Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

God’s Promises

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

One of the things that keeps me going on the really hard days is reviewing the promises of God and reminding myself that He always keeps His promises.

As a person who has always been afraid of being in total darkness, this promise means a lot to me. I won’t need the sun or moon because God will be an everlasting life for all of us. No more darkness, ever!

With all of the medical tests I have had to undergo and facing more to come, this scripture verse has been my mantra. I am not facing any of this alone. God is right there with me and if the tests show results that are not good, then I know that God is still holding me up and will continue to do so until He calls me to come home to Him.

Sometimes I feel like a pellet from a BB gun. The gun may be aimed at the target, but somehow, some of those pellets go every way except where you want them to go. I keep in mind that God has perfect aim, is pointing me just where He wants me and if I will just be still, I will get there. Fretting doesn’t work nor do sleepless nights. In fact, God’s peace allows me to sleep in the midst of all of this chaos of doctor visits. I have concluded that I should sleep because God “has the watch” all night, every night.

What are some promises that speak to you in a special way? Feel free to share them in the comments. I look forward to reading them!

God Is Worthy

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

He is Worthy (Daily Refresh, 7-26)

We have a powerful Creator, but it’s easy to forget how magnificent He is. We live in a world filled with His miracles, but it’s common to become desensitized to the wonder of it all.

God created something from nothing—speaking life, meaning, and purpose into existence. He’s the author of everything. He is worthy of our worship.

Whales roam the seas, bears scavenge the mountaintops, fireflies light up the countryside. People explore the world, build skyscrapers, cook meals, develop languages, and form complex relationships—with God and with each other.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11 NIV

“All things,” as the verse says, includes everything we can see and even the things we can’t—both the visible and invisible. “All things” also includes you. 

You were intentionally and uniquely designed by God. You were put on this planet on purpose, at this specific time in history. You have been empowered to shine and share His love, in a distinct and special way that’s completely unique to you.

So take a moment to recognize… God made you and He loves you. He is worthy of your praise.

My Thoughts

I sit in my recliner each morning for my devotions and as I look out the window next to me, I can see some of the wonderful things that God has created for us to enjoy. The roses and other flowers, the hummingbirds, the goldfinches, the sky, the trees, even the annoying little squirrels. Then, I look around the room where I am sitting. There are digital frames that show me pictures of loved ones, the ones I cherish and want to see more frequently. I am so thankful for each of them. I look around more and see gifts from those loved ones. A photograph of my son’s hand on a chess board. A wooden craft our granddaughter painted for me. All made by their ability to create and imagine, an ability that God gave to each of us. As I type this post, I am grateful for each of you and the positive words and encouragement you speak into my life. God created each of us for a purpose. I am here in 2026 and that was part of God’s plan for me. I am thankful for each moment, each day, each hour I have to spend time with those I love and doing the things that God made for me to enjoy. Let us always remember that He is worthy and He who is worthy loves us.

Speaking Life

On By vickleaIn Scripture7 Comments

Words have meaning and can impart life or death to others. In my devotional today, I was encouraged to think about the words Jesus spoke and how careful He was to say just what needed to be said. He spoke to a fig tree and it died. He spoke to a blind man and he was able to see. Jesus spoke what was needed, not what He was possibly thinking.

I have a tendency to spew out what I am thinking and then to apologize later. I can usually do that without serious repercussions. But if Jesus cursed the sun and the moon, parts of the creation that He participated in, would they have disappeared never to shine again? If he told the people to go away, that He was tired of dealing with them, would they simply vanish? Jesus knew that His words carried authority and power so He spoke wisely and with discernment.

We need to remember that our words have power, also. As followers of Jesus, we need to be careful what we say and to whom we say it. We are constantly sowing seeds of life or weeds of death. Jesus didn’t speak without hearing from the Father what He should be saying. That’s a good reason for us to pause before we speak, say a little prayer and then speak what the Holy Spirit prods us to say. I need to work on this…how about you?

Cleaning Closets

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

One of the chores that I really despise is cleaning out the closets, especially my own. I know that I have clothes in there that I haven’t worn since I retired from teaching nine years ago. Yet, the clothes are still there, taking up space, just like the shoes and the too-many blankets, and the crafts I started and never finished.

When I think about having to clean out the closet, I get tired before I even start working on the task. Just the thought of all of that clutter seems insurmountable.

As I considered the whole closet cleaning scenario, which is way overdue, Jesus reminded me that He is keeping my spiritual house in order. He nudges me with the Holy Spirit to take care of something and I generally do (although I confess sometimes it takes more than one nudge before I act). He wants me to get rid of the things that are not helping me to grow and to replace them with His fruits that feed others. So, the Lord Himself helps me keep the closet of my life clean. Sometimes, I think something is hidden away and the Lord has missed seeing it. Not true! Not only does He see everything, He is gently working to remove it from its glued-in-place position in my life. We all think that we have plenty of room in our lives for everything we want to cram in. But what we need to do and what Jesus encourages is prioritizing and setting boundaries and limits. Getting rid of things we don’t use anymore is just like cleaning out the closet in the bedroom. Once it is done, I have room for things that I didn’t even know that I needed.

Because Jesus cares for us, He doesn’t want us to deal with the worries of the day. He cleans them out for us, if we will let Him. Then He replaces those worries with faith-filled promises and a hope for a brighter future. Maybe those anxieties are taking up too much room in the closet of your mind…so time to let Jesus clean them out and leave more space for His love and His plans for you.

Making Plans and Holding Them Loosely

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Planning Ahead (Daily Refresh, 7-19-26)

Think about your upcoming plans for the day, week, year, and beyond.

Maybe you want to start a business.
Maybe you want to raise a family.
Maybe you want to write a book.
Maybe you want to travel the world.
Maybe you want to start a ministry.
Maybe you want to volunteer in your city.
Maybe you want to plant a garden.
Maybe you want to pay off debt.

Scripture tells us …

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Making plans isn’t a bad thing. In fact, the Bible tells us that we will harvest what we plant (Galatians 6:7), so we should be diligent—not lazy—to wisely prepare for the future. But we must simultaneously hold those plans loosely, because God knows the full picture of our lives.

God is always working in and through His people, giving them the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). But sometimes, we require rerouting. Sometimes what we want isn’t in His plan.

But even when we don’t get what we’ve hoped for, He always has our good and His glory in mind. 

Jesus modeled how to surrender His own plans by literally giving His life up for us—for our freedom. And, even though it wasn’t easy, our lives and our futures look different because God’s purpose prevailed.

So today, make a list of some of your plans and dreams. Then hold your hands out in front of you, and visualize giving all of your dreams and plans over to God. Picture all of those plans evaporating from your hands. Then, ask God to show you which plans He wants to give back to you and if there are any new dreams He’s longing for you to receive.

My Thoughts

Like just about everyone, I make plans and then get deeply disappointed when they don’t happen. For example, I had plans to travel a lot this summer, so spend time with grandchildren and to visit other family members. But none of that has happened because of my ongoing health issues.

Even simple plans, like going to Sunday school and church on Sunday sometimes fall by the wayside because of things like asthma attacks and breathing treatments.

I am taking to heart the lesson this devotional to hold onto my plans loosely, giving them to God. Small plans, big plans, all plans are in His hands. Sometimes He will give them back to me when I give them freely to Him. Sometimes He has better plans that serve His greater plan and His glory, so I have to be willing to wait for that to unravel and for Him to reveal the better purpose to me.

It all boils down to trust. Do I trust God’s plans more than my own? I can honestly say that I am working on that but I haven’t arrived yet. I want to let go of my desire to control and God is teaching me every day that His way is better.