Sonshine!

The LORD has said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Abram was called by God to leave his home, all that he knew, and set out into the great unknown. There was no GPS, or travel show, to prepare him for what was ahead. That didn’t deter Abram’s faithful obedience. God called and Abram headed toward a destination to be named later.

A divine promise followed Abram’s call. Childless, 75 year old Abram was told his descendants would become a great nation, a blessing to ALL people. The gospel, long before Bethlehem or the cross, was told by God to Abram in Genesis 12. The Good News and God’s love are for all. It is not exclusive.

Obedience powered by faith becomes a blessing far beyond the boundary of human imagination.

Love,

Gretchen

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. I Corinthians 15:1

The Jews and Greeks were struggling with conflicting ideas of resurrection regardless of religion. The Jews believed the original you became the eternal you. (NO Thanks!) In contrast, the Greeks knew only of an immortal soul. What is the true Gospel? The resurrection of the Christ!!

We can get very bogged down in insignificant details and miss the big picture. The Gospel is about a death that has been defeated, sin’s prison bars opened and satan’s threat forever silenced. All because God loves us.

The people of Corinth took the step of faith and believed. Their sins were washed away, and then…..cultural and traditional questions minimized their spiritual victory. Get the big picture! When we stand in the presence of the LORD, we will be like Him: Eternal, immortal and free.

Love,

Gretchen

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” Genesis 9:1

In the beginning of time God made order out of chaos. He separated the water from land. As a result of man’s sin, the forces of destruction are let loose and water completely covers the earth destroying all life except…..…

The big picture of Noah’s story is God’s saving power. Against the backdrop of judgement, God provides a place of safety and refuge.

Noah knows and trusts God. Through obedience God prepares him for this moment in time. A man that never saw an ocean, never heard thunder or saw a raindrop, faithfully followed. His blind faith led to blessings. It would have been hard to see success while building a boat on dry ground. The logic of loading smelling, hungry beasts was lost, all while Noah’s family stands loyally beside him, expecting his leadership to amount to a life worth living.

Faith begets obedience, obedience begets blessing. That’s all!

Happy Halfway to the Weekend!

Gretchen

And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet. II Samuel 9:13

David and Mephibosheth’s story is one of my favorite. It is the story of grace and mercy lived out in living color between two men who had every right to fear each other and do whatever was necessary to survive. King David choose mercy and grace, and Mephibosheth returned to his original state, the child of a king.

Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, David’s best friend, and the grandson of Saul, David’s foe. It was customary for new kings to seal their throne by annihilating the former king’s family. David, in honor of his loyalty to Jonathan, found Mephibosheth, who had been crippled on the very day his father and grandfather died as his nurse ran from invaders and dropped him.

Hiding in a dry and barren place, fear was all this former prince knew. It was magnified when David’s emissaries arrived. But instead of the dreaded judgement and death, this crippled, orphaned young man returned to a place he had lost, a home he believed was forever out of reach. He always ate at the king’s table!

The feast is waiting for you too!!

Pass the Butter Please,

Gretchen

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

Sleep is something the human body cannot do without. It restores the physical body and allows our minds to process and reset so our mental state can remain healthy too. For many, sleep is elusive. Bad things happen in the night, or dreaded things await when we awaken. The wise writer knows this and has probably experienced a worry and exhaustion that goes beyond reason and rest.

I find it interesting that just a few verses above you find the words, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.” 5a. I know this isn’t a simple sleeping pill, but if you read verses 23-26 you have the knowledge that God is taking care of the universe while we slumber. From the huge picture of world affairs to the most minute details of our personal life, God’s got this.

Seek God’s wisdom because it offers the things money cannot give us: Peace, happiness and security. Remember, He is never wrong so everything is going to be alright.

Love,

Gretchen

 Nevertheless, those who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Galatians 6:6

All of Galatians chapter 6 discusses the church’s care toward one another. This verse in particular makes known that there is no culture of exclusivity. Spiritual insight and testimony are to be shared. God doesn’t speak to a few, expecting them to share while the rest remain hushed. God speaks to all who seek and listen.

Sharing is a two way street in which all are held accountable to personal discipleship and leaders are held to a high standard of Biblical truth. The community of believers is important and the celebration/testimony of spiritual victories is one of the greatest joys of the Body of Christ.

Happy Saturday,

Gretchen

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1

Isaiah, referred to as the sixth Gospel, is prophesying about Jesus, the servant, the One who will die so that we can all be found NOT GUILTY.

Isaiah’s words to the nation of Israel 700 years before the virgin birth, give undeniable proof that God has always loved the creation on which He bestowed His own likeness and He has always had a plan of redemption, salvation and restoration for everyone. There is hope for the sinner and comfort that all can be forgiven and the image of God restored once again, on earth as it is in Heaven.

The people of Isaiah’s day had to confront many false God’s. Isaiah reminds them and us that none but God alone has the power to save and create a new creature from grace and mercy.

Happy Weekend Eve,

Gretchen

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. II Chronicles 7:15

I & II Chronicles were some of the last books of the Old Testament to be written and the first audience of these writings were people struggling with the questions of a personal, loving God. Documenting the lives of King David and his son King Solomon, Chronicles seems to gloss over the imperfections of these men. In reality, their sins are documented elsewhere. These writings are focused on what was done right in the eyes of the LORD.

Solomon has built a beautiful temple to honor God. The people are celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and sacrifices have been presented and burned. Solomon has prayed, asking God to never leave the presence of His people. God’s Glory filled the temple and He responded, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves……..verse 14. He will hear and see those who seek and listen.

God is a very personal God. Relationship is His entire agenda and it is good. He hasn’t left, but we must seek Him and draw close.

Love,

Gretchen

 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Grace, an unmerited gift and salt, a preservative.

The thoughts that originate in our hearts/minds and find their way across our vocal cords should reflect and extend the forgiveness we have been given and our life that is saved.

From prison and most certainly death, Paul writes to implore the believers in Colossae to take good care of each other, both spiritually and physically and to extend love to outsiders in order to make a way for the Gospel to transform them too. The most basic truth is: If we expect or have been granted the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice, then by ALL means we must be a conduit of these same gifts to a world searching for something they do not yet understand but can’t live without.

Have a Great Midweek!

Gretchen

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (This Psalm is only three verses, I encourage you to read all of it.)

This very short and beautiful poem is an acknowledgement of the value of healthy relationships woven together with praise to the Author of Peace. It is classified as a Wisdom Psalm written by David.

Oil was a precious commodity and the most valuable was used for anointing. This perfume is poured generously, as if there was a never ending supply. The generosity of peace validates and brings us to a higher standard of living.

If you want to see a snow capped mountain in the Middle East, then Mt. Hermon is the place. It is the highest point in Israel and is the source of the Jordan River. The water that it provides gives life to land and people.

Unity? Harmony? It is the quality of existence. Choose peace, if not for someone else, then for yourself.

Love,

Gretchen