Posts
Happy Wednesday! The butterfly count is 11. We are doing end of the year testing at school. The kids are thrilled because we are not doing any regular work. I did not assign a spelling list or any homework for the week.
Luke 4: 18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for He has anointed me to bring Good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see and the oppressed will be set free and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” John 6: “I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do.”
Okay I know I have spent three writings on this same scripture passage, but I keep being brought back to it so I must be meant to continue to meditate on it until I grasp its meaning.
Jesus spoke these words just after His baptism and 40 days in the wilderness. In the waters of baptism Jesus was obedient to God and received His commissioning into His ministry. During the 40 days of trial and temptation Satan hammered Jesus with every possible earthly pleasure and power trip. Jesus, in obedience to God, fasted, prayed to receive instruction for the ministry in which He was about enter. When Jesus emerged from the wilderness He went to the temple knowing that all roads would lead to the cross, and the road must begin at the synagogue. Jesus stood before the elders and announced why He was there. Jesus defined His job description to the elders and congregation and then went about doing what God had called Him to do.
As a teacher (especially in May) I have occasion to ask my students; “Why are you here?” I usually ask them this because they have already decided that school is over with for the year and they need not work anymore. Aren’t we glad that Jesus did not quit before he reached the cross. His work was not complete until He emptied Himself for our sin. He completed His task and then He returned to the Father.
So here is the question for the night. Why are you here? What task has been assigned to you by God? The passage in John tells us that Jesus came to earth to do what God asked Him to do, not what Jesus wanted to do. What has God asked you to do? God has asked all of us to be His agents, His representatives, His ambassadors and His servants on earth. God has asked us to tell others about Him, to tell others our salvation story and tell what God has done for us and then help those who are in need of God’s love and compassion.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
PS The hospital sent my Uncle Gene home today. I will update as I find out particulars. Please continue to pray for him and Imogene. Thanks, gc
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Happy Tuesday! The data transfer from my computer to Bruce’s went wonky and so Sunday’s blog did not get posted until Monday afternoon. So I decided to write again tonight and hopefully get back on track.
The butterfly count is 12! Wow, the time is going so quickly. There is so much to do before the end of the year. Tonight’s activity was to watch the show choirs from Lamar HS perform at the Levitt Outdoor Pavilion. That is the new performances stage on Abrams Street here in Arlington. I had never been there before and found it was really nice. Take your lawn chairs and blankets, something to eat and drink and enjoy free concerts throughout the summer. Really cool!! The choirs did an excellent job. The Madrigal men did a tribute to the beach boys and during the performance six of the young men picked up Travis. It was quite a sight! But truly lots of fun!
Luke 4:18 “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives—to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
I think I used this scripture a few days ago, but I have had some more thoughts of this scripture so please indulge me. Every year around this time school staffing makes changes in anticipation for the Fall semester of the new school year.
Personnel get moved around to different grade levels within the building to best meet the needs of the students and the teaching teams. This always brings about a fair amount of stress among those who are being moved as well as to those teams who are getting new members. Now this is a fairly regular occurrence in the school business, but this year our building has the added stress of an asbestos abatement.
This announcement translates to the fact that everyone has to completely pack up their classroom. After we have moved our packed boxes out of our rooms, the workers will come in and remove all the asbestos from the walls and ceilings, then will replace the walls and ceilings with non-asbestos materials. We are not allowed in the building past June 8 until the construction can be completed. For a first year teacher this is not a big deal. For those of us who have been teaching for nearly 30 years it is a formidable concern. I have been given 25 boxes with which to pack up many years of teaching materials. Now if this is all with which I had to deal it would be enough, but I still have an 18 year old trying to complete the next two weeks of school and then graduated. In the next two weeks, we also have to deal with the prom, after prom, graduation and family graduation party plus closing out the school year. OH, MY GOSH!!!
As I was reading in my journal entitled, God Calling, I was reminded that all of this “stuff,” my list, while important, is really just stuff. That in this world stuff is all important, but in the Kingdom of God spiritual things are take full precedence. First and foremost God wants us to have knowledge of Spiritual things. Spiritual things must come first and then material things (the “stuff”). God tells us to cover ourselves in the Spirit of the Lord first. If we put “seek the Lord and desire the knowledge of God” at the top of our lists then the material things will get done because we invited Him to be the first part of our stuff.
This week I have been the target of several jokes concerning all of the stuff in my classroom. When the pallet of boxes was delivered to the school today, the talk around school was “well here are Mrs. Chrystie’s boxes, where are ours?” LOL I really do not want to be identified by my stuff, I would really like to be identified as someone who has compassion and love for those around me. When Jesus was baptized He began His public ministry. Jesus packed up all of the last 30 years and began to walk the road with the clothes on His body, the sandals on His feet and the guiding hand of the Father. Jesus sought the spiritual world and then sought the material. Jesus was not identified by His stuff, but by His spirit. The road for Jesus past baptism led to the cross. Material assets were not important, but spiritual assets were at the forefront of His life.
How are we identified? Are we identified with the material things we own? Or are we identified as believers; believers with holiness, love and compassion for others? Does our name badge say, “Gaylene Chrystie(insert your name), pack rat (insert your identity),” or does it say, “Gaylene Chrystie, child of God?.”
Take stock and take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
PS Please pray for my Uncle Gene. He and his wife, Imogene, were my first baby sitters when I was a toddler. He has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He is nearing 80 years old and is obviously not in good health. They have some tough decisions to make in the near future. Please pray for this dear, sweet couple, that they have the presence of mind to make the right decisions. Thank you. Love, gc
The butterfly count is 12! Wow, the time is going so quickly. There is so much to do before the end of the year. Tonight’s activity was to watch the show choirs from Lamar HS perform at the Levitt Outdoor Pavilion. That is the new performances stage on Abrams Street here in Arlington. I had never been there before and found it was really nice. Take your lawn chairs and blankets, something to eat and drink and enjoy free concerts throughout the summer. Really cool!! The choirs did an excellent job. The Madrigal men did a tribute to the beach boys and during the performance six of the young men picked up Travis. It was quite a sight! But truly lots of fun!
Luke 4:18 “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives—to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
I think I used this scripture a few days ago, but I have had some more thoughts of this scripture so please indulge me. Every year around this time school staffing makes changes in anticipation for the Fall semester of the new school year.
Personnel get moved around to different grade levels within the building to best meet the needs of the students and the teaching teams. This always brings about a fair amount of stress among those who are being moved as well as to those teams who are getting new members. Now this is a fairly regular occurrence in the school business, but this year our building has the added stress of an asbestos abatement.
This announcement translates to the fact that everyone has to completely pack up their classroom. After we have moved our packed boxes out of our rooms, the workers will come in and remove all the asbestos from the walls and ceilings, then will replace the walls and ceilings with non-asbestos materials. We are not allowed in the building past June 8 until the construction can be completed. For a first year teacher this is not a big deal. For those of us who have been teaching for nearly 30 years it is a formidable concern. I have been given 25 boxes with which to pack up many years of teaching materials. Now if this is all with which I had to deal it would be enough, but I still have an 18 year old trying to complete the next two weeks of school and then graduated. In the next two weeks, we also have to deal with the prom, after prom, graduation and family graduation party plus closing out the school year. OH, MY GOSH!!!
As I was reading in my journal entitled, God Calling, I was reminded that all of this “stuff,” my list, while important, is really just stuff. That in this world stuff is all important, but in the Kingdom of God spiritual things are take full precedence. First and foremost God wants us to have knowledge of Spiritual things. Spiritual things must come first and then material things (the “stuff”). God tells us to cover ourselves in the Spirit of the Lord first. If we put “seek the Lord and desire the knowledge of God” at the top of our lists then the material things will get done because we invited Him to be the first part of our stuff.
This week I have been the target of several jokes concerning all of the stuff in my classroom. When the pallet of boxes was delivered to the school today, the talk around school was “well here are Mrs. Chrystie’s boxes, where are ours?” LOL I really do not want to be identified by my stuff, I would really like to be identified as someone who has compassion and love for those around me. When Jesus was baptized He began His public ministry. Jesus packed up all of the last 30 years and began to walk the road with the clothes on His body, the sandals on His feet and the guiding hand of the Father. Jesus sought the spiritual world and then sought the material. Jesus was not identified by His stuff, but by His spirit. The road for Jesus past baptism led to the cross. Material assets were not important, but spiritual assets were at the forefront of His life.
How are we identified? Are we identified with the material things we own? Or are we identified as believers; believers with holiness, love and compassion for others? Does our name badge say, “Gaylene Chrystie(insert your name), pack rat (insert your identity),” or does it say, “Gaylene Chrystie, child of God?.”
Take stock and take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
PS Please pray for my Uncle Gene. He and his wife, Imogene, were my first baby sitters when I was a toddler. He has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He is nearing 80 years old and is obviously not in good health. They have some tough decisions to make in the near future. Please pray for this dear, sweet couple, that they have the presence of mind to make the right decisions. Thank you. Love, gc
Monday, May 18, 2009
Blessed Sunday to you all! It was senior Sunday in church this morning. Seeing all of the pictures of the graduates from very young to the present totally made me wonder where did all of that time go and how did it go by so very fast. The quilts presented to each of the graduates were beautiful and their creators seem to capture the personalities of their new owners. The quilts are given in love to remind these young people that they are always wrapped in the love of God no matter how far from home they may go.
John 5: 17 “My Father never stops working, and so I keep working too.”
Our world does not take a day off any more. In days past, Wednesday nights were set aside for “church” activities and Sundays were only for going to worship and spending time with family. Most businesses were closed so if you needed it you needed to buy it on Saturday or wait until Monday. But our time today is spent a bit differently than we used to spend it. Nearly all businesses are open seven day per week and someone has to work at those businesses. Goods and services in our society are needed 24/7.
God does not take a day off. In the wonderful work by Mendelssohn ,”He, Watching over Israel.” The key line in the choral work states that “He slumbers not nor sleeps. “ I don’t know about you but I need God’s love, grace and forgiveness 24/7.
God said in Genesis that He created the world in six days and on the seventh day He rested. But as the world continued to grow I am pretty sure God hasn’t had a day off since. When Jesus came on the scene He became the mirror of His Father. God’s love, grace, and compassion does not know a 24 hour day or a day of the week. Those measurements were created by man. God works on His own created time. On a Sunday in Bethsaida Jesus healed the man who had been paralyzed for years. He did not consult the Books of the Law or ask permission from the local officials to heal this man. He told the man, “Rise up. Take your bed and go home.”
God taught Jesus so well that after His death on the cross, He sent back the Holy Spirit so that the work of God could continue through the Holy Spirit and act in the believers 24/7. Because God chose us in which to place His Holy Spirit we are called to be “mirrors of God.”
Have we looked in the mirror lately? Not the bathroom mirror or the mirror on the door or dresser, but the mirror of our hearts. Do our hearts reflect the love, grace and compassion of God as taught to us by Jesus in His Word? Have we “paid forward” the love of God to others? (For you know paying it forward is the best we can do!) Before we leave for work or school or reach for that second cup of coffee let us check the mirror of our heart and see who looks back. Do we see our sleepy selves or do we see the shining face of Jesus?
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
John 5: 17 “My Father never stops working, and so I keep working too.”
Our world does not take a day off any more. In days past, Wednesday nights were set aside for “church” activities and Sundays were only for going to worship and spending time with family. Most businesses were closed so if you needed it you needed to buy it on Saturday or wait until Monday. But our time today is spent a bit differently than we used to spend it. Nearly all businesses are open seven day per week and someone has to work at those businesses. Goods and services in our society are needed 24/7.
God does not take a day off. In the wonderful work by Mendelssohn ,”He, Watching over Israel.” The key line in the choral work states that “He slumbers not nor sleeps. “ I don’t know about you but I need God’s love, grace and forgiveness 24/7.
God said in Genesis that He created the world in six days and on the seventh day He rested. But as the world continued to grow I am pretty sure God hasn’t had a day off since. When Jesus came on the scene He became the mirror of His Father. God’s love, grace, and compassion does not know a 24 hour day or a day of the week. Those measurements were created by man. God works on His own created time. On a Sunday in Bethsaida Jesus healed the man who had been paralyzed for years. He did not consult the Books of the Law or ask permission from the local officials to heal this man. He told the man, “Rise up. Take your bed and go home.”
God taught Jesus so well that after His death on the cross, He sent back the Holy Spirit so that the work of God could continue through the Holy Spirit and act in the believers 24/7. Because God chose us in which to place His Holy Spirit we are called to be “mirrors of God.”
Have we looked in the mirror lately? Not the bathroom mirror or the mirror on the door or dresser, but the mirror of our hearts. Do our hearts reflect the love, grace and compassion of God as taught to us by Jesus in His Word? Have we “paid forward” the love of God to others? (For you know paying it forward is the best we can do!) Before we leave for work or school or reach for that second cup of coffee let us check the mirror of our heart and see who looks back. Do we see our sleepy selves or do we see the shining face of Jesus?
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Happy Saturday!
1Corinthians 2: 9-10 “However it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
Well, the season is at hand. Today we attended a graduation party for one of Travis’ close friends. We have also begun to receive graduations announcements from family and friends. We are in the process of collecting enough tickets for our family to attend the graduation exercises to be held on June 5 and are making plans for the graduation party for Travis.
Tomorrow is senior Sunday at church. Last week at church we left pictures of Travis from babyhood to now which will be put in a collage on the projected screen during worship. He will be recognized during worship along with several other graduating seniors and will receive his special quilt made by the loving hands of Toni Eaton. The quilts are a “senior thing” our congregation does for all graduating high school seniors.
Travis is preparing for the end of the year activities. Prom, senior picnic, final choir concert and final exams and papers consume much of his thinking and time. And then there are the inevitable questions: “What are your plans for next year?” “Where are you going to go to school?” In what are you planning to major?” Travis has answers to all of those questions. But who knows how those answers will change in the next few months or after the next year? Travis may change his mind and go a different route than the one he believes he is to follow right now.
I think I know what Travis should study, but it is not my task to tell him what to study. It is my job as his mother to be supportive and accept his choices of study and career plans. I can only hope that the choices Geni has already made and the choices Travis will make are the ones that will make them happy and successful in this life. Whatever those choices are I pray that they will have God’s blessing.
Scripture tells us that no one knows but God what He has prepared for those who love Him. The next verse says, “But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” The promise is that God will reveal His plans for us to us by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within each of us who believe.
How will we know what God has planned for us? We will know through prayer. We need to begin to practice praying without ceasing. When we pray without ceasing we come to know our Savior more each moment because we spend time with Him both talking to Him and listening to Him. Prayer changes everything. Prayer will either affirm or confirm the plans we have made or will lead us on another path. When we practice prayer each day we learn to trust God more because we come to know Him as our Lord and Savior. Even if the path God asks us to walk seems totally opposite of what we believe to be right, trusting in the Lord in an act of faith will bring God’s richest blessings and greatest rewards. Whatever the plans are that God has for us will be not only the right ones for us, but they will be the ones God will use in His service in the world.
So take a deep breath and step out on faith. When we step out on faith, God is always there to meet us. Ask God to reveal His plans for you. Then with a trusting heart say “Here I am Lord, send me.” See you in church.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Friends, remember to pray for all seniors as they prepare to step out into this world.
1Corinthians 2: 9-10 “However it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”
Well, the season is at hand. Today we attended a graduation party for one of Travis’ close friends. We have also begun to receive graduations announcements from family and friends. We are in the process of collecting enough tickets for our family to attend the graduation exercises to be held on June 5 and are making plans for the graduation party for Travis.
Tomorrow is senior Sunday at church. Last week at church we left pictures of Travis from babyhood to now which will be put in a collage on the projected screen during worship. He will be recognized during worship along with several other graduating seniors and will receive his special quilt made by the loving hands of Toni Eaton. The quilts are a “senior thing” our congregation does for all graduating high school seniors.
Travis is preparing for the end of the year activities. Prom, senior picnic, final choir concert and final exams and papers consume much of his thinking and time. And then there are the inevitable questions: “What are your plans for next year?” “Where are you going to go to school?” In what are you planning to major?” Travis has answers to all of those questions. But who knows how those answers will change in the next few months or after the next year? Travis may change his mind and go a different route than the one he believes he is to follow right now.
I think I know what Travis should study, but it is not my task to tell him what to study. It is my job as his mother to be supportive and accept his choices of study and career plans. I can only hope that the choices Geni has already made and the choices Travis will make are the ones that will make them happy and successful in this life. Whatever those choices are I pray that they will have God’s blessing.
Scripture tells us that no one knows but God what He has prepared for those who love Him. The next verse says, “But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” The promise is that God will reveal His plans for us to us by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within each of us who believe.
How will we know what God has planned for us? We will know through prayer. We need to begin to practice praying without ceasing. When we pray without ceasing we come to know our Savior more each moment because we spend time with Him both talking to Him and listening to Him. Prayer changes everything. Prayer will either affirm or confirm the plans we have made or will lead us on another path. When we practice prayer each day we learn to trust God more because we come to know Him as our Lord and Savior. Even if the path God asks us to walk seems totally opposite of what we believe to be right, trusting in the Lord in an act of faith will bring God’s richest blessings and greatest rewards. Whatever the plans are that God has for us will be not only the right ones for us, but they will be the ones God will use in His service in the world.
So take a deep breath and step out on faith. When we step out on faith, God is always there to meet us. Ask God to reveal His plans for you. Then with a trusting heart say “Here I am Lord, send me.” See you in church.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Friends, remember to pray for all seniors as they prepare to step out into this world.
Friday, May 15, 2009
TGIF to you all! The butterfly count is 14 and it looks as if we (FWISD) teachers are not going to be docked for our missed days last week and I am not sure about making the days up. For a first week back from a surprise vacation, the week has gone quite well.
Today the farm animals came to visit our school. The kids and I had a wonderful time with horses, goats and chickens. The kids loved the animals but were most interested in “poop.” I, however, was most interested in chickens. I learned a lot about chickens today. There are meat productions chickens and laying hens. These hens are free range hens. The owner of the animals brought two dozen fresh eggs to show to the children. When we opened them up it looked like a box of perfectly dyed Easter eggs. I found out you can tell what the color of the eggs will be by looking at the hens earlobes. (I never knew hens had ear lobes!) There were white ones, brown ones, green ones, pink ones, blue ones and other really beautiful colors. To make this long story short, I came home with the two dozen eggs and we each had eggs for a snack this afternoon. They were delicious.
Luke 4:18 “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,…to set at liberty them that are bruised,”
Last night I was looking for a pair of sandals I was planning to wear today to school. As I was searching in, under and around things in our room I came upon a bag from MD Anderson. It was a bag I was given as a thank you for donating blood while I lived with Casey. I found a package mailed to me by my best friend, Carme. Inside the package were two dishtowels embroidered in yellow. The embroidery showed hearts that had been incorporated with the yellow ribbon; the symbol of sarcoma cancer.
As I continued my search for the other sandal I came across a small forest green box and inside was a necklace. On the pendant was written “simply ’02.” That was the year Casey graduated from high school. Between the dish towels and Travis’ graduation very close this brought back so many memories and my heart began to break all over again.
As Bruce and I lay in bed just before sleep, we talked and the tears began to spill from both of us. We lost Casey 7 months ago yesterday. We spoke of the places that brought us peace. For Bruce it is the time we were allowed to spend with Casey in the last year. In his travels recently, he has encountered several men who have lost sons and daughters. With those, death came by way of automobile accident or suicide – instant, profound loss.God allowed us to see a side of our son we might not have ever seen, but God allowed us precious time. There was never a time when we were not close by; whether in the hospital, in the hospital bed in our dining room or miles away in Houston. For me, the place of peace will always be when Casey told me he was not afraid.
This scripture is such a great comfort to anyone who has experienced loss of any kind. God’s compassion and love for us has no bounds. God shares our hurts and then tells us in His Word that He will “bind our wounds.” God tells us He will cover us in His love like a big warm hug. He knows when our hearts are broken and torn apart. God suffered loss when His Son was crucified. God understands and he is acting in obedience to what His Father told Him to do.
As I prayed before falling asleep I asked to be soaked in the healing balm of God’s grace. And then it dawned on me, how do those who do not know God get through the experience of loss? Those people must grope around in the darkness searching for some light, some understanding, something to hang onto or a place to go. Isn’t it amazing that we who know God know exactly where to go and to whom? We have no question that when we go to God, He will be there. God will be there to “bind our wounds,” “heal our broken hearts,” and soak us in the healing balm of His ever present love and grace. Take care my friends and love you all.
Take joy in the journey. Love, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Today the farm animals came to visit our school. The kids and I had a wonderful time with horses, goats and chickens. The kids loved the animals but were most interested in “poop.” I, however, was most interested in chickens. I learned a lot about chickens today. There are meat productions chickens and laying hens. These hens are free range hens. The owner of the animals brought two dozen fresh eggs to show to the children. When we opened them up it looked like a box of perfectly dyed Easter eggs. I found out you can tell what the color of the eggs will be by looking at the hens earlobes. (I never knew hens had ear lobes!) There were white ones, brown ones, green ones, pink ones, blue ones and other really beautiful colors. To make this long story short, I came home with the two dozen eggs and we each had eggs for a snack this afternoon. They were delicious.
Luke 4:18 “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,…to set at liberty them that are bruised,”
Last night I was looking for a pair of sandals I was planning to wear today to school. As I was searching in, under and around things in our room I came upon a bag from MD Anderson. It was a bag I was given as a thank you for donating blood while I lived with Casey. I found a package mailed to me by my best friend, Carme. Inside the package were two dishtowels embroidered in yellow. The embroidery showed hearts that had been incorporated with the yellow ribbon; the symbol of sarcoma cancer.
As I continued my search for the other sandal I came across a small forest green box and inside was a necklace. On the pendant was written “simply ’02.” That was the year Casey graduated from high school. Between the dish towels and Travis’ graduation very close this brought back so many memories and my heart began to break all over again.
As Bruce and I lay in bed just before sleep, we talked and the tears began to spill from both of us. We lost Casey 7 months ago yesterday. We spoke of the places that brought us peace. For Bruce it is the time we were allowed to spend with Casey in the last year. In his travels recently, he has encountered several men who have lost sons and daughters. With those, death came by way of automobile accident or suicide – instant, profound loss.God allowed us to see a side of our son we might not have ever seen, but God allowed us precious time. There was never a time when we were not close by; whether in the hospital, in the hospital bed in our dining room or miles away in Houston. For me, the place of peace will always be when Casey told me he was not afraid.
This scripture is such a great comfort to anyone who has experienced loss of any kind. God’s compassion and love for us has no bounds. God shares our hurts and then tells us in His Word that He will “bind our wounds.” God tells us He will cover us in His love like a big warm hug. He knows when our hearts are broken and torn apart. God suffered loss when His Son was crucified. God understands and he is acting in obedience to what His Father told Him to do.
As I prayed before falling asleep I asked to be soaked in the healing balm of God’s grace. And then it dawned on me, how do those who do not know God get through the experience of loss? Those people must grope around in the darkness searching for some light, some understanding, something to hang onto or a place to go. Isn’t it amazing that we who know God know exactly where to go and to whom? We have no question that when we go to God, He will be there. God will be there to “bind our wounds,” “heal our broken hearts,” and soak us in the healing balm of His ever present love and grace. Take care my friends and love you all.
Take joy in the journey. Love, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Happy Thursday! The butterfly count is 15! You know the vacation we all got for a week during this month has made a wonderful difference in the attitudes at school. We all seem to be a lot calmer and taking more things in stride. Even though there is still much work to be done before the end of the year I think we are all not quite as stressed as we usually are. Several of us are practicing the breathing activity of breathing in the Holy Spirit and exhaling the love of God on whomever or whatever is in our path. Not a bad way to end the year. Also, Geni came home today. All finals completed and will begin summer school just after Travis graduates! Way to go Geni!!
Luke 6: 12 “Now during those days [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray…”
Many years ago I was the youth director for a large church in west Texas. I went to a youth directors’ convention in Estes Park, Colorado. This week long experience in the mountains had a profound effect in my life. First, I fell in love with the mountains. I came so close to calling the pastor I was working for and telling him to pack my office and the apartment and ship it to me. I was ready to work at Jack-in-the Box if it meant I could stay there. There was something about those mountains that made me feel so protected; like as long as I was there nothing bad could ever happen to me. It was also during that week that I realized that I was not meant to follow the path of being a youth director as a profession. The mountains allowed me to look out of the window in our cabin and see God’s handiwork each day. The handiwork I saw was the changing of the aspens each day. It was as if a new splash of color was added to the mountain side each day and it was a breathtaking experience.
I loved the quiet peace the mountains afforded. That is most likely why Jesus went to the mountains when He needed some quiet time with the Father. When Jesus went to the mountains He could just talk to His Father like I talk to Bruce or my daddy. He did not need to say anything but what was on His heart. Maybe Jesus walked and talked as if His Father was walking bodily beside Him. Maybe Jesus did not bow His head and fold His hands and say anything poetic or fancy. Maybe Jesus just said, “Hey Dad, it’s Me. You know those disciples still don’t get it. What can I do to explain Your love better to them? And about Peter…? And about that woman that had been sick for so long…thanks.”
How do you pray? Do you think you have to use fancy, poetic language and speak in a mighty voice to try and impress God? I don’t think Jesus tried to impress His Father. I simply think He walked in obedience and stayed in constant contact with the Father. It is rare that I pray with my hands folded and eyes closed. I most often pray with my hands open, my eyes looking up and talking to God like I would talk to someone I loved and trusted with my very soul. And sometimes when the words don’t come or my soul feels like there are blisters where there was once smoothness; I just sit with Jesus and know He is there and sharing my heartache and brokenness for He knows my heart, my needs, my desires even when I do not speak them aloud.
Take some time each day and spend with God in prayer. Find your quiet mountain. Walk to a place that brings you inner peace and sit with the Father and begin. “Hey Dad, it’s me…”
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Luke 6: 12 “Now during those days [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray…”
Many years ago I was the youth director for a large church in west Texas. I went to a youth directors’ convention in Estes Park, Colorado. This week long experience in the mountains had a profound effect in my life. First, I fell in love with the mountains. I came so close to calling the pastor I was working for and telling him to pack my office and the apartment and ship it to me. I was ready to work at Jack-in-the Box if it meant I could stay there. There was something about those mountains that made me feel so protected; like as long as I was there nothing bad could ever happen to me. It was also during that week that I realized that I was not meant to follow the path of being a youth director as a profession. The mountains allowed me to look out of the window in our cabin and see God’s handiwork each day. The handiwork I saw was the changing of the aspens each day. It was as if a new splash of color was added to the mountain side each day and it was a breathtaking experience.
I loved the quiet peace the mountains afforded. That is most likely why Jesus went to the mountains when He needed some quiet time with the Father. When Jesus went to the mountains He could just talk to His Father like I talk to Bruce or my daddy. He did not need to say anything but what was on His heart. Maybe Jesus walked and talked as if His Father was walking bodily beside Him. Maybe Jesus did not bow His head and fold His hands and say anything poetic or fancy. Maybe Jesus just said, “Hey Dad, it’s Me. You know those disciples still don’t get it. What can I do to explain Your love better to them? And about Peter…? And about that woman that had been sick for so long…thanks.”
How do you pray? Do you think you have to use fancy, poetic language and speak in a mighty voice to try and impress God? I don’t think Jesus tried to impress His Father. I simply think He walked in obedience and stayed in constant contact with the Father. It is rare that I pray with my hands folded and eyes closed. I most often pray with my hands open, my eyes looking up and talking to God like I would talk to someone I loved and trusted with my very soul. And sometimes when the words don’t come or my soul feels like there are blisters where there was once smoothness; I just sit with Jesus and know He is there and sharing my heartache and brokenness for He knows my heart, my needs, my desires even when I do not speak them aloud.
Take some time each day and spend with God in prayer. Find your quiet mountain. Walk to a place that brings you inner peace and sit with the Father and begin. “Hey Dad, it’s me…”
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by 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, May 13, 2009
Greetings from Austin St. (Really!!)
Happy Wednesday! We are back online! Bruce patiently worked with AT&T today for over two hours, but we are finally back online with full internet service restored. I had a gozillion emails. I still have about 50 left to go through. I will tackle them tomorrow and Friday. The butterfly count is 16! Tonight we went to the Senior Parents Meeting tonight. We heard all of the procedures and plans for prom and graduation. It is hard to believe that we are graduating our youngest in just about two weeks.
John 3:17 “God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.”
How many times a day do we make judgments about people? I don’t think any of us can claim innocence about judgments. We meet people and immediately form an opinion. And then sometimes we voice that opinion or judgment to someone else causing them to make a judgment and the pattern continues to repeat itself. Did you ever think of Jesus as He walked the Via Dolorosa on that Friday? The people spat on Him, threw stones, called names and mocked Him. If you read the passage from Matthew 26 through 27 and read all of the terrible, humiliating, degrading acts committed on this man, Jesus, what you will never read is Jesus saying, “You are making a big mistake. Do you know who I Am? Do you know who My Father is?” No, Jesus is silent as He walks the road to the cross. He does not curse the crowd for shouting, “Crucify Him!” He does not shout to these frenzied townsfolk, “Please stop!” No, He simply says, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Jesus went to the Father and took all of our sins of judgment and asked God, His Father, to forgive us. Since Jesus did that for us, then we must not judge either. God has asked us to leave that part of this life to Him and only Him. God tells us further in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that we be not judged.” God wants the job of judgment to be left to Him.
So next time we meet someone before we pronounce judgment on them, let us spiritually breathe. Remember last night’s journal? Breathe in the Holy Spirit. Breathe in God’s very essence and ask for a spirit of acceptance, then exhale His gifts of love, grace and peace on the ones we are holding in judgment. The one we meet will then meet the One we love and serve.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Happy Wednesday! We are back online! Bruce patiently worked with AT&T today for over two hours, but we are finally back online with full internet service restored. I had a gozillion emails. I still have about 50 left to go through. I will tackle them tomorrow and Friday. The butterfly count is 16! Tonight we went to the Senior Parents Meeting tonight. We heard all of the procedures and plans for prom and graduation. It is hard to believe that we are graduating our youngest in just about two weeks.
John 3:17 “God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.”
How many times a day do we make judgments about people? I don’t think any of us can claim innocence about judgments. We meet people and immediately form an opinion. And then sometimes we voice that opinion or judgment to someone else causing them to make a judgment and the pattern continues to repeat itself. Did you ever think of Jesus as He walked the Via Dolorosa on that Friday? The people spat on Him, threw stones, called names and mocked Him. If you read the passage from Matthew 26 through 27 and read all of the terrible, humiliating, degrading acts committed on this man, Jesus, what you will never read is Jesus saying, “You are making a big mistake. Do you know who I Am? Do you know who My Father is?” No, Jesus is silent as He walks the road to the cross. He does not curse the crowd for shouting, “Crucify Him!” He does not shout to these frenzied townsfolk, “Please stop!” No, He simply says, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Jesus went to the Father and took all of our sins of judgment and asked God, His Father, to forgive us. Since Jesus did that for us, then we must not judge either. God has asked us to leave that part of this life to Him and only Him. God tells us further in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that we be not judged.” God wants the job of judgment to be left to Him.
So next time we meet someone before we pronounce judgment on them, let us spiritually breathe. Remember last night’s journal? Breathe in the Holy Spirit. Breathe in God’s very essence and ask for a spirit of acceptance, then exhale His gifts of love, grace and peace on the ones we are holding in judgment. The one we meet will then meet the One we love and serve.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)