Month: March 2020

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 all right.

Love,

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 was stronger. By pushing against each other, one player becomes defenseless when their wrists flex and they are forced to kneel.  The game was to end when the weaker person called out, “Mercy.”  The winner had the choice to turn loose or continue pushing the helpless loser down as they were at the ‘mercy’ of the winner.

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 as a testimony to those we face each day.  This is the supreme model of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Gretchen

That is why I am suffering as I am.  Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have trusted to Him for that day. II Timothy 1:12

Alone in prison except for Luke, Paul writes this last letter to Timothy.  Death is imminent and soon, yet he is encouraging those he loves to carry on the mission they began. Paul has no regrets, fully understanding the cost of following Christ is life given in sacrifice. 

Paul as a child of God, a sinner saved by grace, has unlimited trust in his Father. These words are beautiful, spoken alone in two sentences, yet their poignancy takes on a powerful dimension when understood in their entire context.

In Paul’s final words of encouragement, he relates his unconditional thankfulness and confidence in the God that designed Grace before time began and provided it for him and all mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Our everything, just as Paul’s, is in Christ alone.

Happy Wednesday,

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 walking around carrying a mat he’d lain on for 38 years and mad at the Man who cured him. How selfish!!

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.

Love,

Gretchen

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

The beginning of any learning process is to first recognize you don’t know everything…….or anything.

Years ago the faculty where I teach school was asked to come together and compose a mission statement with this questions in mind.  Why do we do what we do and what do we want to accomplish?  Part of the answer was, “Create life long learners.”  This was my favorite part. A love of learning, finding wonder and enjoying the journey to an answer defines quality of life.

Fear is the understanding that you are not in charge. Therefore, to fear the LORD is to know that He is.

Fools believe themselves to be the supreme enlightened super species and will go to great extent to control every detail of your life and theirs.  A fool does not want you submitting to your loving, all knowing and all powerful Creator. 

Fear is a very healthy thing.  Foolishness never ends well.  We don’t know everything, but we certainly know the One that does!

Happy Weekend!

Gretchen

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 our 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 earnestness, 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 heart wrenching grief or dangerous 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 after glow 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 their’s is the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 5:10)

Love to each of You!

Gretchen

For God did not give us 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. He could have chosen a great, long and prosperous existence, 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.  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 endanger of extinction except that they die a natural death from lack of use. These things multiply exponentially when shared so, “Throw it like confetti!”

Love,

Gretchen

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

This verse, misquoted often, is NOT the Biblical version of “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be.”  It is certainly NOT a loophole for excusing unacceptable behavior and justifying the residual consequences.  (Everything happens for a reason is not supported by scripture.)

Paul has connected the whole picture, from Adam to Jesus, to God’s salvation plan. He has experienced the great and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.  We all have our own story that is becoming part of an even greater story woven into the history of mankind.  Our free will determines much of our destiny, but know with all certainty; there is never going to be a point in which God writes us out of His great purpose.

Put your life in God’s more than capable hands, accept His mercy and grace, be restored to His likeness.  We were made to worship and love.  That is our purpose, in which all things work for good.

Have a Great Weekend,

Gretchen