Sonshine!

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. Acts 20:28

Paul is bidding farewell to the Elders of the Ephesian churches. He is on a quest to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost where he knows his passionate proclaiming of the Gospel will end with him in chains. He does not expect to ever see these friends again this side of Heaven.

Over 200 times in the Bible, God’s people are referenced as sheep, members of a flock. I am not a person of great agronomy skill, although I know those who are. But in the mean time there is google where I find that sheep are hardy, social animals that can exist in almost any habitat in the world and they have excellent hearing. However, poor eyesight makes them easy prey to the hazards of the wild and even the tame. Does this sound like anyone you know?

Paul’s plea to the shepherds, who happen to be sheep also, is to be wary of the evil that never sleeps and who’s sole work is to destroy the church.

My friends, if I knew that I would never write another word, never see, hear or talk to you again, I would spend my final breath telling you this…..Listen to God’s voice, He will guide you and keep you out of those pits and the mouths of wolves. His loving staff will bring you safely home.

Gretchen

Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. II Samuel 22:50

David’s biography is full of unprecedented triumph and devastating failure. In all circumstances he recognized God alone is worthy of praise.

Praise was vital to David’s spiritual victories:
It let satan know who’s side he was on.
It turned his face to the Throne of God.
It drowned out the voice of doubt.
It kept him in his place and God in His.
It granted clarity to every situation.

Praise will do the same for you.

Love,
Gretchen

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Daniel 6:4

Ethics: What you have when no one’s looking. Hypocrisy: What you have when the person everyone sees and the person no one sees aren’t the same.

There are many many things to be learned from Daniel’s story, (I encourage you to read it) but the bottom line is this: Daniel’s ethical behavior made a difference in the world and glorified God to both kings and serfs.

If the only bad thing someone can say about you turns out to be fictitious, then you’re in good company with Daniel and you will probably change the world too.

Live Boldly!

Gretchen

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

There is a place being custom created for you! New Heavens and earth!

Where, “The former things will not be remembered.”

The pain of disease…..won’t be remembered!
The shame of mistakes……won’t be remembered!
The grief of loss……won’t be remembered!
The darkness of hurt…..won’t be remembered!

Are these things going to be negligently nullified? No! They will be replaced with a love so amazing that anything we suffer will become completely irrelevant because, “Nor will they come to mind.”

It is God’s choice to provide redemption and salvation, it is His choice to forget our sins AND it is His choice to create a place where we will live for all eternity in purity, Holiness, love and peace!

Gretchen

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2

The eternal existence of God and the eternity of space…….difficult and intimidating concepts to fathom. From the very beginning of Biblical narrative God shows us He has alway been and always will be and space continues on forever without beginning and end.

We are a people of definitive experiences. We like the cause column to always equal the effect. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, what goes up must come down. Faith would be much easier if we could define God quantitatively or linearly. So what do you do when your minds won’t rest in what your heart knows?

Do what the psalmists did. State it. Praise Him for it. Ask for peace when “From everlasting to everlasting” overwhelms you. He is quick and immediate to answer. Forever and ever is your’s too.

Have a Beautiful Monday,
Gretchen

Withholding Applause

I don’t remember a time I didn’t want to be a pianist. My home was full of music, everything from Porter Wagner to Richard Wagner. I had grand dreams and ‘illusions/delusions’ of fame and fortune with my talent and stage presence. Please grant me grace though, I was only 4 and 5 years old.

Piano lessons began about the age of six. I hated practicing the rudiments that might have led to proficient technique and tonal agility. Instead I had my favorite little songs that drove everyone to ear tears. Mom and dad threatened me with ‘last lessons.’ But each Saturday morning off I’d go to my patient tutor, lumber through my unpracticed assignments and return home promising to do better in the coming week.

Well, the rule of piano lesson etiquette is; If you take lessons, you participate in spring recital. I planned to perform one of my favored little ditties but my teacher and my mother were of another opinion. Mom advised that the song I was rehearsing was not the piece on the printed program. I begged to differ. She conceded with the sound warning that I should at least take the sheet music in question just in case. I assured her there was no need, I had it under control.

This is not a mystery novel so you know what happen. I should have gone ahead and played the music I knew but I made a valiant effort to execute from memory a piece I never even practiced with any enthusiasm. IT…….WAS……AWFUL!!!!! In the end I just got up and left the stage to the weak cadence of pity applause. Everyone clapped but my little sister.

Following the afternoon’s final performance everyone gathered in the fellowship hall of the hosting church for a brief reception honoring the aspiring musicians. It was there amid the “God Bless You,” pats and the “No one even noticed” encouragements that my father shared my younger sister’s response to my shame, “I ain’t clappin’ for that!”

Gayle has never seen the need to state anything but the obvious and that day I began my maiden voyage on a journey of deep theology and respect for the power and security in truth. Gayle is my truth speaker and everyone should find themselves one as great as mine.

In John 14:5-6 Thomas the doubter is worried about finding his way after his friend and teacher leaves. Jesus’ response is, “I am the Way, I am the Truth and I am the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Truth is a noun. It is not a word to describe a noun. This is big! Truth is the main idea, not a colorful way to enhance the main idea! Jesus is the Truth, God is the Truth. It is a normal phenomenon that history gets rewritten and revised to tailor fit man’s perspective. Some of it is acceptable human error, but more of it is man’s deliberate effort to control and manipulate his own world. When this occurs……man just named himself god. That’s dangerous ground folks.

Many years ago my precious little sister withheld her applause and when my dad humorously retold the episode a flood of peace fell upon me. Somebody was brave enough to tell me I did terribly and I was strong enough to handle it. Truth is power. Find it, remain in it and rest in it.

Love,
Gretchen

You will see it with your own eyes and say, “Great is the LORD-Even beyond the borders of Israel!” Malachi 1:5

The Jewish people were in the midst of economic hardship, constant physical threat and opposition. They felt God had forgotten them although He promised restoration.

Malachi’s message? GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES FAR BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Our faith and our hope rests in God alone. His love is constant and continuing and is not dependent on our actions but His will. His will is His faithfulness to us. Our only appropriate response is absolute faith in Him.

Gretchen

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Very popular words from Philippians. Here’s the prequel……”I am not saying this because I am in need,  for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Verses 11 and 12.

So what can Paul, the author, do? Yes, all things…… the most essential things ……..contentment in all circumstances…….faithfulness in need and discomfort, grace in plenty,…….

What can we do through Him who gives strength? Persevere and become what Christ died for us to be: redeemed, missional, compassionate……..

Pulled out context this phrase seems to be an endorsement for pressing confidently toward human ambition. It is not. It is Paul’s humble affirmation that Jesus as friend, redeemer and hope is a reliable constant and that is enough. I’m with Paul, He is enough.

Love,

Gretchen

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15

Maturity is a choice. Growing older is not. You don’t necessarily get one with the other.

Chronological aging is just going along for the ride. We had no say in when and where we entered the world and we really have no say in when and where we leave, but in the mean time the choice is all ours. That brings us to the mental and emotional level we chose to dwell in.

Maturity is facing the truth and owning what is ours…….mistakes and failures, successes and blessings; to recognize other’s contributions to the above mentioned, show gratitude where it is due and grace and mercy in exchange for bitterness and defeat.

Believers become the body of Christ and He wants to perfect us so that we may grow and do His work on earth. The path for this progress is truth. In accepting Jesus as the only truth we submit our tainted perspectives, petty folly and selfish ambitions to His perfect knowledge, patient love and final victory. Suddenly we are grown-up Christians and it’s a very nice thing to be.

Gretchen

P.S. I don’t think my spirit face has any wrinkles!!! Or maybe in loving truth I need to be okay if it does.

Have a great day!

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I Corinthians 13:1

Sorry if I offend any percussionist, but there is no worse music on earth than an extended accapella snare drum solo or a gong sonata, or maybe a cymbal minuet! It’s just a bunch of noise that brings about one thought, “How soon will this end?”

Talk takes no effort, costs nothing and often brings the same response as the music I just spoke of, “When will it end?” Lip service is worthless if you do not bring your manpower to back it up. Love is the manpower that this world means.

Words just stir air molecules, love in action changes things.
Gretchen