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Happy Thursday!
174 days down and one to go! There is one more day with the students and then Monday is the last day for teachers. This class has been a delight. They have been behaviorally easy, they have been hard workers and they have been really sweet. At the end of the day tomorrow we will have a summer birthdays party to celebrate the four students in the classroom who have summer birthdays.
I have a somewhat busy summer ahead with several projects that must be accomplished before returning to the classroom in August. Many people think that teachers have the summer off and just spend time by the pool, but not true. I already have two training events on the calendar and will add to that number before too very long. Technology advances by the day and I must advance with it!
Romans 13: 8 “Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Love is the weapon we have at our disposal to fight all manner of things. Perfect love casts out fear and that same love can help us to fight sin. When we claim God’s love in the face of sin then we drive Satan further away and there is more space for God and His blessings to come into our hearts and lives. Perfect love is the love that only God can give because it comes with no strings attached. Praise is the response to the love of God for each of us. Praise is the way we can say thank you for God’s love being with us and in us. Joy is the reward for the obedience of claiming God’s love in the face of sin, praising Him and giving thanks for not just what He has done for us, but because He is God and He loves us.
Take great joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Happy Wednesday!
Awards Day is such a big event in the lives of students everywhere. Each child in my classroom received an award for something and their parents were armed with cameras and a lot of pride! It has been a really great school year. Still working on that check-off list and thanks to a Charlotte’s Web video I almost got another of the tasks completed on the to do list.
Romans 8: 29 “For whom He did know before, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
God knew each of us before we knew Him. He knew us while we were “still yet sinners.” God knew that we would sin and fall short of His glory but that did not keep Him from loving us. God created each of us to come into relationship with Him. He loves His creation so much that He desires a relationship with us. Jesus is the venue through which the love of God flows. God’s love for us was modeled by Jesus, who lived a life that not only contained joy and victory, but sorrow and suffering as well. When Jesus asked the Disciples if they were "ready to drink of the cup that I drink, the wine of sorrow and disappointment", He was asking them “are you willing to become like me?” When we come into relationship with God through Jesus, we become God’s child and brother to Jesus. As we grow in His likeness the worldly man within each of us becomes less and the image of Christ becomes much clearer. I pray each day to be transparent so that when others see me they see less of Gaylene and more of Christ within me.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Awards Day is such a big event in the lives of students everywhere. Each child in my classroom received an award for something and their parents were armed with cameras and a lot of pride! It has been a really great school year. Still working on that check-off list and thanks to a Charlotte’s Web video I almost got another of the tasks completed on the to do list.
Romans 8: 29 “For whom He did know before, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
God knew each of us before we knew Him. He knew us while we were “still yet sinners.” God knew that we would sin and fall short of His glory but that did not keep Him from loving us. God created each of us to come into relationship with Him. He loves His creation so much that He desires a relationship with us. Jesus is the venue through which the love of God flows. God’s love for us was modeled by Jesus, who lived a life that not only contained joy and victory, but sorrow and suffering as well. When Jesus asked the Disciples if they were "ready to drink of the cup that I drink, the wine of sorrow and disappointment", He was asking them “are you willing to become like me?” When we come into relationship with God through Jesus, we become God’s child and brother to Jesus. As we grow in His likeness the worldly man within each of us becomes less and the image of Christ becomes much clearer. I pray each day to be transparent so that when others see me they see less of Gaylene and more of Christ within me.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Happy Tuesday! Happy June!
I am not sure when this writing will post. We are having internet difficulties. Someone from AT&T is coming tomorrow to check the problem and hopefully fix our problem. Yesterday, Bruce discovered the modem was super hot. So perhaps that is the problem. Hopefully all will be well sometime tomorrow.
Three days and counting before the end of school year 2009-2010. Today was a good day. The children and I began the first preparations for closing down the year. We decorated our brown paper bags and have begun placing them in the hall and filling them with papers to go home for the summer. They love the phrase “Go and put it in your bag.” Tomorrow is awards day. Check one more thing off of the list.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
Here is a verse with which I seem to live. I love prayer. I love to pray with others. I love to lead prayer, but I must admit I usually fall asleep during my bedtime prayers. This used to bother me, but not anymore. I have fallen asleep while in the presence of God and that is a peaceful and safe place to be.
Prayer is the linking up of our hearts, minds and souls to God. Prayer is the time when God listens and answers and God speaks and we listen. The way we come into closer relationship to God is through communication. That communication is prayer. We ask “Lord, hear us when we pray.” When we ask this of God we claim His attention and God is faithful to listen with compassion, kindness and with His loving heart. When our hearts, minds and souls are linked to God in prayer there is a bond of faith unlike any other relationship. Our relationship with God born in prayer and learned through regular communion allows us to learn more of Him and His Spirit inhabits our souls.
The old song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” The scripture says, “Pray without ceasing.” Friends let us take all we have, all we are and all we need to the One who asked for it and become closer friends through continuous prayer.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
I am not sure when this writing will post. We are having internet difficulties. Someone from AT&T is coming tomorrow to check the problem and hopefully fix our problem. Yesterday, Bruce discovered the modem was super hot. So perhaps that is the problem. Hopefully all will be well sometime tomorrow.
Three days and counting before the end of school year 2009-2010. Today was a good day. The children and I began the first preparations for closing down the year. We decorated our brown paper bags and have begun placing them in the hall and filling them with papers to go home for the summer. They love the phrase “Go and put it in your bag.” Tomorrow is awards day. Check one more thing off of the list.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
Here is a verse with which I seem to live. I love prayer. I love to pray with others. I love to lead prayer, but I must admit I usually fall asleep during my bedtime prayers. This used to bother me, but not anymore. I have fallen asleep while in the presence of God and that is a peaceful and safe place to be.
Prayer is the linking up of our hearts, minds and souls to God. Prayer is the time when God listens and answers and God speaks and we listen. The way we come into closer relationship to God is through communication. That communication is prayer. We ask “Lord, hear us when we pray.” When we ask this of God we claim His attention and God is faithful to listen with compassion, kindness and with His loving heart. When our hearts, minds and souls are linked to God in prayer there is a bond of faith unlike any other relationship. Our relationship with God born in prayer and learned through regular communion allows us to learn more of Him and His Spirit inhabits our souls.
The old song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” The scripture says, “Pray without ceasing.” Friends let us take all we have, all we are and all we need to the One who asked for it and become closer friends through continuous prayer.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Happy last day of May!
WOW! I am writing later than usual tonight as I have been working on end- of-the-year school stuff most of the day. I am a bit tired, but my day is not complete unless I spend a few moments in the Word and in prayer. I look forward to summer in part because I usually write in the morning on the deck while it is still cool, with some fresh coffee and an unclouded brain!
Psalm 50:23 “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.”
I learned a couple of years ago that the best way to defeat Satan is to offer up praise in times when it is so hard to praise. Surrendering our will to God and being obedient do not hold a candle to the vanquishing power of praise. “A heart full of joy is the best weapon against all evil.” (God Calling May 30)
Some of you know and may have experienced the feast or famine of owning your own business. Bruce has a home repair business and the phone has been nearly silent since before Christmas. It was difficult to be thankful and to offer praise during this long dry spell, but we tried our best. The phone has begun to ring once again and each time someone calls to ask Bruce to come and look at a job we just sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
Giving praise and being thankful is just like learning to do anything. It takes practice. I read about Dolly Parton this evening just before writing. She is a woman of faith and someone who prays and gives thanks throughout the day and it helps keep her grounded in her faith. She says she prays before she does anything and God blesses her with His presence.
Praying throughout the day brings calmness and peace as the day progresses and reminds me that God is present. His promise to never leave us or forsake us is not just for times of trouble, but for the daily tasks of the day. As these last four days of school present themselves I know there will be plenty of opportunities to practice praise! So as always, I ask for your prayers this last week of school, that our phone will continue to ring and Bruce will continue to work and I will be praying for all of you.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
WOW! I am writing later than usual tonight as I have been working on end- of-the-year school stuff most of the day. I am a bit tired, but my day is not complete unless I spend a few moments in the Word and in prayer. I look forward to summer in part because I usually write in the morning on the deck while it is still cool, with some fresh coffee and an unclouded brain!
Psalm 50:23 “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.”
I learned a couple of years ago that the best way to defeat Satan is to offer up praise in times when it is so hard to praise. Surrendering our will to God and being obedient do not hold a candle to the vanquishing power of praise. “A heart full of joy is the best weapon against all evil.” (God Calling May 30)
Some of you know and may have experienced the feast or famine of owning your own business. Bruce has a home repair business and the phone has been nearly silent since before Christmas. It was difficult to be thankful and to offer praise during this long dry spell, but we tried our best. The phone has begun to ring once again and each time someone calls to ask Bruce to come and look at a job we just sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
Giving praise and being thankful is just like learning to do anything. It takes practice. I read about Dolly Parton this evening just before writing. She is a woman of faith and someone who prays and gives thanks throughout the day and it helps keep her grounded in her faith. She says she prays before she does anything and God blesses her with His presence.
Praying throughout the day brings calmness and peace as the day progresses and reminds me that God is present. His promise to never leave us or forsake us is not just for times of trouble, but for the daily tasks of the day. As these last four days of school present themselves I know there will be plenty of opportunities to practice praise! So as always, I ask for your prayers this last week of school, that our phone will continue to ring and Bruce will continue to work and I will be praying for all of you.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Blessed Sunday to you all!
Here is hoping your worship time today was uplifting.
Romans 5: 5 “Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”
Today in the Lutheran Church we celebrated Trinity Sunday. Trinity is the recognition of the Triune God; the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Pastor Joel explained this difficult concept today in several different ways. One way was that he used a three way lightbulb. The bulb at its fullest power could be used for reading while the next level down could be used for watching TV and the lowest level for a more romantic level of light. But all three of these different levels of light are all coming from the same source.
Another explanation that I particularly liked was from St. Augustine. He expressed the Trinity as God the lover, Jesus the loved and the Holy Spirit as the love that unites and completes this amazing love triangle. This amazing love is a “Sunday” kind of love. Like the song says, “It is a love that lasts past Saturday night.” God’s love is so large, so huge, so expansive that it could only be expressed in three parts with its source being the God of love who allows us to experience that love in the body of Jesus and to have that love completed in the Holy Spirit.
So I guess the question is…Since God shares His “Sunday” love to us on each day of the week, how can we share that same love to all we come into contact throughout the week? Do we share and show others a love that lasts past Saturday night? God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to show and model that love for us so that we could show that love for others through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow is set aside to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. I think they understood the Sunday kind of love very well. These men and women carried with them and expressed this love for their country when they stood on the battlefields around the world. They were willing to give their lives for love of country. Jesus was willing to give His life for our freedom born out of His love for us. So when you remember those who have gone in the service of our country remember the One who gave His live in service to the Father and our eternal freedom.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all so 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Here is hoping your worship time today was uplifting.
Romans 5: 5 “Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”
Today in the Lutheran Church we celebrated Trinity Sunday. Trinity is the recognition of the Triune God; the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Pastor Joel explained this difficult concept today in several different ways. One way was that he used a three way lightbulb. The bulb at its fullest power could be used for reading while the next level down could be used for watching TV and the lowest level for a more romantic level of light. But all three of these different levels of light are all coming from the same source.
Another explanation that I particularly liked was from St. Augustine. He expressed the Trinity as God the lover, Jesus the loved and the Holy Spirit as the love that unites and completes this amazing love triangle. This amazing love is a “Sunday” kind of love. Like the song says, “It is a love that lasts past Saturday night.” God’s love is so large, so huge, so expansive that it could only be expressed in three parts with its source being the God of love who allows us to experience that love in the body of Jesus and to have that love completed in the Holy Spirit.
So I guess the question is…Since God shares His “Sunday” love to us on each day of the week, how can we share that same love to all we come into contact throughout the week? Do we share and show others a love that lasts past Saturday night? God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to show and model that love for us so that we could show that love for others through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow is set aside to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. I think they understood the Sunday kind of love very well. These men and women carried with them and expressed this love for their country when they stood on the battlefields around the world. They were willing to give their lives for love of country. Jesus was willing to give His life for our freedom born out of His love for us. So when you remember those who have gone in the service of our country remember the One who gave His live in service to the Father and our eternal freedom.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all so 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Happy Saturday!
Family time today! Bruce, Geni, Travis and I spent most of the day together off exploring some places we haven’t been in a while and others we have never been in before! Some girl stores (Sam Moon), some boy stores (Cabela’s), Central Market…we had a wonderful time together. To top the day off, Travis used one of the new fishing poles we got and caught a mighty fish! (see picture attached, use magnifying glass if necessary!)
Philippians 3: 13-14 “This one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Do you have regrets? I know I do. I regret some of the things I have said. I regret some of the things I have done and there is nothing I can do to take the past away. All I can do is try to learn from my mistakes and try not to make them again. God never wants us to live in the past. We cannot “press on” toward the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus if we live in the past and dwell on the mistakes of yesteryear or even yesterday. God has given us twenty four hours to carry the weight of the day and then we get to begin again.
Think of how weighed down we have become if we keep carrying the past with us. It would sort of be like a hiker who begins carrying his backpack on the first day of the hike and instead of using the things in the backpack each day such as food or other things he would add to the burden of each day by collecting more things and not ridding himself of the items used yesterday. Think of how weighed down that poor hiker would be at the end of his hike.
God promised to help us with the burdens of this day. The past has been taken from us because we have today to celebrate. Jesus is our constant for today and our hope for tomorrow. Our high calling is to follow Christ today and believe that Christ will be there for us tomorrow and leave the past behind.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. See you in worship! 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Happy Friday!
And happy beginning to the Memorial Day Weekend. Today in my classroom we talked about Memorial Day and what it means. One of my students even sported a t-shirt with an American Flag on the front. We studied famous American symbols throughout the day. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with our military forces both currently serving and with the families of those who lost their lives for our freedom.
Hebrews 13:5 “And be content with such things as you have for He has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.”
For the last 40 days I have been on a weight loss program. The weight loss program was very restricted. It was pretty much small amounts of protein, leafy vegetables and a small assortment of fruit; four selections to be exact, no breakfast and lots of water. This program allowed for no dairy (which meant no cheese!), a tablespoon of milk per day was allowed but not required. In 40 days I lost a total of 18 pounds. I was very excited and can tell a difference in my clothes and how they fit. But this was really hard, but for the sake of better health I was willing to endure this for 40 days.
Now I have entered the phase of maintenance. WOW! It is really awesome. I can have pretty much anything I want with the exception of starches and sugar. So today I have eaten cheese and had an iced coffee from Starbucks with 2% milk! These things tasted so wonderful. For 40 days I was content to endure a very limited food plan and now most of the restrictions have been lifted. I look at the 40 days (a very interesting amount of time!) as a time of preparation for living a healthier lifestyle. I prayed a lot during the last 40 days especially when temptations were pretty powerful!
Noah and his family were under a downpour for 40 days. Moses crossed the desert in 40 days. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days. In all three of these time frames, God prepared these men and in the case of Noah for how they were to live once they had completed their 40 days in exile. Noah, his family and all of those animals were in exile as their friends and neighbors died in the flood. Moses had been exiled from Egypt, Jesus had been exiled into the wilderness (outside the walls of Jerusalem) and set apart, alone so that He, just like Noah and Moses could hear God very clearly without distraction. God spent that time teaching these men His purpose for their lives and returned them to where God needed them; Noah to begin life anew with his family, Moses to learn the way of servanthood through the priesthood of the family of Levi and Jesus to begin the walk of salvation to the cross. Even though each of these men seemed alone at the time, God never left them. They may have walked rough roads and experienced loneliness, but the God of love never left them for He has absolute radical, passionate love for those with whom He trusts to further the kingdom.
The next time we feel alone and experience loneliness for whatever reason remember how much the God of love loves us and desires friendship and a close relationship with each of us. This God of love cares so much for each of us that all we have to do is call His name and He will be there never forsaking us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
And happy beginning to the Memorial Day Weekend. Today in my classroom we talked about Memorial Day and what it means. One of my students even sported a t-shirt with an American Flag on the front. We studied famous American symbols throughout the day. Our gratitude, thoughts and prayers are with our military forces both currently serving and with the families of those who lost their lives for our freedom.
Hebrews 13:5 “And be content with such things as you have for He has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.”
For the last 40 days I have been on a weight loss program. The weight loss program was very restricted. It was pretty much small amounts of protein, leafy vegetables and a small assortment of fruit; four selections to be exact, no breakfast and lots of water. This program allowed for no dairy (which meant no cheese!), a tablespoon of milk per day was allowed but not required. In 40 days I lost a total of 18 pounds. I was very excited and can tell a difference in my clothes and how they fit. But this was really hard, but for the sake of better health I was willing to endure this for 40 days.
Now I have entered the phase of maintenance. WOW! It is really awesome. I can have pretty much anything I want with the exception of starches and sugar. So today I have eaten cheese and had an iced coffee from Starbucks with 2% milk! These things tasted so wonderful. For 40 days I was content to endure a very limited food plan and now most of the restrictions have been lifted. I look at the 40 days (a very interesting amount of time!) as a time of preparation for living a healthier lifestyle. I prayed a lot during the last 40 days especially when temptations were pretty powerful!
Noah and his family were under a downpour for 40 days. Moses crossed the desert in 40 days. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days. In all three of these time frames, God prepared these men and in the case of Noah for how they were to live once they had completed their 40 days in exile. Noah, his family and all of those animals were in exile as their friends and neighbors died in the flood. Moses had been exiled from Egypt, Jesus had been exiled into the wilderness (outside the walls of Jerusalem) and set apart, alone so that He, just like Noah and Moses could hear God very clearly without distraction. God spent that time teaching these men His purpose for their lives and returned them to where God needed them; Noah to begin life anew with his family, Moses to learn the way of servanthood through the priesthood of the family of Levi and Jesus to begin the walk of salvation to the cross. Even though each of these men seemed alone at the time, God never left them. They may have walked rough roads and experienced loneliness, but the God of love never left them for He has absolute radical, passionate love for those with whom He trusts to further the kingdom.
The next time we feel alone and experience loneliness for whatever reason remember how much the God of love loves us and desires friendship and a close relationship with each of us. This God of love cares so much for each of us that all we have to do is call His name and He will be there never forsaking us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, 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 moved only by what I believe and I believe God.
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