Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

Hauling Rocks

“I have built many altars in my home,” was a phrase often used by my mother-in-law during testimony services on Sunday and Wednesday night prayer meetings. She would often tell me of being distressed about something and going off to a certain place to pray. Each place had a significance and she was determined and faithful to altars and prayer.

Alters are mentioned often in the Bible. They were raised structures designed for sacrifice, but most importantly they were built as a monument to commemorate or remember an encounter with God. They symbolize communion with the LORD.

When God provided a dry path across the Jordan River and Joshua led the Hebrew children into the Land of Canaan, God said to send a member from each tribe back into the riverbed and retrieve a rock to build an alter. When this was done the river returned to its normal seasonal flow and on the banks twelve random stones became a place to return to and know God was faithful. He provided and protected. The same unchanging God, would remain so and to the future be as faithful as history reveals. (Joshua 4.)

When I was a teenager my parents purchased land on top of a mountain to build a home. It was a great adventure building a home of our own. However, the first order of business was to turn a wasteland of hard rock and little soil into an inhabitable lawn. Summer days, after school and several Saturdays we trekked to the house site. We threw boulders over the bluff and into the woods, we selected the choicest stones to be used in the exterior walls, and sometimes we just made flowerbeds, all in an effort to rid ourselves of these geological nuisances.

We didn’t live in that house for long. Dad was called to shepherd a new flock and eventually a ‘for sale’ sign added ‘sold.’ But I have returned to this address many times over the years. Looked at the trees, once so small, now giving shade. I’ve been drawn to the edge of the drive and looked off that bluff and remembered the rocks, and the dreams, and the silly times we had as adolescents turning labor into frolic. I look at the exterior walls and remember the pride my parents took in their accomplishment. And I remember in the home, we prayed, we cried, we laughed, we fought, and we prayed some more.

Recently my husband and I traveled with a friend to a place with a very similar story. Her family needed a place of respite, so her parents acquired a beautiful lake front property. Under her dad’s direction they hauled rocks. They turned their stoney slope into an Eden where the ivy from her wedding bouquet still flourishes. There are rock walls, waterfalls, pools, and flower beds. The rocks had to go somewhere so they became a thing of beauty, a source of joy.

The Israelites were under attack by the Philistines and Samuel prayed. The Israelites prevailed and Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen and called it’s name Ebenezer. (I Samuel 7:12) Today a popular Hymn references this monument.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer, here by Thy great help I’ve come. (Robert Robinson)

Haul some rocks. Build some altars. Return to them and remember. Bring your family, and some friends. Tell them, sing praise, worship and stand in the anticipation of the days to come.

Love,

Gretchen

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. Romans 3:21

In Paul’s day Rome was a vast empire spanning an area from Britain to Arabia. It was wealthy and cosmopolitan. All roads led to Rome, so people traveled and there were Roman citizens who witnessed Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. This letter is addressed to the Christian community in Rome that took root on that day. It would be three long years before Paul personally reached Rome and it would be as a prisoner.

Paul is placing all the pieces of God’s ‘puzzle’ together. The death and resurrection of Christ is the only means of salvation. The prophets testified to this even if they were not to see it in person. Christ’s sacrifice changed obedience to the law to obedience to love.

As Christians we are all the same, there is no differentiation between Jew and Gentile. We are all alike under the power of sin and salvation comes to all of us exactly the same. The following verses are very familiar and add to the understanding of verse 21. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Praise be to God, for His Righteousness is known and we can share in His Glory.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Justified is a court/law term meaning that the gavel came down and the judge/God found the defendant NOT GUILTY! Because our faith has led us to believe in the Resurrected Christ, we are free from sin’s death sentence. We are justified, made righteous.

“Peace be with you,” is the phrase Jesus spoke to the disciples after the resurrection. Through Christ a relationship is established with God our Father. A relationship of peace, unity and unanimity, one mine, one heart. Paul continues this pattern in his letters by writing, ‘Grace and peace’ in the salutations. Peace is the objective, it’s important.

It is traditionally the offender who returns to the offended, extends an apology and seeks peace, but with God, He comes to us, extending His sacrifice, His Only Son, to offer mercy, grace, love and forgiveness so that we live.

Peace is not a whimsical distant wish. It is a valid way of life for all who chose to walk as one with The One True God.

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. I Peter 2:17

But I thought respect was something someone had to earn? If they fail my respect ‘test’ then I withhold this courtesy at my discretion. Right? Well, not according to scripture.

Jesus was being robbed of His proper respect and dignity on the night Peter denied knowing him. Peter never forgot. At the time of this letter, Peter is in Rome being persecuted for the Gospel. Christians of Peter’s time were being threatened, some even to death, and for society to make it okay in their minds and hearts, they accused them of every impurity and perversion. Nero, the emperor was leading the charge. Yet, these young, newly transformed Christians are hearing Peter remind them that they are serving the Stone that the builders rejected, the One True God, and represent the hope of the church that was built upon this very rock. Love each other and trust, it will be worth it.

Respect is a reflection of your character and the character of whom you belong. Withholding it is akin to a tantrum. Christians must live above reproach or our testimony is nullified, even when we are being robbed of the very thing we freely give.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21

This epistle by James, the brother of Jesus, is a general letter, addressed to many people and places rather than just a single church. James is adamant that faith and works cannot be separated. Real faith permeates every area of life to the positive.

Tongues and tempers are firm footholds for trouble. Guard against loose language, criticism and gossip toward each other, but also keep God’s name Holy and don’t blame all the world’s troubles on Him. He is good, not evil. (Read all of chapter 1.)

Faith is Christ alive in us, planted, rooted and growing. He died to give life. LIVE!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you and you shall answer me.’ My eyes have seen You.” Job 42:4-5

In my deepest despair I turned to the book of Job searching for the answer to this question: Why do horrible things happen to good people? I still can’t answer, but like Job, I learned some valuable facts.

God is good. Only good. He is not cruel, He does not delight in our agony.
While we cannot fathom what God is doing, we can feel His presence and touch.
The bigger God becomes, the smaller I become and there lies the greatest peace ever!

Job was a wealthy sheik. He lost every earthly possession including his health. His faith was shaken to its core. All he had remaining was his integrity and while his anger, and heartache drew him very close to sin, he realized he was not God’s equal. He was broken but never quit crying out to God.

Job repeatedly asked God “Why?” His friends placed blame and voiced suspicion. Finally God said, “Shut up! All of you! I am God!” (Sort of….You’ll have to read chapters 38-41 to get the full picture.)

There are things far beyond our depth, but we must seek God’s face….and It will be enough. He is good, loving and kind.

As always, Basking in the Sonshine,

Gretchen

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah is not unique in his creation. We are all woven together purposefully and God knows us well before anyone else even suspects we exist. God has a plan of grace and purpose for each of us.

Jeremiah was reluctant to answer God’s call. God affirmed His calling in verses 7-10. Jeremiah saw himself through the eyes of man with man’s limitations and prejudices. However, we are not called by man or because we are the model of perfect preparation. We become perfectly prepared and equipped when we answer God’s call. God does the calling and the equipping. It is not by power of man that Grace and Mercy abound, but man is the conduit through which these gifts reach a hurting world.

Your call is to love, worship and serve….. and probably a whole lot more, but God will let you know. You are wonderfully and fearful made and your creator has an amazing plan.

Love,

Gretchen

The Testimony of Life

Early in the morning of May 11, my mother awoke very ill. The trip to the emergency room revealed a mass. Scans were run and appointments made. One week later a biopsy diagnosed cancer. Surgeons were summoned and we readied for a journey through chemo therapy and radiation. We’ve google, read the pamphlets, taken notes, asked our questions.

Quietness descended over the original six Joneses. Saying things out loud made them real and speculation about other’s thoughts and concerns seemed disrespectful and vain. There was a wedding and a graduation in the coming days and mom let it be known that those things were far more important to her than the inconvenience of a few disorderly cells wreaking havoc in her body, so we proceeded accordingly.

The night dad announced mom’s diagnosis I hung up the phone and cried the tears of a heartbroken child. I knew he was continuing to make calls and inform extended family and others who needed to hear the news first hand. I contacted my pastor, shared my heart and was given the gift of comfort. We called our girls and my husband called our friends and asked them to lift us all to the Throne of God. They did, we felt it.

The morning after learning of the cancer I sent my parents a text. It went in part like this:

“I hope you and mom were able to rest. All my senses are on high alert and I suppose the same is true for you. Love you big.”

Dad’s reply, “We both rested and are up and getting ready for another day to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. That is good.”

Love never fails. Mom and dad celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. They aren’t perfect, but they have love. They love the LORD, therefore they serve together with one common purpose, to evangelize the lost and minister to all. They have practiced I Corinthians 13. It isn’t age, gender, ethnic or socio economic specific, yet it IS very specific. Be patient and kind, preserve dignity with honor and humility, put self aside and protect others, be trustworthy, faithful, and DON’T KEEP SCORE! Love must happen. In order for mom to regain health and have quality of life dad must give her the resources and opportunity. It will cost him. He must stay home within hearing distance. Not an easy task for a social man on the go, but love in its highest manifestation means sacrifice. As their children, we each have a role to play. Dad sends group texts so we each have equal information. We must love and trust with transparency allowing mom and dad to remain strong and supported. God has called each of us equally in this sojourn but not to an identical task. Keeping score inhibits our gain and so it has no place where love reigns supreme.

Our lives are our testimony. You cannot separate where your heart lies and where your feet travel, they go together. When mom and dad joined together in Holy matrimony they did not know what life would hold, but they knew what they would do, they would trust, obey and love. They are no more aware today of tomorrow’s doings, and still, they know what they will do. They will live under the Lordship of their Savior, and their four children will follow their path well lit with Son-light.

Trusting Like Never Before,
Gretchen

 

Listen now to me and I will give you some advise, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Exodus 18:19

Moses fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew slave. This flight brought him to the camp of shepherd/priest Jethro where Moses found work and a wife.

Decades later Moses is leading the Hebrew people out of slavery and across the Sinai peninsula to the Promised Land. He is overwhelmed with the administration of thousands of people traveling by foot and living in tight spaces. There are huge daily crisis and even more mundane daily needs to meet. Jethro, the father-in-law, advised Moses to delegate some duties and responsibilities. Moses’ purpose was to lead God’s chosen nation as they learned to depend solely on God and become a covenant people. Struggling with frustration and exhaustion, leading became secondary.

Moses was getting bogged down in trivial matters. Satan has a cruel way of stopping our forward motion with the little things that seem to matter so much, but in the whole picture of life, don’t. Keeping the main thing, the main thing.

Decide what is important and the cost you are willing to pay in time and energy. You are building a legacy. Make sure it’s the one you want.

Happy Weekend,

Gretchen

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-15

These two verses precede the most familiar scripture of all, John 3:16. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a pharisee, a jewish ruler, who came in the night to understand the miracles of Jesus. Nicodemus was very learned in Old Testament theologies and histories. He had some preconceived ideas about the promised savior. Jesus was correcting and redirecting his misperceptions.

When God calls Moses in the wilderness, Moses is afraid and needs to see God’s power and presence. His staff turns into a snake and then back into a staff. (Exodus 4:3-5) Heaven touches Moses through this act. Moses is the chosen one, sent to deliver the Hebrews from bondage. Again in Numbers 21:4-9 God instructs Moses with a snake and a staff to convey His power and justice.

Jesus came to close the gap between Heaven and earth. He will be exalted, slain and then exalted for all eternity. He is connecting Nicodemus to God’s plan of deliverance then and now. Nicodemus knows of God’s promise to make his nation great, and now he is hearing that it is so much more than what is on earth.

God has so much prepared for mankind. We get wrapped up in the things of earth when it is the things of Heaven on earth that Jesus died to give. It’s all about eternal life, but remember, it begins on earth.

Happy Week’s End

Gretchen