Month: December 2019

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. I Thessalonians 5:6

Thessalonica was a prosperous city along a major east/west trade route with a thriving seaport. Today its ruins are buried beneath modern day Thessaloniki, Greece, the second largest city after Athens.  Paul and his fellow missionaries, Timothy and Silas, were not well received as they spread the good news and founded a church.  They were run out of town, but Timothy and Silas were able to find news of the fledgling church and brought it to Paul who then wrote the two letters, I and II Thessalonians.

These words tell of our hope in Christ’s return, to take believers who have remained ready and watchful.  I encourage you to read the entire chapter. This type of scripture is called eschatology. It is meant to inform and prepare Christians for what will happen at the end of this age and in the age to come, grounding them in the hope of eternity with their Savior.

Eternity is very overwhelming but inevitable.  These words give assurance and encouragement to persevere with faithfulness to the end of human life because really, it is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Love,

Gretchen

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

At a time of great personal despair a friend invited me into her home. I was lonely and afraid.  She let me cry and then cry some more. After a while I felt her hand on my back and she quietly said, “I know you will find your smile someday.  The sun will come out and you’ll laugh again.” 

I grabbed that lifeline of hope.  It meant everything to me.  She did not condemn, shame or advise. She offered assurance to the return of joy.  She carried my burden and it altered the course of my life.

There’s no need to save the world, God already did.  Just keep hope alive by lifting up your fellow man.

Love,

Gretchen   

Those who accepted His message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  Acts 2:41

There are two types of scripture, descriptive and prescriptive.  Sometimes the two overlap, other times not at all.  When reading descriptive, or narrative Biblical stories we must ask, “Why is this important to me today?”  The book of Acts predominately tells the story of the Apostles journey into a world without Jesus in the flesh, and the beginning of Christianity.  Jesus now becomes known by the Hebrew word ‘Christ’ and the same word in Greek, ‘Messiah.’  Up until just a few weeks prior to this Pentecost event these believers knew Jesus predominantly as ‘Son of God,’ and ‘Son of man.’  They were only beginning, by their faith, to understand a Savior that conquered through love and sacrifice rather than the anticipated establishment of earthly social and political power.  This revelation and the coming of the Holy Spirit completed God’s redemptive work through the cross. Now the disciples were given their marching orders. Proclaim!

Proclaiming meant preaching to the same people that conspired to have Jesus executed for blasphemy. This populous intended to quiet the societal disturbance and return to their comfortably established pecking order, but instead, their selfish agenda completed God’s plan of total victory over death. Satan lost all power over sin.  The response was spectacular! Three thousand souls, in one place, in one moment, believed!

The amazing Grace in this story is that these words were spoken by Peter, the disciple that denied knowing Jesus then ran away and hid on the night his friend was arrested. The voice that was quieted by fear was now preaching forgiveness and eternal life to the very people who screamed “Crucify HIM!” at the top of their lungs!

BUT…………..

NONE OF THESE OFFENSES MATTERED! EVERYONE WAS OFFERED SALVATION!  So why does this descriptive passage of scripture matter?……………God loves you that much too!

Have a great day,

Gretchen

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Titus 3:4-6

Sometimes I read the scripture I chose and realize there is nothing more to be said.  All I am going to do is add a short historical background in an effort to bring these words to life in your mind and heart.

Paul left Titus on the isle of Crete to oversee the early church.  This letter was written by Paul to encourage and strengthen Titus as he organized and trained Christian leaders.  One of their greatest concerns was keeping the Gospel from being corrupted by man’s agenda. And so we have these beautiful, profound words of God’s redeeming grace. No effort of man can do anything, it is God’s love and gift freely given.

Blessings,

Gretchen

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

700 years before a child came to save us, Isaiah spoke of Jesus as though he walked and talked with Him just as His disciples did. God revealed the miracle of Christ the Savior but also the devastation of judgement on the faithless.  Through his 40 year journey as a prophet, Isaiah spoke to a people that would not listen.  During this time he brought God’s voice of hope, faithfulness, judgement, justice and salvation and called for an obedience that would bring God’s glory to all nations. Instead, the people of Judah chose to continually put their faith in human principalities rather than the God that wove the universe together. Repeatedly, the nations they trusted destroyed them.

There will come a day when God will end time as we know it.  Judgement will occur and justice will be administered.  No human theology, biased opinion or self-serving manipulation by man will impress Him or alter His pure truth. We have this hope for our eternal soul, but it is possible to exist moment by moment in the assurance that God knows you as you really are and His mighty hand covers you.

A college professor once directed his students to envision themselves curled up in Jesus’ lap, head on His shoulder, feeling the comfort of His beating heart, knowing the gentle grasp of His calloused hands would never let them fall.  I followed that wise man’s directive and I found peace and rest.  May you also.

Love,

Gretchen

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Deuteronomy 6:7

This verse is part of the Jewish Shema, a daily recitation of worship still practiced today. (I strongly encourage you to read all of Deuteronomy 6) ‘Them’ refers to God’s commandments.

Jewish faith is steeped in deep tradition.  The Story of God began long before there was written language.  The only way to keep God alive and living through the generations was to actively model and speak faith daily.

The young people in our lives are learning by watching.  In the blink of an eye they will be building homes and families of their own. Now is the time to imprint upon them the things we know will carry them through trials and temptations and bring them to the Throne of The One True God.

As this 2019 Holiday season begins, take a moment and pray for your family. Ask that spiritual growth and renewal will come to your home. 

All my love,

Gretchen