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For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

The new gentile Christians of Galatia were subjected to the constant debate of Jewish converts that felt they needed to learn and heed orthodox Jewish law and tradition to earn God’s pleasure. Paul knows that Grace is free and Mercy abounds because God is Love.  Our only acceptable response is to return God’s love and Love One Another. 

God’s laws are a conduit of love, not a measuring stick to beat each other up.

*Serve no other gods……. The One True God is worthy of our fixated adoration.

*Don’t bow down to idols……stay focused on what matters.

*Never take the Father’s name in vain……let your words reflect Holiness of heart.

*Keep the sabbath Holy…….take time to worship God and commune with His people. 

*Honor your parents……make family relationships a priority.

*Do not murder…….life is a sacred gift, don’t abuse it.

*Do not commit adultery…..protect the integrity of your family.

*Do not steal…..don’t take what other’s earned and need.

*Do not gossip and lie…..don’t murder someone’s character with words.

*Do not covet…..be content and generous.

Just love. Let God worry about the rest.

Happy weekend Eve!

Gretchen

You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the One who is in the world. I John 4:4

Who is them?  ‘Them’ is the antichrist, those spirits which have enough truth to make trouble but lack The Truth that saves you and makes you whole.

During John’s life there was great struggle with the concept that Jesus came to earth as a fully human baby, lived a tempted, but Holy life, served others first then died an unjust death, simply for love’s sake. When reconciled by faith, the Son of God/Son of Man equation takes all of satan’s power. Satan uses confusion to defeat and discourage, but John gives his listeners, yesterday and today, the reminder that our God overcame the world and as His children, so can we.

Because we know God and God is love, we are given the power to discern between that which God gives and that which the world offers. Knowledge isn’t the problem, the power of will is.  Be strong and courageous, for your Father is a King and He has already won the day!

Have a great Thursday,

Gretchen

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter, 5:10

One of the three disciples closet to Jesus, Peter wrote this letter to groups of scattered Christians at the outbreak of Nero’s persecution. It was a season of great persecution for all believers. Verses 7-11 are packed with strength and encouragement for the outcast and downtrodden, with verse 10 and 11 being the conclusion.

Peter witnessed the Crucifixion of Christ and He entered the empty tomb. The sights, sounds, smells and emotions, 3D living color, were Peter’s recent experience, and now he is suffering the same persecution that began at the cross. Because of this, Peter has authority to speak, to testify, and to call all believers to perseverance, hope and joy.

Just as Peter modeled, by embracing Christ’s attitude toward suffering, we draw strength for our own persecution and press forward in the power of the God of all Grace!

Love,

Gretchen

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  John 1:9

As very young children we are taught the opposite of cold is hot, and the opposite of light is dark.  Learning skills that help us sort and organize information for ascertaining deep knowledge is great, but for the purpose of this theological moment, let’s consider that they are not, opposites.  Cold is the absence of heat, and light dispels darkness.

The True Light that John speaks of is so radiant that where it shines it eradicates every shadow.  Imagine for a moment that even where you stand, there will be no darkness beneath your feet in this Light’s illumination.

Darkness is synonymous with hopelessness, yet, just a pinhole of light, a tiny glow brings promise, hope.  Jesus came into the world during the reign of one of history’s most bloodthirsty characters, Herod the Great. In addition, the Jewish hierarchy was corrupt and self-serving. The world was dark, AND THEN….God sent His Son, the Light of the world. This light swallows the darkness that threatens, worries and intimidates each of us.  We have hope, a future and an assurance that we will never be overwhelmed by darkness again.

No matter the weather, the Son is always shining!

Gretchen

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

The empty tomb begins John chapter 20.  On that same evening Jesus appears to His disciples,  minus Thomas, and breaths His Spirit on them. The story of Thomas reaching out and touching Jesus’ scars is also told.  Following these accounts, John concludes this passage with the comment that what he has written is just a small fraction of all that Jesus did,

The divinity of Christ is the major theme of John’s writing.  Jesus is the Son of God, and yet, became the son of man.  He died an unjust execution at the hands of selfish men, but rose from the grave taking all power of sin away from satan and his minions.

There is enough Good News in John’s Gospel for you and I to know who Jesus is, what His purpose was and how we should respond.  God’s Word is a book of Love and invitation specifically for you personally.

Love,

Gretchen

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  Galatians 5:13

We know God’s character and desire by the laws and commands He has given us, yet we are made free of them.  What do we do now?  Where is our plumb line? Where are the marks on the field declaring inbounds and out of bounds?

Paul spoke these words to the gentile converts of Galatia. They knew nothing of Jewish laws and practices, yet they wanted to please God. Paul affirms, it is not adherence to these laws, mainly circumcision, that pleases God, it is love.

In love, we freely give our will back to our Creator/Redeemer/Savior.  Resting perfectly in God’s unconditional, all encompassing love we find complete and total freedom from the sins, woes and worries of the world.

Freedom is the greatest responsibility ever given. It reveals the absolute truth of character. Serve one another in love and you will find complete freedom in Christ.

Happy Saturday,

Gretchen

Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name. Deuteronomy 6:13

Instructions for life!  The central direction is to fear the LORD. Uphold His absolute authority and power.  Oddly, the only way to do this is to imitate Him. Imitating Him is serving Him……which is…..loving and serving others.

Oaths: Binding contracts, formal commitments, casual promises, integral parts of interpersonal relationships, the things of life created and kept by person to person bonds. Your word represents who you are and what you value.  The manner in which you honor your word defines your character.  When you give your word it should be sacred because you made it prayerfully and purposefully.  Keeping your oaths honors God.

Have a Wonderful Day!

Gretchen

The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24

The name Deuteronomy means second law and contains the restatement and reaffirmation or exposition of the Sinai Covenant (in part, the Ten Commandments). This book, said to be the words of Moses, defines the heart of God’s law.  The fact that Deuteronomy was quoted over 80 times in the New Testament indicates its relevance to today’s world.

The fear of the Lord is simply knowing who is God and who is NOT!  Add a dash of respect and acknowledgement for His power, worship and obedience become the air you breath.

We don’t love the LORD so that we may live long and prosper. That would be putting ourselves at the center of the universe.  We love because He first loved us. Peace and prosperity are simply the result of a life lived in submission to the One that created and loved us.

Happy Day,

Gretchen

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. II Peter 1:3

Faith leads to salvation, salvation leads to the very nature of God, Holiness. The opposite of sinfulness is Holiness.  God will not dwell in the midst of sin, instead, He forgives, cleanses and forgets our transgressions.

We have been given everything we need to become like Christ and conquer the trials of this world through goodness, wisdom, kindness and love.

Have a great day!

Gretchen

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest.”  Matthew 11:28

The world is looking for game changers. There is a perpetual search for over the top fund raisers, eloquent motivators, energizing cheerleaders and leather kneed prayer warriors. More and more people use the word “overwhelmed” with good reason. Entitlement combined with an implied expectation for being everything to everyone and shaming when failure is the only result, quickly brings well meaning people to the edge. Bringing the ‘A’ game 24/7, 365 is NOT an option, it’s survival!

Life is exhausting!  And then there is this invitation, “Come to me……….”  No strings attached, no give and take, just giving on the part of a Savior that left Heaven to secure peace and rest for you.  Just say, “Yes!” Jesus is the gamer changer. Rest in Him.  If He isn’t asking it of you, then maybe it doesn’t need do be done.

Love,

Gretchen