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Happy Saturday!
Today in the mail I received a letter from Dr. Melody Johnson, Superintendant of FWISD, and a lovely certificate from FWISD. The letter simply said thank you for my years of service and how much they appreciated my teaching. It really brought home that in less than 48 hours I will be a retired teacher. Bruce held me in his arms as I cried. I tearfully asked him if I was doing the right thing. He said a resounding, “yes.” It seems like such a short time ago that I walked into Frankie Batts’ office (24 years ago!) and interviewed with her and was hired in FWISD. I walked into that classroom with the substitute, Johnnie Steptoe, who was doing grades, and I began to teach. I did not get a move-in day or anything. I just walked in and started to teach.
Tomorrow, I will be the supply preacher at the Rocket and Palmer Christian churches. God does not waste any time when He has a plan for you!
Prayer: “Father, You are worthy of all praise and adoration. I yield my life to You today. I want to submit to Your will. Thank you for another day to enjoy Your blessings and to love life to the fullest. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Being a Christian means so much more than just going to heaven when we die. I really dislike those folks who come to my door or stop me and ask, “If you died today do you know where you would spend eternity?” Especially when I answer, “Yes, in heaven with Christ” and they don’t even hear me. They just keep on talking.
Living a life with Christ is still so much better than a life without Christ and anything the world has to offer. When we allow the truth of God’s Word to be in our lives each day we experience joy, peace and contentment not only in our own hearts, but in our relationships.
The passage says that the spirit that raised Christ from the dead is the same spirit that gives life to our bodies. Our bodies are what receive the Word. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks God’s Word to us and allows us to understand its meaning. When we understand the Word then we begin to understand God’s purpose for our life in this world. Each time we allow God’s Word to change our hearts then we become more like Christ. We enter into abundant life and have the blessed hope of spending eternity in heaven with the One who created us and paid the price for our salvation. Thank you Jesus!
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Thank you, my dear friends, readers and mighty prayer warriors. I love you all. Love you, 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.
In your prayers tonight please continue to pray for the diagnosticians who are working with the Rev. C.D Haun. Also, please pray that Bruce continues to feel well as he will see the surgeon on Tuesday. Please pray that the words of my mouth and heart are acceptable in God’s sight as I preach in the morning (twice). Also, peace for me as I retire on Monday.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Happy Thursday!
Prayer: “Father, I confess You as my Lord and Savior today. You are King of my heart and life. My heart’s desire is to please You in everything I do. Help me constantly to listen to Your still, small voice and follow You wherever You lead me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Psalm 86: 4-5 “Rejoice the soul of Your servant for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant is mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Did you ever have trouble forgiving someone? Generally speaking I am pretty quick to forgive. And right now I really do not have time for unforgiveness in my heart. I have too many other things to think about with retiring, cleaning out a classroom and Bruce’s surgery. Carrying around unforgiveness takes up space in my brain and does not allow me to focus clearly on the things God has placed before us. It is sort of like when weeds have been sewn into the garden. Weeds tend to take over the garden and can take away all of the nutrients from the soil that are meant for the good plants. When I am carrying around unforgiveness then it takes over my thoughts and becomes the forefront of my thinking.
Harboring resentment (an element of unforgiveness) in our hearts and refusing to forgive others harms us more than the one who actually committed the sin against us. When we decide to forgive and reconcile with the one who has offended us then we are more like Christ, and results in a healed relationship.
God is always ready to forgive us when we call upon Him and ask. So if we are to be more Christ like then we must be ready to offer the same forgiveness to others who have hurt us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Pray for God to bring healing to a broken relationship through the awesome power of forgiveness. 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.
Prayer: “Father, I confess You as my Lord and Savior today. You are King of my heart and life. My heart’s desire is to please You in everything I do. Help me constantly to listen to Your still, small voice and follow You wherever You lead me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Psalm 86: 4-5 “Rejoice the soul of Your servant for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant is mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Did you ever have trouble forgiving someone? Generally speaking I am pretty quick to forgive. And right now I really do not have time for unforgiveness in my heart. I have too many other things to think about with retiring, cleaning out a classroom and Bruce’s surgery. Carrying around unforgiveness takes up space in my brain and does not allow me to focus clearly on the things God has placed before us. It is sort of like when weeds have been sewn into the garden. Weeds tend to take over the garden and can take away all of the nutrients from the soil that are meant for the good plants. When I am carrying around unforgiveness then it takes over my thoughts and becomes the forefront of my thinking.
Harboring resentment (an element of unforgiveness) in our hearts and refusing to forgive others harms us more than the one who actually committed the sin against us. When we decide to forgive and reconcile with the one who has offended us then we are more like Christ, and results in a healed relationship.
God is always ready to forgive us when we call upon Him and ask. So if we are to be more Christ like then we must be ready to offer the same forgiveness to others who have hurt us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Pray for God to bring healing to a broken relationship through the awesome power of forgiveness. 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.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Happy Wednesday!
Prayer: “Lord, Thank you for this new day with great opportunities to serve You. I pray for wisdom and discernment to make good decisions today. I don’t want to allow the pressures of life to take priority over staying in fellowship with You throughout the day. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on You in every circumstance. Amen.”
Philippians 2: 13-14 “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
It has been my joy and pleasure to be a public school educator for the last 30 years. I remember, as a 6 year old, coming home from the first day of first grade and knowing that someday I would become a school teacher. When grown-ups would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always a teacher. When I graduated UNT with a degree in music education and began looking for employment I was always asked the question, “What do you want to be?” My stock answer was a retired teacher. And here I am.
In those 30 years I tried to leave my personal life daily at the front door of my school and focus on the education of the children in my charge. It was my job to effect change in the lives of those in my classroom and focus all of my attention and abilities on that task. I have been privileged over the years to watch little ones who could barely hold a pencil on the first day of school become able readers, writers, critical thinkers and good citizens by the last day of the school year. It is and has been amazing work and it has been my joy to do this for thirty years.
As I read this passage tonight I began to think about how God works in us. God is going to accomplish His will no matter what my attitude is. I can choose to stay in fellowship with Him and rejoice in being a part of what He is doing or I can allow the stuff going on in my life that really has no eternal meaning to take away the joy God is so graciously placing in my view and in my path.
The longer I walk with the Father the more I see that we all experience distractions in our lives that could take our eyes off of what Jesus has in store for us, but all of those distractions pale in comparison to the indescribable joy we experience when God’s will for our lives is His good pleasure as He works His will in our lives.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When you pray give thanks and glorify God for His will in your life. Bruce is going to the cardiologist for a follow-up to his heart cath tomorrow. And I think little Cambri’s surgery is tomorrow. Please pray for them. 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.
Prayer: “Lord, Thank you for this new day with great opportunities to serve You. I pray for wisdom and discernment to make good decisions today. I don’t want to allow the pressures of life to take priority over staying in fellowship with You throughout the day. Help me keep my heart and mind focused on You in every circumstance. Amen.”
Philippians 2: 13-14 “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
It has been my joy and pleasure to be a public school educator for the last 30 years. I remember, as a 6 year old, coming home from the first day of first grade and knowing that someday I would become a school teacher. When grown-ups would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always a teacher. When I graduated UNT with a degree in music education and began looking for employment I was always asked the question, “What do you want to be?” My stock answer was a retired teacher. And here I am.
In those 30 years I tried to leave my personal life daily at the front door of my school and focus on the education of the children in my charge. It was my job to effect change in the lives of those in my classroom and focus all of my attention and abilities on that task. I have been privileged over the years to watch little ones who could barely hold a pencil on the first day of school become able readers, writers, critical thinkers and good citizens by the last day of the school year. It is and has been amazing work and it has been my joy to do this for thirty years.
As I read this passage tonight I began to think about how God works in us. God is going to accomplish His will no matter what my attitude is. I can choose to stay in fellowship with Him and rejoice in being a part of what He is doing or I can allow the stuff going on in my life that really has no eternal meaning to take away the joy God is so graciously placing in my view and in my path.
The longer I walk with the Father the more I see that we all experience distractions in our lives that could take our eyes off of what Jesus has in store for us, but all of those distractions pale in comparison to the indescribable joy we experience when God’s will for our lives is His good pleasure as He works His will in our lives.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When you pray give thanks and glorify God for His will in your life. Bruce is going to the cardiologist for a follow-up to his heart cath tomorrow. And I think little Cambri’s surgery is tomorrow. Please pray for them. 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, May 31, 2011
Happy Tuesday!
Four more days with the students. The upper grade kids are helping me pack and get ready for Bruce and Travis to come and take a large load to storage. It is really interesting to pack up 30 years of your life into some boxes and try to decide what to keep and what to throw. Tomorrow I will be a part of my final awards assembly. It is a time of check-off lists.
Prayer: “God, I acknowledge You as my Lord and Savior. You are the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Thank You for loving me and for providing a way for me to have a personal relationship with You through Jesus. I am ready to obey You today. Make me sensitive to Your leadership. I surrender to Your will. My heart’s desire is to bless You in everything I do. Amen.”
Colossians 3: 16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” I read these words tonight and was called back to remember that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. And that knowing, praising and honoring God through Christ is my first calling. It does not matter to what ministry I have been called as long as I remember to keep my eyes focused on Christ.
It is sort of like my classroom right now. When I walk into my classroom I am overwhelmed by the amount of work still needed to be accomplished in just a few short days. It is easy to become distracted or discouraged especially with teaching that still needs to be conducted and interruptions throughout the day so close to the end of the school year. It is easy to begin one task before completing another already begun. The bottom line is that the room must be packed and ready and the only way to accomplish this task is to stay focused.
Worshiping God in Christ is the primary task that each one of us is called. When we lose focus on this we become less effective in accomplishing what He has asked up to do; in my case to enact the calling given by God that I have accepted. When we remember to worship and honor God in all we say and do we become better disciples of Jesus. When we remember to worship and honor Christ first then whatever service God has called us to do will be right and true because of the gift of faith and the indwelling of wisdom God has placed in each of us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Remember in your prayers tonight to pray for infant Cambri who is facing surgery soon as well as Bruce and our pastor friend, C.D. Haun, who is currently at the Mayo Clinic. Also spend a little time in the Word. That is where we learn of God’s wisdom. 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.
Four more days with the students. The upper grade kids are helping me pack and get ready for Bruce and Travis to come and take a large load to storage. It is really interesting to pack up 30 years of your life into some boxes and try to decide what to keep and what to throw. Tomorrow I will be a part of my final awards assembly. It is a time of check-off lists.
Prayer: “God, I acknowledge You as my Lord and Savior. You are the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Thank You for loving me and for providing a way for me to have a personal relationship with You through Jesus. I am ready to obey You today. Make me sensitive to Your leadership. I surrender to Your will. My heart’s desire is to bless You in everything I do. Amen.”
Colossians 3: 16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” I read these words tonight and was called back to remember that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. And that knowing, praising and honoring God through Christ is my first calling. It does not matter to what ministry I have been called as long as I remember to keep my eyes focused on Christ.
It is sort of like my classroom right now. When I walk into my classroom I am overwhelmed by the amount of work still needed to be accomplished in just a few short days. It is easy to become distracted or discouraged especially with teaching that still needs to be conducted and interruptions throughout the day so close to the end of the school year. It is easy to begin one task before completing another already begun. The bottom line is that the room must be packed and ready and the only way to accomplish this task is to stay focused.
Worshiping God in Christ is the primary task that each one of us is called. When we lose focus on this we become less effective in accomplishing what He has asked up to do; in my case to enact the calling given by God that I have accepted. When we remember to worship and honor God in all we say and do we become better disciples of Jesus. When we remember to worship and honor Christ first then whatever service God has called us to do will be right and true because of the gift of faith and the indwelling of wisdom God has placed in each of us.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Remember in your prayers tonight to pray for infant Cambri who is facing surgery soon as well as Bruce and our pastor friend, C.D. Haun, who is currently at the Mayo Clinic. Also spend a little time in the Word. That is where we learn of God’s wisdom. 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 30, 2011
Happy Memorial Day Monday!
Prayer: “Father, thank You for a new day filled with new mercies, grace sufficient for my every need, and love that endures forever. I ask You to bless my thoughts, actions, and reactions today. Help me to see others with a heart of compassion and to be willing to share Jesus’ love with the people I meet. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Hebrews 6: 17-18 “God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”
Bruce and I have always treasured our children. We have always loved having them around and have tried to keep them close. Even when they are apart from us they know that we are there if they need us. They count on the knowledge that we will love them no matter what and that our love for them is unconditional. We have never told a serious lie to them and have always told them that if they have done something that we would rather know the truth even if we will not like it. Bruce and I are not perfect and have made our share of mistakes in raising our family, but our love for them has never been in doubt.
In this passage of scripture God tells us that when He does something for us He does not do it half way. He always does His work in us and for us exceedingly, abundantly and beyond anything we can imagine. God made sure we saw the extent of His love for us in His unchanging Word and confirmed the covenant made with us through the sacrificial blood of His son, Jesus Christ. Because of these two “immutable” things we can know without a doubt that God loves us with an everlasting love and we can always run to Him for refuge. God always speaks the truth in his Word to us and we can faithfully count on His extravagant love poured out on us, His children and joint heirs with Jesus.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Remember when you pray tonight to continue to keep Bruce and little Cambri and her family in your prayers this week. 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.
Prayer: “Father, thank You for a new day filled with new mercies, grace sufficient for my every need, and love that endures forever. I ask You to bless my thoughts, actions, and reactions today. Help me to see others with a heart of compassion and to be willing to share Jesus’ love with the people I meet. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Hebrews 6: 17-18 “God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”
Bruce and I have always treasured our children. We have always loved having them around and have tried to keep them close. Even when they are apart from us they know that we are there if they need us. They count on the knowledge that we will love them no matter what and that our love for them is unconditional. We have never told a serious lie to them and have always told them that if they have done something that we would rather know the truth even if we will not like it. Bruce and I are not perfect and have made our share of mistakes in raising our family, but our love for them has never been in doubt.
In this passage of scripture God tells us that when He does something for us He does not do it half way. He always does His work in us and for us exceedingly, abundantly and beyond anything we can imagine. God made sure we saw the extent of His love for us in His unchanging Word and confirmed the covenant made with us through the sacrificial blood of His son, Jesus Christ. Because of these two “immutable” things we can know without a doubt that God loves us with an everlasting love and we can always run to Him for refuge. God always speaks the truth in his Word to us and we can faithfully count on His extravagant love poured out on us, His children and joint heirs with Jesus.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Remember when you pray tonight to continue to keep Bruce and little Cambri and her family in your prayers this week. 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.
WOW! What an awesome day. Worship was excellent this morning. We spent the remainder of the day entertaining family and friends.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father. You have began a good work in each of us by cleansing us in the blood of Jesus and empowering us by your Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, please continue to help me by working in me through your amazing love. In the name of Jesus, I pray.”
Acts 14 tells the story of Phillip who encountered a man from Ethiopia. Phillip listened to this man, shared the story of Jesus with him and encouraged the man to share the story with others. This story happened 2000 years ago. This story is the same story for each of us. When we come into relationship with Jesus we are all given the same tasks. First, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves and second, we are to tell others about Jesus. The Apostle Paul did not start out loving Jesus.
In fact, Paul was the one who was condemning to death those who believed in Jesus. But as soon as Paul came into relationship with Jesus he began to listen to others and tell them about his Lord and Savior. God took one who had spent his life disdaining the name of Jesus and changed him into the greatest champion for Christ ever recorded in the Holy Scriptures. God began a good work in Phillip and Paul and they were obedient. God calls us to go and do likewise.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When you pray I ask you to pray especially for an infant girl in our church. Her name is Cambri. She is just a few months old and is facing surgery this week due to a non-functioning liver and some other issues. I ask that you pray for perfection in all who tend to her and that the angels from heaven encircle her with God’s love so that she knows that God is with her. 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! What an awesome day. Worship was excellent this morning. We spent the remainder of the day entertaining family and friends.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father. You have began a good work in each of us by cleansing us in the blood of Jesus and empowering us by your Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, please continue to help me by working in me through your amazing love. In the name of Jesus, I pray.”
Acts 14 tells the story of Phillip who encountered a man from Ethiopia. Phillip listened to this man, shared the story of Jesus with him and encouraged the man to share the story with others. This story happened 2000 years ago. This story is the same story for each of us. When we come into relationship with Jesus we are all given the same tasks. First, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves and second, we are to tell others about Jesus. The Apostle Paul did not start out loving Jesus.
In fact, Paul was the one who was condemning to death those who believed in Jesus. But as soon as Paul came into relationship with Jesus he began to listen to others and tell them about his Lord and Savior. God took one who had spent his life disdaining the name of Jesus and changed him into the greatest champion for Christ ever recorded in the Holy Scriptures. God began a good work in Phillip and Paul and they were obedient. God calls us to go and do likewise.
Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. When you pray I ask you to pray especially for an infant girl in our church. Her name is Cambri. She is just a few months old and is facing surgery this week due to a non-functioning liver and some other issues. I ask that you pray for perfection in all who tend to her and that the angels from heaven encircle her with God’s love so that she knows that God is with her. 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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