Month: December 2024

God’s Story

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

This devotional is from the YouVersion Daily Refresh for Sunday, December 22, 2024

Trusting God’s Story

Imagine Mary and Joseph getting ready to become parents. They probably asked a lot of the same questions expectant parents do today: Is the baby healthy? Are we prepared to care for this child? Where will we have the baby? Are we ready for the birth?

Near the end of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that everyone within the Roman world return to their hometown for a census (Luke 2:1-4). This meant that Mary and Joseph had to leave their home in Nazareth to take the four-day journey to Bethlehem, the city of David, who was Joseph’s ancestor. 

Because of the census, Bethlehem’s inns were full of people making the journey home. And so, when the time came, Mary gave birth to Jesus in the only place available to them: a stable. She placed him in a manger—a feeding trough—because that’s all there was. Surely this was not the birth that Mary would have planned for her firstborn child.

And yet, it was exactly what God had ordained. God showed us a lot about His Kingdom through the circumstances around the birth of His Son. 

He showed us that Jesus is humble. Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger. The King of all Creation, yet such a humble beginning.

He showed us that the Kingdom of God is accessible. This King wasn’t tucked away in a castle or a mansion, separated from His people and surrounded by luxuries—shepherds and wise men alike were able to come visit Him.

He showed us that we can trust the story. Mary had to trust God’s story. Joseph had to trust God’s story. Imagine how the story would have been different if Mary and Joseph had demanded that room be made for them in an inn, shouting, “This is the Messiah, people! Make room!” But they didn’t do that. They accepted the situation in front of them, trusting God’s story regardless of how strange or undesirable the setting seemed. 

And from that surrendered posture and strange set of circumstances, God brought forth His Son, exactly as He had planned. 

We can trust the story because God is the Author. Jesus’ humble birth was not an accident—it was a message, a picture to all of us of what God’s Kingdom is truly like. It’s also an invitation for us to surrender our plans, our ideas of how the story should be, and trust the trustworthy hand of God in our lives. We can trust God.

The red lines for emphasis are added by me. That is what stood out to me in this daily devotional. I hope that it blesses you just as it blessed me.

Showing Love

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, ScriptureLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 22”

3 Ways to Show Love Today

Over the last few days, we’ve looked at love as following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care. But when we reflect on our own approach to loving others, we might recognize areas where we’re more selfish than we are selfless. Or where we’re more concerned about treating people we like as valuable, but struggle to see the value in people who are different from us.

Instead, Ephesians 4:15 encourages us to speak the truth in love. You can advocate for what’s right from a place of respect, honor, and humility, regardless of the topic. This looks like being curious, listening to understand (not to respond with the perfect rebuttal), and remembering that everyone at the dinner table is made in God’s image.

Often, the way God calls us to love others is opposite from what we know or what culture says is right. Love is a process, and it takes time to adopt the ways God calls us to love others. But we all have a step we can take today and this holiday season.

Here are three ways you can show love to those around you right now.

1. Stand up for what’s right.

The holiday season can be a time when tensions run high. We all probably have that one uncle (or aunt, or cousin, or neighbor—you get the idea), who will bring up a hurtful topic at the dinner table. When this happens, the tendency might be to correct the behavior or ignore it altogether, and neither of those options are loving.

When you do, you’re bringing value and dignity to the people around you, and to those who might not ever know they were a topic of conversation.

2. Be generous toward others.

Last week, we looked at generosity through the lens of joy, and how it also influences how we show love to others.

Generosity is sharing what you have to help someone else. This includes our money, but also everything else we have. In a time of year when consumerism can run wild, you can pause and take inventory of what you have. What gifts or passions do you have that might bless someone around you? How could you leverage finances as a tool to show God’s love to someone in need?

When you practice generosity, you’re checking your heart’s posture to ensure it’s aligned with God’s. It can help you be more conscious as you make your holiday purchases and help you to be more aware of the people around you.

3. Know when to practice boundaries.

As we consider the sacrificial care we’re called to show others, it’s important to recognize the difference between love and enablement. Occasionally, there will be situations when we need to love from afar.

However, boundaries can also help us identify how we let others into our lives. Instead of drawing hard and fast lines and kicking people out of our lives completely, we can choose how we engage with them. In doing so, we’re able to best show up with love toward everyone we interact with.

As Christmas gets closer, consider one way you can show love to others through one of these three ways.

Pause and Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me with an unconditional, unwavering love. I want to be someone who shares Your love with everyone I meet, but sometimes that feels difficult when I’m stretched thin, overwhelmed, or burned out. Please give me everything I need to love the people around me well today and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Speaking the truth sounds easy, but it is especially difficult if the person to whom you feel you must speak is someone that does not like to hear the truth. This is something I need to practice. I tend to avoid confrontation with most people and I am finding more and more that I am doing them a disservice by not saying how I feel or how their opinion or lifestyle does not line up with God’s expectations for them. I need boldness. How about you? And I need to know how to combine that boldness with love.

In this season of giving, everyone is scurrying around trying to find the perfect gift and then getting frustrated when you find it and it’s all sold out or not available until after the holiday. The perfect gift is the one given from your heart, just as God gave Jesus as His gift to us. And He is always available.

We learn to love by living through Jesus. He resides in our hearts because we invite Him in, and then daily He gives us directions about the way we should go through life, if we are only attentive and listening.

Love is not always easy. Understatement, right? Yet we are called to love. There are some people in my life who are easy to love. They agree with most of my opinions, are kind and generous and loving to me. And then there are the disagreeable ones, those who don’t tell me what I want to hear and who are generally the cloud in my sunshiny day. But God says to love because Jesus loved…not because we feel like it, but because He gave us that example and we are to follow it.

My Neighbors

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 21”

Who Are My Neighbors?

Yesterday, we learned that Jesus’ two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When you read these commands, you might question or wonder who your neighbor is. And you’d be in good company with people in the Bible.

In Luke 10, someone asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replies by telling a parable, or story, which became known as the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, a man is attacked by robbers and left for dead. Everyone who should have helped this man—a priest and a Levite—crossed the road instead of helping the man. Then a Samaritan saw the man, helped him find a place to recover, and covered the cost of his stay.

In this culture, the Samaritan would have had many reasons to cross the road and leave the man like the priest and the Levite did. Instead, he went out of his way to help and show mercy to the man.

So, who are your neighbors? Whoever comes to mind, the answer is yes. And this includes people who are harder to love, different from you, or have a social barrier of any kind that might keep you from engaging with them.

Remember, love is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

We see this in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and we see it through God’s people in the Old Testament. In the Book of Kings, we’re introduced to a military general named Naaman.

He is described as a great and respected warrior who was famous for his many victories over God’s people. Scripture also tells us that he had leprosy, an incurable disease that would likely disfigure and kill him over the course of a few painful years.

In one of Naaman’s raids, a young girl was captured and forced to be his wife’s servant. This girl was now living in a foreign land away from any remaining family she might have and shared the same roof as the man who likely destroyed her entire community.

Yet, she had compassion on him. Through a conversation with Naaman’s wife, she shared that she knew a prophet who could heal his disease. Instead of taking revenge or holding a grudge, she showed love and mercy toward Naaman.

Ultimately, Naaman would experience healing from this otherwise incurable disease. And it’s because the young girl chose to share the love and mercy of her God with someone in need.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the example of love You have shown us, and for the people who are also examples of Your love lived out. Please give me the strength to love everyone in my life the way You have called me to. I can’t do it on my own. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Good Samaritan. A man who was ostracized by the Jews is the one who stopped to save a Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten. How many times do we avoid people who are different than we are because we don’t feel comfortable around them? I can think of several people right now whom I have avoided or limited my contact with them because of their differences of their past actions towards me. There is a former student in my Sunday school class who in the last few years decided she is transgender and has “married” a female. Her actions make me uncomfortable, but at the same time, I know she heard God’s truth and actually listened at one time. She has fallen away and needs to come back to God. God continues to remind me that I am not her judge; He is. There is the neighbor who attacked my husband over a decade ago. We still don’t speak to each other and he seems to go out of his way to act angry and belligerent around us. The protection order from the court long since went away, but we still have no contact. I do pray for him, that he will come to know the Lord and stop depending on alcohol as his crutch. But I am afraid to approach him because he can be violent. Finally, there are my many liberal friends and family who think that I am somewhere lost in conservative land and don’t want to even talk to me anymore. I try to find what we have in common and call and talk to them about those things. God doesn’t distinguish between Republicans and Democrats. To Him, we are all lost sheep in need of a Savior. So, who is my neighbor? Everyone whose life I touch and whose life touches mine.

Love as God Loves

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 20”

Why Do We Love?

God’s love is always working, even when it’s not easy to see or believe. Sometimes, it can even be confusing why God would love a world of messy people like us.

The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:26-27, that we are made in the image of God. This has less to do with our physical appearance, and everything to do with the ways we choose to live our lives. As His children made in His image, God invites us to partner with Him in taking care of the world, and everything in it.

And one of the most crucial things we’re called to do is share Jesus’ love with the world.

The good news is that He doesn’t leave us to our own devices to figure out how to partner with Him in this mission. Instead, Jesus tells us how to act by sharing the two greatest commands: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

When we don’t follow God’s instructions, we end up misusing and abusing ourselves and others—valuable people who God made in His own image. That’s why He defines obeying His commandments as essential to loving Him. You can’t love the Creator while destroying His many creations.

In fact, 1 John 4:8 NIV says:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Remember, love is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

God is triune, meaning He is three in One—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So when we look to Jesus for examples of how to love others, we’re also following God’s example of love from the beginning of time.

Jesus is the best example of God’s love, but many people in the Bible had moments where they got it right, too. We’ll look at some examples over the coming days.

For today, consider the two greatest commands: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. How well are you doing at following these two commands, and what might need to change?

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the love You demonstrate in everything You say and do. Teach me how to restore my relationships with others as my relationship with You continues to be restored. I want to be someone who loves You so well that it makes a positive impact on the lives of those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Being created in God’s image is a privilege and a responsibility.
Love is an unselfish outpouring of yourself to others. I am not there yet, but I am working on it. I noticed when I spent the night in the hospital Tuesday that the caregivers there were some of the kindest, most loving people I had met in a long time. It was the middle of the night and they did not say harsh or impatient words to anyone. I want to be more like them.
That word “as” is very important. It is a word of like comparison…the same way as is what this is saying. We are supposed to love one another in the same way that Jesus loved us. Remembering that He died for us willingly gives us motivation to go the extra mile when others need help or just an encouraging word.
I learned in a math class long ago that the word is means equals. So God=Love. We are supposed to love one another in such a way that they can see God’s love in us. That’s a tall order for me sometimes, especially if I don’t feel well. But God didn’t say to love others when all is going great and you’re feeling fine…He just said to love. I think He meant love all the people that He values, which is everyone, all the time.

Love Is More than a Feeling

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 19”

What Is Love?

What do you think of when you read the word “love”? Is your mind overflowing with people and your heart filled with gratitude for the life around you? Or perhaps it’s a bit more difficult to wrap your head around such a complex idea.

How would you describe love to someone else? How would they know you were being loving through your words and actions? Keep these questions in mind as you approach our readings over the next few days.

One of the many incredible things about God’s love is that it’s more than a feeling. We can see God’s love in action throughout the Bible, but we see it most clearly in the New Testament in the way Jesus lived.

As we enter our final week of Advent, we’ll take a closer look at love, which is following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care.

We can start by looking at one of the most clear examples of Jesus’ love. In the Gospel of John, we read one of the most popular and well-known verses in the Bible:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV (emphasis added)

From the beginning of time, God has loved the world. And in this world He loves, there are billions of people, yet He knows each of one uniquely and individually. Despite any decisions or choices each person has made, God has chosen to love us unconditionally.

As believers, we celebrate this love throughout the year and choose to focus on it specifically during the Advent season.

But how do we respond if love feels difficult this year? When we’re experiencing grief, disappointment, or the feeling of being forgotten, we can choose to lean into what we know is true of God—that He islove.

And God tangibly showed His ultimate act of love by becoming a human. He didn’t shout His love from heaven, but came to earth to demonstrate His love for us through Jesus.

No matter how you’re feeling this season, there are opportunities to see God’s love at work in your life in every moment of your day. You might start small, thanking God for a new morning when you wake up. Or you might reflect on the ways He provided for you throughout the day before you go to sleep.

Pause and Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving and caring for me. No matter what my life looks like right now, I trust that You have a good plan that You’re working together for my good. Help me to see the endless ways You show Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Also, check out this article on love that was included at the end of the devotional:

https://finds.life.church/examples-of-gods-love/

I really like to add the verses after verse 16, the one that everyone seems to know. We cannot forget that believing is a central part of becoming a part of God’s family.
Jesus had only thirty three short years on this earth and He made such an impact in that short time. How did He do that? By loving everyone, every day that He lived and everywhere that He went. Then He went to the cross to show us what humility, sacrifice and real love is all about.
I don’t know about you but I am coming to know God more every day. I am constantly amazed at the different ways He shows His love for me. I want to live in His love every day so that when I am around others, they will see a difference in me and want to know the One who loves them, just as He loves me.

Attending the Party

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, Day 18”

Will You Come to the Party?

Let’s go back to the countryside outside of Bethlehem around two thousand years ago. Shepherd families around campfires, with few scattered among the sheep, when a stranger appears among them—an angel sent from God with good news.

The angel announced the birth of the promised Savior of the world, born in the nearby town of Bethlehem. Then, several angels appeared among the shepherds, singing praises to God.

But why these shepherds? Why not the people in town, the king of Israel, the Emperor in Rome?

Could it be that God has a habit of including shepherds like Abel, Abraham, and David in the story of the Bible and wanted shepherds present at the birth of Jesus?

  • Or maybe God wanted to highlight how this good news wasn’t just for powerful rulers or religious elites, but it was for all people—from the king, down to lowly shepherds.
  • Or God might have chosen the shepherds because they were mobile people, well-suited to spreading this joyful message all over the region.
  • Or it could be that this was the largest group of people around, and the angels wanted a big worship party for the biggest night in human history up to this point.
  • And could it be that, from day one, God wanted people to recognize Jesus as a good shepherd, kindly guiding His people?

The most likely answer is that it’s for all these reasons and more.

The angelic stranger announces the birth of Jesus and invites the shepherds to meet the newborn King. And when they hear the message, they don’t hesitate. They hurry to the town to meet baby Jesus, then go around town and all over the region telling the story of what they’d seen and heard.

This Christmas, you’ve heard a message of joy. Good news for all people. God hasn’t forgotten us or given up on us. Instead, He loves us and is working all things together for good.

So, how will you respond to this good news?

Hopefully, you follow the shepherds and work to share joy this Christmas. How?

  • By worshiping God, even if it feels embarrassing or awkward.
  • By giving good gifts to friends and strangers.
  • Or by inviting someone to get to know God better through sharing a verse, or inviting them to church.

Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. And God’s given each of us the opportunity to spread joy wherever we go. So today, we invite you to say yes to God’s invitation and find a way to share the joy of Jesus with the people in your life.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for Your gift of joy. Please help me to enjoy Christmas as I remember who You are and what You have done. Let my celebration demonstrate Your love and faithfulness to everyone I meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I am going to be honest and tell you all that my joy was nowhere to be found about 3 a.m. today. You see, I got another bladder infection that sent me running to the bathroom every 3-5 minutes, experiencing a lot of pain and losing a lot of blood in the toilet each time. By midnight, I gave in to my sister’s pleas and called an ambulance to pick me up. (Neither of us has a car here.) I got there and was kept until about 9 this morning for them to tell me that I have a bladder infection. The news I did not know is that it could have spread to my kidney (my single kidney) and so they were using strong antibiotics to help me fight it faster and better. Anyway, as I said, about 3 a.m., I was not quite ready to concede that God has a plan for me and even this could be used for His good purpose. Nevertheless, I persisted in saying scripture verses to myself that I had memorized (Psalm 121:7-8 was especially helpful).

Later, as I rode home to my sister’s apartment with Demetrius in a “We Move Taxi”, I got to talk to him some about faith and prayer. If those few minutes were the only reason for my suffering, they were worth it. Coming to the party? Yes, I will be there, rejoicing and praising God for His good plan!

JustRead Publicity Blog Tour: LINE OF FIRE by Taylor S. Newport

On By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Review, JustRead Publicity Tour8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog T our for Line of Fire by Taylor S. Newport, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Line of Fire
Series: Dauntless Defenders #1
Author: Taylor S Newport
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: November 7, 2024
Genre: Christian Action Thriller


The enemy is relentless, but they made one fatal
mistake: they underestimated him. Australian mercenary Tyler Reid, known as “The Ghost of OZ”, has a talent for evading detection, a skill that has caught the eye of multiple government agencies. When a shadowy group targets a CIA
asset and her revolutionary drug ND1, the Deputy
Director calls in Tyler. Eager for action, Tyler takes
the job. He soon realizes that the enemy is not only
after the drug, but also out for his blood. Then the
mission goes south, and he is forced to seek an
unlikely ally.

For covert foreign operative Alexandra Romanova,
freedom is a distant dream. Escaping one prison
only led her to a more dangerous one. Her deadly skills are at her boss’s disposal, but she’ll use them only to escape. Her final chance hinges on retrieving ND1, but the elusive Ghost of Oz complicates things. Tyler Reid isn’t an easy mark, and the better she gets to know him, the more she questions the mission she’s tasked with. Soon she faces a dire choice: kill a man she is convinced is good, or pay with her own life.


As Tyler and Alex venture beyond their orders, the line between enemy and ally blurs. On the edge of failure, trust becomes a dangerous gamble with every decision dragging them deeper into the line of fire. As enemies close in and alliances shift, they are ensnared in a ruthless battle where survival depends on split-second choices. In this high-stakes fight, time is running out, and the margin for error is zero.


Line of Fire is the first book in the Christian thriller series Dauntless Defenders. It is NOT a standalone novel.


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | From the Author | Amazon | BookBub

My Thoughts

This novel offers intrigue that blasts out of its pages and action that is non-stop. I was absolutely mesmerized by this book! The action and drama went from intense to explosive as Tyler Reid tries to forget his past a d safeguard those in danger from a rogue CIA agency. I was reminded again and again of Jack Reacher, James Bond and Mission Impossible. Tyler’s bravery is exemplary and his past failures keep him motivated to succeed in finding a missing daughter and destroying the rogue agency. This is a brilliantly written spy novel, combined with military tactics and what can only be described as heroic actions. The pages flew by as I raced to the end. I was completely invested in the lives of the dynamic and interests holding characters. I kept thinking that the suspense and death tally couldn’t climb much higher, but the author continued to surprise me with an amazing finesse in storytelling and in creating believable and vulnerable characters. This is a story of good versus evil in which evil seems to be winning. I am already looking forward with breathe holding anticipation to the next novel in the series!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Kindle Unlimited. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

This debut novel is a Christian Action Thriller with some intense scenes as well as violence. I would rate it for mature readers.

About the Author

Taylor S Newport is an up and coming Christian author. Four years of research has brought her to release her first high-octane novel to the world. In 2024, she placed as a Finalist in the ACFW Genesis Contest. Currently, she travels the United States with her family and GSD mix, Bella,
probably writing her next novel.

Connect with Taylor by visiting taylorsnewport.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

______________________________________________________________

Tour Giveaway


(2) winners will each receive an ebook copy of Line of Fire and a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 16, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 23, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void
where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.


Enter Giveaway

______________________________________________________________

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Joyful People Give

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 17”

Give Joy, Get Joy

Have you ever gotten a bad Christmas gift? It’s the kind of gift you know you’re going to return before you’ve even finished unwrapping it. Then, if you’re with the gift-giver, you go through the awkward dance of pretending you like the gift without outright lying. Not the most joyful experience, right?

But how about when you get the perfect gift? The thing you didn’t even know you needed in your life. The kind of gift only someone who truly knows you could have given.

Intentional gifts can create joy. Not because they got you a thing but because the gift represents the care, intentionality, and love of the friend who gave it to you.

Now, let’s go one step further. Imagine you’re the one giving the perfect gift for your loved one. How does it feel? Joyful. Because you gave of yourself, and it created joy in others.

Remember, joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. And throughout the Bible, we see a theme of joy leading to giving.

Remember yesterday when we explored David’s joy at regaining the Ark of the Covenant? After dancing through the streets he gave food to everyone present.

After Jerusalem was rebuilt following the exile, a man named Nehemiah encouraged his people to feast and share food with people who had none.

And Jesus, for the joy set before Him, gave His life as a gift to the world.

So why does joy lead to giving gifts? Because if we believe God is good and loves us, then we can be confident He’ll meet our needs today. And if we have what we need today, we’re free to share any extra we might have with others.

When we do, we get to be a source of joy in the lives of others. We also get to imitate Jesus, who spent His life on earth joyfully giving of His time and resources.

Joyful people give, but it also works the other way around. Giving can increase our joy. One of Jesus’ most famous quotes is, “It is better to give than to receive.”

So if you’re searching for joy this holiday season, try finding a way to give. Now you might say, “I’m already terrified to look at my bank statement after Christmas shopping, and I’m supposed to give more?”

Valid question, but remember, you can be generous with or without money.

You might try giving your time by serving at church or in your community. Or you could share extra resources and be a blessing to people in need. You might give your talents by lending advice, encouragement, wisdom, or practical support to your neighbors. Then, you’ll get to experience firsthand the joy-filled blessings of giving to others.

Of course, don’t forget what we said about peace last week. If you feel like you’re already giving all of your time, energy, and resources to others, then you might consider finding ways to pursue rest.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the opportunities You give me to have joy in honoring You every day. Please help me to have true joy from serving You. Please help me find ways to be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I love the Christmas season because of all it represents and nothing pleases me more than to find the perfect gift for someone special. I am not much for receiving gifts because I feel as though I have all that I need, but I still enjoy the thought and love that goes into each gift I give and each one I receive.

To think that Jesus gave…that is why He came to earth, to give. He gave us a physical representation of the Father’s love for each of us. He gave healings, peace and mercy everywhere He went. And He ultimately gave His life. In that giving, I am certain He found great joy because He was fulfilling the plan of the Father.

We can find joy in giving, too, if we will just take our eyes off the cost of the gifts, the commercialism and think about the receiver and the joy that we are giving in some small way. Give time, talent, and tangible gifts this season. Bless someone as you have been blessed.

Celebrate Before God

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, worship, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 16”

Celebrating When It Doesn’t Make Sense

Joy is an attitude, a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. That means joy is hard to contain. When we experience true joy, people tend to notice.

Reminder: When we think of what it means to show joy, we might think of someone who smiles all the time, laughs often, and has a warm personality. While that might be true for some, you don’t need to be as jolly as Santa, or the person whose story we’ll explore today, to experience true joy.

David grew up as a shepherd, but, through a dramatic sequence of events, ended up becoming king. Now, when you think of a king, a certain image probably comes to mind—a strong, dignified, and imposing presence, probably wearing a big crown and flowing robes. But that’s not how David appears in this story.

In this account, David takes off his kingly clothes and dances with enthusiasm in the streets with the ordinary people. Why? Let’s explore some context.

Early in the Bible, God invited His people to follow His way of life. A life centered on loving God and loving others. Part of this invitation came with a promise—God would be present with them no matter what. This was a strange promise because it wasn’t just for the privileged few, but a promise for all people, from the king down to lowly shepherds.

This connection was symbolized by a few items God called gifted craftsmen to create. One of these items, and probably the most famous, was the Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark symbolized God’s powerful, personal presence in the world and reminded God’s people of His compassionate strength. But at certain points in their history, the Ark had been misused.

On one occasion, God’s people thought they could use the Ark to control or manipulate God into meeting their selfish desires—and God wasn’t pleased. He allowed the Ark to be taken from them to a neighboring nation.

How would you have felt to be a part of God’s people at that time? You might wonder if you’d messed up one too many times and disqualified yourself from God’s love.

But God is merciful, kind, and willing to give unlimited second chances. That’s why God eventually returned the Ark to God’s people with a great parade, and David led the way.

So why did David show so much joyful, undignified enthusiasm? Because this wasn’t just some box. It was a reminder that God is good, even when we’re not. So David worshiped God with song, dance, and generosity. Sure, he might have looked a little foolish in front of the people he ruled, but he didn’t seem to care. His joy was too great to let insecurity get in the way of His worship.

When we think of worship, it’s natural to think about songs at church. Singing is certainly one way we worship, but worship is any action we do that reminds ourselves and others of God’s qualities. So we can worship through music, service, prayer, art, or anything else that reflects God’s goodness.

When we experience joy, we can’t help but worship. It overflows from us as we remember who God is, and who we are.

But it can also work the other way around. If we’re feeling low on joy, worship can help us regain our joyful attitude. When we feel alone, apathetic, or broken, worship reminds us of God’s love, promises, and consistent care.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for Your commitment to being close. Thank You for always giving us another chance when we turn away. Help me to be as faithful to You as You have been to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

When I consider all of the second chances God gives me all the time, it is hard not to be in awe of His great love and mercy and to worship Him. I may not be “feeling it” but sometimes I worship in spite of my feelings and the feelings follow. I am grateful every day to worship a God who sincerely cares for me and wants the best for me even when I am determined to have my own stubborn way.

I can’t dance before the Lord as David did, but I am dancing in my heart even as I pondered the verses this morning that go along with the devotional. Only God is worthy of our worship. He gives us joy and we return that joyful worship to Him!

Stolen Joy

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, Day 16”

Did Something Steal Your Joy?

This Christmas, some people are living in the happiest season of their lives, while others are walking through their darkest moments. Neither experience is an indicator of God’s love. But it can sure feel that way sometimes.

One of the first stories in the Bible is about what happens when jealousy steals someone’s joy.

As we explore this story, let’s remember our definition of joy. Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God.

The story centers on two brothers: the shepherd, Abel, and the farmer, Cain. Both brought good gifts to God. God accepts Abel’s gift, but rejects Cain’s. Why? The story itself doesn’t offer many clues.

Cain is visibly shaken. Scripture says his “face falls.” You probably know some of what he felt. Feelings like disappointment, frustration, defeat. But let’s pause and imagine what could have happened if Cain experienced joy instead of jealousy.

He might have felt disappointed, but he would have known that God and Abel were on his side. He would have believed everyone, including himself, had room to grow—allowing him to view setbacks as growth opportunities rather than shameful failures. And he would have been able to celebrate Abel’s success.

But that’s not what happened. Instead, Cain’s experience led him to feel jealous toward Abel, and bitter toward God.

Have you ever felt the same way? You’ve made sacrifices for God, like spending time in Scripture, serving your community, and maybe even giving to your local church, but your life doesn’t seem any different. It can feel frustrating, like God has abandoned you, leading to bitterness.

Then you see the good things God’s doing in the lives of others. Like a friend who made an incredible recovery while you’ve been praying for healing from chronic pain. Or when a young couple posts about their newborn baby while you’ve been on a devastating, decade-long fertility journey with no happy end in sight.

Comparing their experience with yours makes it hard to hold on to joy, and easy to question God’s goodness.

Cain’s jealousy caused him to stop seeing Abel as a brother and start seeing him as an enemy. Eventually, Cain lashed out, killing his brother and trying to hide it from God.

It’s rare that a lack of joy results in physical violence. More often, it leads us to either hide or lash out, hurting people through our words, actions, or distance.

When jealousy and bitterness steal our joy, we’re left drained and empty, trying to take what momentary happiness we can find in a desperate attempt to fill the void. So, how do we stop ourselves from becoming like Cain?

Well, when we feel disappointed or heartbroken, remember that life is full of ups and downs, but God’s goodness and love are constant. He hasn’t forgotten you, you’re not a failure, and He doesn’t hate you.

And when we see friends, family members, or strangers on social media who seem to be living the best days of their lives, we work to keep jealousy at bay. You don’t know the private battles they might be fighting or what challenges they might face in the future. Instead, celebrate alongside them today.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for always being with me. Please help me to accept Your gift of joy even when I walk through hard times. Help me to know You are with me even when I don’t feel You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I added the red emphasis in the devotional above because that is the lesson that stood out to me. God is always good. Life’s road may be bumpy and not what we expected or hoped for, but God does not change. He always loves, always shows mercy and always gives us undeserved grace. When we are tempted to “let our face fall” as Cain did and lash out at others because we are not getting our way in our time frame, then we need to take a step back and recall all of the times that God has blessed us and be thankful that the next blessing is on its way. I have found in my life that the times when I just don’t feel like praising are the times when I really need to praise the Lord. In my simple act of acknowledging God, the peace and joy are restored and I can move on through whatever it is that is trying to steal my joy and come out on the other side content because God has been with me, just as He has always been right there.