Month: July 2024

Your Attitude Makes a Difference

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/4

When I was teaching in a public school, I had a lot of grumpy students, particularly in my morning classes. They didn’t want to be out of bed, in school or in my class. My advice to them, with a smile on my face, was to “check the attitude at the door and expect good things.” How many times have I had to give that same self-talk to myself? Challenges with finances? Time to check my attitude. Health issues? Time to check my attitude. Not only does having the right mindset help me to turn my faith towards God and away from the problem, but it also shows others who are watching and listening a witness for how they can face challenges. No one may ever listen to your testimony about Christ and how He has changed your life from the inside out, but they will see the evidence of His work in you every time you check your attitude and tackle challenges with faith in the God who will see you through.

Betrayed by Family

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/3

Oh, my! The story of Joseph has a happy ending but not before he goes through some really rough times. I can identify with Joseph because of events in my family when I first got married. I won’t bore you with the whole story but suffice it to say that my dad was in trouble and dragged my mom and younger siblings along with him to escape justice (at least for a while). I felt alone and adrift, pregnant with my first baby and not knowing where my family was for over two years. I was a new Christian, too, and I think the Lord is who saved my sanity during these hard times. My siblings were 19, 11 and 5 and I didn’t even know that they were okay. My mom wrote me a letter after two years were over and we visited them in FL, introduced them to their new granddaughter and tried to pretend that all was okay. But my trust for my father was gone…poof! I kept waiting for a second shoe to drop and more revelations about his past. It took many years but I finally came to forgive him and helped most of my siblings to forgive him, too. My dad fell off his pedestal and the harsh reality of drug addiction and all of the evil that comes along with it changed my life for many years after that.

I think that we all have skeletons in our closet that we don’t really like to talk about or remember. But reading the story of Joseph and how God used his hard times to make him stronger and use him for a greater purpose reminded me of all I had gone through and how God carried me most of the way.

God-Given Dreams

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/2

I rarely have dreams that I remember when I awaken, but apparently God used dreams to tell Joseph about his future. Instead of being like Mary and just pondering these things in his heart, Joseph unwisely told his dreams to his brothers. Have you ever told someone something that made you look important and then realized later that you shouldn’t have said it? I don’t know about important, but I know I did share how unfair it seemed that only the core teachers were ever chosen to receive kudos and special recognition while those of us teaching electives were ignored. My jealousy spoke out and I alienated a colleague until I realized what I had done and apologized. I don’t think Joseph ever realized that he was sowing seeds of discord; in his enthusiasm for sharing, he just blurted it out. And we all know that his brothers did not take it well. Perhaps God led him to share so that all of the future events would happen just as they did. We don’t know. I do know that we all need to think before we speak and act. Is is kind? Is it necessary? Is it helpful?

Joseph Teaches Us to Wait

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/1

If you’re like me, when I saw the title of this devotional plan, I was repelled and then drawn to it. I was repelled because honestly, I don’t know that I want to learn how to wait like Joseph. After all, he spent years in prison while he waited for God to free and use him. But aren’t we all in a prison of some kind, mostly of our own making, while we wait for God to act? We need to be willing to find out how to make the best of our current circumstances while we wait for them to change. And we need to realize that the circumstances may never change…we will change instead. So, I am now pumped up and ready to study more about Joseph. What are you waiting for?

The Passion and Zeal of Jesus

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/28

Jesus was not a reluctant Savior. He went to the cross passionately desiring to follow the will of the Father and in so doing saving us from our sins. He did not turn away from the sacrifice but faced it head on, knowing it was the way for us to come to the Father. Willing to die for us, His passion and enthusiasm for leading us to a new life was evident. Do we have that same passion and enthusiasm when sharing about Christ with others?

Pursue Righteousness

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/26

This devotional is a call to peace as well as a call to action. We are meant to have peace, show forth His righteousness and pursue it all of our earthly lives. The reason for our call is to spread His peace to the world; as others come to know His righteousness in their lives and the peace that follows, it becomes like a spring of living waters to others. We are a rolling wave of life for others, not a stagnant pond just soaking in the sunshine of His presence. We give, get more in order to give more. The cycle continues just as God established.

Soar Like the Eagle

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/46391/day/8

There is a big difference in the view of life that my sister and I have. I know that life is finite, that I am just passing through and I have the hope of eternity with the Lord. My sister, on the other hand, believes that this life is all there is and is in a state of constant despair because of her failing eyesight and health. She tells anyone who will listen that she is frail. She is correct; we are all weak and need a strong God on our side. She doesn’t like to hear about the freedom that comes with belief in God and the salvation of His Son Jesus. I am still praying that the Bible stories we heard as a child and the truths I have told her over the years will open her heart to hear and believe. It seems impossible, but God is the Creator of the impossible and will do what only He can do. Meanwhile, our differences in philosophy mean that I can get sick and not lose hope, knowing that this life is temporary and a better life awaits me. Do I enjoy the tests and multiple medical visits? No, of course not. But I see them as a part of this life that I am enduring with patience until I can once again be with the Lord who created me. I hope you will join me in prayer that my sister will have that hope one day soon. The love of God in my heart changes my entire perspective and I want that for her.