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“You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Sitting on a hillside, the Son of God begins to teach the things His followers must know if they are to remain His disciples. Be transformed and be like the One you know. Jesus’ words are found in Matthew chapters 5-7.

Jesus is the Light of the World.  Outer darkness is the space where God does not dwell. Light is life giving and sustaining.  A glow gives determination and hope to the sojourner. Illumination provides clarity and truth.  It is irritable because it dispels obscurity.

God’s Glory radiates His character, predominantly enduring love and overcoming power. We must become like Him, both radiating and reflecting the things of Heaven so a world of shadows has a hope of resplendent enlightenment.

Simple said, “Be someone’s flashlight in the storm.”

Love,

Gretchen

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. John 20:14

Mary Magdalene is the only woman that all three gospels place at the crucifixion. While Jesus’ friends, even those who witnessed His love and power, were fleeing in fear, Mary stood faithful. 

Miraculously healed, Mary personally experience Jesus’ life transforming ministry.  She became part of a group of followers that traveled beside Jesus and His disciples taking care of their personal needs and giving of their financial resources. After accompanying Joseph of Arimathea to the tomb to bury Jesus, grief stricken Mary returned home to prepared perfumes, oils and spices to give Her friend and healer the honor in death He was worthy of, and so, she arose on the first day of the week and arrived at His tomb before anyone else did, finding it empty.

The theology of the resurrection was lost on those who walked with the LORD.  They were willing listeners and learners, but they had no reference point of understanding, UNTIL that day.  John saw the burial cloths and instantly understood. Mary, devastated by the removal of Christ’s body, lingered near by sobbing. She looked into the tomb again and saw two angels (verse 13). While speaking with these celestial beings she turns and sees Jesus but does not recognize Him. He spoke. Still she wept AND THEN HE CALLED HER NAME!

Mary’s encounter changed our world….I mean your world and mine!  Jesus chose her, she who did not know how she would survive the day without Him, to go and share the news of the risen Friend, Savior, Messiah, Healer, LORD!

Jesus called her by name and things changed.  We often call out to Jesus, but today, invite Him to call you by name. It will change somebody’s world!

Love,

Gretchen

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 13:14

200 years before the time of Hosea, the Ten Tribes of Israel seceded and established a second kingdom separate from Judah, then chose the Golden Calf as their god.  The One True God sent Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Amos, and finally Hosea to tell the people to put away their false god. The people, led by wicked kings refused and by the end, Israel added the worship of Baal to their Golden Calf. Israel was wiped off the face of the earth by the Assyrians. Notice Baal and the Golden Calf were worthless help before, during and after this calamity.

Wisdom is not aptitude. It is a choice! Discernment is wisdom in action. Israel reaped what it sowed. The great news is, their actions, while bringing judgement, did not cause God’s love to waver.

God’s love knows no end. You cannot make it go away!  Read all of Hosea 14. Walk righteously or stumble continuously. God will reach down, but you’ve got to take the love extended, the trust and obey.   

Love,

Gretchen

And the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will over take them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10

God’s creative power is also His saving power. Chapter 35 is a poem telling of the end of time as we know it and the beginning of total and complete freedom from sin and grief. This passage speaks of old things becoming new, dead things coming to life.  Such is our state when we are saved by grace.

Ransom, the noun, is the price demanded for return of a possession.  Ransom, the verb, is the act of rescuing and redeeming. God does both.  The price to pay for everlasting life is a sacrifice that can face down death and LIVE to tell about it.  Jesus did.  Nothing in Satan’s arsenal had the strength to pull God and His Son from their objective, to save mankind from eternal darkness and death.

Man has no reference point to an existence without sorrow, temptation or fear. Isaiah saw it! God sent word to a people in bondage. There will come a day when suffering will end.  God is at work, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Happy Tuesday,

Gretchen

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Israel and Judah have fallen and Jerusalem is in ruins.  The Jewish/Judean people are taken into captivity by Babylon. All because idolatry and pagan gods were too attractive. They worshiped the One True God with rituals that meant nothing in substance and gave their hearts to worldly pleasures that robbed them of their freedom.  God put a limit on their punishment, 70 years. In the mean time, there was hope, lots of it, and they had work to do.

This verse is from a letter Jeremiah sent to the elders, exiles, priests and prophets that were taken from Jerusalem. The opening words show that God, not Babylon is in charge (v. 4). Babylon does not escape without its punishment in the years to come. These people, torn from the comforts of their home are told to rest in hope, build a new life and seek peace and prosperity. Most of all, guard against false prophets hoping to gain from man’s general discontent. Trust the LORD, He is good.

I know this passage is a very popular phrase of encouragement and hope, captioning beautiful pictures on greeting cards, but it must remain in context and content. To seek and find God’s Holiness is peace. Prosperity is NOT earthly comfort, but an exhilaration of the soul that knows it will always have enough because God will provide.

God won’t share space in your heart. Your only hope is His plan, full of goodness and peace.

Love,

Gretchen

This May Hurt a Little

I once heard a young woman speak about her concerns for the future. Her theme was apathy,  the state of being totally disconnected emotionally from the normal things of life. It is not a shade of sympathy, or a hue of empathy, it is the choice to be completely numb, to not care.  She suggested this state was destroying the quality of life on planet earth.  I know this is extreme, but the concept has been stuck in my head like a bad jingle.  My thought is not that people are disconnected from feelings, but that they armchair quarterback the lives of those around them, giving voice to opinions and never lending a helping hand. Trust me, I’ve spent my time in the recliner. My father once sternly reminded me that God had not abdicated His Throne to leave the universe in my capable hands. Point noted dad, and so you have today’s post.

Many years ago my husband and I answered God’s call to ministry. There was a moment of great and overwhelming panic. Quickly God whispered, “I’m not asking you to save the world, that’s My job. Just follow me one step at a time and see what I can do.

Lessons had to be learned beyond Biblical studies, church history and theology. Crying Behind the Office Door, Chapter one was this: The world asks way more of you than God does. Chapter Two: God’s voice doesn’t sound like the loudest mommy in the room. When I was first pulled aside and given a list of things I needed to be doing and specific people I needed to evangelize I heard a voice screaming, “There aren’t enough hours in the day and caffeine in a diet coke for you to succeed. So give it up.”  It wasn’t God talking, He is much more kind and forgiving.

Now, if you’re still with me:

Take a moment to imagine what your world, your town, your neighborhood, would look like in five years (or less) if every child therein had a regular encounter with God’s love.  What if every church in your town partnered to create a pattern of uninterrupted programs where every unchurched youth was invited to remain in a Bible program, morning and evening, all summer break!  What if people discovered church is the most wonderful place on earth. Respite, peace, joy…..these are things longed for and the Church, the Body of Christ, has them in bounteous supply.

Am I dreaming too big? Should I just become apathetic, give it up, put it away forever? If so, please don’t say, “Nothing is impossible with God” while relaxing in your spiritual Lazy Boy.

No one is asked to do everything, but everyone is asked to do something. Lip service just stirs the air, manpower changes things. One paid staff person cannot teach five Sunday School classes! You can remain on the sofa of life, but on that ‘Great Gettin’ Up Morning,’ God will hear none of your arguments, points of debate or opinions on what others should have done. There will be NO EXCUSES! You will account for what YOU did or didn’t do!

I once commented that the fruit drink I was offered tasted too sour.  My friend handed me the pitcher and spoon and said, “We don’t take criticism or advise, only volunteers.” Great policy! There’s a Mission Field in Your Back Yard, and it’s white with harvest. Do something!

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Hoping We’re Still Friends,

Gretchen

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6

There is very little left of God’s covenant nation Israel.  The homelands, Judah and Israel have been obliterated and Jerusalem is falling into the hands of Babylon, a consequence of disobedience. (Later Babylon was wiped off the face of the earth as punishment for its sins against the Jews.)

Jeremiah is called to the house of a potter where God gave him a message.  He finds a potter struggling with clay that is marred and will not become what it was intended to be.  Without discarding the clay, the potter successfully reshapes the vessel. Wickedness and idolatry are the people’s choice, but God can change their destiny if they will allow Him the right to shape and direct their future.

Our choices determine our destiny. Free will is a gift from God. Our ultimate gift, and faith in action, is the return of our will to God.

Complete submission verses personal autonomy seems like an incredibly difficult choice until you consider the outcome.  It brings the concept of, “Make good choices” to a whole new level!

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the Father. Matthew 10:29

Jesus called twelve disciples, all Jewish men, yet diverse in many ways. They knew a Messiah was coming and they believed Jesus was probably Him, but they expected a governmental coup and an earthly reign and justice. So, Jesus begins training these men who have stepped out in ‘faith’ believing they knew what they signed up for. It will be their mission to carry His message, while He is on earth, but more importantly, when He leaves.

A map of what to expect is laid out.  There will be much injustice including in the synagogue. Be discerning  and watchful, but also be gentle and compassionate. Fear the one that destroys the soul, not those who can kill the body. In this training session, discipleship 101, the greatest lesson is God’s loving provision and care. Even the sparrow is sheltered and fed.

Man grants quality to everything and extends emotions accordingly.  God does NOT! The sparrow’s value in the order of things on earth is irrelevant to the standard of God’s loving care. On this earth there will be trials and sorrows. They are not proportionate to nor do they reflect our value to God.  Our value is a given. He gave His son so that we may have life everlasting. God sees our tears and hears our cries. He has already prepared a way to overcome. Rest and know peace in His love and care.

Love,

Gretchen

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3

King David is growing old and spends time reflecting rather than planning. He sees a life covered in grace and mercy far beyond his (or any man’s) worth. In place of listing his personal achievements, David sees a God that has led, comforted, protected, sustained, forgiven, the list is as endless as the grace and mercy extended. Read all of Psalm 103, it is one of the most comforting and assuring passages to be found.

dictionary.com defines ‘soul’ as the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action.

The all encompassing, defining character of man is the soul. Everything that IS David, praises the LORD.

The most powerful man on earth during his lifetime, found the same God that loves you and I. David’s greatest peace grows out of the assurance that God is stable, never changing. What He does for one, He does for all. David accounted to God’s infallible justice and found love. All that David received and remembers across His lifetime is available to you and I also.

Love,

Gretchen

He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

The things of God are a sure thing. This passage is a revelation to Isaiah revealing the universal loving kindness of God. Jerusalem is all that survives of Israel because God’s people persist through the ages to disregard God’s love and law. Still, He shows His goodness and character of grace.

An animal is most vulnerable when caring for its young. There is a great deal at stake when the wellbeing of offspring’s sustenance and survival is weighed. So what does Isaiah hear from Heaven? The eternal comfort that in man’s most compromised and challenging moments, God pours out His greatest love and compassion.

In the deepest pit, in the farthest galaxy, in the darkest corner of your heart and mind, God is there. He leads, gathers and carries His precious creation. Where? CLOSE TO HIS….HIS! HEART!

Love,

Gretchen