Category: Uncategorized

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……..God’s Glory in 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, embracing Christ’s attitude toward suffering gives strength in our own persecution and energy to press forward by the power of the God of all Grace!

Love,

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 Johns 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 Tuesday,

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!

Welcome to May, Have a Great Week!

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 Weekend,

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 who left Heaven to secure peace and rest for you. Just say, “Yes!” Jesus is the game changer. Rest in Him. If He isn’t asking it of you, then maybe it doesn’t need do be done.

Love,

Gretchen

Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:10

Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. (Read Acts chapter 3) This act drew a crowd and so the two apostles began to testify to what they knew first hand and preach the Gospel of Good News. The Jewish political machine went into action partnered with the Roman authority in residence. Peter and John were arrested, but still, many heard the message, believed, and their number grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

The next day the High Priest (Jewish authority) wanted to know what right Peter and John had to heal this man. Yes, you read that right! They wanted Peter and John to give account of the authority they had for this kindness, this life changing miracle, this act that improved someone’s quality of life! These Spirit Filled ministers of the Gospel, for the first time in Christian history declared that the machinations and manipulations of men are powerless against a resurrected Savior.

Happy Wednesday,

Gretchen

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

It has been a week since Jesus rose from the dead. He has appeared to many of His disciples, yet Thomas the doubter has not witnessed Him. In response to the other disciple’s testimony Thomas said, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25b Jesus’ response was to enter a locked room, stand among these men and state, “Peace be with you!” then invite Thomas to do what Thomas said it would take to affirm his faith.

Jesus, our loving Savior took Thomas’ question of faith and applied it very personally to you and I because we are those who, ‘have not seen and yet believed.’

There is great assurance in a Savior that understands the need for evidence and provides it lavishly. If I ever choose to live vicariously, I think I’ll live through the fingers and eyes of Thomas, the one that got to touch the wounds that were suffered for me.

Have a great Tuesday!

Gretchen

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:66

Jesus died. A rich Jewish disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, worked up enough courage to go and ask Pilot for Jesus’ body so that it did not have to remain publicly displayed through the Jewish Sabbath. He, along with Nicodemus, respectfully washed and wrapped their friend’s body and placed it in Joseph’s own newly dug tomb.

The next morning some of the Pharisees and Chief Priests remembered the prophecy of resurrection and grew concerned that someone might take Jesus from His burial site and claim He rose again. To assure the highest level of ‘integrity’ Pilate agreed to seal the entrance and post a guard.

Man tries to control and manipulate the physical world, thus reaching into things spiritual. But these efforts are in vain. Man’s mortar or military CANNOT measure against the power and will of God. The sealed tomb wasn’t about the portal between life and death, in this instance a huge bolder, two guards and some quickcrete. It’s about control: God or man?  The end of the story speaks for itself.

He is Risen!

Gretchen