Happy Saturday!

It actually felt rather nice this morning to put on jeans and boots after two weeks of shorts, sandals and summer style dresses!

Prayer: “Lord, help me to walk in fellowship and communion with You today! Thank You for Your promise to guide my steps and direct my thoughts. Today, Lord, give me an opportunity to tell someone about You! In Your name I pray, Amen.”

Colossians 1: 9-10 “We also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

The other night we were all sitting at the table at dinner when Travis announced that he is going to go back to school, but he is not going to study to become a teacher, which had been his last declaration. Now he decided he is going to study to become a physical therapist, a prior interest. Travis has said for the last year or so that he wanted to be a teacher and teach history and also be a strength and conditioning coach in athletics. But due to the current storm in the field of education in Texas he has decided not to pursue his first choice of a career. He has watched me for 20 years and observed his sister over the last four and knows the ins and outs of the field as well as the benefits. And now due to the current crisis he has changed his mind. How many others will the education system never see because of this disaster? How many colleges and universities will see fewer students study to become teachers because of uncertainty in the system even though all they have ever wanted to become are teachers? How many professors will not have jobs because they do not have students to teach? And how many children and young adults will not be taught by those who are called (and make no mistake, teaching is a calling) to this profession due to the shaky ground on which the system currently rests? Can you imagine the heartbreak those who are graduating from colleges and universities in May with teaching degrees and no jobs on the horizon due to the statewide hiring freezes? (I know of one personally!) This trickle down could go on for a while.

This scripture passage clearly calls us to “Pray without ceasing.” This prayer asks for the person praying to be filled with the knowledge of God and in ALL wisdom and understanding. What a powerful way to pray! This type of praying is praying in boldness to let your concerns be made known to God. But I also believe that this type of praying requires working through the wisdom and understanding God gives us.

Remember God does not zap us with wisdom and understanding fully formed. God gives us opportunities to grow in wisdom and understanding and in the knowledge of God. In order for this crisis to be resolved then wisdom, understanding and knowledge beyond ourselves and those who make the decisions must be sought after in prayer.

My dear friends please lift up in your prayers this passage of scripture and claim it for all who are in need of peace, resolution and for some a place to begin again.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Remember everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all and see you in worship, 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.