Category: Uncategorized

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation. Psalm 95:1

The Psalms were written for worship, the act of exclaiming God as the One True God, maker of Heaven and earth. Our adoration begins by proclaiming what we have experienced as fact, and continues in our hope to the future. Worship is not about man and his emotion, it is an action, something that we do. God has created the earth as the pasture for us, His sheep.

All that we need is provided by His loving hand. He does not have to do anything for us. He is God and we are His rebellious flock. Still, the persistence of the Shepherd’s voice draws us to safety, security and eternal life.

Like this Psalmist, those who have gone before us blazed a trail we can follow. The Solid Rock of Salvation is the only place to set your feet. All other ground is sinking sand.

Singing from the Highest, Hardest Rock!

Gretchen

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Hebrew 10:18

It is taught, beginning at a very early age, hard work will get you where you want to go. There is logic in an exchange. I do, therefore I get. In Old Testament Judaic life, there was an exchange in the covenant relationship between God and His people. They obey, He provides. When man broke the law of God, a sacrifice was made for atonement and man was again, right with God. Another exchange.

God’s will is grace and mercy, the foundation of perfect love. There is no exchange. God gives, and gives, and gives, the end.

This doesn’t make sense and contradicted traditional Judaic family and community practice. If you wanted to be Holy, then you must follow strict rules. Man’s obedience was tangible, and definitive. The early Jewish Christians struggled to turn loose of their material means of coming to God. It didn’t please God at all. He wants our faith in the blood of His Son, the final sacrifice.

It is easy to put hope in determination and hard work and it is difficult to rest in faith. The tangible verses the spiritual. BUT! God’s grace is sufficient, no need to sacrifice anything other than your free will.

Happy Thursday

Gretchen

As a shepherd leads His sheep, calling each by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or strayed, so God does with stars and planets. Isaiah 40:26

God’s power is endless. He has created and named everything in the universe, even those things in deep space where man has never seen light and can only imagine. God is there in a very personal way.

Stars and planets are inanimate, yet scientific evidence proves they sing and work in harmony, for our good, because God is Good. The Heavens display His wonders.

And then……. He knows my name too!  This loving Shepherd calls my name. Not to summon me to duty, nor to rebuke or condemn, but to invite me into His presence, His security, His love and shelter. He knows your name, your pet name, the one that describes your very best qualities, and He is calling. No need to answer. Just turn your face to the Son and go.

Love,

Gretchen

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience an having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:2

The first readers of Hebrews were Christian Jews, those who accepted Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. They had a working knowledge of the Old Testament, something gentiles would not have had. They understood the reference to cleansing both spiritually and physically. The author of this early church letter instructed these people not to return to laws and rules, but to remain faithful to Jesus’ resurrection and salvation.

Formerly, the way to God was through priestly intercession and sacrifice in the temple, with much pomp, circumstance and ceremonial washing. And then Jesus, the final Lamb, came. His blood is sufficient to cover all our sins and give man open access to God.

Today we practice sacraments and various acts of worship. They bring us comfort and ready our hearts for a closer, more intimate relationship with our Creator/Savior.  They do not save us, but help us keep God first. Draw near to God with confidence. Jesus’ blood has cleansed us and we are worthy to stand before the Throne.

Love,

Gretchen

Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him. Psalm 98:1

Two things about this Psalm: I do not like change and most of what I learned as a child I learned from songs.

If I can quote scripture from memory, it’s because I learned it with a tune. I love those old songs and think everyone else should too.  When some young whipper-snapper comes along and messes with the cadence of my familiar syllables I don’t like it!!! UNTIL……..I take a short walk through the youth department, or a drive a bus full of students on a trip, or over hear some children singing on the playground and their voices are bellowing out praise! It is their song, in their moment and it is embedding the character and word of God on their hearts. These new songs are the most beautiful sounds on earth! And I should at least hum along.

We are diverse.  God saved me from my sins and He saved you from yours, but our journeys were different. So also will be our gratitude, testimony and praise.You sing your song, I’ll sing mine and together we’ll make a symphony of praise!

Love,

Gretchen

Happy Eclipse Day from Central Arkansas!

How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. For with you is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Psalm 36:7 and 9

God is in complete contrast to fallen man. Man’s first instinct is to hate, God’s is to love. Man keeps tallies of wrongs, God extends mercy.  Man holds hurt in his heart, God choses to forget. Man seeks self preservation to extend his own life, God’s Son died to give everyone eternal life.  Man is fallible, sometimes unreliable, God is perfect and faithful. 

I have one flashlight within reaching distance of my bed, not a nightstand full. I carry only one small LED light in my purse.  A single light gives enough illumination to find my way to greater light.

In a world of “Go Big or Go Home,” the power of ‘a little’ is underestimated.  A little light, a little faith, a little love, will make a tremendous difference when added to the vast supply God, through His Son Jesus, already provides. We can be reconciled to God’s likeness through the light of a Savior that took the power of darkness away from the king of death.

Happy Weekend,

Gretchen

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30

A statement of triumph! The long reign of sin and threat of death has ended. It is over and there is a victor. 

There are three verbs in this verse.  Jesus said, “It is finished.” The ending came because He allowed it. He bowed His head in one last act of acceptance, submission and worship and then He GAVE up His spirit, His life!  All acts of Jesus’ own will. He alone fought this battle and won!

The crucifixion was horrendous from our perspective, but from the cross there is a vista with all eternity in view. The only way for man to have the hope and joy of what Jesus saw and knew to be fact, was through the cross.  It was love’s gift!

Happy Friday!

Gretchen

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:56-57

Shortly after the birth of the church, Pentecost, there were those who replaced faith and the purity of a Risen Savior with a blend of Christianity and pagan traditions and thoughts.  Paul wrote to the church of Corinth, a city of cultural and geographical crossroads, to leave a blueprint of the true Nature of the Gospel of Christ. 

Part of logical thinking is that somehow, someway, man can create a lawful, utopian world, cloistered and controlled so closely that temptation never becomes an issue and even if it did, the environment would be so perfect, man could not possibly sin or do wrong toward their neighbor or God. If man is able to do this, then there is no need for a resurrected savior who gave us mercy and grace. The Resurrection gives life true meaning and hope for the lost and broken.

Jesus defied the laws of the grave, death and separation from God/life.  He overcame, He lives forever. Because of this fact, we too can have an existence that will never end.

Have a Wonderful Thursday,

Gretchen

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

The Philippian Church was known as one of the purest churches of the New Testament.  Luke was its pastor for six years and Paul accepted financial support from them during his vast missionary journeys, something he rarely allowed. (He supported himself as a tent maker so he could stand above reproach.)

Imprisoned in Rome but still evangelizing people while captive in Nero’s court, (how convenient) Paul had his moments of loneliness and felt his isolation profoundly. A messenger from this church brought good news and comfort, a balm to Paul’s soul.  God was doing great things. This congregation is rooted in correct theology and missional at heart. The Body of Christ is alive and well. Paul responds with the beautiful prayer and letter we read as Philippians.

The spiritual needs of Christians, old or new, pastors or lay persons, do not change through time or geography. Paul is relentless in his passion to keep the church pointed to the Throne of God while living in a world that has become a foreign land. Our strongest connection to them is that we too are living as immigrants in a world that is not our home. Our confidence in what God is doing in our lives and those around us, until His Day, is an important act of worship. Find someone that made a difference in your life and let them know. They need to hear and you need to remember.

Love,

Gretchen

This is the bread that came down from Heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. John 6:58

The miracle of feeding 5,000 people with five small barley loaves and two fish, is the only miracle told in all four Gospels. Multitudes were traveling toward Jerusalem, Passover bound. This crowd of Jews understood the story of manna from Heaven. After the Exodus of Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, they feared they would starve in the desert. God fed the young nation with manna from Heaven.

Jesus, the Man of Miracles, that ministered to the physical needs of so many, begins His final year on earth. Yes, He healed and fed bodies many times, but He came to heal souls and rescue lives from the bondage of sin and shame. 

Some of those who heard Jesus’ words lost interest when they realized He wasn’t going to set up an eternal food program on earth.  They wanted an earthly king that gave them a quality of life based on their familial connection to Abraham. They were entitled and offended when Jesus didn’t come through to their expectation.

Man cannot live without bread. He also cannot not ‘Live’ without Jesus, The Bread of Life.

Love,

Gretchen