Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

The Job of an Ambassador

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

Becoming Like Christ (YouVersion Daily Refresh)

Scripture tells us that we who belong to Christ are now ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are tasked with two things: the mission of God and the character of Jesus.

The goal this passage sets out for us sounds pretty simple: to become more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, think, and feel, and to also accomplish the purposes that God has for our life. We are tasked to accomplish the work of God in the way He wants it done, following the “word of truth,” or the Bible.

As Christians, we should strive to be like Christ. We want to have the same mind and attitude that He had. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 reinforces that mindset about our character. In the midst of a culture that is grumbling and fighting, act like Jesus.

In this letter, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of his past, but instead to let his past be a testament to how Jesus has changed his life. Your past is part of your story, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s a way that you can show others how Jesus changed your life.

The best way that we can continue to be transformed by Jesus is to continually seek His truth in Scripture. As we engage with Scripture and the Holy Spirit, our mind, heart, and hands are changed to be more like Christ.

How can you be more like Christ today? Think of a few small steps you can take to begin to shift your thinking and action towards the mission of God or the character of Christ. Ask God for His help as you seek to follow Him daily.

My Thoughts

I was so happy to hear that Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and a wonderful Christian, was tapped to be the ambassador to Israel. Since he is a staunch and vocally active supporter of Israel, I knew that he would be the perfect candidate. When I read today’s Daily Refresh, I realized once again that I am already an ambassador. What struck me as fresh or information that I hadn’t thought a lot about was that my job has two aspects to it.

Just as Mike Huckabee will represent the United States to the nation of Israel, I represent Christ to a lost and dying world. There are a lot of people who are afraid right now, terrified of the “orange man” in power who has the potential to disrupt their happy existence. My sister has been ranting online to me for days now, sending me articles about how we are about to lose our social security and the dictator in power is deranged. I have chosen to ignore her rants and to answer calmly about other topics, like health and current well-being of herself or family members. I figure that the best way to calm her storm is not to take part in it but to focus on blessings instead. To me, that is the best way I can represent Christ to someone determined to not believe or trust in Him.

The other part of my job is to fulfill His mission of telling others. I am not great at that, but I work at sowing seeds whenever I am prodded by the Holy Spirit. I know I can do better so I continue to strive to hear the Spirit’s voice and to know what to say and when to say it. I don’t want to offend, but I do want to commend others to the Lord and let them know that He is just waiting for them to open the door to their hearts.

Today is a busy day for me since I go to see my neurologist and have him check on some issues I have been having, like recent migraines and the effect of bass/percussion on my brain. I hope that I will be able to sow seeds while I am out and about and that I will be a good representative of Christ, representing love and hope rather than doom and gloom and despair. There is a lot to worry about, but I choose to count my blessings instead and let God handle the worrying part.

I hope your day is blessed with a fruitful day of being a good ambassador, wherever you go and whatever you do!

Depend on God’s Power

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

A Way Out

Life is full of difficulties and challenges. Especially as Christians, our desire to follow God’s paths for our lives can sometimes go directly against what our culture tells us to do. Living according to God’s way can be particularly difficult because of various temptations that might cause us to get distracted.

1 Corinthians 10:13 acknowledges that we will all experience temptation. It also does not promise that all of our temptations will be easy to overcome.

But it also says that God promises to be faithful to help us through whatever temptations we face. God will provide a way for us to escape every temptation. God will strengthen us so we can endure through trials.

God has given us instructions and a pathway for right-living in His Word. Everything that we need in order to live a healthy, godly life is included in Scripture.

Paul, the author of the letters to the church in Corinth, cautions his readers not to be prideful in their spiritual life. When we are prideful, we can falsely believe that we’re immune to temptations. But when we’re prideful, we are actually most susceptible to fall into temptation.

So rather than being arrogant, we should be humble. We ought to depend on God’s power rather than our own. It is only through a growing relationship with Jesus that we truly find the strength to endure trials and temptations.

If you find yourself caught in temptations, draw near to God. Ask Him to give you His strength so that you can endure. Make it a priority to strengthen your relationship in Him through reading God’s Word and praying to Him. Never forget that God always provides a way for you to escape temptation. He is always faithful and always with you.

My Thoughts

Sometimes, I am like a child stomping my feet and declaring my independence when what I really need is to lean closer into God. Temptations come daily. The temptation to watch a show on TV that is not wholesome but everyone says it’s really good. The temptation to accept doing a book review on a book that is not Christian but it has good ratings and the author is well known. The temptation to choose to spend time on a device instead of with God. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose, but always I set out to win. The thing is that none of us can win the battle against temptation on our own. We have to depend on God’s power. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to lead us out of temptation and He will. But we have to ask and depend, not go our own way heedlessly of His warnings.

Favorite Hymns: Spotlight on “It Is Well With My Soul” Lyrics by Horatio Gates Spafford, Music by Phillip Bliss

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, testimony3 Comments

The story behind this hymn may be familiar to you. I heard it once many years ago and had to look it up to remind myself of what happened to inspire such a heartfelt song. Here is where you can find the story:

The Story Behind the Hymn

I have sung this song for years, especially when times are hard for me. The last month has been a real trial with my health. Hospitalized twice, once for a bacterial infection and the second time for blood pressure so high that I was in danger of having another stroke. Those incidents were closely followed by bronchitis and a secondary lung infection. I have been taking so many medicines that I had to write them down to make sure I took them as prescribed. One evening, as I was exhausted from coughing and lack of sleep, God reminded me of this song. No matter what is happening in my body, “it is well with my soul.” And that is what truly matters.

Here are the lyrics:

It Is Well With My Soul – Lyrics

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul!

It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Note that the bold print was added by me to the verses that mean most to me. What verse(s) resonate with you today?

(From Lyrics, “It Is Well with my Soul”)

And now the hymn for you to enjoy, or at least part of it.

“It Is Well With My Soul” by Audrey Assad

An Armor-Bearer

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, testimony4 Comments

My devotional today included a verse that really made me think. What am I actually doing for the Lord? I am not an outspoken preacher or a missionary going to foreign lands. Rather, I am an armor-bearer, helping along those who are the leaders, those who are doing the actual work but who need my support.

Jonathan had an armor bearer, one who encouraged him and told him that he was with him in all that he set out to do. That is what I see as my responsibility. I am an encourager for those who are doing, a background cheering squad who prays and wants only the best for those whom God is sending. I am old and unable to travel or go, but I can stay and pray. I can send financial resources when God prods me to do so. I may not be the go-er and the do-er, but I am the one who helps to carry the burden so that the mission can be accomplished. It’s not a job that carries a lot of kudos or recognition, but that is not what I am here for. I am here to do the best I can until God calls me home, so I am content to be an armor-bearer.

As you go through your day, think of all the ways you can encourage others who are facing a day of being in the world and having to face persecution or ridicule, battles that we may no longer be a part of because of life’s circumstances. Pray for them, the friends who are still working every day, still bearing their cross every day and showing Jesus to a lost and dying world.

It’s not that I don’t still represent Jesus when I go out and about. Of course, I do! I just don’t go out much anymore. But the nurses and doctors I see need to see a positive attitude and a smiling face as much as anyone else. So do the people in the check out lines and anyone else I come across that God encourages me to encourage them. I am an armor bearer, not the one on the front lines, but the one backing them up and sowing little seeds so the harvest can eventually be produced.

Paul had multiple armor bearers and thanked them in his many letters, reminding other believers that he had supporters that also needed support.

As an armor bearer, I can stand in the gap and pray and I can be the best encourager possible. My words mean something to someone somewhere. I hope you will all take the responsibility of being an armor-bearer seriously. The work of the kingdom depends on each of us.

Be Aware

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony, YouVersion App2 Comments

The Presence of God (YouVersion Daily Refresh)

The writer of Psalm 27 is intentionally focusing on one of the most important aspects of our spiritual life. Throughout Scripture, we learn about the importance of the presence of God. 

It is in the presence of God that we find strength and hope (Psalm 27:1). It’s also in God’s presence that our enemies lose their power over us (Psalm 27:2-3).

In Psalm 27:4 the writer of the Psalm expresses his desire to dwell within the house of the Lord, to gaze upon God’s beauty and be in His presence in the temple. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was primarily within the temple. But through spending time with God, the Psalmist found hope and restoration for his soul.

Thanks to Jesus, God’s presence is no longer confined to the temple. His presence is now available to us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within believers. We now have access to God’s presence at any time.

Just like the writer of the Psalm desired to dwell within God’s presence, we also should desire to be with God as much as possible. It is in God’s presence that we find hope, joy, beauty, and the restoration of our weary souls.

It is important that we spend time with God each and every day. We can do this through regularly reading Scripture and reflecting on what we read. We can also spend time in prayer, talking to God about what is happening in our life. Another way to spend time in God’s presence is to simply be aware that He is with you through your daily tasks each day.

My Thoughts

To be honest, I used to go through my days vaguely aware that God was walking with me throughout the day. These days, as my health concerns increase and my days and night are all mixed up from lack of sleep, I am constantly aware that God is with me. He is with me when I awaken in the morning and my first thought is to thank Him for giving me some rest. He is with me as I count out the meds, use my nebulizer and cough my way through another day. I keep thanking God for each breath He has given me.

Last night I got to do an online chat with our daughter and grandchildren. What a blessing to see their smiling faces and to hear their voices! I could see God working in each of their lives and I felt so peaceful as I listened and participated in the celebration of Tyler’s birthday.

There are so many things that I have to be thankful for, but the one that stands out is that God is right there beside me. He knows my frustration at not being able to attend church in person since I have to stay near meds that help me breathe. He has been wrapping me in warm hugs of encouragement and love. I don’t like not being able to go out but I do like feeling God’s presence so close to me that I whisper His name and can almost audibly hear Him say, “I am right here.”

God is good, all the time. He is present, all the time. Sometimes we are more aware of His nearness, just when we need to feel His closeness to us, He shows us. I don’t know how to explain it other than the peace and calm that comes when it is totally unexpected, like a wonderful surprise that you knew was coming but you didn’t know when it would arrive. The expectation of God’s presence is awe-inspiring, but the awareness of His being there all along is nothing short of glorious!

Asking for Wisdom

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture, testimony, YouVersion App3 Comments

Wisdom for Life (YouVersion Daily Refresh)

Wisdom is a key aspect of maturity. We often think of growing into maturity as we get older and gain more knowledge, but growing mature in wisdom transcends age. Wisdom grows when we learn to apply our knowledge to everyday choices and situations.

James, the brother of Jesus and writer of the book of James, talks about the process of growing in spiritual maturity in James 1:1-5. He tells us that anybody who seeks wisdom should simply ask God for it, and God will give it generously to anyone who asks.

Growing in spiritual wisdom happens when we use our knowledge of God, the world, and ourselves, to make right decisions about how we should act, live, and talk as Christians. It’s as we get to know God better that we grow in His wisdom and are equipped with the knowledge we need to live abundant lives that honor Him. In this way, wisdom comes from our relationship with God.

Nobody needs to lack wisdom because God offers it freely through a relationship with Him. As we seek Him and His wisdom, He gives us opportunities to practice it and grow in our trust in Him. And as we trust Him with our choices, we begin to see wisdom flourish in our lives.

So what will you do to cultivate wisdom in your life? The first step is to ask God for help. When you humbly come to God and admit your need for Him, He will generously give you all the wisdom you need.

My Thoughts

Growing up, I cultivated a lot of knowledge. This was mostly due to a demanding mother who insisted that I had a higher than average IQ (she had each of us tested) so she demanded absolute perfection from me. A “B” on a test brought severe consequences, so I quickly learned to apply myself to receive all “A’s” at the expense of friendships and acceptance by my peers. They came to me for help with school work but not real relationships. Coupled with my health problems with asthma, I was mostly a lonely child. Attending college didn’t help a lot since I was still mostly a loner, but I applied myself to do well there, too. Getting a “C” in my first math class there almost destroyed me, but I persevered and accepted that I was not as smart in all subjects as my mom insisted I was. When I was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa my senior year, I was understandably proud but also bewildered about how I got there, since it was supposed to be an organization for well-rounded students and all I did well was study. Or at least that is what I thought of myself. Looking back, I realize that in my quest to do well in college, I had taken on jobs, leadership positions (a junior counselor to freshmen and the president of the Spanish House among others) but I didn’t consider them activities but responsibilities to help others. Anyway, I graduated from college and went on to become a teacher.

It was in my first year away from home in a small apartment in Smithfield, Virginia, that I encountered someone who told me all about Jesus. I became a Christian and started seeking more than knowledge. I wanted wisdom from God and found it in His Word and in talking with other like-minded believers.

I discovered that wisdom is God’s gift to help us know when to speak, when to be silent, what to say in various situations and to always be aware that we are representing God. That is a very simplistic definition but it is one that I have tried to cultivate. Wisdom has helped me to deal with a non-believing family member who scoffs at my beliefs, particularly since I have had multiple health issues. How can a God who loves me watch me have a debilitating stroke or struggle to breathe with my asthmatic condition? My reply comes from the wisdom of knowing and walking with God. He didn’t cause my problems but He does walk with me through them. Wisdom urges me to be silent when I see others struggling with the responsibility of a special needs child. My book knowledge says that there is a better way, but my wisdom says to pray and be silent and let God show them the way. You see, wisdom is not always the loudest voice. In fact, it is rarely accompanied by trumpets sounding and the announcement that I alone have all the answers. Rather, it is a still small voice speaking in my ear and telling me what to say, when to say it or just to be quiet because God is handling things and doesn’t need my help.

For Such A Time as This

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Finding Your Purpose (YouVersion Daily Refresh)

The story of Esther is a powerful testimony within the Scriptures. It tells about Esther who risked her life in order to save the people of God from danger. Esther faced the decision between what was easy and what was difficult, and she chose the more difficult way because it was the right thing to do.

Esther 4:14 points out that Esther’s purpose in life was tied to this very moment. She was crafted and shaped by God in order to fulfill His purposes in her generation. She was placed in this unique situation by God.

While most of us might not be servants in the house of a king or queen, we all have difficult decisions to make in life. Every day we are faced with situations that have easy answers, and some that are difficult.

The story of Esther teaches us that God has gifted each of us for a specific purpose. Even though the journey isn’t always easy, God promises to be with us as we follow the path He’s called us to.

Additionally, Esther did not accomplish her purpose alone. She had the support of her community fasting and praying for her. Similarly, we cannot make it through life alone. We need the support of our community praying for us. And they need us in their lives as well.

Take some time today to think about your own story. How is it similar to Esther’s? Consider the unique purpose that God has created you for. Pray to Him for strength to make the right decision in life, and to persevere in following where He leads.

My Thoughts

God has been speaking to me a lot lately through His Word about His purpose for me and whether I am fulfilling it or not. I sincerely want to follow the path God has laid out for me, but I am very aware that sometimes I have strayed and not done as the Holy Spirit was directing me. I am trying to get better, but I am not there yet.

The book of Esther is a story of courage, but as has been pointed out to me in every devotional and in my own reading, the Jewish people at that time were far from God. The times were dangerous and they were facing extinction. Yet there is no prayer in the book, no mention of God’s name. Esther does ask the community to fast, but that seems to be out of desperation, and I hope, her faith, but that is not mentioned.

I need the courage of Esther when I venture into the sinful world today. Seemingly innocent things like a new Snow White movie are actually sin in disguise, roping in innocent children to believe in a society that is not part of God’s plan. I haven’t really been going into the world a lot lately since I have been really ill for a couple of weeks now. I did go to my specialist yesterday, and the receptionist got a little snippy with me. You know the type…just put on a mask since you’re coughing and answer my questions even though you cannot breathe well. I said a silent prayer for strength and did the best I could. I am thankful that I did not reply with snark, my usual response especially when I am not feeling well. But the Spirit checked me and I tried to be kind and polite in spite of her somewhat unreasonable and curt demands. Where do doctor’s offices find these people who don’t really like sick people anyway? The result of my visit was six new prescriptions for a lingering infection and a visit next week to start injections of a biologic that is supposed to help me fight infections before they get such a firm grasp.

Back to Esther. Esther depended on her community to support her. We each need to have a community of supporters. I have a small group from church that contacts me when I am sick, checks on me and my husband and generally helps when we need it. I have a friend in my online Bible study. We meet online, but we have met in person as well. She contacted me yesterday because she said I had been on her mind and she felt she needed to check on me. I updated her on my health issues and we both felt better for being a part of each other’s lives. My “go-to” person when I need prayer is our daughter in Pennsylvania. She drops whatever she is doing and prays and will even drive the nine hours to get to us if she knows we need her. So, who is your community of believers that you can call on in all circumstances, those with whom you can be brutally honest about how you feel and what you are going through? I encourage you to find someone and form a mutually beneficial friendship with each other and with God. Just as Heather knew without my contacting her that I needed prayer, your relationship with another Bible-believing Christian opens the door for the Holy Spirit to keep those lines of communication open.

Whatever time we are born into is the time God meant for us to be present. He put me here in the 1950’s until now for a reason. Every day, my prayer is that in some way I can represent Him well. Times are sinful, non-believers are angry. But that has not changed since the time of Esther or the time of Jesus. Be present. Be mindful of each day that God gives you to carry out His purpose. That is how you will one day hear, “Well done!”