Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. Nehemiah 4:6 (Nehemiah 1-7)

Jewish tradition credits Ezra as the chronicler of the Nehemiah’s story. He was the cup bearer to Persia’s ruler Artaxerxes when his brother brought disappointing news from Jerusalem. Progress on restoration and rebuilding had come to a halt. Nehemiah, a man that always turned to prayer first, prayed for four months before he took his burden to the king. Artaxerxes sent Nehemiah back home with the resources he would need to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.

Back in Jerusalem, rubble on top of rubble was still the scene even though the Temple had been rebuilt. When surrounding enemy nations realized this once great city was on its way to becoming a fortress again, they used all manner of force, ridicule, terrorism, intrigue and misrepresentation to stop progress. They succeeded for a time. If that wasn’t enough, the wealthy Jews were exploiting the poor, something God strictly forbade. This scandal hindered constructive progress toward a restored homeland. But, God’s plan outweighed any personal concerns a prayer warrior and courageous man of action like Nehemiah might have.

Nehemiah secretly inspected the walls before he publicly announced his mission. This brilliant civic engineer organized laborers and protectors so that life could continue as work began and in 55 days 1.5 miles of wall was complete.

Respect for God and His Law was paramount to Nehemiah’s objectives. His anecdote to evil (and there was plenty to go around) was prayer followed by action.  As a side note, Artexerxes’ step-mother Esther was probably still living and had a strong influence on his positive position toward Palestine. This is another story of miraculous timing and God’s sovereign power over all things. Long before the day Nehemiah was burdened with Jerusalem’s sad state of affairs, God had a plan of victory……..and He still does today!

Love,

Gretchen

Today I give you the words of my little sister Gwen Lane. She is the mother of six, three beautiful young women and their handsome husbands. We share a common passion for teaching and love to talk shop, whether we laugh till we cry or cry till we are giggling like little girls. I look back across the years and thank God that we are not who we once were, but are marvelous works of Grace. Enjoy her inspiring thoughts of perseverance and faith.

                                                                    I Saw God Today                                                                                                                A Half Marathon Personal Testimony                                                   April 27, 2019

Several months ago, I started on a journey. At first, this journey did not seem that big of a deal. I had already done two half marathons with my walking buddy, Nona Richey. I had revelled in my personal accomplishments and labeled myself a strong woman because of my ability to endure and overcome obstacles. I was proud.  I was also becoming more and more convicted of “idols” I was setting up in my life. God was showing me that if I was going to have any kind of influence in the lives of other people, some things needed to change. So along with my physical training, I began some serious self examination of what I was putting on the high places.

So my training began and soon the Holy Spirit put the thought in my heart and mind that I needed to do this on my own, without my security blanket of Nona that I had become so comfortable with. I would embark on long training walks on my own. I had to fill the time with something other than conversation. God brought me in to conversation with him. I learned to use this time as a time of prayer and worship. My theme verse became Habakkuk 1:5, “ Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” I could not have ever imagined what the Holy Spirit would teach me on this journey.

In the beginning, I believed that God would heal me of my physical infirmities through this journey. I would learn to put aside my food addictions and my lazy tendencies to lose the weight that doctors have told me I needed to lose in order to free myself of the chronic pain that held me captive. I was wrong. Physical healing has not occured, though I did wake up this morning without the usual pain. In fact, the weeks leading up to the race, I was plagued with the pain growing more intense and changing in nature. After each long training session, my body would rebel as if it were begging me to stop. In these darkest times, the Holy Spirit would whisper the words, “Believe” and “Trust”. So I trudged on. Going in to the race, I was still not sure what my lesson would be.  My plan was to do what I had been doing, which was to pass the time in prayer and worship. Which I did, however, let me just tell you. God delivers every single time. He is faithful and true. I did not achieve a new PR today, which I thought might be possible early on. In fact, I struggled. But God showed up and showed out. I saw God today.

I saw God in the relentless love and devotion of my husband. He was there to offer encouragement and fruit snacks. He supported me even though he had spent months watching me struggle and cry out in pain and mental anguish. I saw God in the rain that fell at just the right time when loneliness threatened to take control of my mind. Gentle drops of coolness to remind me that he was walking with me. As I walked, I prayed. When the intense pain of calf cramps began about mile 9, I was gently reminded of two precious little girls that I know who are suffering the agony of cancer and the resulting treatments. They suffer more than just leg cramps and their suffering will not end in three and a half hours. I prayed for their complete healing. I prayed for Christian sisters who are suffering the pain of despair and have lost their hope and joy. I prayed for coworkers who are suffering from fear and uncertainty.

I saw God in the faces of the volunteers who were there to encourage me to “keep going” and “you got this”. I saw God in the police officer who saw the pain on my face and quickly offered to help relieve the pain and then a bicycle volunteer who appeared and offered a banana. He rode along with me for a bit just to make sure I was going to make it. I saw God in my youngest daughter who had already run the entire race but came back to make sure I got up the most difficult part of the course. Finally, I saw God in the faces of the rest of my family who had been patiently waiting at the finish line to celebrate with me and make sure I was ok.

So, my lesson through all of this………………………………………

It is not about me. It is not about my pride and self-reliance. It is not about being a strong woman. It is not about accomplishments and personal records. It is about putting God and God alone on the high places. He wants to be “the Only” in your life. The only way we can have a real influence in our world is to let our lives reveal the truth, strength, power, and glory of the One True God. A God that pursues and loves relentlessly. A God that does not leave you lonely or without comfort or relief. A God that if the mountain is not to be moved will climb it with you hand in hand. A God that sent his only Son to suffer and die. A God that declared in the resurrection of Jesus that pain, suffering and death has been defeated.

O Lord, let my life reveal that there is only One.

 

From the days of our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. Ezra 9:7 (Ezra 9-10)

When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem he finds the priests and Levites have intermarried with foreign women who have not set aside their gods. Under this leadership, layman followed, some forsaking their Jewish families while others kept Jewish wives as well. The state of God’s Holy people was a risk from the crumbling foundation of familial integrity. Do NOT mistake this as an act of prejudice. We see in the narratives of Ruth and Jonah, God reaches out to extend love and Grace universally. This is the Blessing Israel is expected to be, however, these unions were detrimental to Israel’s survival.  They were toxic and a death knell for the remnant.

In Deuteronomy 7:1-5 God gave a boundary to keep His people safe, whole, healthy and Holy, both emotionally and physically. He said, DO NOT INTERMARRY WITH HEATHENS! The wilderness wanders who did not heed God’s command met with disaster. Ezra stated the spiritual crisis and went immediately into prayer, seeking God’s direction. The conclusion; men would have to divorce their wives, heathen children and their detestable practices OR forfeit their property and all ties to Jewish heritage.

This complete purge is extremely severe by today’s standards, but the future of this fragile nation depended on it.  The result was a complete cure of idolatry.

God knows best. He is serious about His care, but we must GIVE Him access to our choices and rights, He will NOT overstep our free will. Again I say, God knows best. He will take care of you if you trust and obey.

Love,

Gretchen

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Ezra 8:21 (Ezra 7-8) 

God’s active work in the lives of those who trust Him is always perfect in time, place and quantity. This I have learned over and over again, but never is evidence of an active, loving God’s constant care as poignant as it is in this episode of a man getting up everyday and doing God’s will.

A scholar of The Law with a pedigree that reached all the way back to Aaron, Ezra was God’s prepared hope for the present life of Israel in the years after Esther’s miracle.  As the exiles assimilated into foreign populations, the Hebrew language, in which Moses’ Law was originally written, became a less familiar exchange of the every day Jew. Ezra was chosen to teach God’s Law, beautify the Temple, restore Temple service, but first he must lead more that 1500 men, with their families, and all the gifts from Persia’s king, in a second return to Palestine.

Esther’s stepson Artaxerxes had a likening for the God of the Jews and instead of approaching this reestablished nation with suspicion, he decided to embrace them as a peaceful, geographical buffer between Persia and Egypt. He sends utensils and embellishments for the Temple, man power and herds for sacrifice. It will take a four month trek through foreign territory, to arrive in Jerusalem. Ezra does not want to ask for a military escort after the King has been so generous. Instead, he stops at the first water crossing and leads his entourage in fasting, prayer and worship, asking for God’s protection.

God is good. When the job seems far bigger than we can imagine, when we’re scared for ourselves and those entrusted to our care, God is good and faithful.

Love,

Gretchen

And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Malachi 3:18 (The Book of Malachi)

Total annihilation as a nation cured Israel of their idolatry, but now, in the 20 year gap after the miracle of Esther and the justice brought to Haman, the people are discouraged and become casual and careless with their sacrifices, marriages and priesthood.  They wonder where this awaited Messiah and His glorious Kingdom are and was their previous good fortune just luck and coincidence. The neighboring heathen peoples are doing quite well while God’s people still struggle. This lead to one question we all face on bad days of despair and discouragement, “Does God even care?!”

The remnant that returned to Jerusalem and Judah had an enormous job waiting. But God promised His presence and an eternal Kingdom. Over the years they began to let the little things go. The scrimped on their tithes, offered sacrifices even their own municipal leaders would have been offended to receive, they put aside their Godly/Jewish wives for heathen women and soon followed their pagan gods, leaving children without Godly homes. Malachi speaks of sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, those who defraud laborers of their honestly earned pay, who oppress widows and orphans and exact injustice on aliens. This is quite a list, but very familiar to each generation still coming. Never, in any time or place, or any circumstance, will God tolerate these behaviors from those who believe in Him.

So what are the weary to do, then and now? Wait patiently and lead a life that is befitting the Kingdom of God. Your heart is God’s earthly residence, and someday you will dwell forever in His presence.

Happy Thursday,

Gretchen

Wednesday, May 1, 2019  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When it is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 (The Book of Esther)

The story of Esther reads like a fairy tale, but has strong connections to historical accuracy and archeological validation. She was a beautiful Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordecai after her parents died. King Xerxes was preparing for an exhibition against Greece. Before he left he had a great feast to show his wealth and power, but his current wife Vashti, refused to play along. He banished her and left orders for new candidates for queen to be made ready while he was gone. Upon his return he chose the beautiful Jewish girl, Esther. His side kick Haman, did not know her uncle was Mordecai. Mordecai’s refusal to bow humbly, not just as court customs demand, but to show personal submission, to Haman, triggered an act of hate that became a plot meant to annihilate the Jewish people. Through faith and obedience the extermination of the Jews was averted and a path was made politically for Ezra and Nehemiah.

Purim is celebrated as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies and their sorrow was turned into joy.

God is not mentioned, probably because we have a version copied from Persian records. Yet, God’s providence and care is nowhere more evident than in this story. Egypt has its Joseph, Babylon its Daniel and Persia has the story of these brave and faithful servants to God’s will and way. If you think you can’t change the course of history, try. It’s simple, pray and obey.

Love,

Gretchen

They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s scepter will pass away. I will strengthen them in the LORD and in His name they will walk,’ declares the LORD. Zechariah 10:11-12 (Zechariah 9-14)

Zechariah’s prophecies give the clearest picture of the life and death of the Messiah. He tells of a King that comes gently in peace, riding on a donkey, he mentions the 30 pieces of silver of Judas’ betrayal, and he speaks of the One that is pierced. The Gospels apply these words to the life and death of Christ. There is no one in the history of the world that fits Zechariah’s foretelling other that Jesus, Son of man and Son of God.

God’s people have suffered slaughter at the hands of false leaders. These shepherds rejected the Good Shepherd. Extensive evidence and references to the future are given in these final words of Zechariah. The Greek wars come 200 years after Zechariah’s death, Judah’s struggle with Alexander the Great, and on into the Maccabean period are described. Shortly after Jesus’ death Jerusalem was completely destroyed by Rome and the Jews were once again dispersed because they scorned and murdered The Prince of Peace. The leaders of the church, the  shepherds, had evil agendas.

Idols are inanimate objects, they do not see, hear, love, hate or act. God alone brings spring rain and breaks the drought. It is He who provides life through earth’s seasons and the Blood of His own Son. We associate Jesus with Christmas and Easter, planning celebrations months in advance. I secretly buy gifts and organize occasions to bring delight and strengthen those I love most. BUT! Then I can’t wait, so I let the big secret out of the bag. No one is surprised on Christmas morning. Just like the words of Zechariah, God wanted them to know He had great things waiting for the right season and He just had to let them know. He is letting you know too. He’s got this!

Love,

Gretchen

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it. Psalm 118:22-24 (Psalms 78, 107, 116, 118, 125, 126, 128, 132, 147, and 149)

These Psalms are the songs of a restored people, they used these words to worship in the completed Temple with great hope and celebration. They were new songs! Some very short, repeated over and over, we would call this contemporary worship. The completion of the Temple was symbolic to restored nation and the joy they felt in the presence of God and their right relationship with Him. Some of the most delightful and powerful words in the Bible’s Hymnbook are found here. Each Psalm/song has a specific emphasis; 78 is a praise for God’s faithfulness to a rebellious nation, 107, the beauty of Israel after their punishment, 116 and 118 are Hallel (praise) Psalms, sung in the celebration of Passover. They would have been the words Jesus sung with His Disciples on the night before His crucifixion. 125 remembers that oppression will end and 126 is full of joy, 128 states the blessedness of righteousness, 132 praises God for the promise of David’s eternal Throne, 147 and 149 sings to the power of God and acknowledge that the Creator has Created again.

Imagine Jesus singing the verse above, understanding a rejected capstone much differently that those friends among Him. Yet, He rejoiced in the day the LORD had made, a day of agony for Him, but eternal life for you and me. Folks! That’s big!

I want to draw attention to verses 10 and 11 of Psalm 147. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.  God’s delight is different from man’s. We stand proud of our accomplishments, becoming miffed when others don’t recognize our insight, contribution or status. Because we superimpose man’s image onto God rather than the inverse, we get carried away with trivial matters, missing God’s desire and marring His plan. God delights in humble hearts that are obedient, manifested in trust and works.

As a kindergarten teacher I tell my students, “Crisscross apple sauce, point your nose at my face, or the tip of my pointer, and make sure your belly button is lined up with your nose.” In doing so I can assure their eyes and ears are where I want them, seeing and listening. God wants this for His children too, looking, hearing, learning and following in His ways alone.

Have an Apple Sauce Kind of Day,

Gretchen

This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other. Zechariah 7:9-10 (Zechariah 7-8, Ezra 6:14-22)

Haggai resets Israel’s priorities, Zechariah challenged their motives. God’s Law is to be observed, it is obedience, but God soon reminds these confused people that it isn’t strict adherence to empty ritual that brings righteousness, particularly, the fasting done on certain festivals and celebrations. Drawing closer to God by consciously sacrificing our human appetite, and filling it with worship, because God is the source of Salvation, is the true motive for religious rites. Moral living and dedication to social justice is evidence of sincere worship.

God will bless all of humanity with a gift of the Final Sacrifice, His son Jesus. Build a place of reverence and honor to the One True God, a beacon for a lost and hurting world, but your heart must be set apart, different, Holy and God must find it a suitable place to dwell.

Happy Weekend,

Gretchen

In another lifetime I imagine I might have been a Bohemian gypsy living in a tiny house pulled by a gallant steed, or a pioneer woman along the Oregon Trail.  No! I am not one to start an adventure, but I can’t say, “No,” when presented with the opportunity. My husband finds a way to chase the sunset most everyday. It was the first thing that attracted me to him and is a huge part of our story. The plot only thickens as we get older.

Several weeks ago, Keith sold a motorcycle to a gentleman some distance away. This buyer asked to have the bike delivered and Keith jumped at traveling to south east Texas, meeting someone new and putting his toes in the gulf for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. My plan was to stay home and nest, but the weekend weather report was tempestuous. Cold air and warm were going to fight for top billing between Keith and his destination, but he wasn’t going to cancel. I decided I’d rather ride through the storms than stay home and worry. Our weather alerts began going off at Texarkana and continued through Nacogdoches, but blue skies were waiting and we pressed on.

Along we went, merging weather apps with google maps. As a distraction, we began reminiscing about people who had traveled in and out of our lives and changed us for the better. Keith made use of his music app that connected his taste to the perfect tune at the push of a button. Old gospel music drew our attention away from the gloomy day and began bringing back glimpses in time of good things and great people. However, our two minds could only think of one line to a song an evangelist sang at church camp during our teen years and early adult lives. Like a bad jingle, we couldn’t turn loose of the song, but internet searches failed to reveal the title. Several evenings later, Keith google searched our evangelist friend, found a phone number and called. An hour’s long conversation of old times, reconnections and warmed hearts followed. The name of the song is, In the Midst of It All, and tells the story of Job standing, completely broken, but righteous, willing to accept God’s will no matter the pain.  You need to know our friend evangelist, the Rev. Terry Jones, was stricken with ALS and we have only ever known him with a crippled body, but a heart sacrificed to anything God has prepared. His testimony of words and deeds were game changers for Keith and I as our lives were just beginning.

The race is not to the swift

or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or favor to the learned;

but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

There is a hero’s list of christian valor in my heart. These people showed up and lived to bring others the Gospel. There is the pastor who took a group of high school seniors aside and scripturally taught us the meaning of sanctification.  We wanted to know and because he went to summer camp, our answers came and life decisions were made. And then there was the camp counselor who came every year. She brought a profoundly handicapped student with her. I learned the difference between pity and compassion and I made a life long friend. Christian leaders, activity sponsors, Sunday School teachers, Camp workers; these people didn’t sign up to raise me, send Christmas gifts or follow me through life. They simply gave of themselves so that others could live. It was a matter of eternal life or death and they were a huge part of me finding my way to the foot of the cross.

God, in His perfect knowledge and time, orchestrated a beautiful score for our lives, but the song is found in the His body, the community of believers.

Love,

Gretchen