Month: June 2024

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the LORD so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  I Corinthians 2:15

The citizens of Corinth held themselves in high esteem.  As a neighboring city to Athens, Corinth was home to scholars, orators, and litigators.  Arguing for the sake of arguing had become an art form and the early church was not spared such enlightened minds.  Paul, a scholar himself, teaches that debate and logic are not the way to the throne of God, or great faith.  God’s ways, especially grace and mercy, do not make sense. 

In dealing with early Christians that have always relied on their mental acuity to excel and advance their social standing, Paul taught that humble, blind faith was the secret to wisdom and insight when it came to understanding Jesus’ unselfish act of love, His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We are not unlike our ancient friends.  Knowing and understanding grants security and autonomy. Releasing control is perceived as weakness or lack of motivation and ambition. The world does not shine brightly on unquestionable trust in something as abstract as an intangible God. But as Paul states, it is the mind of Christ we must seek and emulate. Explaining Jesus isn’t the answer, accepting Him and walking in His ways is. 

Have a Great Day,

Gretchen

P.S. I encourage you to read all of chapter two to better understand Paul’s context, frustration and letter.

Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert, to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass? Job 38:25-26

Job became famous because of his misery. In one day he was crushed by a mountain of disaster. His camels were stolen and his herdsmen were murdered, the same for his oxen. 7000 sheep and their attending shepherds were killed by a thunderstorm. His children, all ten, perished in a cyclone. Job himself was struck by a hideous and painful disease, probably leprosy. People everywhere knew of Job’s calamity and they talked….a lot.  Theologians and scholars, as well as nosey neighbors, all had something to comment.  It didn’t help or change anything.

Job grieved and anger was a big part of the process.  He asked the hard questions, “What did I do to deserve this!?” “Why are you picking on me?!” “Why don’t you just let me die!?  Job’s friends speak and analyze God’s motives and Job’s character. Job defends his righteousness, so his friends inquire of secret hypocrisies. Finally, God speaks and Job finds perspective. God ends Job’s story with love, not condemnation and Job’s joy is restored beyond measure.

This book isn’t about suffering, its about who God is when suffering comes. When sin came into the world, death became a part of man.  But death does not define God!!!! This is important!!!  In a desert where no man may ever go, God waters the land and a flower miraculously blooms for a few short days………just because He’s God. He can and will do what it good!

Human nature struggles with the inequities and injustices of life. How can a good God allow such horror and pain? And then God Himself came from Heaven, in the form of Jesus, to be a partaker in our suffering. Not because man needed answers, but because He is a good God and we needed love.  That’s who He is, that’s what He does.

Have a Great Day!

Gretchen

Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

Imagine for a second that you live on Uranus. From there, the sun looks like a very bright star.  There are no radiant sunrises with a promise of a fresh new day, nor glorious sunsets, giving rest for a day well spent. That’s what it’s like being in a far outer loop…..dirty, hopeless, dark and cold. We want better and so covetousness becomes our motivating force.

James, Jesus’ older brother, became leader of the Judean church and wrote this letter to Christian Jews scattered by persecution. His epistle gives an encyclopedia of Christian ethics, but most importantly he implores: You must chose daily to come near to God and seek His heart and mind. You cannot value the standards of this world and please God.

There is no pecking order with God so don’t covet. We are all of highest worth and loved beyond measure.

Basking in the Sonshine,

Gretchen

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record? Psalm 56:8

The world is a mixed up place. Life is really hard to manage by yourself, but when you add everyone else’s crazy, things spin out of control. People get hurt and its hard to forgive. People hurt others and don’t feel remorse. Some wounds are minor, others are life shattering. King David knew his share of disappointment, despair, self-destruction, and the misrepresentation of facts and motives. Sin, his own and others, created grief, but he refused to live in the legacy of defeat.

Although he will be Israel’s next king, Saul, the present king was jealous and attempted to kill David. David spent many years running, hiding and fighting for his life. He most certainly grew weary, but he stood on the solid foundation that God was God, and when God is for you, nothing can overtake you. This Psalm is not a pity party, but a song of great confidence. David can leave his enemies in God’s hands. 

God does not like or approve the hurt you have experienced. Man will patronize with words like, “Only the toughest are chosen to endure.” Or, “God wouldn’t have sent this if you weren’t able.”  On and on goes the list of words that don’t help. God is not sending the pain, sin is!!! God is the Healer, Comforter, Prince of Peace, Advocate, Love! Let God take care of your enemies just as David did, and start living in victory and joy!

Love,

Gretchen

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Psalm 90:8

This Psalm has been accredited to Moses along with Psalms 91-100, but most scholars discount him as the original composer. It is considered to be one of the first Psalms written down, so it is connected to the time of Moses and would have been sung in worship. It depicts the eternity of God and the brevity of man’s existence.

Compared to eons of time, the billions of inhabitants on earth, at any given time, seem very insignificant. Not true! None of us is the center of the universe, but the universe was made, by God, as our home and we are each fearfully and wonderfully made. We matter a lot and God is particular about our spiritual well-being.

Secrets are dangerous. They hold the power to destroy. Even if you think your secrets aren’t hurting anyone else, they are hurting you with fear and shame. God’s light drives out the darkness of confusion and regret, and I promise…..you can’t keep secrets from God. He isn’t shocked or overwhelmed with the gravity of your issues. He is already there and everything is going to be okay if you will trust Him.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Gretchen