Month: February 2024

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Galatia was a place populated by gentiles that received the Gospel with great enthusiasm. When Paul, their minister, left to continue his missionary journey, Jewish teachers came and encouraged all new believers to take up the traditions of Judaism, namely, circumcision. Sadly, they taught that you had to be one thing, a Jew, before you could be another, a sinner saved by grace. These new believers complied, but when news reached Paul, he wrote this letter explaining that laws did not bring about salvation.

There are two great temptations at play in Paul’s world. One, to be ruled by law and two, to use law to rule others.  Both paths lead to bondage of one sort or another. This is the very thing Christ died to end.

The Christian life is lived by faith, just as it began. Christ put His life aside that we might have life eternal.  By faith and love we live for Christ. Please God with your faith and everything else will take care of itself.

Love,

Gretchen

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

This Psalm was anonymously written but is titled, A Song for the Sabbath. 

Believers in the One True God are called to set aside labors and cares one day a week and intentionally focus on the wonder of the Creator and Lover of our souls. It brings our storm tossed lives back into a harbor of calm water.

A Holy day is important to the emotional and spiritual well being of the community of Christ. It is a gift, but it is also mandatory maintenance for survival.  This Sabbath is our little bit of Heaven on earth. For when this life is over, we will enter into an eternal day of worship.  We will rest, sing praises and relish in the fellowship of those we love.

Love,

Gretchen

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His name, the LORD. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:5-6

Moses returned from 40 days and nights in the presence of God, bringing the engraved laws of the covenant nation. While Moses was with God, the Hebrew children, under the leadership of Aaron, lust for a tangible god and orgy type worship. When Moses finds the chaos and desecration of God’s kindness and provision he throws the precious stones, written by God. Now, Moses has returned to the peak of Mount Sinai and God’s mercy.

The people have sinned and God says He will destroy them, but Moses pled their case. God heard and extended forgiveness and restoration. The announcement from God to Moses, that He is the LORD, is a perspective builder.  Moses was carrying the burden of the people’s sin, but God exclaims it is His character that will determine the destiny of these people, not Moses’. Everything is going to be okay, but there is some work to do.  Moses and God spend another 40 days and nights rewriting instructions for Holy and set apart living so the world may be blessed.

These people, just set free from slavery, were terribly quick to worship god’s of their own making.  What an insult to God’s love!!! Still, God CHOSES…….HE CHOSES to be slow to anger, ABOUNDING IN LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS to mankind.  

You are loved so very much! 

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Psalms 86:1

There are occasions when I read vignettes of time in the Bible, i.e. most of Isaiah, and I think, “This is talking to a specific group of people, in a specific situation, in a specific time.  It’s a lovely story, but what does it have to do with me?” Well, here’s the greatest news you’ll ever hear!  God is constant!  Perfect in perspective and judgement and completely without bias. What He did for sinful humans throughout history, desperate for, yet undeserving of mercy and grace, He will do for you!

David is not financially poor. He is spiritually bankrupt, broken, exhausted.  He needs mental rest and assurance that the weight of the world doesn’t really set on his shoulders. It isn’t his physical life that needs saving, it’s his sanity! Can you relate?

Because he knows that God is good, loving, and able, David, the poet, puts his humbled and tired heart to pen, takes it to God and leaves it there.  Do you think he got a good night’s sleep after reflecting on the trustworthiness of God? I think so.

Rest Well,

Gretchen