Happy Thursday!

Okay, so far I am not finding the New Testament as interesting as the Old Testament.  The stories in the Old Testament are so much better!  The New Testament is interesting because of the influence of the times and geographical area (The Roman Empire and Greek influence) the writers wrote the text.  It does not change my beliefs, but it is an interesting learning experience so far.

Bruce and I are traveling to Sherman tomorrow to visit Dad.  It would have been Mom and Dad’s 60^th wedding anniversary and we are going to help Dad get through the day.  Then we will go to Allen late afternoon to have dinner with family and go to the big game. 

Prayer alert:  Please continue to pray for my Uncle Johnny, Aunt Linda and cousins.  My uncle continues to decline. Dani, their daughter drove in from Georgia today and plans to spend some extended time with them. Their son is already there.    It has been a bit tough on Mom’s side of the family in recent months.  Within the last 18 months we have lost two of my uncles and my Mom. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Prayer:  “Lord, I rejoice in Your great grace that was expressed at Calvary so that I might know the fullness of Your life.  I rejoice in Your great gift of eternal life that has given me righteousness I could never gain on my own. Empower me through Your Spirit to show and share this gift with others this day. Amen.”

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 1: 17

“When saving faith is expressed from the heart, the power of God in salvation is experienced.”  One of Sandi Patti’s song titles is “Face to Faith.” The chorus says, “Meetin’ disaster face to faith…” When we express our faith our lives are changed from that moment into eternity.  We receive righteousness that is not our own, but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We gain the likeness to God.  We become “just” receiving godliness and learn to live by faith.  Righteousness is received by the power of the Holy Spirit.  God gave us righteousness by dying on the cross at Calvary.

Faith is sometimes hard to hang onto when crisis happens.  It is at times of crisis that we need to cling to the hand of Jesus really tight as a reminder of the faith given to us at the moment of our salvation.  The gift of faith was given when we receive Christ into our hearts and it remains with us always.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all and faithfully yours, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Happy Wednesday! 

Prayer:  “Father, I rejoice that nothing is impossible with You.  Empower me to be disciplined in developing a mountain-moving faith that meets needs around me. Amen.”

“So Jesus said to them, ‘because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’”

Matthew 17: 20

Jesus sort of scolds the Disciples as they grumble about why things aren’t working out for them.  The Disciples had been given spiritual authority to go out and meet the spiritual needs of those in the community, but they tried to do this under their own power.  They forgot who their teacher was or perhaps they did not believe that the One who taught them was really from God.  What the disciples had was unbelief.  Without the power of Jesus within them the Disciples were helpless.  They were trying to meet the spiritual needs of the community by their own power.

“Faith is our spiritual and moral response to the trustworthy character of God.”  The Disciples misplaced their faith.  They were trusting in their own abilities and authority rather than Christ within them.  That is why Jesus taught them about faith the size of the mustard seed.  Jesus was trying to tell them that even if they had just a little bit of faith then it will grow if it is nurtured by a relationship with God.  Let our prayer be for God to guide our faith and become an instrument of healing and grace to those who are in need.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Happy Tuesday!

Tuesday is a long day for me.  I have classes from 9: 30 am until 7:00 pm.  Today was convocation at TCU.  Brite Convocation is always great.  It is worship that is always uplifting and a great way to begin the fall semester.  After worship there is a lunch for all students, professors, trustees and guests.  When we arrived at the Bass Conference Center in the new Harrison Bldg. the serving tables held fruit, cookies and cheesecake bites.  The drink tables held water and jugs of sweet and unsweetened iced tea. But there was no main dish.  We were soon to find out that lunch was held up in traffic.  So today the lunch guests were somewhat forced to live out the saying, “Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first.”  Lunch did finally arrive and it was delicious.  However, the next question that was asked was, “Do you suppose that Dr. Kang will allow us to be late for our 1:00 class because lunch was late?” Answer, “NO.”

Prayer:  “Father, help me to hear what You are saying through Your Word. Help me to respond to Your Word with faith and faithfulness. Impart to me a greater understanding of what it means to trust and obey. Amen”

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10: 17

Faith is not positive thinking or following our feelings.  Faith is listening to God, believing what was said and then acting on it as truth.  The way for us to have a strong faith is to listen to God’s voice through scripture, believe it, act on it and watch truth become reality.

God’s faithfulness to us promises to fulfill every promise.  Our faith believes that God will empower us to act in steadfast obedience to the Holy Scriptures; God’s Word.  May God enlarge our faith through the Word allowing the truth of that Word to become reality for us. 

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Happy Monday and happy first day of school! 

Geni had 26 kindergartners today.  That is over the legal limit.  She also told me that the other kinder teachers were over too.  She thinks they will get another teacher.  I hope they get one soon.  Geni said, “Mom, one of my little ones began at one o’clock with ‘I want my Mommy!’, and did not stop until the end of the day.” Geni was so tired today. Please offer a prayer that the school that a new teacher will be hired soon. 

Please continue to pray for my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Linda.  Johnny is in a great deal of pain and needs all of our prayers. My daddy is going over to their house daily to help in any way he can. 

Prayer:  “Father, deepen the magnitude of my spiritual intimacy, intensity and influence upon the world around me by guiding my life and growing my faith through Your Word. I yield my life to You for that end. Amen.”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

“Faith is an assurance convinced that God’s promises are so trustworthy that we can base our lives upon them.”  Faith is not dependent on the circumstances that we can see or experience but the certainty of God’s truth in which we believe.  Faith gives our everyday, regular, ordinary lives a future and security and the reason to remain steadfast.

“Truth faith believes and receives.”  Faith has the confidence that every promise God made will be kept and fulfilled.  Faith has the commitment that lives in the light of Christ’s lordship and promises that are so sure that we can rest in the assurance of God’s presence in our life on earth and in eternity. 

When I am with families who are in crisis my prayer for them is usually “God, I don’t know what You have planned for the next few moments, hours or days, but I do know that You are here now and will remain through this time.”  It is my hope that this prayer prayed in faith will help all of us step into the reliance and trust in God, surrendering unto His lordship and abiding faithfulness. (And if you need it, I hope it helps you, too.)

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Blessed Sunday to you all! 

Today was spent in worship, doing laundry and reading for my New Testament class.  Tomorrow will consist of getting a new tire while reading for my New Testament class.  This is a huge reading!  I hope to finish before class on Monday.

Prayer alert:  My uncle Johnny will officially go into hospice care in the morning.  I would ask you to pray especially for Johnny, my Aunt Linda, their children Danny and Dani and the grandchildren, Tanner, Ashton and Austin as well as all of our family as we prayerfully support these precious members of our family.  Thank you, mighty and faithful prayer warriors.

Prayer:  Father, deepen the magnitude of my spiritual intimacy, and influence upon my world around me by guiding my life and growing my faith through Your Word. I yield my life to You for that end. Amen.”

“Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:30

Tonight I write for all who are going back into the classroom tomorrow or very soon. 

Imagine two backpacks.  One backpack belongs to you and the other one to God.  In your backpack you are carrying around all of the worries and fears of the first day: Will I have a friend? Will I understand what the teacher is teaching?  Is my room ready?  How am I going to get home (a big worry for little ones)? Do I have everything I need for the first day and if I don’t will someone share? I did not get my school supplies.  We did not have the money until my Mom gets paid on Friday. Will teacher have some things I can use?  Did I bring my lunch money or did I forget my lunch?  Will the lunch lady let me eat anyway? Do I remember where my classroom is? What happens if I get lost?

Now take all of these worries and fears out of your backpack and put them in God’s backpack.  Now pick up your backpack.  How does it feel?  See how light it feels.  Give all of your worries and fears to God and let Him carry them for you today for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Have a magnificent Monday and a fantastic first day.

PS And for those of us who are not returning students, empty your heart of burdens and worries and lay them at the foot of the Cross allowing God to take your worries, fears and cares upon Himself.  God asks us to act on the gift of faith given to us at the Cross of Calvary and lay all at His feet so that our burden is easy and our yoke is light. 

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Happy Saturday! 

I graduated from CPE yesterday.  I also passed my final evaluation.  The chaplains at JPS asked me to come back to the hospital on a PRN (as needed) basis.  I felt very flattered, but told them my plate was completely full and that I could not even think about it until at least next summer.  It made me feel good to be asked.

Just in case you did not know, my brother is Dr. Ken Helvey.  He is the superintendent of schools for Allen ISD.  Yes, that Allen ISD with the brand new 60 million dollar high school football stadium. Today he interviewed in Austin for the top superintendent position for the state of Texas.  I cannot imagine anyone better than him.  He is an extraordinary man of honor and integrity and well deserves this honor.  Please offer a prayer for him.  Also, we will be travelling to Allen this coming Friday to attend the first football game in their new stadium.  I think Daddy is getting to be in the fancy suite with all of the dignitaries and we will be sitting in reserved seating.  I am really excited. 

Prayer:  “Father, I thank You that I can live in victory today because You defeated the devil at Calvary and he no longer has authority over my life because I belong to You.  I claim deliverance from anything that would keep me from living in the victory of the Cross.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“But deliver us from the evil one.”

Luke 11: 4c

We live in a world where the enemy is present. Satan works in our lives each day to try and win us away from the loving God; to make God ineffective in our lives.  In this verse, we pray for deliverance from Satan’s grasp and influence in and over our lives.  But when you think about it, Satan really does not stand a chance because he was defeated at the Cross of Calvary.  Satan was a created being and thought he knew everything about God. Satan thought he knew all of God’s plans and actions with the rest of creation.  Because God is unrelenting in His lordship and reigns over the lives of believers even when we sin, Satan is defeated when we ask for forgiveness and stand in the perfect light of God’s love and forgiving grace.  I can only imagine Satan’s total surprise when Jesus rose from the grave.  Satan so thought he had defeated God when Jesus was crucified because he thought his power was a great as his creator, God. Satan did not know everything. How that must have completely hacked him off and continues to drive the evil one completely crazy.

When all is said and done, at God’s appointed time, when He reconciles the world back unto Himself, Satan will be forever cast away from God’s divine Presence and his humiliation will be public, painful and endless.  Somewhere in Satan’s thoughts he knows there is not one thing he can do about it.  Our deliverance has been won by the love of God and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Take joy in the journey.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep, especially all who are going back into the classroom because I know it is hard to sleep the night before school starts.  Count your blessings and say your prayers.  Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com     

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

Happy Thursday! 

Completed the first week of classes and tomorrow I graduate from CPE and defend my final evaluation.  Please offer a prayer for me!

Prayer:  “Father, I will trust in Your faithfulness that I will not be tempted beyond what I am able and that by Your grace, You will make a way of escape. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen”

1 Corinthians 10: 13 “No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.”

“And do not lead us into temptation.”

Luke 11: 4B

I have always had a little trouble with this verse in the prayer.  Why would God lead us into temptation?  One of my favorite principals had a sign in her office that said, “Lead me not into temptation for I can find it myself.”  I always laughed at this.  But perhaps this verse does not mean for God to lead us into temptation.  Maybe it means that whatever temptations we face that they would not overwhelm us.  What if we restated it and said, “Lord, if I am tempted today, help me to be able to resist it and let it not overwhelm me.”  Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, but He was not overwhelmed by the temptations.  He was exhausted, hungry, thirsty and in a weakened condition and yet He was able with withstand the temptations by Satan by standing firm on God’s Word.  He was physically weakened but not helpless. 

We can be the same.  We come across temptations every day and yet most of the time we are not helpless, we just make a choice to either give in or remember the One Who modeled how not to surrender to the temptation.  Because of God’s grace we can overcome temptation and not let it overwhelm us.  Stand firm on the Word.

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

Prayer please:  Geni’s job title changed today.  She had prepared to team teach with another teacher and teach two classes per day of kinder math while the other teacher taught the literacy portion.  Her principal told her today that she would be teaching a self-contained kinder class.  So she will teach all subjects.  Geni has a lot of reworking to do in her classroom and making of different lesson plans.  She was upset about this earlier because of the last minute change, but she is equal to the task. Please pray for her.