Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel. 36:26

Ezekiel prophesied the total destruction of Israel as a consequence of habitual idolatry and profanity toward God. However, God is not a God of abandonment or giving up. With the foretelling of consequences was the continued promise of a loving Savior, whose covenant is eternal for those who pursue Holiness.

The reference to ‘heart’ encompasses the total being. Complete transformation and renewal will occur. Notice this verse does not say ‘restoration.’ The implication that some of the old will remain is misleading and defeating. God removes the destructive old or dead, and makes a new living and vibrant life.

The prophecies of Ezekiel are not limited to the consequences of Israel’s disobedience, but extend to the oppressors too. Wrong decisions lead to difficult situations of abuse and oppression, but that does not mean God approves of those exacting exploitive or abusive behavior.  God will renew you and deliver you from all sin that attempts to destroy you, not just your own. This sounds outrageously ambitious, but never underestimate the power of God’s love!

Living Boldly!

Gretchen

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

What constitutes a good start?  What must a child understand and believe?

* God is love. Romans 8:37-39 and I John 4:8

* They are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14

* Jesus, God’s Son, died so they might be saved. Acts 2

* God has a plan for living in peace with the world and those around you. I Cor. 13.

The greatest leap of faith ever made by a parent is the total and complete release of their child’s life back to the Creator. This is huge! Give them Jesus, and give them back into His loving care. Let them know and they will find the same faith you have.

Love,

Gretchen

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.  Acts 2:21

These words were spoken by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came like a mighty, rushing wind, and tongues of fire, to fill every new believer, God fearing Jews from all over the Roman Empire. They were forever changed and thus began Christianity, the Body of Christ.

Peter recalled the prophesy of Joel, and the words of David, bringing all who experienced the filling of the Spirit and all who witnessed it into one clear understanding of Jesus’ purpose and God’s work of Grace and Mercy. Three thousand were saved!

We are NOT abandoned to the grave, death does NOT have the final say. Jesus died to save us from the evil of this very day and the darkness of an eternity without God.

Hallelujah!!!!

Gretchen

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