Month: September 2018

When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 15:19 (Chapter 15)

God has proven faithful.  All that He has said, He has done in a big way!  It is occasion for praise, which is given in song by both Moses, the leader and Mariam, his sister. The Hebrew slaves are now the nation of Israel, trekking toward their Promised Land.  God set the precedent: They will be His people and He will be their God.

Moses continues with praise for the assurance of future success. He knows beyond doubt that God will continue to provide and guide. Alone in this faith, it is up to him to keep the thousands dependent on him, focused and encouraged through times of trial, confusion and threat.

Struggle and fear quickly drive this newly freed nation to fall into mutiny against their leader and His God. This journey is not just across a dessert, but the reshaping into a people who rely on God for absolutely everything!

When the pressures of this life threaten your faith and resolve, do not assassinate the character of your Creator, Redeemer and Promise Keeper.  Remember the things He has done, and celebrate that which He has promised to do.

Love,

Gretchen

The early days of Keith and Gretchen’s thirty-three year marriage can best be described as dissonant and dysfunctional. Every adversity, no matter how big or small, brought finger pointing, division and pain. A common love did not arrest the urge to blame and annihilate one another’s dignity in order to avoid accountability and gain an upper hand. Instead of adopting a better behavior, we powered through until some years later we agreed to call it quits. BUT, in God’s great mercy and grace, we were given the chance to push the reset button on life, and we did.

Of course, our commitment as a new creation, was tested.  We took a business trip to Phoenix, AZ. Along with us were our girls and a friend of theirs.  As always, we let everyday life become an adventure, so, a late afternoon found us off the beaten path, winding through a narrow canyon that would eventually lead us to Interstate 40 and a smooth journey home.  Unbeknownst to me, Keith had been watching the oil pressure gage in our SUV, trying to discern the cause of an odd fluctuation. Was the gage itself malfunctioning, or were we facing catastrophic engine failure? Just before we exited onto the interstate Keith and I traded places so he could get some sleep. He asked me to keep watch on the instrument panel, reclined the passenger seat and fell into light rest. 

I was enjoying the peace of the moonlight when Keith sat straight up and screamed, “Get off the road, get off the road, turn it off, turn it off!” I didn’t react quick enough. There was a small explosion and smoke burst from under the hood. Our crippled vehicle rolled to a stop on the shoulder, boiling and spewing. The tools we carried with us, along with the generic parts ever present beside them, would be no help on this night.  Three pairs of terrified eyes looked through the dark seeking assurance. We did the only thing we could. Keith and I bowed our heads and led them in prayer.

The tow truck arrived with exactly enough seat belts to get us all to a hotel in Gallop, NM, 100 miles away. The next morning Keith was able to get a ride to a puddle jumping airport that happened to have one rental car available. We made our way to Albuquerque where we swapped to a more user friendly minivan for hire and finally arrived home to family and friends that helped us return the broken car back to our garage where my very own mechanic could work his magic. 

This event marked a huge turning point in the relationship between four people and a friend. The grownups in charge rose to their calling as people of faith. The children witnessed the God of their parents as worthy of trust and praise. There were no special discounts on this night of peril or the days that followed. But, the recovery company, the hotel clerk and the car rental, all supplied their services as advertised. God provided for everyone, those in need and those working to make a living.

Trials come, life is difficult, but there is the promise of help and hope. Paul’s final comments in his letter to the church at Philippi reminds them and us of help now and hope for ever after.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His Glory in Jesus Christ. Philippine 4:19 

Grace and Peace,

Gretchen

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU; YOU NEED ONLY BE STILL.” Exodus 14:13 (Chapters 13-14)

Pharaoh has allowed the Hebrew children to leave.  With them go the bones of Joseph, who made the Israelites swear on oath to return him to the land of his fathers. Suddenly, all of Egypt has to ‘brew their own coffee’ for the first time in generations, and Pharaoh wonders what he was thinking. He amasses his army to bring his slave force back.

On the journey home to Canaan, God made His presence known to the Hebrew children as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, yet they became terrified upon realizing they were followed. Feeling betrayed by Moses they cried out to the Lord. In response Moses delivers the Lord’s message, chapter 14:13. Also, read verse 20 and absorb that God gave light to His children and brought darkness to the threat. What a wonderful God He is. Before another day passed, Pharaoh would cease to threaten Israel again, and upon witnessing this mighty act of God on their behalf, all of Egypt feared the Lord and put their trust in Him.

God’s opposition exists in darkness, a state that makes victory impossible against those that walk with the guidance of Light. When it looks like your faith has become a mockery, hang in there. God is working to make you Holy, and that includes becoming fully reliant on and trusting in Him alone.

His Alone,

Gretchen

Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come. Exodus 12:42 (Chapter 12)

   

One of the most important nights in the history of mankind is happening. A nation is being born and The Lord is going to judge all of Egypt’s gods (vs. 12). EVERYONE will know that God alone is all powerful and has full authority over all creation when The blood of sacrifice on the doors of the Israelites protects them from death and brings them freedom. This is momentous! It must not be forgotten! So God declares that for generations to come, Israel will celebrate this event and remember.

God doesn’t need our worship, but He demands it.  Why? Is He petty? NO! It is for our spiritual well being. God, as our creator, knows that we must always be mindful that He alone saves and delivers us from bondage.

Passover is to be revered. Only Israelites, or foreigners that have been circumcised, may take part in this celebration centered around family.  It is NOT to be blended with other secular activities, it will remain Holy. 

I like a great holiday as much as the next person, but there are things about the One, True, Holy God that needs to be set apart from things of casual, secular life. It is for the health of our souls that we take designated, undistracted and uninterrupted time to worship and remember all that God is and has done. He is worthy of our praise.

Love,

Gretchen

Now, the LORD had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. Exodus 11:1 (Chapter 11)

The Egyptian citizenry was ready to conceded defeat and consider the Hebrew people as equal to themselves, thus having the right to worship and celebrate their remembrances where, when and to whom they wished.  Pharaoh has much more to lose, his free work force and unquestioned authority for instance. So, God brings this man, that mistakes himself for a god, to the most humble state of being…..the death……of his child….his heir…..and he nor his magicians could stop it. Every Egyptian, servant to king, even the cattle (who were worshiped as gods themselves) lost their eldest sons.

Death respects nothing and no one.  All other plagues might be accounted to some phenomenon of nature, but not this! The Hebrew children are waiting in peace as all Egypt mourned the most horrible tragedy imaginable, the eternal loss of their children.  Now Pharaoh will consent, and LET THEM GO!

It is hard to turn loose of our own authority, but God must be the only God.  He will not share His Throne with your ideals, entitlements, expectations, prejudices or demands.  God is good. Trust, obey, follow and let Him be the boss.

Love,

Gretchen

God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.” Exodus 6:2 (Chapters 5-10)

God said that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart.  This is not an attempt on God’s part to violate His own gift of free will. He was letting Moses know He was not going to interfere in the heart of carnal man.  Pharaoh was not going to give up his own autonomy or his free labor without a fight.  Pharaohs were considered gods/intermediaries themselves, so to be threatened by another ‘god’ was a fight he absolutely couldn’t lose if he was to remain a ruler.

The plagues were designed to give proof of the power of God over the gods of Egypt.  The Hebrews must know their God was the One True, All Powerful God and become a nation based on this faith alone.  For 400 years they had been aliens in this foreign land and they needed their faith focus reset. Over the next six months to a year, they renewed the knowledge of a God that protects, keeps His promises and delivers them from bondage.

The plagues were very methodical and purposeful. First, the Nile, the heart of Egyptian economy and worship, turned to blood. Fish died and frogs were driven from its waters into the homes of Egyptians. The Israelites were spared the discomfort. Gnats and flies were drawn to the carcasses of rotting fish and frogs, disease strikes cattle and humans are struck with skin infections. Hail and thunderstorms ruin the flax and barley crops, another economic disaster, but again, the Hebrews are spared. Following the storms, swarms of locust rob the land of everything left that is green, and again the Hebrew children’s crops were not touched. Lastly, the sun god Ru, was irrefutably conquered when ‘he’ was blotted out of the sky for three days.

God demonstrated His absolute authority and trustworthiness. When He was finished, there was no doubt who was God and who was not.

Have a great Wednesday,

Gretchen

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”  Exodus 4:13 (Chapter 4)

If you ever wonder how long suffering God is, read chapter four of Exodus. Moses, literate Hebrew, educated Egyptian, and practiced outdoorsman and survivor, tries to convince God He’s got the wrong guy!

God gave Moses three miracles to take when he goes back to Egypt, a staff that turns into a snake, a deceased hand that heals, and water that will turn into blood. Moses also has an older brother, Aaron, an eloquent speaker, God has already sent to join him, a father-in-law/priest that gave his blessing and a wife that interceded between him and an angry God. All this and more!  God’s very clear direction and promise of success has been stated! Still, Moses pushed God almost to the point of no return. 

Moses’ life story does not tell of a lazy, unmotivated or rebellious man. Fear and shame are what stand between him and God’s plan. Moses sees himself as neither Israelite or Egyptian, an outcast, shamed by the impulsive sins of his youth. But God is not intimidated by the past and promises to be part of the process at all times. Moses finally sets out on his way. Reluctant? Yes. Assured? He thinks so!

I’m just going to throw this out here, because I took a class about this once……or twice…..or more……at the School of Hard Knocks: God gives the plan and promises all the assets and resources needed to succeed. We answer affirmatively, but become discouraged and defeated when adversity strikes. Suddenly we think He left us alone while He stands in the distance watching to see if we were truly the right person for the call. 

You are not alone. The Biblical narrative is full of just such folks, but God NEVER left them and He won’t leave you either.  Failure is not on God’s blueprint for those that love and obey the Lord.

Love,

Gretchen

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 (Chapter 3:13-22)

Moses is in the presence of God, standing in the place He will return to and receive the Law that will define the Hebrew children as a Holy people. Moses understands who is before him, but how do you explain God to those who didn’t witness this miracle first hand? (There is struggle with this today.) 

We can see how uniquely God has prepared Moses. He went from slave to prince to outdoorsman. In each of these settings Moses was developing the character needed to become a great leader. He was first and foremost a Hebrew, compassionate toward his kinsmen, He became a literate Hebrew/Egyptian, something very rare, then he learned to survive in the wilderness. Yet, God didn’t tell Moses, “YOU ARE.” He said, “I AM.”  I Am the living God from whom all things derive.

God introduces Himself as ‘Jahweh’. This is the first time a personal name is given. Jahweh comes from a Hebrew verb ‘to be’ or ‘to exist.’ So God’s personal name, that which He chooses to be called, means ‘to be actively present.’ Let this soak in! It is also worth noting that although God gave Himself this name, the Hebrew people honored it as sacred. In respect they would not say it aloud, so they substituted the word, ‘LORD’. God’s name is Holy. Don’t use it as slang, but, don’t forget His chosen name is an active verb ‘Jahweh’ when substituting it with a proper noun ‘LORD’.

God outlines His plan of deliverance with the conclusion that when the slaves leave Egypt, they will not go in poverty. They will plunder the Egyptians and the Egyptians will gladly give them clothing, silver and gold, just to be rid of them. There is actually a little humor and irony here.  All the work the Hebrews did for free is now being compensated, gladly and ten fold!

It is so hard to face the unknown future so we cling to the tangible things of today, things that hobble and hurt. But God is already there and IT IS GOOD. Keep God at the center of every endeavor, not as an invited guest, but as CEO.

Love,

Gretchen

There was a time when I thought everyone and every home was like me and mine.  Weren’t mom and dad, warmth, food and bickering children standard equipment for all American middle class families? There was no need for tolerance, because I had no idea there was a difference. My education wasn’t neglected, it just hadn’t occurred yet. In my protected world there were brown beans every Wednesday (still one of my personal favorites), pot roast on Sunday, breakfast for supper occasionally and a jelly sandwich was dessert. Chores were evidence of a parent’s indifference to their child’s need for ‘me’ time, and sibling rivalry was to be worked out for the greater good. I just thought every one else’s home was the same! And then my youngest sister entered kindergarten and my mom morphed from domestic goddess to legal secretary.

Mother and I share much. We have the same face, love sewing, enjoy classical music, are equally diligent in our endeavors to rid the world of dust bunnies, AND we have a common, faulty filter between our brains and mouths and absolutely NO poker face! When my mother began working for a prominent, local lawyer, she became a daily witness to the underbelly of society. The burdens of victims didn’t stay at the office after 5:00 p.m. They came to our house. She did not carelessly disclose confidential information, but her children were not numb to the dynamics of distress she and my father quietly dealt with late at night when kids were supposed to be asleep. Sometimes I would hear mom and dad’s muffled voices, thick with tears, seeking ways to prevent and heal abuse and violence.

Over the next few years, phrases like, “We won’t judge.” were adamantly spoken around the dinner table. Once when I was snobbish about my clothing, because some one I deemed socially inferior had a similar outfit, I was told I’d be wearing my ensemble several days in a row if my attitude didn’t change. Respect for all men was the highest priority where our legs went under the dining table.

Happiness is not what drives man’s decision making. Pain does. The majority of life’s choices are motivated to free ourselves from present grief and hurt or to forget the agony we have emancipated ourselves from. The mind has more shadows than sunlight and sometimes, desperate choices make things darker or muddier, not clearer as hoped……so don’t judge! Love until the Son begins to shine and light their way.

With single minded determination, my parents invested their lifetimes in helping the broken find compassion and redemption at the Throne of God. Again I remind you, I am much like my mom: Most of what we think never pauses before it flows straight across our vocal chords. So I’m just going to give it to you straight. Your children will become just like you. They will love what you love, hate what you hate, bully who you bully and accept what you accept…….so live the life you want for them, and be the person you want them to be!

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:20,23,25 and 28.

Have a Wonderful Day of Rest and Peace,

Gretchen

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. Exodus 3:7 (Chapter 3:1-12)

Concern-to relate to, be of interest or importance to. To engage a person’s attention to the affects of someone’s welfare or happiness.

Moses resolved himself to the quiet, solitary life of a desert herdsman. Long gone were the days of palace privilege. His crime of murder humbled him, the years in the wilderness (the land he would someday guide a nation through) brought about a sturdy man with survival knowledge. Moses was very much a man blown about by the circumstances of life and the consequences of a reckless moment. We have the benefit of seeing the entire story in a matter of moments and know the miraculous ending, the result of God’s concern. Moses had an encounter with God and was asked to go….with only his faith and trust……having no knowledge of how it would play out….Wow!

The story of Moses’ journey from cradle to burning bush is packed full, and I will give attention to some very important theological concepts, but first and foremost is this word ‘concern.’  By way of interest, because you are important, God chooses to be intimately involved in your life. You can trust Him with all there is to know about your suffering. He is concerned, and that means help is on the way!

God expressed concern over the cries of the Hebrew children who had become oppressed and exploited. He does not life suffering!  He will bring it to an end and deliver you into peace and joy!!

Love,

Gretchen

Happy Birthday MOM!!