Resting in God's Hands

I could not sleep the other night.

Have you ever had a night like that?

Yes, we had another night of storms. A loud bang! against the side of the house did not help my already established insomnia.

(I later discovered a piece of our vent frame to the attic in our bushes as a result of the storm.)

I tossed and turned all night.

In the darkness of the room lit with the occassional flash of lightning from outside, my thoughts turned as gloomy as the weather.

I began to worry.

I worried about finances, future, family.

I looked at the clock.

Each hour creeping by increased my anxiety.

Then I remembered.

God's Word gives rest and peace.

I forced my brain to begin recalling Scriptures and directions from the Bible. Within minutes I fell asleep.

Yet, within minutes the alarm startled me to go to work.

How foolish I felt! I had wasted hours during the night in worry. I could have had a great night's rest by just focusing on God's Word.

As my daughter's picture illustrates, true peace and rest in the middle of storms and life's stresses will come from resting in God's Hand. --in His Word.

How about you? Are you resting in Jesus tonight? I pray you do...

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

What is with the weather?

I have not seen a spring like this in over ten years!

Those in St. Louis have witnessed strange and dangerous weather since New Year's Eve it seems.

A tornado hit our area New Year's Eve, as you know from my previous blogs. Another severe strike happened on Good Friday. During the month of April, it seems we have spent every weekend praying in our basement as sirens sound in the middle of the night and tornadoes continue to touch down around us.

The amount of rain now results in flooding for many neighboring towns as well.

I have wondered at the conversations I overhear everywhere I have gone this week. In the grocery store at the fresh fish counter, I listened to one woman talk about while praying for safety as the tornado bore down on her neighborhood, she saw in awe the giant mass rise and skip her block. She was puzzled as her neighbors' homes were stripped to the ground. How to react? Why their home and not hers?

At the car dealership, I noticed the mechanic had a scripture verse on his desk and a sticker for Y99.1 FM, a Christian station. I said I liked his verse, and he started sharing about surviving the storm. He commented on how God's grace on Good Friday was amazing because in spite of the devastation, no one was killed or seriously harmed.

When I tried to talk about seeing the red cell of tornadic weather part on the television screen as I prayed in my basement for safety, my friend was doubtful.

"I never pray about weather. Why would God spare my home only to take others? I find it silly to pray to God about such things."

I was flabergasted. It still bothers me as I write. Why wouldn't I pray about the weather, I asked. If God can calm the sea by simply saying, "Peace be still," if God can part the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk across to safety, if God created this universe in which we live, why wouldn't I pray during a severe storm for safety and help? I prayed not only for my own family, but that the storm would not hurt anyone in our area and that the storm would go away.

I thank God for parting the red cell on Good Friday. I thank God no one in St. Louis was killed by this F4 tornado.

On the other hand, I do not know why some homes were spared and others flattened. I have no answer for that.

I only know that God directed me to pray about whatever concerns me and to trust in His love and plan for my life.

I now pray for the many without homes.

I also pray for better weather for all of us as we anticipate summer.
Join me, won't you?

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Nothing as Common as Rare Book?

I love old books.

Because of this, I will probably be the last person on earth to buy a NOOK or e-book device.

Sad, isn't it?

I just like holding a book.

I even like smelling the pages.

For old books, I like it even better if someone has written a note or inscription to a loved one.

"For Will, have a happy birthday."
"From your loving parents..."

Knowing someone else has handled the worn pages and enjoyed the story or poem as much as I perhaps, just adds to my deep satisfaction in reading.

Today then was a surprising article you have read I am sure.

A man walks in to tell a book appraiser that he has a very old book.

Hearing this so many times, the man sighs as he watches the plastic unwrap around the worn-out paper.

To his surprise, a 500-year old rare book is resting before him. A rare book.

Yet, as I read the article, I was confused by his quote when discussing its value. The book, although 500-years old, and a wonderful piece of human history wasn't very valuable.

Its condition was not pristine. Unlike one that turned up in San Franscico in mint condition selling for a million dollars, this one had a few pages missing and a spine falling apart. Hence, it was only worth $50,000.

The appraiser said that there are several similar books like this one around the world, but it was unusual to see it turn up in Utah. He said, "There is nothing as common as a rare book."

Hmmmmm. Holding or touching one of the first printed books in human history, knowing its historical impact on civilization did not increase its value. Its value rested in its current condition.

I wonder what my current condition is for Jesus? What I may have done in the past for Him really is not what matters, is it? It is my current work, my current state that concerns Him.

Am I lukewarm? Hot? Cold? He says He would rather I be hot or cold than lukewarm. He can not use me as a lukewarm Christian. Do I spend more time watching television, reading the newspaper, old books rather than the Bible? Have I settled in my faith for being lukewarm?

I pray not. I know God seems me as a rare book whose story includes being rescued by a loving King, Jesus. I just hope my soul's current condition doesn't diminish my value in working for Him here on earth.

How about you? You are a rare book, too. No other story matches yours.

How's your rare book condition? Is it common? lukewarm? or in pristine condition as you tell the story of Jesus to all who will hear?

For His Glory,
Gretchen

He Is!

No doubt this week you have seen or will see many images of Easter. I could write so much about this amazing time of year for believers, couldn't you?

One person I know exclaimed, "What is it with you Christians and your eggs and chocolate and candy crosses? I don't get your commercialized holidays!"

At first I was embarrassed by her comment. I do succumb like many to filling my daughter's Easter basket as well as my relatives' baskets in the past.

At the same time, I also fondly remember sunrise services at the First United Methodist Church in my small, Illinois hometown. -Rising at 5:30 to sit in a not-so-crowded sanctuary, listening the the testimony of people as they stood before bleary-eyed children, praising God for the Resurrection of Jesus.

After testimonies and a short sermon, the congregation moved to the church basement where we ate scrambled eggs, bacon, and home-made biscuits. We rushed home for a quick Easter egg hunt, donned our finest Sunday clothes to journey back to the church for a more formal, yet still celebrational meeting. Unlike the 5:30 service, the traditional service found people crammed into pews, extra chairs lined the aisles, and the pastor preached to a sea of new faces.

As I look on past Easter traditions, I no longer am embarrassed by the chocolate, colored eggs, and new attire for Easter though. Consider most of our society's celebrations: birthdays, team championships, family reunions, engagements, and marriages. All these are celebrated in our culture with food and festivities.

Easter deserves to be celebrated even more than all of these events. It is the ONLY reason we can call ourselves CHRISTians.

He is Risen!

Therefore...

He IS!

He is Risen!

Therefore...

I am His forever and ever!

That is such good news!

What a celebration we need to have!

Why wait?

I say, "Let's go eat the ears off that chocolate rabbit NOW!"

Have a wonderful Easter celebrating Jesus!

For His Glory,
Gretchen

The Apology Note

Friday night I had an amazing experience!

It was my first time to receive a note of apology from my daughter.

For those of you who have ever received a note of apology when wronged you know it is such a relief, isn't it?

Even if you forgive the person without an apology, the note just released something inside of you, such love, such happiness!

No, not because I want to prove I am right, but because the note shows the person cares enough about my feelings and doing what is right...that I actually matter.

It matters that I was hurt.

So, Friday night, after scolding my daughter for something I was disappointed in her doing, or rather not doing (sin of omission is sometimes worse), I went to my room sad that the weekend had started on such a sour note. I doubted if she understood the expectations that we talked about in choosing to do the right thing even if no one tells you to do it.

Then she shyly came to me and said, "Mama, you need to go on a treasure hunt! Come on....hot...no cold....keep walking....hot...hot...you're burning up! Right under your pillow, see?"

Under my pillow on my bed was the sweetest letter with a picture of a big heart and me in the center of it saying she was sorry and would do better next time.

She got it! She understood! She felt regret! I floated around the house the rest of the night! She and I hugged and felt such lightness and happiness as our relationship deepened. We laughed and played games that night like never before.

Then it hit me. This is how God feels when I tell Him I am sorry for my own actions. He knows He matters to me. I want to please Him. He loves it when I get it!

How about you? Any notes of apology to God lately?

He will be so pleased.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Suspicious Minds No More...

Today, something occurred to me for the first time about heaven.

After hearing that my husband's Uncle John died last night, I really was amazed at God's timing. You see two months earlier, God had put Uncle John on my heart and mind. I was supposed to send him a letter of testimony and a book about my own mother's faith in Jesus.

I admit I did not want to do so. John was a judge in California. His lifestyle and values were much different from mine. All our lives we enjoyed John's presence but never talked about God to him. I am ashamed to admit this.

Nevertheless, I did as I felt prompted in February. I sent the letter and the book after much prayer. Not much later, John called and told me an amazing thing, "Gretchen, if someone didn't believe in Jesus before, they certainly would now!"

He was not in the hospital at that time. At that time, I did not know why God had me send that message. Now, I do. This past month, John went into the hospital and declined rapidly.

God's timing is to be obeyed.

Sometimes, though, I am suspicious when receiving such direction, aren't you?

I mean, don't you sometimes worry that you are acting on your own will or prompting and going to seem foolish? I admit I do.

What an honor though to be God's messenger! His Holy Spirit did the work. God just tested me and asked me to send His Word for God's harvest.

What if I had been too suspicious, too doubtful, too analytical and not sent the letter? I am sure God would have found another servant to do so, but I would have missed God's blessing and message to me as a result.

Another view of suspicious minds also occurred to me today. I was driving, and someone would not take turns at the 4-way-stop. I am one of those creatures who assumes the worst very often. I am suspicious of motives and actions and, as my husband has warned me, too often think someone is being mean to me when it may be just an innocent act. I, of course, thought this person pulling out in front and honking was doing so as a mean act to me. How silly of me!

How often do I assume a phone call not returned is a deliberate act of someone ignoring me? or that someone butting in line at the store realizes I was there first? or....

Then it hit me....In heaven, we will be like Jesus. What will my life be like knowing there is no mean act in heaven? No person will do something to hurt another. Everyone will be working to the glory of God and helping each other.

Wow! I guess I need to start practicing what that feels like now and give up my suspicious mind.

Trust God's voice.
Lean not to thine own understanding.
Love one another.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

No Going Back...

This past week I have been on a slippery slope. Perhaps you understand. It is as though today I had a wake-up call and realized, "There is no going back!"

No, I am not in trouble.

Yes, my family is fine.

It is when life is good though that I get into the most trouble.

I forget God's blessings. I forget His answers to prayers.

It happens so quickly. So easily.

I am humbled today when reading His Word and reminded of His goodness.

Today, God started reminding me of all the wonderful answers to prayers He has given me. It overwhelmed me. -The beautiful spring weather, my daughter doing well in school after struggling with how to handle her auditory disorder, my husband's asthma doing so much better, my sister-in-law's healing, my freedom from addictive food dependency, my part-time job, my parents still living in heaven, and so much more....

Perhaps you don't understand it. How can someone forget all God's goodness and go back to taking Him for granted?

I am sorry to say, it happens. All too easily.

I can start complaining about the little things again. I can get discouraged and panic easily.

For example...
We backed into our own car the other day. I just repaired the car from backing into a Jaguar of all things! My insurance rates went up. Years of no accidents did not matter. Did I say it was a Jaguar out of my line of sight as I backed into it? Then my husband backed into MY car as we hurried to church.

How did I respond? Not well.

We are gutting our kitchen to replace peeling, worn-out cabinets. Taking out an appliance we find a damaged floor from a leaking dishwasher. The floor now needs replacing.

How did I respond? Not well.

We are painting the guest bathroom. In doing so, we find our toilet is cracked and needs replacing.

How did I respond? Not well.

You get it don't you? All of these seemingly unimportant things are part of life on this earth. You would think after all the blessings and miracles I have seen this past month, I would be able to handle at least these things, right?

God has convicted me today, "There is no going back! I have created in you a new creature!" The problem is that I have not renewed my mind as often with His Word. My Bible reading has fallen off. My quiet time is not so quiet lately. I haven't been listening as often to God.

"No going back!" My natural tendencies are to eat when tired, grumpy, upset. I can feel that trying to come back. My natural tendencies are to become depressed when a series of events go wrong. I can see that happening.

So I shout this morning, "No!" I read Isaiah 51, "Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;...The Lord will make her deserts like Eden, her wasteland like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing...my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."

Like taking my hand off the chess piece as I move forward to the KINGDOM, I will not go back. My God is with me and will not fail me.

Forgive me, Jesus, for trying to go back to the old ways of this life. Help me be your garden, your planting. Let your joy and gladness be found in me in storms, in sun, in lightning, and in blue sky, in night and day.

For Your glory,
Gretchen