Category: Uncategorized

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44

Acts is Salvation History! The story of the birth of Christianity, told by Luke, quoting the first sermons, and chronicling the ‘Acts’ of the Apostles. What’s the bottom line? They got it right, Heaven’s space is filled with people that heard the word and turned from their wicked ways to embrace grace and cling to the promise of a Savior that would not abandon His children to their graves!!

The disciples were quietly waiting in Jerusalem. They knew something was about to happen, Peter was beginning to connect the dots. Their only hope was too pray, anticipate, remain together in one heart and mind. If they did not, all was a futile, disappointing waste of hope.

This early church had to stick together. Conversion meant loss of status, family, income. The consequence of separating from each other was life or death. We may be slightly more confident today, but it is a delusion. If Christian homes don’t have everything in common, disastrous things are lurking. If lay persons don’t stand for a common objective, little gets accomplished and evangelism is put aside for pettiness. All points of ministry must come together as separate parts with one goal, SALVATION!

Does satan wish to divide and conquer? YES! If he accomplishes this on any level, he has won. So put all of yourself aside and fill the empty space with the Holy Spirit. You’ll have much to offer and share in common with a great community of believers.

Love,

Gretchen

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. Romans 3:21

In Paul’s day Rome was a vast empire spanning an area from Britain to Arabia. It was wealthy and cosmopolitan. All roads led to Rome, so people traveled and there were Roman citizens who witnessed Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. This letter is addressed to the Christian community in Rome that took root on that day. It would be three long years before Paul personally reached Rome and it would be as a prisoner.

Paul is placing all the pieces of God’s ‘puzzle’ together. The death and resurrection of Christ is the only means of salvation. The prophets testified to this even if they were not to see it in person. Christ’s sacrifice changed obedience to the law to obedience to love.

As Christians we are all the same, there is no differentiation between Jew and Gentile. We are all alike under the power of sin and salvation comes to all of us exactly the same. The following verses are very familiar and add to the understanding of verse 21. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Praise be to God, for His Righteousness is known and we can share in His Glory.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Justified is a court/law term meaning that the gavel came down and the judge/God found the defendant NOT GUILTY! Because our faith has led us to believe in the Resurrected Christ, we are free from sin’s death sentence. We are justified, made righteous.

“Peace be with you,” is the phrase Jesus spoke to the disciples after the resurrection. Through Christ a relationship is established with God our Father. A relationship of peace, unity and unanimity, one mind, one heart. Paul continues this pattern in his letters by writing, ‘Grace and peace’ in the salutations. Peace is the objective, it’s important.

It is traditionally the offender who returns to the offended, extends an apology and seeks peace, but with God, He comes to us, extending His sacrifice, His Only Son, to offer mercy, grace, love and forgiveness so that we live.

Peace is not a whimsical distant wish. It is a valid way of life for all who choose to walk as one with The One True God.

Happy Friday,

Gretchen

 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. I Peter 2:17

But I thought respect was something someone had to earn? If they fail my respect ‘test’ then I withhold this courtesy at my discretion. Right? Well, not according to scripture.

Jesus was being robbed of His proper respect and dignity on the night Peter denied knowing him. Peter never forgot. At the time of this letter, Peter is in Rome being persecuted for the Gospel. Christians of Peter’s time were being threatened, some even to death, and for society to make it okay in their minds and hearts, they accused them of every impurity and perversion. Nero, the emperor was leading the charge. Yet, these young, newly transformed Christians are hearing Peter remind them they are serving the Stone the builders rejected, the One True God, and they represent the hope of the church that was built upon this very rock. Love each other and trust, it will be worth it.

Respect is a reflection of your character and the character of whom you belong. Withholding it is akin to a tantrum. Christians must live above reproach or our testimony is nullified, even when we are being robbed of the very thing we freely give.

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:21

This epistle by James, the brother of Jesus, is a general letter, addressed to many people and places rather than just a single church. James is adamant that faith and works cannot be separated. Real faith permeates every area of life to the positive.

Tongues and tempers are firm footholds for trouble. Guard against loose language, criticism and gossip toward each other, but also keep God’s name Holy and don’t blame all the world’s troubles on Him. He is good, not evil. (Read all of chapter 1.)

Faith is Christ alive in us, planted, rooted and growing. He died to give life. LIVE!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday,

Gretchen

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you and you shall answer me.’ My eyes have seen You.” Job 42:4-5

In my deepest despair I turned to the book of Job searching for the answer to this question: Why do horrible things happen to good people? I still can’t answer, but like Job, I learned some valuable facts.

God is good. Only good. He is not cruel, He does not delight in our agony.
While we cannot fathom what God is doing, we can feel His presence and touch.
The bigger God becomes, the smaller I become and there lies the greatest peace ever!

Job was a wealthy sheik. He lost every earthly possession including his health. His faith was shaken to its core. All he had remaining was his integrity and while his anger, and heartache drew him very close to sin, he realized he was not God’s equal. He was broken but never quit crying out to God.

Job repeatedly asked God “Why?” His friends placed blame and voiced suspicion. Finally God said, “Shut up! All of you! I am God!” (Sort of….You’ll have to read chapters 38-41 to get the full picture.)

There are things far beyond our depth, but we must seek God’s face….and It will be enough. He is good, loving and kind.

As always, Basking in the Sonshine,

Gretchen

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah is not unique in his creation. We are all woven together purposefully and God knows us well before anyone else even suspects we exist. God has a plan of grace and purpose for each of us.

Jeremiah was reluctant to answer God’s call. God affirmed His calling in verses 7-10. Jeremiah saw himself through the eyes of man with man’s limitations and prejudices. However, we are not called by man or because we are the model of perfect preparation. We become perfectly prepared and equipped when we answer God’s call. God does the calling and the equipping. It is not by power of man that Grace and Mercy abound, but man is the conduit through which these gifts reach a hurting world.

Your call is to love, worship and serve….. and probably a whole lot more, but God will let you know. You are wonderfully and fearful made and your creator has an amazing plan.

Love,

Gretchen

Listen now to me and I will give you some advise, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Exodus 18:19

Moses fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew slave. This flight brought him to the camp of shepherd/priest Jethro where Moses found work and a wife.

Decades later Moses is leading the Hebrew people out of slavery and across the Sinai peninsula to the Promised Land. He is overwhelmed with the administration of thousands of people traveling by foot and living in tight spaces. There are huge daily crisis and even more mundane daily needs to meet. Jethro, the father-in-law, advised Moses to delegate some duties and responsibilities. Moses’ purpose was to lead God’s chosen nation as they learned to depend solely on God and become a covenant people. Struggling with frustration and exhaustion, leading became secondary.

Moses was getting bogged down in trivial matters. Satan has a cruel way of stopping our forward motion with the little things that seem to matter so much, but in the whole picture of life, don’t. Keeping the main thing, the main thing.

Decide what is important and the cost you are willing to pay in time and energy. You are building a legacy. Make sure it’s the one you want.

Happy Weekend,

Gretchen

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-15

These two verses precede the most familiar scripture of all, John 3:16. Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a pharisee, a jewish ruler, who came in the night to understand the miracles of Jesus. Nicodemus was very learned in Old Testament theologies and histories. He had some preconceived ideas about the promised savior. Jesus was correcting and redirecting his misperceptions.

When God calls Moses in the wilderness, Moses is afraid and needs to see God’s power and presence. His staff turns into a snake and then back into a staff. (Exodus 4:3-5) Heaven touches Moses through this act. Moses is the chosen one, sent to deliver the Hebrews from bondage. Again in Numbers 21:4-9 God instructs Moses with a snake and a staff to convey His power and justice.

Jesus came to close the gap between Heaven and earth. He will be exalted, slain and then exalted for all eternity. He is connecting Nicodemus to God’s plan of deliverance then and now. Nicodemus knows of God’s promise to make his nation great, and now he is hearing that it is so much more than what is on earth.

God has so much prepared for mankind. We get wrapped up in the things of earth when it is the things of Heaven on earth that Jesus died to give. It’s all about eternal life, but remember, it begins on earth.

Happy Week’s End

Gretchen

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7

Cain, Adam and Eve’s first born son, struggled with bitterness and resentment.

In a life outside the garden, man had to work the land. Cain grew crops, Abel raised live stock. Both sons brought an offering to God, the first act of worship. One was accepted, the other wasn’t. Why? We simply do not know. Like much of life that is uncomfortable or unpleasing to man, we have to accept without understanding. What we do know is, Cain threw a carnal fit!! Hate found a place to put down roots and grew in the fertile soil of self-will.

Cain’s attitude? If I don’t get my way, then everybody pays, brother, mom, dad, presumably God, “They will be sorry I’m not happy.”

God is loving and kind. If we don’t believe this very fundamental fact, then faith wilts and sin creeps in. Do not question God’s authority, do not challenge Him. Have faith, worship and offer praise, even when you don’t understand. In this healthy soil and great things will grow.

Love,

Gretchen