Category: Uncategorized

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

As an avid church sign reader I pick up some fun things. Not that this is deep theology, but just something to think about. Here is a gem I read many years ago:

The path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked.

Don’t go babbling along through life picking up eroded debris as you pass by and wondering aimlessly through muck and mire you never meant to encounter.

God does not place distractions in our life to harm us and take us off course. The world does. Keep your eyes on Him and your journey will be a lighted, clear and straight path.

Happy Monday!

Gretchen

“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” Nehemiah 9:5b

Nehemiah was a civil governor, sent with authority from the Persian King to rebuild the Jerusalem wall, thus returning the City of David to the fortified city of refuge it had once been.

Solomon’s temple had been restored, but otherwise, Jerusalem offered no place of hope or future. Threats from neighbors, real and imagined, hindered the Jews from rebuilding their home. Then Nehemiah came with power and resources from the Persian King and in 52 days had the job completed. How? He prayed and petitioned God in all things. When the wall was finished he and Ezra, the priest, led the people in once again becoming the covenant people of the One True God, the Jewish Nation. They organized worship, read daily from the Book of Law and gave simple applications for Holy living. Revival occurred, the people repented and turned to God.

The above verse is the first line of the national confession. It continues through the chapter restating that God remained loving and faithful through the rebellion of His covenant people.

God is faithful, from everlasting to everlasting. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild a wall, his real mission was to bring a dispersed and barely recognizable nation together and restore its identity in God alone. It wasn’t the wall that transformed these people of old, it was their return to worship and obedience within the wall that changed the course of their history.

A solid wall won’t give you hope and a future, but faithful obedience will guarantee it!

Love,

Gretchen

So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:11

“They” are Simon Peter, and his business partners, brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

Luke 5, verses 1-11 tell of Jesus’ encounter along the Sea of Gennesaret (Galilee) with common fishermen who have seen the sun rise on an unsuccessful catch. In this story, Jesus gets personal. He advises Peter in Peter’s own area of expertise, and succeeds against normal circumstances, bringing Peter to his knees in humble confession.

Jesus has begun His ministry of miraculous hope and healing. People gather wherever He goes. On this morning He is beachside teaching about His Heavenly Father. While fishermen wash their nets, Jesus borrows Peter’s boat as a better platform. Following His lesson, Jesus tells Peter to let down his nets once again. It is not the time of day for prime fishing and these professionals have already seen a night of failure, but Peter obeys and brings in the best catch he’s ever seen. Rather than bask in the possible turn of fortune, Peter LEAVES EVERYTHING and follows Jesus.

Pursuing man in man’s everyday life, Jesus does not seek the perfect, but brings Holiness to the obedient. I wish I could tell you that the cost of following Jesus is so minimal that you hardly notice any difference in your life, but that is not so. On our journey to everlasting……we must carry nothing. For arms outstretched to a Savior must not be hindered by the burdens of this world.

Happy Week’s End,

Gretchen

Worship the LORD in the splendor of His Holiness, tremble before Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

While Christians may debate the mechanisms of creation, there is no question of the relationship between the Creator and the created. The universe inspires us to worship, to marvel, at the extravagant care and beauty of God’s power and love made evident in His gift of life and all that sustains it.

God can do anything He choses. He chose to love and provide a way for us to find our way, safely and securely, to His Throne, where we can live in eternal peace, on earth as it is in Heaven.

This is a beautiful psalm to the Sovereignty of God. Read it in its entirety. Sing, sing and sing some more in joyful thanksgiving.

Have a lovely day,

Gretchen

They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is LORD of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14

From ancient times Babylon became the universal byword for human pride and vain glory. Following Christ’s death, Rome was often referred to as Babylon, the city committed to decadent pleasure that involved martyring Christians for public entertainment and celebrating ultimate selfishness with total disregard for those who paid the cost.

John’s vision personified the greed and luxury that lures people away from God in every age including ours. We are drawn to a life that sparkles and promises to fulfill dreams and desires, but instead, takes without return.

The final chapter has already been written. Justice will be served on those who hurt and harm. Eternal life is the absolute for those that persevere. The Lamb will overcome. Faithful believers have all the power of Heaven and earth to reap the victory that has already been won.

It is not God’s desire to deny anyone entrance into Heaven. The choices of man determine this, but there will come a time when all things are made righteous through our all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful Lord and Savior….. And it will be final. Don’t miss it for the world.

Love,

Gretchen

“Sovereign LORD, as You have promised, You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Luke 2:29-30

Levitical Law required that the Baby Jesus be presented at the temple with a sacrifice of either a lamb, a pigeon or a pair of doves, thirty three days after His birth. Mary and Joseph offered the least of these three options, therefore revealing that they were humble, poor people. Jesus left the limitless riches of Heaven to live among earth’s most deprived and needy population.

A righteous and devout man named Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit and had been assured by God that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts on the day of Jesus’ consecration. When he saw the baby Jesus he knew Him and praised God. (verses 29-32) Simeon recognized this Holy Child as the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose for the entire world.

God didn’t sneak Jesus onto the earth. There was much celebration and fanfare all throughout the event. He revealed His news with those willing to share in the beginning of a love that conquers every demon and foe the world will ever know. Like Simeon and all the others that saw the face of God, we too will know peace when we seek and find His Face.

Love,

Gretchen

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Aaron’s prayer. God is the giver of all things, in particular PEACE.

Happy New Year, 

Gretchen

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:16

The shepherds left their flocks, went into Bethlehem and found the Christ Child.

On this night, God became very personal. His power and glory is displayed throughout all the universe, His voice is heard through prophets that gave assurances and hope of His presence among us. AND THEN…..God chose to unite Himself personally with mankind. The Creator entered His own creation and became like His created, just to reveal a personal love for each of us.

Through this gift, God provided a way to bear our sins, break death’s grip and pay a debt to reconcile humanity to his original perfection. What man could not do for himself, Jesus came to do for them.

Nativity scenes are some the most magnificent artwork human eyes have ever seen, but don’t let the artist’s craft or nostalgia dull the foundational doctrine of salvation: Jesus was the fully human Son of God. Born to die, so you could live.

There is a hymn associated with the first Christmas night, Silent Night, Holy Night. A quick google search will reveal the manner in which this world famous tune and lyric came to be. A broken organ and a desire to worship in spite of obstacles brought about this beloved carol. Those that gathered in the manger went out of their way, put aside their daily lives, to worship. This Season of Celebration, don’t let man’s obstacles inhibit your worship and praise.

The Reason for the Season, 24/365

Gretchen

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

These are the words of the Angel Gabriel, spoken to shepherds on the plaines of Judea. The foretold time of a Savior’s arrival had come. There was great expectation. THE event of the ages has happened and without a doubt, Heavenly evidence was confirmation. Supernatural guidance led chosen people from very different walks of life to witness, worship and testify of the Christ’s arrival.

Each of the first three Gospels speak to certain groups: Matthew the Jews, Mark the Romans, Luke the Greeks. John spoke to all of mankind with the message that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself. Greeks prioritized culture, wisdom, reason, education. Luke tells his story of the nativity in a classical, orderly manner that has been called The Most Beautiful Story Ever Told….and it is. He shows the wonder of the night, the glory in a manger and the universality of God becoming man.

It’s just my imagination, but I think and hope that someday when I reach Heaven, God will sit me down and say, “Hey Gretchen, look at this!” He will take me back in time for a moment and let me hear the angel choir and peek inside an animal shelter to see my Savior’s radiance on that night of Greatest Gift Giving, the night of Peace everlasting.

Blessings,

Gretchen

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel-which means ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23

From very early in the history of man, God chose Abraham’s family line to deliver His Son into the world. Two of the Gospels give us this genealogy. Matthew’s accounting is condensed, going from Abraham to Joseph. Luke goes from Mary all the way back to Adam. The bloodline of Mary shows Jesus’ connection to The House of David, the prophecy fulfilled. As Joseph’s son, Jesus is a legal heir to the promises given Abraham, He is royalty. Isaiah’s words have come to life! (7:14)

A lot is said about the virgin birth of Jesus, but there was a virgin conception first. The power and activity of the Holy Spirit brought the birth of Jesus, the incarnate God came into His own creation… This belief is fundamental. Jesus is The Son of God, and The Son of Man. As the Son of God, He has all the power and glory of Heaven, as the Son of Man, He feels what we feel, is tempted as we are. He suffers pain, sorrow, insult and isolation, and yet, brings Heaven to earth so that we may share in His inheritance and live eternally in the home He has prepared for us.

The Christmas Season is full of carols referencing Immanuel, God with us. I hope you embrace the miracle and gift that the virgin conception has given mankind.

The Season Continues,

Gretchen