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Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

In chains awaiting execution, Paul sends a letter to the first church he established. He has been beaten, stoned, hounded by mobs, but in all these trials he found the secret of contentment in all circumstances…..rejoice.

Sneezing, coughing, even giggling is a reflex, but rejoicing is a choice. It doesn’t happen by accident and is the antidote to defeat. We must rejoice. Especially when we don’t feel like it.

Some synonyms of rejoice are delight, celebrate, revel and triumph. These behaviors are the evidence of our faith, the secret of our success. Rejoice in all things because our hope is in the LORD.

Blessings,

Gretchen

“I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to His temple; the Messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” Says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:1

Malachi shows in chapter 2 that our attitude toward God’s Holiness and Sovereignty is reflected in our actions toward each other and sometimes, good things happen to bad people. Steadfast faith is stretched when simple reasoning becomes complex disillusionment.

One promise in the Biblical narrative that gives eternal hope is the assurance of justice. Those who have committed evil and refused to subject themselves to God’s authority will be dealt with appropriately and those who have been faithful will receive their reward.

Waiting is hard, especially in times of trial and despair. Hope seems impossible to grasp and cling to, yet hope is all that’s left. God has not forgotten you. He hears the cry of your heart and everything that is happening is a part of your journey to His throne and victory over sin.

Love,

Gretchen

May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. II Samuel 2:6

Saul, Israel’s first king, anointed by God, has been killed in battle along with his son Jonathan. (The details of Saul’s death are better explained in I Sam. 31.) Jonathan and David shared a deep and committed friendship that reached beyond politics and traditions. When David heard of their deaths he was deeply grieved.

David was to be Israel’s next king, chosen by God’s authority rather than man’s heritage. God told David to take his household and go to Hebron where he will be anointed and begin his reign. The words above are spoken in a message sent to the men that showed proper respect to Saul and Jonathan, giving them a proper burial and dignity in death.

David was often the victim of Saul’s ruthless treatment, but before he takes the throne he chooses to lead Israel in traditional mourning, thus putting love, mercy and compassion above entitlement.

David, a man after God’s heart. Love, mercy, compassion………the things God gives, the things He expects us to share with others.

Happy Tuesday!

Gretchen

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel. 36:26

Ezekiel prophesied the total destruction of Israel as a consequence of habitual idolatry and profanity toward God. However, God is not a God of abandonment or giving up. With the foretelling of consequences was the continued promise of a loving Savior, whose covenant is eternal for those who pursue Holiness.

The reference to ‘heart’ encompasses the total being. Complete transformation and renewal will occur. Notice this verse does not say ‘restoration.’ The implication that some of the old will remain is misleading and defeating. God removes the destructive old or dead, and makes a new living and vibrant life.

The prophecies of Ezekiel are not limited to the consequences of Israel’s disobedience. They extend to the oppressors too. Wrong decisions lead to difficult situations of abuse and oppression, but that does not mean God approves of those exacting exploitive or abusive behavior. God will renew you and deliver you from all sin that attempts to destroy you, not just your own. This sounds outrageously ambitious, but never underestimate the power of God’s love!

Living Boldly!

Gretchen

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

What constitutes a good start? What must a child understand and believe?

* God is love. Romans 8:37-39 and I John 4:8
* They are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14
* Jesus, God’s Son, died so they might be saved. Acts 2
* God has a plan for living in peace with the world and those around you. I Cor. 13.

The greatest leap of faith ever made by a parent is the total and complete release of their child’s life back to the Creator. This is huge! Give them Jesus, and give them back into His loving care. Let them know and they will find the same faith you have.

Love,

Gretchen

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21

These words were spoken by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came like a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire to fill every new believer, God fearing Jews from all over the Roman Empire. They were forever changed and thus began Christianity, the Body of Christ.

Peter recalled the prophesy of Joel, and the words of David bringing all who experienced the filling of the Spirit and all who witnessed it into one clear understanding of Jesus’ purpose and God’s work of Grace and Mercy. Three thousand were saved.

We are NOT abandoned to the grave, death does NOT have the final say. Jesus died to save us from the evil of this very day and the darkness of an eternity without God.

Hallelujah!!!!

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17

“I’m still the daddy!”

Throughout my adult life this phrase, uttered by my father, has ended all argument within our immediate family, but has also brought great comfort knowing someone is in charge and has a plan for everyone’s best interest.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, is saying the same thing. “I’m the Daddy, I’m THE GOD!”

Draw great peace from these words. Lay your burdens down and rest well, God’s on it! He’s the daddy and everything is going to be alright.

Love,

Gretchen

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand. Then they knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. Matthew 27:28-29

Jesus called Himself ‘The Son of God.’ This declaration by someone other than The One True God is considered blasphemy, a crime punishable by death. Fair enough, but there was plenty of evidence to the Truth. However, justice and facts weren’t the issue, the extreme evil in the heart of man was. Jews, Herod and his soldiers, Pilate and his soldiers, priests, elders and scribes took part in the sport of humiliation (they stripped Him naked) and torture (thorns were crammed into his scalp and face). They thought they were bringing Jesus down from His high horse………He was patiently waiting for love to have its final word.

I’ve always wondered if those people went home that night proud of themselves. Did they feel all big inside, being part of a riot that ended in someone’s death? How did their children, sitting across the room, look at them. Did they fear the adults so free and loose with their fists and spit, or did they hail them as heroes? Did any of them want to rewind time and have a do over of that day? Was there any life changing regret? Thoughts on these answers matter to us today because they define character and the motivation of our own actions toward one another. It’s easy to pick out the wrong doers at the crucifixion, but if we withhold love’s chance and opportunity, we stand in the shadow of the cross, not the Light!

For these vicious, hate filled men and women, Grace was never out of reach until their final breath was drawn. In fact, when Jesus drew His final breath a soldier that had played a part in the day’s events came to believe. RIGHT THERE IN LIVING COLOR, AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS a murderer was humbled, confessed and found eternal life.

I am so relieved that God is Good, He is Love. We must cautiously, with determination, guard our hearts against all things but love and goodness.

Happy Wednesday!

Gretchen

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

As youngsters my siblings and I played a game called, “Mercy.” Standing face to face, two opponents grabbed hands to see who could push the other’s wrists back, thus rendering one player defenseless. The game ended when someone called/begged, “Mercy.” The winner had the choice to turn loose or continue pushing the helpless loser around as they were totally at the ‘mercy’ of the stronger opponent.

Mercy: To receive OR extend an exemption from punishment.

To receive favor and be excused from the consequences we are due is the greatest gift we can ever receive. To give this gift is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. We can and must make mercy the hallmark of our lives and those we face each day. This is the supreme model of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Gretchen

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13

I recommend reading all of this story beginning at verse 1 of John chapter 5.

This healing took place on the Sabbath, making it very offensive to the legalistic Jewish leadership. They were angered over a crippled man carrying a mat he’d lain on for 38 years and mad at the Man who cured him.

Apathy toward pain in favor of prejudice or tradition is in direct conflict with the miraculous work of God’s grace. Man’s agenda and expectation can pollute the work of the Gospel. Jesus had compassion which moved Him to action. Our mission is to do likewise.

Have a great Monday,

Gretchen