Month: April 2021

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement’), sold a field  he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Act 4:36-37

The apostles called him, “Encourager.”  An early convert to Christianity, Barnabas was a compassionate man and quickly saw that Paul’s conversion was sincere and not a farce to catch and persecute believers. He accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, sponsored by the church at Antioch. 

There is a difference in living communally with common property, and living in the bounty of a Heavenly Father with full knowledge that all we have is His. Jews, who believed Jesus was the Messiah, lost everything. Patrons refused to do business with them, families turned them out and many were persecuted, leaving widows and children destitute. Part of the mission of the early church was to give relief to these people. The church is the Body of Christ, His hands, His feet, His HEART! Barnabas breathed this mentality.

God doesn’t ask us to give more than we have, but all we have must be His. He, as the One that created and provided all, is a far better steward of our blessings than we can ever be. Just follow and give freely, there’s plenty more where that came from!

Love,

Gretchen

As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. I Samuel 24:13

Saul became Israel’s first king, ending the era of Judges. He was a donkey farmer when Samuel, the last judge, anointed him. Although he was ‘the most handsome man in Israel, and very tall, his countrymen did not accept him as a legitimate leader. He was insecure, an issue that remained a problem throughout his life and interfered with his obedience to God’s commands. 

Following Saul’s early victories as a warrior king, he gave God glory, but failure came with bitterness, impatience and rebellion, followed by depression and fear. Servants, desperate to help, brought a shepherd boy to sooth the king with his music. Saul and his court had no idea that Samuel had already anointed David as Saul’s replacement. But, when David killed the giant, Israel had a new hero and from that day forward, Saul despised him and eventually, sought opportunity to kill him.

In the setting of the above verse David and his army are hiding, somewhat exiled, in the Desert of En Gedi, living in crags and caves.  Saul’s army comes looking and Saul steps into a cave for privacy to relieve himself, not knowing David and his soldiers are near enough to kill him. 

David chooses to spare Saul’s life. By this act he submits to God’s authority to judge and act, and relinquishes his power, his rights, to God’s sovereignty. Evil does not fix evil.  

God’s plan is peace and love. We must set aside our perspective, agenda, opinion and man given rights, for the superiority of God’s omnipotent wisdom.  He is love, and we are in good hands. 

Love,

Gretchen

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

We are very quick to attribute all that’s wrong in the world to God’s great plan…..destiny, fate, simply God’s will……but God is the God of peace and order. He is Good, He is Kind and He is eternal. The geological earth does shake, hills do fade away, and sometimes it is your emotional world that has eroded. Still, God is NOT rattled!  He is not intimidated by the chaos in your life.  He alone can remove each tangled strand and reweave the threads into a strong and beautiful tapestry. He alone……

Jerusalem’s confidence that God would protect them at all costs, no matter what they did morally, was shattered when the temple was destroyed and many Jews were taken into exile. This state of affairs was the consequence of blatant disobedience, man demanding his will over God’s. Things were a mess, hopeless. And then God speaks through His prophet Isaiah sending a message of hope and promise, “I AM NOT SHAKEN, I AM COMPASSIONATE!”

God loves. It is what He does.  He takes no joy in the pain that sin causes, but when man demands his freewill, God allows him his own way, thus, bringing down calamity on himself. The antidote for this is an unfailing love and compassion that shines great light on the road to peace.

You have a choice: Quake in the aftermath of sin or stand firm with an immovable power.

Have a Beautiful Weekend,

Gretchen

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. Joel 3:2    

Very little is known about the prophet Joel, except He is quoted in Acts 2:17-21, and hints of the Gospel period and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Joel tells of a great swarm of locust and an extended drought that left Judah devastated. The people cried out to God and He came to their rescue bringing prosperity. Finally, Joel proclaims that everyone, someday, will be judged. 

God will hold each and every person accountable for their actions, morals and sentiments.  Those who have oppressed God’s people will be punished. Those who have abused God Himself will be condemned and those who have walked in faith and love will receive what they have endured and persevered to attain, eternal Glory.  No one will be exempt. God will not be fooled by man’s opinions, manipulations or ministrations.  God is God and we are not.  He has everything under control.

Love,

Gretchen                                              

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation. Psalm 95:1

The Psalms were written for worship, the act of exclaiming God as the One True God, maker of Heaven and earth. Our adoration begins by proclaiming what we have experienced as fact, and continues in our hope to the future. Worship is not about man and his emotion, it is an action, something that we do.

God has created the earth as the pasture for us, His sheep.  All that we need is provided by His loving hand. He does not have to do anything for us. He is God and we are His rebellious flock. Still, the persistence of the Shepherd’s voice draws us to safety, security and eternal life. 

Like this Psalmist, those who have gone before us blazed a trail we can follow. The Solid Rock of Salvation is the only place to set your feet.  All other ground is sinking sand. 

Singing from the Highest, Hardest Rock!

Gretchen

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Hebrew 10:18

It is taught, beginning at a very early age, hard work will get you where you want to go. There is logic in an exchange.  I do, therefore I get. In Old Testament Judaic life, there was an exchange in the covenant relationship between God and His people. They obey, He provides. When man broke the law of God, a sacrifice was made for atonement and man was again, right with God. Another exchange.

God’s will is grace and mercy, the foundation of perfect love. There is no exchange. God gives, and gives, and gives, the end.

This doesn’t make sense and contradicted traditional Judaic family and community practice. If you wanted to be Holy, then you must follow strict rules. Man’s obedience was tangible, and definitive. The early Jewish Christians struggled to turn loose of their material means of coming to God. It didn’t please God at all. He wants our faith in the blood of His Son, the final sacrifice. 

It is easy to put hope in determination and hard work and it is difficult to rest in faith. The tangible verses the spiritual. BUT! God’s grace is sufficient, no need to sacrifice anything other than your free will.

Happy Wednesday,

Gretchen   

As a shepherd leads His sheep, calling each by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or strayed, so God does with stars and planets. Isaiah 40:26 

God’s power is endless. He has created and named everything in the universe, even those things in deep space where man has never seen light and can only imagine. God is there in a very personal way.

Stars and planets are inanimate, yet scientific evidence proves they sing and work in harmony, for our good, because God is Good. The Heavens display His wonders. 

And then……. He knows my name too!  This loving Shepherd calls my name. Not to summons me to duty, nor to rebuke or condemn, but to invite me into His presence, His security, His love and shelter. He knows your name, your pet name, the one that describes your very best qualities, and He is calling. No need to answer. Just turn your face to the Son and go. 

Love,

Gretchen

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

The first readers of Hebrews were Christian Jews, those who accepted Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. They had a working knowledge of the Old Testament, something gentiles would not have had. They understood the reference to cleansing both spiritually and physically. The author of this early church letter instructed these people not to return to laws and rules, but to remain faithful to Jesus’ resurrection and salvation.

Formerly, the way to God was through priestly intercession and sacrifice in the temple, with much pomp, circumstance and ceremonial washing. And then Jesus, the final Lamb, came. His blood is sufficient to cover all our sins and give man open access to God. 

Today we practice sacraments and various acts of worship. They bring us comfort and ready our hearts for a closer, more intimate relationship with our Creator/Savior.  They do not save us, but  help us keep God first. Draw near to God with confidence. Jesus’ blood has cleansed us and we are worthy to stand before the Throne.

Love,

Gretchen

Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him. Psalm 98:1

Two things about this Psalm: I do not like change and most of what I learned as a child I learned from songs. 

If I can quote scripture from memory, it’s because I learned it with a tune. I love those old songs and think everyone else should too. When some young whipper-snapper comes along and messes with the cadence of my familiar syllables I don’t like it!!! UNTIL……..I take a short walk through the youth department, or drive a bus full of students on a trip, or over hear some children singing on the playground and their voices are bellowing out praise! It is their song, in their moment, and it is embedding the character and word of God on their hearts. These new songs are the most beautiful sounds on earth! And I should at least hum along.

We are diverse.  God saved me from my sins and He saved you from yours, but our journeys were different. So also will be our gratitude, testimony and praise.You sing your song, I’ll sing mine and together we’ll make a symphony of praise!

Love, 

Gretchen

How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. For with you is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Psalm 36:7 and 9

God is in complete contrast to fallen man. Man’s first instinct to hate, God’s is to love. Man keeps tallies of wrongs, God extends mercy.  Man holds hurt in his heart, God choses to forget. Man seeks self preservation to extend his own life, God’s Son died to give us eternal life.  Man is fallible, sometimes unreliable, God is perfect and faithful.  

I have one flashlight within reaching distance of my bed, not a nightstand full.  I carry only one small LED light in my purse.  A single light gives enough illumination to find my way to greater light. 

In a world of “Go Big or Go Home,” the power of ‘a little’ is underestimated.  A little light, a little faith, a little love, will make a tremendous difference when added to the vast supply God, through His Son Jesus, already provides. We can be reconciled to God’s likeness through the light of a Savior that took the power of darkness away from the king of death. 

Happy Weekend’s Eve,

Gretchen