Month: December 2016

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians chapter 2 is a beautiful passage of who we are through God’s creation, Jesus’ restoration and man’s reconciliation with each other.

We are woven together by the handiwork of God, however, it is easy to over look the wonder of our mind and soul. They are as incredible as our heart that beats with no effort of its own. It is not just our physical bodies that are made in the image of God and marred by sin with the fall of Adam, but our mental and emotion being as well. This is the most beautiful, intimate part of each of us and can be restored to perfection with the cleansing of Jesus’ blood.

As the perfect reflection of God, we love what God loves and love as God loves, His good works prepared in advance. Love one another.

Have a great Wednesday!

Gretchen

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep.” Ezekiel 36:37

With the surrender of Jerusalem to the Babylonian army, Judah was wiped off the face of the earth and there was a Jewish nation no longer. Ezekiel, a young man training for the priesthood, was taken into exile far away from his homeland.

Ezekiel expected to grow old following in the footsteps of his father, living comfortably and successfully. At the time he should be starting his career, it all ends. Then God calls Ezekiel to be a prophet. He sees God in all His majesty, all-seeing and all-knowing. In comparison he saw his people’s sin in all its darkness, worshiping false gods, relying on earthly power for sustenance and protection rather than keeping themselves Holy and set apart.

God’s covenant with Abraham was the birth of the Jewish nation. Ezekiel speaks this promise once again. God will reestablish His covenant and His people will survive and prosper. The people have a responsibility to live Holy and Righteous lives. Disobedience, idolatry begets judgement and punishment, but God will forgive and restore.

There is absolutely nothing God cannot, will not forgive. He is NOT a giving up God! He can be your sole protector and sustainer. He hasn’t changed and man hasn’t either. We still need God and God alone.

Love,

Gretchen

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

Faith is what brings us into a relationship of salvation. Faith is also what ‘overcomes the world.’ John is writing to believers so that they may know for certain that eternal life is theirs. Temptations, false teachings, conflicting theologies, personal insecurities, all these things enter into our daily thought processes and can hinder our faith.

Because John knew the high priest, he was able to be present at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus where he accepted responsibility for Mary, Jesus’ mother. He was also one of the first to see the empty tomb, experience the risen Christ, first in a locked room and later by the sea of Galilee. John saw with his eyes, heard with his ears and felt with his hands the risen Savior. Now the early church was 50-60 years old and John was quite possibly the last surviving apostle. He is writing these closing statements to assure Christians that it is not through intellectual achievement or any other means that you are saved. It is solely through faith that leads to repentance and holy living because grace and mercy are free gifts.

As John saw the lives of the Apostles coming to an end he wrote these words to give assurance to those that would never physically walk and talk with Jesus. His letter was relevant then and relevant today! Those that believe in the Son of God have eternal life.

Have a great Monday,

Gretchen

The Day My Husband Became Human

The first attraction I felt toward the man that would someday become my husband was his adventurous spirit born of a zest for life and a courage to embrace the unknown. I have none of these attributes. I look out upon the world and see hazards and chaos waiting to swallow me whole. Keith’s fearless approach to living drew me to him like a moth to a flame.

The weekends of our young marriage were spent in or on one motorized contraption or another, going where most people weren’t even willing to walk. I rode white knuckled and breathless until the day I realized Keith had an uncommon knowledge and talent for what he called entertainment and he didn’t want to die anymore than I did. In this moment he became invincible, super human and I learned the art of fun.

Then,,,,,there was a Sunday afternoon…..along a river….in the middle of nowhere…….. Spring rains had washed loose gravel along the banks of the Little Red River. The weather had grown warm, inviting us to enjoy the outdoors, so off we went for a couple of hours. We were bouncing and bumping over, through and around rocks and mud, daring natures obstacle course to beat us at our game when suddenly, loose gravel in the river’s bend gave way and we sank into deep, cold water. None of Keith’s skill or mechanical strength of our 4×4 could save us. We had to abandoned ship.

For the first time ever my husband and his machine couldn’t get us home. He was human once again and I became more aware than ever of the danger in our escapades. For a while I took no joy in the things that had become so fun. In my worries and concerns I looked to Keith’s face and the sound of his voice. His expression told the story in his heart, the inflections of his voice reflected the intensity of his thoughts. If he wasn’t worried, I wasn’t going to be either. I found the way back to faith and trust in something I didn’t understand but wanted to experience.

These same things apply to our walk with God. There is nothing that intimidates or alarms Him. He never gazes down upon His creation and thinks, “Wow, I’m not sure how to handle this.” But it is hard to find perfect peace when we don’t see the whole picture and understand all that is transpiring. So, seek God’s face and listen to His voice. It will reveal His character and power and restore your comfort and assurance.

“The LORD Bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

The Gentiles of Rome Paul is writing to had no concept of Christianity. They did not grow up hearing the stories of Abraham and Moses and their heritage was not rich with things that cultivated faith in The One True God. These people worshiped many gods and they needed Sunday School 101. So, we have the epistle, Romans, a call to salvation and instructions for successful Christian living.

Adam was created perfectly in God’s image. Sin marred that image and death came to mankind because of one man’s sin. Every man has a carnal instinct to selfishness which is sin, but through the blood of Jesus the perfect image of God can be restored in each of us.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word…..the very breath of God that brought all things into being at the beginning of time.

This Word became human, the person of Jesus Christ. He was born to die and when that death occurred Satan lost all power defeat man.

God is infinite, but for a brief thirty-three years His Son, His Word walked among us. He shared our joys and sorrows. He died forsaken and alone, but that horrible death ended the battle with sin and through His resurrection we all have the hope of everlasting life, uninterrupted.

God’s Word brings life.

Love,

Gretchen

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

Joshua gathered the people together to renew their covenant with God. Part of this ceremony is recounting history. Abraham was faithful and through his covenant with God a great nation was born. God brought His people from slavery, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. All throughout this twenty-fourth chapter Joshua, in detail, reminds these people of God’s provision and warns them against allowing any other gods to distract them from the One True God who saved them.

I love this unwavering statement of faith by Joshua. God has proven Himself to be all things, redeemer, provider, protector……. there is no need to worry about the future because God is unchanging. He was, therefore He will always be faithful! This is enough for Joshua.

When we arrive at our state of “As for me, I will serve the LORD.” We have arrived. When God is simply enough, you can rest and you will never need for anything again.

Love,

Grethen

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

In Exodus chapter 3 God calls to Moses from a burning bush and charges him to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrew people (The Jewish Nation) out of bondage and into the land of Canaan. Moses has some questions, the greatest of which is, “Who do I say sent me?” God’s reply is, “I am who I am. I AM has sent you.”

Jesus came to earth as a helpless baby, just like any other baby that was totally dependent on its mother’s care, except, He was Emmanuel, God with us. GOD WITH US!

You would think God in the Flesh would be the comfort a hurting world would welcome. But no! The Jewish people placed all their hope, all their interpretation of God’s loving, redeeming deeds, their entire theology in one thing: An earthly conquerer. A god that would show up, teach some people a few things and leave the Jewish nation in earthly power. The problem with this is that all things earthly are temporary and God is eternal. His justice, power and love are eternal too.

In this scripture narrative from John 8, Jesus is questioned by the Jewish hierarchy. They are doing everything possible to hang onto their wrong ideas because the truth doesn’t fit their purpose. Jesus is the Son of God, come to earth to Love. Jesus stands constant and firm in truth. His response connects Him solidly to the history His accusers cling so tightly to . He is the Son of God, the Triune God, He is the great “I AM.”

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen

P.S. There is a song by Nichole Nordeman titled, “I Am.” It has been a comfort to me and might be for you as well if you would like to google it or view it on YouTube. For those of you that read via Facebook I have shared the song in the comments section.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet, spoke to an exiled people. Their predicament was a result of their refusal to follow God and trust Him in all things. Their consequence would last 70 years, but at that time they would find restoration in returning to God’s loving care.

Man’s sin will never define God’s love or His will. God is constant and true, but the receiving of God’s blessing depends on human response. The only appropriate answer to God’s redemptive presence is to acknowledge and accept Him with your entire being, withholding nothing in cautious doubt.

Seek God with complete and total transparency of heart. He doesn’t just restore things back to the way they were, He specializes in New and Improved!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Gretchen

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Colossians 4:3

While Paul was in Ephesus establishing a church, two men Epaphras and Philemon became Christians. It is believed that they carried the message of Salvation back to their hometown of Colossae. In this incredibly diverse community, a small group of believers began to worship regularly. This young church struggled to put aside traditional cultural ideas and philosophies that polluted the true Gospel of Salvation.

Mysticism was one of the greatest threats to confidence in early faith living. Jewish Mystics taught that they held elite secrets of the Kingdom, unavailable to every believer. Paul taught that there is no mystery except the love of God, manifested in His Son’s sacrifice, that surpasses all understanding.

God does not keep secrets from some and share the best of Himself with others. Neither does rule keeping grant special status. There is a bountiful fullness found in Holiness, Christ in you, and it is free to all!

Have an incredible Monday!

Gretchen