Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Saturday!  The nicest thing happened to Bruce today. Bruce has been a part of a mens’ fellowship group made up mostly of Kairos brothers for over twenty years. This morning one of the members picked Bruce up and took him to the weekly breakfast. I am pretty sure it made Bruce’s day. I am not sure how much or if he shared, but I know he loved the fellowship of these wonderful friends.  The end of our errands called for a fill-up of the gas tank at Kroger on Lamar. As we were leaving and turning onto to Lamar there was a sign on the corner that said, “Massive Garage Sale.”  Bruce read it out loud perfectly as if there was no reading issue at all. He may not be able to do it again, but it was so awesome to hear it today. God is good and love wins!!.

“Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), [something done] for the Lord and not for men.”

Colossians 3: 32

When I was teaching school I used to divide my time into what must be done at school and what could be done at home.  But with God we cannot divide things into what we can do ourselves and what we can do that requires the help of God.  If we are to voice the truth, everything we do down to taking our next breath requires the assistance of our Creator with the sustaining power of the very Word of God. When we recognize our dependence on our Creator then whatever we do comes from our heart and our very souls. The very best efforts we make come from our very souls where God lives in intimate relationship and union with us. With this intimate relationship God can work through us in a collaborative way that will be effective and exciting.  God is concerned with the attitude of our hearts and that our souls are fully engaged in service to Him.  Let us ask God to bless us with His Presence in all parts and activities of our lives and experience the love and direction of our Creator. 

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint.  Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude; let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no need for all of us to be awake.  Love you, Bruce and Gaylene

Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Friday! TGIF…Today God is First!  I really like that saying.

I spent the morning putting together a resume for a job interview. The job is not available for about a month as yet. I am asking for your prayers as I prepare for the interview and the potential employment that for which I am qualified and will meet the schedule I currently have to follow.  Also a wonderful nurse friend of mine reminded me that headaches and vision issues could be caused by blood pressure problems. Bruce takes BP medication. She suggested that I begin to monitor Bruce’s blood pressure at home. I should have thought of that myself. I will begin monitoring at home.

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”

Psalm 42: 8

A dear gentleman paid a call on me today. He lost his sweet wife seven months ago to complications from a stroke. He feels a kindred spirit with me and frequently asks about how Bruce and I are doing. His feelings are still very tender. He shared with me that there are those who say, “It’s been seven months. Just get over it.”  He had his wife were married probably for 60 years or more. You don’t get over a relationship that has lasted a lifetime in a matter of months. It has been almost five years since our beloved Casey died. As we shared these moments of painful grief and loss we agreed that you can’t step over, or go around your losses. You get through them.  The love of God directs itself in the holes in our souls and shares our grief.  I have the fullest of confidence that Bruce will regain his speech and language abilities, but the truth is I will not have the Bruce of July 15 ever again. I miss that Bruce.  This is a different grief and a loss that I am experiencing. The good news is that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life. I am blessed to get to experience this new life in Bruce because of God’s unfailing grace and the Spirit of life that we have been granted.  When the Holy Spirit enters and fills us with life we are empowered by the unfailing Presence of the living God to live abundantly and to live life at its fullest.  God is good and love wins.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene

 Prayer alert:  Givign thanks to Gd for Dave's successful surgery.  Please continue your prayers for him as he will soon begin a lengthy rehab. Carme and Dave so appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts. Peace, gc

                                                      

Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Thursday! It is happy if you are a Texas Tech Fan. For the TCU Horned Frogs it is going to be a long quiet trip home. It is rare that Bruce complains, but tonight he complained of a headache and his vision. I am not sure if one is connected to another, but I am going to look for an ophthalmologist and see if we can get a better picture of what is going on with his vision.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19: 14

I have spoken these words prior to preaching a sermon.  When I speak these ancient words of the psalmist I am speaking them in prayer. When I am in prayer I am in the presence of God. I love the warmth and assurance that washes over me when I speak these words. I am asking God not only to bless what I am about to say, but that He will remain with me.  God is Immanuel, meaning God with us, ever present no matter what the situation or the time. In the ever presence of God we find refuge and discover within ourselves the growing ability to trust in the unfailing love of God. The closer we come into relationship with God we learn more and more about how God’s faithfulness is far greater than our faith. God’s never ending storehouse of grace comes from His overflowing love.  Stay close to God and learn of our Rock and Redeemer.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway and there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene

 

 

 

                                                          

Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Wednesday!  Bruce and some of the folks from CNS went to the Ranger Game today.  He came home sunburned, but appeared to have a good time. He was really exhausted. The heat really takes it out of him, but what a cool thing to get to do. He text messaged me throughout the game. They were interesting messages and when I did not understand the words I just said, “GO RANGERS!” or “I love you and hope you are having a good time.” Tonight I splurged and bought the new Star Trek DVD. Geni came over and I made burgers, fries and cookies and we watched the action packed movie. It was a fun night.

 

Prayer Alert:   Our friend Dave goes in for surgery tomorrow morning at 8:30. Following surgery he will be in rahab for 6 to 8 weeks. PLease pray for a perfect surgery, that  his body is prepared to withstand the procedure and that his recovery will be quick. Pray also for Carme and their daughter Shaleena as they stand in prayer and support of Dave as wife and daughter. Strenthen them for the task and peaceful souls. Thanks. peace, gc

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31: 6

“But I am like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.”

Psalm 52: 8

At the moment our children moved out of our home to make homes of their own I told them (usually with tears running down my face) “Remember who you are and remember Whose you are.”  God’s powerful Holy Spirit lives within us. Once the Holy Spirit enters into our lives it never leaves. We may choose to ignore the voice and direction, but the Holy Spirit remains. It is that same Spirit that reminds us of who we are and Whose we are. We belong to the living God, children of God and sister/brother to Christ. The unfailing love of God never leaves no matter how many times we forget or turn our backs.  It’s kind of like we always told the kids that we may not always like your behavior, but your behavior does not determine our love for you. We love you without condition because you are our beloved children and we are still here for you. God may not love our behavior at times, but His love still remains within us. It is the love of God that keeps us from running from challenges that come before us. It is the love of God that causes us to act in forgiveness when we want to act in revenge. And it is the love of God that helps us when we are weak and do not know what to pray and the Spirit intercedes for us in words that we cannot express. Stir up the power of the Holy Spirit residing in each of us and be immersed in the unfailing love of God.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no need for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene

Just a reminder:  Wear purple tomorrow as TCU travels to Lubbock to play the Red Raiders.  GO FROGS!!

 

Greetings from Austin Street

Happy Tuesday!  My day began by singing for my Disciples History class. Each of us signed up for prayer to open class and I asked if I could sing my prayer. I sang, “I’ll Keep My Eyes On You.” It is a piece by Cynthia Clawson; one of my favorite singers. I was accompanied by a magnificent accompanist, great friend and Brite colleague. Singing is the most therapeutic thing I do. Tonight Bruce washed dishes and put the leftovers from dinner away. I was working in my study and he came in to ask if the avocado salad was to be kept or thrown away. I did not understand what he was asking and got up to find out what he was talking about and he said, “It’s green.” Problem solved.  It was a great moment and tonight we sang table grace and it was perfect.  The harmony he always provides was spot on and the words were in place. High fives were given after the Amen!  It was a gift and a blessing and made me very happy. Team Chrystie for the win. God is good and love wins!

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145: 18

Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us for the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The world works overtime to tear apart the holy bond between the love of Jesus and those who have trusted Him as Lord and Savior. Terrible circumstances, people trying to control, even death do their due diligence to tear our faith in God from us. But today in class I was given a great truth about death; “Death does not end a faithful relationship with God.”  Death opens up the relationship with God with no barriers and new ways to experience the perfect and unfailing love of God. God embodies perfect Love and we experience the fullness of the Divine nature of God. (Aren’t you glad I went to seminary?)

When we trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we were joined into a relationship that no matter what we are doing God walks with us and it a co-participant with us. When we are facing adversity or things are going along just fine and we invite God into more and more of the aspects of our life we find peace and any emptiness we have experienced seem to get less. Lean on God when the times are hard and celebrate with God in joyous times. God is as close as our next breath, whispered prayer and is ever in our being cloaking us in perfect love.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude. Let us cast our cares on the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene

Greetings from Austin Street

Blessed Sunday to you all!  I have spent the day reading for class, writing a brief paper for a class on Tuesday all to the tune of a Harry Potter Marathon. I still have a class for which to read so I will repeat today’s activities tomorrow without writing a paper. I have begun to notice that when Bruce slows down his speech often the initial sounds of the words he tries to say match the word he wants. He may have been doing this all along and I just now understand. Maybe God is opening my ears to greater understanding and easing my frustration just a bit and increasing Bruce’s speech skills. I have also learned that I do not know how to correct words by repeating them to Bruce. Someone with specialized skills gets to do that. I am grateful for every step and each breath. Team Chrystie for the win! God is good and love wins.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 18

Sometimes this is a tough verse.  It is that word all that gets us. Recently I have had trouble being thankful for all things. I then got tired of  having the “spare me’s”  and so I washed the dishes. While washing the dishes I began to pray and give thanks to the author and giver of life for every good and perfect gift I have received. I gave thanks for a house with working A/C, water and dishes, a healthy family etc…and then tonight the opening sentence of my meditation says, “EVERY TIME YOU THANK ME, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I AM YOUR LORD AND PROVIDER.” It is hard to give thanks when experiencing a time of trial or a tough day. The good news is that God knows us into the depths of our hearts and when we go to our heart of hearts found there is the deep desire to please God. Offering thanks to God when having a rough time pleases God. This sacrifice of thanksgiving tells God that we are dependent on Him for everything even our very next breath. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift we receive beginning with our faith.  Some of us were just meant to persevere. I really believe if we persevere in this practice of the sacrifice of thanksgiving, resisting the temptation to gripe and complain we will find joy and peace in the midst of our struggles. This is a practice I am trying to incorporate into my prayer life. It is not easy, but I am asking God to bless my efforts and reminding me of how much I am loved and how much I love God.

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes and pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene