Month: December 2023

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:16

The shepherds left their flocks, went into Bethlehem and found the Christ Child.

On this night, God became very personal. His power and glory is displayed throughout all the universe, His voice is heard through prophets that gave assurances and hope of His presence among us. AND THEN…..God chose to unite Himself personally with mankind. The Creator entered His own creation and became like His created, just to reveal a personal love for each of us.

Through this gift, God provided a way to bear our sins, break death’s grip and pay a debt to reconcile humanity to his original perfection. What man could not do for himself, Jesus came to do for them.

Nativity scenes are some the most magnificent artwork human eyes have ever seen, but don’t let the artist’s craft or nostalgia dull the foundational doctrine of salvation: Jesus was the fully human Son of God. Born to die, so you could live.

There is a hymn associated with the first Christmas night, Silent Night, Holy Night. A quick google search will reveal the manner in which this world famous tune and lyric came to be. A broken organ and a desire to worship in spite of obstacles brought about this beloved carol. Those that gathered in the manger went out of their way, put aside their daily lives, to worship. This Season of Celebration, don’t let man’s obstacles inhibit your worship and praise.

The Reason for the Season, 24/365

Gretchen

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

These are the words of the Angel Gabriel, spoken to shepherds on the plaines of Judea. The foretold time of a Savior’s arrival had come. There was great expectation. THE event of the ages has happened and without a doubt, Heavenly evidence was confirmation. Supernatural guidance led chosen people from very different walks of life to witness, worship and testify of the Christ’s arrival.

Each of the first three Gospels speak to certain groups: Matthew the Jews, Mark the Romans, Luke the Greeks. John spoke to all of mankind with the message that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself. Greeks prioritized culture, wisdom, reason, education. Luke tells his story of the nativity in a classical, orderly manner that has been called The Most Beautiful Story Ever Told….and it is. He shows the wonder of the night, the glory in a manger and the universality of God becoming man.

It’s just my imagination, but I think and hope that someday when I reach Heaven, God will sit me down and say, “Hey Gretchen, look at this!” He will take me back in time for a moment and let me hear the angel choir and peek inside an animal shelter to see my Savior’s radiance on that night of Greatest Gift Giving, the night of Peace everlasting.

Blessings,

Gretchen

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel-which means ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23

From very early in the history of man, God chose Abraham’s family line to deliver His Son into the world. Two of the Gospels give us this genealogy. Matthew’s accounting is condensed, going from Abraham to Joseph. Luke goes from Mary all the way back to Adam. The bloodline of Mary shows Jesus’ connection to The House of David, the prophecy fulfilled. As Joseph’s son, Jesus is a legal heir to the promises given Abraham, He is royalty. Isaiah’s words have come to life! (7:14)

A lot is said about the virgin birth of Jesus, but there was a virgin conception first. The power and activity of the Holy Spirit brought the birth of Jesus, the incarnate God came into His own creation… This belief is fundamental. Jesus is The Son of God, and The Son of Man. As the Son of God, He has all the power and glory of Heaven, as the Son of Man, He feels what we feel, is tempted as we are. He suffers pain, sorrow, insult and isolation, and yet, brings Heaven to earth so that we may share in His inheritance and live eternally in the home He has prepared for us.

The Christmas Season is full of carols referencing Immanuel, God with us. I hope you embrace the miracle and gift that the virgin conception has given mankind.

The Season Continues,

Gretchen

He will be their peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders.Micah 5:5

Micah was a small town prophet who was well known to kings. He lived in a time of great political and religious corruption. A contemporary of Isaiah, Micah’s three themes to the nations of both Israel and Judah were their sin, their destruction and their restoration. In addition he is the prophet that named Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Christ Child.

Samaria and Jerusalem will both be destroyed, but Micah sees a time when Jerusalem will be the religious center of the world. A Messiah would come. The numbers in this verse are not specific, but symbolize that God will provide whatever is needed to protect and triumph.

The most beautiful aspect of this prophecy is the peace that will occur in the midst of an attack. Man cannot fathom peace in a raging storm, but knows the peace that passes all understanding when God’s presence fills a space and security and assurance is no longer hope, but reality. Jesus came to give peace!

May your Thursday be Blessed,

Gretchen

 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD  has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

Isaiah was a Messianic prophet. He knew that from the people of Israel, specifically Judah, a great blessing would come. God would fulfill His covenant with Abraham; to bless all nations.

This chosen nation is in shambles. They expected much, but gave nothing. God requires obedience but that was too tall a request. Continually defying God’s commands, they turned their back on His love and crumbled their own hope. BUT, there is a bridge between shame and dying and freedom and healing. Its God Son, the Christ Child. A Redeemer and Healer is coming.

When Jesus enters His ministry, after His baptism and temptation, He goes to the synagogue as every Jewish man did. He read this passage quoting Isaiah and announced that it had been fulfilled. (Luke 4:16-21)

The greatest gift of Christmas is the power of victory that Baby brought to earth. When you see the nativity, you see Heaven and every promise God has given will be kept.

There is a Christmas tune, O Come O Come Immanuel, based on this passage from Isaiah. Enjoy it sometime today and soak in its assurance.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:9

Verses 5-11 are probably a quotation from an ancient hymn.

He that drew the adoration of Heaven, came to earth a helpless baby, lived humbly, served paupers, and was given the name Jesus. His model is our call. The Prince of Heaven, relinquished all His entitlements, including His life, to personally show us the way Home.

The Philippian church was Paul’s first mission in Europe. Home to Luke, it was a medical center, Roman colony and prosperous region. This church suffered its share of persecution, but divisions in theology began to arise. Rather than remind this congregation of the fundamentals in Christian living, Paul wrote to encourage greater spiritual maturity. Live as Christ lived. Put away pride and prejudice, love and serve others without question or malice and live in accord with one another.

Jesus: A name that sets the captive free, calms the storms, heals the broken in body and soul and gives strength to the weary. It is above all others.

Merry Christmas,

Gretchen

Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD, You are great, and Your name is great in might. Jeremiah 10:6 (Read the entire chapter, it’s a good one!)

Babylon’s invasion of Judah resulted in many gods becoming a common, acceptable part of everyday life for the Jewish people dispersed and separated from their communities and families. Jewish craftsmen participated in the manufacture of false gods, making easy monetary gain from something insulting to God.

Things created by the hands of man are inanimate, soulless and powerless, yet we exchange our hearts and minds for these, rather than worship, trust and love the One who designed us to fit perfectly in the universe He set in motion.

God is the One True God, there is none like Him. Man invests the dreams of his lifetime in wooden and paper idols that have no power except to compromise integrity and rob him of hope, peace and joy. It simply makes no logical sense.

He is not just the All Mighty God of the Ages, He is the All Mighty God of your today!

Love,

Gretchen

“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.” Matthew 16:19

Jesus must become real to His disciples. He can no longer be the man of the prophecies, certainly not the opinions of the Pharisees and sadducees, or just a man of miraculous deeds. He must become the Son of God, the Messiah, their Savior.

Peter had spent two and a half years working beside Jesus serving others, healing and teaching and finally he understood and confessed that Jesus was the Heir of Heaven. This single truth is the foundation of all Christendom. Peter was not given the power to forgive sins, but through the Holy Spirit he and the other disciples delivered the means. He was the orator on the day of Pentecost, the birth of the church for both Jew and Gentile.

Just like Peter, we must discover Jesus as our own Messiah. We rely so heavily on tradition and what other people say, but just like the twelve disciples, we must diligently seek Biblical truth and the intimate, personal Savior Jesus died to be.

Love,

Gretchen

Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will turn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7

Revelation is meant to be the book of the Bible with the most optimism, for it holds the most precious promises of God. We are protected and victorious. This book was written after the horrendous tortures of Nero that took the lives of both Paul and Peter. During the persecution of Domitian, John, a Jewish Christian (tradition indicates it is John the Apostle, although there is good argument it is not), was banished to the Island of Patmos where this revelation from God was given. The message of these visions was meant to warn against selfish, personal agenda in the churches, apathy toward suffering and sin, and remind us of the greatest triumph imaginable for those that persevere, love and worship the Lord God.

What we are reading is what John saw. Jesus will return and everyone will recognize Him, even those who denied His existence or divine connection. There will be no mistaking who has arrived and what His purpose is.

My heart sings knowing that on that day I will be judged in the purest of ways. My creator knows my heart, my joys, my grief, my defeats and my wins. I will not be allowed to make excuses, or inflate my intentions. It will be just me and My LORD, the omnipotent, omniscient, all powerful Savior, present for a transparent accounting. Then I will see Him face to face and my everlasting peace will be complete.

Have a Triumphant Thursday,

Gretchen

Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (I encourage you to read verses 13-18)

God gets blamed for many things He did not do. Man was born with the urge to sin, to have his own way. We lust and that drives us to put ourselves first and hurt others, leaving scars on the beauty of the gift God granted. And if that is not enough, these sins bring death, eternal separation from God and all that is Holy and good.

God is good. He gives life, restores what is broken. He gave His Son so that we could be reborn with the power to put away our instinct to sin.

We know where to turn for help and guidance, our attitude is positive and life has value and hope when our perspective shines on the weakness of our nature and the strength of God’s overcoming power.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen