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Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:11

Paul was imprisoned in Rome when word of concern for the church in Colossae reached him. It is believed that the church in this town on the border of Asia, was the result of missionary endeavors from the church in Corinth, a town 100 miles away. Paul wrote this letter to read aloud to the people gathered to worship and learn. He sent it along with a letter to the congregation in Ephesus and another to Philemon.  Each letter is similar, but his words to Colossae are concerned with Christ like behavior beyond the fellowship of believers.

One of the struggles First Church of Colossae fought was the infiltration of opinion and philosophy with Christ’s teachings. Everyone has their penny’s worth of thought and feel entitled to share. However, those deep thinkers and talkers did not create anyone or anything, nor do they possess omniscient or omnipresent abilities or the power to forgive, restore and grant eternal life. Paul calls for a pure and transparent open heart that seeks ONLY to be like Christ, for He alone did all the things above.

The words of Colossians chapter three are very clear and need no additional commentary other than encouragement to put aside the popular editorials and manmade drama and seek solely to love God and one another just as Christ loved. That was Paul’s message then and it is very applicable today.

Love,

Gretchen

As king, David did not live a life of leisure and pleasure. He was a sinner and reaped a bitter harvest for his transgressions. His eldest son Absalom knew that David’s successor would be Solomon, David and Bathsheba’s second son. Absalom spent four years planning and finally led a rebellion that divided the population. He was finally subdued and killed, completely breaking his father’s heart.

Through victories, losses, sins and forgiveness, David always returned to seek the Heart of God. This song of praise is very much like his own Psalm 18 and Moses’ song in Deuteronomy 32. As king, David had political enemies but he was a brilliant strategist and patient adversary. As a father and husband, David failed on an epic scale. However, whether joy or sorrow, David chose to put God at the center of his mindset. At the end of the day, what God had to offer, was all David wanted.

As children we are taught to not ask for everything. It is selfish and abuses the limited resources of parents or other adults. We carry this mindset into our maturing spirituality and superimpose this parental discipline onto God’s predictable response us. The fact is, God is NOT limited and He wants us to ask for everything with a heart passionate to glorify His Kingdom. Call out! It expresses unfailing trust, humble gratitude, submission to God’s authority and leadership. It is an important practice to the health of your relationship to your Creator and Redeemer and is exactly what God wants you to do. Along with calling out to God, praise was the mainstay of David’s spiritual life. It should be the central sustaining element of your life too.

Love,

Gretchen

And, we who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORD’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

When Jewish teachers went into a city, they carried papers of introduction with them. It was their authority from Jerusalem. They marched proudly waving their importance. These teachers kept the early Jewish converts to Christianity in constant conflict with Paul’s teachings. When faith led to evidence for these new believers, the Judaic leaders insinuated Paul was a fraud because he had no letters of recommendation. To the young, persecuted and questioning church member, this was a serious problem in developing sound faith AND it must be recognized as satan’s attempt to destroy and invalidate the grace and mercy of a loving Savior.

The work of the Holy Spirit and disciples growing in wisdom and number is a greater defense of Paul’s call than someone’s written statement. Read all of chapter three to get the true since of Paul’s commendation to the Corinthian church as recognition of God’s power to transform all people and their circumstances into a perfect reflection of God.

Paul, with unshakable faith, saw the connection between the past, present and future in the Story of God and turned every event of his journey into glory to God. He suffered deprivation and humiliation far beyond human endurance but knowing the Old Covenant was replaced with the living New Covenant and an assurance of life everlasting made every breath, no matter the struggle, worth it.  So, be transformed, all day, every day!

Love,

Gretchen

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness. I John 1:9

The scripture we know of as John’s first epistle was a circular letter, written by John from his permanent home in Jerusalem, to the churches surrounding Ephesus. By the time John wrote this letter the pure teachings of Jesus had become tainted with opinions, blends of other religions and people’s personal agendas. This had to stop so John took action.

When I was a kindergarten teacher it was essential to break complex knowledge into its most simple parts to lay a strong foundation of life long learning. I loved my job because, when I reflect on how understandable and attainable the basic parts of life really are it is a total relief. It’s totally doable! This verse reminds us all that there is one very simple Gospel: Confession leads to forgiveness, forgiveness leads to righteousness…… AND the biggie!!!!! GOD IS FAITHFUL! It’s doable!

Love,

Gretchen

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Matthew 8:10

The Roman military was often brutal and therefore despised. They were the occupiers, the foreign agent of an oppressive government. But at some point, this Roman officer, the centurion, encountered a man named Jesus who was like no other person he knew. In desperation, he did not seek his own chain of command, or access the many gods he grew up knowing.  He found the true source of all power, Jesus.

Jesus is a first responder to human need. This man, a military leader of 100 soldiers, understood authority when he asked for the healing of his servant, even suggesting that Jesus did not have to leave his present place and attend his servant in person, knowing that at His very word, His will would be done.

This man of humble faith  did not know Jesus was unrivaled by those in the Jewish tradition. It is one thing to know that Jesus can do anything! But this man put his trust in the Sovereign supremacy of the Messiah.

Relying on God’s power is a facet of faith, but submitting ourselves to God’s authority and laying our hopes and dreams in His care is where real living begins.

Happy Saturday!

Gretchen

“Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:13

Keep your eyes on Jesus.  The newly established church began with the roaring fire of the Holy Spirit, but immediately met with horrific persecution that became culturally acceptable and even desired among pagans and Jews alike. The going was tough for those that believed and awaited eternal peace. The goal was more than worth it and there was an assurance in knowing Jesus himself had already made the journey successfully.

Part of paving a level path is remembering your blessings.  Return to those praises and let them carry you through today’s sorrows or struggles. Today’s disciplines and defeats do NOT invalidate yesterday’s victories.  Discipline is a season of strengthening. It is not the definition of who we are, but what we will be. Respond with gratitude and move forward wiser and with righteousness.

Finally, this verse likens each of us to the lame. Choosing an appropriate path is our free choice and responsibility. A level path will result in correct and perfect progress forward!

Love,

Gretchen

When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. I Samuel 7:7

The Philistines were a world power when Samuel became prophet and priest. They had at one time captured the Ark of the Covenant, hoping it would bring them further imperial greatness, but unrightfully possessing this symbol of God’s presence among His people brought the LORD’s judgement and devastation so they returned it to Israel.

During Samuel’s time as judge, Israel has a revival, a real time of repentance and cleansing, then a threat comes, a challenge to security. God uses this opportunity to show Israel what He will do for those whose hope and faith is in Him alone.  Through worship, fasting and prayer, Israel defeats the Philistines.

The Philistines mistook a box as the source of power for the Hebrew people. The Hebrew children mistook numbers for might. In verse 12 the term Ebenezer is used to name the place with an altar, a monument to God’s covenant love for His people and their reversal of fortune through obedience. Ebenezer means, “Stone of Help,” and didn’t mark a covenant made, but a covenant kept. 

God alone is protection and provision. He alone is judge and He alone will settle matters of threat and justice. We can live in peace and rest because literally……God’s got this, whatever ‘this’ is.

Love,

Gretchen

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. Genesis 28:18

This is one of my favorite Bible stories. Up until this moment Jacob had relied on the God of Abraham and Isaac, his grandfather and father, to provide him with what he was ‘entitled’ plus a little more.  On this night, exiled for his behavior, under the stars and unsure of his future, Jacob finds himself as alone as anyone can be, and then, the One True God reveals Himself and becomes the God of Jacob’s own heart.

While sleeping with this stone for a pillow, Jacob dreams of a stairway connecting Heaven to earth.  God appears and transfers His covenant from Esau, the first born, to Jacob.  This rock, a symbol of permanence, became an alter of worship and Jacob became Heaven’s vehicle of continued promises and blessing. 

We often repeat what we know of God as it pertains to other people. This is an important step in developing correct understanding of His character and love, but someday it will just be you and God, and then He will become YOUR One True God. At this point, you will have everything your heart ever desired, especially peace and life everlasting.

Love,

Gretchen

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” Mark 5:6-7

A fragmented personality at the mercy of a thousand different impulses was this man’s dysfunction and isolation, the result of an impure spirit. Along comes a Man with all the authority of Heaven and the demon bows. He knows who he has encountered, while looking for a place to run to, he pleads for his existence. 

The demon looks around and the best option he can deduce it to live in a swine’s body and mind. (Add a little sarcasm for emphasis). Still, his ending was in sight as wild animals do not fall under the spell of a demon’s chaos. They did what they do best, they went wild and ran nonstop to their death, thus sending the demon to his final expulsion anyway.

Pigs running into a lake must have given this healed man great assurance. His tormentors were gone forever. When you are overwhelmed with the things of this life, remember who’s boss! It’s not the one who’s minion chose a sty for a forever home.

Love,

Gretchen

But Samuel replied, “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. I Samuel 15:22

Samuel was a prophet and priest to the covenant nation of Israel, a Theocracy. The world was a predatory place and to survive, a nation needed a strong presence, so God accommodated Himself to human ways and allowed this nation to have a king with the instruction to remember God.

Saul became Israel’s first king. He celebrated some resounding military victories early on, but soon became self-important and prideful. Then out of pettiness he ordered his army to abstain from food and issued a death sentence on his own son. Finally, he took the role of priest and offered a half-hearted sacrifice. This act of deliberate disrespect for all God’s laws was a complete offense and God withdrew His blessing.

By the time Samuel found Saul acting as priest by sacrificing, it was too late, but he speaks profound words to Saul in his grief at the failure of his beloved nation’s king, “God wants to reign in our heart. Where our heart goes, our bodies and our actions will follow.” (Gretchen’s paraphrase) 

Yes, there are things we do out of practice and tradition that reflect the God we love and serve, but if our heart isn’t connected, it means nothing and is in vain. 

Love,

Gretchen