Blessed Sunday to you all! 

I began the day preaching at Hurst Christian Church.  They are a sweet, sweet congregation. 

I came home and made Potato and Swiss Chard Enchiladas with Tomatillo Salsa (the salsa was made in my new blender). It was really good. I felt very Food Network/Iron Chef.

Prayer alert:  Please continue to pray for little Tatum. She loves ladybugs and so we call her our little ladybug girl. She is still in the hospital. All counts except her ANC are good. Her ANC is down ten points. She is such a fighter.

Prayer:  Please pray for me as I begin to write my paper which is due on Friday. I have done the research and now I must do the writing. I am doing this paper on the Mothers of Moses: The Calling of Motherhood. (Exodus 2: 1-10)

Prayer:  Holy and loving Lord, parts of today have been filled with joy and moments of today have been spent in prayer remembering that You are with us at all times and in every way even when You seem silent. The centurion had faith in You and never had a face to face contact with you. He had enough faith for You just to speak the word and his servant would be healed. We have never had a face to face contact and yet our faith sometimes falters. Please forgive us and let us be ever mindful of Your presence even in the silences. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

“The LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you, nor forsake you; do not fear not be dismayed.”

Deuteronomy 31: 8

Bonus Day: 

“though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again…You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.”

Psalm 71: 20-21

As I was traveling to Hurst this past week to meet with the pastor I used my GPS on my phone for directions to the church. Maybe I am just in tune and spend my time in prayer in the car, but I had a pretty decent revelation this week.

As I was driving to the church the GPS was giving me directions via my Bluetooth device.  A direction would be given and there would be silence until it was time for the next instruction. Now I know Hurst is not very far away, but I began to get anxious when the silences between the instructions would happen. I was a bit nervous that I had missed an instruction and a turn because I was thinking about something else.  And then I remembered this scripture, Isaiah 30: 21, “And when you turn to the right or when your turn to the left your ears shall hear a words behind you saying, ‘this is the way walk in it.’” 

It then occurred to me that even though there were silences I was still in the Presence of God. I needed to trust the silences because God never leaves us or forsakes us even when God is quiet. I relaxed because I knew that when it was time to turn I would be told by the voice in my ear. 

My GPS on my phone has been lovingly nicknamed, “GPS Angel.” I have learned to count on it when I need to get somewhere I have never been before. As someone who has been directionally challenged and spent far too much time being lost and/or scared of being lost, this device has made me a much more confident driver.

I have also learned to trust God’s Word in a similar way. When I am unsure or something has occurred that has made me unsure of myself or someone I love, I turn to God’s Word and prayer. I pray the scriptures and ask God to not be silent and if all I hear is silence I remember that I am never out of God’s protective presence and love. I am learning to listen for God’s voice in my ear and turn when I hear God’s voice behind me instructing me to turn to the right or left or just stay on the road that is in front of me.

Take joy in the journey. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” Hope never disappoints. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude and get some sleep. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene.

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.