Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14:9

The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked men. – Henry David Thoreau.

I am a school teacher. I say a million times a day, “Make a good choice.” This is not a new concept. The entire book of Hosea is God saying make good choices or horrible consequences will rain down. Sometimes it’s tough to hear, but it is a very serious reality.

God is my creator and the lover of my soul, Jesus is my savior and has paid my redemption. I walk daily in the reality of my second chance……..and my third and fourth…….millionth. Through Christ’s blood we always have another chance. But there are two myths many people have bought into.

Myth 1. Human life gives you second chances.
Truth-IT DOES NOT! Time marches on, broken truth leaves fissures, moments/opportunities come and go quickly never to return, hurt people don’t hang around. Odds are you won’t get a second chance.

Myth 2. People are born with dispositions toward wisdom or rebellion. It’s just fate.
Truth-There’s a great deal of theology to be hashed out here but in simple terms, God Loves His Creation and that is YOU! He has gone to every extreme to redeem you and bring you to eternal life. It’s a choice NOT fate.

Wisdom is a choice. It is a good choice. God always honors your request for it.
Rebellion is a choice. It is easy, lazy and bad. Guaranteed, you won’t like the outcome.

Praying for you all because I love you too!!

Gretchen

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalm 9:18

The caption reads, For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.”  This psalm of David is one of praise to God who sits as King Forever. The needy and afflicted refers to all humanity, or in other words, me and you. God is our sole refuge and protector. 

Many years after the death of Goliath David remembers the victory from the vantage point of time and greater wisdom. God has dealt with enemies, and an honorable praise and worship is to tell of all His marvelous works and to rejoice and be glad. 

The God of David is not dispassionate regarding right and wrong. Sometimes you may think God is on your side when He is not. Keep in mind, God can be on both or neither side of a dispute. The important issue at hand is, who’s side are you on? David saw God in action against injustice. The unjust will suffer an eternal destruction, but the Lord will endure forever. Yes, it matters who’s side you are on because God will never forget the needy and afflicted. 

Love,

Gretchen

 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cites of our God. The LORD will do what is good in His sight. 2 Samuel 10:12

Have you ever had your motives questioned? Had your kindness thrown back in your face?

This verse is lifted from an episode in the history of David as he is establishing the nation of Israel. A neighboring king, the king of the Ammonites died and David sent a delegation to express sympathy and show kindness. His envoy was not received in the manner in which it was sent and these men were treated to great humiliation. Hanun, the new king erred on the side of cynicism and momentary power, realized he just picked an unnecessary fight and prepared to defend. David responded in kingly fashion and gathered his army.

As the armies amassed on the battlefield. David’s military commander Joab realized they were terribly outnumbered and gave this pep-talk: Be strong, fight bravely for the cities of our God, the LORD will do what is good.”

Joab spoke in this reverence because all the land was God’s not man’s. He also acknowledged that God is good, His will is good.

Standing on the cusp of battle surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy it is hard to comprehend that what we are fighting so furiously for is not even ours. It’s God’s and He’s got it. God is good so let Him worry about the small stuff and of course the big stuff too. Just do good.

Gretchen

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. I Peter 3:11

As Jesus’ close friend, Peter would most certainly understand the passions of His heart and the purpose of His actions. They were pure and transparent, “Do good; seek peace,” with deliberate pursuit.

Any agenda other than peace is unacceptable. Doing good brings about peace. Others may not come into a state of peace, but you will and you are what you answer for.

When I come to my day of judgement, God will not ask me, “How did everyone treat you down there?” However, He will ask, “How did you treat others?” Doing good and seeking peace is the only acceptable answer to this question.

God loves peace and so must I.

Gretchen

With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

I have struggled with this verse my entire life. It is the anthem of young dreamers, the “This is not what I signed up for!” thoughts of the adulting and when you’re my age, it is the peace, “Oh, yes! God is good and He was there with His perfect timing, wisdom and power.” Looking back across the years I realize I did nothing but hope, pray……and struggle with the ‘obey’ part of life.

Context is everything when quoting and standing on these words of Jesus. He was approached by a rich young ruler who wanted a checkoff sheet to assure eternal life. Jesus did not give him the answer he was looking for, but rather a powerful truth, “Dispose of all that stands between you and Me and give it to those in need.” Vs. 21 paraphrased quite a bit.

We have a phrase of encouragement in education when a child is ready to give up, “We can do hard things. Keep moving forward, I’m here beside you and you’ll get this!” Growing means pushing upward and onward, persevering is all about determination and focus. This isn’t about winning and being successful. It is about doing the hardest thing ever, living victoriously in Holiness of heart and mind. Jesus says it can be done. He’s leading and teaching and we won’t fail if we follow and learn. 

Love,

Gretchen

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7

Judah’s sin inevitably led to their downfall. Verse one of chapter 17 says “Judah’s sin is engraved on their hearts with an iron tool and flint point.” This sin goes back several generations. The cost was the loss of the geographical nation of Israel and enslavement by their enemies. BUT!!

God continued to inform, remind, perpetuate and display His faithfulness. If the people of Judah would turn to Him, He would bless them. God’s authority means He is Judge and He alone can condemn. But His purpose is to save us from that peril. He is so very, very, kind and good. Trust Him, and you will find blessed peace and rest.

Gretchen

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Moses had brought the new nation of Israel to the border of their homeland, Canaan. On the way he kept a journal and wrote the Law as God had given. These texts were handed over to the Priests and Levites with instruction to keep them safe and to read and reread them to protect against the corruption of God’s people. 

The land across the Jordan River had many fortified cities, strong armies and people that worshipped false gods through despicable and degrading rituals. God already knew that entering the Promised Land would be frightening and rebellion would occur. His Word would remind and teach the following generations truth. Obedience brought peace and rest and neglect resulted in adversity.

Moses will soon go to rest with his fathers leaving Joshua to lead the people. Moses encouraged them all, be strong and courageous…… Yes, these are words to a specific people on a specific occasion, but God had it enshrined so we would not face tomorrow terrified. Our obedience must not bring about terror, but strength in the confidence that God goes with you and He will never leave or forsake you. It was a big deal for them, it’s a BIG deal for you!

Love,

Gretchen

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5

This song of ascent is part of a collection of 15 Psalms, 120-134, also known as “Pilgrim Songs” or “Songs of Degrees.” 

Jerusalem sat atop a hill. Obviously all worshippers had to ascend to reach the temple complex. Hebrew pilgrims always returned to Jerusalem to celebrate religious festivals and these hymns were sung together as they journeyed. As they neared their beloved city the songs that began with an emphasis on distress and longing for God’s protection and help became songs of hope. As the sojourners were climbing the steps, or degrees of the temple and their voices lifted in Praise.

Psalm 130 is also classified as one of the Penitence Psalms showing deep remorse for sin and a confident hope in God’s Goodness and Mercy. It begins with a personal testimony of God’s rescue from guilt, then step by step the author draws the reader to a place of confident hope. 

Although the writer of the Psalm is unknown, some traditions attribute it to David following his sin with Bathsheba. Disregarding the authorship, I want my readers to remember; when David was a boy He found God in everything and placed his hope in this. Through devastating sin, serious peril, utter joy and deepest grief, David always returned to His place of Hope; a living, communicating, loving God. And this God is unchanging and faithful, just as David knew Him, we can as well.

Love,

Gretchen

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

If you are reading this you probably have a knowledge of salvation and for that I am truly thankful. I was saved at the age of twelve and while I still stand amazed at the miracle of that moment I often struggle with the deep dark parts of my heart and mind that want to take a break from my conscience and tell the world what I really think. Soon my heart breaks for its moment of carnal will and I’m defeated. It’s a vicious cycle, but God as our creator, great redeemer and lover of our souls has this under control.

Two things are working in the act of salvation: Jesus’ blood given freely and God’s grace in boundless supply. At the point of death, sin lost its power over Jesus and at the point of resurrection, sin lost its power over the believer. Now for that unlimited grace. There is no sin God can’t and won’t forgive. His riches cross the expanse of man’s moral and physical poverty. DO NOT live in defeat! Daily accept this gift, tell Satan to take a short hike off a tall cliff, and accept God’s rich grace as your own.

Living in Victory,

Gretchen

P.S. I encourage you to read the entire first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. It will strengthen you.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son born of a woman, born under the law. Galatians 4:4

As the Son of God, Jesus had no boundaries, no restrictions of linear time, no limits of aging flesh and certainly no carnal temptations, but as Son of Man, Jesus took on all of these characteristics. He became fully man. He became just as we are so that we have a hope to become just as He is.

It’s simple, Jesus became human so that we can be Holy. Jesus came to earth to lead the way to Heaven.

In Christ,

Gretchen