Month: September 2025

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

The book of James is like a hot stove in my secret places only God and I know about. When I touch it I get burned. But as a maturing, spiritual adult, I know fire is a purifying agent as well, and so, I return to that which I know I need from the brother of Jesus who didn’t believe until after the resurrection.

James remained in Jerusalem during Rome’s occupation that resulted in great hardship and persecution for the early believers both Jew and Gentile. He found the secret to spiritual strength. It is a faith proven in calm joy, because there will be a day when God will wipe away all tears. 

Patience works perfection and wisdom is our source of sound judgment in the practical, feet on the ground everyday life. Prayer is the means by which we access all of the above. Unwavering faith isn’t our default setting, but it can become our mind’s algorithm when we make it our choice to believe in the impossible and expect a miracle.

Love, 

Gretchen

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

In chapters 15, 16 and 17 Jesus knows His time in human flesh is coming to an end. It will be brutal and incredibly frightening to His followers. He uses these final moments to prepare His friends with courage and peace. His words include instruction to love one another, keep Christ’s commandments, abide in Him always, produce the fruit of His Spirit and expect some pruning and persecution. 

Up until this time the disciples have not seen Jesus through the lens of Heaven’s mediator. There has been little reason to ask Jesus for anything. He has seen their need and provided, but His presence is going to change forms and He wants them, and us, to understand it is a greater gift, not a lesser one. 

Jesus was going into the depths of man’s greatest sorrow knowing a present grief and fear would soon turn to joy. The joy of the resurrection would conquer the grief of the crucifixion. However, spiritual survival would have great challenges. Jesus has fulfilled many Jewish traditions that will no longer be relevant, i.e. animal sacrifice and ceremonial washing. The saved have direct access to God’s Holiness, Goodness and Grace. Coming directly to Him daily with nothing by praise and petition will be new and confusing, but it is God’s plan, it’s how He wants us to communicate and be communicated with. This is the way of a living, working, loving, saving God.

Come Boldly to the Throne! 

Gretchen

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5 NIV

It is never appropriate to pull one verse away from its context and give it independent meaning. This verse is an extreme example. Read John 3:1-21 and experience the story of Nicodemus, a pharisee, a prominent powerful Jewish leader, coming to Jesus in the dark of night seeking answers.

Jesus did not scold Nicodemus like a naughty child for lurking about in secret but neither did He laud him for his status. He simply explained God’s love, God’s plan and God’s redeeming hope. The beautiful words of John 3:16 were first uttered to this struggling seeker.

Jesus gave Nicodemus what He gives us all, the offer of salvation from a world that will kill us and redemption from the hater that thinks he owns us. The choice is ours, no one else’s. Just remember, you are worth the great price that was paid for you and instead of bondage you receive perfect, unfathomable freedom!

In His Great Love,

Gretchen

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 NIV

Meek is an adjective that has been totally flipped by the English language. It is a positive descriptive word but a self absorbed world that demands its own way has devalued meekness to the point that it brings shame. By human standards meekness denotes someone who is easily maneuvered against their will while never daring to protest, an easy target that no one ever dreams of becoming. Yet, Jesus states in His Sermon on the Mount, meekness as a very desirable characteristic in achieving favor on earth.

What’s the real deal with meekness then? Meekness begets kindness, practices forbearance, depends on faithfulness, exercises gentleness and self-control and reaps love and joy. Isn’t ‘Meek’ a beautiful ideal?

Meekness is not weakness, it’s strength under perfect control.

Blessings,

Gretchen

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

God is excellent and worthy of praise. This psalm celebrates God’s power using the symbolism of Jerusalem’s imposing fortress-like structure as an impregnable presence and protection in tandem with a future eternal kingdom. All the writer says about the present Jerusalem will be steadfast and true (multiplied by infinity) of our eternal place with God. 

The point isn’t just to understand and celebrate God’s greatness in the immediate testimony of those who witnessed this greatness, but to keep it close to our hearts so that we may teach the next generation and they may teach the one after about God’s perfect faithfulness. 

Although God’s perfect love, power and wisdom are manifested on earth through His deeds, God’s works and protections for His chosen people should inspire awe and security in the hearts of Christians today and give the courage and strength to spread the Gospel. 

Love,

Gretchen

In all Your ways submit to Him, and he will make you paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 NIV

When I am traveling and I ask my GPS to search for the nearest Walmart, it gives me directions that include time and distance through city streets and traffic but it also offers an ‘As the crow flies’ mileage. I find myself envious of the crow. Oh to have a straight passage, uninterrupted with mundane clutter and disturbances, straight to the place that holds all things I need materially.

God in His great love offers us this “As the crow flies” way of life. He has already planned the route, He keeps it clear of what will hinder, tempt, distract or discourage us from the joy of our journey with Him and those He has given us along the way. His path is straight, safe, nurturing and nourishing, but the best part is that every step leads straight to the Throne of God.

Happy Trails,

Gretchen

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!Psalm 31:24

This Psalm of David became a well known song sung in the Temple. Proof of this is its familiarity revealed through other scripture writers. It is quoted in Psalm 71, and Jonah, Jeremiah and Paul all three reference and quote sections of it. However, most significant is that Jesus quoted verse 5, “Into your hands I commit My spirit;” as His final word from the cross and this is repeated by Stephen as he was being stoned for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, Savior and Messiah. 

This hymn is both prayer and praise with grief and woe intermingled with gratitude in the midst of trouble. There is a common saying today, “It’s okay to not be okay.” I believe David knew this and so it was natural for him to humbly lay his heart and mind at the feet of Creator God, the Only Hope. He says, “Be strong, take courage,” but it is because he knows his true strength is in the power of a Sovereign, loving God who already knows victory in every battle he must engage in. And so it is with us too. Take heart! Wait, the Lord is working miracles. 

Love, 

Gretchen

Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.   1 John 4:8

In the spirit of less is more, there are simply no words to enhance the relevance of this truth. Have a wonderful day and know, you are loved, you are cherished and you have great value because God gave His Son so that sin (yours or anyone else’s) cannot hold you captive. And remember, love forward!

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. II Corinthians 4:16 

By the time Paul wrote his third letter to the church of Corinth enough time had passed for exploitation of the Gospel to begin. There were arguments that Paul, who took on poverty rather than profit, was not worthy to preach to the wealthy and successful of this prosperous metropolis. He chose humility, manual labor, and occasional homelessness over false charisma. 

The life and message of Jesus represents an upside down Kingdom that contrasts fully with the values of this world. To be ashamed of Paul was to scorn the life of the Servant Savior, Jesus, who’s character was made known by His suffering on the cross.

Paul’s message isn’t popular among the crowds who demand title over qualification. Living like Jesus is incredibly hard! Read all of chapter 4 for a few details, but amidst all the trials and troubles, the power of the resurrected Christ is constant and faithful. 

Growing older is not an option. The toll time takes on our bodies is indisputable, especially for those who have not lived in luxury. But! We do not give up! With age comes wisdom, greater faith and stronger testimony. Someone out there needs to know you made it and have blazed a trail for them to follow. 

Testify Louder for Those in the Back!

Gretchen

Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  Lamentations 3:22 NIV

Here is a verse packed with powerful words:

Not, meaning prohibition
Consumed, to destroy or expend by use; completely use up.
Compassions, a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another, a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Never, at no time.
Fail, fall short of success.

I don’t need to commentate on these powerful words, but I encourage you to put these absolutes into your heart and live them as your reality.

Here is a restatement of Lamentations 3:22 with dictionary.com and Gretchen partnering to remind you of how much love and assurance you have.

Because of the LORD’s great love, He will prohibit us from being destroyed or completely used up, for He has a strong desire to alleviate our suffering, He sympathizes with our sorrows and at no time will He fall short of success in this endeavor!