Month: September 2020

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.  II John 1:6

This short letter is addressed to the ‘lady chosen by God and to her children’, a title that is most likely a disguise of protection in a time of persecution for the Church. John writes of the joy he finds in knowing that this congregation is staying in the Truth but reminds this anonymous people that obedience is a by-product of love.  Love is the driving force of grace and mercy and therefore, should be reflected in the lives of those forgiven.  

God’s commands are often perceived as a list of rules.  Rules are defined and can be followed whether you buy into their purpose or intellect. There is no moral connection in rule following, you are just avoiding a consequence. But God’s commands are not this! They are His loving provision of protection and communion with Him and one another.  From the beginning of time and into infinity love really does make the world go ‘round.  

God is love.  If you know Him, then you love.  

Have a lovely Wednesday,

Gretchen

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:29

It is unbelievable that Jesus was investigated for healing a man blind since birth, but the Pharisees did just that. This miraculous act was done on the sabbath, therefore, this act of love that radically changed someone’s life for the better was horribly offensive to these men of the synagogue and they tried to rob the healed and his family of joy.  When spiritual blindness stands next to physical impairment it is obvious which is a death sentence.  

Following this event Jesus tells the Pharisees again and again that He is the Good Shepherd and His sheep know His voice.  Many attempt to get into the sheep pen by ways other than the gate, but they are thieves. The sheep are safe because they will not follow a voice they do not recognize. Just like the sheep, Jesus’ followers know He is God’s Son.  They know the voice of the One that loves and cares for them.

The Pharisees could not hear the Father’s voice because He was not saying what they wanted to hear. Those who seek to hear and see Jesus, who is One with the Father, follow and will not stray.  The way is straight and narrow, but it is clear and a bright light shines upon the path. 

Have a Great Day,

Gretchen

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. John 13:7

The setting is an upper room, a table is ready for the Passover meal, a sacred holiday celebrating redemption and freedom, a family event. Jesus knows His earthly time with these men that have been His friends and confidents, His disciples, is coming to a close, but they are unaware. They have seen His miraculous power calm a stormy sea, feed multitudes and heal the hopeless. Now He wants to do the work of a slave? Jesus has taken a towel and is washing the disciple’s feet, the menial task of the lowliest servant.

The disciples are not willing participants. They have great respect for Jesus. As much as they can comprehend, they believe He is the Son of God. He is worthy of all their honor and praise. Just days earlier He rode into Jerusalem like a king. However, Jesus didn’t come to establish earthly principalities, He came to serve all men with humility and love and He demonstrates this by washing nasty, crusty dirt off of feet that have trod many steps through who knows what.

No, the men sharing a Holy remembrance with Jesus didn’t get it, but Jesus knew in perfect time they would, and then, they would becomes servants of mankind too.

We don’t always get it either. There is one constant we can depend on when life is confusing and overwhelming. God is good, and kind. He gave His only Son in Love because He is good. Trust His heart, it is good, only good. This gives us the strength to be good also.

Love,

Gretchen

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.  Colossians 2:6

The purpose of Paul’s letter to the young church in Colossae was to encourage them. Proper worship of Christ should be reflected in our daily lives, but false teachers were leading this community to return to specific Jewish customs irrelevant to grace and compromising the day to day victorious and joyful existence of the believers. 

Gnostics were a major source of confusion and struggle for the Colossians.  Gnostics believe there is a secret revelation to God’s will and purpose; God reveals His mystery to them and then they inform others.  Just a note: God doesn’t need to tell someone else to tell you…..HE IS QUITE CAPABLE AND WILLING TO SPEAK TO YOU HIMSELF!  However, He may affirm or confirm His will through another.  

Christ alone is the mystery revealed.  He is hope and love for all, crystal clear and free as air.

Love, 

Gretchen

But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”  Jonah 4:4  

Jonah, after resisting God’s call, has an ordeal at sea.  While suffering in the belly of the whale Jonah sees the error of his ways and goes to Nineveh to prophecy that in 40 days they will be overthrown if they don’t turn from their wicked ways.  They listen! Even the king, who declared a city wide fast and repentance heeds Jonah’s warning.  So God spared this great city.  Jonah was not happy.  He wanted it destroyed as he had prophesied. 

Jonah wanted to save face. He only saw God’s actions appropriate as they applied to himself and his agenda, forgetting God’s sole purpose is mercy driven by love. 

God wants to change lives.  He is not lurking about looking for ways and reason to punish.  We are so fortunate that God is patient and above all else, good.  We, nor anyone else, never get what we have coming, if we confess and repent.  

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  I Peter 5:10

When I was young people asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  I had an ever changing ambition that varied according to the age and season of my life.  At first I dreamed of being a fairy princess, and for a while I longed to be a Go Go Dancer (it was the white patent leather boots that drew me in). Now as an adult, my ambitions still exist, but they are considerably more circumspect.  Strong, firm and steadfast are what I want to be when I grow up. They come at a price and the total cost is life’s experience. You can keep the change.

Peter is writing to those who are, or will, suffer for their faith, and anxiously await Christ’s return. They believe in the resurrection and have experienced new birth, but that isn’t a ticket to life’s bed of roses.  Growth and outcome begin with perspective and expectations.  If our goal is to achieve the Kingdom of God then our perspective is a world hurt and lost compelling us to serve, not be served, and to give rather than seek gain.

I’ve put away my visions of shiny possessions and golden sunsets for a life worthy of God’s call.  I chose the character of He, who will come again in perfect justice and peace.

Love,

Gretchen  

The LORD is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. II Peter 3:9  

Peter, the boisterous and bold apostle, the outspoken leader of the pack……..the one that denied knowing Jesus because he was frightened for his own life on the night before the crucifixion, knew the full measure of God’s patience, grace and mercy.  

The early Christians were persecuted constantly and watched while friends and family were martyred.  They held faithfully to God’s promise that Christ would return bringing righteous justice but the prolonged wait became harder and harder as time passed and the apostles (those who knew Jesus personally), and eye witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and pentecost were dying.  

Peter writes that a thousand years is like a day to God, so the wait has not been very long AND a delay in God’s final judgement is not reason to doubt but to have greater faith because He is patient and long suffering. His loving kindness waits for every soul to find Him.

Don’t allow a time of waiting to become a rift in your faith.  God sees the big picture and great things are happening even when man cannot comprehend. Our willingness to wait and trust is evidence of our faith and trust in God’s plan for ourselves and all mankind.

Love,

Gretchen

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

The Wise Men are only mentioned in Matthew’s accounting of the birth story of Jesus.  These ‘kings’ were astrologers, from the east and could have numbered as many as twelve. The Bible doesn’t refer to these Magi as ‘wise’, we do. Why? Not because of what they knew, but what they sought.  They were well studied in Jewish tradition and history so when a star appeared, they knew the time had come and began their epic journey to worship.

Their gifts are profound: Gold for a king, frankincense, an incense burned to worship a deity and myrrh, an anointing oil for mortal man, one that would die.

These men knew what they were looking for and were not dissuaded by obstacles, other men’s power or opinion nor maybe their own doubt.  They persisted in their long sojourn to find the promised, prophesied King of Kings.  May we be so diligent our search and determination to worship Him also.

Love,

Gretchen

When you pass through the waters I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

All have sinned. That is a given. Rebellion against God’s way has consequences that are devastating but God doesn’t leave because we fail.

Judah, a nation that thought they had assurance of protection no matter what they did, was destroyed by Babylon. Much of its population was taken into exile. These people were separated from their culture, their families, their place of worship, ……their home. Although this happened on a national scale, it was personal. It is personal today when our iniquities separate us from God’s blessing and presence. But, we are not forsaken. There is hope. Within this narrative of destruction comes the promise of deliverance from the bondage of sin and a king who will rule in peace.

God loves. He frees. When we have forfeited all right to love, God says, “I am here.” Isaiah reminds all, the God that led His people across the Red Sea to freedom from Pharaoh and across a scorching desert, sustaining them, feeding them and providing water from a rock, will continue to love, provide and keep those who choose to trust and obey.

Happy Monday,

Gretchen

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

Tax collectors and sinners had gathered around Jesus, but the Pharisees, the educated religious authority, was muttering about Jesus’ uncouth behavior and the ill company he kept. Jesus begins by telling a parable that shows the worth placed on each individual soul, followed by a story showing the diligence of the One seeking the lost. This verse is the concluding statement of the parable of the lost coin, verses 8-10.

God is personal. In contrast, the ruling establishments, both Roman and Jewish, see people as collective entities. Citizens are a number with a tax value. The Jewish rulers, filled with prejudice and legalism, see people only as an asset to their personal gain with social climbing and networking prioritizing their relationships.

Heaven rejoices when the lost are found! There is no sorting of, or standard set for those sought. They are lost and God is seeking them. They are valuable and precious, He is inexhaustible and long suffering. Sin is personal in its destruction, but the God that created you and loves you most sees every facet of your desperate wondering and He alone will find you, and then He will throw a party!

Hanging Streamers,

Gretchen