Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. II Samuel 2:6

Saul, Israel’s first king, anointed by God, has been killed in battle along with his son Jonathan. (The details of Saul’s death are better explained in I Sam. 31.) Jonathan and David shared a deep and committed friendship that reached beyond politics and traditions. When David heard of their deaths he was deeply grieved.

David was to be Israel’s next king, chosen by God’s authority rather than man’s heritage. God told David to take his household and go to Hebron where he will be anointed and begin his reign. The words above are spoken in a message sent to the men that showed proper respect to Saul and Jonathan, giving them a proper burial and dignity in death.

David was often the victim of Saul’s ruthless treatment, but before he takes the throne he chooses to lead Israel in traditional mourning, thus putting love, mercy and compassion above entitlement.

David, a man after God’s heart. Love, mercy, compassion………the things God gives, the things He expects us to share with others.

Happy Monday!

Gretchen

The Great Conundrum

The first distinguishable words out of my children’s mouths were, “No.” And “Why?”

“Yes,” or “Mother, I see and respect your point,” would have been grand but, all I got was monosyllabic defiance and quandary.

The self-actualization of one’s child means the end of life as you knew it. The power of “No,” combined with the urge to find one’s place in a huge, unknown world and get everyone sorted out as to who’s in charge and whose comfort takes priority is very tricky early development for both parent and child.

As a mother I said, “Because I said so,” more often than I should have, but I knew my child’s well being depended on my absolute authority. Free thinking was not encouraged when I was trying to get everyone headed out the door or manage healthy eating and sleeping habits. I realized early that there must be a balance between my way, and their input into family harmony and dynamics. Yet, a terror lingered in my heart. By saying ‘yes’ I would cripple my child’s spiritual being because they must fear me in order to fear God.

I wasn’t wrong, but just as my child matured, so did I. Joshua 24:15 says, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua was nearing the end of his life and leadership of the new nation of Israel. He was telling his friends and family, with great authority, exactly what he was going to do. He drew them to the realization that their choices were their own, along with the consequences they brought.

This passage gives tremendous insight and freedom in balancing the yeses and noes of others. Joshua made up his mind and the negative actions of someone else would not influence his faith. He shows great strength and trust that His God could do for everyone what He had done for him.

Then there was, “Why?”

I, like most, have a great fear of being wrong. This fear motivated me strongly to be a life long learner pursuing both knowledge and wisdom. When a little person that shares my DNA came along and began questioning everything from the color of the sky to “Do fish know they are wet?” I was frustrated and a bit overwhelmed. If I couldn’t even settle the simple things in life, how would I ever lead this little soul to a great and thriving faith?

If God chuckles I’m sure my worries and woes humor Him often, but He remains faithful. He actually loves the word, ‘Why?’ It is the beginning of knowledge and knowledge sought from God is the beginning of wisdom.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

God is not threatened by our inquiries. He has the answers. He honors our seeking. He will withhold nothing and transform us to His perfect purpose.

So, as frustrating as ‘No’ and ‘Why’ are as parents, remember, they are the foundational blocks of great faith.

Love,

Gretchen

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel. 36:26

Ezekiel prophesied the total destruction of Israel as a consequence of habitual idolatry and profanity toward God. However, God is not a God of abandonment or giving up. With the foretelling of consequences was the continued promise of a loving Savior, whose covenant is eternal for those who pursue Holiness.

The reference to ‘heart’ encompasses the total being. Complete transformation and renewal will occur. Notice this verse does not say ‘restoration.’ The implication that some of the old will remain is misleading and defeating. God removes the destructive old or dead, and makes a new living and vibrant life.

The prophecies of Ezekiel are not limited to the consequences of Israel’s disobedience. They extend to the oppressors too. Wrong decisions lead to difficult situations of abuse and oppression, but that does not mean God approves of those exacting exploitive or abusive behavior. God will renew you and deliver you from all sin that attempts to destroy you, not just your own. This sounds outrageously ambitious, but never underestimate the power of God’s love!

Living Boldly!

Gretchen

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

What constitutes a good start? What must a child understand and believe?

* God is love. Romans 8:37-39 and I John 4:8
* They are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14
* Jesus, God’s Son, died so they might be saved. Acts 2
* God has a plan for living in peace with the world and those around you. I Cor. 13.

The greatest leap of faith ever made by a parent is the total and complete release of their child’s life back to the Creator. This is huge! Give them Jesus, and give them back into His loving care. Let them know and they will find the same faith you have.

Love,

Gretchen

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21

These words were spoken by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came like a mighty, rushing wind and tongues of fire to fill every new believer, God fearing Jews from all over the Roman Empire. They were forever changed and thus began Christianity, the Body of Christ.

Peter recalled the prophesy of Joel, and the words of David bringing all who experienced the filling of the Spirit and all who witnessed it into one clear understanding of Jesus’ purpose and God’s work of Grace and Mercy. Three thousand were saved.

We are NOT abandoned to the grave, death does NOT have the final say. Jesus died to save us from the evil of this very day and the darkness of an eternity without God.

Hallelujah!!!!

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17

“I’m still the daddy!”

Throughout my adult life this phrase, uttered by my father, has ended all argument within our immediate family, but has also brought great comfort knowing someone is in charge and has a plan for everyone’s best interest.

God, through His prophet Isaiah is saying the same thing. “I’m the Daddy, I’m THE GOD!”

Draw great peace from these words. Lay your burdens down and rest well, God’s on it! He’s the daddy and everything is going to be alright.

Love,

Gretchen

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

As youngsters my siblings and I played a game called, “Mercy.” Standing face to face, two opponents grabbed hands to see who could push the other’s wrists back, thus rendering one player defenseless. The game ended when someone called/begged, “Mercy.” The winner had the choice to turn loose or continue pushing the helpless loser around as they were totally at the ‘mercy’ of the winner.

Mercy: To receive OR extend an exemption from punishment.

To receive favor and be excused from the consequences we are due is the greatest gift we can ever receive. To give this gift is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. We can and must make mercy the hallmark of our lives and those we face each day. This is the supreme model of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Gretchen

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13

I recommend reading all of this story beginning at verse 1 of John chapter 5.

This healing took place on the Sabbath, making it very offensive to the legalistic Jewish leadership. They were angered over a crippled man carrying a mat he’d lain on for 38 years and mad at the Man who cured him.

Apathy toward pain in favor of prejudice or tradition is in direct conflict with the miraculous work of God’s grace. Man’s agenda and expectation can pollute the work of the Gospel. Jesus had compassion which moved Him to action. Our mission is to do likewise.

Have a great Monday,

Gretchen

A Little White Paint

Sometimes I feel incredibly alone in the world. Solitude is not a physical reality. It’s mental. I look around and think, “Am I the ONLY person that hears the world crying? Am I the ONLY one trying to make the world a better place? Do the cynics have it right? Is all in vain? My thought pattern of detachment is ridiculously centrifugal. Yet, the struggle is real and some days are very dark and discouraging.

It is my opinion that loneliness is the deadliest disease on the planet. How many bad choices are made, with the best intentions, to remedy this state? We settle for a temporary ‘less than the best’ quick fix and lose hope of ever finding a place of deep contentment and belonging. When hope is depleted, life’s energy soon follows and the ultimate decision puts finality to the internal, secret pain.

A river runs through the country side of North Faulkner County, Arkansas. The Cadron Creek holds my heart. My husband grew up along its banks exploring, fishing, swimming, becoming a man. One late summer day in 1981, standing on the bluffs above, with only the whispering breeze and gurgling brook’s music, Keith first spoke words of love to me. Our own children splashed in the shallow pools and years later our oldest spoke her marriage vows at the water’s edge.

A dusty, country road and old wooden trestle once connected farms and people separated by the Cadron’s expanse. It has been replaced with a modern concrete structure well above the threat of flooding, and the dirt lane is now a paved thoroughfare. Yet still, it is a road less traveled making our bridge easy prey for those who feel compelled to leave marks of hatred, racism and immorality displayed. Many times a week I must cross through this profane pollution on a school bus filled with eyes that should not see such ugliness. It hurts.

God does not leave His children comfortless. On a recent afternoon I came down the steep hill approaching the creek crossing and saw someone standing on the bridge. It was a dad, with a bucket of white paint. I slowed the bus and he paused in his labor to turn, smile and wave at the students as we passed. Conversation quickly turned to the man making their world a better place. A short time later two young sons got off the bus and asked their mother to take them to join their father in giving the gift of goodness and community.

This bucket of white paint did so much more than cover graffiti. It healed a heart and gave hope.

There are two antidotes to the toxic venom of obsessive despondency. Do good, alone if you must, and deliberately acknowledge the endeavors of others to overcome sin’s path of destruction. YOUR HAPPINESS MUST NOT DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP OR APPLAUD YOU. You will end up back where you began, discouraged and overwhelmed.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling, God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in the sun-scorched land. Psalms 68:5-6.

At the age of twelve I decided to follow Jesus. At age eighteen I learned that even if no one joins me, still I must follow. (I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, abbreviated.) Be like Jesus. Someone is watching and you are making a far reaching difference.

With All My Love,

Gretchen

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

The beginning of any learning process is to first recognize you don’t know everything…….or anything.

Years ago the faculty where I teach school was asked to come together and compose a mission statement with this question in mind. Why do we do what we do and what do we want to accomplish? Part of the answer was, “Create life long learners.” This was my favorite part. A love of learning, finding wonder and enjoying the journey to an answer defines quality of life.

Fear is the understanding that you are not in charge. Therefore, to fear the LORD is to know that He is.

Fools believe themselves to be the supreme enlightened super species and will go to great extent to control every detail of your life and theirs. A fool does not want you submitting to your loving, all knowing and all powerful Creator.

Fear is a very healthy thing. Foolishness never ends well. We don’t know everything, but we certainly know the One that does!

Happy Weekend!

Gretchen