Sonshine!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 (Isaiah 49-53)

Within the prophecies of Isaiah are four poems, identified by the Biblical scholar Bernhard Buhm in his commentary of 1892.  They are called The Servant Songs, or the call of the servant to lead all nations to God. First and foremost, Israel must be led back to God and trust and obey, so they may do the work they were created to accomplish.

These poems are Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-53:12. In the midst of the Servant’s work to light the world, He also brings comfort and encouragement to the afflicted and weary through the model of perfect peace. While Israel was waiting for a conquering avenger, God was preparing a humble, simple Man, who would touch the unclean, dine with the social outcast, love the unlovable and die for the eternal life of those who wished Him dead. But, just as we are called to pattern our lives after The Savior, we are also called to be a servant. It is considered that Jesus, the Messiah, is the premier object of these songs, but Israel, the Bible heroes of the ages and historical martyrs of great faith are also those among The Called. They have testified to God’s authority, power and love, thus bringing the message of salvation to all nations.

The feet of The Servant, and all others, compelled by love to declare The Gospel, are the most beautiful sight in all the world, to those seeking a way through the darkness.

Love,

Gretchen

Human ingenuity and innovation has brought convenience to a time we proudly call “The Modern World.”  I look around my house and think, I’m so glad I have _____ (fill in the blank). But of all the things I like and think I couldn’t live without, door hinges top my list.  Don’t laugh.  Consider, they bring living to a whole new plane. I have doors that swing in, out, up, down.  Whatever I need a door to do, this genius of engineering makes possible.  Best of all, when I bolt my exterior doors, the hinges on the inside assure the door isn’t going anywhere or letting anyone in except that I allow. Many years have come and gone and I have never had to oil, adjust or maintain any door hinges.

There was a time in my youth when I was an arrogant brat.  It’s true.  It has been confirmed by my older brother and two younger sisters and during holiday gatherings, evidence is regularly presented lest I forget. (Don’t worry about me though, I’ve got the goods on them too.) However, there came a day when my pride had to become humility, and new season that turned my self absorbed existence into servant’s heart.

One Sunday morning I was asked to play the piano for hymn singing and offering. I thought I did an outstanding job, but after worship no one, not a soul, acknowledged my talents or performance. Neither did anyone say, “Thank you.” I was appalled. Walking through the church with my pastor/father after the last parishioner left, turning off lights and picking up discarded bulletins, I  announced I was never again going to offer my musical talent to such an ungrateful people and I shared my disappointment over the absence of praise and adoration.

Dad stopped and looked over his glasses at me. There was a very loud silence and he pointed to the doors that separated the sanctuary from the vestibule.  He said, “Gretchen, do you see those doors?” 

I quietly replied, “Yes dad.”

“Have you ever given thought to why they work so nicely providing the service we need?”

“No dad.”

Dad drew me closer and brought me into awareness of THE DOOR HINGE.

“Gretchen, no one ever gives a second thought to the hinge unless it fails, yet we couldn’t make it without them, they hold our physical space together. The fact that no one noticed you, meant you did what you were supposed to do with great proficiency and brought worship to the place it was meant to be.”

“Yes dad.”

“Gretchen, God needs His people to be like door hinges.”

“Yes dad.”

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve

others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10

Pride connects our hearts to the things of this world, unconditional, selfless love, through service, brings us into the presence of God.

Love,

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD, your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 (Isaiah 46-48)

Once again, Isaiah speaks to the future invasion by Babylon and then their failure because of dependance on powerless, false gods. He denounces astrology as fraudulent and reiterates that only God has the exclusive and unique power to predict and control the course of history.

The idols of this culture, and seen in man’s propensities today, are burdensome. You must pay in silver and gold to create these inanimate objects, carry them everywhere they must go, and protect them in costly manners. They take and take but still man pays homage and rejects the God that carries the burdens of His beloved creation.

God’s purpose for His people is peace.  All that leads to the Throne of God also leads to peace that passes all understanding. It is a journey worth making. FYI: The thoroughfare is straight, narrow, well lit and solidly built and protected.

Traveling On,

Gretchen

This is what the LORD says, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last, apart from Me there is no other. Isaiah 44:6 (Isaiah 44-45)

Isaiah has turned his words, or rather, God has turned Isaiah’s words, to the comfort of those suffering the devastating consequences of sin, the greatest of which is being exiled from their home and taken into slavery.

Isaiah spoke of Cyrus, King of Persia, 150 years before he was even born. This king would allow the Jewish people to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. At the present time Jerusalem and its Temple still stood. Because God is the Lord of history, Isaiah was able to pull back the veil on the future and call this future king by name. In this, God proves His supremacy over all idols.

Isaiah calls a conference of nations to compare gods and their superiority of past and future. It was found, “apart from Me there is no other.” Through His prophets, God calls out the ridiculousness of pagan worship. The idols of man, literally formed by man’s own hand, are unable to do what man himself can.  THEY ARE INANIMATE OBJECTS! They cannot see, hear, speak, act and they certainly can’t LOVE!

We are the object of God’s love. We must serve Him, bask in this life giving gift and all its residual blessings, and then turn and bless others.

Love,

He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 (Isaiah 40-44)

Isn’t this verse beautiful?  Israel is no more and now all the optimism Hezekiah brought has faded with the sins of Manasseh. He fostered idolatry, sorcery and astrology and Judah too, is racing toward annihilation. Isaiah now turns his words toward the world of exile and begins to comfort those who were removed from their home. Through God’s revelation, Isaiah brings the true hope of restoration and prosperity.

Very specific details to the future are presented through Isaiah. There will be no doubt that the preservation and rescue of God’s covenant people is the work of The One True God. Cyrus the Persian king was named 150 years before he was instrumental in God’s plan. God has predictive power!

These passages are some of the most restful in all of God’s Word. Eternal youth for all who believe is a sure thing. There is no molecule in all of the universe, both known and unknown, that God did not create and He is intimately in control, through His perfect knowledge and justice. There is comfort and peace for those in despair and distress. Israel’s God is incomparable, eternal and infinitely loving and kind. This God will be your shepherd too.

Love,

Gretchen

I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. Isaiah 21:13 (II Kings 18-21, II Chronicles 20, 32, 33 and Isaiah 36-38)

The understanding of eternal life for people of the Old Testament was vague and primitive. The personal news of Hezekiah’s death drove him to tears rather than hope. God responds and grants Hezekiah fifteen more years of life, protects Jerusalem from Assyria and as a sign God makes a stair sundial move backwards.

After Hezekiah’s death his twelve year old son, Mannaseh, became king and reigned 55 years.  Mennaseh was an evil king who sacrificed his own child. Judah followed their leader and turned away from God once again. Mennaseh’s son Amon continued in his father’s pattern and was also evil as Judah ran farther and farther away from God’s law.

Israel has fallen. Judah is still surviving but they are hard hearted and rebellious despite the spiritual revival under Hezekiah’s conscientious leadership. God declares judgement is equal for all people and the consequences likewise. The fate of Judah would soon match Israel’s if they did not change their ways. However, every generation must find and determine its own commitment, and the next two kings had no desire to follow God and the fragile faith of the people did nothing to sustain worship of The One True God.

God’s perfect judgement is not a comparative study. There are no lesser or greater sins, only transgressions that destroy and separate man from God. Every generation must chose and all men within the ages must make their choice. No excuse, no comparisons, only God’s perfect understanding of each individual heart.

Have a great Midweek!

Gretchen

Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. II Kings 17:40a (II Kings 17-18)

Despite God’s loving pursuit, Israel soundly rejects Him and His laws. Long gone is the covenant keeping of Jacob, the memory of Moses and the freedom from foreign powers. The Northern Kingdom of Israel has been paying homage to Assyria for some time, but on the sly, king Hoshea makes secret deal with Egypt that fails and brings the full wrath of Assyria.  The last region to fall was Samaria. The people were exiled, if they lived, taken into slavery and their towns, homes and businesses were resettled with a melting pot of people from foreign places, who brought their gods with them.

As repopulation of the Promised Land, God’s gift to His covenant people, is taking place, God allows wild lions to attack them some communities. The people cry out for guidance in how to appease the God of Israel so He will spare them. Assyria returns an Israelite priest to teach these people, but they simply add the One True God to their worship rotation.

These comments are more historical than inspirational, but sin’s absolute consequence is separation from God. It is seen at its very worst as mother and child are separated and bartered into bondage and men are mutilated if not killed. Why? Because man wanted their own lusts and pleasures in the immediate far more than they wanted Holiness from now until eternity. It’s a sad story. Don’t let it be yours.

Love,

Gretchen

He who walks righteously, and speaks what is right, who rejects gains from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against comteimplatiqng evil, this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. Isaiah 33:15-16 (Isaiah 32-33)

God has spared Jerusalem from destruction at the hands of the Assyrian army, elevating Hezekiah’s prestige as leader, but there must have been a group of ungodly, yet influential women in his court. They stand against all that Isaiah preaches. One of his messages, through the terrifying siege of the city, was to assure its faithful residents that God would punish their enemies. Isaiah returns also to his foretelling of a coming King, whose radiance will reveal each man in their true character and call them by their right names.  In other words, He will point fingers and name names and no one will be exempt.

In reference to all the doom and gloom judgement against those who reject Isaiah’s message and the God it represents, it is easy to forget Isaiah’s mission.  He was called to change people’s hearts. Obviously, some chose the sovereignty of God’s authority, both politically and personally, and the course of their life’s destiny was reversed. Others chose the fleeting comforts of luxury.   

Patient continuance in one’s daily walk is the deepest expression of Trust in God. Persevere faithfully in love toward those who reject God. 100% acceptance of the Gospel is every Christian’s ideal, but success rates much lower must not discourage and stop the determination of the few. It’s called ‘Hope’ for a reason. Hope of eternal life for those who believe, and Hope of salvation for those who do not……yet.

Happy Monday,

Gretchen

All God asks of us is to obey. Obedience leads to righteousness. Faith is the link that joins the two. BUT IT IS HARD!!!

My husband and I met as children. The spring we were both twenty we were having a heated argument about life’s plans and somehow we came to the conclusion we didn’t want to go forward without each other. We knew nothing of healthy relationships, but we stood at an altar and made some promises.  Some we kept, others we stumble over regularly. Then, we revisit that night long ago on the shore of Lake Overholser, in Bethany, Oklahoma, when we said, “Yes,’ and wonder what in the world we were thinking.

Exhibit A: I am a persnickety nester.  I like my spaces clean, cozy and well organized.  Aesthetics is everything to me. Keith is a people person. He couldn’t care less about the color of the wall or the shape of the flower beds. It’s about people within and the experiences shared.

Moving on to B: We, as a couple, stay on the go constantly. In Gretchen world, car time is brain free time. I can’t do laundry, dishes etc., so I relax and read….or look at my device. Keith chatters away beside me, often turning around to go back and show me something I missed, because I didn’t react quickly when he said, “Look!”

As I mentioned prior, I like orderliness and stay in a perpetual state of straightening and putting things away. Keith does not recognize that cabinet doors open……and then close with a gentle push. As I go through the kitchen on my perpetual mission of orderliness, I do question my life’s choices, and when I won’t join him for an evening motorcycle ride because I need to mop the floor, he questions his.

One last thing. Each morning as we are getting ready for our day, Keith, in his exuberance for life, switches between stations to get ALL the morning headlines. From the bathroom I hear, “The declining elephant population on the Savannah will adversely effect the weather in the north east, as thousands are expected to take to the roadways to receive their flu vaccinations.” Yes, I glare, then he tells me it is an outside recess day.

It is a miracle we are still married and neither of us is incarcerated. But how did we accomplish this? One thing only! Obedience, through faith, striving for righteousness. God has a plan for us, together, and it can’t be done with us apart. The most amazing, wonderful piece of real estate in the universe is in the center of God’s will, and for us, that place can only be occupied as Mr. and Mrs.

IT IS HARD! But it is right! And so, it is easy. The one thing Keith and I have always had in common is love for our fellow man, and the one truth that returns to us every single day is, we can’t love them best, if we don’t love each other first. That is why I put my device aside and look out the windshield, and he folds clothes while I mop. Together is best, because we promised we would when we were crazy, stupid kids, and didn’t know any better.

The Big 10!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

Don’t bow down to idols, that’s not smart.

Never take the Father’s name in vain,

Keep the sabbath Holy, six remain.

Honor your father and mother,

Don’t take the life of another.

Don’t be a louse, be faithful to your spouse

Never say it if it is not true,

Don’t take things that don’t belong to you.

You might love it, but it’s not right to covet!

(Author Unknown)

Love you all,

Gretchen

Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. Isaiah 28:18 (Isaiah 27-31)

Isaiah continually warned the people of Judah to remain faithful and not return to their sinful ways over time.  One of the casual means by which men offend God is to rely on the earthly efforts of governments and principalities rather than God’s sustaining and protective power. Judah renewed their dedication, now they must remain faithful. Isaiah is very clear about the consequences of God’s judgement for those who reject His Holiness, and offers continual reminders of the blessings of obedience.

Death is not the moment your heart ceases to beat. It is separation from God for all eternity! There is no opportunity for a return from death. BUT! God has annulled death’s final say. For the faithful, there is no end. Eternity stretches out into forever for all who believe.

Obedience and faithfulness is for our own good.  Don’t give up, don’t give in!

Love,

Gretchen