Happy Wednesday!

Prayer: “Lord, thank You for another day to live. Help me to make an eternal investment in someone’s life this very day. Help me introduce someone to You. Empower me to encourage a fellow believer in Christ. I am ready, Lord! Use me for Your glory. Amen.”

Proverbs 8: 17-19 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness . My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.”

Each morning I listen to a brief devotional as I drive to work. I usually listen to it three times and each time I listen the same message is spoken; “Christ alone.”

The more we willingly surrender each part of our lives over to the lordship of Jesus the more we begin to take on the characteristics and excellence of our Creator. The more we seek Jesus the more we learn and begin to love as He loves and act as He would have us act. The scripture passage offers words of hope and assurance that clearly states that if we seek God we will find God.

Right now there are so many people who are uncertain about their futures. And I am thinking about all of the educators in Texas who do not know whether they are a part of the budget cuts or not. Included in that number are those who know they are being cut and don’t know how they will financially provide for themselves or their families. This passage speaks precious words of assurance of God to be present if we seek Him. God is greater than our uncertainties, our doubts, our fears and God never breaks His promises. We were created by an eternal God of love, we are sustained by forgiveness and grace given by Jesus and we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit no matter what life places in our laps.

Trust in the power of God’s Word and in the assurance of His love.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to lift one another in prayer throughout these day and the days to come remembering that everyone is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all so very much, 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 Monday!

Please pray for each educator in the state of Texas and our legislature. Our principal began the staff meeting today with the following words, “The news is not good…”

Prayer: “Father, thank You for another day to live and bring You glory. Help me this day to be like Your Son who bore witness to the truth. In my life, in all I do and say, may others see Jesus in me and hear about Jesus from me. In His name I pray, Amen”

John 18: 37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

In most school buildings right now there is a sense of sadness, anger, and utter bewilderment as to the state of affairs of the state and local budgets. Job losses are imminent and it is just hard for all those involved. I am retiring this year so this does not affect me directly, but I still see the hurt in the eyes of friends who may be without jobs in the fall. I have been praying to be able to help in some way. I have asked God to place me with someone who is in need of a listening ear.

Today, God placed me in the path of a colleague who is so very angry and seems to have nothing in her heart but anger, hurt and bitterness. I have begun to practice a new strategy when faced with someone who is so upset. It is to whisper the name “Jesus.” When I whisper the name of Jesus then God can speak through me and bring about the words this hurting child of God needs to hear. I have learned that what I say as Gaylene would be a poor second at best, but when I call upon Jesus then the words He wishes this one to hear may come from my lips, but I lay no claim on them as they are from the Father. I used this today when I met her. After this brief encounter she seemed a bit more peaceful. This is a practice that will take some time to become a habit, but it is one I am definitely to try to make a part of my daily living.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your payers. Let us continue to lift each other up in prayer as each of us is fighting some type of battle. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Gaylene.

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.

Greetings from Austin St.

Blessed Sunday to you all! What an awesome day! Again, worship was so uplifting this morning. Our music director’s baby shower was so much fun Addie and Jeremy received a great many wonderful items for their baby. This precious baby is due in less than a month.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, today let me worship you in truth and with all of my heart. As I greet people today let me see them through your eyes and treat them as friends with the heart of Jesus.”

In worship today Pastor Joel preached on the passage from the Sermon on the Mount concerning loving our neighbors and our enemies. The world tells us to love our neighbors, friends and family and to hate our enemies and be wary of strangers.

One of our local ELCA churches is withdrawing from the synod. I had noticed that we had been having more visitors in worship for the past few weeks. I also noticed that our congregation was making it a point to greet these new friends so warmly, telling them how glad we were they were visiting, sharing some of the activities we had to offer and inviting them to return again very soon. I remember when we first visited Advent in 2003, we were greeted with the same warmth and welcoming spirit. It was the reason we became members of Advent. I am so proud to be a member of a congregation that welcomes strangers not just into worship and into the life of the church, but into the fellowship of God and His children.

God has called to each of us into a life of worship, service, fellowship and prayer with each other and with Him, and has called us to invite others to do the same. As children of God, the body of Christ, we are called to be Sanctuaries. As a sanctuary we carry the life of Christ with us as a living sanctuary where worship, service, fellowship and prayer are way we live our lives. We become places of holiness. When we become living sanctuaries then God flows through us and others see Jesus in us.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to pray for each other daily remembering that each of us is battling something each day. 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.

Please remember to pray for every educator in our state including those in college who are studying to be educators and who will be looking for jobs soon. Also pray for those who make the laws and policies (they need our prayers too). gc

Greetings from Austin St.

Happy Saturday! Sitting on my dinner table are 126 cupcakes. Tomorrow the Praise Team will honor Jeremy and Adeline Brewer with a baby shower. Their baby girl is due in Mid-March. Addie is a young lady from Malaysia who obtained her American citizenship this past year. There are still many American customs she has to experience and a baby shower is one of them. So the first baby shower she attends will be her own. It will be a fun event! The Brewers and baby Asia are in for a delightful afternoon.

Prayer: “Father, thank You for entrusting me with the gospel. I am blessed to be Your child. As I live today, I ask that You shine the good News through me. Place me in situations where I can reflect the light of Jesus. Grant me wisdom and boldness to be faithful with the witness. Make my life fruitful this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen”

John 1: 7-8 “This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”

God came into our lives through the life of Jesus. God also came into our lives by invitation. He has always been there waiting for each of His children to invite Him into relationship through Jesus Christ. He is an abiding God. God remains whether we invite or not, but God is not pushy- eternally persistent, but not pushy.

When we came into relationship with God through Jesus, God’s very Word made flesh, He flooded His light into each of us through His loving heart so filled with grace and forgiveness. John was given a special insight into this relationship. He knew who Jesus was before the rest of the world. And He was given the task of sharing the good news of Jesus and drawing others into fellowship with Him. John knew he was not the light, but he certainly knew the source of the light.

We are given the same task as John. As believers in Jesus we are called to carry the gospel out into the world. We can carry the gospel through speaking God’s Word, praying with others, showing grace in action in helping someone when they are in need(and we don’t have to wear a camel hair suit and eat locusts!) As a future pastoral care giver, it is my prayer that the light of Christ will be reflected in me as I carry the gospel to people in their time of greatest need.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us continue to pray for each other remembering that each of us is fighting some type of battle. Love you all and see you in worship. 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.

Happy Friday!

Prayer: “Father, as I begin the day, I ask that You do in me what is required to make me holy. I confess that there is no good thing in me. However, I am confident that Jesus can produce in me the spirit and practice of holiness. I rest today in that assurance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Romans 6: 22 “Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Tonight’s meditation held a wonderful epiphany for each of us, “The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; the Lord Jesus cherished is holiness advancing; the Lord Jesus counted upon as never absent would be holiness complete.” As believers we need to live out our lives clear in the knowledge that without Christ we can do nothing. The world tells us that we are to work and strive to accomplish goals. The goals the world would have us accomplish will have only temporary meaning and time. The world tells us that we must be the best, have the most, be the fastest, be the strongest, the most beautiful and have the world chant our name.

But God says our eternal value is in holiness. Holiness is an eternal accomplishment that never ends. Our holiness will reap eternal rewards as we work in the kingdom here on earth. There is no need to be the best or have the most because God calls us His children. The highest place we will ever be is at the feet of the Father.

Holiness is achieved by staying at the feet of the Father and faithfully walking in the abiding grace and love of Christ in our lives. The interesting thing about this achieving holiness is that we do not work and strive for holiness. We rest in the love of God through the life and death of Jesus Christ. We remember that Christ is sufficient to make us holy. We are made holy as we live our lives resting and believing in Christ and faithfully living in His Word.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Let us lift each other up in prayer daily remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. 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 for the educators in the state of Texas as they face major changes in the challenges of teaching in the near future. gc

Happy Thursday!

“In every victory let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope is Christ alone.” Carme Russell (This was my morning text from Carme today.)

Prayer: “Father, I confess that without You, I can do nothing. Thank you for the promise that I can do all things through Christ’s strength. Today I need that power so I can be a fruitful believer. My desire is to abide in You. Thank You for being the true Vine and for making me one of Your branches. Amen”

John 15—5-7 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

The opening phrase of my meditation tonight is “Before we can pray “Lord, Your kingdom come,” we must pray, “Lord, my kingdom go.” How often do we pray those words, “Your will be done”, when in reality we really want “our will be done” ? How often do we want a fast, easy answer? I have discovered that this is what the journey of discernment is all about. When God calls each of us into service we must follow earthly rules and procedures to enact the calling. Discernment is wading through the paperwork without sacrificing the original purpose for the journey. I am discovering during this time of transition from being a full time teacher to retirement to becoming a fulltime student, that decisions made must be made prayerfully especially when one has received a call by God into His service and to be His representative.

Have you ever prayed about something so hard that when the answer came you did not hear it, you did not understand it or you missed it all together? Well, I certainly have. I have also discovered that most of what we pray for will have a relatively simple answer if we just listen and stop trying by our earthly power to accomplish matters of eternity.

Today was such a day. As I have prayed for discernment about the path of ordination the answer came quite clearly…Christ alone. Victory in Jesus’ name was claimed today as I surrendered to these words…Christ alone. These words began in the darkness of early morning and resounded throughout the day in some form or another, even as I read the music selections in our church newsletter. The special music by the praise team will be “In Christ Alone.” So if any of you know me, I threw up my hands and said, “Okay, God I get it!!” I am being called to be a pastoral care giver. God has given me a name…I am an agent of hope. I am called to help those who are dying to have hope even in death and help families to live on in hope through the power of the living hope in Jesus Christ.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Please continue to keep me in your prayers while lifting each other up in prayer remembering that each of us is fighting some sort of battle. Love you all so very much mighty and faithful prayer warriors, 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!

Today the first round of cuts was announced through emails and meetings for educators throughout the state of Texas. This is a devastating time in our state for people in the education system. Several of my friends will be out of work in a few short months. I am asking you to pray for all who are involved in education. I also ask you to pray for those who are graduating from college this year. Geni was heartbroken with the news of the cuts.

Prayer: “Father, as Your child I purpose to abide in You today. Open Your Word to me. Teach me to pray. Give me grace to keep my focus on You. May I walk with You in the following of the Holy Spirit. My desire is for You to bear fruit in my life this day. In Your name, Amen”

John`5:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you should abide in Me.”

My best friend, Carme, sends me a text message most mornings. It is usually a passage of scripture that I particularly need to hear at that time or sometimes it is a song that has particular meaning to both of us. The meditation I read for this passage says that the only way to be a “legitimate believer is to be an abiding believer.” To be an abiding believer takes two qualities; persistence and the faithfulness to remain. To remain means to stay and to persist is to never stop following the path of Jesus. We cannot bear fruit in our own lives, but if we remain in Christ and persistently follow the path laid before us then Christ will bear fruit in our lives.

The way we abide in Jesus and He in us is by spending time with Him in prayer, meditation and conversation. When we realize that we can do nothing without Christ in our lives then we gain confidence in the “sufficiency of Christ alone.” Abiding is the part that takes time. When we walk with Christ each day and allow Him to have lordship over our lives then we abide in Him and He can abide in us. When we are persistent in our pursuits to follow then the spiritual fruit Christ desires in each of us is produced.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers remembering that everyone is fighting some kind of battle. 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.