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I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”  Ecclesiastes 3:17

King Solomon is attributed with great wisdom.  The Greek translation of Ecclesiastes means teacher or philosopher.  In chapter three, King David’s son pens, “There is a season for everything under Heaven.”  God is the author of time, both linear and nonlinear.  We are bound by a clock moving forward, eternity has no bounds.

There will come a time, chosen by God, when we will each account for our life on earth, absolutely no exceptions, certainly no exemptions and NO excuses.  

God sees us exactly as we are and will judge us by His standard of Holiness, not equate us according to man’s standard.  Do not rank your sin or justify your behavior against someone else’s.  God WILL make all things right and settle all wrongs.  Justice is His, in His time.

Have a Great Tuesday!

Gretchen

“May the LORD repay you for what you have done.  May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12

Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, was faithful.  A Moabite, Ruth married a Jewish refugee fleeing from famine is Israel.  He died but Ruth chose to remain with her widowed mother-in-law, a choice that brought her to Bethlehem.  (Ruth 1:16-17 are the familiar words of Ruth’s vow to Naomi and her God.) 

This is one of the most beautiful stories in the Old Testament narrative. Ruth and Naomi are widowed, wholly dependent on the benevolence of others.  However, Levitical law allowed for gleanings of the harvest to be left for the needy and under Levirate law, a kinsman was bound to marry a widow and raise an heir so her family name would continue. Boaz was not Ruth’s closest relative so he had to publicly transact land and marriage to assure the continuation of Naomi’s family. In doing so he became Ruth’s redeemer kinsman.

In the most devastating moments of life, God offers provision.  We ask, “What will I do? How will I survive?” God says, “Trust and follow me.”  God’s has a plan of redemption, care and security.  Jesus became our Redeemer Kinsman.  We will not be abandoned to despair. 

Love,

Gretchen

In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  John 1:4

John’s Gospel covers much the same ground as the other three Gospels, but emphasizes the meaning of what took place. The keynote point of John’s Gospel is love and the divine glory of Christ.  He portrays Jesus as an unquenchable light shining, into the darkness.  

The story of Jesus does not begin with His human birth. John refers to Jesus as “The Word” the very breath of God and when God spoke, life came into existence. Jesus, the living Word of God became man.  He became life to share with us and in us. 

Light is life itself. Light, not darkness, creates our habitat.  Light sustains our existence. Life and light are one in the same, the essence of and the gift of Jesus.  Bask in the Sonshine!

Love,

Gretchen

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

The poet David writes a beautiful tribute to Creator God, acknowledging His glory displayed throughout the universe. God’s perfection is found in His universe of orderliness and provision. David, without the benefit of science and modern research tools and data, knows the universe is orderly and continuous.  In the same manner, man was created within the laws ordained by God and will live and prosper.  

Psalm 19 is a song of praise, the verse above is the closing salutation. David asks God to accept his humble words that fall short of His majesty. He finishes by stating his heart continuously clings to God’s place in his life as his solid foundation and salvation.

God inhabits the praise of His people. If God lives in your heart, (so to speak) then let your interior design reflect it! 

Redecorating!

Gretchen

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the LORD forgave you. Colossians 3:13

I will get to the forgiving part, but isn’t it truly wonderful that God says to be together in times of struggle, sorrow, anxiousness, disappointment, grief……..? Bearing each other’s burdens means to live in community and eradicate loneliness. Praise the Lord!

What does a new life in Christ really look like? Colossians chapter three paints a very good word picture. We must be forgiving. It is packed in the parcel with humility, compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience, (verse 12). You can’t have one without the other.

The entire Biblical message is forgiveness: Man falls, God reaches down to save him…..repeat to infinity!  If we want to be like Christ, if we want to live eternally with Christ, if we want to take others with us, WE MUST FORGIVE.

One last little thought.  If there is something you think you can’t forgive, consider this:  Is it worth missing Heaven for?  That is the price you will pay by clinging to the wrongs of others.  

I love Ya’ll!

Gretchen

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  John 21:15

Peter, the most impulsive and outspoken of all Jesus’ disciples, gave into fear the night of Jesus’ crucifixion. He denied knowing his friend to avoid persecution.  

It was from a fishing boat that Peter first saw Jesus. In a moment of reckless abandonment he jumped out of a boat and walked on water. He was privilege to many miracles and wonders and was one of Jesus’ best friends and valiant defenders.  Still……… he had a moment of weakness and failed in a big way!

This post resurrection encounter between Jesus and Peter was much like the first time they met. Peter threw caution to the wind and went running to the LORD, who incidentally, had breakfast ready and waiting. They ate, and then Jesus asked, “Do you love Me?”  He knows the answer, but Peter needs to say it, see the radiance of love and forgiveness on the LORD’s face and hear His call once again.

Peter’s failure didn’t define him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he changed the face of the world.  Don’t let your failures define you.  Live in the unlimited power of grace and feed those sheep!!

Love,

Gretchen 

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3

The nation of Israel begins at God’s encounter with Abraham. A descendant of Shem, one of Noah’s three sons, Abraham was a native of Ur and an Amorite. The Hebrew sect was perhaps a subculture of lower socioeconomic status within the Amorites. Through this relationship of obedience and trust, God began to fulfill His plan to bless ALL people.  

Abraham’s story is not a perfect one. It involves many things we denounce; human meets real world challenges, and fails.  Yet, forgiveness and redemption were, and are, ALWAYS available.

This is not just the story of a nation’s birth, it is the story of Good News. God loves you because He chose to.  He is faithful and will never UNchose to love.   

Have a Beautiful Blessed Day,

Gretchen 

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on the them.  II Peter 2:21

What does God despise? The false prophet, the arrogant, depraved human who disguises themselves as loving and helpful only to destroy what God has given. 

Peter the apostle is forewarning his listeners that false teachers have already disrupted other Christian groups.  Be ready. These people are anti-authority and respect no one. They leave paths of pain and dysfunction. Greed and blasphemy are two strong characteristics of those who walk in darkness but speak of their light.  Their gain comes at great cost to others, yet they feel nothing. Their assured future is worse than anything we can imagine.  Justice will come for them.

The active work of God leaves healing, comfort, wisdom and strength. He does not tease us with hope and then hide His face, but we must seek Him. Then He will lead us in well lit paths of righteousness. 

Love,

Gretchen

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Although the author of Hebrews remains a mystery, the audience is not.  It was written to Jewish Christians who were caught between what to keep from Levitical Law and what to release to grace and mercy.  For a people taught from infancy to totally rely on tradition and extreme outward behavior to honor God, changing didn’t come easy.

Through the life and death of Christ we received the perfect model of God in the flesh and were freed from the bondage of sin. This was a huge change from the way things were before, but God still remains the same.  He has chosen to love mankind and is doing everything within His power to bring us into relationship with Him.  

It seems baffling to imagine total reliance on someone.  It’s not so much that one loves money, but you cannot live without it, so it becomes a tremendous burden and priority. Even so, God reminds us, “You will never have need. I will provide.”  

Faith and peace are interlocking. Free your heart of all things, trust in the LORD for He is worthy and faithful.

Love,

Gretchen

My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:11

The spiritual leaders of Judah had been leading sub standard worship that perpetuated a very casual attitude toward God’s authority and sovereign power. God was NOT pleased. It was costing the people their assurance of His love, leading to hopelessness. 

God’s chosen people were turning away from His commands and covenants. People of foreign lands acknowledged God and worshiped Him with greater honor than those He had redeemed from slavery and brought to the promised land.  

These words, spoken by Malachi were intended to shock his hearers, but this truth is still relevant today. The heart of worship is the center of our faith in action and an indicator of spiritual health. God doesn’t need our worship, we do!  He longs for it because He knows the great works and power that will result.

Happy Holiday Weekend,

Gretchen