Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

The Uncharted Path

I am a creature of plans, agendas, roadmaps and lists. Mostly lists. Long ago I began treating myself to special rewards when all my itemized objectives were met, with ensuing wailing and gnashing of teeth when victory was thwarted. (Messy closets are my nemesis). The problem is, there is no known living thing, human or otherwise that respects my perfectly ordered schedule or program. After years of conflict and frustration, the God who knows me best, loves me beyond measure and longs for me to respond with joy to the life He gave me, revealed that my little docket, while necessary to keeping me focused and motivated, had become a prison, where friends and family came to visit, stayed a few minutes, then backed gently away hoping no one got hurt.

What was God’s big reveal? Nothing, it was gentle, kind and beautiful. When my youngest child left for college I noticed a subtle change in my overall approach to life. I call it ‘grandma mode’. It is similar to ‘mommy mode’ but characterized by greater flexibility and grace. Remaining connected to a world that once left muddy footprints on the floor meant turning loose of my controlling instincts and saying, “Nothing matters but walking with God today. He knows where I’m needed and my energies won’t be waisted or exploited.” This ‘uncharted path’ is the definition of livin’ the dream.’

My daughters are now adults. They have lives I see less frequently but I long for them to succeed beyond my hopes and theirs. They are on paths my best efforts cannot control. My clean toilets don’t increase their quality of life any longer, if they ever did to begin with, but my presence and availability are as important today as it has ever been. The same applies to the world at large. The angle of earth’s axis didn’t change because I failed to fold laundry and instead, went to see a child play ball.

Satan does his best work when individuals feel isolated, alone and totally hopeless. A good life does not come from the things money can buy, it originates and remains in the relationships we build and hold dear. God promises to never leave us alone (Deuteronomy 31:8). The great miracle is that His assurance is carried out human to human. An obstacle exists though. My plans, agendas, roadmaps and lists. To connect means stepping out into uncharted territory. Releasing my plans for the weekend because someone needs me, or losing a night’s sleep to wipe tears is not a burden when God’s voice asks you to be the difference between hope and despair.

I still make lists. They are rigid and I hold them close to my heart with ambition and determination, but I have an alternative list that begins with a phrase I heard an evangelist, Nathan Covington, state during a revival when I was a teenager. He said, “I hope the devil groans when I get out of bed and my feet hit the floor.” Make someone smile, be someone’s blessing, love my neighbor and leave the world better than I found it, are the things I endeavor to achieve each and every day. The road less traveled has no GPS other than faith, but there is a Light unto my pathway and I’m finding the absence of dust bunny distractions an incredibly lovely thing.

Wasting Less Paper,

Gretchen

Nevertheless, those who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Galatians 6:6

All of Galatians chapter 6 discusses the church’s care toward one another. This verse in particular makes known that there is no culture of exclusivity. Spiritual insight and testimony are to be shared. God doesn’t speak to a few, expecting them to share while the rest remain hushed. God speaks to all who seek and listen.

Sharing is a two way street in which all are held accountable to personal discipleship and leaders are held to a high standard of Biblical truth. The community of believers is important and the celebration/testimony of spiritual victories is one of the greatest joys of the Body of Christ.

Happy Saturday,

Gretchen

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1

Isaiah, referred to as the sixth Gospel, is prophesying about Jesus, the servant, the One who will die so that we can all be found NOT GUILTY.

Isaiah’s words to the nation of Israel 700 years before the virgin birth, give undeniable proof that God has always loved the creation on which He bestowed His own likeness and He has always had a plan of redemption, salvation and restoration for everyone. There is hope for the sinner and comfort that all can be forgiven and the image of God restored once again, on earth as it is in Heaven.

The people of Isaiah’s day had to confront many false God’s. Isaiah reminds them and us that none but God alone has the power to save and create a new creature from grace and mercy.

Happy Weekend Eve,

Gretchen

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. II Chronicles 7:15

I & II Chronicles were some of the last books of the Old Testament to be written and the first audience of these writings were people struggling with the questions of a personal, loving God. Documenting the lives of King David and his son King Solomon, Chronicles seems to gloss over the imperfections of these men. In reality, their sins are documented elsewhere. These writings are focused on what was done right in the eyes of the LORD.

Solomon has built a beautiful temple to honor God. The people are celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and sacrifices have been presented and burned. Solomon has prayed, asking God to never leave the presence of His people. God’s Glory filled the temple and He responded, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves……..verse 14. He will hear and see those who seek and listen.

God is a very personal God. Relationship is His entire agenda and it is good. He hasn’t left, but we must seek Him and draw close.

Love,

Gretchen

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Grace, an unmerited gift and salt, a preservative.

The thoughts that originate in our hearts/minds and find their way across our vocal cords should reflect and extend the forgiveness we have been given and our life that is saved.

From prison and most certainly death, Paul writes to implore the believers in Colossae to take good care of each other, both spiritually and physically and to extend love to outsiders in order to make a way for the Gospel to transform them too. The most basic truth is: If we expect or have been granted the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice, then by ALL means we must be a conduit of these same gifts to a world searching for something they do not yet understand but can’t live without.

Have a Great Midweek!

Gretchen

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (This Psalm is only three verses, I encourage you to read all of it.)

This very short and beautiful poem is an acknowledgement of the value of healthy relationships woven together with praise to the Author of Peace. It is classified as a Wisdom Psalm written by David.

Oil was a precious commodity and the most valuable was used for anointing. This perfume is poured generously, as if there was a never ending supply. The generosity of peace validates and brings us to a higher standard of living.

If you want to see a snow capped mountain in the Middle East, then Mt. Hermon is the place. It is the highest point in Israel and is the source of the Jordan River. The water that it provides gives life to land and people.

Unity? Harmony? It is the quality of existence. Choose peace, if not for someone else, then for yourself.

Love,

Gretchen

David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God.                    I Chronicles 22:7

David established the Kingdom is Israel, united the twelve tribes and expanded its boarders from Egypt to modern day Syria and Jordan. He subdued enemies and built the city of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.

Israel’s most powerful king, a man after God’s own heart, fell victim to sin time and again. The temptations of the flesh were a difficult battle but when the human David lost, he never failed to seek God’s forgiveness and return to Holiness. As He grew old he longed to build a magnificent permanent temple to honor the God he loved, but God had other plans. He told David as a result of David’s disobedience, it would not be him that saw the temple built but rather his son Solomon. David spent the rest of his life and energy gathering everything Solomon would need to see his dream fulfilled.

When sins are forgiven, they are forgotten, washed away never to return. But human action brings about things that cannot and will not be stopped. David knew this better than anyone and accepted God’s judgement, forgiveness and the consequences his actions set in motion. He did not quit, throw a fit or turn away from the God that loved him, yet punished him.

The things we do today matter so much tomorrow and if God is given control over the outcome, only victory will come from both our sins and successes.

Love,
Gretchen

Give them Jesus


My girls started their little league careers the summers between kindergarten and first grade. We practiced and played a couple times each week. One spring as several rural communities were gathering to organize the Tri-County league, a coach from a larger town in the area approached the board and asked if he could bring a group of little girls that just wanted to learn the game. Their city league was a little too much for his objective. The powers that be said, “Okay” and the season began.

I’ve seen amazing metamorphosis occur between domesticity and the gaming fields. Because of behaviors I’ve observed and my compulsion toward student learning and achievement, I’ve always wanted, just for fun, to suggest we place our little sports stars on the playing field and allow everyone to start screaming math facts, laws of physics, phonics rules and great moments in history, then threaten them with withdrawn vacation time if they didn’t get their lessons in the two hour practices and apply them when test time came. Just a thought.

Back to the Tri-County softball season, 199?????

It took one inning of the first game to realize that our little team of girls, just wanting to learn the game, was much, much more. They arrived with their matching gear bags, suits that smelled of new vinyl lettering, mommies included, and black grease under their eyes. They had their game face on and we’d been had!!!!! Winning wasn’t the goal, total annihilation was.

Every inning they scored their run limit while their coach paced and screamed. We provided batting practice and fielded their balls just wanting the night to end so we could wipe little tears, buy some snow cones and go home. Did I mention it was a school night? To top it all off, the thunder in the distance drew closer and rain began to fall. The teenage umpire called the game and Mr. Coach of the Year came storming from the dug-out crying foul. The official looked at our coaches as parents watched from the stands and Mr. All Knowing Sportsman, palms up, with great compassion on his face, pled with our staff to keep playing. He’d even quit keeping score. Our coaches looked to the parents and in that moment I became braver and more out spoken than I ever had before. I said, “Here, let’s think…….if our only option to bring the Word of God to each of them was to stand in this rain and have church, would we do it, or would we go home?” A quiet fell and I told my child to get her helmet and glove, we were heading to the house by way of Dairy Queen.

My girls participated in many team activities both academic and otherwise. They needed the life skills this encouraged and strengthened, but more than anything, they needed Jesus and we had to chose to live in such a way that expressed and modeled discipleship as our top priority.

We ask our children to validate our DNA and parenting techniques, but we don’t ask that they submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ. I know this is harsh, but it is true and it is absolutely a matter of life and death. We teach them to throw a knuckle ball, or how to pose perfectly on a pageant runway, but we don’t teach them to kneel as their first line of defense in life’s trials and tribulations. With greater enthusiasm than we do anything else, we must GIVE THEM JESUS! The rest will take care of itself.

Swinging for the Fence,

Gretchen

You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. Ezekiel 2:7

When King Jehoiachen surrendered Jerusalem to Babylon in 597 B.C. Ezekiel was one of Judah’s many talented and promising young men taken into exile. The future had been bright for this young man educating himself for service in the temple when instead, he found himself at the whim of a pagan ruler. In a vision Ezekiel saw God’s majesty, all seeing and all knowing, and against this brilliance was man’s sin in all it’s overwhelming darkness needing to see His Lordship.

The land of promise, the epitome of God’s faithfulness and presence is in ruins as a result of man’s rebellion and sin, but Ezekiel recognizes that God’s redemption and restoration is not restricted by geographical boundaries or earthly principalities. He answered the call and became the spiritual watchman to the remnant exiles.

Man’s response should never be a factor in one’s answer to God’s call, for He will not ask you if you were an excellent statesman, orator or Christian soldier. When you stand face to face before your Lord and Savior, love and obedience will be the only thing that matters.

Love,

Gretchen

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. I Peter 5:6

A quick thesaurus exploration gives insight to the word humble. Manageable, obliging, reverential, and unambitious are attributes of the humble. The antonyms are superior, egotistical, insolent.

Two bosses make for a very chaotic day. A respected chain of command gets much accomplished. Someone has to be in charge and it must be God. After all, He created you, everything around you AND He is faithful and trustworthy.

I read a church marquee many years ago that stuck. “Meekness is not weakness. It is strength under perfect control.” The most excellent relationship is God in charge leading and you in loving submission, following. It will change your world and quite possibly, THE world.

Love,

Gretchen