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My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. I John 2:1

It is God’s desire for us to live Holy lives. It is possible because it says, “So that you will not sin.” But, we are human and our Creator knows that. In His perfect love, perfect timing and perfect wisdom, He gave us a perfect advocate to plead our case and say, “Don’t hold it against them, I’ll take the consequence.” WOW!!!!!

As our Savior Jesus already took the blame, and as our advocate He stands before God as our defense lawyer.  He never loses a case.

Love,
Gretchen

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalms 86:15

Extolling the Lord’s virtues is a form of worship that grants perspective in comparison to the things of this world. David had seen the temples and the tributes to pagan gods. The results from ungodly prayers to the unGodly gods were truly lacking. What material things on this earth, your car, your career, your yard, your house payment, the things that take the greatest amount of energy, both mental and physical, have the attributes of compassion, grace and abounding love and faithfulness toward you? “NONE?” You say? David realized the same thing.

David knew his shortcomings, but he also understood the universal power and authority of his Creator, Savior and Redeemer God who is worthy of praise and admiration. This Psalm is a lament, David was in trouble and His only hope was God’s character. 

In confidence we can stand firm when the bumps and bruises of this life are defeating us. Even when the mess is of our own making, God is merciful, gracious and abounding in steadfast love.

Love,

Gretchen

Do everything in love. I Corinthians 16:14

When I was a teenager, believing I held all the answers to the universe and adults just didn’t get it, I sang a song in youth group that averred, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” THIS is the only thing I had right. Beginning at home with my siblings, to the bully in the hallway, to the children across the globe, behind ‘The Wall’, whom I blamed for complex issues we were all too young and innocent to comprehend. My love, or lack of, defined me then and does today. It isn’t an option, it is the single element of Christian character.

Love means no agenda regarding expectation for reciprocity, just a call to share the mind of Christ in all things. If you like lists, as I do, here is one: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) And don’t forget to be humble, protect others dignity, give up the need for vengeance, and preserve trust and hope with faithful…….LOVE! (I Cor. 13)

LOVE, 

Gretchen

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Paul is reiterating his point that the Law fulfilled, the New Covenant, is founded on love for God and fellow man, not meaningless or resented obligation and legalism. Love does not keep a ledger or balance sheet, it is an endless fountain of blessings, but the maintenance of this life does have a monetary stamp on it, and Christians are expected to ethically meet their civic and financial obligations. There is blessing to be found in this too. We are representatives of The Kingdom. Give abundantly and be faithful to those who are dependent on your patronage and payment. 

Paying my bills,

Gretchen

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8

The church was only about 35 years old. Nero’s persecution of Christians was severe in and around Rome, but was not widely spread except, he encouraged Christianity’s enemies across the Empire to take every advantage to abuse at the slightest pretext. This letter was born shortly after Paul’s martyrdom and just before Peter himself was executed for his faith. Its purpose? To encourage and shore up forbearance under extreme difficulty and remember Christ’s work was fulfilled through suffering. 

Christians are referred to Pilgrims, a people on a trip through strange and foreign lands headed to a hope filled land. In that frame, we know suffering is part of the journey to our eternal home with Christ.

Along the way, when suffering brings despair, in weakness, a brotherhood can quickly turn to competitive positioning for earthly authority and false security. Peter’s call is for us to honor all men but fervently uphold one another, for Christian love is the supreme virtue of a life. It is The One Thing We Cannot Survive Without!!! 

Loving you,

Gretchen

A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Living in community is not an easy task at times. The book of Proverbs, Biblical Wisdom Literature, is a guide to constructive cohabitation, as a family and a citizen of planet earth. 

If you need to reference love, reread I Corinthians 13:4-7 and in this context, remember, Jesus is the perfect model of love and friendship is the standard for relationship. True friendship is not predicated on circumstances, but on a higher purpose and character. God created a humanity that cannot survive alone, but is also instructed to exist in healthy connections. No matter what your mental smack talk suggests, you need others and others need you. 

Love, 

Gretchen 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

The infinity of God is a truth that boggles the mind. God always was and always will be. He does not exist in linear time, He created it. Therefore, it is His to administer as He pleases to bring glory to Himself.

So what does an all powerful God do with time? He makes everything beautiful.

From the moment you became a being you entered into eternity. Eternal life doesn’t happen when you give your heart to Jesus, your residence just changes and you begin to grow more beautiful with each passing day.

Love,

Gretchen

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgement. II Timothy 1:7

Paul wrote this letter to his partner in missionary/ministry work while he was imprisoned in Rome awaiting execution. Nero, Rome’s demented ruler burned the city to the ground in order to rebuild it to his liking, but he blamed the Christians, led by Paul, for offending other gods with an exclusive worship. Nero’s persecution was brutal beyond imagination and this is the background for his last writing, a letter to Timothy.

The Spirit God gives is His very own, the promised advocate and helper. Paul is very concerned that the horrible injustices will discourage the growth of Christianity and personal growth of believers. Paul had seen Christ and was forever changed. He doesn’t want to depart this world short of assuring those who come behind that the Holy Spirit is enough, the only resource needed, to see  every believer through whatever this evil world sends their way. What a great testimony.

May all who come behind me find me faithful! 

Gretchen

Love is patient. Love is kind. I Corinthians 13:4a

Love, THE defining essence, quality, attribute of God, Creator, Redeemer, Giver of life, Grace and Mercy. It is word/concept abused, tossed negligently to manipulate and control, and is grievously misunderstood. So, God does what God does. He inspired Paul to clear things up with a bold indisputable model of this most important verb. 

I love the way The Message translates this passage, so I will leave it here. If what you see, experience or even do, does not align with this, it’s time to reflect and correct. 

4-7. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when other grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back but keeps on going to the end. Love never dies. 

L.O.V.E.

Gretchen

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Words from Paul to the Church in Rome that began on the day of Pentecost when Jerusalem was full of travelers from all over the vast Empire. Isn’t God’s timing miraculously perfect? This letter is the Gospel to the world, both Jew and Gentile. It was written from Corinth and sent just before Paul left to take an offering to the persecuted Jewish converts in Jerusalem. He was prepared to be martyred and so he left this profound work, to the Capital of the World, to explain the nature of the Good News of Christ.

Faith is the foundation of Christian conversion and victorious living because the nature of man cannot live up to God’s Law or Holy nature on their own. It is Christ’s goodness Mercy and Grace that provide a defense for each of us and we can stand before God and be declared ‘Not Guilty’ for the sins we have committed, but have been forgiven of. 

Those who solely depended of Jewish Law to provide access to salvation were stumbling blocks to the Gospel. They believed they were justified because of their traditions and they misrepresented God’s purpose, but Paul knows, a small portion of faith unleashed will open our hearts to hear Christ’s message of salvation and call to glorify His name in and through everything we do.

Love,

Gretchen