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Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Luke 18:17

For the past many years I’ve taught kindergarten in a school district whose mascot is the Thunderbird.  One of my room moms coined the name Kinderbirds and it stuck. Over the years I’ve seen my fledglings pass through tragedy and triumph. There was a time when my little flock came together to see a classmate through the death of his father. (Search my blog for Painted Rocks to read the story in full.)  After the appropriate time with family, our friend returned to the classroom, and as far as I could tell, we settled into a good, new normal.  But, while I was expounding on the attributes of an upper case ‘M’ my heart broken chick chirped out, “Mrs. Rooney, I hear my dad’s voice all the time.” I just calmly said, “Okay.” He continued, “I hear him right now.”  I innocently asked, “How does that make you feel?”  His soft little voice replied, “It makes me want to be where he is.”

I knew I stood in a moment of profound truth. My precious little student didn’t ask that his father be returned to his side. His desire was to go into his father’s presence.

The silence was quickly broken by the lilt of a bright voice proclaiming, “It’s Heaven, he’s in Heaven!” and a quieter voice, through a tight throat said, “I know.”

There was no great debate of theology, no offense that something so personal or religious came up in a public school classroom, in fact, I had very little to do with what happened in a matter of seconds. But, I know the hearts of the children understand clearly what I so often battle: Complete and simple faith.

Don’t ever out grow the need to cry out to your loving and faithful Father.

Love,

Gretchen

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my bother to divide the inheritance with me.” Luke 12:13

This interruption came while Jesus was speaking to the multitudes concerning boldness through the Holy Spirit when faced with temptation and hardship.  This nameless gentleman recognized the worth of what Jesus was saying, but only as it applied to someone else, in this instance, a brother’s alleged treachery.

Is it right that this man’s brother withheld his inheritance? No, but that’s not the point. Man’s behavior will never be fair. Humans err, our perspective is miscued, some are downright selfish! God didn’t send His only Son to die so we could keep score.  He gave His Son so our hope is far beyond the things of this world.

Jesus was flawless, sinless. Yet, He battled Satan for our souls and won. God’s grace provides a means to withstand disappointment and live in victory, despite the world’s cruel behaviors.  It is my testimony that your needs will be met in the fullness of God’s Glory. Let this world have its treasure. It will soon turn to dust. Trade it in for joy and peace and know you are the child of THE KING.

Love,

Gretchen

P.S.  I’ve heard that gold is so abundant in Heaven they use it to pave the streets!

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.  John 4:46

This verse is wedged between the story of the woman at the well, who’s spiritual thirst was quenched for a lifetime, and Jesus’ call to fields ripe for harvest.

While passing through Samaria Jesus ministered to a lone woman while the disciples went to town to buy food.  A great deal occurred while they were gone. (Read John 4:1-26) The disciples returned with dinner, but the woman who found Jesus had also returned with everyone she could find. (Evangelism can be that easy!)  Jesus’ friends encouraged Him to eat but His response is the verse you read above. 

If we want to be like Jesus, our true satisfaction should be drawn from arising daily and serving the LORD in any opportunity granted.

Have a great weekend,

Gretchen

And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12

The word ‘qualified’ has its root in the word quality. A qualified person possesses and uses designated, esteemed qualities. It is our instinct to seek quality/qualification, yet being spiritually qualified is a gift given, not a status accomplished. 

A resume is a document declaring qualification that only guarantees a comparative rank connected to a respective, monetary compensation. However, the qualification bestowed by God, through the blood of Jesus, assures the inheritance of eternal life that begins at the moment of salvation.

Through God’s abundant gift of love, you are a qualified heir and will receive the kingdom of Heaven. Sharing in what God has provided does not mean divided equally among us, thus shrinking portions as the family grows. By the miracle of the Creator of all things from nothing, we each receive everything.

Love,

Gretchen

Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8

I add this verse to yesterday’s devotional to call attention to the next five word’s of verse 9, “Go and tell this people:”  THIS people, not ‘those’ people, or ‘some’ people, or ‘other’ people, THIS people. 

‘This’ is a very specific word.  Isaiah was sent to a very particular people; those right in front of him.  He could touch them, hear them, smell them and they were known to be hard hearted. In other words, deaf and blind to God’s love. But still, God said, “THIS PEOPLE!” Isaiah asked, “For how long LORD?” God’s response, “Until there is nothing left.”

     

God is not a giving up kind of God.  He won’t throw in the towel on you and He won’t call it a game on those you are praying for. “Whom shall He send?”  Me and you, until there is nothing left……until the end of this age. Don’t give up, because God sure isn’t!

Love,

Gretchen

With it He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:7

Isaiah had a face to face encounter with the LORD. It was glorious, but what Isaiah saw in the presence of God’s Holiness was his own sinful nature, his unclean lips. He was awed, yet overwhelmed with unworthiness.

Moments away from hearing God’s call, “Whom shall I send?” (verse 8) and shooting his hand in the air calling, “Pick me! Pick me!”  Isaiah felt catastrophic unworthiness.  God sends an angel to touch Isaiah’s lips, the organ in question, and he is forgiven, purified.  Atonement for sin is quickly and freely given.

Satan’s weapon of choice is man’s natural instinct to compare himself to God’s beautiful Holiness and find himself lacking. Disarm your evil foe!!  Heaven’s caress is for you too. Lift your face to the Son, feel the touch of God upon you and stand strong in the power of His purity.

Blessings,

Gretchen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1

Imagine you are warming up for the race of your life. You glance into the stadium seats and recognize many elite champions who once stood at your same starting line, run a similar race and crossed the finish line in victory.  Now they are cheering for you, sending encouragement and screaming, “God’s got this, you can do it!”  You are pumped and able to get in your zone where nothing distracts or inhibits.

When you need an extra portion of faith, borrow from those who have triumphantly gone before you. Stand in the power of your redemption and stay the course with your eye on the cross where indisputable victory was won!

And if you’re feeling strong today, stand in someone’s cheering section or run beside them, take their baton and run a lap on their behalf. It’s the legacy of the faithful, it’s what we do.

Go Get Em’!

Gretchen

He humbles you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that people do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3

Manna was a new food created for the sole purpose of satisfying the newly freed Hebrew’s palette and nourishment needs. That’s amazing and awesome!

It was not God’s plan that His people stay in one place long enough to cultivate fields for food, nor were they to spend their time hunting and gathering. They were on their final journey to the Promised Land. God’s plan was to love and restore a faithful people by providing all their needs.

God has NOT retired from the manna business. With humble heart, look to Him to supply all your needs and with the greatest glories of the universe He will design a fulfilling, sustaining and unending manna, new and specific to you. Growing strong and faithful in the wilderness leads to the rest of the Promised Land.

Feasting,

Gretchen

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

All of Paul’s letters being with some variation of this beautiful salutation.

When I finally finished college and secured a teaching job, I posted these words above my desk so I would never forget the gift of students and the people invested in who I became. As the years have come and gone, my gift list has grown considerably.

Today, I encourage you to consider those you share life’s intimate moments with. Reflect on the miracle God has woven together in this moment in time and space. You won’t be able to help smiling and feeling all big inside. And, you will be compelled to live worthy of the privilege and long for their eternal life.

Happy Friday!

Gretchen

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.  Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. Acts 20:28

Paul is bidding farewell to the Elders of the Ephesian churches.  He is on a quest to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost where he knows his passionate proclaiming of the Gospel will end with him in chains.  He does not expect to ever see these friends again this side of Heaven.

Over 200 times in the Bible, God’s people are referenced as sheep, members of a flock. My skills and knowledge of husbandry are limited. However, there is google, and I learned sheep are hardy, social animals that can exist in almost any habitat on earth. They have excellent hearing, but poor eyesight making them constant prey to the hazards of the wild and frequently victim to the tame.  Does this sound like anyone you know?

Paul’s plea to the shepherds, who happen to be sheep also, is to be wary of the evil that never sleeps and who’s sole work is to destroy the church. 

My friends, if I knew that I would never write another word, never see, hear or talk to you again, I would spend my final breath telling you this…..Listen to God’s voice, He will guide you and keep you out of those pits and the mouths of wolves. His loving staff will bring you safely home.

All My Love,

Gretchen