Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

The God Who Sees

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, Song, YouVersion App2 Comments

Part of my blog today is from my devotional, “The Bible in One Year, 2025 by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel” from the You Version:

All this is by grace (vv.15,17,20–21). Allow these truths to sink deep into your heart. See yourself as God sees you – as righteous in his sight – and believe that, because of what Jesus has done for you, when God looks at you he is pleased with you.

Lord, thank you so much for the death of Jesus on my behalf. Thank you that although I deserve judgment and condemnation, you have made it possible for me to be justified and to receive the righteousness from God by grace as a gift.

God sees us as righteous, forgiven, loved by Him beyond anything we can comprehend.

Hagar was ready to just admit defeat for herself and her small son Ishmael. But God was right there and saw her and had a different plan.

How often are we ready to just give up, to admit that we cannot face the challenges of life any longer? I had a week like that. I don’t talk about it, but my husband is a hoarder which almost drives me crazy since I am an organizer bunny. I was getting ready this week for family to visit, and I do try very hard not to go into the back bedroom, the site of my husband’s “treasures” but I had to dust. I was so dismayed to find that he had decided to “clean out the closet” and other spaces by stacking things under the mattress of the bed. The bed now sits about three feet higher than the frame and I think it looks ridiculous, not to mention, slightly unsafe since it’s uneven. We had an argument about it and neither of us is happy with each other. I want the family members coming to be safe but also to not be overwhelmed by the sheer outrageousness of my husband’s collections. Newspapers, boxes, video tapes, plastic containers, etc. There is no reason for all of it…it just is. The whole hoarding thing has gotten worse since retirement and I have no solution. I cannot face it, but God can. He sees my frustration and discouragement. And he also sees my husband’s mental problems that cause the problem to begin with. So, what to do? I choose to submit to God, knowing that He sees me just the way I am and will help me once again get through this situation that seems to have no answer. I generally end up backing off and my husband has his way about everything, but I am so tired of that posture. I really want God to intervene, but His intervention may be that I change and not my husband. In the meantime, I feel somewhat like Hagar, in the wrong place at the wrong time and with no one to help me. But then, there is Jehovah Roi, the God who sees. I am blessed beyond measure by God who sees all and continues to love me.

The God Who Sees by Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullen

What’s the Catch?

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture1 Comment

You know the bait and hook schemes that are rampant in the world today, especially with all of us online much of the time? Well, this isn’t that. The catch is that there is no catch, no bait and hook, just simple truth.

The promise from God’s Word is that everyone who calls on Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be saved. There is no fine print that says this is only if you are smart enough, rich enough, famous enough or extremely popular. The promise is for all. But there is something you have to do to receive the promise. You have to believe that Jesus came to earth as a man and died for your sins. That’s it! Just believe and receive!

Jesus already did all that He needed to do to restore your relationship with the Father, your Creator. Now, it’s your turn. Pray, accept, believe. If you need more information, go to the book of John in the Bible and read John 3:16 and John 3:36. Then go to the book of Romans and read Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.3.16.NIV

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.3.36.NIV

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.3.23-24.NIV

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.6.23.NIV

You can stop what you are doing right now and pray to God for forgiveness of your sins. Tell Him that you believe that Jesus died for your sins. What do you have to lose? There is no fine print, no catch, no bait and hook. Just the free gift of salvation that saves you from eternal separation from God.

If you have prayed and believed, the next step is to find like-minded believers in a local church. They will support you and help you to become more mature in your beliefs as you learn more and more about the Savior you died for you to have life forevermore. May God bless you in your journey of faith. See you in Heaven!

Let There Be Light

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture2 Comments

At the very beginning of the world as we know it, all was darkness. And God said:

Darkness and light cannot co-exist because the light always dispels the darkness. God called the light “good.”

Isaiah prophesied that the people who walk in darkness (sin) have seen a great light (Jesus). The Lord vanquished the darkness of sin in the world once and for all, but we have to come to that light in order to see it and be affected by it.

Jesus clearly stated that He is the light of the world. When we follow Him, we are no longer stumbling around in the dark, bouncing from one sin to the next. We have the light of life within us. God started by giving us light, mankind sinned and turned away from the light and Jesus’s life and death restored it to us, if we choose to follow.

This is our admonition since we are “people of light.” We are to live like it. Encourage others, confront sin (as led by the Holy Spirit) and be the light that others need by telling them about how the light came into your life. God created light and said that it was “good.” Jesus was the light and God said He was “well pleased” with His beloved Son. And one day, we will stand before the Father and if we have fulfilled our mission of being the light for others, He will say, “Well done!”

Gratitude for God’s Faithfulness

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Characteristics of God, Scripture, Song, testimony4 Comments

If we started sharing all of the wonderful attributes of our God, we would be here a long time because just when we think we know God, He shows us another facet of His character. Today, I am focusing on the faithfulness of God. We know God is faithful to His Word. He is also faithful to His promises. And best of all, He is faithful to each of us, even when we forget to acknowledge all that He has done for us.

I can, and I hope that you can, too, easily come up with all of the things I have seen God do in my life. I have kept journals in which I wrote my thanksgiving down and praised God for all that He has done and is still doing for me and for my loved ones. Why, this week alone, I have testimonies! Our son-in-law Aaron had been sick for well over a month. When he finally saw a doctor and they did blood tests, his liver function was low. This week, the doctor repeated the test, and it is normal! Hallelujah! Our granddaughter Teagan fell in the yard and broke her wrist. This week, she went to Shriner’s Hospital in Erie where they told her she only has to wear the cast for two weeks and perhaps a brace after that. So, praise God! My husband had an appointment this week with his regular dentist to start the process for a dental implant. This whole thing has taken about a year, so we are both ready for it to be done, but we didn’t really know what to expect at this week’s appointment. Pain? Dietary restrictions? None of the above. The dentist took virtual photos in order to order his permanent implant and put in a temporary crown while he waits for it to arrive. Once again, a praise report!

Of course, there are the prayers that I am still praying and waiting for an answer, but I can count on God to be faithful. He was faithful before and He doesn’t change, so He will continue to be faithful. Instead of wallowing in the pain of unanswered prayers (or sometimes those not answered the way I hoped or expected), I am praising God for His faithfulness, knowing that the answer is on the way and His answer is always what is best for me.

Instead of just reading this first verse, I recommend that you read the entire Psalm 105. Read it aloud. Say it to your mind and your heart and let it sink in what God is capable of doing and what He has already done. I think the last part of the verse is very important and often overlooked. We praise God and proclaim His glorious name during our devotional time, but do we make known what He has done? Do we testify to others about this faithfulness to us, His goodness, His grace, His mercy? Others cannot know if we do not tell. To many, if they even think about God’s existence at all, He is that scary guy who could zap them at any time or He is that smiling guy who keeps blessing them in ways they don’t really appreciate. What about if we gave personal testimonies about what God has done in our lives every day? Every week? Instead of calling friends to tell them how bad the week has been, how about calling and telling them all of the good things God has done for you because He is faithful? It’s all about perspective. You can keep what God has done for you and “ponder it in your heart.” But you can also reach out to others and give them a reason to think about God and His love and faithfulness. I think the latter is a better plan, don’t you?

Faithful God-I Am They

Look What the Lord Has Done-Charity Gayle

Please keep praying for those in Texas who have lost loved ones. God is sending His comfort and peace because He is faithful. Let us be faithful to pray for them in their time of grieving unbearable loss.

Friday Praise

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, Song, worship4 Comments

After a hard week of tragedy in Texas, family health issues and life’s circumstances in general, I didn’t feel a lot like praising this morning. I just wanted to curl into a ball and withdraw from the chaos all around me. But, God called me to praise and that has been the best thing for me, today and every day. We were created to have a relationship with our Creator and one of the ways we have that closeness is to recognize who He is and to praise Him. The things around us fade in the presence of the Almighty God. Thus, I encourage you to join me today in praising our Father who knows all things and is always with us. Let’s check our attitude of dissatisfaction and praise God because He is good…all the time!

Do you see what I see in this verse? Everything that has breath is praising God, and I am just joining in, raising my voice with creation to the Creator of all.

Take a moment and inhale deeply. As you exhale, give God praise for the fact that you were able to take that breath. Then, spend some time just thinking of all He has done for you from the inside out.

It feels good to praise the Lord! It is like being a bottle of seltzer water, shaken up and ready to explode. Let it go…God knows that we need to praise Him.

Every Praise-Northland Church

Goodness of God-Bethel Music

Great Are You Lord-All Sons and Daughters

Speaking and Listening

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture1 Comment

As those of you who follow my blog regularly know, my word for this year is “listen.” God has been working on my active listening skills so that I really hear with empathy and compassion what the other person is saying. That way I hope to respond with more of Christ’s love instead of my own emotions.

Have you ever heard the phrase “speak off the cuff”? It means, according to http://theidioms.com, to speak without preparation or to speak without thinking about it. Isn’t that what most of us do most of the time? We want to get our voice out there, thinking that our opinion is the most important one. When we take time to think about what we will say, we tend to give a more coherent answer that actually addresses the issue and hopefully shows people that we are in tune with God’s Spirit.

There are some real characters on the political platform these days, those who say anything to get into the spotlight and then end up looking foolish in the eyes of many Americans. One particular politician comes to my mind immediately for her vitriol against the President and her support of all things racist. I was even more appalled at the woman from Texas who blamed the floods on those who voted for Trump and hoped that the people who didn’t vote for him were safe and that the MAGA voters got what they deserved. That doesn’t sound like any kind of Christian perspective to me. No one gets what we deserve thanks to God’s grace and mercy! But to attack grieving parents and family members and friends in such a vile manner…she doesn’t know the scriptures about listening before speaking, does she? Now ask yourself, do you listen before speaking? And do you think before you speak? We don’t want to talk to others “off the cuff.” We want to say the words that will help, not hurt more.

We need to be the ones who spread peace and love and hope, not hatred or division. If we are actively listening to what others are saying, we can respond with an answer that does not add fuel to already burning fires. Some people will set fires just to watch them burn. We are called to use our words to put the fires out and to soothe those who have already been burned by the flames.

We are the only example of Jesus that some people will see because they never go to church. If we are entering into the same kind of debates that those around us seem to think is expected, then how are we different? Did Jesus debate or did He simply speak the truth and pray? God’s Word and His truth is not open to debate. If we speak the truth in love, we are presenting a message of hope, not one of condemnation and judgment.

Spiritual Maturity

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture1 Comment

When someone says this phrase, “spiritual maturity” it generally makes me cringe because I know I am not there yet. And I am also aware that according to the standards of others, I may never be “there.” But where I am is seated in my recliner, reading my Bible and devotionals and praying for God to speak to me. One of the things He used this morning was a devotional from Faith Gateway by Dana K. White. Here’s a line from it:

“My level of spiritual maturity is the level of control I’ve given over to the Holy Spirit. It’s the opposite of an achievement. It’s knowing and accepting the truth that anything I understand, I understand only because God’s Holy Spirit gave me that understanding.”

So, maybe it’s my definition of spiritual maturity that needs to be honed. I have kept trying to achieve something, much like passing a test in school, but that is not it at all. Did you hear my sigh of relief? I can quit striving and just give over the wheel to the Holy Spirit. Here’s the link to the devotional if you would like to read it in its entirety. It is well worth the few minutes that you will spend doing so and I hope that it frees and enlightens you just as it did me.

Faith Gateway Blog

Let’s just close with scriptures to ponder so that we can grow together today in the Lord.

All things…everything. Sounds like getting mature in the Lord to me. And we just have to relinquish control to the gift of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised us.

When we confess that we cannot do this Christian walk alone, maturing ourselves all by ourselves, then we are on the road to admitting that the One who is strong can use our weaknesses to teach us how to be more like Him. And isn’t that part of being spiritually mature?

I hope that your day is blessed so that you can be a blessing to others. 🙏🏻

The Burdens We Carry

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Quotation and Citations, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

We all carry life’s burdens every day. My big burden lately has been family health issues and car problems. Daily, I take those burdens to God and receive the reassurance that He is handling things. But there are some things, I confess, that are difficult to hand over to God, even though I know that is exactly what I need to do. The big one that comes to mind is my own mortality and the fact that my aging is not something I can deny. I face it in the mirror daily, every morning as I get up and struggle to get to the bathroom because of mobility issues. God has given me a verse that I recite frequently to remind myself of His care for me.

I love this promise and the fact that He is carrying me, all the way until I get into His arms. I have to admit that some days, I feel that need more than others, but I can rest in His love and His promise.

We often get so wrapped up in our own world and our own problems that we don’t look around us at what others may be facing.

We are a very self-centered people and God knew that about us. It’s part of our sin nature and we have to work at focusing outward towards others instead of only inward towards ourselves.

We are told to carry each other’s burdens. Rather, we are instructed repeatedly to give our burdens to the Lord. I think that one way of doing that is to focus on others, so that we are not so aware of our own burdens. Oftentimes, in fact, our burdens dim when we get a glimpse of the burdens others are lifting. The recent example that immediately comes to my mind is the flooding in Texas that resulted in numerous deaths, including children from a Christian camp. My first instinct was to ask “Why, God?” But I quickly shut that down and instead started praying for the missing children, the parents of those whose bodies were already discovered, the camp counselors and the rescuers. My mind was so occupied praying for strangers that I was not totally absorbed in my own world and its problems. I think that is the way we should be daily, not just during a crisis. Look out…not in because in so doing, that is how we can do the most good for the Kingdom of God.

The real secret to our being free of our burdens in that we help others and God helps us. The promise is that He daily bears our burdens. So, if we know, really know, that Jesus is bearing our burdens, that gives us the freedom and opportunity to look for others that need our help. The neighbor who needs a ride to the doctor. The friend who needs groceries but who won’t ask for help. The young mom who needs a break just to refresh her soul. You get the idea. Helping others isn’t so much time consuming as it is forcing us to look at others instead of ourselves and our own needs so much.

I got this prayer from the YouVersion Daily Refresh today. I prayed it several times before the words became truly meaningful to me. My prayer is that this post today will inspire you to help someone today, in a small way or big way. Just be a helper. Mr. Rogers (TV show from my children’s youth) would like that, and more importantly, I think that so would God!