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So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

This statement is the conclusion to the account of a dispute over disbursement of resources by the early church to widows and orphans. The Christian community was growing but that didn’t mean the Gospel was progressing. Conflict has snuffed out many good intentions. But the prayer and preaching of the disciples had an effect on the way Christian people acted toward each other and those in need. There grew a movement in the early church, a common spirit of love, encouragement and putting other’s needs first.

How did the word of God spread? Through love in action! Church didn’t end when the preaching quieted. Church began when God’s people were moved to improve the world they could touch, smell, hear and see with manpower rather than lip service.

Happy Weekend!

Gretchen

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

Oh! There is so much hope in these few words!!! God Himself will wipe a life time of tears from your eyes. Did you hear me? God’s hand will gently touch your face and all the sorrow you’ve ever known will be gone forever! Of course there will be no more mourning, crying or pain because death, the thing that hurts the most, is no longer relevant!

It’s so hard to imagine an existence totally lacking in emotional warfare, constant action and reaction, tipping the balance and righting it again. It’s no wonder we are all mentally drained, but God will put away the old order of a sin torn  and confused world. His new order will be an existence of peace, order and love. Satan and his minions won’t be allowed there.

This promise of hope eternal is indeed beautiful and heart stirring, but how do you get through today? This promise of hope does not have to wait for Jesus’ second coming or your earthly death, it can begin this moment. Give whatever is robbing you of tranquility to God. You have absolutely no control over anything but yourself and that control is extremely limited. The struggle is in vain, so turn it loose and let God take care of it.

Have a Wonderful Friday!

Gretchen

That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. 1 John 1:1

Please finish the rest of this beautiful passage of scripture through verse 4.

An apostle (he knew Jesus personally) John was one of the first twelve disciples. He lived and served closely beside Jesus throughout His ministry.

John was probably the last living apostle. Near the end of his life he began to see the Christian church pressured to accept other philosophies and ideas conflicting with the pure Gospel of Christ. He passionately writes what he knows to be divine truth, what he witnessed in the flesh and lived his life to proclaim.

Jesus is both a person and a message. He is the Son of God and the Word of God. He came in human form to bring God’s voice to a world grown deaf while modeling the life of absolute servanthood and love. Jesus left the glory of Heaven to suffer the pain, both physical and emotional, of humanity just so you could have victory over sin and death! In Christ alone you find life.

Love,

Gretchen

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. I Peter 1:20

Peter was one of the twelve disciples that walked and talked with Jesus during His three years of ministry. He knew Jesus as intimately as any friend could, hearing the Gospel first hand, as Jesus spoke it.

Jesus was, is and always will be. He does not exist in linear time as we know it. We think of eternity as only the future, but it is the past as well. Before the world was created, before mankind came to be, God had a plan of redemption, salvation and restoration for each of us. Humanity has never been left destitute.

Have a great day,

Gretchen

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Timothy 1:5

Love, a pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith. These are the things that bring personal Holiness; a complete lack of personal agenda and total submission to God’s will.

Love what God loves, seek the goodness of His Kingdom, sleep well in the peace of doing good and know that God has your life in His Hands.

Timothy has been sent to teach the Truth in the face of false teaching. Their message was tainted with hidden agenda, but the world cannot argue with God’s perfect, selfless love.

When in doubt, and there will be times you will be, just love. Let God carry the burden of theology……who’s right, who’s wrong….. you just love. It will reveal who’s side you are on while cultivating a faith of perfect peace.

Happy All Saints Day,

Gretchen

You have searched me LORD, and you know me. Psalm 139:1

Here is a list of the top 10 things you will never hear God say:

1.) “Wow, I didn’t see that coming!”
2.) “Oh goodness! What are we going to do now?”
3.) “That’s a first!”
4.) “Oops!”
5.) “Wait, let me start all over.”
6.) “If only I’d listened to you.”
7.) “I give up satan, you can have this one.”
8.) “You can take if from here.”
9.) “You again?!”
10.) “Figure it out yourself.”

The greatest assurance to be found is knowing there isn’t any part of you that God, your creator, doesn’t know. He knows your secret anxieties and insecurities. He knows your hopes and aspirations. God knows you like no other, and He has found you worthy of redemption at a very great price.

Because God already knows what holds you together, what gets you up in the morning, trust Him and allow Him to perfect your will, your heart into the most wonderful version of ‘You’ that can ever possibly be.

Love,

Gretchen

Haughty to Humble

Human ingenuity and innovation has brought convenience to a time we proudly call “The Modern World.” I look around my house and think, “I’m so glad I have _____ .” (Fill in the blank). But of all the things I like and think I couldn’t live without, door hinges top my list. Don’t laugh. Consider, they bring living to a whole new plane. I have doors that swing in, out, up, down. Whatever I need a door to do, this genius of engineering makes possible. Best of all, when I bolt my exterior doors, the hinges on the inside assure the door isn’t going anywhere or letting anyone in except that I allow. Many years have come and gone and I have never had to oil, adjust or maintain any door hinges.

There was a time in my youth when I was an arrogant brat. It’s true. It has been confirmed by my older brother and two younger sisters and during holiday gatherings, evidence is once again presented lest I forget. (Don’t worry about me though, I’ve got the goods on them too.) However, there came a time for my pride to become humility, and for me to grow a servant’s heart.

One Sunday morning I was called to play the piano for hymn singing and offering. I thought I did an outstanding job but after worship no one, not a soul, acknowledged my talents or performance. Neither did anyone say, “Thank you.” I was appalled. Walking through the church with my pastor/father after the last parishioner left, turning off lights and picking up discarded bulletins, I announced that I was never again going to offer my musical talent to such an ungrateful people and I shared my disappointment in the absence of praise and adoration.

Dad stopped, raised his eyebrows and looked over his glasses at me. There was a very loud silence and then he pointed to the doors separatiing the sanctuary from the vestibule. He said, “Gretchen, do you see those doors?”

I quietly replied, “Yes dad.”

“Have you ever given thought to why they work so nicely providing the service we need?”

“No dad.”

Dad drew me closer and brought me into awareness of THE DOOR HINGE.
“Gretchen, no one ever gives a second thought to the hinge unless it fails, yet we couldn’t make it without them. The fact that no one noticed you, meant you did what you were supposed to do with great proficiency and brought worship to the place it was meant to be.”

“Yes dad.”

“Gretchen, God needs His people to be like door hinges.”

“Yes dad.”

Pride connects our hearts to the things of this world, unconditional, selfless love through service brings us into the presence of God.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve
others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Peter 4:10

Love,

Gretchen

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1

We are Blessed! Eternal life has already begun for those whose sins are forgiven. Remember, Jesus died so we didn’t have to!!!

Have a great Day
Love,

Gretchen

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Mood celebration or a Sabbath day. Colossians 2:16

Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. – Jaroslav Pelikan.

Paul is speaking to a congregation of new converts, gentiles, not Jews. Up until the resurrection Jewish people depended on strict adherence to Levitical law for guidance in religious behavior. But Jesus taught that Loving God above all else and your neighbor as yourself, (Mark 12:28-34) was the key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

With the break from tradition, people were offended and arguments ensued. (Read all of Col. 2. It’s really good!)

Tradition can guide us forward, but Jesus did not sacrifice Himself on a cruel cross to assure that we worship twice on Sunday and once through the week with three songs each service, a forty minute sermon, an offering in the middle and pot roast for dinner. Yes, the Sabbath is Holy, it is a time set aside for the exclusive acknowledgement of the ONE that gave His Son, and the Son that gave His life. That is love! There’s nothing traditional about that!

Do not be held hostage by traditionalism. It is not faith. Instead be an advocate and conduit of unconditional love in action.

Have a great Friday!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in 
you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19

Corinth was a bustling metropolis, one of the top five busiest towns of the Roman empire at the time of Paul’s missionary trip there. Located between the Aegean and Adriatic seas with ports on each, Corinth was the crossroad of a diverse world. These people lived with gusto, they were on the move, pagan worship was the order of the day, they understood the significance and reverence of a temple.

Paul had been preaching a gospel of love rather than law. His listeners were converted gentiles with very little knowledge of God much less Holy living. ‘Anything goes’ was the extent of their ethical and moral teaching. So Paul explains, there is a tremendous difference between being free to do anything and having anything make free with you. Where is the balance between privilege and detriment?

God’s design for your life is beautiful and uncomplicated. Satan certainly wants to clutter things up with emotional, spiritual and physical baggage. However, God saves, sanctifies and makes Holy your body and soul thus creating a perfect dwelling place, a temple, for His Spirit.

Holiness is simply the absence of sin. God won’t, can’t dwell with sin as a housemate. If you long to live Holy then you are not your own. Let God’s Holiness fill the spaces of your life so completely that there is no room for anything but His precious, powerful Spirit.

Love,

Gretchen