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Who has saved us and called us to a Holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. II Timothy 1:9

Holy: The absence of sin, perfect and blameless.

Grace: A free unmerited gift.

Jesus: God’s son who willingly left Heaven, became fully human, grew to be a man, tempted yet sinless.

Christ: The sacrifice. The payment for our sins.

Before time began there was grace. WOW! Before satan was cast from the presence of God, victory was won. God is God. Satan is not.

These truths are the foundations of faith. Yes, they sound unbelievable. They are. It’s called faith for a reason and all of it is ours, yours and mine!

God did not create these things for a special few, or too flaunt in front of suffering, struggling victims for the joy of seeing their pain. In love we cannot fathom, He gives all of this to completely wipe sin out of your life! Welcome to victory!

Have a Wonderful Day,

Gretchen

So do not be ashamed to testify about our LORD, or of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. II Timothy 1:8

In Paul’s final days he is writing with passionate earnest to keep the early church strong, faithful and theologically pure. As a prisoner he has been robbed of all human dignity. Most would not acknowledge acquaintance, or connection to someone in his situation, distancing themselves from imminent grief or detrimental guilt by association. True believers and friends remain close to Paul and deliver his letters throughout the mission field, aka, all nations.

To serve means sacrifice and suffering, but suffering is a matter of perspective. The labor required to bring new life is suffering in the moment but irrelevant in the afterglow of a perfect infant. Paul equates his suffering for the Gospel as nothing compared to the Glory of God and one more sinner, saved by grace. So do not be ashamed of suffering AND do not be ashamed of those who suffer, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 5:10)

Love to each of You!

Gretchen

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7

Second Timothy is Paul’s last letter. He is in prison awaiting his imminent execution. Luke is with him, but he longs for his friend and comrade Timothy. With these words we feel Paul’s testimony of no regrets. Many times Paul could have given up and given in, shut his mouth and saved his life. He was a Roman citizen, well connected and could have had a great, long and prosperous life, but he laid down his life for his friends, me and you.

Because of the love given through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice we know that victory over evil is already won. The by-product of this assurance is perseverance and great strength of character. Stand firm, share the Good News. Where ever you are headed, God is already there paving a way for miracles and victory.

Love,

Gretchen

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. I Timothy 6:18

Some people see the church as a road to riches. This was a problem in the early church too.  Earthly wealth will decay and turn to dust. Paul charges Timothy, his associate and special envoy to the New Testament church, to encourage church leadership to invest in goodness rather than earthly wealth which leads to excess temptation and grief.

Generosity is not a concept bound by monetary value. The attributes of Christian character are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self-control, kindness……these are things meant to be shared in great quantities. They are renewable resources, never in danger of extinction except that they die a natural death from lack of use. These things multiply exponentially when shared so “Throw them like confetti!”

Love,

Gretchen

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the LORD, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Ephesians 4:17

This verse is not a racial statement against nonJewish people. Ephesus was the port city capital of the Roman province of Asia. It was not a Jewish center, but a metropolis of pagan worship and the occult. Black magic, spiritism, idolatry and immorality were the order of normal life for the gentiles who called the city home. BUT! Paul came walking through, revival occurred and a church began. Its members? Former gentile sinners, saved by grace.

Believers are to put away former thinking and behavior patterns and be truly transformed into the likeness of Christ. This is a call to every sinner saved by grace. What habit or pattern of thinking or behavior do you need to exchange for a perfect reflection of Holiness in your life?

Love,

Gretchen

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Simple logic: Righteousness does not demand a penalty. Sacrifice is not made flippantly. Restitution is not required for good deeds done. We do not apologize for grace extended. In other words, Christ didn’t die because we are perfect, He died because we are not! That means everyone!

Sin separates us from God, thus rendering us defenseless. Through the blood of Jesus we gain grace’s victory, mercy’s love and the Kingdom of Heaven’s Power.

Have a perfectly timed Friday!

Gretchen

If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Matthew 18:15

Following the parable of the Lost Sheep, a story expressing the value of every soul and the ethics of the shepherd, this verse addresses a relationship between two people. Only two people!

The interference in someone else’s sin is a tricky, touchy thing needing the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The reference to brother and sister shows that all those involved are in the community of believers, there is a relationship in existence. This is not a conversation between strangers and NOT a subject for everyone’s ears. The Kingdom of God operates by totally different standards than the world. This moment is intimate, between people who share trust.

Free will is the operative factor, but when the will is humbled through the words of a pure heart, a true and loyal friend, unlimited grace and mercy abound. A connection is forged and the world changes for the better.

Have a great day,

Gretchen

I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11

When I was in high school we had five minutes to move from one period to the next, but there was a real problem with tardies. Our administration decided to implement a one minute warning buzzer to make students aware of time elapsing and become better stewards with the outcome of fewer tardies.

I find that many people look to Revelation in the same manner they depended on the four minute warning to keep them out of delinquency trouble. They just want to know how much longer they have personal control before they must give up and let God be God.

Every age has its evil, the spirit that treats life as a commodity to be exploited, cheated, bought and sold at will in exchange for power, greed and self-love, but this verse is the promise of God’s final act upon this earth’s abscesses. Even today God is at work with perfect justice and He will bring down those who continually exact their self absorbed behavior on others and refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord and King.

We that already know God for who He is need to continue our Worship and Praise for that is our testimony before others who so badly need His touch.

Love,

Gretchen

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Matthew’s narrative, or good news, is to show Jesus as the true and awaited King beginning with the record of genealogy in verses 1-17. This short little moment in time steps away from ages of Who’s Who and into the intimacy of what Mary knew long before any of the rest of us did. Remember, Matthew is writing his words after the fact, Mary was in ‘living color’.

To what degree Mary was given the detailed facts of Jesus’ purpose may never be fully revealed, but what is known is her great faith in a God that is loving and kind and held her future, her child’s, and all of mankind’s, in His hands. Mary’s God is alive, personal and actively working in the world both then and now.

There are so many ways God could have fulfilled His promise of Salvation but He chose faith, love and sacrifice. This is how Jesus came from Heaven to earth and how He returned. We must do likewise.

Have a great day!

Gretchen

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the LORD’s people. Ephesians 6:18

Prior to this verse, Paul gives perfect instruction for victory in defensive spiritual warfare, the Full Armor of God. Don’t go to battle without your gear! Protect your soul but then do a little warfare on the enemy. Verse 18 turns to the offense. Pray! The one thing satan, the enemy, does not want you to access is the power and strength found only in prayer.

Your ‘go to’ reaction to every stimuli in your life should be prayer. On all occasions pray. Worship, praise, implore, petition, confess, commune and intercede, but PRAY!

We’ve got our game plan, offense and defense, we’re set for the win!

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen