Month: March 2023

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21

These words were spoken by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came like a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire to fill every new believer, God fearing Jews from all over the Roman Empire. They were forever changed and thus began Christianity, the Body of Christ.

Peter recalled the prophesy of Joel, and the words of David bringing all who experienced the filling of the Spirit and all who witnessed it into one clear understanding of Jesus’ purpose and God’s work of Grace and Mercy. Three thousand were saved.

We are NOT abandoned to the grave, death does NOT have the final say. Jesus died to save us from the evil of this very day and the darkness of an eternity without God.

Hallelujah!!!!

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17

“I’m still the daddy!”

Throughout my adult life this phrase, uttered by my father, has ended all argument within our immediate family, but has also brought great comfort knowing someone is in charge and has a plan for everyone’s best interest.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, is saying the same thing. “I’m the Daddy, I’m THE GOD!”

Draw great peace from these words. Lay your burdens down and rest well, God’s on it! He’s the daddy and everything is going to be alright.

Love,

Gretchen

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand. Then they knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. Matthew 27:28-29

Jesus called Himself ‘The Son of God.’ This declaration by someone other than The One True God is considered blasphemy, a crime punishable by death. Fair enough, but there was plenty of evidence to the Truth. However, justice and facts weren’t the issue, the extreme evil in the heart of man was. Jews, Herod and his soldiers, Pilate and his soldiers, priests, elders and scribes took part in the sport of humiliation (they stripped Him naked) and torture (thorns were crammed into his scalp and face). They thought they were bringing Jesus down from His high horse………He was patiently waiting for love to have its final word.

I’ve always wondered if those people went home that night proud of themselves. Did they feel all big inside, being part of a riot that ended in someone’s death? How did their children, sitting across the room, look at them. Did they fear the adults so free and loose with their fists and spit, or did they hail them as heroes? Did any of them want to rewind time and have a do over of that day? Was there any life changing regret? Thoughts on these answers matter to us today because they define character and the motivation of our own actions toward one another. It’s easy to pick out the wrong doers at the crucifixion, but if we withhold love’s chance and opportunity, we stand in the shadow of the cross, not the Light!

For these vicious, hate filled men and women, Grace was never out of reach until their final breath was drawn. In fact, when Jesus drew His final breath a soldier that had played a part in the day’s events came to believe. RIGHT THERE IN LIVING COLOR, AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS a murderer was humbled, confessed and found eternal life.

I am so relieved that God is Good, He is Love. We must cautiously, with determination, guard our hearts against all things but love and goodness.

Happy Wednesday!

Gretchen

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

As youngsters my siblings and I played a game called, “Mercy.” Standing face to face, two opponents grabbed hands to see who could push the other’s wrists back, thus rendering one player defenseless. The game ended when someone called/begged, “Mercy.” The winner had the choice to turn loose or continue pushing the helpless loser around as they were totally at the ‘mercy’ of the stronger opponent.

Mercy: To receive OR extend an exemption from punishment.

To receive favor and be excused from the consequences we are due is the greatest gift we can ever receive. To give this gift is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. We can and must make mercy the hallmark of our lives and those we face each day. This is the supreme model of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Gretchen

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13

I recommend reading all of this story beginning at verse 1 of John chapter 5.

This healing took place on the Sabbath, making it very offensive to the legalistic Jewish leadership. They were angered over a crippled man carrying a mat he’d lain on for 38 years and mad at the Man who cured him.

Apathy toward pain in favor of prejudice or tradition is in direct conflict with the miraculous work of God’s grace. Man’s agenda and expectation can pollute the work of the Gospel. Jesus had compassion which moved Him to action. Our mission is to do likewise.

Have a great Monday,

Gretchen

Who has saved us and called us to a Holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. II Timothy 1:9

Holy: The absence of sin, perfect and blameless.

Grace: A free unmerited gift.

Jesus: God’s son who willingly left Heaven, became fully human, grew to be a man, tempted yet sinless.

Christ: The sacrifice. The payment for our sins.

Before time began there was grace. WOW! Before satan was cast from the presence of God, victory was won. God is God. Satan is not.

These truths are the foundations of faith. Yes, they sound unbelievable. They are. It’s called faith for a reason and all of it is ours, yours and mine!

God did not create these things for a special few, or too flaunt in front of suffering, struggling victims for the joy of seeing their pain. In love we cannot fathom, He gives all of this to completely wipe sin out of your life! Welcome to victory!

Have a Wonderful Day,

Gretchen

So do not be ashamed to testify about our LORD, or of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. II Timothy 1:8

In Paul’s final days he is writing with passionate earnest to keep the early church strong, faithful and theologically pure. As a prisoner he has been robbed of all human dignity. Most would not acknowledge acquaintance, or connection to someone in his situation, distancing themselves from imminent grief or detrimental guilt by association. True believers and friends remain close to Paul and deliver his letters throughout the mission field, aka, all nations.

To serve means sacrifice and suffering, but suffering is a matter of perspective. The labor required to bring new life is suffering in the moment but irrelevant in the afterglow of a perfect infant. Paul equates his suffering for the Gospel as nothing compared to the Glory of God and one more sinner, saved by grace. So do not be ashamed of suffering AND do not be ashamed of those who suffer, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 5:10)

Love to each of You!

Gretchen

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7

Second Timothy is Paul’s last letter. He is in prison awaiting his imminent execution. Luke is with him, but he longs for his friend and comrade Timothy. With these words we feel Paul’s testimony of no regrets. Many times Paul could have given up and given in, shut his mouth and saved his life. He was a Roman citizen, well connected and could have had a great, long and prosperous life, but he laid down his life for his friends, me and you.

Because of the love given through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice we know that victory over evil is already won. The by-product of this assurance is perseverance and great strength of character. Stand firm, share the Good News. Where ever you are headed, God is already there paving a way for miracles and victory.

Love,

Gretchen

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. I Timothy 6:18

Some people see the church as a road to riches. This was a problem in the early church too.  Earthly wealth will decay and turn to dust. Paul charges Timothy, his associate and special envoy to the New Testament church, to encourage church leadership to invest in goodness rather than earthly wealth which leads to excess temptation and grief.

Generosity is not a concept bound by monetary value. The attributes of Christian character are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, kindness……these are things meant to be shared in great quantities. They are renewable resources, never in danger of extinction except that they die a natural death from lack of use. These things multiply exponentially when shared so “Throw them like confetti!”

Love,

Gretchen

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the LORD, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Ephesians 4:17

This verse is not a racial statement against nonJewish people. Ephesus was the port city capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was not a Jewish center, but a metropolis of pagan worship and the occult. Black magic, spiritism, idolatry and immorality were the order of normal life for the gentiles who called the city home. BUT! Paul came walking through, revival occurred and a church began. Its members? Former gentile sinners, saved by grace.

Believers are to put away former thinking and behavior patterns and be truly transformed into the likeness of Christ. This is a call to every sinner saved by grace. What habit or pattern of thinking or behavior do you need to exchange for a perfect reflection of Holiness in your life?

Love,

Gretchen