From Broken to Whole

On October 20, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I remember well when our children would run to me crying about a broken toy and expect me to fix it for them. Sometimes I could and other times, I would have to tell them that it could not be repaired and they would be very disappointed in my inability. There is One who takes each of us, broken as we are, and who “fixes” us completely and makes us whole. Our sin and the darkness all around us that accompany that sin are changed to light and an indescribable feeling of being whole. I think that it because the God who made us is able to have a relationship with us due to the sacrifice of His Son. We are no longer broken by sin but made whole by His grace. Thanks be to God for His plan that makes us whole! God never turns anyone away and says we are too broken to be repaired; there is no such thing as “too broken” with God. We can all be made whole in the name of Jesus. This is “Amazing Grace”!

Healed by His Wounds

Brokenness. We see it all around us. We experience it ourselves: in our relationships, in our dreams, in our bodies. And yet, something happened over two thousand years ago that still has the power to heal that brokenness.

1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took the weight of our sins upon Himself. He carried them to the cross, giving up His life not because of His own wrongdoing, but because of ours. This is the essence of the Gospel. Through His sacrifice, He offered us a path out of darkness and into His light—a life transformed by His grace.

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we’ve been given a profound healing of our spirits; new life taking the place of sins and darkness that separate us from God. Through His wounds, we are offered forgiveness and a new relationship with God, healed and whole.

Understanding His sacrifice transforms us. We can’t live in darkness anymore. Brokenness may surround us, but it is no longer within us. His righteousness washes over us. His healing wells up within us. Our entire life shifts as a response to the profound love and sacrifice Jesus showed us, and the healing that He alone can provide.

Deepen Your Faith Roots

On October 19, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/50032/day/1

I invite you to join me in this Bible study and devotional plan. I am trying to “build my faith muscle” with this short six day devotional and can’t wait to delve into God’s Word. It is only through His Word that I can have a closer relationship with the Lord. And in moving closer to God, my faith becomes stronger. That is how God helps us through the hard times.

My Cravings

On October 18, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

I have a lot of cravings, like chocolate (which I eat in moderation), cold water and cheesecake. I can satisfy those cravings easily enough with a trip to the store. But I have a deep craving in my heart to know more about God and to be more like Him. That one desire means that I have to expend some effort in order to satisfy my craving. A few minutes here and there and once in a while just aren’t working for me anymore. I’m not sure if it’s because of my age or the many hours in solitude because our children are grown and gone, but whatever the reason, in the quiet space of my heart, I crave to be with the Lord. I want to spend more time discovering new things about Him. It seems that every time I pick up my Bible, I find something new that I never saw before even though I have read those exact same verses multiple times. A trip to the store will satisfy my physical cravings, but only time dedicated to the Lord and His presence will satisfy my soul’s longing for fellowship with my Maker.

Every day, multiple times a day, little alarms are triggered inside your brain. They make your stomach growl, your mouth water, or your mind become fixed on that which you crave.

God gave us physical needs that mirror our spiritual needs, too. Needs that must be met to stay healthy and alive. Needs that must be satisfied over and over again. In fact, food is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for our spiritual needs (it’s called “our daily bread” in Matthew and the “pure milk” of the Word in 1 Peter, to name a couple.)

In the fourth beatitude, which are a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus said this:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6 NIV

Do you long for righteousness and justice? Do you desire the ways of God? Do you yearn for His kingdom to come? Do you want to be someone who chases after that which can never truly satisfy, or someone who hungers and thirsts after God?

In this upside-down kingdom where Jesus is Lord, the poor can be rich, the weak can be strong, and the empty can be filled.

Jesus Christ not only holds the keys to “living water,” but He is the “Bread of Life.” So, when you feel Him prompting your heart—to fight for justice, to love the unloved, to stand up for what’s right (even when it’s not popular)—pay attention.

He stands ready to fill you with everything you need.

What Is Man?

On October 17, 2024 By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, VideoLeave a comment

We are the culmination of God’s creative work. When the Lord God created earth and everything on it, mankind was His last and ultimate creation. About man, God said, “It is very good.”

On Monday night at Bible study, as our group waited for the lesson to begin, this photo was the view from the picture window. Isn’t is amazing? God’s creation never ceases to amaze me with its stunning display of color and how everything flows together beautifully. When I see a sunset like this, I am reminded of how very much God loves each of us. We are all special to Him, uniquely created to fulfill a purpose in His plan. I don’t know about you, but my reaction is one of awe and gratitude that the God of the Universe, the One who made this gorgeous sky for us to enjoy, knows me by name and loves me. And He loves you the same way!

“Goodness of God” by Cece Winans

Live What You Have Learned

On October 16, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I am a lifelong learner. I enjoy learning new things and then using what I have learned. In fact, I know from experience that if you don’t use what you have learned, you forget it. I was a Spanish teacher for years, but teaching in the classroom was not the same as when I went on the missions field as a translator and used it or when I translated for a new couple from Guatemala who started attending our church. Using what I had learned helped me to remember the language and it also helped me feel more comfortable with it.

The same thing applies with what God is teaching us from His Word. He doesn’t want us to just read His Word. Rather, He wants us to be a walking model of what is in His Word. Love, peace, joy, long suffering, patience, forgiveness….live it, don’t just read about it. In today’s world, there is a lot of room for mercy and grace because there are a lot of people who do not agree with my conservative viewpoint. But that’s okay. I can still love them, even those living in sin, and show them grace and mercy. They aren’t going to hell because I say so and they don’t stand a chance of going to heaven if someone doesn’t extend God’s love to them and show them a better way.

Living what you have learned is not just for your benefit. It is for those all around you who are watching to see what kind of person you really are. If you practice the Christian lifestyle no matter where you are, you are fulfilling God’s Word to “do the Word.”

Keep Practicing

When someone is training for a job—any job—they must eventually make the shift from studying to practicing.

The apostle Paul knew how important such a transition was, which is why—even while confined to a Roman prison—he recorded the following words for the believers in Philippi, Greece:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

Paul had taught them. Paul had trained them. Paul had loved them. And that’s why, from the isolation of a jail cell, Paul empowered them to live out what they’d learned.

Jesus, too, was passionate about His followers not just trying to look good or to sound good, but to do good—with a heart that genuinely wanted to glorify God. James, the half brother of Jesus, also wrote about not just listening to the Word, but doing what it says.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
James 1:22-24 ESV

It’s one thing to know about something, but it’s an entirely different thing to put that knowledge into practice.

The peace of God is a gift that He gives us. It’s something we experience as we draw near to Him by living in a way that honors Him. If we know His will but don’t do anything about it—that shows that we don’t really want to honor God. But if we do His will, then our actions illustrate that our identity is rooted in Christ. And our closeness to Christ allows us to experience His peace.

Doing the will of God—not just learning about the will of God—unleashes the peace of God.

So today, study what Paul taught and modeled (which is ultimately what Jesus taught and modeled). And then, ask yourself: “What is God teaching me about Himself, myself, and other people? How can I apply His teachings to my life?”

Review: A CHRISTMAS DUET by Debbie Macomber

On October 15, 2024 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

ABOUT THE BOOK

Product Details

ISBN-13:9780593725337 Publisher:Random House Publishing Group Publication date:10/15/2024 Pages:288

A solo holiday trip inspires one woman to rediscover her passion—and remember that, sometimes, duets are more fun—in this romantic Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

“A perfectly delicious Christmas bonbon of a novel.”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Santa Suit and Bright Lights, Big Christmas

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

My Thoughts

For me, this book is a slam dunk winner in the Christmas romance genre! With characters that spoke (and sang) their ways into my heart, and a delightful story of a young woman who wants to pursue her dream of writing songs, this novel captured my heart from the beginning. Hailey is the quintessential people pleaser, having gone along with other people’s plans for her life until finally she just wants to be alone and write her songs. When she goes to a little town called Podunk, Oregon and settles into an isolated cabin, she figures she has found the perfect place to create. Little does she know that a swoonworthy hero is going to step into her life in the form of Jay, a man who comes to rescue her from varmints and worms his way into her heart. The book is carefully plotted with dual storylines. The secondary one is that of Hailey’s sister Daisy who is having her own issues with self-acceptance and love. Both stories are mesmerizing and a sweet portrayal of sisterly advice and love and the dynamics between the characters was amazingly well portrayed. The banter between Jay and Hailey is screen worthy and so satisfying as both characters are easy to cheer for. This is a delightful romance with a depth of emotion that had me reading long into the night, as I laughed and cried and celebrated with the characters who are so believable and refreshingly honest.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Purchase Links

With great appreciation to Penguin Random House for the Advanced Reader Copy of this wonderful Christmas book!

God Is Right There

On October 15, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony2 Comments

Over forty years ago, something so totally unexpected happened in my life that not only was I not prepared for it, I still look back on it and ponder how in the world I survived the events. One day, I was a young mom celebrating with my husband that our baby was about to turn a year old. Then, the phone call came. In the middle of the night, of course. My grandmother in Virginia called and said my entire family was packing up and leaving Virginia and if I wanted to tell them good-bye, I needed to get to Virginia right away. Well, I didn’t understand what was happening, but I told my husband and he helped me to calm down enough to pack our things and get ready for the seven hour drive to my hometown. Unfortunately, when I got there, my family was gone. My mom, my dad and my three younger siblings…gone. I was greeted by the sheriff’s department who were investigating my father and told that I could get personal items out of the house, but nothing else. The home I had lived in most of my life before marriage was going to be auctioned. I was in a cloud of confusion and despair, hoping to hear from my parents that they were just on a trip and would straighten everything out soon. My husband had just separated from the military as we prepared to attend Youth With a Mission in New Jersey, and we had a few months before our school started. So we spent that time first staying with my grandparents and then in a long-stay motel while we waited for our new life in NJ to begin. Meanwhile, I was dealing with the grief of losing my family, the overwhelming grief of my grandparents who had always had my mom in the same town with them, and a change in life’s circumstances that meant we had no viable income but were depending on God. Everything was changing, and I am not one who likes any change at all, much less change that turned my world upside down. But God was right there with me and He had a plan. The experience with YWAM was not one I would want to repeat, mostly because they were not set up for young families, even though there were half a dozen of us attending this session. I had to relinquish my young daughter to their daycare early every morning and did not see her again until after evening classes, sometime around dinner. It was breaking my mamma’s heart not to be with Hope, but I dutifully did what the leaders said to do, attending classes, working a job off campus to pay off bills to the school and studying God’s Word diligently. It was in burying myself in His Word that I found the comfort that I needed. After all, it had only been a few short months since my family disappeared and now I was in a new state, living in one room, eating barely recognizable food (we had chicken fly soup a lot…because we said the chicken flew over it but never stayed there), and expected to do the menial labor of cleaning houses for just enough money to pay to do our laundry. I was desolate and felt abandoned by all but God. My husband was preparing to go on a missions trip and I was working extra to help pay for that adventure for him. He, by the way, was all in for YWAM, and I was the reluctant participant. I saw my husband less than I saw our daughter, but that was okay at the time because God was with me. Every spare minute I had was spent in God’s Word, praying for my family and desperate to hear from them. The only people I heard from was the FBI…no, really, the FBI was involved and kept trying to get me to tell them where my parents were. Thanks goodness, I honestly did not know! Anyway, in the darkest, bleakest days of my life, God was right there. He held me in the long nights as I cried out my grief and despair. He comforted me with His Word and reassured me that He was right there with me.

We completed our classes at YWAM and my husband and I decided that since I was pregnant again (in spite of using birth control), he would go back into the military to support our small family. After two years, I unexpectedly got a letter from my mom. The family was in FL and was safe but I couldn’t tell anyone where they were. Eventually, a couple of years later, I was able to visit them because daddy did some kind of deal with the authorities and they knew where he was then. Two years without knowing where they were…two more years before seeing them again. My five year old sister was nine, my brothers were almost grown. In fact, one had quit college and given up a full scholarship to go with my parents when they fled Virginia. They were working and barely surviving, but they were alive! My grandparents, by the way, never got to see them again. They were too frail to travel to FL and my parents could not return to VA (or wouldn’t…I’m not sure). They did talk on the phone, but that was before technology allowed for video calls, so it wasn’t the same as having them less than fifteen minutes away. Anyway, that’s how I know that the more you need God, the more present He is in your life. I would not recommend YWAM to any young family, but for me, at that time and under those circumstances, it was the best place for me. I was filled daily with God’s Word which was the exact nourishment I needed to face each uncertain day.

My parents are both dead now. My siblings have their own families, two in Fl and one in CO. We are all close to each other, clinging to the relationship we have together and all with a faith that one day, we will get to see our parents again in heaven. Whatever the future brings, I have full confidence that God and I can handle it together. My saying to myself and others who wonder at my strength during tragedy is,” Nothing will happen today that God and I cannot handle together.”

Closer Than You Think

In one unsuspecting moment, everything can change.

A relationship can shatter, a dream can suddenly end. Your heart can break for a million different reasons: grief, rejection, loneliness, uncertainty, tragedy, betrayal.

When something terrible happens and the world makes zero sense…

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:18 NLT

David, the writer of Psalm 34, preached what he lived. He experienced some intense highs and fierce lows, but he recognized God’s presence in the midst of his circumstances. He knew that God was near, and God could change any situation in an instant.

Is your heart broken? Is your spirit crushed?

God is near.
He hasn’t left you to fight for yourself.
He sees you in your heartbreak.
He meets you where you are.
He has not forgotten you.
He has not abandoned you.

This doesn’t mean you won’t face hard things. But even when your mind races and your heart doubts, God offers a peace and an intimacy that cannot be fully explained.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now have constant access to God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. There are many places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is described as the Comforter—ready to soothe, guide, counsel, and encourage.

The comfort we receive from God is a gift from His Spirit who is always with us. So if your heart is breaking and your spirit is crushed, know that you are in good hands. God is near, and He will not abandon you.

Today, take a few moments to name anything that has crushed your spirit. Then, give yourself permission to just sit in God’s presence for a few moments. When you’re ready, consider memorizing today’s verse and meditate on it throughout your day.

God’s Promises

On October 14, 2024 By vickleaIn promises, Scripture2 Comments

Have you ever promised someone something that you fully intended to do, but then life got in the way and you couldn’t keep your promise? If that has happened to you, as it has to me, then you know that the person to whom you made the promise is disappointed and so are you. I have learned from experience to tell people that I can’t make a promise, but I will do my best to fulfill a commitment.

God keeps all of His promises, a statement that is hard for us to comprehend. The God of the Universe doesn’t make promises He cannot keep, so we can trust Him to follow His own Word.

There are many studies online about God’s promises. There are books written about God’s promises. There are testimonies of God’s keeping His promises and churches built because of a promise that God made to a group of people. You can just type God’s promises into a search engine and multiple results will follow.

Examples from Online Search Engine:

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-are-god-s-promises-in-the-bible.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/promises-of-God.html

https://www.openbible.info/topics/gods_promises

As helpful as search engines are, I prefer to go to the source and search out the promises of God myself. I have found in clinging to the promises of God, it is helpful to memorize them so that when the hard times come, they are hidden in my heart and I can remind myself of what God has said about my situation. Nothing in my life catches God by surprise, and He has already provided an answer for me in His Word. I just have to know it in order to be able to lean into the power of His promises.

Read verse 20 for the context of this verse. The “he” is Abraham, the one with whom God made a covenant that He kept in spite of Abraham’s humanity and mistakes. You don’t think Abraham made mistakes? Check out his journey and the two times he pretended Sarah was not his wife. In spite of Abraham’s failings, God kept His promise to him and made a great nation from him.

And in spite of our failings, God will keep His promises to us. I don’t want anyone to think that this is a “name it and claim it” post. I personally don’t believe in that philosophy. What I do believe in is God’s power and trustworthiness. When I need Him to comfort me or give me strength, He is right there, because His Word says He will be. When I am anxious, He speaks peace to me through His Word. How can I depend on a God whom I cannot see? Because He has shown me in His Word and throughout my life that He is with me and will be with me to the end. God is a promise keeper and if I want to be more like Him, I need to keep my promises. That is a commitment I plan to keep…to be careful about what I promise because the God of the Universe is listening in an watching what I will do to keep my word, just as He always keeps His.

Redemption is the Goal

On October 13, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

I know without a doubt that God takes sin seriously. After all, He sent His Son to die because of our sin. But God’s passion is redemption, When we think of “passion” we usually think of Jesus’s great love for us and His death on the cross. We should also be thinking of the Father’s great love and absolute determination to redeem us. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses, not because I think that it applies to me or to our world today, because it was actually written to the Israelites in exile as a promise of hope for the future. But in this verse, I see that God is still working out His plan for all people everywhere. Sin is still around, but so is redemption and that is God’s ultimate purpose for our lives. God desires our best, and that is eternity with Him, not a relatively short life on a planet corrupted by sin. Redemption has always been and always will be God’s goal for each of us. I cling to that when times are hard…I am passing through this world for a brief time but it is not my final destination.

The Best Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse that’s often slapped onto journals, etched into coffee mugs, and printed on t-shirts.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And God does have a plan for you.
God does want to bless you.
God does want to give you hope and a future.

But—we should also pay attention to the original context …

In this case, God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah—people who’d recently been exiled to Babylon for 70 years.

The Jewish people were banished to a foreign land because of their insatiable appetite for sin. In fact, for 23 years Jeremiah had been warning them to stop rebelling against God or prepare to face the consequences.

God is patient, but He is also just. In the preceding chapters, God made a case against His beloved people:

They’d exploited foreigners, orphans, and widows. They’d denied the rights of the poor. They’d refused to stand up for truth or obey God’s instructions. They’d murdered the innocent and committed adultery. They’d rejoiced in doing evil and their lives were ruled by greed. They’d even built pagan shrines, sacrificing their sons and daughters in the fires. It was a dark time. And yet, somehow, God’s mercy always extends to the darkest places on earth.

That’s why, just a few verses later, God said they could seek Him and find Him, and He’d bring them back from captivity (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:13‬-14).

That’s why he encouraged them—while in exile—to build houses, plant gardens, get married, have children, and work for the peace and prosperity of their temporary home (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

He wanted them to know: He hadn’t forgotten them. He still wanted good for them. He still had plans to restore them.

God is serious about sin, but He’s just as passionate about redemption.

Though Jeremiah 29:11 was meant for a specific people at a specific time, God’s heart for the restoration of broken people is generationally timeless.

Even when we feel stuck in the process, God still has a plan.
We can put our trust in the God whose goal is always redemption.

Where Is Your Faith?

On October 12, 2024 By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, Video3 Comments

First, I must admit that the days before an election have found me anxious and fearful for the future of our nation. Over and over again, God has spoken quietly to my heart and told me to have peace, that He is sovereign and in control and nothing is impossible for Him. But it was not until this morning that I had a real breakthrough.

After the strong storm came up and Jesus awakened and calmed the storm, Jesus’s words to His disciples, those who had been following Him and seeing all of His miracles, were, “Where is your faith?” That is what He asked me this morning. If my faith is in a man to lead this nation and help us to become more moral again, then my faith is in the wrong thing. If my faith is in a party or a church leader or anything or anyone that is not God, then my faith is misplaced. The same God who commands the winds and waves commands the whole world and He can take care of the United States or judge it or whatever He want to do. Whatever God chooses to do is part of His ultimate plan and I can neither change His mind or divert Him from His plan. So, instead of being afraid in the rocking boat, I am choosing to do as Jesus did, to be at peace and to rest, trusting that the Father has it all under control.

As a side note, another interesting thing I got from my devotional this morning is the times Jesus healed and told the person not to tell others. Jesus wants us to focus on the majesty of God, on His glory, grace and mercy, not on the miracles He does for us. Yes, they are numerous and they happen every day. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of what God has done for us in any given day. But the focus of our lives should not only be on what God has done for us, although gratitude is important. Our focus should on our response to what God has done. Are we truly in awe of Him and His power and actions for us? Are we honestly thankful or do we just take Him and His work for granted? Do we tell others the testimony of how He has changed our lives and we are not the same? Or do we only talk about miraculous healing? I am not saying that miracles are not important; they are, but they are not the reason we seek God, or at least I hope that isn’t the reason. God wants a relationship with us, not for what He can do for us, but just because He loves us and wants us to love Him because He is our God. God is not our personal genie (I said the same thing in a previous post long ago.) There is no magic bottle that we can rub and summon the Lord God. He is always there, right beside us, listening to us and waiting for us to come into a right relationship with Him, one of respect and genuine amazement at who He is, yet He still notices us and all the little details of our lives. Our God is truly an awesome God!

Our God Is An Awesome God-Michael W. Smith

Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner

Author: vicklea