Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

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.

The Price of a New Heart

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

A New Heart (Daily Refresh, 9-28)

When someone needs a physical heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. Their heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will physically die. 

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. But, in order to get a new heart, a good and capable surgeon is essential. More importantly, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. The failing heart is then replaced with a thriving heart, and abundant life is once again possible.

In the same way, when someone needs a spiritual heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. The heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will spiritually die. 

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. In order to get a new heart though, a good and capable surgeon is essential. However, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. Only then can the failing heart be replaced with a thriving heart, and eternal life is possible. 

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

God is our good surgeon, and Jesus gave His life for yours. He takes your insufficient efforts and replaces them with something better. But to receive His abundant life, you must humbly ask for His help. You must allow Him to do surgery on your heart. You must surrender what is dying and trust Him with your life.  

Maybe the thing that needs to die is a habit that’s impacting your life.
Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship, or guilt and regret over your past.
Maybe it’s an attitude of pride or insecurity. 

Whatever it is—Jesus wants to take the broken and failing parts of your heart and replace them with something completely new and life-giving.

As you process today’s verse and what God is capable of doing, ask yourself:

Do I trust Him—really trust Him—with the details of my life? Am I willing to let Him do “surgery” on my heart and show me a better way to live?

My Thoughts

If you were told that you would die without a heart transplant, you would do all of the research, assure yourself that the surgeon is capable and get yourself on the list for a new heart. Why, then, do so many need a new spiritual heart and ignore the free gift that is already waiting for them? There is no list to get on, no time you have to wait. Jesus already died so that you could have a new heart. Trust Him to show you what real life with Him means.

The Way, The Truth, The Life

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Book Review, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

The Only Way (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 9-25-25)

It’s common in today’s culture for people to believe that all roads—various religions or belief systems—lead to God.

While this way of thinking is widely accepted, it does not agree with what Jesus says in John 14:6. Jesus says that He is the only way to God, and no one can come to the Father unless they come through Him. 

Jesus also says that He is the Truth, which means that all other truths must be measured against Him. He is objective truth. In other words: Jesus is the standard by which we can judge the rest of the world’s truth claims.

Lastly, Jesus says He is the Life. This means that it’s only through Jesus that we find true and eternal life. True life comes from following Jesus’ words and His path for our life.

A true and meaningful life begins with knowing Jesus. He alone has access to the good life that God intended us to live, as well as eternity with Him in heaven.

Spend a moment thanking Jesus for revealing the true path to life and salvation, and for making it possible to have a relationship with Him. Continue to learn from Jesus through His Word, and share the hope He offers with others in your life.

My Thoughts

Back in the 70’s when I became a Christian, it seemed that all of the new converts like me had purchased a Bible called “The Way.” It was easy to understand, the New Living Translation, and didn’t have a lot of commentary to distract me from the scripture verses. It did have an introduction to each chapter telling me what it would be about. Now, over fifty years later, I still have that Bible, although my husband has confiscated it and added it to his Bible collection. I don’t mind because I can read that version online now. That Bible led me to discover many truths about Jesus contrasted with many lies that the world had been telling me. For example, the world said I wasn’t worth anything. Jesus said I was worth dying for.

I am sad that so many people today have walked away from reading the truth in God’s Word and thus have never found the way to eternal life and the purpose that God has for them. I have friends who think that they can pick and choose what they believe from the Bible. If it fits their current worldly beliefs, that’s fine, but if not, they just don’t read it or heed it. I talked to my good friend yesterday, a friend I met in church over twenty five years ago here in Virginia. I taught her daughters in Sunday school and now they are grown and have definitely walked away from God. One is gay and just had a baby by IVF with her “partner.” One is transitioning to a male and is in a relationship with a female. I am sad for them because they didn’t just walk away from God and His truth, they ran to find their own way and it is one that leads to a wilderness of sin and eternal destruction. I tried to talk to one of them, but she was having none of what I was saying. It was too “restricting” and not at all “loving.” God who made her didn’t understand her. Hmm. Is that even possible? The world still has the same practices of lies and deceits, but they come in more subtle forms nowadays and tell everyone that they can be whatever they want to be. I said I could whistle, but that doesn’t make me a teapot. They didn’t like my joke.

Anyway, Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the life. Those who don’t accept that are choosing to follow a path that leads the wrong way, straight to Satan’s kingdom of eternal torment and separation from God. Yes, I am sad that some choose to run away from God. But I will continue to pray for them. It took years for them to turn from God, and I am confident that they can repent and turn back. With God, all things are possible. They may not believe, but I will believe for them.

What Barriers Have You Erected?

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Breaking Down Barriers(YouVersion, 9-23-25)

Human beings tend to form groups, drawing close to people who think like us, act like us, or look like us. It gives us a sense of safety and belonging. But this also means we tend to build barriers. We place ourselves into categories based on culture, language, race.

Throughout history, religion—our practiced efforts to please God—has included some and shut out others. The results have been awful, because…

This is not the way of Jesus.

Before Jesus walked the earth, God chose the people of Israel to uniquely demonstrate His goodness to the nations. Outsiders could and did follow God, yet there was still a clear line of distinction between Israel and the other nations.

The book of Ephesians is the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. They’re struggling with issues of division and exclusivity. Paul explains that the division between the Hebrew people and the rest of the nations changed when Jesus came.

Jesus broke down the barrier that separated humanity from God, and the walls we built between each other.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:18: “Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”

That means every person is invited to come and know Jesus—His love, mercy, and compassion, and promises. Every person is invited to follow Him into eternity. There are no exceptions!

None of us earned this gift. Jesus reached out first. He loved us when we were lost, hopeless—when we didn’t even know we needed Him.

Consider this: Are you hiding behind walls that Jesus has already torn down? Or will you open your heart and arms wide, as Jesus did, when He extended His generous welcome to everyone?

The Gospel is Good News for the whole world. Let’s share it!

My Thoughts

This devotional today convicted me of shutting myself off from some people and not being willing to share the Good News with them because they are different from me. The neighbor who drinks too much, the lady at book club who is a little snooty, the child who is dirty and smelly and comes to school without supplies. They are all different, but they all need the Savior in their lives. Is there someone whom you have shut behind the gates of a barrier that you erected? We all need to be willing to take the barriers down, knowing that Jesus welcomes everyone who would come, not just the ones that we consider worthy. Remember that once someone considered you unworthy and yet they shared Jesus with you anyway.

Faith and Doubt

On By vickleaIn prayer request, Scripture, testimony10 Comments

Jesus says everything is possible to the one who believes. But how do you believe in a situation that poses a challenge to you?

This has been me for several weeks now. I started with pain in my foot after our trip to Maryland. I went to the ER, they said it was probably sprained and put me in an orthopedic shoe, telling me to make an appointment with a specialist to check for a hairline fracture. I had that appointment on the 16th and my left foot does have a hairline fracture, and I have a new orthopedic boot to wear.

Then, shortly after the ER visit, my allergy symptoms got worse and I thought I had a sinus infection, so I scheduled a visit at the office of my PCP. I didn’t get to see my regular doctor because he wasn’t in that day, and the lady I saw gave me steroids for my persistent cough and said I had Flu A, so I needed fluids and rest. I explained that I always get sicker without help from antibiotics because my immune system doesn’t work well. Nevertheless, I went home with the medral and got increasingly worse. I have been doing breathing treatments for almost two weeks now, interspersed with my rescue inhaler. I have never had to use my nebulizer to much in one time frame before, so this is a little scary for me. I see my pulmonologist tomorrow, for which I am very thankful since after two weeks of coughing incessantly , my abdomen and my ribs hurt. Not trying to whine, just telling you what has been happening in my world.

I got up Saturday and had trouble moving my right leg and bending at all. I think it is a side effect of wearing the very heavy boot on my left foot, so I called my orthopedic specialist this morning and left a message about what to do about this latest problem.

I’m feeling a little discouraged and with not a lot of faith left in my bucket. I have prayed, oh, how I have prayed. I prayed for my foot not to be broken. Well, it is. I prayed for my cough to get better, but it didn’t. So, with what little faith I have in my bucket, I am praying that God will work in this situation as only God can do and that He will help my doubt to spring forth with seeds of faith. It’s not that I don’t believe He can. I do! What I am not sure of is what His answer will be and I am holding on tightly, waiting to breathe better and to walk without excruciating pain. In the meantime, I am grateful for specialists, thankful for my husband who takes me to all of these doctors and especially thankful that I have my faith in God that comforts me even when I am feeling “undone.” I don’t understand why all of this is happening, but I know that God does and He is right there next to me, comforting me with words from the Holy Bible and with His Spirit to keep me calm and focused.

I would appreciate your prayers, not for healing, although that would be good, too. I need prayers for a bigger faith and less doubt. I have found that faith is easy to find on the mountaintop, but in the valley, it is not readily apparent, although I know it is still there.

Meanwhile, I will praise and exalt the God who created me, who knows all things and who loves me in spite of my doubts in my trials.

Relaxed vs. Self-Reliant

On By vickleaIn Admonition, ScriptureLeave a comment

This is a devotional that I receive in my inbox daily from Faith Gateway. I had never thought of describing Jesus as “relaxed.” But, you know, He really was. He trusted completely in His Father’s plan and providence. I wish I could say the same about myself, but I am more of the self-reliant type. I try to do it myself until I reach the point where I can’t and then I cry out to God to help me out of the mess I have made. This devotional touched a place in me that needs to change. How about you?

https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/are-you-living-the-relaxed-life-of-jesus

Look carefully at the last part of this verse: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” If you are like me, you are always striving to do many things and only call on Jesus when you think that you can’t do it any longer. He needs to be involved from the beginning.

Look at the action verbs here: Trust, depend, seek, show. Choices…it’s always about choices. Relaxing or being self-reliant?