Author: pastor.gerooney@gmail.com

“Where were you when I laid earth’s foundation? Tell, me, if you understand.” Job 38:4 (Job 38-42)

Finally God speaks. I made the universe and all that is in it with specific detail to earth’s provision for man. Man is infinitely small compared to Me. I alone am God, Almighty, Creator, Giver of Life!  The wicked will absolutely be punished, but in My time. Man is not to justify themselves to Me. I know your heart, so no excuses, no defenses except righteousness. AND! Sorrow comes as a part of life. It is not a residual by product or consequence of sin…..it is life, but there is HOPE!

When struggling with life’s everyday disappointments or loss’s deepest grief, man’s only appropriate response is humble recognition of The Sovereignty of God. Trust with all your heart and know that God is working for the best in you, your family, your community, your nation and all the world. He is first and always, LOVE.

Have a Great Day!

Gretchen

“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will questions you, and you shall answer me.”  Job 38:2-3  (Job 32-38:1-3) 

Of all Job’s advisors, Eliphaz is the younger and the last to speak. He has politely differed to age and experience, but Job’s confident commitment to his defense, misread as bullheaded arrogance, has angered the court sages. This young, learned man spends many words telling how important and profound his insight is before he ever gets around to proclaiming that God’s actions are corrective, not punitive. His exhortation is six Biblical chapters long and when he is done, God speaks! (Read today’s scripture with a thunderous voice.)

Finding and placing blame is NOT synonymous with counsel or comfort. Blame always brings his best friend guilt to confront the offender, most likely the one already suffering. If guilt is provoked, he calls on his friends fear and anger. None of these characters are God’s desire for His children’s company. God’s loving arms bring only security, contentment and peace. 

Job’s friends initially meant well. However, they got wrapped up in traditional thought patterns that made them comfortable, but had the potential to destroy their friend. They passed judgement to fill a silence. Shame on them! God doesn’t need our assistance in anything! But!!He asks us to love for and through Him. We hinder the work God is already doing when we attempt to play God with someone else’s heartache. Be a conduit of Grace, not an impeder or hindrance.

Love,

Gretchen

And He said to man, “The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Job 28:28  (Job 22-31)

Job’s friends are relentless. Rather than correct their theologies, they begin making up sins, completely rewriting the history of Job’s character to justify what they believe of God’s character! Job refuses to perjure himself by agreeing that he is guilty of some misplaced, forgotten, hidden or unconscious wrong.

Job clings to the words from God’s mouth and begins to grow in confidence. Peace is more important than an explanation. No longer trying to figure out ‘why,’ he finds what he is looking for by knowing there is an Almighty God. A recitation of Job’s sorrows concludes with a restatement of all he has done right in accordance with God’s laws and commands. Rest within God’s providence has come.

Our greatest faith comes through releasing EVERYTHING to God’s will. We want Him to abide by our definitions of kindness, bounty and justice, but He won’t, and we cannot rely on our own understanding of His ways. Like Job, our only hope and peace rests in allowing God to be God while trusting and knowing that He is good and that is enough.

Not Easy for Me Either!

Gretchen

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. I Kings 4:20 (I Kings 4-7 and II Chronicles 2-6)

Solomon was an incredible leader. He ran vast enterprises and administrated a massive bureaucracy, wrote 3000 proverbs, 1005 songs, he was a scientist, botanist and responsible for three books of the Bible, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Peace and prosperity were his legacy.

Israel began their existence as God’s chosen people with only a tent as their place of worship and evidence of God’s dwelling. This was the custom for over 400 years. God ordained this structure, David designed it and Solomon built the lavish marvel of ancient history.  However, its glory was short-lived. Within five years of Solomon’s death it was plundered and then completely destroyed.

This temple, of incredible pomp and grandeur, honored God only as far as man’s heart reflected the same awe and glory. The gold embossed wood and stone came tumbling down when Israel’s heart turned to other god’s and their earthly comforts and pleasures took precedence over God’s law. Nothing of material or earthly origin compares to God’s concern with the soul of man.

Love,

Gretchen

Resurrection Day

John 20:18b Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”

I am wise enough to understand, I cannot say anything that would add to the four gospel’s accounting of this moment, except to remind you of this; It was an odd crowd of witnesses that were present when Jesus came from Heaven into the world and the same is true of those who witnessed Him when He came out of that tomb. 

Before you meet Jesus you are one way, after, you are another. Jesus changes everything. Be changed! Be different and be the difference!

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Silent Saturday

John 16:16-22 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” At this, some of His disciples said to one another, “What does He mean by saying, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does He mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 

There was a Roman guard placed at the tomb. No Jew could have quietly over taken them and then removed the enormous stone. They would not have even tried on their sabbath day. Besides, they were all in hiding, fearing for their future and immediate well being. However, prophecies were being fulfilled. Satan was the who was witnessing his total demise as Heaven was not Silent. The world was changing and a Sunday was just a few hours away!!

Good Friday  

John 19:1-3 The Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the face. 

John 19:11 To Pilate:  Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

John 19:17-18 So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others-one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  

The crowds had morphed from “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him!” The masses had been deliberately riled up by the religious authority. They had a preconceived idea of entitlement and Jesus wasn’t coming through, so it was an easy step from praise to accusation. But what they didn’t know left a gaping hole between their knowledge, faith and social influence. Jesus was at work for them in the most earth shaking way!! He was about to reverse death’s final word. Notice that He never mentioned a word of judgement on the world, He only affirmed God’s authority over all the earth and His own faith in this providence. His love and grace truly were and still remain, amazing. 

There were those in the following days who once again reversed their attitude from “Crucify Him” to “Hosanna” and Jesus was more that willing to receive them. He didn’t condemn, He loved. Devine Love did not fail then and it won’t now. 

Thursday, April 17, 2025 Maundy Thursday, 

John 13:15-17 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than His master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Passover is so much more than celebrating the moment of transition from slavery to freedom for the nation of Israel. Moses was chosen to lead these people and God designed and led his life events to prepare him for this momentous endeavor. For months prior to Passover God had been revealing to all Egyptians and Hebrews; He was more wise and powerful that the gods they worshiped. God was meticulously, with precision, setting the foundation for great prosperity through provision and protection. These blessings came with growth in knowing God’s character and understanding His upside down Kingdom. 

The annual Passover meal was and still is, so much more than the remembrance of a night. It is a return to God’s faithfulness then, so that we may know and stand strong in His faithfulness now. 

What was the bottom line in the last supper? Jesus was demonstrating service to the Kingdom through kindness, patience and love to all those God’s had given Him, beginning with those closest to Him, His family and dearest friends. This moment was full of deep theology and poignant, breath taking, sharing of life’s most important choice, come or stay. You have a standing invitation so don’t refuse..….come to the table. 

Spy Wednesday

Luke 22:4-6 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard and discussed with them how He might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give Him money. He consented and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. 

On Wednesday, plans were set in motion to capture Jesus and kill Him. In the words of Caiaphas the high priest, “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:49-50) The Jewish people, in theory, abhorred the Roman occupation, but there were those who had found a way to get along and even prosper in these dark times. Jesus was disrupting the status quo. Make Rome mad, they come down on all of us, stir up riots among the locals and again, Rome would respond violently. I get their dilemma, but an open heart, spirit and mind would have solved their faith crisis. Instead, they chose self government, the very thing God had said not to do. They depended on their stubborn vision for the future, their own logic and ability to manipulate circumstances with their perceived wisdom and authority. They couldn’t have been more wrong. God’s word NEVER alluded to an earthly prosperity through political machinations. It is through His power of love and hope, shared among believers, and the sending out of the Church, that true victory over all this life’s trouble is found.

 Holy Tuesday 

Matthew 21:18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on His way back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 

A beautiful thing that bore no fruit. John, who was with Jesus at this time, knew and specifically wrote that the tree had leaves. The tree was not diseased, attacked by locusts or other insects. It had all the components it needed to produce fruit, yet none was there. It was ornamental only, using resources, yet producing nothing of substance and worth. 

Is our Christianity ornamental only? Have we feathered our nest with our resources, made ourselves comfortable with a design that forbids others to ask in need? Jesus took action against such status and the book of Revelation teaches again the danger of spiritual contentment. It is the first cancer of spiritual death. Grow, but serve too! Meet the need of light in this very dark world. MAKE SOME FRUIT!….love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control………