Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

A Favorite Hymn

On By vickleaIn Song, testimony, Video6 Comments

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Link to the hymn on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/yKP_XxCBDZY

Lyrics:

1 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

—

2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

—

3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.

—

4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

—

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.

—

6 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

My Musings

I was raised in a traditional church, although I did not attend regularly. But hymns were a regular part of every Sunday when I did attend, and I learned to listen to the words as I sang them. Now that I am a Christian, I have found that the words of the old hymns continue to speak to my heart of a faithful God who is eternal and unchanging. The world may change; the standards all around us may change. But God will never change, so we can count on Him to fulfill His promises and to take us to be with Him one day.

A Personal Note:

I am spending the weekend with our son and his family at a water park in Williamsburg, Virginia. This trip was planned several months ago and we all have been excited about spending time together in a relaxing environment. Unfortunately, on the Friday before our trip, I had to go to the ER because of awful pain in my left foot. After x-rays and an examination, the doctor said that he thinks it is just badly sprained but it may have a hairline fracture. So, later this month, I have to see the orthopedic specialist. Meanwhile, I am in an ortho shoe for support and using pain patches. I cannot get in the water with the rest of my family, but I am enjoying seeing their exuberance and excitement here. So, no worries because God is good all the time and I know and believe it even when my plans don’t work out as I expected!

Have a blessed Sunday!

The Lion’s Den

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture1 Comment

I am hazarding a guess that most of my readers, if not all of you, know the Biblical story of Daniel in the lions’ den. When he refused to stop praying to our God, the king fulfilled his decree and had him thrown into a den of lions. The Lord protected him, and the king saw the truth that the Lord God is the only God worth worshipping.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God rescues us daily, too? Sometimes we are rescued from our own foolish choices and sometimes we have to be rescued because we took a step into temptation.

As many times as I have read this verse, I never associated it with Daniel in the lions’ den. We are all facing down the enemy of our souls daily and have to stay alert and resist him. He wants to devour us, to destroy our faith in God and to undermine our trust in the Father. But, like Daniel, we can choose not to be afraid but to continue to make the choices that honor our Father in heaven and show that we are Christians and the victory belongs to us.

We need to always keep in mind that Jesus defeated the enemy, all of the powers and authorities in the “heavenly realm” that set themselves against God and His chosen people. Jesus triumphed at the cross, and we win daily battles by making the choices to stand up for the Lord and not to fear confronting the enemy of our souls. We win, and the enemy knows his time is short. So, be ready to face the lions, knowing that you have already won your eternal life through Jesus!

News Notes and Observations

On By vickleaIn News Notes and Observations6 Comments

On our drive back from Maryland, I was appalled to receive this news blurb:

The headline is bad enough, but here is part of the story:

You should follow this link if you want to see the news video and more about what the police discovered: New York Post

I read the article to my husband and we discussed how she would have been lauded by the liberals if only she had chosen to have an abortion instead of waiting until the newborn was born alive and then killing the child. What a commentary on how sadly misled our world has become that a young woman, who actually appears “normal”, could think that it’s okay to discard a newborn in a trash bag along with the cleaning supplies from cleaning up the after-birth. To think that throwing a child into a trash bag is exactly what the abortion clinics do. Or worse, they sell the parts for money and make more of a profit from dealing death to the innocent.

Like I said, I was appalled, but I must admit I was not surprised. Much of our society has been on the wrong side of the abortion issue since the beginning. Contraception made it easy not to get pregnant and if that wasn’t available or didn’t work, society accepts disposing of the “mistake.” I just wonder how long it will be before the liberals demand this girl be released because, after all, it was “her choice.” It’s a baby, not a choice, a person whom God created and meant to be loved, nurtured and cherished, not tossed into a trash bag. What a travesty!

My personal opinion is that this cheerleader should have the harshest penalty possible as a statement/warning to others not to follow in her footsteps. But my assumption, given the climate in our society and the fact that Kentucky is a mostly liberal state, is that she will get a slap on the wrist and freed to pursue her dreams while her dead baby never got to have any. I am disgusted, saddened and angry that such a thing can happen in our nation. But more, I am calling out to God for forgiveness for a nation that does not value life and thinks it is disposable at will.

Tuesday and All is Well

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony6 Comments

Those of you who read my posts regularly know that I recently posted that our church was considering a merger with another church that is slightly larger than ours. I am out of town right now and Sunday, I started getting messages one after another on my phone from our Bible Study group. They were all happy about the news announced in church that day. Since I hadn’t been there, I asked “What news?” The news was that the pastors and elders of our church had decided to no longer pursue a merger. Hallelujah! No real details were given about their decision, just “after careful consideration and prayer…”

So, the scriptures prove true once again. No surprise there! We were all in a dither about what we would do if the merger happened, especially since the way it was presented to us, it seemed like a “done deal.” Most of us in our group planned to start looking for another church if the merger came to be. But we all determined to pray, speak out about our reasons for reluctance for change and then wait for God to act. Somehow, in some way, he touched minds and hearts and they changed. It is definitely a God thing to do and we are thankful. So, worrying doesn’t do any good. It just brings stress and anxiety and maybe some health issues. Just turn things over to God and wait for Him to act! I am still very unhappy with the noise level of the bass and percussion at our church, but I am still praying and still expecting God to act. I don’t want to take any action that God is not the leader of. Out of His will is NOT a good place to be!

Knock and keep knocking until there is an answer! Yes, No or Wait are all answers, although they may not be the one we want or expect.

A Reminder

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

Payday is here! The day when I can finally buy the thing I have been waiting to get…but then I think about it some more and realize that I no longer really want it enough to pay the money for it. The desire for it has diminished with time. When we want something that is earthly, sometimes those desires change. But when we set our real affection on God and the things that are important to Him, then we are focusing on what will last, like God’s love, His love for others that He wants us to demonstrate, mercy, grace, forgiveness. The cost was tremendous since it cost Jesus everything. But the gift for us is free. We just have to want it enough that we cherish it and pursue it daily.

Follow Huckabee Online

On By vickleaIn Scripture, The Prayer Tree with Mike Huckabee1 Comment

I don’t know about you, but I really miss seeing Mike Huckabee on TV each week. I loved the humor, the entertainment and the truth about current events. I wish him all the best as the Ambassador to Israel, and I am happy to report that I get his newsletter, really a Prayer Tree, in which he allows his readers to share prayer requests, pray for each other and testify about answers to prayer. He also includes a scripture everyday and a hymn. I really enjoy the hymn part because it brings back good memories of many years ago when we attended a church that actually sang songs from a hymnal. Here is the link for the free newsletter. You can subscribe to his Substack, but it’s not a requirement. You can also find his prayer tree with prayer requests on his facebook page. He does have public posts and that is what I am sharing with you. His Substack post comes to my Messenger feed each day. Here is his scripture verse that was shared today.

Huckabee’s Substack

I just wrote this blog to make you aware that Huckabee (or whoever runs his site) is still active online if you miss him as much as I do.

Be blessed to be a blessing!

Weather Forecasts and Jesus

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Characteristics of God, promises, Scripture1 Comment

When you read the title, you probably wondered where I could possibly be going with the post today. Well, first let’s look at weather forecasts. According to this website Climate Cosmos, weather predictions have gotten more accurate with technology but they still make errors. In fact, in the seven-day forecast, they are only about 50% right.

Last week, Hurricane Erin seemed to be bearing down on the east coast of the United States. I got an email from Dominion Virginia Energy on Wednesday telling me to be prepared to lose power because of high winds. I have lived here for a quarter of a century and never got this kind of warning before, so my husband and I talked about the impending storm, he checked the weather channel online and I checked my weather app, and sure enough, we had high winds predicted. Thus, we made sure we were ready for an electrical outage, or as ready as one can ever be. We made sure we had batteries for flashlights, candles ready, and then my husband went to the store and stocked up on water and food that can be eaten without cooking it. So, with a supply of beanie weenies for him and crackers for me, with puddings and jellos for both of us, we decided that we were ready. Later that night, the forecast changed. In fact, the “high” winds were not forecast to be a mere 10-15 mph. That meant our preparation was not necessary, but we are ready for the next story. (Oh, by the way, the reason we buy water is that we have a well. The well will still have water, but the pump is electric, so no toilet flushing or getting fresh water from the faucets. Which also explains why we filled up both bathtubs with water…for flushing.) When my brother called for my birthday, he asked how we did in the hurricane because he, too, saw that Erin was barreling towards the east coast. I told him about our preparations and the fact that of course, we did not end up needing to do all of that. We both laughed at how the weather changes quickly and unexpectedly.

I am not saying Jesus is predictable, but His Word says that He is always the same. Unlike the weather, if He says in His Word that He will do it, it’s a done deal, something we can absolutely count on. That means that we should always be ready for Jesus to return. After all, He told His disciples that He would be back. He promised to take us to be with Him always and that He is preparing a place for us. Since Jesus is working on preparing a place for us, it’s a really good idea for us to prepare our hearts for Him. We don’t have to gather supplies or make sure that everything outside is secured, but we do have to stay in His Word and maintain a relationship with Him. He told us that the only One who knows when He will return is the Father, but we do have some signs in chapters like Matthew 24 that He told us would be a good prediction about His return. Preparing for Jesus is to always have oil in our lamps (the Holy Spirit active in our spiritual lives) and our minds and hearts clean before him. Confession isn’t just good for the soul, but it is also preparation for our eternal destiny. So, is Jesus more predictable than the weather. I can say with 100% certainty that Jesus is returning (unlike Erin that veered out to sea). He will come at the exact moment that the Father tells Him to do so, not one minute early or one minute late. And it is our job to be prepared. We may not know when, but we know what will happen because it is all written in His Word. Let’s focus on the return of Jesus instead of the storms in our lives or the weather forecast. We are much more likely to feel peace, assurance, comfort and security by keeping our focus on the certainty that is coming than on the weather or other circumstances that may or may not happen.

Unwholesome Talk

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture1 Comment

Just what is “unwholesome talk”? I think it’s the garbage that spews from our mouths because of the garbage that we have put into our minds.

Unwholesome talk is the opposite of helpful talk. What is helpful gives encouragement and is spoken in love. Unwholesome talk tears others down, vindictively and unthinkingly wounding another person with words that cannot be unspoken.

Would you stand in your kitchen and throw the potato peels at someone because you are frustrated with them? Neither should you stand there and “give them a piece of your mind.” They don’t need it or want it. What people will always need is a soft answer, a smile and a word of genuine kindness and encouragement.

The next time you start to spout off without thinking about the harm you are doing, picture yourself throwing garbage at the person. Your words matter, more than you know. And they will go with that person on their life journey for many days, weeks, months and even years. Words, like the stink of garbage, cannot be recalled, so be careful to say the words that build rather than destroy.

Need Wisdom

On By vickleaIn prayer request, Scripture3 Comments

A few weeks ago, the pastor at the church we attend said at the beginning of the service that there would be a “big announcement” at the end of the service. No one that I know about expected the big announcement that came. The pastor and elders announced that our church is considering a merger with another local church and we will be having town hall meetings to discuss what this will mean for Compass Christian Church. Our church has about 1200 attending on Sundays, in four services starting at 8 a.m and the last one at 4:30 p.m. A few years ago we went through a big renovation, building an auditorium for the kids’ ministry and adding classrooms and parking spaces. Now, a merger? The church they are considering merging with is also a large church, with over 1000 attending two different services on Sundays mornings. My husband drove me by there after church so that I could see the facilities and it is huge with a “campus” with various buildings for their various activities. When I looked up the other church online, I found some information about their numbers, but I don’t really know much about it. So, now the hard part. Do we stay with Compass if they merge next spring or do we start looking for a new church?

The photo that goes with this scripture on the YouVersion App is perfect for how I am feeling now, like I am on the edge of a precipice looking down into a small pool of water and I have no idea if jumping is a good idea or not.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I do not like change, of any kind or at any time. I am one who thrives on routine and sameness. God has moved me out of my comfort zone several times, but generally, He would nudge me and let me know that change would be coming so I should be prepared for it. This new scenario of a merger hit me like a brick falling unexpectedly on my head. All kinds of “what ifs” are floating around inside that brain of mine.

My first inclination is to say that we need to find a new church. I have been unhappy with the music ministry at Compass for a while. It is so loud that I have to wear noise canceling headphones and at times have had to leave the service and sit in an annex to watch on a screen since the music affects my brain (a side effect of my stroke is that I cannot tolerate loud bass or percussion). So, what would the music be like in a church that is even larger, a mega church, so to speak with a combined membership of over 2000? I have no way of knowing, but that is a concern. So, as I said, my first inclination is to find a new church.

But it is hard to leave the familiar friends and the Sunday school class teachers and classmates behind. It is difficult to contemplate what the women’s ministry for those of us over fifty would be like. What programs will the combined church offer that will be different than what we have now? So many questions and no answers yet. Thus I am left to ponder and pray.

My husband, the extrovert extraordinaire, would be perfectly happy in a mega church with thousands of strangers all around him. I am an introvert with a bad case of shyness and borderline agoraphobia, so the idea of an enormous church with lots of people makes me anxious. God has an answer for my anxiety in that He can and will and is giving me peace. But, what is the solution? I just don’t know. The merger is not a done deal and may never happen, although it sounds a lot like the decision has already been made, the pastors assured us this past Sunday that this is not the case.

I would appreciate your prayers and my husband and I consider what we should do. We are happy at Compass, after getting used to about 400 in the service and finding our niche in various small groups and classes. Can we find another place to belong where we will feel welcomed and comfortable? Maybe, maybe not. And therein lies the problem.