Category: Uncategorized

Beans in the Floorboard

This is a story about my sister. Her wit keeps me laughing and on my toes, her resilience inspires me. Her joy sets the bar for my own attitude in times of trial. Gayle calms my spirit by walking in the room. I have seen her persevere through the consequences of other’s sin with love, determination and prayer for the offender. I have witnessed compassion for boy and beast that would have most mom’s on the clinical couch. She knows fear, loneliness, injustice, yet, she has resolved to be a bold and brave beacon of hope for those she touches. Except…..There’s this one thing.

Living in one of the nation’s largest urban areas, Gayle’s daily commute can be challenging. With thousands of people whizzing by, everyone must do their part and act with reasonable consideration. Coming to a near halt while making a righthand turn off a major thoroughfare is neither reasonable nor considerate…..according to my saintly sis. I totally understand her annoyance and the hazard. City travel needs precision and depends on a consistent momentum to run efficiently. This impolite, vehicular maneuvering turns my generous, gracious sibling into an acidic tongued renegade.

Then one afternoon the prayer line from Gayle’s church buzzed and she and her friends kicked into high gear. They made a plan to bring comfort and consolation to a local family experiencing a bad case of “Real Life.” Together they would pull these people up and out of their suffering. Gayle, who is an amazing cook, decided a huge pot of ham and beans with all the trimmings would be her offering. So off she went across town with a stock pot full to the brim of hardy provision and refreshment. Gayle gently navigated her route so as not to spill the beans. Soon she realized every turn she made, especially those to the hard right, were made with great gentleness…… from a near stop.

There was an epiphany. Gayle, so sorely tempted toward road rage, realized that if she was traveling with such great care because her heart was burdened and she was on a mission, maybe others were giving of themselves in like manner and had good reason for interrupting her speed on their journey.

Anger and frustration dissolved in the moment of enlightened understanding.

We often traipse through life thinking our problems are the greatest and everyone is deliberately impeding our progress. Yet, Jesus Himself uttered the words, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9) He came to be our Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6) Peace is the hallmark of our Savior. It must be our’s too. So the next time your feel twinges of irritation as you rush through your daily duties, remember, the offender might be on a mission…….with beans in their floorboard.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth, Goodwill To All!

Love,

Gretchen

Then the LORD said, “If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.” Exodus 4:8

From a burning bush God calls Moses to return to the home of his birth and deliver the descendants of Abraham out of slavery. Moses is a little overwhelmed! He must convince an entire population to follow him into the unknown, tell a pharaoh, who believes himself to be god, to free his cheap workforce and expect the Egyptian people to accept a new existence without their slaves. Of course Moses has a few questions!

God shows Moses the miracle of his rod turning into a snake and then back into a rod. Moses’ hand became diseased and then whole again. God was showing Moses he was not going alone and unprepared.

Moses’ doubts and questions did not incite God’s wrath. We are human, He is God. God doesn’t chose perfect people to fulfill His plan, He perfectly empowers people through obedience, to fulfill His plan.

Do you have questions? Ask God. He answers. Are you overwhelmed? Give it God. He carries burdens. Are you insecure? Remember you are the child of the King!

Happy Christmas Eve,

Gretchen

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  Genesis 11:1

The story of man is very young. Human culture is very primitive. By flooding the earth, God granted man a new beginning and the planet was repopulating in a land called Babylonia. This infant civilization shared one common language.

God said to multiply and fill the earth but these people were afraid. They preferred to stay together and make a name for themselves as a strong and ingenious people, building a city of bricks and tar and engineering magnificent temple towers or ziggurats. There also developed a false sense of security.

This display of arrogance, self reliance and rebellion brought God’s judgement. The result: God confused the language forcing men to sort themselves into common groups, creating ethnic and cultural division and separation, thus fulfilling His design for creation.

The diversity of earth is God’s glory and majesty. He separated humanity to affirm who was God and who was not. This same God draws man back together unto one Salvation, again, displaying who is God and who is not. It all fits together in obedience to the One true God and love toward one another.

Love,

Gretchen

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. I Peter 1:23

Peter, a fisherman, an apostle, a preacher, a missionary, a martyr, but first and foremost, a sinner saved by grace, writes this letter to encourage his fellow believers facing savage persecution.

As one of Jesus’ closest confidants Peter was witness to His greatest miracles. He walked on water with Jesus’ holding his hand. He felt Jesus’ poignant forgiveness after denying Him on the night of His trial. He was the first of the disciples to see the empty tomb. Peter shared air with Jesus. He speaks with great authority of what he knows.

Someday the earth will pass away, it will perish, but God is the God of infinity, eternity, a time that will never end and as His children we share in this inheritance. We will never end either. It’s called eternal life and it is a free gift.

Love to each of you,

Gretchen

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians chapter 2 is a beautiful passage of who we are through God’s creation, Jesus’ restoration and man’s reconciliation with each other.

We are woven together by the handiwork of God, however, it is easy to over look the wonder of our mind and soul. They are as incredible as our heart that beats with no effort of its own. It is not just our physical bodies that are made in the image of God and marred by sin with the fall of Adam, but our mental and emotion being as well. This is the most beautiful, intimate part of each of us and can be restored to perfection with the cleansing of Jesus’ blood.

As the perfect reflection of God, we love what God loves and love as God loves, His good works prepared in advance. Love one another.

Have a great Wednesday!

Gretchen

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep.” Ezekiel 36:37

With the surrender of Jerusalem to the Babylonian army, Judah was wiped off the face of the earth and there was a Jewish nation no longer. Ezekiel, a young man training for the priesthood, was taken into exile far away from his homeland.

Ezekiel expected to grow old following in the footsteps of his father, living comfortably and successfully. At the time he should be starting his career, it all ends. Then God calls Ezekiel to be a prophet. He sees God in all His majesty, all-seeing and all-knowing. In comparison he saw his people’s sin in all its darkness, worshiping false gods, relying on earthly power for sustenance and protection rather than keeping themselves Holy and set apart.

God’s covenant with Abraham was the birth of the Jewish nation. Ezekiel speaks this promise once again. God will reestablish His covenant and His people will survive and prosper. The people have a responsibility to live Holy and Righteous lives. Disobedience, idolatry begets judgement and punishment, but God will forgive and restore.

There is absolutely nothing God cannot, will not forgive. He is NOT a giving up God! He can be your sole protector and sustainer. He hasn’t changed and man hasn’t either. We still need God and God alone.

Love,

Gretchen

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:13

Faith is what brings us into a relationship of salvation. Faith is also what ‘overcomes the world.’ John is writing to believers so that they may know for certain that eternal life is theirs. Temptations, false teachings, conflicting theologies, personal insecurities, all these things enter into our daily thought processes and can hinder our faith.

Because John knew the high priest, he was able to be present at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus where he accepted responsibility for Mary, Jesus’ mother. He was also one of the first to see the empty tomb, experience the risen Christ, first in a locked room and later by the sea of Galilee. John saw with his eyes, heard with his ears and felt with his hands the risen Savior. Now the early church was 50-60 years old and John was quite possibly the last surviving apostle. He is writing these closing statements to assure Christians that it is not through intellectual achievement or any other means that you are saved. It is solely through faith that leads to repentance and holy living because grace and mercy are free gifts.

As John saw the lives of the Apostles coming to an end he wrote these words to give assurance to those that would never physically walk and talk with Jesus. His letter was relevant then and relevant today! Those that believe in the Son of God have eternal life.

Have a great Monday,

Gretchen

The Day My Husband Became Human

The first attraction I felt toward the man that would someday become my husband was his adventurous spirit born of a zest for life and a courage to embrace the unknown. I have none of these attributes. I look out upon the world and see hazards and chaos waiting to swallow me whole. Keith’s fearless approach to living drew me to him like a moth to a flame.

The weekends of our young marriage were spent in or on one motorized contraption or another, going where most people weren’t even willing to walk. I rode white knuckled and breathless until the day I realized Keith had an uncommon knowledge and talent for what he called entertainment and he didn’t want to die anymore than I did. In this moment he became invincible, super human and I learned the art of fun.

Then,,,,,there was a Sunday afternoon…..along a river….in the middle of nowhere…….. Spring rains had washed loose gravel along the banks of the Little Red River. The weather had grown warm, inviting us to enjoy the outdoors, so off we went for a couple of hours. We were bouncing and bumping over, through and around rocks and mud, daring natures obstacle course to beat us at our game when suddenly, loose gravel in the river’s bend gave way and we sank into deep, cold water. None of Keith’s skill or mechanical strength of our 4×4 could save us. We had to abandoned ship.

For the first time ever my husband and his machine couldn’t get us home. He was human once again and I became more aware than ever of the danger in our escapades. For a while I took no joy in the things that had become so fun. In my worries and concerns I looked to Keith’s face and the sound of his voice. His expression told the story in his heart, the inflections of his voice reflected the intensity of his thoughts. If he wasn’t worried, I wasn’t going to be either. I found the way back to faith and trust in something I didn’t understand but wanted to experience.

These same things apply to our walk with God. There is nothing that intimidates or alarms Him. He never gazes down upon His creation and thinks, “Wow, I’m not sure how to handle this.” But it is hard to find perfect peace when we don’t see the whole picture and understand all that is transpiring. So, seek God’s face and listen to His voice. It will reveal His character and power and restore your comfort and assurance.

“The LORD Bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

The Gentiles of Rome Paul is writing to had no concept of Christianity. They did not grow up hearing the stories of Abraham and Moses and their heritage was not rich with things that cultivated faith in The One True God. These people worshiped many gods and they needed Sunday School 101. So, we have the epistle, Romans, a call to salvation and instructions for successful Christian living.

Adam was created perfectly in God’s image. Sin marred that image and death came to mankind because of one man’s sin. Every man has a carnal instinct to selfishness which is sin, but through the blood of Jesus the perfect image of God can be restored in each of us.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word…..the very breath of God that brought all things into being at the beginning of time.

This Word became human, the person of Jesus Christ. He was born to die and when that death occurred Satan lost all power defeat man.

God is infinite, but for a brief thirty-three years His Son, His Word walked among us. He shared our joys and sorrows. He died forsaken and alone, but that horrible death ended the battle with sin and through His resurrection we all have the hope of everlasting life, uninterrupted.

God’s Word brings life.

Love,

Gretchen