Tuesday, January 24, 2017

But now, this is what the LORD says-He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Our names are the most intimate part of our identity. I am Gretchen, once Jones, now Rooney. I am wife, mother, daughter, teacher, pastor, friend, confidant…..These names define me, associate me with something bigger than myself, and give me the security of community. It’s how I am called by those who know and need me.

God, my creator, the Master designer of my body and soul, summons me, gives me identity, purpose and kinship. But by what name does He call? Is it peace maker, comforter, champion of the outcast, proclaimer of Good News? For summons is not just a call to approach, but a prelude to ‘GO!’ Our name before the Throne of Grace is incredibly precious. It is our call and purpose and when God speaks it, we recognize the voice of our Father.

What God does for Jacob, the one who had a physical encounter with Him and was renamed Israel, He will do for you. We are the redeemed, our ransom is paid and we are His. Read the rest of this chapter. If there was ever a scripture that said, “I’ve got this, now go! Be bold!” It is Isaiah chapter 43. We are summoned, and sent and all the power of Heaven and earth is our fortress because the one name that matters most is, Child of God, Saved by Grace.

Love,

Gretchen

Monday, January 23, 2017

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

Ecclesiastes is not a book of deep theology. It is a collection of reflections put to pen by Solomon, or one of his admirers, as he looked out upon a sin weary world. Maybe it was cathartic to write things down, close the book and lay his head upon his pillow. We could theorize all day, but it is part of God’s Holy word and it has something to say to us.

This passage of scripture reflects on the fact that man’s greatest motivation is ‘Keeping up with the Jones’.’ We don’t seek what we need, or what would best benefit our community and family, we seek what will give us status above others. Society’s sifter is economic accumulation as revealed in our possessions, and yet, it does not bring us joy and security, it just instigates more work and worry.

I was present at the 2001 Daytona 500 Race when Dale Earnhardt crashed with Ken Schrader and died instantly. The emotions shared with other fans that moment are indescribable, but in the following days I saw a recording of him in his own words, “Yes I have achieved all I aimed to achieve, but it cost me everything.” And indeed it did.

Tranquility on earth is scarce. Let’s join together and create some to share with others.

Have a Wonder Full Week,

Gretchen

P.S. I also heard Dale Earnhardt’s testimony of faith that came later in life. I am not judging him as I am a fan and great admirer. I appreciated his candor when he confessed the price his success had cost his family and specifically his children. It moved me to be less ambitious and more servant minded.

Sunday Stories, January 22, 2017

Dendrites and Other Fruit

There is a certain anticipation that begins in a particular heart every August. It’s my heart and the great awaiting is the arrival of my class roster for the new school year. It is incredibly exciting to build a vision for each child’s formal educational experience. Soon we meet, get to know each other and embark on our journey with, “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.”

It is well documented how humans gather, sort and store information in their brains. Being a teacher of five and six year olds means helping them learn to perform this natural process in an efficient way. Starting with very basic ideas such as slanting lines and straight lines, children begin to apply attributes to the world around them and build mental files they can retrieve and use. Soon, short sticks, circles, arcs and paper with lines are added. The adventure with written print and all its components has begun. Within a few short months a child goes from investigating all the beautiful things a pencil can do, to using it for expressing themselves and relaying and gathering useful information. This simple process has a name, dendritic, or branching…..going from simple to complex, complex to simple. River systems, trees, the blood vessels in your body all depend on branching as does your ability to learn, store, recall and use knowledge.

Here is a clearer picture of dendrites. A tree has a trunk, the largest part of the tree. From that trunk, branches shoot outward. From them, smaller branches continue until the system is complete to the very last tiny twig. River systems begin high in the mountains as small trickles of snow melt. Gravity pulls these trickling streams toward the sea as they join together making larger and larger bodies of water until finally they reach the ocean. For teaching kindergarten? A child must understand that an ‘A’ and an ‘H’ are not the same even though they have identical components. So we begin with basics, sticks and circles, to complex, how they connect and represent sound.

Jesus has something to say about dendrites too. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

Jesus is complex. We are simple, we are the branches. He wove the world together, we did not. We do not need to understand the secrets of the universe, we just need to know the One that did and remain so connected to Him that when He moves, we move. He is the True Vine and He is calling us to a relationship that depends on Him alone for the resources needed to perform life’s purpose and be producers of His fruit……..love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This fruit will not come about apart from the True Vine.

Simple is good. Too much clutter in our brains and hearts distracts and defeats us. Remain in the Him, He’s got it all under control. Go where He sends, do what He asks, love as He loves, be His fruit and produce His fruit.

Love,

Gretchen

Saturday, January 21, 2017

It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade. Mark 4:31-32

Years ago I studied these verses while writing a series of lessons for children. I was so disappointed when I discovered that the mustard seed isn’t the smallest seed on earth. A quick google search will inform you as it did me that the smallest seed comes from a jungle orchid. However, Jesus was not writing an article for scientific scrutiny but rather speaking in parable, a story told to teach a spiritual lesson. Jesus’ audience knew nothing of jungles, or orchids. They knew a great deal of mustard plants, olive groves, grape vineyards and in that context the mustard seed is quite amazing.

The Kingdom of God, not Heaven and eternity to come, but the one in our present midst, is grown from the most basic source, love. The initial size does not determine outcome, the planting does. So just love.

Have a great weekend,

Gretchen

Friday, January 20, 2017

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD. Romans 8:38-39

A battle for a new world order has been waged since Satan felt he was worthy of godlike status and was expelled from God’s presence, aka Heaven. There is One True God, the Creator/Designer of that order whose keystone is love. Satan’s chaos is irrelevant and cannot thwart God.

Love for mankind is God’s choice, His supreme design. There is nothing, NOTHING, that can separate us from that love. Sadly though, our unchecked free choice and its accompanying sin separates us from God. Satan would have us believe that God is spitefully doing the separating, but He is not (refer to scripture above).

Turn your face to the Son! His open arms are waiting for you…… to hold you tight…..forever.

Love,

Gretchen

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18

Micah is known as the grieving prophet. His heart is pained by a sinful world, while maintaining the hope of our redeemer. Like Micah, we must see the effect of sin, but isolate ourselves from its burden and power.

In Micah’s world everything was falling apart. Ethical behavior was hard to find, loyalty, even in family relationships has become an antiquity. But by the very evidence that God sent a prophet to such a time and place is proof that God still has a plan to redeem and restore the totally corrupt and fallen generation.

Our God is an incomparable God. Only He is a forgiving God. Even in His anger He hears our heartbroken cries and has compassion on each of us. He does not stay angry but DELIGHTS IN MERCY. He delights in giving us love and grace!!!

Have a Wonderful Day,

Gretchen

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;
rather, train yourself to be Godly. I Timothy 4:7

Timothy is Paul’s young associate, sent to pastor the church in Ephesus and guard them against false teaching. Timothy is Paul’s trouble shooter and this letter was written as Paul realized his execution was coming nigh. He longed to soften the blow of his persecution by strengthening and encouraging his young protege.

As the progeny of a mixed marriage, a Jewish/Christian mother and a Gentile father, Timothy had never been circumcised, but Paul encouraged him to become circumcised so that no Jew could criticize him for being unfaithful to God’s covenant with Abraham. The church of Ephesus struggled constantly with the bombardment of pagan gods and many people seeking an earthly agenda for prosperity rather than the faithful worship of the One True God. Paul was committed to the highest standard of integrity to the Good News of Grace.

Satan, the author of misinformation and misuse of good information, takes every opportunity to create confusion. Confusion leads to frustration and then it is a short step from frustration to despair. Stay in God’s word. It will not let you down. Ask and you will receive includes clarity in time of confusion.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

Gretchen

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Jesus is not known nearly so much for what He says, as for what He does. Jesus was followed from place to place and people sought Him for what He did. He healed. He was touched by human need and He acted.

Untouchable lepers, the blind, the crippled, a child, the demon possessed, the storm tossed and the spiritually lost. These people determined where and when Jesus went. WOW!

The harassed and helpless needed a shepherd. A shepherd’s singular duty was to protect the flock from harm while leading it to green pastures. One lost sheep was not acceptable, for they all mattered equally and were of great value.

Compassion, it should change our attitude, our direction, our determination and our man power. I don’t want to live a moment without receiving or extending this most precious gift, for it was and always will be the catalyst for Grace.

Have a terrific Tuesday,

Gretchen

Monday, January 16, 2017

So then, if you know the good you ought to do and don’t do it, you sin. James 4:17

Humans tend to build castles in the air, or rigorously put away for a rainy day. Tomorrow means a great deal to us. Regardless of which plan we have for the future, we have one. In fact, we are shamed by the financial community if we do not. But James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early church says these things in verse 17 concluding his words on planning for a future found in verses 13-16.

To define sin is simple. It is any act of opposition to God’s Devine and loving plan. There is no hierarchy of sin, disobedience is disobedience and the payment for sin is eternal death, separation from God and Holiness forever! We are called to do good, but we get terribly distracted with our accumulation of security measures that we forget there is a world in need of Jesus.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are the Hands, Feet, Ears, Eyes and Heart of Jesus. Tomorrow has no guarantee and if it doesn’t come, the only thing that matters your is righteousness. If you are going to leave something behind, leave a legacy of love.

Have a lovely day,

Gretchen

Sunday Stories, January 15, 2017

At the Feet of My Father

As a child I had a favorite place: Under my father’s feet, more accurately described as, “In his way”. Everywhere he went, I would follow. If I wasn’t allowed or invited, I would mourn. The evening sound of his truck pulling in and the distinct tinny slam of its door were music to my ears. He’d return home smelling of saw dust and sweat, pick me up, toss me into the air, catch me and hold me tight. Heaven on earth. (I must insert that my siblings were also part of theses homecomings that might have happened once in a blue moon, but it wasn’t quantity, but quality that made lasting sunshine, granting me positive strength to press through darkness later in life.)

In addition to pastoring, dad was a carpenter. Summer days and Saturdays I would wake early and head off with dad to where ever new structures were being erected. His expertise was roofing. He would throw two bundles of asphalt shingles over his shoulder and shimmy up a ladder with no hands, drop the bundles with a thwack, kneel on one knee and begin weaving back and forth across a house in a rhythmic bang and swish of denim on wood, shingle on roof, hammer on nail.

My brother and I were very small when off we went to roof a house with dad. He pointed us to a sand pile in clear view of his aerial perch and headed up the ladder. The sand didn’t appeal, so I quietly followed dad. Honestly! What danger would there ever be in trekking behind one’s father? He had already nailed a few shingles before he realized he wasn’t alone. His reaction isn’t the point of this story, he can share that another time. The point is, I WANTED DESPERATELY TO BE WHERE HE WAS.

As I grew older, time with dad became scarce, but one summer he was building houses on Beaver Lake in north west Arkansas. Dad put me to work cleaning trash around building sites or other odd jobs. As an adult I recognize that it was probably inconvenient for him to find work for me rather than do it himself, but as a preteen I was oblivious. One miserably hot day his nail gun broke and it was back to old school hammer swings, except the nails were all attached together by glue and paper designed to shoot through his nail gun like bullets in a gatling gun. I was put to work with a pocket knife fixing the problem. It was mundane and I suspected dad was just trying to keep me off the roof and away from the bluff above the lake. I really didn’t care. I was with my father, I was earning my air and I was super proud to be the world’s best nail separator.

Many years later I felt an unmistakable call to Christian service. It was an entirely new way of thinking and processing life’s encounters. But I began to realize that once again, I was standing, sitting, working, living as close to my Father as I could possibly be and there wasn’t a job that was too lowly or mundane that I wouldn’t gladly do just for the precious moments spent in His presence.

Life is wonderful at the feet of my Father. He is good, He is long in love and patience and sometimes really funny too. Join me there and if He backs up or turns around quickly, He’ll find us right under His feet, in His way, watching and learning everything He does, and He’ll put us to work.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1.

Love,

Gretchen