Month: January 2023

But now, this is what the LORD says-He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Our names are the most intimate part of our identity. I am Gretchen, once Jones, now Rooney. I am wife, mother, daughter, teacher, pastor, friend, confidant…..These names define me, associate me with something bigger than myself, and give me the security of community. It’s how I am called by those who know and need me.

God, my creator, the Master designer of my body and soul, summons me, gives me identity, purpose and kinship. But by what name does He call? Is it peace maker, comforter, champion of the outcast, proclaimer of Good News? For summons is not just a call to approach, but a prelude to ‘GO!’ Our name before the Throne of Grace is incredibly precious. It is our call and purpose and when God speaks it, we recognize the voice of our Father.

What God does for Jacob, the one who had a physical encounter with Him and was renamed Israel, He will do for you. We are the redeemed, our ransom is paid and we are His. Read the rest of this chapter. If there was ever a scripture that said, “I’ve got this, now go! Be bold!” It is Isaiah chapter 43. We are summoned, and sent and all the power of Heaven and earth is our fortress because the one name that matters most is, Child of God, Saved by Grace.

Love,

Gretchen

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

Ecclesiastes is not a book of deep theology. It is a collection of reflections put to pen by Solomon, or one of his admirers, as he looked out upon a sin weary world. Maybe it was cathartic to write things down, close the book and lay his head upon his pillow. We could theorize all day, but it is part of God’s Holy word and it has something to say to us.

This passage of scripture reflects on the fact that man’s greatest motivation is ‘Keeping up with the Jones’.’ We don’t seek what we need, or what would best benefit our community and family, we seek what will give us status above others. Society’s sifter is economic accumulation, as revealed in our possessions, and yet, it does not bring us joy and security, it just instigates more work and worry.

I was present at the 2001 Daytona 500 Race when Dale Earnhardt crashed with Ken Schrader and died instantly. The emotions shared with other fans in that moment are indescribable, but in the following days I saw a recording of him in his own words, “Yes I have achieved all I aimed to achieve, but it cost me everything.” And indeed it did.

Tranquility on earth is scarce. Let’s join together and create some to share with others.

Have a Wonder Full Week,

Gretchen

P.S. I also heard Dale Earnhardt’s testimony of faith that came later in life. I am not judging him as I am a fan and great admirer. I appreciated his candor when he confessed the price his success had cost his family and specifically his children. It moved me to be less ambitious and more servant minded.

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade. Mark 4:31-32

Years ago I studied these verses while writing a series of lessons for children. I was so disappointed when I discovered that the mustard seed isn’t the smallest seed on earth. A quick google search will inform you, as it did me, the smallest seed comes from a jungle orchid. However, Jesus was not writing an article for scientific scrutiny but rather speaking in parable, a story told to teach a spiritual lesson. Jesus’ audience knew nothing of jungles, or orchids. They knew a great deal of mustard plants, olive groves, grape vineyards and in that context the mustard seed is quite amazing.

The Kingdom of God, not Heaven and eternity to come, but the one in our present midst, is grown from the most basic source, love. The initial size does not determine outcome, the planting does. So just love.

Have a great weekend,

Gretchen

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD. Romans 8:38-39

Some of the most empowering scripture ever put to paper for eons of soul ahead. How loving is God?

A battle for a new world order has been waged since Satan felt he was worthy of godlike status and was expelled from God’s presence, aka Heaven. There is One True God, the Creator/Designer of that order whose keystone is love. Satan’s chaos is irrelevant and cannot thwart God.

Love for mankind is God’s choice, His supreme design. There is nothing, NOTHING, that can separate us from that love. Sadly though, our unchecked free choice and its accompanying sin separates us from God. Satan would have us believe that God is spitefully doing the separating, but He is not (refer to scripture above).

Turn your face to the Son! His open arms are waiting for you…… to hold you tight…..forever.

Love,

Gretchen

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18

Micah is known as the grieving prophet. His heart is pained by a sinful world, while maintaining the hope of our redeemer. Like Micah, we must see the effect of sin, but isolate ourselves from its burden and power.

In Micah’s world everything was falling apart. Ethical behavior was hard to find, loyalty, even in family relationships has become an antiquity. But by the very evidence that God sent a prophet to such a time and place is proof that God still has a plan to redeem and restore the totally corrupt and fallen generation.

Our God is an incomparable God. Only He is a forgiving God. Even in His anger He hears our heartbroken cries and has compassion on each of us. He does not stay angry but DELIGHTS IN MERCY. He delights in giving us love and grace!!!

Have a Wonderful Day,

Gretchen

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be Godly. I Timothy 4:7

Timothy is Paul’s young associate, sent to pastor the church in Ephesus and guard them against false teaching. Timothy is Paul’s trouble shooter and this letter was written as Paul realized his execution was coming nigh. He longed to soften the blow of his persecution by strengthening and encouraging his young protege.

As the progeny of a mixed marriage, a Jewish/Christian mother and a Gentile father, Timothy had never been circumcised, but Paul encouraged him to become circumcised so that no Jew could criticize him for being unfaithful to God’s covenant with Abraham. The church of Ephesus struggled constantly with the bombardment of pagan gods and many people seeking an earthly agenda for prosperity rather than the faithful worship of the One True God. Paul was committed to the highest standard of integrity to the Good News of Grace.

Satan, the author of misinformation and misuse of good information, takes every opportunity to create confusion. Confusion leads to frustration and then it is a short step from frustration to despair. Stay in God’s word. It will not let you down. “Ask and you will receive,” includes clarity in times of confusion.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

Gretchen

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Jesus is not known nearly so much for what He says, as for what He does. Jesus was followed from place to place and people sought Him for what He did. He healed. He was touched by human need and He acted.

Untouchable lepers, the blind, the crippled, a child, the demon possessed, the storm tossed and the spiritually lost. These people determined where and when Jesus went. WOW!

The harassed and helpless needed a shepherd. A shepherd’s singular duty was to protect the flock from harm while leading it to green pastures. One lost sheep was not acceptable, for they all mattered equally and were of great value.

Compassion; it should change our attitude, our direction, our determination and our man power. I don’t want to live a moment without receiving or extending this most precious gift, for it was and always will be the catalyst for Grace.

Have a terrific Tuesday,

Gretchen

So then, if you know the good you ought to do and don’t do it, you sin. James 4:17

Humans tend to build castles in the air, or rigorously put away for a rainy day. Tomorrow means a great deal to us. Regardless of which plan we have for the future, we have one. In fact, we are shamed by the financial and social communities if we do not. But James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early church says these things in verse 17 concluding his words on planning for a future found in verses 13-16.

To define sin is simple. It is any act of opposition to God’s Devine and loving plan. There is no hierarchy of sin, disobedience is disobedience and the payment for sin is eternal death, separation from God forever! We are called to do good, but we get terribly distracted with our accumulation of security measures that we forget there is a world in need of Jesus.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are the Hands, Feet, Ears, Eyes and Heart of Jesus. Tomorrow has no guarantee and if it doesn’t come, the only thing that matters is your righteousness. If you are going to leave something behind, leave a legacy of love.

Have a lovely day,

Gretchen

But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 2 Samuel 12:3

King David had an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, an Israelite special forces soldier. When Bathsheba conceived, David tried to cover it up, but Uriah’s noble character made this impossible, so David had him killed. (This story is covered in chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Samuel) Using this ‘social’ story of the lamb and her owner, Nathan, God’s prophet, attempted to draw David’s awareness to the magnitude of his sin.

Nathan tells of a rich man with many sheep acting with incredible selfishness. When a traveler came along he took the poor man’s only sheep to feed to his guest rather than deplete his own flock. David is quick to anger at this wicked man’s blatant disregard for others, but he doesn’t readily see its parallel to his own actions. 

David had everything and still wanted more, at great expense to others. An unchecked, covetous heart has no moral boundaries.

The Holy Spirit calls to us when we head toward trouble. God doesn’t want us there, it is not part of His plan for us to go there. Guard rails exist on the straight and narrow path of Righteousness. Don’t climb over them. It is not okay to justify risky moral behavior. There is NEVER an acceptable reason to sin. The cost of eternal life is not worth it.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on the human race! Ecclesiastes 1:13

Ancient religious scholars attributed righteousness with a good and prosperous life while death and destruction were the evidence and consequence of sin. This disillusionment created a pessimistic view of God. Life is futile, nothing but a struggle. So what’s the point? Do we have a purpose?

The writer, most likely Solomon, king David’s son, credited with being mankind’s wisest model, realized, awareness through knowledge brings sorrow, yet self indulgence has it’s own brand of grief. Life is a vicious cycle and then we die. As a result of sin, God did lay a heavy burden on the human race and the hoist from which to escape is faith.

Knowledge is a tremendous and valuable asset, but it is not what pleases God. That is found in faith. Without faith it’s impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

Have a Wonderful Friday,

Gretchen