Happy Saturday! 

Busy day.  My day began at Stovall Park and the Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op.  Some friends from Brite told me about it.  I got a basket of fresh fruit and a basket of fresh vegetables for $15.00. This is definitely something I will do again.  I then met with my Lay Training Committee, then left flyers about the Global Giving Marketplace (which is to be held next Saturday the 17^th at Rush Creek Christian Church) at a couple of stores. I hope many of you can come. It is really cool with really interesting items to purchase and causes available for donation.  Rush Creek is on the Northeast corner of the intersection of Green Oaks and Bowen, about 1 ½ miles south of I-20 in Arlington.

I followed all of that by having lunch with Bruce. 

Prayer request:  I preach tomorrow during the 8:30 and 11:00 AM services at Rush Creek Christian Church and covet your prayers that I am just a vessel the Holy Spirit will use to share God’s message. 

Prayer:  “Lord, You are my King, and I live each moment fixed firmly in Your grip. You have all of me.  I pray that I would continue to submit myself fully to Your will and purpose.  Amen.”

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Titus 2:11

For the last few evenings I have been writing about God’s love, grace and forgiveness. God’s grace invades our lives erasing our sin and delivering abundant life. “Terror and horror bow down before the victorious invasion of God’s grace.” (Eric Thomas, Norfolk, VA) Death is defeated by the highlight of grace that shines so brightly on the cross of Christ, the empty tomb and our heavenly home.  We who were dead in sin can now live by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

The “sinful” woman found courage to face the exposure of the room filled with ridicule in the welcoming eyes of Jesus.  She had heard of Jesus and His unfailing favor and hers became a life transformed, completely forgiven and set free. 

Let us give thanks for God’s forgiveness and pray that the Holy One would adjust our hearts that we might honor the grace the Divine delivered to us for our salvation. 

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.

Happy Friday! 

Prayer:  Lord, I exist for Your pleasure and at Your pleasure. I pray that my life might bring honor to Your name and spread Your fame.” 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8: 28

Since November 1, I have been posting on Facebook something to be thankful for.  I titled each entry Thanksgiving Days and the number of the day. 

The woman in the scripture I am preaching from had a hopeless heart, but she showed great courage when she walked through the party guests and performed this loving act of worship, gratitude and love to Jesus.  Her fear filled soul was held up by her faith in Jesus.  Through the darkness of her soul she found the shining rays of peace and thought perhaps that she could once again be a child of God. 

Abundant life is dependent not on trials and troubles that come our way, but through the glorious work of God’s grace invading every moment of our lives.  In God's grace we can live courageously in the confidence of God’s good pleasure being worked in us and His glory being revealed through 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.

Happy Thursday! 

Prayer:  Lord, God, I pray that all of my moments might be given for Your glory and honor today.  I pray that you would grant me the courage and wisdom to honor You with every word, every thought, and every action. Amen.

“Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.”

Proverbs 16: 3

Two of my favorite books to read when I need to think things through are Hind’s Feet on High Places and Mountains of Spices, both by Hannah Hurnnard.  The reason I am drawn to these two books is because the main character in the book desires more than anything else to be in the presence of the Shepherd and do whatever the will of the Shepherd calls her to do. 

In one of the scenes the Shepherd shows her how the hind (female red deer) and her fawn make their way up the mountain.  As the Shepherd and his companion watch these two graceful animals they observe that the mother makes a leap and the fawn follows behind placing its feet in the exact foot holds as its mother.  The mother knows just how far to leap so that her baby can make the leap successfully. Now, the mother can leap up the mountain with far greater strides due to more powerful strength, but as she is teaching her young to leap she holds back. 

Our joy comes when we walk the path that God has laid out for us.  When we commit our life to God, God will add the riches and blessings to our future because we have been willing to follow God’s powerful purpose for our lives.  When we take those steps of faith we are still walking forward in faith, trusting in God’s faithfulness and clinging to the grip of grace and glory of the Holy One.

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

Happy Wednesday! 

Cooked dinner tonight and washed hands and dishes!  Having running water is wonderful!!  I love my hubby!

Prayer:  Blessed Lord, may I be captured once again by the grandeur of Your grace that has rescued me from the guilt of my sin.  I pray that I might remember the forgiveness You have given through the death of Christ. I pray that I might live in the abundance of that forgiving grace today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Ephesians 1: 7

The book The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom is the story of two sisters who are placed in the work camp during WWII as political prisoners.  Although these two sisters had extraordinary faith, their descriptions of the camp and those encamped with them are quite graphic.  The descriptions personified unrelenting carnage, no hope and only the promise of increased despair.  The prisoners were so downtrodden in their captivity that they had no strength either physically or spiritually to help themselves.

The woman who anoints the feet of Jesus in Luke believes herself to be captured in the guilt of sin and feelings of despair.  She feels she is unable to escape and unworthy of pardon.  She longs for a way out of the prison she finds herself.  Then she sees Jesus and hears His words of love, grace and forgiveness and her broken heart is healed by God’s power as Jesus offers her salvation.

Jesus paid the ransom for our sins through the transaction of grace through His death on the cross.  Jesus took the death of sinners in our prisons of sin.  Jesus was sent by God through the power of the Holy Spirit to set the captives free. Through His death sin has been shattered and the shackles of shame have been destroyed.  We have been set free and tasted God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  Praise God!

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 request:  I think I told you that I am preaching my first sermon at Rush Creek Christian Church in Arlington.  I will preach twice on Sunday, once at 8:30 and then at 11:00.  I would very much appreciate your prayers.  Thank you. Peace, gc

Happy Tuesday!  Happy Election Day!

Here is the praise God for the day…the plumbing is fixed!  Bruce is amazing and by 11:00 tonight the plumbing was fixed, the washer is going and the dishes are soon to be done.  I love my hubby!

Prayer alert:  Our friend Sharon James passed away this morning.  Please be in prayer for her husband Jeff, son, Charlie, daughter Kathy and many friends and family.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the glorious grace that rescues sinners. I pray that I might live in the abundant life You have prepared for me through Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, not have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2: 9

The celebration of God’s wondrous work ignites our soul with hope, knowing that God will accomplish great things for those who love and worship in faith. God’s grace unveiled prepares us for a new day filled with opportunities to see glimpses of the presence of God in those we encounter.  Jesus came to fill our hearts with limitless love shone in its brilliance in Christ’s death and resurrection.  We can live in the light of God’s love, grace and power as the desire of the Holy One is poured over those whom Christ came to redeem.  Our hearts are filled with joy in anticipation of the plans God has for 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.

Happy Monday! 

I voted early on Friday so I do not have to leave Brite on Tuesday, come to Arlington, vote and return and not be able to get a close parking space.  Sometimes it all comes down to parking!

Prayer:  Lord, I humble myself before You. You are God and I am not. You are the Master; I am the servant. You are the Father; I am the child and I surrender all. Amen.

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

John 1: 17

I study about a lot of great scholars and many very important historical figures both biblical and secular.  There are even those who have had the descriptor “Great” before their name: Herod the Great, Alexander the Great etc…The problem about all of these “great” and important people is that many of them had a dark side.  Each of these people, while contributing to history, are remembered for their greatness but could not bring to our lives what Jesus could.

Jesus is the only one who could offer forgiveness, grace and truth. Jesus stands alone as the One who could offer forgiveness and assurance of abundant life here on earth and the promise of heaven, forgiveness through faith and grace through unconditional love.  The covenant made with the Hebrew nation was founded on law, but the everlasting covenant made by Jesus with each of us was founded on the sacrifice of Christ and faith making us complete to do every good work in His will. 

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.

Blessed Sunday and All Saint’s Day to you all!

          All Saint’s Day causes us each to remember those who have gone before us and have made a response to the call of Jesus on their lives.  These are the folks who have had a profound effect on our lives because of their faithful response to Jesus by showing compassion, kindness, forgiveness and love. 

          For this family we carried a candle forward in worship today in remembrance of Genita Helvey, my beloved Mom; Uncles Gene, Rodney, and Johnny; Aunt Lendola Helvey and beloved friends Duane and Bobbie Gohlke.  We miss their presence in our lives and have assurance that one day we will join them never to be parted again.

Prayer alert:  Please pray for Sharon James and her family.  Sharon entered hospice care on Friday.  Her family has been called together to say their good-byes.  She was the nurse at Burton Hill when I was teaching there.

And…say a special prayer for my precious hubby. He has been under the house for about 8 hours today repairing leaks on 80 year old plumbing.  He finally crawled out from under the house around 10: 30 tonight. There are still a few leaks so we are turning on the water for showers, flushes and filling water pitchers.  Prayers would be so appreciated.

Prayer:  “Good morning, Lord. I rise today with gratitude that You have loved me, chosen me, and saved me. When I think that the God of the universe knows my name and calls me His own, I am overwhelmed. As I talk to others, do my work, and go about the business of life, cause me to be mindful of the fact.  May that realization guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions. May today be a day of uncommon devotion to You. Amen.”

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1: 6

Our salvation process is summed up in this passage of scripture.  God begins the work of salvation in each of us through the word of “justification.”  Justification means the forgiveness of sins and new life placing us in right standing with God.

Justification and forgiveness is the beginning and God continues this salvific work through sanctification. Sanctification is the process of making us holy.  God is committed to this work even when we are not ready and resist His efforts.  God is so committed to our sanctification that through discipline will perfect the problems that we encounter for our betterment and divine glory.

God completes the work of salvation in us through eternal life in heaven.  

Scripture uses the word “glorification” which refers to the time when we are all taken to heaven. No more dying, or crying or pain.  No more sin and its effects. We will only experience joy - unspeakable joy - in the presence of Jesus forever giving thanks for what God has done through Jesus.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all very much, 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.