Month: April 2017

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1:3

Faith leads to salvation, salvation leads to the very nature of God, Holiness. The opposite of sinfulness is Holiness. God will not dwell in the midst of sin, instead, He forgives, cleanses and forgets our transgressions.

We have been given everything we need to become like Christ and conquer the trials of this world through goodness, wisdom, kindness and love.

Have a great day!

Gretchen

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest.” Matthew 11:28

The world is looking for game changers. There is a perpetual search for over the top fund raisers, eloquent motivators, energizing cheerleaders and leather kneed prayer warriors. More and more people use the word “overwhelmed’ with good reason. Entitlement combined with an implied expectation for being everything to everyone and shaming when failure is the only result, quickly brings well meaning people to the edge. Bringing the ‘A’ game 24/7, 365 is NOT an option, it’s survival!

Life is exhausting! And then there is this invitation, “Come to me……….” No strings attached, no give and take, just giving on the part of a Savior who left Heaven to secure peace and rest for you. Just say, “Yes!” Jesus is the game changer. Rest in Him. If He isn’t asking it of you, then maybe it doesn’t need do be done.

Love,

Gretchen

Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:10

Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. (Read Acts chapter 3) This act drew a crowd and so the two apostles began to testify to what they knew first hand and preach the Gospel of Good News. The Jewish political machine went into action partnered with the Roman authority in residence. Peter and John were arrested, but still, many heard the message, believed, and their number grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

The next day the High Priest (Jewish authority) wanted to know what right Peter and John had to heal this man. Yes, you read that right! They wanted Peter and John to give account of the authority they had for this kindness, this life changing miracle, this act that improved someone’s quality of life! These Spirit Filled ministers of the Gospel, for the first time in Christian history declared that the machinations and manipulations of men are powerless against a resurrected Savior.

Happy Tuesday,

Gretchen

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

It has been a week since Jesus rose from the dead. He has appeared to many of His disciples, yet Thomas the doubter has not witnessed Him. In response to the other disciple’s testimony Thomas said, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25b Jesus’ response was to enter a locked room, stand among these men and state, “Peace be with you!” then invite Thomas to do what Thomas said it would take to affirm his faith.

Jesus, our loving Savior took Thomas’ question of faith and applied it very personally to you and I because we are those that ‘have not seen and yet believed.’

There is great assurance in a Savior that understands the need for evidence and provides it lavishly. If I ever choose to live vicariously, I think I’ll live through the fingers and eyes of Thomas, the one that got to touch the wounds that were suffered for me.

Have a great Monday!

Gretchen

Sunday Came!

There were a few givens in the home that raised me. If I was not blue or bleeding, then I wasn’t dying and I was taken to church. I won’t pretend I always paid close attention to the lessons being taught, but by the time I was six or so, I knew a few good truths. First: With the order of creation and the knowledge that God created all things I learned, God had finished the work He had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Genesis 2:2 Second: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it Holy. Exodus 20:8

At the tender age between five and seven I was generally accepting of all things but English peas, but by the time I was eight it occurred to me that Sunday was the first day of the week, not the seventh. When and why did the day of worship get flipped? I didn’t want to ruin my Saturdays at the skating rink and my favorite shows were on too, Lawrence Welk and Hee Haw. I didn’t say anything, but my inquiring mind really wanted to know.

Years later I found my answer and so, on this most Holy of Days, I thought I would share my discovery…….just in case I wasn’t the only one that didn’t know.

The Jewish Sabbath begins just before sunset on Friday evening and continues until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night. Jesus and His disciples were devout Jews and practiced all laws including Temple worship through offerings, sacrifice, teaching, scripture reading, songs and prayers.

Even before the crucifixion the disciples had come into conflict with the Jewish leaders. However, they continued to attend synagogue and minister on a very personal level to the broken and lost people of Israel outside the wall of the temple.

Jesus died on Friday. His friends requested His body so they could properly bury Him without compromising their commitment to the Sabbath. And so the LORD was placed in a tomb before sunset on Friday, Saturday sabbath was observed, AND THEN CAME SUNDAY!

At first light Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. The rest is history!!

Some forty days later came the day of Pentecost, the birth of the Christian church. There was no longer any opportunity for Christian Jews and orthodox Jews to peacefully share a worship space. Also, many gentiles, who had no idea of Jewish law or tradition, were being converted. It became a regular habit to celebrate Resurrection Sunday and so that is why Christians meet to worship corporately on the first day of the week rather than the seventh.

Where do we stand on keeping a sabbath Holy? It isn’t really about when, it’s about setting aside time to exclusively, with intentional single mindedness, worship the One True God! In this you will find both rest and Holiness.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Gretchen

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:66

Jesus died. A rich Jewish disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, worked up enough courage to go and ask Pilot for Jesus’ body so that it did not have to remain publicly displayed through the Jewish Sabbath. He, along with Nicodemus, respectfully washed and wrapped their friend’s body and placed it in Joseph’s own newly dug tomb.

The next morning some of the Pharisees and Chief Priests remembered the prophecy of resurrection and grew concerned that someone might take Jesus from His burial site and claim He rose again. To assure the highest level of ‘integrity’ Pilate agreed to seal the entrance and post a guard.

Man tries to control and manipulate the physical world, thus reaching into things spiritual. But these efforts are in vain. Man’s mortar or military CANNOT measure against the power and will of God. The sealed tomb wasn’t about the portal between life and death, in this instance a huge bolder, two guards and some quickcrete. It’s about control: God or man?  The end of the story speaks for itself.

He is Risen!

Gretchen

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” John 15:18

Hatred is sin and sin is awful. It is the enemy of all that is good. It is personal, attacking the most intimate places in our lives. It is both very public and very private. Sin takes no prisoners. It leaves a path of destruction, a wasteland of despair.

Whether it is our free choice to sin, or another’s behavior, the consequences are the most painful experiences man will ever know. It’s difficult to write the words rape, murder, assault, theft, lies and gossip, the blueprint for death and trauma in every secret corner or our being leaving victims publicly shamed and vulnerable.

These are the things Jesus carried to Calvary. It wasn’t wood and steel that bound our Savior to that cross, it was the things listed above and then some. His antidote was love.

When sin hurts, remember, it isn’t a sin against you, it is a sin against God. Give it to Him. His love, wisdom and justice can and will deal with it appropriately, leaving us to live in peace with ourselves and each other.

Have a MOST Blessed Good Friday,

Gretchen

Simon Peter asked him, “LORD, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” John 13:36

There it is. The promise of eternal life, ‘but you will follow later.’

Jesus has moved out of the public eye, celebrated the Passover meal with his closest friends, modeled humble servitude and is now preparing them for the next several hours, the darkest moments earth has ever known.

Soon the Old Testament prophecies these men have been taught since childhood will be fulfilled. The mysteries of the universe are scattered like puzzle pieces, but it’s all about to come together. Except there’s one problem. These twelve men cannot see the whole picture. There is no photo on the box to guide them. Jesus understands their confusion and worry. Only faith will see them through. They will be heart broken, frightened, weak in body and spirit, doubtful and alone. Jesus wants to leave them strong so He gives them faith, hope and love.

History has shown that it was all they needed. For the believer, satan was rendered powerless, the church was born and flourished.

The world has changed a great deal, but for the faithful this one thing has not: WE WILL FOLLOW LATER.

Have a great day!

Gretchen

“Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from Heaven “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  John 12:28

If we had been in Jerusalem 2000 years ago and witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, or at least heard about if through the local news line, we too would have been part of the crowd that heard this conversation between God the Father, and God the Son.

These are the last earthly moments Jesus shared with the general public. He would soon cloister Himself with His closets friends and then only His disciples, but in these final words Jesus faced His physical death, the mystery we must all experience. In His troubled heart Jesus finds God’s assurance.

A glorified name, past, present, and forever more is the hope of the world. Jesus submits to God’s will and asks only for a glory that will assure Grace and Mercy for all humankind. God responds, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere!

If it was good enough for Jesus, it is beyond good enough for me!

Love,

Gretchen

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “UP! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.” Exodus 12:31

Pharaoh has just learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a God and it’s NOT him! The cries of the Hebrew children have been heard, the promises of God are becoming a reality in the biggest way ever……..and Jesus was there. As part of the Triune God, Jesus was there as the slaves of Egypt woke up to freedom and began their journey home as the people of God.

Fast forward thousands of years, Jesus, fully human, comes to Jerusalem to commemorate this most blessed event, Passover, with His family and friends. He is keenly aware that His triumphant entry into the city is the beginning of the end and it is going to get horrific!

But…. He was there when the universe was designed to perfection. He was there in the garden when it seemed sin had won the day. He was there when grace was put into action. This action required a lamb and Jesus was willing, by choice, to leave the glory of Heaven.

We see a journey to the cross but Jesus was on His way home. Satan will never be able to alter, amend or compromise what Jesus accomplished the moment His physical heart quit beating, because at that moment Heaven had the last word, “FREEDOM!”

Blessings,

Gretchen