Category: God’s blessings

Psalm 23 in a Different Way

On By vickleaIn A Miracle Every Day by Grant Fishbook, devotional, God’s blessings, Scripture3 Comments

This is from Grant Fishbook who writes a daily devotional called “A Miracle Every Day.” If you like today’s blog, check out his site at jesus.net

From Grant’s devotional today:

No matter what you’re facing today, I’d like to give you a simple gift from Psalm 23 to remind you that you have a God who wants you to hand all of your anxiety over to Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd…” That’s relationship.

“I lack nothing…” That’s supply.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures…” That’s rest.

“He leads me beside quiet waters…” That’s relief.

“He refreshes my soul…” That’s restoration and healing.

“He guides me along the right paths…” That’s guidance.

“For his name’s sake…” That’s purpose.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley…” That’s testing.

“I will fear no evil…” That’s protection.

“For you are with me…” That’s faithfulness and presence.

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me…” That’s discipline.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” That’s hope.

“You anoint my head with oil…” That’s consecration, being set apart.

“My cup overflows…” That’s abundance.

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” That’s blessing.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord…” That’s security.

“Forever.” That, my friend… is eternity.

(Psalm 23, NIV) 

No matter what you’re facing today, God has promises that will carry you through. So don’t be anxious. Trust that you have a Good Shepherd who has provided everything you need. He told you he did in Psalm 23. 

My Thoughts

Anxiety, depression and just plain old feeling beaten down by life is normal. Psalm 23 is the antidote. I especially like the hope, guidance and healing because that is what I need right now. What do you need from Psalm 23? Did this devotional touch your heart today and give you a reason to look up and say, “Thank you, God!” God already knows what I am going through and He already provided this devotional and the beautiful Psalm to help me remember that He is right here beside me. I memorized Psalm 23 as a child when I was going to Sunday school with my neighbor. I have often recited it, but today, I am meditating on it and how to apply it to my situation.

May you be blessed and feel secure in His love, my friends.

Death Is Temporary

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, promises, Scripture3 Comments

The Truth About Life and Death (Daily Refresh 10-06)

No matter what part of this planet you live on, how well you take care of your body, or how much money is in your bank account, there is no escaping death. 

Sounds a little depressing, doesn’t it? But there’s still good news. Really, really good news.

For those who belong to Christ, we have a hope that’s beyond this world…

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Death is the greatest tool of our enemy, which is why Jesus came to defeat it. That’s why He became human, took the ultimate punishment, and put death in its rightful place—under the authority and dominion of God. 

Yes, life is fleeting, but death is only temporary. And the Spirit of God can do what no human can—give life to the lifeless, empower His people, and redeem what has been lost. 

The truth about death is that it’s not the end of the story.

Soon, God will wipe away every tear and make all things new. Just as a baby is given the miraculous and mysterious breath of life, His Spirit will revive the seemingly perished and bring the dead back to life!

And that is the really, really good news.

My Thoughts

For many years, I honestly feared death. I was terrified of traveling, lest I die. Terrified of bugs, snakes, rodents, anything that could cause me harm and lead to death. Sounds ridiculous, right? Especially for a born again Christian? I got the born again part but I neglected to focus on the death had lost its sting and I would be with Jesus for eternity.

I think my fear of death started when my uncle committed suicide when I was in college. He was a fun-loving upbeat guy and suddenly, he wasn’t there any longer. And the worst was the people who told us that there was no way he was in heaven because there was no way he could repent before he pulled that trigger.

Thus, I went around in a constant state of anxiety, fearing that I hadn’t repented and if I died, then I was done…over..finished.

Then, finally, I started reading the Bible and discovering the words of wisdom there about death and the fact that Jesus conquered it, once and for all. “It is finished” wasn’t just for sin. It was also for the end of death and Satan’s hold on us. Now, I am free to really live and enjoy life without the terror of what is around the next corner waiting to drag me off to the world of the dead. No matter how I die or when I die, I will go to be with the Lord. The part of taking my last breath is temporary because when I take my next breath (if that is a thing in heaven), it will be in the presence of the Lord. No fear, no doubt, no death!

Do you fear dying? Jesus is the answer to your fear!

Choose Church

On By vickleaIn Characteristics of God, God’s blessings, praise, Scripture2 Comments

Sunday is a busy day for many families. They run errands, participate in activities with other families and perhaps go to a sporting event or theater performance. But Sunday in our house has consistently been the day that we set aside to attend church.

One of the most important parts of church is encouraging each other. Look for the person who is sitting alone and talk to them. Get out of your comfort zone and help someone else to be comfortable in God’s house. Who knows what seed you may be sowing or what blessing you may receive just from reaching out to someone else? After all, you were once a newcomer to that congregation. Think about how you felt, and take the time to smile and welcome a stranger.

Think about the difference between praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving starts with God doing something for us, and we are thankful. Praise just starts with who God is, and there are no words to adequately express the glory due His name. Praise is based on God’s character while thanksgiving is based on His actions. Note that His actions always follow His character because God is and always will be God. As you attend church, remember to offer thanksgiving and praise. Our unchangeable, unstoppable God deserves both!

Have a blessed Sunday, my friends.

Being Thankful

On By vickleaIn Admonition, God’s blessings, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Choose Thankfulness (Daily Refresh, 10-02-25)

For years, nothing in King David’s life looked “good.” His family underestimated him, giants despised him, and his father-in-law spent years trying to kill him. But the whole time, David clung to a promise that God would establish him, and eventually make him king of Israel. 

David never gave up or gave in—he chose to stay close to God and wait for Him to act. And when God showed up, this is how David responded:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

David knew that even when life didn’t look good, he served a God who IS good. And this same God is still actively fighting for us now.

Through His Son, Jesus, He has given us continual access to Himself. We can never lose His unfailing love toward us—a love that endures forever, no matter what goes on around us.  

David recognized this, and proclaimed it. And every day, we have the opportunity to do the same. 

Here are 2 practical ways that we can respond to God’s goodness and love:

– THANK HIM IN PRAYER
When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, he told them to start like this: “Our Father in heaven, help us to honor Your name.” It’s fine to ask God for things, but real relationships include both giving and taking. So at least once a day for the next week, go to God in prayer and thank Him for something He’s done—without asking Him for anything in return. 

– SHARE YOUR STORY
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to honor God by “proclaiming our allegiance to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15-16) So what has God done for you? Where have you seen Him provide, protect, show up, or show off through your life? Look for natural opportunities to share what God is doing in you with someone else. 

Right now, reflect on your life and thank God for His eternal goodness. Nothing you have faced or will face is too much for the God who loves you and died for you. Bring Him your concerns, surrender your expectations, choose thankfulness, and allow Him to reveal the evidence of His goodness in your life.

My Thoughts

I am really thankful that God’s love is always there for me, in the early morning hours and in the late night ones, too. This has been a season that has been different for me. I am the one who picks up dropped items because I am still limber enough to do so. I feed the cat, get her clean water, scoop her litter. All of which requires bending over and stretching. But, then, I broke my foot. What does that have to do with bending? Honestly, I don’t know how it all works together, but I know that it does because since I have been in my boot, I cannot bend over more than a few inches without severe back pain. I can only sleep a few hours without getting up, stretching and awkwardly shuffling around due to the pain in my back. Yes, my foot throbs some, but it is my back that has been giving me fits. I get up early and sit with the heating pad to ease some of the aching. But through it all, God has been close. He lifts me up and comforts me. He is always good and His love is always right there, reaching out to me.

Unlike David, I don’t have enemies pursuing me or a giant to slay. I dare say that you don’t either. Nevertheless, we each have our own daily struggles. This month it’s my foot and my back. Next month it may be something else. (As they say, getting older is not for the faint of heart.) But I know that I know that just as God has carried me this far, He will continue to carry me to the end.

I thought about being thankful and realized that very seldom do I just stop and thank the Lord without also asking for something along with my gratitude. I plan to change that and start just thanking Him, and then being quiet. After all, do we really feel that someone has been thankful when in the first breath they thank us and then the next one they ask for something else? If all I learned this morning is to just stop and say thank you to God, then that is enough.

A Step, A Misstep and Back on Track

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, Scripture, testimony3 Comments

I was so happy yesterday that I felt stable enough on my boot to be able to attend Sunday school and church. I had no idea what having my leg down all that time would feel like since I have been elevating it as much as possible.

The boot is somewhat weighty but I am praying that it does the job of helping my fractured foot to heal.

Anyway, church went well. Our granddaughter was there with us and agreed with me that the music was too loud as usual. The first song’s percussion and bass were annoyingly loud, so I was glad I had my noise-cancelling headphones to wear. The sermon was about part of the Sermon on the Mount and was a timely and relevant message that we enjoyed. After church, we had made plans to go to a local restaurant to celebrate Teya’s first week of work and first week of staying with us.

I thought I had done pretty well so far when we headed to the restaurant. My foot was throbbing a little and achy, but not so much that it wasn’t bearable. When we got to the restaurant, I requested a table instead of a booth since I knew that a booth would be difficult for me to get into and out of. Unfortunately, there was a wait for a table, even though I could see plenty of empty ones from the entrance. Those were not available due to understaffing, I think. So, I stood and waited with my foot throbbing. (I had to stand since the seating for waiting is too low for me to get up again.) I got more irate about the wait as time passed and told my husband and Teya that I would have to leave a poor review online if this continued. Teya calmly told me that they were doing the best they could…the voice of reason to my raging sea. After about fifteen minutes, we were shown to our table and we enjoyed a good meal and good fellowship together. I am happy to report that my mood improved as I prayed to God to calm me and strengthen me. Our server was outstandingly attentive, polite and cheerful, so the experience was good.

All of that to say that I could have ruined the whole thing with my poor attitude if our sweet granddaughter had not reproved me, gently and with love, but a reproof nevertheless. I think God used her to remind me of what was important, i.e. being a good witness, not just demanding my own way.

So, I took a step out, took a misstep towards impatience and irritation and then got back on track with the help of a gentle word from Teya. All of that proves to me that no matter how far I think I may have come, I have a lot farther to go. God is still working on me, and I am still a work in progress.

God’s Riches and Our Blessings

On By vickleaIn Book Review, God’s blessings, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Bottomless Riches (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 9-14-25)

Writing from prison to the believers in Philippi, the apostle Paul divulged that he’d learned the secret to being content—no matter the situation. 

Because of the faithfulness of God and the generosity of the Philippians, Paul’s needs had been met—even while in jail. He went on to say:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬

What an incredible perspective from captivity, where Paul was placed for spreading the truth about Jesus.

God had given Paul peace, his friends had sent supplies, and Paul’s joy was unapologetically obvious—despite his imperfect circumstances. 

Paul knew that the same God who was taking care of Him would also take care of his friends. He knew that, because Jesus had already made a way, they could access the storehouses of heaven. He knew that, because of God’s generous character, they were covered in His grace.

Have you ever considered what a treasure trove of riches God has? And it’s not just what He has, but also who He is. God’s glorious riches, never-ending resources, and both visible and invisible qualities are limitless, bottomless, boundless, and inexhaustible. 

Think about that for a moment.
The amazing thing is—He’s granted us access. 

In His kindness, God fashioned raspberries and puppies. In His brilliance, He crafted the human eye and hung the earth on nothing. By His creativity, He made hammerhead sharks and sparkling fireflies. By His power, He designed galaxies that even the smartest of scientists are just now discovering.

The same God who cares for His creation will also provide for you.

When we become His children, we are given the key to eternal riches, to incorruptible goods, and to traits of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Do you need peace? You have a God who gives peace. Do you need provision? You have a God who offers provision. Do you need rest? You have a God who extends rest.

The ways in which God shows up are literally countless, and it’s all because of His gloriously limitless riches.

My Thoughts

When I started my devotional this morning, I was ready to throw a big pity party. After all, I am dealing with Flu A, a sinus infection, breathing treatments for asthma and a possibly broken foot that is swollen and painful to walk on. Then, I read the devotional and was reminded of all that I have available to me if I just take my eyes off the problems. So, re-routing, as my GPS says.

Now, I am thinking only about God and all He has done for me and will do for me. I need healing, yes, but more than that, after this tumultuous and tragic news week, I need peace. I need peace deep down in my heart, a peace that only comes from God. As I continue to read and meditate in His Word today, I fully expect Him to show up and speak peace to me because that is who He is and what He does.

My life isn’t perfect and I have challenges. But who doesn’t? God reminded me just now that I am not a new widow with two small children whose husband was murdered by a heartless man. He spoke to me that I can be still in His presence and receive His peace. I cannot go to church because I am coughing so much, but I can have church at home, worshipping the Lord and giving Him the honor He is due, not because of what He does for me, but because of who He is, all the time, for everyone in the world.

I look outside and see hummingbirds, probably the last week or so they will be here this season. Isn’t it remarkable that this is the first time for the baby hummingbirds to migrate, and yet they know just what to do and where to go? Why? Because as small as they are, God provides for them, just as He does for each of us.

I’m a mess, but God isn’t. He is good all the time, even in the middle of my mess and when I am pouting because I am ill again. I’m over it, by the way. I’m ready to take on the challenges that the day presents, with my face turned toward my Creator who is healing me, in His time and because He loves me, not because I demand or deserve it.

God bless you all “real good” as our South Carolina pastor used to say every Sunday.

Traveling Mercies

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, praise, promises, Scripture5 Comments

This year has been one of a great deal of travel for me and my family members. Our grandson went to Japan while our granddaughter went to Ireland and then on a cruise around the Greek Isles. Our son went on a business trip to Germany. The trips my husband and I made this year were not as distant, but there were a lot of them. Starting with four graduations in May, we stayed on the road for almost three weeks that month. It seemed that we barely got home when we packed the car again and headed to Myrtle Beach, SC, to see my brother and his family who had flown in from Colorado. Returning from that trip, we spent a few weeks at home, then headed out to Maryland to see our son and his family. And this past weekend was our last trip of the summer. We went to Williamsburg to the Great Wolf Lodge to spend the weekend with our other son and his family. I would not trade any of those hours in the car for anything since my husband and I both got so much pleasure from seeing our children and grandchildren.

One of the things that I purposed to do this year is memorize more scripture verses. One of those became like my mantra for the year.

There was a lot of going out and coming in this year for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. They are still on the move, with one in college at Liberty, one actively seeing employment and one employed and traveling for work. This Psalm has been on my lips as a prayer for us and for our family members as they travel. The promise of traveling mercies is real. Harry and I put a lot of miles on these old bodies this year, and God was with us the whole way, just as He promised. Did unexpected things happen while we traveled? Of course, but nothing that God could not help us handle. When God promises, you can count on His acting on your behalf!

How about you? Did you go anywhere special? Did you pray before, during and after your trip for the traveling mercies that God provides?

A Pilgrimage

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, promises, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

A Journey with God

Following God is a journey.

It’s not just a one-time decision. It’s a lifelong pilgrimage, a day-by-day walk of trust, transformation, and faithfulness. Psalm 84 paints a beautiful picture of travelers whose hearts are set on reaching God’s dwelling place. They’re blessed, not because the road is easy, but because their strength comes from Him.

If our strength came from ourselves, we wouldn’t make it very far. Life brings challenges: dry seasons, steep climbs, unexpected detours. If we’re depending only on our own energy, it’s easy to get weary and discouraged.

But when our strength is in God, the journey changes. We’re not walking alone. We’re empowered by His Spirit. We’re supported by His promises. We have a clear destination, and the blessing is not just at the end, but along the way.

A heart set on pilgrimage is a heart that knows this world is not our home. We’re pressing on toward something greater, and toward Someone greater.

If today finds you tired or uncertain, remember this: the strength you need isn’t something you have to muster up. It’s something God freely gives. Lean into Him. Set your heart on the journey. He’ll be faithful every step of the way.

My Thoughts

The first thing that came to my mind as I read this devotional from today’s YouVersion was John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.” I taught about that book for several years when I taught in a Christian school. And every year, the students offered new insight that they had gotten from this wondrous novel. When I read it for about the fifth time, I really understood for the first time that life on earth is a pilgrimage for all of us. There are hard times, high mountains to climb, dry places to go across and roaring rivers to ford as we face obstacles to our goal of reaching our eternal destination victoriously. But the verse for today in Psalm 84:5 encourages each of us that we don’t have to struggle in this journey on our own. We can depend on the strength that can only come from God and know that He is with us, encouraging us and bolstering us up for each day’s new challenges. A poem I memorized in high school has the same kind of theme. “And miles to go before I sleep.” (Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening) May you, my faithful readers, experience the closeness of God as you make your daily journey closer and closer to the time when you can rest.

Whose Garden Is It?

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, Scripture2 Comments

My husband works hard on our garden. He has planted all kinds of beautiful flowers just outside the window next to my chair. Roses are my favorites so there are plenty of those. But he also has sunflowers, irises (for our granddaughter Iris), purple asters (for my best friend Heidi whose birth month was September and these were her favorites) and a variety of wildflowers. In the vegetable garden Harry has planted tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and potatoes. Just this week, he planted several kinds of peas. Yes, Harry works hard in his garden. That’s why he gets a little frustrated when he goes to pick the fruits of his labor and bites are missing out of the produce. Groundhogs, deer, rabbits…they all live in our yard because like Farmer MacGregor’s nemeses in the story of Peter Rabbit, they know that our year has a bountiful supply of good things for them to eat. So, whose garden is it?

Whose Garden Is It? By Mary Ann Hoberman

This is a delightful read-aloud story for children, but we adults can have the fun of pondering the wonders of nature right along with the children. Whose garden is it?

I submit this verse to you to definitively answer the question.

The garden and all that grow there belong to God. We are the recipients of His gifts of beauty, fruits and vegetables. And so are the little creatures that share with us!