Month: December 2016

The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. Luke 4:18

Jesus was baptized, went into the wilderness for forty day to fast and pray, was tempted by satan and now returns to Galilee and the city of Nazareth, the place of His birth. Speaking in the synagogue on the Sabbath, He takes the scroll and reads from the book of Isaiah the prophet, who spoke as though he personally knew Jesus 700 years before His birth.

Jesus is revealing Himself, telling people who He is, why he is there and what He plans to do.

* Proclaim freedom for those held in bondage and have no advocate.
* Restore vision to those who are blind and cannot find their way.
* Give justice to the oppressed that have no voice.

It is not only eternal life Jesus came to give, but life!!!! Believe, Repent and LIVE.

Love,

Gretchen

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 2 Corinthians 3:4

How do you disarm a Christian? You make them question their worthiness, their logic, the cross, the Holy Spirit. The church at Corinth struggled with every confusion in their day that we deal with in ours. They were attacked on every side with conflicting opinions, compromised theologies, antagonisms and personal agendas. The faith and discipleship of these new converts was being crippled by these internal disputes. Satan delighted because they were defeating themselves from the inside out.

Paul reminds that IT IS THROUGH CHRIST ALONE that we are saved and by the power of the Holy Spirit we live in victory.

A confident Christian is a powerful force. There is a boldness to tell the nations, a kindness that puts others first (God will provide our needs so why push and shove) and a grace that accepts and extends forgiveness.

Satan is a thief and his target is your confidence. Know you are treasured and loved, your sins are gone, and you stand justified and Holy before God.

Love,

Gretchen

A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3

Chapter 42 contains a poem referring to a servant. The servant is the LORD. New Testament writers quote this passage often and know this servant to be the Christ. (See post script)

Verse 3 holds two metaphors that bookend what the author of love first wrote in the story of man. ‘He will not break a bruised reed.’ A bent piece of straw may hold a scar, but it is not severed and left to rot. God’s work is NOT to complete a destruction begun by sin. Instead He binds up, supports, heals, restores.

‘A smoldering wick He will not snuff out.’ Referring to an old fashioned lamp, the writer depicts an empty oil reservoir, a smoking ember, a near useless vessel. But where there is life, there is purpose, fresh oil and a new bright light shining into ‘the dark dungeon for those that sit in darkness.’ (vs. 7)

God is creator, author, designer. He does not destroy or decommission. He is faithful and just. He redeems and gives purpose.

Love,

Gretchen

Matthew 12:15-21, Mark 10:45, Luke 4:16-21 and 22:37, Acts 8:32-35 and I Peter 2:21-24.

We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, who he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. I John 4:19-21 (I encourage you to read all I John 4:7-21)

God is the source of our love, its strength, its power, its purpose. It’s not an option and God doesn’t accept excuses or give exemptions. Love is a command and we must obey.

Have a great Wednesday!

Gretchen

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:3

The entire Fortieth Psalm is the story of Salvation and the journey of faithfulness. While salvation is a single act of faith and repentance, the journey is just beginning. Each day brings a deeper understanding of God’s sovereign love and grace, therefore, our old songs of praise just won’t do! This is not about traditional versus contemporary, but a fresh revelation of all that God has done and is willing to do in your life.

Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Your praise matters! Walking through the valley looking at a mountain top believed to be forever beyond reach, God is faithful and the songs of praise from others give testimony of hope and victory.

When I was a very young adult, finding my way, I broke down in front of a coworker. I didn’t even know she was a believer. She quoted scripture about the order and steadfast nature of God. It was a new song of praise I had never heard, a sustaining food for my soul. Praise matters!

Tuning Up!

Gretchen

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17

The accumulation of earthly possessions quickly divides man in ways that only men deem great.

Coveting begins as a simple passing thought, “Wow, that’s nice! How great life would be if only I had that!” Coveting turns to entitlement, “Wow, if you loved me more you would give me that. I deserve that.” Now things are completely out of control! “I will do anything, no matter the cost to me or mine, to have that!”

God says, “Don’t EVEN go there.” (Gretchen’s paraphrase)

The great equalizer is death, just you and God.

Do not misspend your soul. Love what God loves and invest in those things.

Love,

Gretchen

Beans in the Floorboard

This is a story about my sister. Her wit keeps me laughing and on my toes, her resilience inspires me. Her joy sets the bar for my own attitude in times of trial. Gayle calms my spirit by walking in the room. I have seen her persevere through the consequences of other’s sin with love, determination and prayer for the offender. I have witnessed compassion for boy and beast that would have most mom’s on the clinical couch. She knows fear, loneliness, injustice, yet, she has resolved to be a bold and brave beacon of hope for those she touches. Except…..There’s this one thing.

Living in one of the nation’s largest urban areas, Gayle’s daily commute can be challenging. With thousands of people whizzing by, everyone must do their part and act with reasonable consideration. Coming to a near halt while making a righthand turn off a major thoroughfare is neither reasonable nor considerate…..according to my saintly sis. I totally understand her annoyance and the hazard. City travel needs precision and depends on a consistent momentum to run efficiently. This impolite, vehicular maneuvering turns my generous, gracious sibling into an acidic tongued renegade.

Then one afternoon the prayer line from Gayle’s church buzzed and she and her friends kicked into high gear. They made a plan to bring comfort and consolation to a local family experiencing a bad case of “Real Life.” Together they would pull these people up and out of their suffering. Gayle, who is an amazing cook, decided a huge pot of ham and beans with all the trimmings would be her offering. So off she went across town with a stock pot full to the brim of hardy provision and refreshment. Gayle gently navigated her route so as not to spill the beans. Soon she realized every turn she made, especially those to the hard right, were made with great gentleness…… from a near stop.

There was an epiphany. Gayle, so sorely tempted toward road rage, realized that if she was traveling with such great care because her heart was burdened and she was on a mission, maybe others were giving of themselves in like manner and had good reason for interrupting her speed on their journey.

Anger and frustration dissolved in the moment of enlightened understanding.

We often traipse through life thinking our problems are the greatest and everyone is deliberately impeding our progress. Yet, Jesus Himself uttered the words, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9) He came to be our Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6) Peace is the hallmark of our Savior. It must be our’s too. So the next time your feel twinges of irritation as you rush through your daily duties, remember, the offender might be on a mission…….with beans in their floorboard.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth, Goodwill To All!

Love,

Gretchen

Then the LORD said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.” Exodus 4:8

From a burning bush God calls Moses to return to the home of his birth and deliver the descendants of Abraham out of slavery. Moses is a little overwhelmed! He must convince an entire population to follow him into the unknown, tell a pharaoh, who believes himself to be god, to free his cheap workforce and expect the Egyptian people to accept a new existence without their slaves. Of course Moses has a few questions!

God shows Moses the miracle of his rod turning into a snake and then back into a rod. Moses’ hand became diseased and then whole again. God was showing Moses he was not going alone and unprepared.

Moses’ doubts and questions did not incite God’s wrath. We are human, He is God. God doesn’t chose perfect people to fulfill His plan, He perfectly empowers people through obedience, to fulfill His plan.

Do you have questions? Ask God. He answers. Are you overwhelmed? Give it God. He carries burdens. Are you insecure? Remember you are the child of the King!

Happy Christmas Eve,

Gretchen

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  Genesis 11:1

The story of man is very young. Human culture is very primitive. By flooding the earth, God granted man a new beginning and the planet was repopulating in a land called Babylonia. This infant civilization shared one common language.

God said to multiply and fill the earth but these people were afraid. They preferred to stay together and make a name for themselves as a strong and ingenious people, building a city of bricks and tar and engineering magnificent temple towers or ziggurats. There also developed a false sense of security.

This display of arrogance, self reliance and rebellion brought God’s judgement. The result: God confused the language forcing men to sort themselves into common groups, creating ethnic and cultural division and separation, thus fulfilling His design for creation.

The diversity of earth is God’s glory and majesty. He separated humanity to affirm who was God and who was not. This same God draws man back together unto one Salvation, again, displaying who is God and who is not. It all fits together in obedience to the One true God and love toward one another.

Love,

Gretchen

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. I Peter 1:23

Peter, a fisherman, an apostle, a preacher, a missionary, a martyr, but first and foremost, a sinner saved by grace, writes this letter to encourage his fellow believers facing savage persecution.

As one of Jesus’ closest confidants Peter was witness to His greatest miracles. He walked on water with Jesus’ holding his hand. He felt Jesus’ poignant forgiveness after denying Him on the night of His trial. He was the first of the disciples to see the empty tomb. Peter shared air with Jesus. He speaks with great authority of what he knows.

Someday the earth will pass away, it will perish, but God is the God of infinity, eternity, a time that will never end and as His children we share in this inheritance. We will never end either. It’s called eternal life and it is a free gift.

Love to each of you,

Gretchen