Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

Come Like A Child

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Think Like a Child (Daily Refresh, YouVersion, 6-02-25)

Think about the greatest person you’ve ever met. What is it about the person that makes them stand out to you? Maybe it’s their accomplishments, their character, their power or wealth, or the way they handle hard situations.  

Now compare that impressive person to a child in your life. According to Jesus, anyone who is truly great in His kingdom will be like that little child. In fact, to even enter into His kingdom, we need to be childlike. Here’s why: 

– Children rely on others to meet their needs. Little children instinctively know that they are vulnerable and helpless. They aren’t afraid to ask for help when they need it because they know that help from the right person is their source of strength.

– Children don’t care about acquiring power. They don’t view others as threats to their authority because they don’t have any authority to threaten. Everything a child has is given to them.

– Children know who they belong to. Children know who to run to when they’re hurt, afraid, overwhelmed, happy, confused, or joyful. When they know they are loved, they approach their parent figures with authenticity and confidence. They know they can come just as they are, and receive what they need.

As we grow older, we tend to lose our childlike innocence … but we don’t have to. By surrendering our desires for power, fame, and authority, we position ourselves to receive Jesus’ power and authority. By recognizing that we need Jesus, we are able to let go of the pride that might keep us from His presence. And when we know that we belong to Jesus, we can approach God with childlike confidence. 

We don’t have to bring anything impressive to God—we simply need to come to Him.   

So today, what would it look like for you to approach God with the humility and confidence of a small child? Perhaps this means honestly telling Him what you need. Maybe it looks like asking Him a deeply vulnerable question. Or perhaps it starts with trusting that He loves you and isn’t mad at you. Whatever step you need to take, know that God is waiting for you to come to Him just as you are.

My Thoughts

I must confess that as I grow older, I have lost my childlike wonder. I remember seeing things differently, as if everything I saw, I was seeing for the very first time. That is how I felt in the presence of our youngest grandson when I cared for him for four months. The wonder in those little eyes as I pointed out new things to him. A squirrel on the back porch fascinated him. A wildflower was a source of delight. I want to be like him, finding wonder and delight in the small things that God has provided for my pleasure.

I also want to be like my other grandchildren, older but who have the complete assurance that their needs will be met and that they can totally rely on the adults who care for them them and love them. That is the kind of assurance and dependence I want in my relationship with God.

I have often read this scripture but didn’t really meditate on what it means to me. Today, I did and I want to be like that child who knows the Father is a good, good Father who wants what is best for me and who is always there for me.

The Benefits of Being a Christian

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimonyLeave a comment

Whenever one looks for a new job, they go through the interview process and are asked a lot of probing questions about their experience and suitability for the position. Having moved so many times and being a teacher, I went through interviews each time. And although I did not say it aloud, I was thinking to myself, “What are the benefits of this job for me?” I was thinking of perks, health insurance, vacation days, bonuses, etc.

When I became a Christian over five decades ago, I heard about Jesus, read about all He had done for me in the book of John and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. There was no interview in which the Holy Spirit asked me what I was bringing to the table. Nor did I wonder what were the benefits of this new relationship. I just knew that God had sent His Son to die for me so that I could be reunited with Him, freed from sin and shame and a new child of the King.

In today’s devotional, the verse was from Isaiah 53, probably a verse familiar to those of you who regularly read and study the scriptures.

As I meditated on this verse, I saw the suffering Jesus, the One who did no wrong and yet paid the ultimate price for mankind. But I also saw the benefits I have as a Christian. My transgressions and iniquities are gone, no longer a part of what God sees as He looks at me. The peace that I need daily to face the challenges of life is mine as long as I press into my Savior and depend on Him. Finally, I am healed. Most people would ask, “How can you say that? You still have asthma, a compromised lung and one kidney that is failing?” All true. But the healing from the Lord is not just physical. I am healed emotionally from a childhood that was less than perfect, I am healed mentally from always feeling “less than” and, most importantly, I am healed spiritually. I have been made whole. All of my physical infirmities are part of being in an imperfect body in an imperfect world. God can and does heal physically, as I well know since I am a stroke survivor. But He doesn’t always heal the physical because His emphasis is on our spiritual well-being. Part of being close to God is having physical problems that persist, even when we are Christians. I think of Paul who had an unknown “thorn in the flesh” that we don’t even know what he suffered from. We just know that he had asked God repeatedly to “take it from him.” So, I count my life as a blessed one and I am healed in all the ways that matter. Yes, I have aches and pains, all part of the aging process. But I am thankful for life, even with all of the physical limitations that I have. God is always God and life with Him is filled with blessings and benefits!

A Cheerful Giver

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture2 Comments

God provides for each of us so that we can in turn provide for others. He gives us time, talents and money and wants us to be generous with them. Instead, we tend to be insular, hoarding things “just in case we need them.” That is not God’s way!

Suppose God saw that you have a need and decided to wait or to hold onto His bounty “just in case” someone else needed it more. God owns everything, so He can bless everyone. He teaches us the concept of giving in the person of His ultimate sacrifice, giving His Son that we might have eternal life. So, who are we to say that we will just hold onto what we have and wait to see if we need it. There are people today who need what we can give. We may not be able to give much, but we can give something.

The great thing about giving is that honestly, once you have given, you won’t miss it. I have found that God blesses me in the most unexpected ways and at the most surprising times, if only I will open my hands and give. But I have to give with the right spirit, one of cheerful optimism, knowing that God will use what I give in a way that will bless others more than I can imagine. Talents? Use them for God. Time? Dedicate it to God. And money, that thing we have a tendency to hold on to? Don’t let money be the thing that stands between you and God’s blessing. Let it go and see what He will do.

When the Holy Spirit urges you to give, just do it, with a smile on your face and a light heart. Don’t expect to be repaid but rather give thinking you may never get repaid. The blessing you think you deserve won’t come the way you expect it or when you are demanding it, but it will come in God’s time and in proportion to your faithfulness.

God meets your needs when you meet the needs of others. It is the cycle of giving that God started and He wants us to continue it. I am not saying what to give or to whom to give, but I am saying that giving should be part of your Christian walk.

Have a blessed day! And may you give as the Spirit tells you of your time, talent and money.

Out, In, Through

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture1 Comment

Some of the most important words in the English language are prepositions. Prepositions play an important role in our sentences because they connect words and as a result our language is more precise and expressive. In today’s devotional, part of what I read is that Jesus freed us from slavery, just as God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Since Egypt and slavery represent sin, Jesus freed us from our sins. He took us out of slavery, led us into the presence of the Father and today He continues to be with us through the wilderness that we face in life. He didn’t promise we wouldn’t have wilderness experiences, but He did promise that He would be with us when we face them. So…out, in, through. Has Jesus led you out of slavery? Are you secure in your privilege to go right before God and present yourself and your prayers to Him? Are you going through a wilderness right now? Do you feel the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate that Jesus promised would be with us?

This verse is powerful! Have any of you ever inherited anything? I once inherited a small sum of money from my great aunt. The inheritance was a surprise and I put it away in my savings account as I prayed for what I should use it for. I ended up buying a new bedroom set and then my husband and I took the trip that I had always dreamed of to Spain. I didn’t do anything that I know of to receive this inheritance. My aunt was a distant presence in my life, the one who taught me how to set a table and behave properly once I got there. She had no children, so she divided her estate between her nieces and nephews. The inheritance that we have from God is so much bigger and better than we can imagine. We are His children and His heirs. The riches we inherit on earth can never compare to what He has in store for us in Heaven. From slaves to to an heir is a pretty big leap, but Jesus took us OUT of slavery, led us into freedom and promised to be with us until we stand in the presence of the Father as His heirs. Those who were once enslaved can probably tell you that they don’t want to go back there again. But, as Christians, sometimes, we turn back to our old ways and sin. Jesus doesn’t leave us there in our servitude to slavery; rather, in I John 1:9, He provides a way back to freedom by repenting and asking for forgiveness. God’s plan is for salvation for all: out, in and through. Our victory and ultimate destination depend on the work that He already completed to purchase our redemption. So, I ask you again. Have you been redeemed out of slavery? Are you free to worship in the presence of the Almighty God? Are you walking through the wilderness and not lingering there as you throw yourself a pity party?

Out, In, Through!

Finishing Well

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/53242/day/144

Many of us did not start our lives on the right path, but no matter where or how we started, we can finish well. Instead of being like King Saul who started well and finished badly, let’s strive to be like Paul, who started as Saul persecuting the Christians, but who finished well as a follower of Jesus. Let us all strive to finish well, keeping our eyes on the prize ahead of us.

A Life that Reflects His Love

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, Song3 Comments

It is very easy to get busy with our own lives and forget that there are people who need help. We say we will pray for them, but do we? When is prayer not enough? We have quickly discovered that we can send money to a good cause and our conscience about helping others is assuaged. Jesus did not say to send money. He said to “go.” I am guilty of being one of those who tends to be insular, staying at home and sending money. I want to be more active, to look around and see the needs of others and to meet them if I can. And if I cannot, I want to find someone who can. There is so much evil and greed in the world. I want to reflect Jesus with my love, a heart of compassion and real caring. How do I do that? I don’t know, but I am willing to find out. So, my heart’s cry is “Send me.”

Send Me-Jenn Johnson with Chris Quilala

Please take the time to listen to the words of this song. Our answer to God should always be “yes” before He even asks. After all, He sought us out before we even knew Him.

Rejection

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony6 Comments

One of my devotionals today was all about rejection and how we can overcome it. It’s part of a series on mental health, and I can attest to the fact that rejection certainly affects your mental health because it affects how you feel about yourself.

When I was a child, my mother didn’t like me. I know you are shaking your head and saying I was probably rebellious and delusional. Seriously, though, she said things to me like, “I never wanted you. You are so ugly that no one will ever marry you. You need to go to college to support yourself because you will never find a husband.” Thus, convinced that I was unlovable and unattractive, I explored scholarships to college and graduated with honors. I even dated a little in college, but not a lot because my self-esteem was very low and I just didn’t feel as though I fit in.

My senior year of college, I met my future husband on a bus. (That’s another story for another time.) We chatted for hours, getting to know each other and ended up dating, engaged and then married within seven months. During our wedding, held in the backyard of my home at the request of my father, my mother walked around the yard in blue jeans and picked flowers. She did not come to the reception at all, but rather stayed in her bedroom in the house, refusing to acknowledge that I was married. Her silent rebuke of me continued until I gave birth to her first grandchild, of whom she greatly approved and actually showed love and affection.

During our twenty two plus years in the military, I tried to fit in and be accepted, but that old dragon “rejection” kept rearing its head. I missed a lot of dinners and dances that others attended because I just didn’t want to be in a crowd of people for whom I felt invisible. Feeling invisible is a continuing problem with me, so I pray a lot that God will allow me to feel seen.

Back to the devotional and the verses that spoke to my heart today.

Jesus, the Son of God, was rejected by the leaders of the church, by many people and ultimately, his own disciples ran away from Him rather than to be counted guilty along with Him. Nevertheless, God had a plan and carried it out, making Jesus the cornerstone, the very foundation and model for our lives as Christians.

Jesus’s rejection is important because it shows me that even after complete and total turning away from Him, He still fulfilled His mission. We all have a purpose, and if others don’t accept us and our purpose in life, then that does not negate our responsibility to fulfill God’s plan to the best of our ability. If the Son of God can face humiliation and rejection, then who am I to say that I am too wounded to appear in public?

God wants to use me, has never rejected me and has always loved me. So, regardless of my past and all of the mental abuse I suffered, I can still daily seek God’s purpose for me that day and work on carrying it out. Some days I complete the task, some days I barely start it, but I am always plugging away, seeking to please the One who made me and has no reservations about His love for me.

I have come to accept that I am exactly who God made me to be. I am not beautiful on the outside, but I am okay. I am not the smartest person (especially in math), but I am okay. The words that my mother spoke into my mind seeded themselves into my heart, and for many years, I am the one who watered those seeds and believed the fruits of them were true. It is only when I saw them for what they were, weeds strewn along my pathway that needed to be removed, that I could begin to pursue the pleasure of being accepted and being me. I am a child of the King, I am created to be His, and I am righteous before Him. Thus, I am accepted by the only One who matters. I hope that all of you have found that firm foundation in Christ that will show you the worth you have in Him. God doesn’t make ugly and He truly wants you in His family.

A Life of Thanksgiving

On By vickleaIn Admonition, praise, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

A Life of Thanksgiving (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-19-25)

How thankful are you when you talk to God? The world around us generally doesn’t encourage thankfulness. We’re taught to look after ourselves in order to get what we think we deserve.

And yet—Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth because we have been given everything by God. James 1:17 reminds us that every good gift comes from Him. This implies that God is always acting in kindness toward us.

Not only has God given us life and breath, but He has also offered us the free gift of eternal life. God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus. That alone is more than enough for us to live a life of gratitude toward God.

Because of what He’s done for us, our hearts should be in a constant state of thanksgiving. And yet, we often find ourselves complaining because things don’t go the way we want. We grumble because we don’t have the things we think we deserve. And the more that we complain, the more our hearts grow critical and bitter.

Thankfully, Psalm 100 gives us the antidote for grumbling and complaining: thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a spiritual habit that we have to intentionally develop through continual practice. We can practice by taking time each day to talk with God, and to thank Him for all He has done. We can also practice thankfulness by telling others how grateful we are for them.

So the next time you find yourself complaining or grumbling, take a moment to think about the love and goodness of God in your life. Instead of complaining, express how thankful you are for who God is and what He has given you. Keep a list of things you’re grateful for and add to it throughout the week. Watch as your heart and mind begin to be transformed by the simple act of thanksgiving.

My Thoughts

I really needed this devotional today, so I am preaching to myself and not necessarily to you, my readers. I must confess that by the time our long journey to three graduations in nine days was ending, I was grumpy, with a capital G. Nothing my husband tried to do appeased me. I was determined to be miserable. My legs ached, my shoulders hurt, I was too old and too tired for this adventure, and on and on. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I had been healed after a stroke and should be counting my blessings that I could attend these ceremonies of these very special grandchildren instead of whining about how inconvenient it was for me and my poor body. So, I did an about face and started looking for things to be thankful for, especially my health, even though I was feeling weak and unable to walk another step at times. Thus, I was able to walk more than the length of a football field to our car when the last ceremony concluded on Saturday.

This morning started as usual. I slept in a little later than what is normal for me because I didn’t get in bed until after 2 a.m. Anyway, everything was going well until I picked up my Ipad and sat in my recliner to do my morning devotions. The black screen of death greeted me! I was distraught, but I had my phone so I looked up what “fix” I could do. Well, I thanked God for technology and followed through with the instructions online. Did you know that you can “gently burp” your IPad? Well, I tried that and it didn’t seem to work, so I went to the hard reboot and prayed really hard. Thank the good Lord that it worked and now I am using that IPad to tell everyone how thankful I am that it did.

We have had some tough losses lately. The lady named Verna who led me to the Lord over fifty years ago passed away this weekend. The elderly lady from our former church who allowed us to live with her when a hurricane made it impossible for us to live in our home until electricity was restored passed away last week. Finally, a very dear friend from where I used to teach is on home care for cancer and not doing well, so her loss seems to be inevitable. All of this saddens me, but it also makes me reflect on how good God has been to me throughout these decades I have spent as His beloved child. Healings too numerous to fit on this page, blessings of children, grandchildren, family visits and new friends at new places and a new church.

I have so much to be thankful for that I don’t have time to complain. How about you? Are you in the mollygrubs and need a reality check from the Holy Spirit? Or are you a naturally cheerful and thankful person? That is what I am striving to be as old age has caught up with me, aches have become a constant part of my life, and I know without a doubt that I have already lived more than the majority of my life. That being said, in whatever time God blesses me to continue to live on the earth, I want to remember to be thankful every day, in every way, for everything He is and all He has shared with me.

A good verse to remember is Colossians 2:6-7:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/col.2.6-7.NIV

Qualified and Sent

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

The Messengers of Good News (YouVersion Daily Refresh 5-18-25)

Pause for a moment and reflect on your role as a bearer of the good news. Are you actively sharing the love of Christ with those around you? Are you seeking to be a living testimony of His grace?

You might read Paul’s call to “preach” in Romans 10:14 and think this call is reserved for a pastor, priest, or teacher. But our homes, workplaces, and communities can serve as pulpits of influence when we live surrendered to Him. In these seemingly ordinary spaces, we can share the love of Christ through a listening ear that brings peace to a troubled mind, a helping hand that lifts burdens, or a word of encouragement that rekindles hope. 

As a follower of Christ, you are qualified to share this hope and encourage others! What God desires is obedience and willingness to be a vessel of His Word. In the simplicity of everyday interactions, we become vessels of His love and messengers of the gospel.

As believers, we have an integral role in sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit equips you. God chooses and empowers you. And the seeds you sow, even the tiniest ones, have the power to take root and spread the message of salvation.

My Thoughts

As most of my regular blog readers know, I just returned from attending the graduations of three grandchildren. All finished their degrees and are ready for whatever is next in their lives. They are qualified to work in various fields, including mechanical engineering, computer science, math and psychology. What made them “qualified”? First of all, it was the hours that they spend studying and completing courses, with a lot of tests and challenges along the way. More importantly, it was their interest in and dedication to the field in which they are qualified.

All of us who call ourselves Christians are also qualified. We didn’t participate in a big ceremony with a lot of fanfare and “pomp and circumstance.” Rather, most of us were quietly called on the battlefield of life and it happened as soon as we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God planted a seed in us that grew and He wants us to plant those same seeds in others. As the emboldened print says, one does not have to stand in the pulpit to share the good news. You can share it anywhere with anyone who seems discouraged or needy. We just have to be listening for God’s gentle prodding to share. We are already qualified; God equips those He calls and He has called every believer to share the good news, the only news that can set people free from sin and on the road to eternity with Him. Choose someone, anyone, this week whom God has laid on your heart and call them, text them, send them a card. Do whatever you can to be an encourager to the downtrodden. I know it will sound hokey, but most days when I am going out to appointments, I pray that God will put someone in my path who needs a kind word of encouragement and perhaps with whom I can share a tidbit of testimony. He has been faithful each time to do so. People in waiting rooms, those coming in out of the rain, the mom who is overwhelmed with her job and the childcare that she is trying simultaneously to master. God will show you who; you just need to step out and say what the Lord inspires you to say. After all, you are already fully qualified.