Month: October 2019

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:32

These are the words of Jesus talking directly to His twelve disciples.   This scripture is preceded by the parable of the rich fool and a warning regarding earthly ambition and leisure. Jesus uses the endearment, “Little flock,” to remind these servants that ravens do not sow or reap, nor do they have store houses, yet they do not go hungry or homeless (vs. 24).

Sometimes the minister needs a minister. Jesus and His friends have been busy healing, teaching, fielding criticism from local authority……. He speaks comfort and assurance in the security of God’s love and pleasure.  A loving Son relays the heart of His loving Father, “He is pleased to give you the Kingdom.”

These words are specific to a certain group of men, but apply to all who seek to follow and serve the Lord.  Our riches are in Heaven, but in the meantime, God will take wondrous care of you. 

My adamant testimony is to this Truth.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

Hebrews was written to a group of Christian Jews that were wavering between Christianity and Judaism. They were taught from their earliest memories to revere Moses, the one who grew them into a great nation, brought them God’s law and established worship practices still observed today. Also, those teachings, the expectation of an earthly conquering hero that would annihilate all worldly foes, grew to be the great hope.

It is incredibly hard to accept new evidence that negates long held beliefs and traditions.  This was the greatest struggle facing early Christians that already recognized God as the One True God.  A poor ordinary baby that became a sacrifice, naked and alone on a cruel cross, was quite a shift in traditional, theological thought.

We must fix our eyes on the Son of God, who became the Son of Man, who became the Lamb of God. He has already fought our enemy and won.

Have a great weekend,

Gretchen

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? 2 Chronicles 1:10

God has appeared to Solomon and told him to ask for anything. (vs. 7) Recognizing that he was to lead the greatest nation on earth, Solomon might have asked for power or wealth. Instead, you find his request in the scripture above. God is faithful and Solomon was given wisdom according to the unlimited riches of Heaven.

Wisdom is many things, discernment, prudence, good old fashion gumption, circumspection. It greatly increases quality of life, both by allowing us make peace with the past and enabling us to move boldly into the future. All the things Solomon might have desired such as monetary superiority or physical might came about through wisdom.

God alone is the creator and provider of pure and perfect wisdom.  His faithful provision is not limited to Solomon, but freely given to all those who ask. 

Love,

Gretchen

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.  Ecclesiastes 10:12

I was once told, “Shut your mouth before all your stupid falls out.”  Don’t feel sorry for me, I had it coming.

If the words of your mouth don’t leave the moment better than you found it, then …………….

Love,

Gretchen

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

Titles tell what service or product a person offers the world.  For instance, I am a teacher. That means I lead someone from a state of unknowing to knowing (hopefully).  A baker, (my personal favorite) creates something palatable and nourishing.  The list goes on but you get the gist.

James conveys that a peacemaker is a producer in the same manner that a farmer, truck driver, lawyer, doctor…..is. As with any other laborer, the peacemaker begins with a resource and ends with something of value.  That resource is the Wisdom of Heaven, free for the asking, resulting in right behavior, aka righteousness.

Peacemaker is a most honorable job title. Sowing peace is a worthy investment. The product is “On earth as it is in Heaven.”

Love,

Gretchen

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:17

For the past many years I’ve taught kindergarten in a school district whose mascot is the Thunderbird.  One of my room moms coined the name Kinderbirds and it stuck. Over the years I’ve seen my fledglings pass through tragedy and triumph. There was a time when my little flock came together to see a classmate through the death of his father. (Search my blog for Painted Rocks to read the story in full.)  After the appropriate time with family, our friend returned to the classroom, and as far as I could tell, we settled into a good, new normal.  But, while I was expounding on the attributes of an upper case ‘M’ my heart broken chick chirped out, “Mrs. Rooney, I hear my dad’s voice all the time.” I just calmly said, “Okay.” He continued, “I hear him right now.”  I innocently asked, “How does that make you feel?”  His soft little voice replied, “It makes me want to be where he is.”

I knew I stood in a moment of profound truth. My precious little student didn’t ask that his father be returned to his side. His desire was to go into his father’s presence.

The silence was quickly broken by the lilt of a bright voice proclaiming, “It’s Heaven, he’s in Heaven!” and a quieter voice, through a tight throat said, “I know.”

There was no great debate of theology, no offense that something so personal or religious came up in a public school classroom, in fact, I had very little to do with what happened in a matter of seconds. But, I know the hearts of the children understand clearly what I so often battle: Complete and simple faith.

Don’t ever out grow the need to cry out to your loving and faithful Father.

Love,

Gretchen

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my bother to divide the inheritance with me.” Luke 12:13

This interruption came while Jesus was speaking to the multitudes concerning boldness through the Holy Spirit when faced with temptation and hardship.  This nameless gentleman recognized the worth of what Jesus was saying, but only as it applied to someone else, in this instance, a brother’s alleged treachery.

Is it right that this man’s brother withheld his inheritance? No, but that’s not the point. Man’s behavior will never be fair. Humans err, our perspective is miscued, some are downright selfish! God didn’t send His only Son to die so we could keep score.  He gave His Son so our hope is far beyond the things of this world.

Jesus was flawless, sinless. Yet, He battled Satan for our souls and won. God’s grace provides a means to withstand disappointment and live in victory, despite the world’s cruel behaviors.  It is my testimony that your needs will be met in the fullness of God’s Glory. Let this world have its treasure. It will soon turn to dust. Trade it in for joy and peace and know you are the child of THE KING.

Love,

Gretchen

P.S.  I’ve heard that gold is so abundant in Heaven they use it to pave the streets!

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.  John 4:46

This verse is wedged between the story of the woman at the well, who’s spiritual thirst was quenched for a lifetime, and Jesus’ call to fields ripe for harvest.

While passing through Samaria Jesus ministered to a lone woman while the disciples went to town to buy food.  A great deal occurred while they were gone. (Read John 4:1-26) The disciples returned with dinner, but the woman who found Jesus had also returned with everyone she could find. (Evangelism can be that easy!)  Jesus’ friends encouraged Him to eat but His response is the verse you read above. 

If we want to be like Jesus, our true satisfaction should be drawn from arising daily and serving the LORD in any opportunity granted.

Have a great weekend,

Gretchen

And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12

The word ‘qualified’ has its root in the word quality. A qualified person possesses and uses designated, esteemed qualities. It is our instinct to seek quality/qualification, yet being spiritually qualified is a gift given, not a status accomplished. 

A resume is a document declaring qualification that only guarantees a comparative rank connected to a respective, monetary compensation. However, the qualification bestowed by God, through the blood of Jesus, assures the inheritance of eternal life that begins at the moment of salvation.

Through God’s abundant gift of love, you are a qualified heir and will receive the kingdom of Heaven. Sharing in what God has provided does not mean divided equally among us, thus shrinking portions as the family grows. By the miracle of the Creator of all things from nothing, we each receive everything.

Love,

Gretchen

Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8

I add this verse to yesterday’s devotional to call attention to the next five word’s of verse 9, “Go and tell this people:”  THIS people, not ‘those’ people, or ‘some’ people, or ‘other’ people, THIS people. 

‘This’ is a very specific word.  Isaiah was sent to a very particular people; those right in front of him.  He could touch them, hear them, smell them and they were known to be hard hearted. In other words, deaf and blind to God’s love. But still, God said, “THIS PEOPLE!” Isaiah asked, “For how long LORD?” God’s response, “Until there is nothing left.”

     

God is not a giving up kind of God.  He won’t throw in the towel on you and He won’t call it a game on those you are praying for. “Whom shall He send?”  Me and you, until there is nothing left……until the end of this age. Don’t give up, because God sure isn’t!

Love,

Gretchen