Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

Giving Thanks Is a Decision

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/23192/day/3

We make a lot of choices everyday, some of which are automatic and others require thinking about it for a while. The choice to be thankful should be automatic, but I must confess that some days, I struggle to show my thanks to God. Maybe things aren’t going the way I think they should or my world is a little topsy-turvy. Whatever is happening in the circumstances of my life is not a good reason to ignore all God has done and is still doing in my life and to take time to be grateful to Him for everything. This devotional is thought-provoking in that it says we can hinder God in acting on our behalf by our failure to be thankful. I will have to ponder that for a while. God will still continue with His plan, but I may not be as active a participant as I should be because I failed to be thankful. I want to be all in for God and His plans for me regardless of outward circumstances. The circumstances will change (it just happens as part of life) but only I can make the choice to thank God in the midst of them and be grateful that I have a life to be thankful for.

Falling Apart of Falling into Place

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44313/day/2

Perspective, perspective, perspective. How you look at things is how you approach them to try to solve them. A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to see a Christian movie in town and as we were leaving the theater complex, we had to stop at a red light. Looking across the way, my husband got very concerned because there was a caravan of emergency vehicles, lights flashing and totally stopped. I saw the same thing my husband did, but with a different perspective. I could see that the vehicles were stopped on the right shoulder of the road. To my husband, who has cataracts and really needs surgery that he refuses go get, the fire truck, which was the vehicle in front of all the others, was totally blocking our lane. I assured him that was not the case and he would see that when he actually turned and could get a better perspective. He argued with me a minute or so, but when he turned, he got quiet because I was right. I saw things the way they actually were, not the way I feared they would be.

Sometimes, I am like my husband when I am approach problems or challenges of any kind. I see them as totally blocking my path instead of actually not being in the path at all. I know that God can change circumstances, but I don’t really expect that to be the norm in my life. My perspective is one of independence and planning a solution myself instead of leaning into God, especially for the big things. I know that I really need to have a God’s-eye view of the situation and, using His perspective, I can see things more clearly and have a better idea of how He wants me to approach things. I can’t sit at the red light forever waiting for the big truck that isn’t even in my way to move. I have to move first and then I will see things more clearly and with the vision of how things really are. Trust means stepping out and having your perspective get clearer as you move closer to God.

Growing Trust

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44313/day/1

“Trust” is my faith word for the year and I had an inkling when I prayed about it and chose it that this would lead to some testing. Well, of course, it has, but that is okay, because it has also led to my pressing in closer to God and being more willing to wait for Him and to listen for His voice. Trust isn’t an easy thing for me, but I am learning what it means to trust and planting seeds of trust along my journey of life’s challenging and bumpy road.

Be Thankful

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

In the days of waiting for test results, surgery, more results and appointments, I have to confess that the peace that I needed to feel just weren’t present. When I talked to Isaac last night, that peace finally burst forth…like I was holding my breath and I was finally able to exhale.

Isaac saw the oncologist yesterday and I think his final decision is to have testing every two months, although he has until mid-May to give the oncologist his decision about preventative chemotherapy. I am not feeling peace about his decision necessarily, but I am feeling peace that this chapter seems to be coming to a close and he is moving to the next one.

Prayers are appreciated for wisdom for him to make the decision best for his life and health and for him to have a closer relationship to God. This experience seems to have embittered him and that breaks my heart, but God knows his heart and I am at rest knowing that God will continue to work with Isaac and meet him right where he is.

Relying on God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/24

How often do we pray, wait impatiently for a few days for an answer and then seek our own solution? I have read the story of the Israelites looking for help in Egypt many times, but this is the first time that I applied it to my own life. I want God to work in my life, but then I try to help Him out or prod Him to use the solution that I have already worked out in my own mind. I need to rely on God, step back and just be willing to wait. When I do wait, the answer is always exactly what I need even though it may lead me in an unexpected direction. Trusting that God wants and knows what is best for me is hard because I am a controlling type personality. But leaning on God takes the pressure off of me and allows me to see His awesome love for me and His power at work on my behalf.

Steadfastly Clinging to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/23

This devotional really spoke to me about not being wrapped up in circumstances but rather clinging to the hope that we find in God. Yesterday was a tense day around our house since we knew Isaac was seeing his specialist and getting his test results back. Our son Scott called as soon as Isaac was done at the doctor’s office and we were all on speaker discussing what the doctor had said.

First, the good news. Isaac’s CT scans and bloodwork were clear, showing no malignancy currently present. So, there was rejoicing when we heard that.

The doctor presented three options for treatment because the cancer they removed is extremely aggressive. According to the doctor, this type of cancer most often attacks the abdomen and all of the organs there. The first option is testing every two months. Isaac will have to have bloodwork and or CT scans every two months, regardless of whether he chooses to do the other options or not. The second option is preventative chemotherapy. Of course, there are numerous side effects. Isaac plans to discuss this option with the oncologist when he sees him tomorrow. He is leaning towards just option one and hoping (praying) for the best outcome. The third option is very radical in that they would do surgery and remove his lymph nodes in his abdomen as well as part of his intestines, the area that they think the cancer would head for next. The doctor did not recommend that but he said that if what the cancer attacks is no longer there, it cannot survive, so it is an option. Isaac definitely does not want to do surgery again unless it is necessary. He is still suffering from being sore from the first surgery.

So, in the good news department, clear tests and more to follow. Apparently, this cancer does not just disappear as the doctors had originally reported. So, vigilance is key. Isaac will talk to the oncologist tomorrow and listen to his recommendations before he makes the final decision, but he is leaning towards just getting tested every two months and dealing with the cancer problem if it rears its ugly head again. I would prefer the preventative chemo, but that does interfere with his normal routine and I can understand why he doesn’t like that idea.

Isaac is handling this well, if a bit stoically. He is resigned to whatever comes next and needs a big faith boost. I would like to spend more time with him feeding him with the Word and prayer, but so far, he has no time or interest. His “why, me” attitude has not turned into bitterness, just a resignation that somehow he is under a dark cloud that he cannot escape. I should say here that Isaac had a tough childhood because his sister is non-verbal autistic and from the time he was six, Iris became the priority. So, this is another blow for him and I want to be able to reassure him that God loves him all the time, in all ways and that He didn’t send the cancer to punish or pick on him. Please pray that my husband and I get the time to share truth with Isaac and that God will open his heart to hear and accept it. He has always been curious about our faith, so I pray God will open the door and let us in to help him through this.

I appreciate all of the prayers so far; your love and caring have helped me to face each day’s new challenges. I will post what Isaac finds out from the oncologist and what he recommends once I know anything. I am not enjoying this journey, but I am so thankful that I am not taking it alone.

By the way, my son sent me a nice photo of Isaac in the doctor’s office, looking out the window and wearing his eclipse glasses. He got to see part of the eclipse anyway. And he is really looking forward to his trip to Austin the first week of May. I am happy that he has something to look forward to that will be fun for him. God is good, even when the situation stinks.

Think Good Thoughts

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/28752/day/1

In my younger days, I was known as an “Eeyore” type person. I looked at the positive but spoke about only the negative. I could see the positive clearly enough, but I just couldn’t seem to focus on it. God has dealt with me repeatedly about this tendency and I have worked diligently to overcome this weakness. I am here to report that God is helping me to see positive things in a new light and to focus more on them. Yes, Isaac has cancer, but the good news is that they found it early. He has good doctors who are on top of the situation. He is getting a lot of support from his parents, especially his dad. And he is focusing on his future and not what is happening to him right now. When we look at bad situations and ask God specifically to show us something good in it, He comes through. It’s not because the situation is good (it isn’t) or everything is fine (not true), but it is because we know Who is in control, even of cancer. I once told Isaac my mantra for life: “Nothing will happen today that you and God cannot handle together.” These days, God seems to be testing me on my belief in this…I hope I will pass the test and be a good encourager for Isaac and his family.

The Battle Belongs

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26710/day/3

I have listened to this song repeatedly, letting the lyrics minister to my heart and soul as I cling to the hope and truth that it offers. We saw Isaac yesterday, but he wasn’t feeling too well so we didn’t get to talk to him much. He was silent, saying he was tired and just wanted to go back to sleep. I also talked to our son, his dad, while Isaac and my husband went to a nearby bookstore. Scott told me that Isaac got another blood test back without any malignant markers on it. So, praise God! He also told me that Isaac already has an oncology appointment scheduled for this Wednesday. Scott is hopeful that the news they receive from the scan tomorrow will allow them to cancel the oncology appointment. I am joining him in faith and hope. Finally, he told me that Isaac has to have a scan every three months for the next five years. I am approaching the whole thing with cautious optimism, knowing that this is not my battle, but God’s, and He loves Isaac more than I could ever conceive.

The last news Scott gave me is that Isaac has reservations to go to Austin, Texas, for a gaming conference on May 7th. I asked what if the doctor advise that he not go because he needs to be here. Scott said, with a stern face of a daddy-warrior, that Isaac deserves some fun and should be allowed to take a few days off to attend something he has looked forward to all year, especially since he doesn’t get to see the eclipse as he had planned. Isaac is excited about the prospect of traveling to a new place, meeting new people who share his interest in video games and getting away from the medical reality of his life for four days. And I am content, knowing that God will go with him.