Sonshine!

These are the regulations concerning contamination by mildew in woolen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean. Leviticus 13:59

When asked what her favorite book is, my youngest daughter replies, “Leviticus.” What!?….. No, Leviticus is not her favorite book, it’s the irony that she enjoys, even more so when someone gets her clever humor.

As for me, I approach this book of the Bible like the student who stated, “Only 5 out of 4 people ever use fractions when they grow up so why do I have to know math?” Why Leviticus in modern day Christianity? Here’s why, Leviticus is the spoken, God breathed Word. It reveals God as our Father and we as His beloved children, His covenant community. God is intensely concerned with the health and welfare of those that have chosen to be set apart through salvation and Holiness. (Lev. 11:45 and 19:18) This concern looks different for the historical children of Israel, but the basic fact remains, moment to moment God cares that your life marches forward with healthy, ethical and productive precision.

When you wake up knowing you have more to do than hours, energy and money allow, you find mold in your storage building and your anxiety further impedes your progress, ask God to give you wisdom and guidance. TaDa!! You find the gracious, generous and unchanging God of ancient law. This God who gave directions for dealing with mildew IS willing and able to help you with the minor (and major) details of life. He is the One True God and He loves YOU!

Feeling Invincible,

Gretchen

As I long for my blog to be a spiritual respite for my friends far and near, I have asked one of the greatest men I know to share a moment of his life. Enjoy some words from my father, Reverend J. Bryan Jones.

Authenticity of Emotion

Our embarrassments tend to stick in our mind and make an indelible impression.  It may be a social faux pas, an inappropriate or uninformed communication, or simply being misunderstood by those around us.

The later was my experience in the company of a great number of friends and ministry colleagues.  And not just once but twice…. two days in a row.  The occasion was a PALCON (Pastor’s Leadership Conference) on the campus of SNU, 1980-ish.  Pastors from across the region had gathered for inspiration, instruction and just a little R & R.  The first plenary gathering was to feature a very favorite speaker of mine, Reuben Welch.  He is the most quotable, and consequently the most memorable, of any speaker I have ever had the privilege of hearing …e.g. “Sometimes you have to give to God your inability to give yourself to God.” And I was not about to miss a word.  I took my seat in Herrick Auditorium middle row,  second pew, isle seat.

The special music for the service was provided by a popular quartet who could raise the roof with their renditions of old gospel favorites.  The “Amens”, waving of hands and vocal expressions of praise soon spilled into the isles and escalated into a concert of mixed shouts and holy hugs that everyone seemed to be enjoying but me. With the third or fourth repeating of the refrain to  “The King is Coming” the expressions of emotion were unrestrained.  The good ole term was “God came down and filled everyone with His Spirit.”

I didn’t feel a thing!  Friends and acquaintances came by and slapped me on the back as if encouraging me to get in the game.  However, my temperamental propensities would not allow me to engage in something that wasn’t me.  I just sat there, expressionless like a lump on a log. So far as I was concerned, it was an emotional orgy and I was ready for it to be over.  It was probably my imagination thinking I was getting glances of suspicion that maybe I had backslidden or lost the victory. My embarrassment soon turned into fear that they would gather around me with the laying on of hands, praying that my cold, cold heart would turn to God.

Well…..the emotions finally subsided, the services continued and at the conclusion I made a quick exit determined to not get caught like that again.  The next service, I slipped into a pew near the back and sat alone.  However,  a loving God was about to give this humble servant a dose of something real.  In place of the raucous quartet, Professor Ray Moore took the mic and, with piano accompaniment only, sang the beautiful old hymn, “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place.”  My spirit was touched, my emotions erupted.  Tears flowed freely and my body shook in response to the waves of joy that filled my breast.  It was all I could do to keep from disrupting the quiet moment with my shouts of praise.

By now, you are wondering about the second embarrassment.  Once again it may have been my overactive imagination but I was sure I was receiving furtive glances that spoke questions of why this guy sitting all alone was losing it.  No one else seemed to be having an emotional upheaval but me.

Once again I made my quick and silent exit not wanting to make eye or voice contact with anyone.  All these years later, I am sure no one remembers the occasion but me, but the embarrassing spectacle I may have been in the eyes of my brothers in ministry has been transformed into a sweet memory of a special witness of the Spirit that came like a flood.

I am not very vocal in my emotional expressions.  Pretty quiet, really, and I like it that way. But the joy of salvation wells up and the assurance of salvation is my constant experience.  The mantra of my life is solidly expressed in these words:

My faith has found a resting place, not in device or creed
I trust the ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead.

Enough for me that Jesus saves –  this ends my fear and doubt
A sinful soul I come to Him – He’ll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God.
Salvation by my Savior’s name, salvation through His blood.

I need no other argument,  I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He did for me.

Lidie Edmunds   ca. 1891

Feeling the joy,

Bryan Jones

If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5

Nothing is more frustrating than knowing someone could help you but they choose not to. Please keep in mind, this is the character of man, not God.

God NEVER withholds Himself from us. When we ask for the things that draw us closer to God and bring glory to Him, He gives in great and overflowing abundance. We must pursue God’s character as fervently as some men pursue silver. Seek the face of God and strive to mirror It in our entire being.

Through the Looking Glass,

Gretchen

Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cites of our God. The LORD will do what is good in His sight. 2 Samuel 10:12

Have you ever had your motives questioned? Had your kindness thrown back in your face?

This verse is lifted from an episode in the history of David as he is establishing the nation of Israel. A neighboring king, the king of the Ammonites died and David sent a delegation to express sympathy and show kindness. His envoy was not received in the manner in which it was sent and these men were treated to great humiliation. Hanun, the new king erred on the side of cynicism and momentary power, realized he just picked an unnecessary fight and prepared to defend. David responded in kingly fashion and gathered his army.

As the armies amassed on the battle field. David’s military commander Joab realized they were terribly outnumbered and gave this pep-talk: Be strong, fight bravely for the cities of our God, the LORD will do what is good.”

Joab spoke in this reverence because all the land was God’s not man’s. He also acknowledged that God is good, His will is good.

Standing on the cusp of battle surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy it is hard to comprehend that what we are fighting so furiously for is not even ours. It’s God’s and He’s got it. God is good so let Him worry about  the small stuff and of course the big stuff too. Just do good.

Gretchen

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. I Peter 3:11

As Jesus’ close friend, Peter would most certainly understand the passions of His heart and the purpose of His actions. They were pure and transparent, “Do good; seek peace,” with deliberate pursuit.

Any agenda other than peace is unacceptable. Doing good brings about peace. Others may not come into a state of peace, but you will and you is what you answer for.

When I come to my day of judgement, God will not ask me, “How did everyone treat you down there?” However, He will ask, “How did you treat others?” Doing good and seeking peace is the only acceptable answer to this question.

God loves peace and so must I.

Gretchen

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

If you are reading this you probably have a knowledge of salvation and for that I am truly thankful. I was saved at the age of twelve and while I still stand amazed in the miracle of that moment I often struggle with the deep dark parts of my heart and mind that want to take a break from my conscience and tell the world what I really think. Soon my heart breaks for its moment of carnal will and I’m defeated. It’s a vicious cycle, but God as our creator, great redeemer and lover of our souls has this under control.

Two things are working in the act of salvation: Jesus’ blood given freely and God’s grace in boundless supply. At the point of death, sin lost it’s power over Jesus and at the point of resurrection, sin lost it’s power over the believer. Now for that unlimited grace. There is no sin God can’t and won’t forgive. His riches cross the expanse of man’s moral and physical poverty. DO NOT live in defeat! Daily accept this gift, tell Satan to take a short hike off a tall cliff, and accept God’s rich grace as your own.

Living in Victory,

Gretchen

P.S. I encourage you to read the entire first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. It will strengthen you.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son born of a woman, born under the law. Galatians 4:4

As the Son of God, Jesus had no boundaries, no restrictions of linear time, no limits of aging flesh and certainly no carnal temptations, but as Son of Man, Jesus took on all of these characteristics. He became fully man. He became just as we are so that we have a hope to become just as He is.

It’s just this simple, Jesus became human so that we can be Holy. Jesus came to earth to lead the way to Heaven.

In Christ,

Gretchen

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

Following the death of Moses Joshua was charged with leading the nation of Israel into the promised land. Things hadn’t been easy for Moses. It had been a long arduous trip, forty years wandering in the wilderness, not because God designed calamity, but because people are hard headed and hard hearted. Yet God remained true to His covenant and His promises. Now Joshua had a call to answer and God was paying forward the comfort and confidence Joshua was going to need to see His mission through. I especially love the promise of God’s constant presence.

Loneliness is the world’s deadliest disease. Horrible choices are made to avoid or end unwelcome solitude. People terminate their lives alienated from hope. Yet here we hear God’s voice to Joshua saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Even if you are alone, you will not fail ever! I am here! Here’s the great news! We get the same deal Joshua got!

It is inevitable that there will be times we feel friendless, forlorn, but if we look at Joshua’s story, he steps out into a state of being okay with just him and God. What tremendous victory over the trials of this world when we can shout, “It’s just God and me, and I’m good with that!”

Being Noisy!

Just get in the car!

When I was a small child my secret love was a world far beyond my front porch. My favorite book was an atlas or an encyclopedia. No I wasn’t a prodigy, I sat up late into the night looking at pictures. Despite all my passions for distant places, my life was very stationary. Ordinary people didn’t globe trot as readily as they do today. So I imagined, read books and hoped (without much faith) that someday I would chase the wind to the four corners of the planet.
Years went by and I met a boy. There was a great attraction. Attraction became love, love became marriage. Marriage became adventure and adventure became our lifetime.
WE GO! When people ask us where we’ve been, an appropriate answer is, “Everywhere.” Going is what we do best, but there have been times in our adventure that going was not an option. Sometimes managing family, home and employment meant remaining at our postal address for longer periods of time than was desirable. Don’t misunderstand me, I love my little house and the walls that hold all my joys and sorrows, but there is no better feeling than pulling out of the driveway knowing before you return the world will be smaller and hearts will be bigger.
There came a summer break when responsibility required that the Rooney family of four stay put. It wasn’t miserable, but we all got itchy feet. The beginning of school was fast approaching when my husband Keith came in the house one evening and said, “Pack some bags, when the sun comes up tomorrow we’re heading out.” There was great excitement with myself and our daughters but we were not without our inquires. I wanted to know if we needed clothes for warmth or swimsuits and sunscreen. How many days would we be gone and how far would we travel? Child number one wanted to know if she needed her hairbrush and would there be a Wal Mart stop along the way. Our youngest was most concerned with the question of weekly allowance when she wasn’t actually doing chores.
These responses are typical of our roles within the family unit and our basic personalities and impulses. Keith became very impatient when the questions didn’t stop the next morning. He had everything planned for quality family time. He just asked that we get in the car and trust him. He was worthy of our trust, he had successfully led us thousands of miles but we wanted assurances before we made a total commitment to fun.
This story led us to Southeast Missouri, and places off the beaten path that Keith had always wanted to visit. We went to Elephant Rocks and marveled at nature’s sculpture with only wind and rain for tools. Our journey continued to Johnson’s Shut-in, God’s own water slide. It was wonderful, or in other words, FULL of WONDER and has become one of my favorite family togethers.
As I reflect on this story I think how often God asks us to, “Just get in the car.” We drag things down asking for highlighted roadmaps and bulleted itineraries. The plan God has for us is prosperous and will always lead to His glory. My childhood dreams have come true in the perfection of God’s wisdom and timing so I can say with enthusiasm, “Put your face to the Son and buckle up because it’s going to be great!”

But He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Today’s scripture is taken from the prophesy of Isaiah 700 years before the Son of God became the Son of Man. If I said nothing else, this fact alone speaks volumes about God’s plan to redeem mankind. However, peace is mentioned and if there is one ideal my heart yearns for, it is peace.

Peace is simply, the absence of strife and struggle; laying aside hostility. Every relationship on the face of the earth has some dynamic of peace or lack there of. In the promise of a redeeming Savior we find the word peace and the acknowledgement that to achieve this, someone had to make a sacrifice. Through Christ’s torture and death we are reconciled to God and that’s the biggie, but we are left with time here on earth in a discordant world. God didn’t just provide a victor over death, He afforded a means for us to live in harmony with each other and reside in a global community with confidence that God is in charge, always has been, always will be.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen