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Happy Tuesday! I finished my mid-term! I took the test online. I am allowed 2 ½ hours to take the test. There is a timer that once you begin does not stop. I took the test in 149 min and 28 sec. About 7 minutes before time ran out I completed all of my answers and set about checking the answers and running the spell check when the ecollege window popped up and said I had a user error. I then almost had a stroke. I saved all of my answers and called my professor. Dr. Jones told me not to panic and he gave me extra time and a possible solution to the problem. To make this long story short, the test logged me off and instructed me to logon again. Praise God! When I re-logged on to the test all of my answers were still in place. I submitted the test and called Dr. Jones to let him know I had submitted the test. Now all I have left is the final belief paper and the remaining class sessions.
Bruce left this morning for San Antonio for the funeral of our friend Buck Wunderlich. He as a former Marine and had a military funeral. Bruce then went to see Carme and Dave. He says they are doing well. The funeral of my friend and co-worker Mechelle Berg’s mother was today in the Fort Worth area.
Luke 1: 78 says, “With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.”
On our way to Denton last night Bruce and I were talking about all the people we know whose lives have been claimed by cancer since October. Since losing Casey we have had six friends who have lost their battle with cancer. And two more who have battled the disease and are currently in remission. Praise God!! My principal and I were talking this afternoon and she has had a similar experience with this disease seeming to be all around us. You know that experience of when you buy a car and you have never really noticed that make of car before and now they are everywhere. It makes me wonder if I have just been so self absorbed that I have not seen the suffering of my friends. Have I been blinded somehow and not seen others in need? As I said to Bruce, “Does it seem like we are surrounded by this devastating disease?”
Tonight I read this scripture and it lifted my spirits. This disease may be all around us, but God’s tender mercies are inside of us. God loves us so much that all He wants from us is to be in relationship with us. We can choose to let the things of this world get us down or we can seek out God’s loving kindness to fill the broken places and seal the cracks in our souls with His love and healing grace. God’s grace is merciful and He promises us a new day from heaven. When I think of heaven I think of a place that is so filled with light that darkness can never reach it. God tells us in His Word that His loving mercy will bring a new day from heaven. A day filled with light because it is filled with God’s light.
When there are times it feels like the darkness is never going to end remember the psalmist says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” This scripture from Luke echoes the Old Testament promise. God will send a new day; a day filled with love, light and God’s tender mercies. Trust God to bring the dawn of a new day.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
PS Please pray travel mercy for Bruce as he is travelling home tomorrow from Carme and Dave’s. Thank you, gc
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Happy Monday! Back to school. This is the toughest part of the year. There is still a lot to teach and the children still have much to learn, but they are already thinking summer break. At faculty meeting this afternoon one of our teachers mentioned that we have only 11 more Mondays after today. Before long we will count Fridays. I will keep you posted. The asbestos abatement has begun in our building. We have been told we will be moved to temporaries while our rooms are gutted. I have been in that room for nine years. Moving is going to be a huge undertaking.
Tonight Bruce and I traveled to Denton to see Geni be inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. It was so cool. She received a certificate, pin, t-shirt and cords. We are so proud. Way to go Geni!!
Luke 1: 45 says, “You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”
This is the story of Mary, mother of Jesus, visiting her Aunt Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. I love this scene in the story of Jesus. Here is Elizabeth who is far too old to have a child and she is to bear the forerunner of Jesus. Then there is Mary, who is far too young by our standards to bear a child, let alone the Son of God. Mary has been sent away by her family because she is pregnant out of wedlock. The town of Nazareth has their tongues wagging at this scandal for sure. At the greeting of Elizabeth to Mary, though, the unborn child, John, leaped in her womb. Elizabeth is given a special gift of knowledge. Elizabeth knows that the child her niece is carrying is the Son of God. No one told her this, her faith in God and her openness to listening to the Holy Spirit told her of this mysterious birth. The scripture says when the child leaped inside her, she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mary and Elizabeth were totally captured by the Holy Spirit. They were willing to face alienation from family and friends to carry out the will of God. God asked these two women to birth, raise and nurture the Son of God and the one who would prepare the people for His coming. What is our job as parents? When we stand with our children at baptism we promise to raise them in Christian homes where scripture is read, lead godly lives and take them to worship, teach them the commandments etc…When you think about it, that is what Elizabeth and Mary did. They raised their boys in godly homes, taught them the commandments, took them to temple. These women surrendered their sons over to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God had world changing plans for these young men. These women had the faith to believe that if God brought them to it, God would see them through it.
Raising children is never easy. And we can only do the best we can. Our best can be made better if we trust in Christ to help us raise our children. God has world changing plans for our children. God gives us the blessing and gift of faith. God will help us raise our children if we will just turn to Him in prayer and ask for His help. Let us all, as parents of children still at home, parents of children no longer at home, parents who are parenting for a second time, and those who are waiting to become parents, give thanks for our children, pray for our children and pray for ourselves to take seriously the commissioning of God at baptism and lead godly lives of faith.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
PS Please pray travel mercy for Bruce tomorrow as he travels to San Antonio for the funeral of Buck Wunderlich. Pray for me as I take my test. Love you, gc
Tonight Bruce and I traveled to Denton to see Geni be inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. It was so cool. She received a certificate, pin, t-shirt and cords. We are so proud. Way to go Geni!!
Luke 1: 45 says, “You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”
This is the story of Mary, mother of Jesus, visiting her Aunt Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. I love this scene in the story of Jesus. Here is Elizabeth who is far too old to have a child and she is to bear the forerunner of Jesus. Then there is Mary, who is far too young by our standards to bear a child, let alone the Son of God. Mary has been sent away by her family because she is pregnant out of wedlock. The town of Nazareth has their tongues wagging at this scandal for sure. At the greeting of Elizabeth to Mary, though, the unborn child, John, leaped in her womb. Elizabeth is given a special gift of knowledge. Elizabeth knows that the child her niece is carrying is the Son of God. No one told her this, her faith in God and her openness to listening to the Holy Spirit told her of this mysterious birth. The scripture says when the child leaped inside her, she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mary and Elizabeth were totally captured by the Holy Spirit. They were willing to face alienation from family and friends to carry out the will of God. God asked these two women to birth, raise and nurture the Son of God and the one who would prepare the people for His coming. What is our job as parents? When we stand with our children at baptism we promise to raise them in Christian homes where scripture is read, lead godly lives and take them to worship, teach them the commandments etc…When you think about it, that is what Elizabeth and Mary did. They raised their boys in godly homes, taught them the commandments, took them to temple. These women surrendered their sons over to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God had world changing plans for these young men. These women had the faith to believe that if God brought them to it, God would see them through it.
Raising children is never easy. And we can only do the best we can. Our best can be made better if we trust in Christ to help us raise our children. God has world changing plans for our children. God gives us the blessing and gift of faith. God will help us raise our children if we will just turn to Him in prayer and ask for His help. Let us all, as parents of children still at home, parents of children no longer at home, parents who are parenting for a second time, and those who are waiting to become parents, give thanks for our children, pray for our children and pray for ourselves to take seriously the commissioning of God at baptism and lead godly lives of faith.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
PS Please pray travel mercy for Bruce tomorrow as he travels to San Antonio for the funeral of Buck Wunderlich. Pray for me as I take my test. Love you, gc
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Happy and blessed Sunday to you all! Worship was excellent today. And I finished my mid-term review. There is one question about Luther and justification by grace. The answer I have prepared for this question is almost two pages long. I figure since I am the token Lutheran in the entire seminary if that question is presented then I am duty bound to answer. There are 8 questions for which to prepare. Six questions will be presented. I will be asked to choose 3. Pray for me and wish me luck.
I am using the study notes from the new Lutheran Study Bible. I just received our Bibles today. Bruce and I each have a bible and we donated one to the church in memory of Casey. I think Casey would have liked that.
Worship was wonderful today. Pastor Marc Hander preached today in Pastor Joel’s absence. Pastor Marc read from the book of Nehemiah the first chapter. The first chapter is a prayer for forgiveness of sins. The prayer is spoken by Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. What a terrible job. The cup bearer to the king had the job of selecting the wine prior to it being served to the king to make sure the king did not receive poison wine. Such a role, as cupbearer, Nehemiah had frequent access to the king. Nehemiah spoke of God’s chosen people. When he prayed this prayer he asked God for the forgiveness of the sins of His chosen people.
Nehemiah called the nation of Israel by their name; God’s chosen people.
Names seem to attract our attention. When we were baptized we, too, were given a name. We were named “children of God.” In the book of John chapter 8, you will find the story of the adulterous woman. She had a name. Not a very nice one, but Jesus changed all of that. When she was identified by her sin, Jesus asked the others who were ready to stone her for the ones who were without sin to cast their stones. Then Jesus identified each of her accusers by their sins with the writing in the sand. After they all walked away Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven; now go and sin no more.” Jesus gave her a new name; child of God.
Jesus is the cupbearer for our sins. We are offered the cup each week and in that cup is forgiveness. Jesus says to us the same thing, “Your sins are forgiven, now go and sin no more.” We are called to be the cupbearer for Christ. We are asked to offer the cup of forgiveness to all just as Christ did so long ago and just as He does each moment and day of our lives. The cool thing is that cup never runs dry. No matter how many times we sin and even if we commit the same sins over and over again, the cup is still offered and complete forgiveness is given. With so much forgiveness given to us, how can we not forgive those who (as the prayer says) “sin against us.”
We are called to be the cupbearer for Christ. Jesus forgave us all of our sins now and forever and calls us by His name; we are children of God. Offer the cup to all who are in need. We can offer it with the assurance that the wine is perfect because we have total access to the King.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all and have a great week. Love, 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.
PS Tomorrow evening Bruce and I will travel to Denton to watch Geni be inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. We are so proud of our daughter. Travis will travel at the end of the week to New York with the Lamar Choir for competition. Bruce will travel to the San Antonio area to the funeral of Buck Wunderlich and then to visit Carme and Dave. We ask your travel mercy on all of family travels this week. God bless you all. gc
I am using the study notes from the new Lutheran Study Bible. I just received our Bibles today. Bruce and I each have a bible and we donated one to the church in memory of Casey. I think Casey would have liked that.
Worship was wonderful today. Pastor Marc Hander preached today in Pastor Joel’s absence. Pastor Marc read from the book of Nehemiah the first chapter. The first chapter is a prayer for forgiveness of sins. The prayer is spoken by Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. What a terrible job. The cup bearer to the king had the job of selecting the wine prior to it being served to the king to make sure the king did not receive poison wine. Such a role, as cupbearer, Nehemiah had frequent access to the king. Nehemiah spoke of God’s chosen people. When he prayed this prayer he asked God for the forgiveness of the sins of His chosen people.
Nehemiah called the nation of Israel by their name; God’s chosen people.
Names seem to attract our attention. When we were baptized we, too, were given a name. We were named “children of God.” In the book of John chapter 8, you will find the story of the adulterous woman. She had a name. Not a very nice one, but Jesus changed all of that. When she was identified by her sin, Jesus asked the others who were ready to stone her for the ones who were without sin to cast their stones. Then Jesus identified each of her accusers by their sins with the writing in the sand. After they all walked away Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven; now go and sin no more.” Jesus gave her a new name; child of God.
Jesus is the cupbearer for our sins. We are offered the cup each week and in that cup is forgiveness. Jesus says to us the same thing, “Your sins are forgiven, now go and sin no more.” We are called to be the cupbearer for Christ. We are asked to offer the cup of forgiveness to all just as Christ did so long ago and just as He does each moment and day of our lives. The cool thing is that cup never runs dry. No matter how many times we sin and even if we commit the same sins over and over again, the cup is still offered and complete forgiveness is given. With so much forgiveness given to us, how can we not forgive those who (as the prayer says) “sin against us.”
We are called to be the cupbearer for Christ. Jesus forgave us all of our sins now and forever and calls us by His name; we are children of God. Offer the cup to all who are in need. We can offer it with the assurance that the wine is perfect because we have total access to the King.
Take joy in the journey. Love you all and have a great week. Love, 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.
PS Tomorrow evening Bruce and I will travel to Denton to watch Geni be inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. We are so proud of our daughter. Travis will travel at the end of the week to New York with the Lamar Choir for competition. Bruce will travel to the San Antonio area to the funeral of Buck Wunderlich and then to visit Carme and Dave. We ask your travel mercy on all of family travels this week. God bless you all. gc
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Happy Saturday! I am hoping to complete my mid-term review today. I received B’s on both of my papers I submitted this week. I still have a ways to go to become an academic writer. My professor wrote some notes and I wrote back to him saying that I am better at expressing my beliefs on a subject and will work harder on writing an academic paper. My GPA is pretty good and if I can keep a good GPA after this semester I will receive a 70% tuition grant as I will be off of probation at Brite. (Everyone starts on probation).
Today’s devotion is continuing from the Max Lucado book, And the Angels Were Silent.
Matthew 21:3 says, “If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkey, say that the Lord needs it, and he will send it at once.”
This story is repeated in all four gospels. I have always loved this story and argued with people about why the donkey was surrendered so obediently? Can you imagine how the disciples sent to get the donkey must have felt? Did they ask Jesus, “Are you nuts? We are just supposed to go up to this total stranger and untie the donkey and walk away with his property? What if the owner asks what we are doing and we are just supposed to say the Lord has need of it? Is the owner going to call the local authorities? You know Jesus, they crucify people for stealing. Are you sure?”
In this passage, special attention needs to be considered in the use of language in the request. The language is a royal request. It was ancient law which required the citizen to give to the king anything the king requests. In the words “the Lord has need,” Jesus is declaring Himself the king. Jesus is speaking as one in authority.
Jesus is stating that as king He has rights to any possession of His subjects. Think about it. This is the only time that Jesus leads the parade. In His life Jesus has always been in the midst of the people, never out front except when He was preaching. And when Jesus finally leads the people, He arrives on a donkey. He does not arrive with a mighty and beautiful horse, a symbol of power, might, authority and leadership. He leads on a lowly donkey. The same beast that brought His mother, Mary to the stable in Bethlehem is the same beast that carried Him “triumphantly” into Jerusalem for the final time. The donkey is a beast of burden. The donkey would faithfully and without complaining carry loads far greater than his size and strength should allow. But yet, the donkey moved forward until it reached its destination. Not an animal that was ever celebrated, but an animal that was common. But how God used that common animal in such an uncommon way!
Let’s look at some other “donkeys” of which the Lord has had need; Moses’ rod, Rahab’s rope, Mary’s oil, David’s sling and Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross piece for Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. All of these acts of the people were donkeys. God had need of these acts of faith. These were all acts of faith made by people who were asked by God with the request, “the Lord has need.”
So I guess my question to myself and you is, “what is the donkey in my (our) life of which the Lord has need? And when He asks will I recognize His voice and surrender my donkey without question?”
God prepares those He calls and when the preparation is complete He asks us to surrender that which He has called us to do over to Him. Friends, there is nothing extraordinary about me. But God has allowed me to see and experience extraordinary events in my life that have caused amazing changes in me and what I believe to be the course of my future.
What is the donkey in your life? What is the act of faith you need to surrender because “the Lord has need.” We are the kingdom of God, Body of Christ. God counts on all of us to further His kingdom. He has chosen us to tell His story. God does not ask us to ride the donkey, He just tells us to surrender over that which we have so He can ride.
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.
PS I think Jesus spoke to the owner of the donkey before He sent the disciples to retrieve the donkey. That makes sense to me.
PSS If there are any teachers out there and your received the TRS letter this week, my brother, Dr. Ken Helvey (love saying that!) is on the ballot for the TRS Board of Directors and asks for your vote. Ken is a wonderful man of faith, the Superintendant of Allen ISD and a totally great guy. You can vote online. Thanks.
PSSS My friend and fellow teacher from Burton Hill lost her mother to cancer yesterday. Her name is Mechelle Berg. Please lift Mechelle and her family in prayer. We also lost a long time friend Buck Wunderlich to cancer earlier this week. He has two sons and also lost his wife and a daughter to cancer. Bruce will travel on Tuesday to the service in New Braunfels. Please lift this family up in prayer. Thanks and peace. gc
Today’s devotion is continuing from the Max Lucado book, And the Angels Were Silent.
Matthew 21:3 says, “If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkey, say that the Lord needs it, and he will send it at once.”
This story is repeated in all four gospels. I have always loved this story and argued with people about why the donkey was surrendered so obediently? Can you imagine how the disciples sent to get the donkey must have felt? Did they ask Jesus, “Are you nuts? We are just supposed to go up to this total stranger and untie the donkey and walk away with his property? What if the owner asks what we are doing and we are just supposed to say the Lord has need of it? Is the owner going to call the local authorities? You know Jesus, they crucify people for stealing. Are you sure?”
In this passage, special attention needs to be considered in the use of language in the request. The language is a royal request. It was ancient law which required the citizen to give to the king anything the king requests. In the words “the Lord has need,” Jesus is declaring Himself the king. Jesus is speaking as one in authority.
Jesus is stating that as king He has rights to any possession of His subjects. Think about it. This is the only time that Jesus leads the parade. In His life Jesus has always been in the midst of the people, never out front except when He was preaching. And when Jesus finally leads the people, He arrives on a donkey. He does not arrive with a mighty and beautiful horse, a symbol of power, might, authority and leadership. He leads on a lowly donkey. The same beast that brought His mother, Mary to the stable in Bethlehem is the same beast that carried Him “triumphantly” into Jerusalem for the final time. The donkey is a beast of burden. The donkey would faithfully and without complaining carry loads far greater than his size and strength should allow. But yet, the donkey moved forward until it reached its destination. Not an animal that was ever celebrated, but an animal that was common. But how God used that common animal in such an uncommon way!
Let’s look at some other “donkeys” of which the Lord has had need; Moses’ rod, Rahab’s rope, Mary’s oil, David’s sling and Simon of Cyrene, who carried the cross piece for Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. All of these acts of the people were donkeys. God had need of these acts of faith. These were all acts of faith made by people who were asked by God with the request, “the Lord has need.”
So I guess my question to myself and you is, “what is the donkey in my (our) life of which the Lord has need? And when He asks will I recognize His voice and surrender my donkey without question?”
God prepares those He calls and when the preparation is complete He asks us to surrender that which He has called us to do over to Him. Friends, there is nothing extraordinary about me. But God has allowed me to see and experience extraordinary events in my life that have caused amazing changes in me and what I believe to be the course of my future.
What is the donkey in your life? What is the act of faith you need to surrender because “the Lord has need.” We are the kingdom of God, Body of Christ. God counts on all of us to further His kingdom. He has chosen us to tell His story. God does not ask us to ride the donkey, He just tells us to surrender over that which we have so He can ride.
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.
PS I think Jesus spoke to the owner of the donkey before He sent the disciples to retrieve the donkey. That makes sense to me.
PSS If there are any teachers out there and your received the TRS letter this week, my brother, Dr. Ken Helvey (love saying that!) is on the ballot for the TRS Board of Directors and asks for your vote. Ken is a wonderful man of faith, the Superintendant of Allen ISD and a totally great guy. You can vote online. Thanks.
PSSS My friend and fellow teacher from Burton Hill lost her mother to cancer yesterday. Her name is Mechelle Berg. Please lift Mechelle and her family in prayer. We also lost a long time friend Buck Wunderlich to cancer earlier this week. He has two sons and also lost his wife and a daughter to cancer. Bruce will travel on Tuesday to the service in New Braunfels. Please lift this family up in prayer. Thanks and peace. gc
Friday, March 20, 2009
Happy Friday! Happy first day of Spring! It is an absolutely beautiful day. I had an early morning appointment today and took a book to read. I love to read Max Lucado. He is a writer who speaks to my soul. Today I began to read, And the Angels Were Silent. This book not only chronicles the last week of the life of Jesus, but intersperses the theme of looking at the true character of people as they are facing death. As a mother who watched her own son die, I also watched the character of Christ grow in Casey. This book and its theme are very near to my heart. I think that the most important lesson Casey taught all of us was not only who to reach for in the hour of death, but the importance of the One he knew better than the rest of us so he could die without fear.
Matthew 20: 28 says, “In the same way, the Son of man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many people.”
The story goes like this…Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier and watched the planes fly off into the darkness on their way to the beach on D-Day. After the last plane disappeared Gen. Eisenhower went to his quarters and wrote a letter to be delivered to the White House the following day. The letter stated that the attack was a failure and he was to blame. Gen. Eisenhower took the blame for the failed attack before the attack ever took place. He took the blame and as a result Gen. Eisenhower became a hero. Jesus took the blame, became our savior and was crucified.
The first piece of fruit was crunched in the Garden of Eden and Jesus began His walk to the cross. Jesus took the sins committed by all now and the sins yet to be committed to the cross with Him on that Friday. Jesus came not to be served, but to be the servant of all by His Father’s will and His Fathers heart. I will use the words of Max Lucado because he explains this concept so well. “Jesus wears the title “the Son of Man.” Jesus did not write the note, but He paid the price. He did not just assume the blame, he seized the sin. “Friends, we must walk to the cross and leave our sins at the foot and Jesus will do the rest. The journey may not be one of joy, but aren’t we glad we can make the trip.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
PS Our friend David Russell came home from the hospital today. Praise God!!! Home health care is in place as well as wound care. He will sleep in Casey’s bed during recuperation and healing. We ask your continued prayers for Dave and Carme. She is still scheduled for breast surgery repair at the end of the month. Thank you, mighty and faithful prayer warriors. gc
Matthew 20: 28 says, “In the same way, the Son of man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many people.”
The story goes like this…Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier and watched the planes fly off into the darkness on their way to the beach on D-Day. After the last plane disappeared Gen. Eisenhower went to his quarters and wrote a letter to be delivered to the White House the following day. The letter stated that the attack was a failure and he was to blame. Gen. Eisenhower took the blame for the failed attack before the attack ever took place. He took the blame and as a result Gen. Eisenhower became a hero. Jesus took the blame, became our savior and was crucified.
The first piece of fruit was crunched in the Garden of Eden and Jesus began His walk to the cross. Jesus took the sins committed by all now and the sins yet to be committed to the cross with Him on that Friday. Jesus came not to be served, but to be the servant of all by His Father’s will and His Fathers heart. I will use the words of Max Lucado because he explains this concept so well. “Jesus wears the title “the Son of Man.” Jesus did not write the note, but He paid the price. He did not just assume the blame, he seized the sin. “Friends, we must walk to the cross and leave our sins at the foot and Jesus will do the rest. The journey may not be one of joy, but aren’t we glad we can make the trip.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
PS Our friend David Russell came home from the hospital today. Praise God!!! Home health care is in place as well as wound care. He will sleep in Casey’s bed during recuperation and healing. We ask your continued prayers for Dave and Carme. She is still scheduled for breast surgery repair at the end of the month. Thank you, mighty and faithful prayer warriors. gc
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Happy Thursday!! What a beautiful day for the last day of winter. When I return to school on Monday, my students and I will take Murray out of his Gevalia Coffee box where he has been hibernating since before Christmas and let him enjoy the beautiful spring weather. In case there are those of you who do not remember, Murray is our Build-a-Bear groundhog.
Today Geni and I went to Howe to visit Mom and Dad. We had lunch at Chili’s with my aunt and then went back to Mom and Dad’s for a wonderful visit for the remainder of the day. It was such a great day. Mom and Dad are doing well as are the rest of the family in the Sherman area.
Mark 15:37-38 says, “Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. The curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from top to bottom.”
The curtain referred to in this scripture was the huge curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments and other sacred Hebrew documents. The Holy of Holies was only accessible to the priests of the temple and then only once a year. The size of the curtain was 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide. I am sure it weighed hundreds of pounds. At the moment of the death of Jesus the Bible records the curtain was torn from top to bottom. A curtain torn from top to bottom weighing hundreds of pounds fell to the ground in quite a dramatic motion leaving the Holy of Holies exposed for all to see. This curtain is a symbol of what separated the people from God. The only way to God was through the Levite priests as they carried their requests to God. When that curtain fell, the symbol of what separated the people from God was gone.
The curtain separated the Jews from God. What curtains separates us from God? Jesus came that we may no longer be separated from God. God came to earth in the form of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we are welcomed before God at any time. The coming of Jesus removed all barriers between us and God. The sacrifice of Jesus meant no more animal sacrifices. God only requires from us a contrite heart and a broken spirit. A broken spirit than can only be healed by the forgiveness of the sacrificed Christ and the risen Lord. The curtain we have between us and God is our sin. Sin is the only thing that separates us from God. We do not have to take sacrifices or anything before God, we just take our brokenness and ask God to forgive us of our sins and mend our broken relationship. Heaven must have held its breath then wept bitterly when Jesus breathed His last. If there is any anger in heaven it must have happened on that Friday. But how heaven rejoices when the curtain of our sin is torn and the love and forgiveness of God floods our souls with cleansing water and we can once again go before God with the assurance that we are always welcome.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
Today Geni and I went to Howe to visit Mom and Dad. We had lunch at Chili’s with my aunt and then went back to Mom and Dad’s for a wonderful visit for the remainder of the day. It was such a great day. Mom and Dad are doing well as are the rest of the family in the Sherman area.
Mark 15:37-38 says, “Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. The curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from top to bottom.”
The curtain referred to in this scripture was the huge curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments and other sacred Hebrew documents. The Holy of Holies was only accessible to the priests of the temple and then only once a year. The size of the curtain was 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide. I am sure it weighed hundreds of pounds. At the moment of the death of Jesus the Bible records the curtain was torn from top to bottom. A curtain torn from top to bottom weighing hundreds of pounds fell to the ground in quite a dramatic motion leaving the Holy of Holies exposed for all to see. This curtain is a symbol of what separated the people from God. The only way to God was through the Levite priests as they carried their requests to God. When that curtain fell, the symbol of what separated the people from God was gone.
The curtain separated the Jews from God. What curtains separates us from God? Jesus came that we may no longer be separated from God. God came to earth in the form of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we are welcomed before God at any time. The coming of Jesus removed all barriers between us and God. The sacrifice of Jesus meant no more animal sacrifices. God only requires from us a contrite heart and a broken spirit. A broken spirit than can only be healed by the forgiveness of the sacrificed Christ and the risen Lord. The curtain we have between us and God is our sin. Sin is the only thing that separates us from God. We do not have to take sacrifices or anything before God, we just take our brokenness and ask God to forgive us of our sins and mend our broken relationship. Heaven must have held its breath then wept bitterly when Jesus breathed His last. If there is any anger in heaven it must have happened on that Friday. But how heaven rejoices when the curtain of our sin is torn and the love and forgiveness of God floods our souls with cleansing water and we can once again go before God with the assurance that we are always welcome.
Take joy in the journey. 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.
Happy Wednesday! I have enjoyed being able to have coffee with God in the morning this week. I am a bit more awake. I use several different devotional materials as a jumping off point for my journal entries. The Bible I used today is a daily devotional Bible. There are always several lessons centered on a central theme. Today’s themes were centered around the actions of the people during the time leading up to the actual crucifixion of Jesus.
Mark 15:20 says, “Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.” 1Peter 2:24 says, “Christ carried our sins in His body on the cross…”
If you read Psalm 35: 11-16 these words seem to be words that could have actually been said or at least been thoughts Jesus could have thought. As I continue to learn more about scripture I am always amazed at how the Old Testament is connected to the New Testament.
The cross was a place for the worst of the worst. It was a place of death for murderers, thieves, assassins and the like. The cross was a place of shame. The accused was stripped, beaten and paraded through town. The townspeople spat and mocked the condemned person as they were paraded through town. The condemned person was made to wear a sign around their neck stating the crime of which they had been convicted. The cross piece was lashed to their bodies and they carried the cross though town to the place of crucifixion.
Christ carried that cross. Christ bore the shame of the city of Jerusalem. Satan hated God so much that he drove the hearts of men to carry out the crucifixion to shame the Son of God before heaven. How sad and broken hearted God must have been as well as the citizens of heaven. They watched the Prince of Peace die in pain and in shame.
Jesus never lied. Jesus never murdered. Jesus never stole. Jesus never cheated. And maybe we have never done any of these things either. But Jesus died for all of those sins for those people long ago and for the sins I have committed 2000 years later. I would love to tell you that I have not committed some of the aforementioned sins, but that would be a lie. And yet to whatever degree I have committed these sins and countless others, Christ died for me. He still bore the shame of the cross for the forgiveness of my sins so that when I go to the Father at my earthly death I go clean.I will go before the Father without blemish in body and spirit because Jesus bore my shame 2000 years ago.
Jesus loves us so much that He wants to spend time with us on earth and eternity with us in heaven. The only way for us to enter the gates of heaven and stand before the Father is to go without blemish. Only perfection can enter heaven. Jesus was the perfection of His Father. When He bore our sins on the cross of shame He took all of our sins with Him and laid them before the Father and said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” We need to make the same request as the thief on the cross, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus’ response will be the same as it was 2000 years ago, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Take joy in the journey. 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.
Mark 15:20 says, “Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.” 1Peter 2:24 says, “Christ carried our sins in His body on the cross…”
If you read Psalm 35: 11-16 these words seem to be words that could have actually been said or at least been thoughts Jesus could have thought. As I continue to learn more about scripture I am always amazed at how the Old Testament is connected to the New Testament.
The cross was a place for the worst of the worst. It was a place of death for murderers, thieves, assassins and the like. The cross was a place of shame. The accused was stripped, beaten and paraded through town. The townspeople spat and mocked the condemned person as they were paraded through town. The condemned person was made to wear a sign around their neck stating the crime of which they had been convicted. The cross piece was lashed to their bodies and they carried the cross though town to the place of crucifixion.
Christ carried that cross. Christ bore the shame of the city of Jerusalem. Satan hated God so much that he drove the hearts of men to carry out the crucifixion to shame the Son of God before heaven. How sad and broken hearted God must have been as well as the citizens of heaven. They watched the Prince of Peace die in pain and in shame.
Jesus never lied. Jesus never murdered. Jesus never stole. Jesus never cheated. And maybe we have never done any of these things either. But Jesus died for all of those sins for those people long ago and for the sins I have committed 2000 years later. I would love to tell you that I have not committed some of the aforementioned sins, but that would be a lie. And yet to whatever degree I have committed these sins and countless others, Christ died for me. He still bore the shame of the cross for the forgiveness of my sins so that when I go to the Father at my earthly death I go clean.I will go before the Father without blemish in body and spirit because Jesus bore my shame 2000 years ago.
Jesus loves us so much that He wants to spend time with us on earth and eternity with us in heaven. The only way for us to enter the gates of heaven and stand before the Father is to go without blemish. Only perfection can enter heaven. Jesus was the perfection of His Father. When He bore our sins on the cross of shame He took all of our sins with Him and laid them before the Father and said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” We need to make the same request as the thief on the cross, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus’ response will be the same as it was 2000 years ago, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Take joy in the journey. 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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