I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Author: vicklea
I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!
Last week as I struggled to breathe, I must confess that I was fearful. All kinds of doubts assailed me. The problem with growing up as an asthmatic is that I have learned all of the things that can go wrong and when I should head to the hospital. Once I was diagnosed with Influenza B, I knew I had to start my breathing treatments because this virus attacks the respiratory system. So I did…but I didn’t get better. I was up most of every night coughing and doing breathing treatments every couple of hours as I wheezed my way through the nights. After four days of that, I returned to my doctor, was diagnosed with bronchitis and received antibiotics and steroids. Praise God for a doctor who listened to my lungs and was not afraid to approach me! Anyway, I have not gotten better right away. It’s. a process, but God has constantly reassured me that He has not left me and since He gave me the breath of life to begin with, I can depend on Him to continue to help me breathe until He calls me home. This verse today in my devotional is a reminder of where I was last week and where I am now. Still coughing a little, still using breathing treatments several times a day, but so thankful that God has not abandoned me and for His promise that He will always be with me.
Many seasons in life can be scary. You might be asked to step into something new and uncertain. You might walk through a difficult situation or face insurmountable opposition. It is easy to feel discouraged or fearful of seasons like this, especially in the midst of the unknown.
But God’s Word says that faith is needed in every season of life. Faith means putting our trust in God and taking the next step, even if we don’t know what is ahead.
In Deuteronomy 31:6, God encouraged them to be strong and courageous in the midst of facing their greatest fears. And, He even gave them a promise to ease their fears: He would never leave their side.
Often, in seasons of difficulty, all we have left to hold onto is a promise from God. But regardless of how everything changes around us, we can always place our faith in God’s promises.
During this season of Advent, and time of reflection, think about the seasons of your own life. Every situation you face is an opportunity to grow your faith in God and trust in His promises. So, if you’re feeling discouraged or fearful of the future, spend some time in prayer, asking God for courage and peace.
Remember that you are never alone in life. God is always with you. Not only will His presence never leave you, but His love will never be taken away. He will never forsake you. There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38).
Thank God for His love and presence during this season of reflection. And confidently cling to the promises that He has given you.
Life can be difficult sometimes. All of us go through seasons filled with difficulty, grief, or loss. And even if you haven’t experienced those things yet, you’ve probably had moments where you’ve grown tired of doing good. As much as we want to live well and do good to others, the truth is that we will all grow weary of it at some point.
In Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah says that those who hope in God will find renewed strength. The key to perseverance in difficult seasons is not simply pushing through and trying harder. Strength isn’t found in simply hoping our circumstances will change.
God’s Word says that true strength comes from placing our hope in God. Because God is all-powerful, He alone has the power to change our circumstances. But God also knows that as humans, we grow weary and restless. We often place our hope in temporary solutions when we should be relying on God, who can truly help us.
But when we place our hope in God alone, Scripture tells us we will find renewed strength to endure life’s challenges. Hoping in God means trusting in His promises—even if we don’t see them fulfilled in our lifetime.
During this season of Advent and time of reflection, how can you allow the Lord to renew your hope in God? Allow Him to search your heart. Pray that you will be filled with the strength and hope that only God can provide.
When the world around you seems wild, or the heart inside you feels weary, you can still count on God.
The psalmist said it like this:
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalms 130:5 NIV
This is one of fifteen psalms known as the Pilgrim Songs, or the Songs of Ascent (comprising Psalms 120-134)—sung by Jewish travelers making the trek to Jerusalem for annual festivals.
If you read the rest of the chapter, you’ll notice a heaviness, a tenderness, a tone of repentance. The psalmist cries out “from the depths”—wanting to be heard, begging for mercy, longing for the redemption of His people, all the while hoping in and waiting on the Lord.
The NLT translation says, “I am counting on the Lord…”
If you’ve ever wondered who—other than you—has had to hope in, wait on, and trust in the Lord, it’s everyone. It’s all of us. Every person in biblical history, from Noah to Moses, Rahab to Ruth, Peter to Paul… down to us, living in this modern day.
Those who lived before Jesus Christ were waiting on the Messiah to come and rescue a fallen world. Those who live after Jesus, like us, are waiting on Him to come back and redeem everything that’s been lost—once and for all.
The season of Advent reminds us that regardless of who you are, where you’re from, or what you’ve done, you can cry out and wait on God.
He is trustworthy, He is faithful, and He always makes good on His promises.
As you wait upon the Lord during this Advent season, know that He wants you to come close—so that He can be your strength so that He can give you comfort, and so that He can provide everything you need.
A good reminder for the beginning of the Christmas season. The focus is on God’s reliability. Only grace saves us. God is faithful and our response to Him is faithfulness. Our faith gives each of us access to God’s grace. Please click on the link and listen to this pastor’s wisdom.
I have to confess that I have been discouraged lately. We traveled to Maryland for a memorial service, and the service was beautiful and a gracious reminder of all that Patty had done to serve others and God during her lifetime. Then, we stayed a few extra days to celebrate Thanksgiving with our son and his family. Unfortunately, I came home sick. I knew that Friday night when we got home that I had contracted pink eye, something Steven and two of his children had while we were there. They were using antibiotic eye drops and according to Steven, the doctor said that they were past the contagious phase. Well, as I told my husband, the only thing that I have ever been able to run after and catch well is germs…so, yes, I have pink eye.
I waited all weekend to go to the doctor, using my regular eye drops to keep my eyes moist and applying cold compresses for the burning and itching. On Monday, I called my regular doctor and was told that I would have a “drive up appointment.” I had never heard of such a thing but apparently, it keeps the doctor from actually doing a real examination. The nurse came out to our car, checked my temperature and did an uncomfortable swab of my nostrils to check for Covid and flu. When my regular caregiver came out, she told me that I have Influenza B along with viral pink eye and there is no real treatment for either. She did prescribe Tamiflu to help me with the symptoms, but to say that I was not impressed with the level of care provided is an understatement. I have a history of respiratory illnesses, including chronic bronchitis and pneumonia and she did not even get close enough to put a stethoscope near my lungs. I reminded her of my history and she just repeated, “Flu. Rest and drink plenty of liquids. Call us if it gets worse.” Hmm. So, since Monday, I have continued to use cold compresses and eye drops as well as all of my breathing treatments since coughing seems to be what this flu does. I am hopeful that I won’t get bronchitis or pneumonia but I am a little irritated and very disappointed in the doctor’s lack of compassionate care. Anyway, as i did my devotional this morning, which is no small task with watery eyes and blurred vision, God gave me this verse.
So, hope and encouragement from my Heavenly Father! He assured me that he is not afraid to get close to me, even with all of my germs. In fact, He has reached out and touched me in a way that I could feel His comforting presence all around me even as I cough and struggle to breathe. I am blessed by the Lord and that is enough encouragement to get me through this illness and onto the next challenge, whatever it may be. I am thankful for His loving kindness, grace and mercy, and for His assurance of love and closeness to me. Doctors may fail to meet my expectations, but God never will.
Update
I had to return to the doctor yesterday because I was getting worse instead of better and I was struggling to breathe. I went to the same practice but saw a different physician (my choice) and he actually checked me. Amazing! He listened to my lungs and told me I have that my influenza has morphed into bronchitis (bordering on pneumonia). So he gave me an injection of prednisone to help stop the constant wheezing, a prescription for more prednisone and an antibiotic. My breathing is better this morning and as soon as I get over the headache that happens from my first dose of medral, I will hopefully be on the mend. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes!
www.bible.com/reading-plans/22462/day/1
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 