Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

God’s Plans Are Good

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

The Best Plans (Daily Refresh, 10-07)

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 other words, the Jews were sent to timeout. And as you can read 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 babies, 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.

My Thoughts

When I saw the verse for today, I was a little anxious about how the verse would be interpreted. Several years ago, a friend in the blogosphere who is a Messianic Jew told me the background of this verse and that it shouldn’t be used to liberally to apply to everyone at all times. Since then, I always point out the context of the verse to those using it for other purposes. I like how this exposition of the verse points out that God’s restoration and plan for redemption is for everyone and His plan for each of us is timeless. In context this verse applies to the nation of Judah at a time when they were exiled and as this author points out “in time out from God.” But we can still hold on to the promise that God does have a good plan for our lives, no matter where we find ourselves today.

I am reflecting today on the Hamas attack against the nation of Israel three years ago. So many innocents died, others captured and tortured and later died at the hands of Hamas. It is hard for me to conceive that we have a mayor of a major U.S. city who supports such an evil organization as Hamas. Such are our times. We are definitely calling evil good and good evil. It was prophesied and it is coming to pass. I think this, too, is part of God’s plan. What do you think?

Praying from the Bible

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Have you ever just sat before the Lord and didn’t know where to begin or what to say? That is where I have found myself today. In my desire to quiet my mind, I turned to my devotionals and one of the books I read today was the beginning of Philippians. Did you know that Paul starts this book with a prayer? I am used to seeing prayers at the end of his epistles, but it struck me that he started the letter with a prayer. I ended up saying Paul’s words as a prayer for friends, family and online friends, like you who are reading these words. The following images are what I prayed. May they bless you and quiet your heart as they have done for me.

Amen and amen! To God be all the honor, power and praise!

Have you ever prayed the scriptures as you read them? It really is a blessing to use God’s Word to pray for others.

Forgiveness for All

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

I thought I had forgiven everyone who had offended me. Then I had my quiet time, and God’s word to me was, “Really? Have you really?” Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of how angry I am at the mothers recently who killed their children. No, I don’t personally know them, but I am offended at their actions and excuses. He reminded me of the Fox News host who had been fired for inappropriate behavior with women. This was in the forefront of my mind today because one of the women he victimized committed suicide this weekend. Did I know this commentator personally? No, but I was incensed at his actions and would have called hell fire down on him if that had been in my power to do so. Finally, He brought to mind the commentators (two of them) who broke up their families when they committed adultery and married each other. Again, not personal acquaintances but still a thorn burrowing beneath my skin that makes it hard for me to see either one of them on the TV.

Jesus died for everyone, not just the ones that I personally consider worthy. He wants to give those mother-murderers the chance to be saved. He wants to forgive the man who used his power in the network to abuse women. And He wants me to forgive those who committed adultery and then broadcast their actions on the network. He already forgave, but have I? Have I let it go? I truly am working on that so that bile doesn’t rise up when I hear their stories again and again. I will be honest and say that I don’t watch any of the celebrities or join in the excuses for the mothers. I will, however, according to God’s instructions, pray that He will gently lead each of them to Himself so that they can find mercy and forgiveness just as I did.

God reminded me that He forgave ALL of my sins. No, I didn’t kill an innocent child, abuse another person or commit adultery. But God doesn’t have degrees of sin. Every sin is just sin to Him and keeps the sinners out of His presence, doomed for an eternity without Him. Do I want them to be saved? That’s a hard question, isn’t it? I want to say that I don’t want anyone to perish, just as God says. But, again, I am working on that attitude in my heart. It is all starting with my attitude of forgiveness, so each time some heinous act and the actor come to my mind, I am asking God to bring His love and mercy and forgiveness to that situation. I am not the final judge and God doesn’t want my opinion; He wants me to be right with Him by forgiving even when I don’t think others deserve it. I didn’t either.

The first image is the reason I pray for forgiveness for all and the second image is why. There is no hope without God, and in this perplexing world of values turned upside down, God is still King of Kings and still offers the free gift of His forgiveness to all, to every single person regardless of what they have done. We can do no less than follow His example.

The Sabbath Is A Day Set Apart

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

Set Apart (Daily Refresh, 10-03-26)

In modern language, “holy” often means something religious or spiritual. But in the Bible, “holy” simply means “set apart.” It means something (or someone) different and distinct from everything else. 

God is unlike any other gods the nations knew. The Lord is holy, and called His people to be distinct—or holy—too.

Some of the distinctions that set the Israelite practices apart were religious and spiritual. They offered sacrifices in a certain way and had specific instructions for how priests, worship, and the temple operated. Other practices that set Israel apart involved everyday things like food, clothing, and their weekly calendars. These habits and customs were meant to reflect and reinforce that they were truly different—or holy—because they belonged to God.

The fourth commandment given to Israel is to “remember the Sabbath day” and keep it holy—a reminder to Israel of the blessed pattern God laid out in Creation. Just as our Holy Creator worked for six days and rested on a seventh, He calls His holy people to do the same.

What’s holy about the Sabbath? It’s a day set apart to be different from all the other days of the week. God intends for one day a week to look and feel different. As people who belong to Him, we can delight in His designation of some days as productive days for work and then other days set apart for reflection and refreshment.

Remember, God created special times for rest—keep those times set apart.

My Thoughts

When my husband and I got married, it was a small ceremony without a lot of fanfare or registry or anything like that. My aunt blessed us with a used/like new set of china that serves eight. She had purchased new china and knew we didn’t have any. For many years as we moved from military base to military base, that china was kept in boxes or sometimes, if the base housing had one, a built in china hutch. When we got our own home in Pennsylvania, we got a dining room set that includes a china hutch and therein has resided our china for over three decades. We take it out and wash it and use it for holidays when family comes over, like Christmas. That china is “set apart” and used for special occasions, a time when I remember when we received it and the generous and loving heart that gave it to us.

That’s what Sabbath is for. It is set apart for us to spend time resting and being with God. It is a day when I don’t do my usual things like book reviews. For my daughter’s family, that is the “no electronic devices” day, giving each family member time with God and with each other.

God knew when He created us that we would need a special day set apart to rest and restore our weary bodies and minds. We get input daily from so many different directions. I thought that when I retired from teaching I wouldn’t need a day of rest. So untrue! As I have aged, I need that day more, to recover from the week of appointments, phone calls and just regular life challenges. It is the day to ponder all God has done for me that week and to look forward to what He will do in the week to come. It’s a day of going to church, coming home to an already prepared dinner and then napping. Sometimes, I call one of the children and talk to the grandchildren about their week. It’s just a good time to focus on our blessings and to restore our souls.

God made everything and saw it was good. He finished creation in six days and could have just stopped and said it was all done and all gone. Instead, He added a Sabbath Day to remind us to rest just as He did. Everything God did and does has a purpose, even resting.

Bless the Lord

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

This has been a week with a big answered prayer! We have been praying for two plus years for our grandson Isaac to get a job. When he had an interview almost three weeks ago, I asked God to go with him and give him favor and to open the door that He wanted open, the one that would be best for Isaac.

This week, Isaac got a job offer, a really good one, doing something he will enjoy and with the opportunity to continue and get a higher degree if he would like. The job starts in less than three weeks, so now is the hectic time of getting ready to move, but what a joyous time it is! I know Isaac’s self-confidence had suffered after numerous attempts at employment and I am thrilled that God opened the door to a job that fits him well.

Never, never stop praying. God is working every day on our behalf and we never know the wonderful blessings that await us in answer to our prayers.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Demolishing and Capturing

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Let’s take some time together to really look at this verse. When you demolish something, you destroy it completely. Have you ever seen a building that was recently demolished? It’s a pile of rubble waiting for the dump trucks to load it and carry it away. That’s what arguments against knowing God are, just a pile of rubble. But they can’t just be knocked down. They also have to be carted away to make room for the truth. Filling your mind with God’s truth replaces that pile of rubble with a whole new building, and the maker is God.

How do you demolish the arguments of others against God? One seed at a time planted at the right time and with the right attitude is the method that God teaches us to use. You will never convince a non-believer to come to the Lord by attacking all of the falsehoods that they have lived with most of their lives. Just one small step at a time. Plant a seed and then leave them to ponder it. When the time is right, water and then plant another seed. You will be demolishing their arguments at the same time that you are replacing their rubble with the foundation of a new building.

How do we take our thoughts captive? And why do we want to? One of the ways that Satan tries to turn us from the truth of God and who He created us to be is with lies. We kick those lies out of our minds by answering them with God’s truth. Satan says we will never amount to much but God says we are His precious child. We also have to be careful what we let into our minds to begin with. Today’s world is filled with images and words that our God-centered minds were never meant to entertain. Remember that Satan controls the air waves (including television, radio, social media, etc.) and be careful what you open the door of your mind to. It’s easier to keep the bad thoughts out if you never let them in to begin with. And once that house is swept clean, replace it with thoughts about Jesus and His Word. That’s how your thoughts become obedient to Him and not to your own runaway-and-escape mindset.

Do you have other suggestions about demolishing arguments and taking thoughts captive? Please share in the comments. And have a blessed, God-filled day!

Enemies of Contentment

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

One of the greatest enemies of contentment is comparison. We live in a house, but looking around at the houses of others and wishing our house was bigger, better maintained, nicer, etc. makes for discontentment. It’s always wrong to compare what we have with what others have. God calls it “coveting” and it’s a sin. Whatever I have is a gift from God, and it is enough.

I cannot truthfully say that I am “untouched by trouble” but I can say that I can rest contented at the end of each day. I know that God is in charge of my life, so that leads me to believe that nothing touches me unless it goes through His filter first. He doesn’t CAUSE things to happen in our lives but He does allow them so that we can grow to be more like Jesus. Thus, my health issues are my opportunity to see more health workers and testify about the goodness and grace of God.

As the joke goes, hearses are never followed by a U-Haul truck. What we have is God’s gift to us…food, clothing, children, grandchildren, all things we have. So instead of wishing for more or better things, we need to be grateful for what we have and realize that we have more than many. It always amazes me to see the children in a third world nation playing in muddy streets with an old ball that is barely inflated. But you know what? They are happy…smiling, laughing and enjoying what they have. That mental image reminds me that I can be happy with little because I have the greatest gift of all, eternal life through the Son of God.

Do you know other enemies of contentment? Share them in the comments. And thank you for reading. God bless you.

Intentional Sin

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Most people sin, then proceed to make excuses that may go something like this:

  • I didn’t realize what I was doing.
  • I didn’t think.
  • I didn’t know it was wrong.
  • I was tired and that was the fastest way to get it done.
  • It didn’t hurt anyone, so I don’t understand the big deal.

Ananias and Sapphira talked ahead of time about what they would do with the money from the property they sold. They planned to hold part of it back. Now, is that a sin to keep part of YOUR money for yourself? Of course not! The sin was what they led the apostles to believe, knowing that it was a lie.

When you say you are giving all and only give part, that is a lie. It was an intentional plan to lie, so an intentional sin. Whether they lied to get praise from the community of believers or just from pride, the lie was the same and had the same consequences. After all, they lied to God.

The consequence was immediate and severe and a warning to all of us not to plan to sin against the Lord and then expect all to be well.

Sapphira had no idea what was delaying Ananias’ return home, so she went to find out. Instead of choosing to be honest, she continues with the lie and she also dies right there where she stands lying. Intentional sin was followed by immediate and heavy consequences.

When I look around the world today at all of the sin and read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, I am struck by the intolerance of God for sin and know that one day the judgment will come. When we choose to sin, we are not just sinning against other people, but against God Himself.

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, his consequences were also severe. He committed an intentional sin due to his lust. He didn’t control his desires and that led to one of his leading soldiers being killed by his command and the baby that Bathsheba was carrying died. Sin has a rolling stone effect like that. David repented, as evidenced by the scriptures in Psalm 51 and also his conversation with Nathan. The consequences affected not only David but the nation of Israel. Intentional sin leads to dire consequences, sometimes even if we have sincerely repented.

We can make all of the excuses possible about why we are choosing to sin, but our excuses won’t stand up before a holy God. Ananias and Sapphira were given the opportunity to repent and confess when Peter questioned them about their gift. They chose to stick to their lie instead. When the Holy Spirit tells us we are doing something we should not be doing, and we choose to keep on doing it, I think that we are intentionally sinning and we need to repent posthaste. God does not always “strive with men.” Sometimes He steps back and lets us go through the consequences for our intentional sins. No excuses allowed…just repentance and genuine sorrow and change.

Active Listening

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

Hearing vs. Listening (Daily Refresh, 9-27)

Throughout the pages of Scripture, there’s a word that gets repeated: “hear,” or a related word, “listen.” In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “Shema” translates into English as “hear” or “listen” and is often used to emphasize the act of listening, understanding, and obeying.

Today’s culture places value on doing many things at once; we often try to listen while focusing on other tasks, which divides our focus. The sound of someone’s voice might come into our ears, but if we’re also scrolling social media, doing schoolwork, or making a meal, we might not fully understand their words.

But in the biblical context, “hearing” does not simply include sound reception; it also involves active obedience and an effort to understand.

In Mark 4:9, Jesus invites us to listen—to hear and obey, encouraging us to pay careful attention to His words: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus isn’t just asking us to audibly hear His words and carry on with our personal agenda; He’s urging us to actively listen and obey, to live by His truth. Listening and obeying are what build our faith in Jesus Christ. Hearing the Word of God should lead to a transformed life marked by fruitfulness.

As you reflect on the idea of listening in Scripture, consider your heart and spiritual receptivity. Are you attentive to God’s Word, allowing it to transform your life, or is your hearing divided, causing you to resist His call?

My Thoughts

I particularly like the last line that refers to “divided hearing.” We are so used to multi-tasking that we habitually try to do it all the time, even when we should be actively listening. Sometimes (a lot of the time, actually), my husband will be talking to me and I will be reading a book or writing a note. I hear what he says, at least the words, but my mind doesn’t comprehend enough to respond. He ends up having to repeat himself once I actively turn to him and focus on what he is saying. That is what God wants us to do all the time when He is speaking to us. He wants us to focus so that we can listen to Him completely and then obey what He is telling us that we should be doing. Our double-minded halfway listening doesn’t work with people right in front of us and it doesn’t work with God either, especially if we are trying to be more like Him.