily following the will of the Father. Now they are ready to go out and share the message of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. They are ready to obediently follow the Great Commission by preaching, teaching, baptizing and healing in Jesus’ name. The truest expression of a disciple’s faith and worship is in their obedience.

So here is the question…Is our training complete? Have we lived in the Father’s will by the example of Jesus each day? Are we obedient in sharing the gospel with others in action or in word? Jesus blew His very breath out on the disciples and sent them out. God sent His Holy Spirit down on the gathering on the Day of Pentecost. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus we receive the Holy Spirit. God placed His very essence into each of us. Are we sharing the gospel as he asked the disciples? When was the last time we shared of the wonderful things God has done for us? Just asking…

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When you say your prayers tonight give thanks for God’s presence through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and ask for opportunities to share with others the wonderful things God has done for us. 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.