Month: November 2025

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Paul’s life mission was to teach Gentiles that they can become Christian without becoming Jewish Proselytes, angering those who held tightly to prejudice against all who were not circumcised. The early Christian church was on the brink of dividing when the Body of Christ can only be ONE!: One heart, one mind, one purpose, one love!

Paul believed and preached that God is able to bring harmony to all social and family life no matter the diversity. The Church was going to be built by unworthy sinful men/women transformed by the saving work of Jesus through His sacrificial death and Glorious resurrection. One Nation, Israel, had become all Nations though Grace, the gift of Salvation none of us deserve, and Mercy, the withholding of punishment, death, we should receive.

God is so Good, not just in Who He is and what He does,  but also, for sending those who clearly give us the means to know and understand His Hope through the Gospel.

Love,

Gretchen

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

These were Paul’s final words, his final goodbye to the converts in Ephesus.

Children fascinate me and sometimes they get a bad wrap concerning their ability to share. Yes they go through developmental stages that challenge even the most creative parents, but as a whole they smile and expect others to smile back. They are givers. I have never witnessed a small child hoarding anything. They take what they need and leave the rest, or they take what they need and attempt to engage others in their activity.

Paul is one of the most independent characters of the New Testament Church. He bows to no earthly person or ideal. He’s fiercely protective of clear and true theology and aggressive in correcting those who misinterpret his words or actions.

By this description, Paul is not a guy I would want to meet in a back alley on a dark night. Except the reality was, he was a sinner, saved by grace, humbled by his lack of worth except through the blood of Jesus Christ. He was bold, not entitled, he was hard working, not selfish and the earthly things he accumulated were for one purpose only, to spread the Gospel and help those that had no voice. He had a childlike faith that we are also called to embrace. The blessing is in giving, not getting and keeping.

Have a most blessed day,

Gretchen

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Up until the death and resurrection of Jesus, faith had been built upon tradition and practice of things passed down from generation to generation. Yes there was written word, The Law and places of worship, but these are the things of religion, not necessarily faith. This book was written to encourage and strengthen the Jewish Christians for a world that would be hard, cold, frightening and confusing. They thought Jerusalem was about to become the capital of the universe. Instead it would be wiped off the map. 

Human nature is to seek tangible, solid, physical evidence. This is how we move from place to place, seek and find earthly justice, and stay alive. It is the substance of the visible world and validates the need for logical and rational understandings. But faith extends beyond the physical. 

Assurance in the things we do not see, feel, or hear, is a simple willingness to trust, rely and cling to all things Godly and good. Faith does not contradict reason, it goes beyond it. Without faith we cannot please God and we have no hope. Faith is the only means to survive the tomorrows we can’t see. It isn’t optimism, it’s the right choice.

Love, 

Gretchen 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

I love words and find it amusing when two words are combined to emphasize an existing known. One of my favorites is ‘Hangry.’ Hangry is the state of subconscious anger due to famishment. It is not a pretty thing to witness.

The human body has a hair trigger alarm system to keep itself functioning efficiently. Hunger and thirst are part of this survival plan and when deprived of sustenance things begin to collapse quickly.

Jesus is making a parallel between a hunger and thirst that keeps our physical bodies alive to show us that a righteous heart will have a like longing, a survival reflex for the things of God.

Desires and appetites are a given but the righteous will seek what is good and just. It also goes in reverse. The more we become focused on Godliness the more our instincts turn toward correct and healthy choices for the things we take into our hearts and minds. The most beautiful part is the promise. God will NOT withhold Himself. He will feed your heart and your mind with a most glorious feast.

Love,
Gretchen