Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2

Micah’s prophecy spanned the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Two of them were good, the wickedness of Ahaz was epic. Micah witnessed a corrupt society where the powerful oppressed the marginalized. It was a time of conflict and hostility. God expects kindness, justice and humility. The sins of the people would ultimately lead to destruction, but God would provide a plan of restoration.

One of Micah’s strongest messages was that exile, a consequence of sin, was actually very important to the salvation of the Jewish nation. These people had become incredibly evil, but God would wipe out all their vices, greed, exploitation, dishonesty and sham religious rituals and leave them with nothing but hope. Micah encouraged his hearers to accept their punishment without giving up hope of God’s eventual Glory.

Matthew, the Gospel writer who recorded the nativity story, recognized the birth of Jesus, in a Bethlehem stable, as the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. Where the world leaves a path of dysfunction, confusion, and destruction, a tiny baby, the Son of God, would be our peace.

Merry Saturday!

Gretchen

And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16

Children track dirt, leave marks on the walls and windows, make a lot of senseless noise, peek in every closet and drawer and exhaust their grownups with unending inquiries. They do very little independently, but ask for companionship and love.

People, probably their mothers, were bringing little children to Jesus so that He could lay His hand on them and bless them. The disciples rebuked them, treated them as a distasteful nuisance, but Jesus became indignant and said, “Let the little children come to me.”

In Jewish life women and children had no worth, yet Jesus used childlike humility and faith as the model of correct approach the the Kingdom. Despite gritty fingers, dirty feet and most likely a snotty nose or two, Jesus took the children into His arms and gave them value. My mind tells me there were a few boo boos that needed attention also and as always, Jesus did what He does best, He healed them and those precious lives were forever changed.

The world’s value system is skewed and has no bearing on true worth. If we want to come to Jesus we must come with a heart made innocent by trust and if we desire to be like Jesus, we must see and love what He does, even if soap and water hasn’t touched it for days.

Embracing My Inner Child,

Gretchen

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:17

The Chronicler’s mission is to tell the positive stories of ancient history. One of his favorite themes is that faithfulness brings blessings. This is true and King Jehoshaphat is a wonderful example of a Godly leader and a blessed nation. He sought the LORD in all things and began a program of public instruction that included sending priests on regular circuits with copies of the Law to teach the people.

When Jehoshaphat was informed that a massive army was marching toward him he called the entire nation to fast and pray and he himself inquired of the LORD. In verse 12 Jehoshaphat’s prayer states, “We do not know what to do but our eyes are on You.” What a beautiful, confession of faith! All of Judah, from the eldest to the least, stood before the LORD anxious, and then the Spirit of the LORD came. Through a prophet’s voice the words above are heard.

When tomorrow came Jehoshaphat spoke final words of praise and faith. His appointed worship leaders led, “Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.” As they sang, the opposing armies began to attack each other. Those seeking war found a fight among themselves and self-destructed.

It isn’t man that needs the last word, but God. Oh how very hard that is to accept but He will fight all the battles you give Him charge over.

Happy Thursday!

Gretchen

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12

God made a covenant with Israel when, through Moses, He led them out of Egyptian slavery. A designated place of worship was given to this nation, a Tent, the Tabernacle. God resided with His people, but His people did not have direct access to Him. Once a year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary, covered in the blood of goats and calves, to make atonement. This was an annual ritual to remind the people of their sins. It was limited and had no power of redemption. The bondage of sin and human nature was never broken.
He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12

God made a covenant with Israel when, through Moses, He led them out of Egyptian slavery. A designated place of worship was given to this nation, a Tent, the Tabernacle. God resided with His people, but His people did not have direct access to Him. Once a year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary, covered in the blood of goats and calves, to make atonement. This was an annual ritual to remind the people of their sins. It was limited and had no power of redemption. The bondage of sin and human nature was never broken.

Jesus, the Christ, God’s Son, became the perfect sacrifice. With love He voluntarily gave His life to set all men free from sin’s consequence. Through Jesus’ blood, sin is wiped away. Through His death we all can have eternal life.

Today we title churches The House of God. They are exactly that. They are the representation of God with us in a living, active and powerful way. Those who gather there are the Body of Christ, the community of believers, those who by faith are saved and lay their lives down as a living sacrifice so that others may feel God’s love and find redemption.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen Jesus, the Christ, God’s Son, became the perfect sacrifice. With love He voluntarily gave His life to set all men free from sin’s consequence. Through Jesus’ blood, sin is wiped away. Through His death we all can have eternal life.

Today we title churches The House of God. They are exactly that. They are the representation of God with us in a living, active and powerful way. Those who gather there are the Body of Christ, the community of believers, those who by faith are saved and lay their lives down as a living sacrifice so that others may feel God’s love and find redemption.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1

Revelation, Biblically speaking, has given me greater pause than any other scripture. I associate it with death. The magnitude and depth of its content are intimidating, but John got to look into Heaven, then tell everyone and it was beyond amazing. It was beautiful and that is often lost, because no one is searching TripAdvisor for the path of least resistance to get there quick.

If you read 21:1-22:6 you will see the New Order, not a new world order, but an eternal order. All things are made new. Like so many things of Heaven, we cannot fathom something that is completely NEW! All we have on earth is what we started with. We understand reuse, recycle, restore, not NEW! But Heaven is nothing of earth. God will dwell among men in a place He has designed from His unprecedented creativity and power.

John saw a river flowing from the Throne of God watering a Tree of Life. This tree holds the power to heal every ill ever imagined. On earth water is necessary to sustain life, in Heaven it is life. Here is something new for me: Heaven holds life, not death.

Living, not dying,

Gretchen

We love because He first loved us. I John 4:19

John’s favorite theme was love, God is LOVE. His command is that we love one another. To love is to obey, to obey is to love.

If you read the entirety of the Bible, God’s breath, His voice, His Word, you will not find a boundary drawn for love. God’s love is boundless, therefore, to live for Him, abide in Him and share eternal life with Him means we love…….without conditions, questions, borders……just love, it’s what we do.

LOVE!

Gretchen

Today I share my sibling’s truth and wisdom with you.  I know you will find her as amazing as I do!  Here are words from Gayle Paladino, the World’s Greatest Middle Sister!

Can the Clay be the Potter?

I love watching those amazing videos of talented pottery artists. They can take lumps of bland, unyielding clay and create beautiful, colorful and functional works of art.  They masterfully apply the skills of kneading, massaging, spinning, molding, glazing, baking and cooling.  They understand clay, and how its properties vary based on where it came from and what it’s made of.  They know just how much water to add to make the clay pliable, and just how much pressure is needed to achieve the design they fancy.  They apply carving tools to add character.  Regardless of the process, the result is a true work of art that is perfect in both form and function.

Videos of novice potters are equally enthralling and always humorous.  They all have one thing in common.  The products of the novice are usually less than aesthetically pleasing, even if they end up being functionally useful.  In other words…they ain’t ”purty”…but they work.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken a figurative look at my life and thought to myself…well, it ain’t “purty”, but it seems to be working (even if just marginally), so I’ll keep plodding along in my slightly useful but ugly imperfection.  How sad it that!?  Yet I can guarantee that each one of you has had that thought and done the same thing.   The questions we need to ask after that look around are:

1. Why is my work of pottery…my life…only marginally useful to the community God placed me in?
2. Why isn’t it pretty?

The answer to both questions is I’M NOT A MASTER POTTER!  GOD is.  I am just a simple lump of clay that He breathed life into.

Isaiah 29:16 (NASB)  says:
You turn things around!
Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay,
That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”;
Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

Now that really makes sense.  If I’m the clay, how can I ever hope to form myself?  I can wiggle, squirm, poke, roll, and shimmy all I want.  I can buy all the tools the world has to offer, but I am still just the lump of clay.  I simply don’t have the hands, heart or skill of the Master Potter. Rather, I was made to yield to His artistry…to relax into His vision.  As the raw material, I’m free to trust the gentle yet firm hands He has wrapped around me.  I can take direction and character from  the tools He applies to me.  I can rest still and calm even when things are spinning madly, or the furnace is burning fiercely around me.
Once I acknowledge my place in his plan and yield obediently to the Master, the next time look around at my life, I will see something different.  I will see improved function, with a side of beauty.  I will become a useful vessel filled with joy and shining with the beauty that God planned for me.

Have a wonderful week, fellow lumps…and remember what God says:  Be still, and know that I am God (and that you are My precious lump of clay).  Psalm 46:10, the Paladino Unauthorized Paraphrase. 😉

 

“How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 2 Samuel 7:22

God made a covenant with Abraham. His offspring would number as the sands on the earth and bless all people. The Hebrew nation, freed from Egyptian slavery by Moses and led back to their ancestral land, The Promised Land, was this nation. Generations later David becomes their King Through the prophet Nathan, God reveals His plan to complete His promise through David’s family. There would come a King that would reign for all eternity, but have a servant’s heart and an unconditional love that truly ‘makes the world go ‘round.’

It was David’s desire to build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant but to his great disappointment God directed him otherwise. David was a warrior king. His son Solomon, a man of peace, would build the House of God. But God revealed a great plan for David. His throne would change the world for the better. David’s response was the worship and praise above.

David praised and worshiped God because he was the one chosen to bring blessings, but we are the ‘all people’ that were/are blessed. How much more should we repeat David’s response? “You are THE ONE TRUE GOD! How unique and great You are!”

Peace to You,

Gretchen

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6

The gift of optimism is a priceless treasure. This Psalmist sees the good in the present and distant future. Sin is a thief. It leaves a path of destruction but God specializes in revival and restoration. Salvation takes care of yesterday and today and makes tomorrow possible.

It is difficult to see the good when devastation’s threat is staring you in the face daily, but Verses 10-12, bear witness to the hope we find in God’s power and glory. The people of old needed the strength of a truthful, but positive outlook and so do we.

Love and faithfulness meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from Heaven, The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
“Love and faithfulness meet together, righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth and righteousness looks down from Heaven.”

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

He restores my soul, He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

We are a dependent humanity living in a hostile world. God jealously guards us, His supreme creation, from evil and governs our moral behavior, making us righteous.

Psalm 23 is a song of trust. David wrote this Psalm while still a shepherd boy on the plains of Judea where hundreds of years later, a host of angels announced the coming of another child that would become a King, a Shepherd, the Prince of PEACE.

Each fall, millions of birds, among hundreds of species take to the sky and make their way to warmer climates so they may live. Why? Because God made it so. He takes wonderful care of them. Only God can restore what the weariness of this world has stolen. It is not in God’s character to leave His children lost and struggling. He does not and He will not. Because we are His, He will take us where we are safe, secure and sustained and Holy.

Love,

Gretchen