Happy Tuesday!

The basement of Arlington Memorial Hospital is where Bruce will begin cardiac rehab in the morning. He will attend exercise rehab three days per week and one day per week in instruction. There will be classes in nutrition, medication, and many other things. I cannot exercise with Bruce, but I can attend the classes with him. There is a Phase 3 program that I can join while Bruce is doing rehab, but it is in a different part of the hospital. After he has completed the 12 weeks of rehab then he graduates to Phase 3. We can join Phase 3 together later on. Pretty cool huh?! Bruce is really excited to begin! We ask your continued prayers as he begins this new phase of healing.

Prayer: “Oh Lord, I desire to use what Your grace has given me to benefit You, Your kingdom and others today. May my life bring glory to You. Amen.”

Ephesians 4:7 “To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

We are one in Christ Jesus. We are one body, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God (Ephesians 4: 3-6). We have a lot in common and one amazing gift that God has given us that unifies us is the grace of God. We are unified and covered in God’s grace.

But just because we are unified by the “amazing grace of God” does not mean that we must practice uniformity. God created each one of us differently and gave each of us different talents. God has given each of us the same gifts of grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, prayer and love (just to name a few.) But our talents vary as many as there are believers in Christ. Some of us are listeners and some are speakers. Some of us are servant leaders and some of us are servant helpers. We have different passions and different ways God has called us into service.

As an example, Bruce has a passion for the prison ministry. His passion is so strong that he has been involved for 20 years and he still loves to serve in this place of forgotten people.

My best friend Carme has a passion for service in her church and to further breast cancer research and is very involved in the Susan B. Komen projects. She participates in the walks, fund raisers and for her every good and perfect thing is pink!

The gifts and talents God has given us are to be used to build up the kingdom of God here on earth. God wants the gifts and talents He has given to us to unify us and not be ways to divide us. We do not have to announce our gifts and talents from the rooftop in boasting we just have to put the gifts and talents into practice and ask Christ to use us to further His kingdom here on earth. I have shared with you that Bruce signs off on each email, “Preach Christ every day. Use words if necessary.” Once we understand that God’s grace is undeserved, unearned and has been given as a gift of love then we can use them with humility, just as God intends. Let God be showcased in our lives today!

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and drink plenty of water. 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.