Month: June 2024

The Four Titles of Jesus

On By vickleaIn Scripture, worship1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/16

How can one read the prophecy in Isaiah and not worship Jesus as King? It boggles my mind that so many read this important passage once a year, usually at Christmas, and quickly pass over it to read the story of His birth in Luke 2. The prophecy that reminds us of His position on earth and in heaven is an important part of His story and thus an plays an important part in our salvation. Worship springs from a heart grateful for all He was, all He is and all He will be!

Downsize the Enemy and Right-Size God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/15

God is faithful and bigger than any problem we could ever face. But when we face challenges head on, we tend to look directly at the problem instead of seeking God and His answers. Defeat comes easily when we take our eyes off God, followed by discouragement and a falling away from our faith. Don’t be the one who makes a Goliath out of every challenge. See the problems for what they are are then remember how great God is in the midst of everything.

Now, a brief health report. My husband Harry got an abscessed tooth when we were in Maryland. He got antibiotics from our dentist to tide him over until we could get home and saw the dentist the following morning after our return. He has to go back on the tenth of July to get the cap taken off the tooth so the dentist can see whether there is any part of his tooth left that can be saved. He also has a referral to an endodontist and an oral surgeon. As far as my health goes, my legs are swelling significantly, so that is not a good sign, but it could just be the hot weather. I am wearing my compression stockings, paying attention to what I eat and ready to get the second kidney test done, which is on the twelfth. I also have to see the pulmonologist on the twenty-second because I am still suffering side effects from my reaction to Trelegy. Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing a lot…the usual for asthma but it has been over a month with these symptoms. Finally, I have to see a vocal specialist as soon as I can get the referral through and get an appointment. Apparently, coughing for over a month has affected how I speak and I need speech therapy. Who knew? Anyway, all of these issues together look like one big whopping giant…but my God is bigger and able, and I am trusting Him to lead us both through this valley.

Meanwhile, can you please pray for a friend who has oral cancer that has now spread to her lungs and lymph nodes? She is a sweet, dear Christian who has suffered a lot with this horrible disease and is not facing chemo treatments. Another giant…but God will be there for her and see her through. God knows what she needs and I am praying that He will be close beside her through it all.

That is all for now…I am working on right-sizing God and I hope that you are, too!

Declaration of Trust and Dependence on God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

I am so thankful that the Lord is indeed my shepherd, and He does provide for all of my needs. When I am discouraged, He provides hope. When I am tired deep in my soul, He provides rest. When I am thirsty, He provides for me to be filled with living water from His Word. And when I am feeling lost on a pathway that seems to lead to nowhere, God shows us and shows me the right way to go. In knowing the Lord as my shepherd, I can be content, resting in the knowledge that He is in control and is truly taking care of me, even when life gets scary or challenging.

A Shepherd and His Flock

The 23rd Psalm is a powerful declaration of trust and dependence on God. Today, we’ll look at how the first few words reveal a core belief that to accept God as our shepherd, we acknowledge that He is the One who provides for our every need. He is the ultimate source of comfort, guidance, and protection. 

Just as a shepherd cares for his flock, tending to their every need and leading them to safe pastures, God also cares for us, His children.

The psalmist goes on to describe how God cares for His sheep. He makes us “lie down in green pastures,” a metaphor for providing rest and security. He leads us “beside quiet waters,” quenching our thirst and offering us peace. He “refreshes our soul,” restoring our inner strength and well-being.

One of the most comforting promises in Psalm 23 is that God “guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Even when you are unsure of the way, you can trust that God will lead you in the right way (John 14:6). He will not allow you to wander into harm’s way, for His name’s sake.

How can knowing the Lord as your shepherd provide you with contentment when facing challenges? Repeat these words until they sink deep into your soul: The Lord is my shepherd, He will never leave me or forsake me. He will always provide for my needs and guide me on the right path.

Don’t Forget to Trust God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/13

I have been guilty of self-reliance, of making a plan and rushing like crazy to carry it out, only to find out that it was the wrong plan and at the wrong time. When we put our trust in God, we can be certain that any plans we make WITH Him will come to fruition. It’s when we make plans and leave God out that we get into trouble. Sometimes I think we make a plan and ask God to bless it instead of asking God to help us make a plan that He will be able to truly bless because He is in the center of it. Trusting God is paramount to making plans and to seeing them fulfilled.

Our Calling

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/11

We are called to never give up on anyone. Keep praying, keep saying the gospel message to them and keep an open relationship with them. God did not give up on Israel. He allowed them to be taken into exile, but He still kept a root that He nurtured and is continuing to nurture. And He never gave up on us. You may think you were not as stubborn and sinful as Israel, but think again. Indeed, we all were and our turning to God was not a fluke but His plan for us. He may not have sent a prophet like Isaiah into our personal space to warn us and get us to change our ways, but He sent His word, drew us to Him and then showed us the truth of our need for salvation so that we would accept His grace and mercy. So, when we are discouraged about friends and family members who seem to be turning a deaf ear to our witnessing, remember that Isaiah just kept doing what the Lord told him to do and he never gave up.

Offer Your Brokenness

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/10

Did you know it is perfectly acceptable to be totally honest with God? He knows everything about you anyway, so being honest and transparent before Him is helping YOU with your relationship with God. He already knows what you need to confess, what you need help with and what your struggles are. So, just offer your brokenness and let the Master restore you to wholeness.

Tested but Persevering

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I have to confess that I have not been counting all of my trials lately as joy, but God reminded me today of how much I have been pressing in to get closer to Him during these hard times. And that is a good thing.

I was really looking forward to a break from all of the doctors and new meds and testing that I have had to have done in the last month. We came to Maryland to see our son and his family and to celebrate our youngest grandson’s third birthday. It has been a joyful time for the most part, but my poor, sweet husband has an abscessed tooth that suddenly showed its ugly head the second day of our visit. We spent the last two days trying to get our dentist in Virginia to send the medicine to the pharmacy here in Maryland in order to alleviate the pain. Our other option was to go home early before the party for Nathan. After I called the dentist’s office myself and told them that Harry’s jaw looks like he was in a prize fight and definitely lost, the nurse said that she would send the medicine again because it looked like they sent it but it didn’t go through. Finally…at nine o’clock yesterday morning, Harry got his medicine and could start feeling better! But then, I went into the family’s living room and discovered that the oldest granddaughter had the flu and was sick all day yesterday. I ministered to her needs, giving her ice packs for the pain, soda crackers and water and generally encouraging her to rest, praying the whole time that this bug doesn’t creep around the rest of us.

So, my plans were not God’s plans. I planned to get away from illness and it followed me here. He’s still teaching me, and I’m still learning. I hope one day to get the point where I “lack nothing” but obviously, I am not there yet.