Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter, 5:10

One of the three disciples closet to Jesus, Peter wrote this letter to groups of scattered Christians at the outbreak of Nero’s persecution. It was a season of great persecution for all believers. Verses 7-11 are packed with strength and encouragement for the outcast and downtrodden, with verse 10 and 11 being the conclusion.

Peter witnessed the Crucifixion of Christ and He entered the empty tomb. The sights, sounds, smells and emotions……..God’s Glory in 3D living color were Peter’s recent experience, and now he is suffering the same persecution that began at the cross. Because of this, Peter has authority to speak, to testify and to call all believers to perseverance, hope and joy.

Just as Peter modeled, embracing Christ’s attitude toward suffering gives strength in our own persecution and energy to press forward by the power of the God of all Grace!

Love,

Gretchen

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:9

As very young children we are taught the opposite of cold is hot, and the opposite of light is dark. Learning skills that help us sort and organize information for ascertaining deep knowledge is great, but for the purpose of this theological moment, let’s consider that they are not, opposites, but have another relationship. Cold is the absence of heat, and light dispels darkness.

The True Light that John speaks of is so radiant that where it shines it eradicates every shadow and every hidden crevice and cave. Imagine for a moment that even where you stand, there will be no darkness beneath your feet in this Light’s illumination.

Darkness is synonymous with hopelessness, yet, just a pinhole of light, a tiny glow brings promise, hope. Jesus came into the world during the reign of one of history’s most bloodthirsty characters, Herod the Great. In addition, the Jewish hierarchy was corrupt and self-serving. The world was dark, AND THEN….God sent His Son, the Light of the world. This light swallows the darkness that threatens, worries and intimidates each of us. We have hope, a future and an assurance that we will never be overwhelmed or consumed by darkness again.

No matter the weather, the Son is always shining!

Gretchen

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

The empty tomb begins John chapter 20. On that same evening Jesus appears to His disciples, minus Thomas, and breaths His Spirit on them. The story of Thomas reaching out and touching Jesus’ scars is also told. Following these accounts, John concludes this passage with the comment that what he has written is just a small fraction of all that Jesus did,

The divinity of Christ is the major theme of John’s writing. Jesus is the Son of God, and yet, became the son of man. He died an unjust execution at the hands of selfish men, but rose from the grave taking all power of sin away from satan and his minions.

There is enough Good News in Johns Gospel for you and I to know who Jesus is, what is purpose was and how we should respond. God’s word is a book of Love and invitation specifically for you personally.

Love,

Gretchen

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

We know God’s character and desire by the laws and commands He has given us, yet we are made free of them. What do we do now? Where is our plumb line? Where are the marks on the field declaring inbounds and out of bounds?

Paul spoke these words to the gentile converts of Galatia. They knew nothing of Jewish laws and practices, yet they wanted to please God. Paul affirms, it is not adherence to these laws, mainly circumcision, that pleases God, it is love.

In love, we freely give our will back to our Creator/Redeemer/Savior. Resting perfectly in God’s unconditional, all encompassing love we find complete and total freedom from the sins, woes and worries of the world.

Freedom is the greatest responsibility ever given. It reveals the absolute truth of character. Serve one another in love and you will find complete freedom in Christ.

Happy Monday,

Gretchen

Angels on the George Washington Bridge

There was a time in my life when driving through major cities was ordinary and there was a time when it was NOT! This story recounts the few hours that connect before and after.

My husband and I contract to deliver new school buses to where ever new school buses need to go. He leads, towing our ride home and I follow. Our destinations allow us to see most of the contiguous United States and beyond. It is absolutely wonderful, but occasionally there are pot holes along the way that reaffirmed just how small I am and how ‘Almighty’ God is.

The intimidation I felt years ago on my first trip through Washington D.C. north to Baltimore, on toward Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, Newark, then the Big Apple, New Haven, and eventually a small town in Connecticut, was paralyzing! I had to get myself together, so I prayed and thought, “Everyone gets a driver’s license at a certain age, not just geniuses. I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I’m not the least capable either. I can do this!!” I took a deep breath and put the pedal down.

THEN……we reached the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River connecting New Jersey to Manhattan. It is said to be the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world. An accident drew traffic to a crawl.

The locals have a very unique way of navigating gridlock. They wiggle their BMW, or Jaguar between your bumper and the one in front of you with centimeters to spare. You get to choose: Let them in or humbly call your insurance agent. The crisis for us was our tow rig hooked to Keith’s bus. There was plenty of room to claim asphalt real estate, but no driver in the pull along to concede. I knew we were going to get separated in the merging traffic with a strong possibility of dragging the front end off someone’s vehicle.

Holding my radio in my shaking hand I expressed my fear. Keith replied, “Send the girls to my bus, put fresh batteries in your radio and DO NOT get off I-95. I will not leave New Haven, Connecticut without you.”

To distract my worries, Keith began small talk and called attention to two Arkansas Best Freight (ABF) semi-trucks near us. We heard a couple of Spanish speaking truckers sharing our radio channel and wondered if it was them. Eventually we made it through the toll booths and picked up speed. I noticed the ABF trucks had worked their way to each side of our buses. They traveled along beside us, preventing cars from merging between Keith’s bus and mine. We crossed the bridge, I-95 widened to six lanes, traffic thinned and the ABF trucks went on down the road. We realized that as we spoke, two people we will never meet recognized our worry and provided security with the resources they had available. I will be forever grateful. I know God sent them.

As an adult I’ve never felt afraid of the world at large, but there are times when an immediate reality gives me pause. God always reveals His presence, supplying provision through human goodness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

Thank you fellow man, for the simple kindnesses you offer. They may seem minuscule to you, but an encounter with God to the recipient.  There will never be a law against such things.

Humbly and richly blessed,

Gretchen

Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name. Deuteronomy 6:13

Instructions for life! The central direction is to fear the LORD. Uphold His absolute authority and power. Oddly, the only way to do this is to imitate Him. Imitating Him is serving Him……which is…..loving and serving others.

Oaths: Binding contracts, formal commitments, casual promises, integral parts of interpersonal relationships, the things of life created and kept by person to person bonds. Your word represents who you are and what you value. The manner in which you honor your word defines your character. When you give your word it should be sacred because you made it prayerfully and purposefully. Keeping your oaths honors God.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24

The name Deuteronomy means second law and contains the restatement and reaffirmation or exposition of the Sinai Covenant (in part the Ten Commandments). This book, said to be the words of Moses, defines the heart of God’s law. The fact that Deuteronomy was quoted over 80 times in the New Testament indicates its relevance to today’s world.

The fear of the Lord is simply knowing who is God and who is NOT! Add a dash of respect and acknowledgement for His power, worship and obedience become the air you breath.

We don’t love the LORD so that we may live long and prosper, that would be putting ourselves at the center of the universe. We love because He first loved us. Peace and prosperity are simply the result of a life lived in submission to the One that created and loved us.

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1:3

Faith leads to salvation, salvation leads to the very nature of God, Holiness. The opposite of sinfulness is Holiness. God will not dwell in the midst of sin, instead, He forgives, cleanses and forgets our transgressions.

We have been given everything we need to become like Christ and conquer the trials of this world through goodness, wisdom, kindness and love.

Have a great day!

Gretchen

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest.” Matthew 11:28

The world is looking for game changers. There is a perpetual search for over the top fund raisers, eloquent motivators, energizing cheerleaders and leather kneed prayer warriors. More and more people use the word “overwhelmed’ with good reason. Entitlement combined with an implied expectation for being everything to everyone and shaming when failure is the only result, quickly brings well meaning people to the edge. Bringing the ‘A’ game 24/7, 365 is NOT an option, it’s survival!

Life is exhausting! And then there is this invitation, “Come to me……….” No strings attached, no give and take, just giving on the part of a Savior who left Heaven to secure peace and rest for you. Just say, “Yes!” Jesus is the game changer. Rest in Him. If He isn’t asking it of you, then maybe it doesn’t need do be done.

Love,

Gretchen

Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:10

Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. (Read Acts chapter 3) This act drew a crowd and so the two apostles began to testify to what they knew first hand and preach the Gospel of Good News. The Jewish political machine went into action partnered with the Roman authority in residence. Peter and John were arrested, but still, many heard the message, believed, and their number grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

The next day the High Priest (Jewish authority) wanted to know what right Peter and John had to heal this man. Yes, you read that right! They wanted Peter and John to give account of the authority they had for this kindness, this life changing miracle, this act that improved someone’s quality of life! These Spirit Filled ministers of the Gospel, for the first time in Christian history declared that the machinations and manipulations of men are powerless against a resurrected Savior.

Happy Tuesday,

Gretchen