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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

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 Wednesday!

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.

Happy Tuesday!

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 creates our habitat, not darkness. Light sustains our existence, not darkness. Life and light, one in the same, are the essence and 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 that 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

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 that 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

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 that 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? 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 Oerer, “Simon son of John, donyou 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 the 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