Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Psalm 103:2-3

King David is growing old and spends time reflecting rather than planning.  He sees a life covered in grace and mercy far beyond his (or any man’s) worth. In place of listing his personal achievements, David sees a God that has led, comforted, protected, sustained, forgiven, the list is as endless as the grace and mercy extended.  Read all of Psalm 103, it is one of the most comforting and assuring passages to be found.

dictionary.com defines ‘soul’ as the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action.

The all encompassing, defining character of man is the soul. Everything that IS David, praises the LORD. 

The most powerful man on earth, during his lifetime, found the same God that loves you and I.  David’s greatest peace grows out of the assurance that God is stable, never changing. What He does for one, He does for all. David accounted to God’s infallible justice and found love. All that David received and remembers across His lifetime is available to you and I also.

Love,

Gretchen

He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

The things of God are a sure thing.  This passage is a revelation to Isaiah revealing the universal loving kindness of God. Jerusalem is all that survives of Israel because God’s people persist through the ages to disregard God’s love and law. Still, He shows His goodness and character of grace.

An animal is most vulnerable when caring for its young. There is a great deal at stake when the wellbeing of offspring’s sustenance and survival is weighed.  So what does Isaiah hear from Heaven?  The eternal comfort that in man’s most compromised and challenging moments, God pours out His greatest love and compassion. 

In the deepest pit, in the farthest galaxy, in the darkest corner of your heart and mind, God is there. He leads, gathers and carries His precious creation. Where? CLOSE TO HIS….HIS! HEART! 

Love,

Gretchen

In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

When I was a little child I dreamed of the day I would no longer have to submit to the rules and requirements of dependance. Mom chose my clothes and diet, school dictated my thoughts and freedoms, and living in community and family demanded certain gives and takes, whether willing or hostile. I longed for my age of freedom. It never came. However, my focus of submission became razor sharp. 

This world is full of people and things that demand your submission. Guilt, shame and manipulation are their strongest tools. But, let’s be clear, clarity begins with a sighted lens on One, The One, and His yoke is much easier than the world’s. 

The word ‘submit’ is synonymous with ‘acknowledge’ and ‘honor.’ The greatest honor is to acknowledge and trust, in all your ways and in all you have. 

God is worthy and faithful. 

Gretchen

In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

When I was a little child I dreamed of the day I would no longer have to submit to the rules and requirements of dependance. Mom chose my clothes and diet, school dictated my thoughts and freedoms, and living in community and family demanded certain gives and takes, whether willing or hostile. I longed for my age of freedom. It never came. However, my focus of submission became razor sharp. 

This world is full of people and things that demand your submission. Guilt, shame and manipulation are their strongest tools. But, let’s be clear, clarity begins with a sighted lens on One, The One, and His yoke is much easier than the world’s. 

The word ‘submit’ is synonymous with ‘acknowledge’ and ‘honor.’ The greatest honor is to acknowledge and trust, in all your ways and in all you have. 

God is worthy and faithful. 

Love,

Gretchen

“Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” Nehemiah 9:5b

Nehemiah was a civil governor, sent with authority from the Persian King, to rebuild the Jerusalem wall, thus returning the City of David to the fortified city of refuge it had once been. 

Solomon’s temple had been restored, but otherwise, Jerusalem offered no place of hope or future. Threats from neighbors, real and imagined, hindered the Jews from rebuilding their home.  Then, Nehemiah came with power and resources from the Persian King and in 52 days had the job completed. How?  He prayed and petitioned God in all things. When the wall was finished he and Ezra, the priest, led the people in once again becoming the covenant people of the One True God, the Jewish Nation.  They organized worship, read daily from the Book of Law and gave simple applications for Holy living. Revival occurred, the people repented and turned to God.  

The above verse is the first line of the national confession. It continues through the chapter restating that God remained loving and faithful through the rebellion of His covenant people.  

God is faithful, from everlasting to everlasting. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild a wall, his real mission was to bring a dispersed and barely recognizable nation together and restore its identity in God alone. It wasn’t the wall that transformed these people of old, it was their return to worship and obedience within the wall that changed the course of their history. 

A solid wall won’t give you hope and a future, but faithful obedience will guarantee it!

Love,

Gretchen

So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:11

“They” are Simon Peter, and his business partners, brothers James and John the sons of Zebedee.

Luke 5, verses 1-11 tell of Jesus’ encounter along the Sea of Gennesaret (Galilee) with common fishermen who have seen the sun rise on an unsuccessful catch. In this story, Jesus gets personal.  He advises Peter in Peter’s own area of expertise, and succeeds against normal circumstances, bringing Peter to his knees in humble confession.

Jesus has begun His ministry of miraculous hope and healing. People gather wherever He goes.  On this morning He is beachside teaching about His Heavenly Father. While fishermen wash their nets, Jesus borrows Peter’s boat as a better platform. Following His lesson, Jesus tells Peter to let down his nets once again. It is not the time of day for prime fishing and these professionals have already seen a night of failure, but Peter obeys and brings in the best catch he’s ever seen. Rather than bask in the possible turn of fortune, Peter LEAVES EVERYTHING and follows Jesus.

Pursuing man in man’s everyday life, Jesus does not seek the perfect, but brings Holiness to the obedient. I wish I could tell you that the cost of following Jesus is so minimal that you hardly notice any difference in your life, but that is not so. On our journey to everlasting……we must carry nothing. For arms outstretched to a Savior must not be hindered by the burdens of this world.

Happy Thursday,

Gretchen

Worship the LORD in the splendor of His Holiness, tremble before Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

While Christians may debate the mechanisms of creation, there is no question of the  relationship between the Creator and the created. The universe inspires us to worship, to marvel at the extravagant care and beauty of God’s power and love made evident in His gift of life and all that sustains it.   

God can do anything He chooses. He chose to love and provide a way for us to find our way, safely and securely to His Throne, where we can live in eternal peace, on earth as it is in Heaven.

This is a beautiful psalm to the Sovereignty of God, read it in its entirety. Sing, sing and sing some more, in joyful thanksgiving.

Have a lovely day,

Gretchen

They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is LORD of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14

From ancient times Babylon became the universal byword for human pride and vain glory. Following Christ’s death, Rome was often referred to as Babylon, the city committed to decadent pleasure that involved martyring Christians for public entertainment and celebrating ultimate selfishness with total disregard for those it cost.

John’s vision personified the greed and luxury that lures people away from God in every age including ours. We are drawn to a life that sparkles and promises to fulfill dreams and desires, but instead, takes without return. 

The final chapter has already been written. Justice will be served on those who hurt and harm. Eternity is the absolute for those that persevere. The Lamb will overcome. Faithful believers have all the power of Heaven and earth to reap the victory that has already been won.

It is not God’s desire to deny anyone entrance into Heaven. The choices of man determine this, but there will come a time when all things are made righteous through our all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful Lord and Savior….. And it will be final. Don’t miss it for the world.

Love,

Gretchen

“Sovereign LORD, as You have promised, You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Luke 2:29-30 

Levitical Law required that the Baby Jesus be presented at the temple with a sacrifice of either a lamb, a pigeon or a pair of doves, thirty three days after His birth. Mary and Joseph offered the least of these three options, therefore revealing that they were humble, poor people. Jesus left the limitless riches of Heaven to live among earth’s most deprived and needy population.

A righteous and devout man named Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit and had been assured by God that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts on the day of Jesus’ consecration. When he saw the baby Jesus he knew Him and praised God. (verses 29-32) Simeon recognized this Holy Child as the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose for the entire world.

God didn’t sneak Jesus onto the earth. There was much celebration and fanfare all throughout the event.  He revealed His news with those willing to share the beginning of a love that conquers every demon and foe the world will ever know. Like Simeon and all the others that saw the face of God, we too will know peace when we seek and find His Face.

Love,

Gretchen

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Aaron’s prayer.  God is the giver of all things, in particular PEACE.

Happy 2021, Day 2!

Gretchen