Month: January 2020

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God Reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah had a singular mission that spans generations:  Tell of God’s judgement, justice, redemption and eternal hope.  His words predominantly fell on deaf ears, but future generations, those whose hope was in the Lord, waited for the Messiah, the Man Isaiah seemed to know personally.

As a consequence of sin, the descendants of Abraham, God’s covenant people, were exiled and dispersed far from their inheritance.  They struggled to eek out an existence and their personal identity was becoming ghostly invisible.  Isaiah reminds these broken people that God has not forsaken them. They must turn from their wicked idolatry and faithlessness and put their trust exclusively in God.

This has always been a favorite verse of mine.  Take a moment and recognize how aware you are of the sounds and sights of people in your life, past and present, especially those you associate with respite, comfort, encouragement and hope. They are beautiful, not because of their skin care products or their stylist’s efforts, but because they brought good news, they proclaimed peace, lived a relationship with Christ and gave hope.

You are most likely that person in someone’s life.  Thank you.  Stay the course and proclaim.
“OUR GOD REIGNS!”

Love you!

Gretchen

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

Jesus’ words struck chords with ordinary folk who were poor and worn down by the burdens of getting by. He spoke often to them with analogies and metaphors from their everyday life.

A yoke is a steering mechanism meant for a team of oxen.  It looks like a device of torture, a collar of wood and steel, cumbersome and unyielding.  The oxen walk together as a team and turn because they have no choice and it would be painful to resist the harness. Jesus invites each of us to take His yoke and be led exclusively by Him.  His yoke is not heavy and unforgiving. It is easy and gentle. Unlike the oxen’s yoke, the yoke we are invited to share is our choice.

Jesus, the Son of God, the sacrificial member of the Holy Trinity, humbled Himself to become lower than man’s most despicable sin. This Christ calls us to a place of rest because He is offering to carry our burdens.  If we take His yoke, He will choose the route, the perfect pace forward and always provide sustenance for daily living.  Jesus will lead, we will follow. The perfect Global Positioning System (GPS) traveling team.

Plodding Along,

Gretchen

Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, “Here we are?” Job 38:35

Job loses everything, his family, his home, his health, his wealth and finally his dignity when his well meaning friends suggest the root of his situation is hidden sin. Job protests. He did what God asked of him. He was generous to the underdog and sacrificed for his children. Through everything, Job did not give up on God but continued to seek understanding in his suffering and hardship.  Job’s faith isn’t superficial, only existing when God sends blessings. Instead he sought relationship with God.

In Job’s story he cries out to God in anguish, “WHY?!”  Today’s scripture is from God’s response.  God alone created the Heavens and the earth.  God alone understands the workings of the universe.  Our imperfect understanding does not define God.

Holding onto our faith when things don’t go our way is relationship with God.  Great faith is knowing that God is loving, kind and good, even when our earthly perspective indicates otherwise. Job doesn’t lack faith, but displays deep faith. Security is not found in knowing God’s ways but in trusting Him no matter what.

Love,

Gretchen

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

When I was young I refused to acknowledge Psalm 23.  My father is a pastor and so I observed many grieving families and attended the funerals of very Godly men and women.  Psalm 23 was the ever present scripture for memorial folders. I associated it with death rather than life.  I have outgrown that misconception.

In the valley there is the SHADOW of death.  Not death, just a harmless shadow!  The faithful believer does not die.  They pass immediately (actually even quicker than immediately) into the presence of Heaven and they are not disappointed to be there. For those who remain, death is horrible, lonely, it changes life profoundly. Satan attacks us in these vulnerable moments, moments that only faith can see us through.  There is no tangible evidence of Heaven, only what is known deeply in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

The Good Shepherd’s rod and staff represent His authority, something the unbeliever or convicted soul resents.  These are not tools of cruelty and abuse, instead they protect and guide.  God never…..never takes His eyes off you, until you are safely home.

The 23rd Psalm is about life: Life on this side of Heaven and life eternal.

Still Grazin’,

Gretchen

The LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

A good shepherd leads His flock to the very best grazing. These fields of plenty do not reflect the quality or pedigree of the sheep, but speak volumes about the pastoralist’s character.  The simple truth the Psalmist learned and put into verse is: God is our good and loving Shepherd. He will provide every need of our existence. 

We are His sheep. The path to lush carpets of green may be up hill, rocky and narrow, but the Shepherd knows the way.   We must follow.  Any other path leads to despair, desperation and death, so keep your head up and stay close.

Munchin’ on the Good stuff,

Gretchen

He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 

The hardest thing for me to achieve is ‘still!’  The world is full of distractions and most them are really delightful, even productive and benevolent. Busy is not all bad.  Being still doesn’t come natural. Humans are on the move from the time they crawl. But ‘still’ is necessary. God needs our total, uninterrupted and completely focused attention and we need to rest and restore. 

While in college, far away from home, I was sitting in a church service and the pastor told the congregation, “Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on your Heavenly Father’s lap.”  He went on to guide us into sensing the warmth of our Father’s arms, the gentleness of His breath in our hair while hearing the gentle beat of His heart as He rocked us to the rhythm of a most perfect lullaby.  In this manner I found ‘still’…… and rest, and peace.

We have assurance that God is God, the great I AM.  It isn’t only the volume of our voice and our crazy, busy efforts that praise and exalt Him.  He dwells in the quiet, calm, stillness of our peace. From there He will do great things.

Have a Wonderful Tuesday,

Gretchen

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9

When I struggle with a world that disappoints, or simply can’t make since of heartache, I go to the Psalms.  Psalms 9 is beautiful.  I encourage you to read all of it and read others often.

A refuge is a safe place that provides needed resources to survive and thrive. Oppression is forced misery.  A stronghold is a refuge with protection.  Do I really need to define trouble?

The LORD is our protected safe place. He is THE place we become healthy and remain so. When oppression and trouble dog our heals, there is only one place to run, and He is waiting with open arms!

Lacing up my Sneakers,

Gretchen

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. Philippians 2:11.

Philippi, in northern Greece, was a Roman colony on a major East/West trade route. The city was becoming occupied by Italian settlers that were extremely loyal to Rome and had a certain entitlement as citizens of the conquering empire. There was much to be divided about, politics, culture, gender. Paul, a prisoner, writes to bring all believers into one mind, the mind of Christ. 

The entire chapter 2 is great encouragement and inspiration.  If we are going to share the mind of Christ, then we must find and accept His perspective on what’s important and what’s not. Proclaiming the name of Jesus is important, winning arguments is not.  Arguing is an art form, a great diversion, entertainment, a habit, but a terrible excuse for communication. 

Paul reminds and assures that there will come a day when every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus is LORD. I wish it were everyday and it is frustrating because it is not, but every man was woven together with free choice. No matter what choice is being lived out, there will be a reckoning and they will know Truth. 

Do not be divided, resentful or vengeful over choices that aren’t yours to make.  Proclaim the glory of salvation, bask in the joy of redemption, pray for the lost, for on the day of the LORD, God will be God and He’ll take care of it. 

Have a Marvelous Weekend,

Gretchen

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 days 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 just plain 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 constant 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