Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

The Saddest Day and the Best One

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

No Greater Love

There is no greater love than the love Jesus showed when He laid down His life—for His friends. For us.

Jesus wasn’t just a good man who died an unjust death. He was the spotless Son of God—sinless, blameless, holy. Death had no rightful claim on Him. And yet, He willingly embraced it. He gave up His life so that others might have eternal life.

That alone would be enough to leave us in awe. But what makes His sacrifice even more astounding are the people He died for.

When Jesus spoke these words in John 15, He was talking to a group of His friends who were far from perfect. A hot-headed fisherman. A skeptical doubter. A tax collector. A political zealot. Brothers who once wanted to call down fire on a village. And beyond that room? Prostitutes. Outcasts. The unclean. Sinners.

And for us, too.

Jesus laid down His life so that anyone might become His friend. So that everyone might receive His love. So that we might know—deep in our hearts—that we are not rejected or forgotten, but known and embraced.

So, take a moment today and rest in this truth: There is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you. He proved it on the cross.

My Thoughts

As a child, I have to admit that I didn’t think at all about the meaning of Good Friday. I didn’t know why it was called Good Friday, but I accepted that it was a good thing because I was always out of school. Yes, I knew from going to Sunday school that it was the day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, but since I didn’t have a relationship with Him, that meant little to me. Once I became a Christian, I was amazed at the love that the sacrifice of Jesus showed. He was not eager to give His life, but He was willing to carry out the plan of the Father. Thus, submitting His will to His Father in Heaven, He went voluntarily to the cross. Why do I think that? Jesus Himself said he could call down legions of angels to defend Him. But He didn’t. So, when Pilate questioned Him, He did not reply. The answers were in the hearts of those who believed in Him then and believe in Him now. He is the Son of God who gave His life for me, you and all who accept Him. One verse I memorized this year is John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” This is the good news of Good Friday. Because we believe, we accept God’s free gift of eternal life. Remember when God created the world and said it was “good”? I am sure that He would call today a good day, too…a good day to reflect and remember and to worship Him for His plan of redemption that reaches out to all mankind. Have a blessed Good Friday and may we ever cherish the love of our Savior!

Blocking the Way to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

A Clear Path to God

In one of the most dramatic moments in Matthew 21, after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus flips tables, scatters money, and sets animals free in the Temple courts. His anger wasn’t impulsive—it was righteous. He saw people being robbed in two devastating ways.

First, merchants sold animals for sacrifice at outrageous prices, exploiting travelers with inflated exchange rates. It was blatant financial robbery.

But the deeper theft was spiritual. Those who couldn’t afford the inflated costs were excluded from worship, left without the opportunity to pray and connect with God. The merchants and the religious leaders who enabled them had filled the Temple with obstacles, barring access to God’s presence for the poor and vulnerable.

Jesus’ response was decisive: “Enough.” He cleared the Temple to remove every man-made barrier between people and God.

This act wasn’t just for that moment; it’s a truth for us today. Through Jesus, every obstacle between us and God has been torn down. The price has been paid, the path cleared, and the invitation extended.

No matter who you are or what you’ve done, there’s nothing blocking your way to God. In Jesus, a great clearing has been made. Let’s step into his house of prayer with gratitude, knowing his doors are wide open for us all.

My Thoughts

I don’t know why I did not understand this truth before. I have always seen this part of the Bible, Jesus clearing the Temple of the merchants who were cheating people, as Jesus doing what the Father told Him to do and with righteous anger, He carried out that mission. I don’t know how I missed the fact that this demonstrates Jesus clearing away obstacles that keep people from getting to God. The perfect sacrifice, God’s own Son, wanted to make clear that we have access to God regardless of social status, wealth or position. Of course, the religious leaders were irate since Jesus was “stealing their thunder,” usurping their authority that no one had dared to question before. This devotional for today on Daily Refresh on the YouVersion App came with a clip from “The Chosen” that shows the scene in which Jesus’s outrage is evident. I have not watched anything except clips of “The Chosen” so I cannot recommend it as scripturally sound or not, but I can say that this one clip brought home to me the hurt and anger that the Father must feel when anyone tries to block access to Him. We are not completely free to go by the Father ourselves, without need of any kind of intercessor or physical gift. He just wants us to come and has cleared the path. We are not blocked from the Father except by our own stubbornness and unwillingness to approach His throne, repent and confess our need for a Savior. This Holy Week is a wonderful time to make a commitment to God. The path is clear, the choice is clear. Choose to believe and receive.

Palm Sunday

On By vickleaIn Scripture, SongLeave a comment

This day is also called the day of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I can only imagine what our Lord was thinking or feeling as He entered the city for the last time, welcomed by crowds of cheering people. Some of those same people will be in the crowd that in about a week insist that He be crucified even though He is totally innocent of any sin or crime. Let us ponder this Palm Sunday if we have put aside all of our doubts about who He is and worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is a day of celebration but there is somber spirit, too, because we know, just as Jesus knew, what awaits Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross for each of us so that we could be reconciled to the Father. He knew, yet He went to Jerusalem. He knew what would happen to Him there, but He went anyway. As you think about Jesus’s sacrifice, spend some time today thinking about areas in which you struggle and know that Jesus set the example for us and followed God’s will, even to the point of death. Problems with repetitive sins? Jesus understands. Problems with moving past your sin and forgiving yourself? Jesus knows your heart and loves you. Problems with forgiving others? There is not one single person in all the earth then or now that Jesus was not willing to die for. Be thankful and thoughtful today. Meditate, ponder, appreciate.

Hosanna-Hillsong Worship

Excuses or Forgiveness

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/24911/day/4

This is one of the devotionals that I am reading as we approach Easter and I want to share today’s with you along with the insight I received from it. Each devotional starts with an infographic that clearly explains what C. S. Lewis’s theme was. Today’s topic was about making excuses.

I am one who really hates it when someone I confront makes an excuse. They come up with things like, “Well, this other person was already doing that, so I just joined in.” Or, “Before I knew it, I was part of it.” Or the best one, “No harm, no foul. Yes, it was wrong, but no one got hurt, so it’s all good.”

Now imagine, if you will, standing before the Father and saying these things. You don’t think it really happens? Yes, it does! I have even found myself justifying my action to the Father instead of just simply approaching His throne and asking for forgiveness. It seems like a simple thing to do but in actuality it is hard to humble yourself and honestly admit that you were wrong, that what you did was a sin against God. We can justify things by saying that the end result was not what we had planned to happen, but it’s the start of sin where we have to say “no” and turn away. God wants a heart change, not excuses that show that we are not taking responsibility for our actions.

Think about Jesus on the cross. He bore our sins; He took responsibility for our choices, choices He would never make because although He was tempted, He never sinned. God knows our humanity, so He provided Jesus to save us from our sins. God also knows that we will face temptation, so He provided the Holy Spirit to remind us of what is wrong and what is right, according to God’s Word. Once again, it is a case of making choices and really listening to what the Spirit is saying to us. If we are making excuses for our actions, then we weren’t paying attention when the Spirit tried to warn us away from that wrong decision. Once we have made that wrong choice, if we then make excuses, then we are not listening the heart of the Father who desires true repentance, a true turning away from sin, not a flippant, “But it’s all good now” attitude. I need to take today’s devotional and ponder it some more, but it really spoke to me and I hope that it speaks to you.

Paul’s Belief in Strength

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony1 Comment

Strength in Every Season

Philippians 4:13 is a popular Bible verse that you may have seen posted on signs, social media, stickers, or cars. Maybe you’ve heard someone recite this verse before a sporting event or while trying to accomplish a difficult task.

Unfortunately, this verse is often misunderstood. This verse is not saying that we can accomplish whatever we want. Paul isn’t talking about winning a sports game or having the courage to do something daring.

Instead, Paul is actually talking about his time in prison. He is referencing the power of God that was with him during this difficult time of ministry.

In Philippians 4:12 he talks about the power he has to live content in every situation in life. He learned how to live with abundance and with nothing. He learned to live with very little food and resources, and also with a lot of food and resources.

Paul found that regardless of his circumstances, God continued to supply him with the power to do the work of God. He never lacked the strength and resources to tell others about the good news of Jesus—even while he was stuck in a prison.

Paul could live in every season of life and accomplish all that God asked of him through the strength that God gave him.

So, instead of God giving us strength to do anything we want, He gives us the strength we need to endure various circumstances and accomplish the mission that He has given us. This means that you will never lack any resource to live a growing and godly life, or to share the good news of Jesus with others.

If you’re in a season of abundance or a season of lack, remember that God is the one who gives you the strength to endure every season. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, ask God to supply you with the strength that only He can give.

My Thoughts

I think I am like most people when I honestly admit that I have used this verse incorrectly, thinking it means only that God will give me the strength to finish a job or to face a challenge. Well, it does kind of mean that. But this devotional today opened my eyes to the fact that the real thing God wants us strengthened to do is His will. And what is His will? We are to fulfill the Great Commission to “go and tell.” As an introverted person, I have to depend on God’s strength to even approach the cashier’s station, much less talk to them about the Lord. God is showing me daily that He does not expect more of me than I can give, but He does have expectations for which He will give me strength to carry out. I don’t have to stand in front of a group of people and share my testimony, but I can pronounce a blessing on the clerk who helps me in the store and I can ask the waitress if she needs prayer for anything. Both of these may seem simple to you, but for me they are a lot since I prefer to avoid people rather than speak to anyone that I don’t know well. I am the one who used to spend a lot of time in the bathroom during social functions and came out only if I knew my husband would be ready to leave soon. I have missed so many opportunities to tell others about my faith and how they can have the same relationship with the Lord because I was depending on my own strength and boldness. I am so thankful to know that it’s not my strength but God’s and He will give me the words and the boldness when I need it.

I am not saying that I will change overnight. I know that I won’t. After all, I have spent over seventy years withdrawing from the world and only coming out when I needed to. But I will say that God is working on me and when I am out on errands, He is prodding me more to speak out and to speak up. Have you claimed the promise in this verse today? What does it mean to you?

Taking a Test

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, testimony2 Comments

I am fairly certain that no one enjoys taking tests. When I was in high school and college, I used to suffer from what people today call “test anxiety.” I would study diligently, but when I went to school to take the test, I would be so nervous that I wouldn’t remember what I had studied. I usually took deep breaths, looked away from the test and out the window or at something distracting and then took the test. I generally did well (except on math tests on which I scored lower than I wanted but high enough to stay on the honor roll), but I was never satisfied unless I got a top score.

When I became a mom, I encouraged my children to pray before tests. They had done their part by studying, so I instructed them to pray that God would help them remember what they had studied. I believe that as a result, all three children did well in school and had no more than what I considered normal test jitters. All three finished college and did well, so kudos to the Lord for getting them through.

So, what kind of tests do we take today? Every day we face a test of our faith with the choices we make and the things we do once we make that choice. Jesus showed us how to face life’s tests and excel by setting an example for us to prepare us for tests.

First, in the wilderness, Jesus answered Satan with God’s Word. We cannot give an answer to Satan or any friends, neighbors or acquaintances about our beliefs if we don’t study God’s Word diligently and faithfully. Jesus knew and applied God’s Word appropriately. I think when we hide God’s Word in our hearts, then the Holy Spirit will remind us of just what we need from His Word when we need it. (See John 14:26) We have to choose to turn from wickedness (sin) daily.

Jesus also prayed consistently and found a solitary place to do so, one without distractions.

It’s not always convenient to get up early or find a solitary place, but it is a part of being ready for life’s tests each day. Maybe you pray late at night or even in the middle of the day. Whenever and wherever you pray, be like Jesus and consistently make time to talk to God. You can’t hear from your Heavenly Father in the middle of a tough situation if you don’t regularly tune in to have a conversation with Him when there are no outside pressures.

Jesus was also continually in the temple. In fact, when He was arrested, He asked the officials why they came to arrest him in a garden at night instead of in the temple where he was daily. (Matthew 26:55) So should we not neglect getting together with other believers for the purpose of worship, fellowship, exhortation and enlightenment from His Word.

So, what does our test entail? What is on it? How do we pass it if we don’t know the questions? Well, the test is almost the same daily. What will you do if faced with temptation? Don’t say you are never tempted, because everyone is in some way. Just accept that it will happen. For example, your choices may be to watch a show you have really looked forward to or to spend time with your spouse and children. Which would be more pleasing to God? Watching the show is not a bad thing; it’s just not the best choice. Like a multiple choice test for which you are told to choose the BEST answer, there can be more than one right answer and you have to discern which one is the best one.

What will you do when you are with another person and the Holy Spirit is prodding you to share something about your faith? The quick answer is, of course, that you will share. But is that true? Or do you spend your time with non-believers talking about the weather, politics, health conditions and children? See how easily I named those things? That is because that is how I deflect from talking about the Lord. More and more, the Lord’s Spirit is prompting me to say something about Him and what He has done in my life. I don’t feel called to stand on a street corner with a sign that says “Repent” and follow that with preaching through a megaphone. But I can still offer hope to someone who doesn’t know the Lord just by sharing a word with them about God’s work in my life. I don’t have to give a sermon, just an encouraging word to get them thinking about God and His influence on their lives. It’s called sowing a seed and I want to get better at it.

Test anxiety is a real thing, but Jesus promises that He will be with us and that we will not fail, because loves never fails.

Okay, I am done telling you all about tests. Now, go out and do your best knowing that God goes with you and is cheering for you to pass with flying colors! Ask Him for the help you need to pass today’s test and He will help you…He promises!

Like My Cat

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony1 Comment

I spend a lot of time in solitude as my husband enjoys running errands and working in the garden, not to mention sleeping very late every day. In my quiet times, I have a lot of time to reflect and this morning, I was thinking about the life of our cat Daisy.

This, my friends, is Daisy. She loves to sit in boxes and will figure out a way to fit into a box even if it is actually too small to accommodate her. Her persistence is admirable and so I want to make Daisy’s attributes the topic of today’s post.

We got Daisy when she was a very tiny four month old kitten. She used to sit in my lap most of the time, snuggled up close to me, kneading, purring and settling. She knew instinctively that I was her person and so began to learn things from me. I taught her to sit and beg for her treats. Although she will be nine years old next month, when I shake the treat bag, she comes running and when I say “Sit” she does so obediently and instantly. Sometimes, I just have to point to the floor and she sits. If I want her to beg, I don’t give her the treat until she is sitting, I hold the treat higher and she gets up on her back legs and begs for it. So cute! And so trainable. In fact, Daisy also walks beside me as I go from room to room in the house, never taking her eyes off my feet and watching exactly where I am going. It is only when I sit down that she pauses, looks at me to make sure I am no longer active and either settles in my lap or on the back of my chair. Finally, Daisy loves unconditionally. If I get preoccupied and forget to feed her on time, she still wants to be with me and show me affection. If I don’t turn on the bathroom sink so she can drink from the faucet, she taps my hand to remind me, but she doesn’t scratch or bite me. She just gives me loving reminders of what her expectations are.

My person that I depend on, lean on and want to be always around is Jesus. I could learn a lot from Daisy about being obedient and following closely as well as being persistent. I want to follow Jesus so closely that all of His actions and movements are exactly what I do. I want to listen so carefully that when he says to do something, I obey right away, with hesitation and knowing that what He has in store for me will be good. I want to be persistent in prayer and in my time with the Lord daily, knowing that is the most important time of my day. Snuggling up with God and His Word in my comfy recliner is like being in a nice, well-fitting box. God doesn’t hold me there; I get in voluntarily and enjoy my stay in the place that is best for me. God give me loving reminders of His expectations for me all the time, but He is never impatient or demanding, just loving and gentle.

Just as God says we can learn a lot from the birds who have no worries but know that He will take care of them, I can also learn a lot from watching Daisy. She is loyal and trusts me to take care of her every day. I want to be totally loyal to God and trust Him wholeheartedly to meet my needs daily.

I can have the same peace that Daisy has as she sleeps in my lap if only I keep my mind focused on God, trusting Him completely to take care of everything while I rest.

I want to listen as carefully as Daisy listens. She hears me pick up her treat bag and comes running from the back bedroom or wherever she was. She learned to obey my commands and to come when I summon her. Most people tell me that cats don’t come when they are called. Well, Daisy does. If I say, “Daisy, come” she does. She knows that I am ready to feed her or give her a treat or just sit and cuddle with her. How often does the Lord tell me to come and I am so busy with other things that I do not hear His voice? How many times have I missed out on something from the Lord because I have not listened carefully for His voice? That’s why being like Daisy and carefully listening all the time is a good thing. I want to always be ready to hear and obey the voice of the Lord.

I think of Daisy as a gift from the Lord nine years ago. She has taught me a lot about focus and persistence and even obedience and love. Have you learned anything from the animals around you? Have they taught you anything about God’s love for you?

Psalm 23

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, Video1 Comment

What does it mean for the Lord to be our shepherd? This video explains well and I hope it blesses your heart to know all the ways God is your shepherd.

https://youtu.be/LyusMDtlpLY

I particularly enjoyed the part about God’s being there in the valleys. We seem to have a lot of challenges in this life, but God is right there, leading us and keeping us safe. I also liked the part about God’s preparing a table for us before our enemies, teaching us to rely on His protection. The Psalm is from the beginning of the video until about the four minute mark and the other seven plus minutes are a prayer based on the psalm. It was very relaxing and uplifting for me to start my day with this today.

Then I followed this scripture and prayer with this song from Phil Wickham. I hope you have a blessed day, knowing that God is with you always and you will be with Him for eternity.

Phil Wickham-Psalm 23

We Are Like Ruth

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture2 Comments

So, in all honesty, I must say that the idea for my blog today came from a devotional I am reading called JESUS DAY BY DAY by Sharon Kaselonis, published by Mutnomah in 2019. In this devotional, the author presented the fact that Ruth was a Gentile. That got me to thinking because I always just read over the words (skimmed, overlooked) that told me she was a Moabite and didn’t consider the fact that she was a Gentile. Just like me!

The author also pointed out that she was loved by a Jewish man named Boaz who showed her kindness and made sure that she was fed. All of this truth led me to think about that I have also been wooed by a Jewish man (Jesus) and He makes sure I am fed daily, not only physically but spiritually through His Word.

The final revelation isn’t one that will surprise you. Boaz was called Ruth’s kinsman and she married him. We are the bride of Christ, adopted into His family by His sacrifice so He is our kinsman and we will all participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb because we are the bride.

Okay, so maybe no surprises or big reveals for you, but I have always loved the story of Ruth. It’s like having a clean romance story in the Bible and it has a happily ever after. The greatest story ever told is part of Ruth’s story because she and Boaz were the great-grandparents of King David, in the lineage of Jesus. So, to realize that I am like Ruth…that is a blessing not to be taken lightly!

“Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Boaz was a relative of Naomi who had returned home after her husband and sons died. Coincidence? No, a God-incidence, or as the television movie says, it’s a “Godwink.”

God had everything figured out and planned for Ruth, a Gentile woman in a strange land, just as He has good plans for each of us.

Jesus came for the purpose of bringing the Jewish people back to God, but since God is not a respecter of people just because of their lineage, He included us, the Gentiles, in His great plan of salvation. We were grafted into the family, adopted and accepted just as if we were originally born into the family. That, my dear friends, is grace.

We are not better than the Jewish people who rejected Christ. Rather, we should be thankful, knowing that God still calls the Israelites His chosen people and continues to work in their hearts to draw them to Him. Meanwhile, we need to be grateful that we were called and chosen to be a part of the family, grafted in and accepted as His children.

The Gospel message is one of hope, the same message that Boaz gave to Ruth when he provided grain for her and then redeemed her and married her. He brought her into his family, just as Jesus brings us into the family of God and welcomes us wholeheartedly and lovingly. Thus, as I began, I will end. We are all like Ruth.

Lessons from Samson

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture2 Comments

The Bible story of Samson begins in Judges 13 and I strongly recommend that you read it for yourself. We can learn a lot from Samson. God blessed him with extraordinary strength so that he could defeat his enemies. But his gift from God is overshadowed by his lust and desires of the flesh. Sound familiar? Each of us has a gift from God that we should nourish so it will flourish within us and bless others. But we get off track when we are attracted away from using our gift and towards pleasing ourselves. Samson compromised his values and the end result was blindness, slavery and ultimately death.

Don’t we do the same thing? We set goals that we plan to reach for God, using our talents that He has given us, and then we fall short and fail to reach our goals. Many times we are so short-sighted (blinded to our failures) that we don’t even notice that we got off the track we were supposed to be on. Samson noticed what was happening but by the time he noticed Delilah’s deception, he could not change his circumstances. We can hinder our full potential and what God has for us to complete when we start wandering away from the goal. Samson was set apart and divinely appointed, but he fell short of fulfilling what he was supposed to do because he was tempted and followed that temptation into sin. In the end, Samson was able to kill his enemies by bringing down the pillars of the building he was tied to, but we will never know what other works for God Samson might have accomplished if he had not strayed.

Lessons we learn: Stay on track. Don’t compromise. Be aware of temptation and turn away from it.

We can be thankful that Jesus showed the way to overcome temptation and He carried out the entire mission that God gave Him. His death on the cross was His mission and His resurrection is what gives us the hope that we can overcome temptation, one day at a time. Our salvation is from God’s grace and mercy, and even in Samson’s great fall, he knew to call on the Lord for help and God heard him and granted him one final victory over his enemies.