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For God did not give us spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7

Second Timothy is Paul’s last letter. He is in prison awaiting his imminent execution. Luke is with him, but he longs for his friend and comrade Timothy. With these words we feel Paul’s testimony of no regrets. Many times Paul could have given up and given in, shut his mouth and saved his life. He was a Roman citizen, well connected and could have had a great, long and prosperous life, but he laid down his life for his friends, me and you.

Because of the love given through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice we know that victory over evil is already won. The by-product of this assurance is perseverance and great strength of character. Stand firm, share the Good News, Where ever you are headed, God is already there paving a way for miracles and victory.

Love,

Gretchen

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. I Timothy 6:18

Some people see the church as a road to riches. This was a problem in the early church too.  Earthly wealth will decay and turn to dust. Paul charges Timothy, his associate and special envoy to the New Testament church, to encourage church leadership to invest in goodness rather than earthly wealth which leads to excess temptation and grief.

Generosity is not a concept bound by monetary value. The attributes of Christian character are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, kindness……these are things meant to be shared in great quantities. They are renewable resources, never in danger of extinction except that they die a natural death from lack of use. These things multiply exponentially when shared so “Throw them like confetti!”

Love,

Gretchen

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

This verse, misquoted often, is NOT the Biblical version of “Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be, will be.” It is certainly NOT a loophole for excusing unacceptable behavior and justifying the residual consequences. (Everything happens for a reason is not supported by scripture.)

Paul has connected the whole picture, from Adam to Jesus, to God’s salvation plan. He has experienced the great and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. We all have our own story that is becoming part of an even greater story woven into the history of mankind. Our free will determines much of our destiny, but know with all certainty, there is never going to be a point in which God writes us out of His great purpose.

Put your life in God’s more than capable hands, accept His mercy and grace, be restored to His likeness. We were made to worship and love. That is our purpose in which all things work for good.

Have a Great Monday,

The Evolution of a Dreamer

I am a star gazer, a pie in the sky, bonafide day dream believer! The beautiful reality of this life looking through rose colored glasses is, the dreams I’ve dared to dream have come true.

Motivation, focus, direction, preparation are some of the many strengths I draw from my propensity to dream big or go home. The problem is, I have outlived my dreams. I am now in uncharted reality. My over active mind never imagined an empty nest. It never occurred to me that someday I would be older than my school administrators, my boss. Clothing and hairstyles appropriate for a woman in her early…..well never mind….. haven’t tapped my creative interest.

So what does one do when one has outgrown castle building in the clouds? Learn to pray on a whole new dimension.

I remember as a young adult, my parents were doing exactly as I am doing now. In the world of land lines only, they would call me every few days. Completing our conversation, their closing words were usually, “Love you baby, we are praying for you.” Many times I thought, “That’s sweet, but I would rather you drop twenty dollars in the mail.” Harsh, but true. Age has granted insight and I realize the best, not the least, they had to give me was their steadfast, sacrificial, daily routine of taking my name to the Throne of God. Those prayers assured that God remained God and appropriate perspective and respect was honored in our parent/child relationship long before I cherished the gift.

Dreaming is a hope with a plan, expectations, designated outcomes. A prayer is hope with surrender and contentment regardless of the outcome. As a dreamer I imagined enhancing the outward beauty of my little girls with bustles and bows. In prayer I long for their inner character to become more like Christ. As a dreamer I sought to have a work ethic that earned trust, admiration and appreciation from my superiors. In petition to my Heavenly Father I ask that they and I find discernment and wisdom as we guide the lives of the next generation. Dreaming was all about me. Praying is about everyone else.

Mom, dad, thank you for the prayers that began before you knew me. Leah and Melissa, I am praying for you and I know those prayers will bring you to where they brought me, the cross and the Throne of God.

To the rest of you lovely friends and family that read my blog each Sunday, dream and pray, pray and dream. There is a mother somewhere out there hoping someone intercedes for her child. There is a pastor praying for laborers in the white fields of harvest. There is a young person waiting for hope in the hand of someone who’s already traveled the road they are struggling down.

Aging is sometimes frightening and difficult, but exchanging my dreams for an unmapped life motivated, directed and sustained by prayer alone is my ultimate dream come true and I know the best is yet to come.

Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Dreaming On!

Gretchen

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the LORD, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Ephesians 4:17

This verse is not a racial statement against nonJewish people. Ephesus was the port city capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was not a Jewish center, but a metropolis of pagan worship and the occult. Black magic, spiritism, idolatry and immorality were the order of normal life for the gentiles who called the city home. BUT! Paul came walking through, revival occurred and a church began. Its members? Former gentile sinners, saved by grace.

Believers are to put away former thinking and behavior patterns and be truly transformed into the likeness of Christ. This is a call to every sinner saved by grace. What habit or pattern of thinking or behavior do you need to exchange for a perfect reflection of Holiness in your life?

Love,

Gretchen

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Simple logic: Righteousness does not demand a penalty. Sacrifice is not made flippantly. Restitution is not required for good deeds done. We do not apologize for grace extended. In other words, Christ didn’t die because we are perfect, He died because we are not! That means everyone!

Sin separates us from God, thus rendering us defenseless. Through the blood of Jesus we gain grace’s victory, mercy’s love and the Kingdom of Heaven’s Power.

Have a perfectly timed Friday!

Gretchen

If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Matthew 18:15

Following the parable of the Lost Sheep, a story expressing the value of every soul and the ethics of the shepherd, this verse addresses a relationship between two people. Only two people!

The interference in someone else’s sin is a tricky, touchy thing needing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The reference to brother and sister shows that all those involved are in the community of believers, there is a relationship in existence. This is not a conversation between strangers and NOT a subject for everyone’s ears. The Kingdom of God operates by totally different standards than the world. This moment is intimate, between people who share trust.

Free will is the operative factor, but when the will is humbled through the words of a pure heart, a true and loyal friend, unlimited grace and mercy abound. A connection is forged and the world changes for the better.

Have a great day,

Gretchen

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 11

The third book of John is written to a man named Gaius who is known for integrity and generosity toward the church and its missionaries.

The work of Gaius has a nemesis, a man named Diotrephes, who is using Christianity to perpetuate his own popularity and ego by tearing down those that are doing good and creating obstacles to their purpose.

The words above are not a reproach but an encouragement. When being attacked it is extremely difficult not to strike back in like manner with an extra punch or two. Impulsive reaction is destructive and not of God. Instead, imitate what is good. It will show definitively who’s side you are on and that is a powerful piece of knowledge.

Happy Wednesday,

Gretchen

I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11

When I was in high school we had five minutes to move from one period to the next, but there was a real problem with tardies. Our administration decided to implement a one minute warning buzzer to make students aware of time elapsing and become better stewards with the outcome of fewer tardies.

I find that many people look to Revelation in the same manner they depended on the four minute warning to keep them out of delinquency trouble. They just want to know how much longer they have personal control before they must give up and let God be God.

Every age has its evil, the spirit that treats life as a commodity to be exploited, cheated, bought and sold at will in exchange for power, greed and self-love, but this verse is the promise of God’s final act upon this earth’s abscesses. Even today God is a work with perfect justice and He will bring down those who continually exact their self absorbed behavior on others and refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord and King.

We that already know God for who He is need to continue our Worship and Praise for that is our testimony before others that so badly need His touch.

Love,

Gretchen

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Matthew’s narrative, or good news, is to show Jesus as the true and awaited King beginning with the record of genealogy in verses 1-17. This short little moment in time steps away from ages of Who’s Who and into the intimacy of what Mary knew long before any of the rest of us did. Remember, Matthew is writing his words after the fact, Mary was in ‘living color’.

To what degree Mary was given the detailed facts of Jesus’ purpose may never be fully revealed, but what is known is her great faith in a God that is loving and kind and held her future, her child’s and all of mankind’s in His hands. Mary’s God is alive, personal and actively working in the world both then and now.

There are so many ways God could have fulfilled His promise of Salvation but He chose faith, love and sacrifice. This is how Jesus came from Heaven to earth and how He returned. We must do likewise.

Have a great day!

Gretchen