Happy Wednesday! 

I am ready for a break.  Reading Week (mid-term break) begins Monday.  I am looking very forward to Reading Week. Translated…that means no classes. Did I say I am ready for a break?!!!

Prayer:  “thank You Lord, for the leaders who equip me to serve You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:11,12

These are words I hope someday to have spoken at an ordination service.  As I look back I remember the church leaders who helped to shape my faith, my theology from being a Methodist, to Lutheran and now to Disciple.  Each of the leaders; pastors, teachers and elders have allowed me to observe, question and practice leadership in various ways.  They have given me tools in which to serve Christ and witness to others. 

Each of these leaders have all been gifted and led or called to help me discover, develop and use the gifts I have been given in Christ’s service.

 God called me into the ministry of pastoral care.  I do not know where this ministry will take me, whether it is in a church setting or facility, but I know that God does not increase by addition.  God increases by multiplication.  God calls leaders to equip every believer to serve Christ and witness to a world that is lost.  When every member of the body of Christ participates in a ministry then the body of Christ is edified and lifted up.  When we accept this calling to ministry and submit to the teachings of our church leaders God will use us to accomplish the Divine will offered to each of us.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  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 only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Prayer:  This weekend Bruce will go to the prison and I will be on a church retreat and attend a regional conference.  Please pray that God will use each of us to minister to those we encounter and that those we encounter will recognize the Divine in each of us.  Pray for your ministers.  Peace, gc

Happy Tuesday! 

Prayer:  “Lord, You have placed leaders in Your church. Help me to love and respect the leaders at my church and around my community for Your sake. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12,13

The apostle Paul named the church leaders in Thessalonica by their function in the church and not by title.  Church leaders are those who teach the Word and realize the spiritual responsibilities for the souls in their parishes. Paul tells us to “esteem” these leaders.  To esteem someone means that we want to follow their lead.  We can esteem our church leaders by following them and the example they set and because they love the work they do.  If we work together with our church leaders then we have “peace among ourselves.”  

Another way we can support our church leaders is through prayer.  Our church leaders need our prayers each day.  Through prayer we can surround our leaders with love, respect and help them to study, lead and work with others with the gift of peace.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  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 only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Prayers for:  Bruce is leaving on Thursday for a Kairos Prison Ministry Weekend at the Allred Unit in Iowa Park.  Please pray for these leaders as they give of themselves to a population we do not often think about, but are a part of the church; the body of Christ.  Peace, gc

Happy Monday! 

I have been to two funerals in two days.  The first was in western Oklahoma and the one today was in Sherman.  I think (as Bruce says) I have made it to tired. 

On a happier note…Bruce, Geni and Travis all had a part in creating my study from Geni’s old bedroom.  Tonight the new rug was laid and the desk put in place.  I have some decorating to do and a few more things to move in and I love it. My family is amazing.  So thank you, Bruce, Geni and Travis for all of your work and support.  I love you all dearly.

Prayer:  “Lord, today use my spiritual gifts as I serve You as a member of Your body.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

The church is the body of Christ. Jesus lives in each of us.  God calls us through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to use the gifts which were given to each of us for the glory of God and in service.  I look at all of the people I have met at Brite and I see so many gifts that are to be used in service to the church.  I see gifts of music, prayer, knowledge, teaching, leadership, preaching and pastoral care.  I am sure there are many that I have not named, but all of these gifts are to be used as the body of Christ. Each of these folks and all of us are gifted members of Christ’s body.  God includes each of us in the body of Christ and with the gifts given to us by our Creator we serve and glorify God.  I give thanks that God includes me in the body of Christ and I am blessed to know so many others who are members of the same body.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep. (After travelling so much over the last two days, I am ready for a restful sleep.) Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Please pray for those who have experienced loss in the passing of loved ones. 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 only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Blessed Sunday to you all! 

We arrived home from Oklahoma just a while ago.  The service for my Aunt Lendola was lovely.  It was in the small community of Colony, Oklahoma down the road from Corn, Oklahoma.  We were privy to beautiful land with large farms, animals and great kindness of sweet people.  Daddy enjoyed seeing his family again and seeing a couple of friends from when he was in school in Cowden. 

Tomorrow I will return to Sherman to attend the funeral of a dear friend, Bobbie Gohlke.  She passed away suddenly on Thursday.  Her husband was my high school choir director.  We were friends for nearly 40 years and  I will miss her a lot.  While Duane taught me to sing, Bobbie taught me to laugh. 

Prayer:  “Lord, thank You for Your Word. Today it will be the foundation of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Ephesians 2:20, 21

Our daughter is amazing!  At the beginning of the summer after she moved into her new apartment it was decided to make her room my study.  Our dining room needed to look like a dining room again instead of a graduate student study.  So I purchased paint and new flooring, the preparation for the new flooring began and then good news…Bruce began a work project that has him away from the house and working long hours.  So the paint and the flooring remained in the corner of an empty room.  While Bruce and I were gone this weekend Geni finished the painting in the room and laid the flooring.  She is amazing and when I have moved in and decorated it Bruce will take pictures and put them on this site. 

I did not watch Geni lay this floor, but I have watched Bruce lay the same floor.  It is flooring that is somewhat like a puzzle.  It takes all of the pieces placed in the right places to create the foundation.  The scripture passages speaks of the foundation of the church and how the apostles, prophets and Jesus Christ made the foundation and fitted it together so that it might grow into a holy temple.  The holy temple is not the building, but those who inhabit the temple who are filled with the Holy Spirit and have their foundation in the teachings of the apostles and prophets of old so that they grow into the holy temple of God.

When I move into this new study I hope to dedicate it to learning, study and a place of peace where God can dwell in words typed and spoken, prayer and sanctuary. Churches dedicate their buildings or their sanctuaries, but their “building” has just begun.  Undergirded by the teachings of Scripture and supported by Christ the people of God—the church is being built into a holy people and a holy temple of the Lord.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  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 only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Prayer alert: Please pray especially for our young cousin Tatum and her family.  Tatum is entering a very hard part of her cancer treatment.  She will begin cranial radiation and a 21 day round of steroid therapy.  Please pray for this family as they continue to walk a mighty journey of faith with a “Mighty T” Tatum leading the way with courage and faith.