Category: promises

A Difficult Season of Life

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Walking Through Trials (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-14-25)

Let’s start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds.

In a letter from James to first-century believers, James informs them about the various trials that they will experience in life:

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 NIV

When we see trials as a means of becoming more like Jesus, then we’ll be blessed by them.

Maybe you can think back to a difficult season of life. Looking back, you might be able to point out how God refined you coming out of it. God is often at work behind the scenes deepening our character and enlarging our capacity, even when we don’t see it.

Maybe you’re going through one of those difficult seasons right now. Take this passage to heart! You can stand firm and persevere—knowing there is a promised reward in heaven. While rewards on this side of heaven are not promised, looking towards our final destination with Jesus gives us hope to endure the trials in the present.

If you’re walking through a difficult season of life, spend some time meditating on the promises of God. He promises to never abandon you or leave you, but to walk alongside you through trials. And at the end of the trial, you’ll be more like Christ.

Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness and love in your life.

My Thoughts

I will have to keep my thoughts brief today as we are getting ready to travel again, this time from PA to MD, on our way back to Virginia to attend the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. This has been a trial for me in that I don’t like traveling. But the reward has been in seeing the joy on the faces of our grandchildren as they receive that diploma that they have worked so hard for. So, there are some rewards on earth, just not the ultimate one that we are all looking forward to.

The part I put in bold from the devotional is what spoke to my heart today. Becoming more like Jesus should always be our goal. And enduring trials with that goal in mind makes them more palatable if not welcome. No one enjoys going through trials, but they are part of life here on earth and each trial can be considered a preparation for the greater things to come. I think of the things I have been through and realize that I am a different person because of them, a stronger person in my faith because each trial has taught me to lean more on God and less on myself. No matter what you are going through, remember God isn’t leaving you there; rather, He is walking beside you through it.

A Rest Stop

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture3 Comments

As we prepared for our long trip to attend graduation ceremonies and to spend time with family, I knew that my husband was also planning where we could stop to rest. Per a medical directive and because of my single kidney, I can only travel three hours maximum without taking a break to walk around and use the facilities. So, our trips have included “mandatory” rest stops for the last five years or so. Those rest stops interrupt our journey but they also refresh us. Our bones creak and moan as we first get out of the car, but as we walk more, we get more limber and the pain we were feeling eases off. Rest stops restore our ability to function in the car and continue the trip.

We need rest stops in life, too. I think of church meeting as one such rest stop. The majority of the time, it is the Sunday service . But it also includes Monday night Bible study, the monthly women’s fellowship meetings and the annual gathering of women from several different area churches. All of these provide nourishment for my soul and a break from the routines and challenges of daily life. We get to encourage other believers just as they encourage us.

Another rest stop in life is the daily devotional that should be a joyful habit. Each day, once I have finished my morning meds and ablutions, I head to my chair and open my Bible for my time with God. Sometimes, I hear a chorus or hymn in my head and search it out online to remind myself of the word and to enjoy the worship time. Sometimes, I look out the window at the flowers and birds as I offer praise to God and reflect on His goodness. Every day with God is a rest stop in my life, a much needed respite from the demands of the day and a time to get closer to the Creator who wants to get closer to me.

I hope each of you has a rest stop every day of your life. Our bodies need more than food and sleep. Our souls crave time with God and it should be our priority time, not our leftovers. That isn’t to say you must do your devotional first thing in the morning. You should pick a time that works for you and schedule it, just as you schedule medical appointments. You keep those appointments because you know how important it is for the doctors to check you regularly. Keeping a daily appointment with God is important for you to get a check up with God. He already knows how you are doing, but He wants you to know that He cares and is there for you whenever you need Him. Establishing time with Him daily builds that very important relationship with Him. I have found that first thing in the morning each day works for me. If I wait later, my husband is up and about and talking to me so I can’t focus on God alone. The evening doesn’t work for me because I get tired and tend to fall asleep instead of pray. So, early A.M works for me. I encourage you to find a time that works for you, but don’t be legalistic about it and get into a tailspin because you miss your time one day. Just keep plugging along and spending time with God. He will be there whenever you show up, ready to listen and love. Take a rest stop with God and allow Him to restore your soul and refresh you.

God Will Finish It

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

He Started It (YouVersion Daily Refresh, 5-02-25)

When the Apostle Paul was locked in a Roman prison for telling people about Jesus, he sent a letter of hope to his friends back in Philippi. A portion of it said:

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Though Paul was writing to specific people in the first-century Church, his words are just as true for the global Church today. 

Think about it: Who started this thing we call life? Who made this world and everything in it? Who fine-tuned the universe to actually make sense? Who put you here—at this specific time in history? Who handcrafted your body, your mind, your strengths, and your unique-to-you personality? Who began this good work?

Before you were ever born, God already had you in mind. Before you could even walk or talk or have dreams for yourself, God already had a plan. Before you knew to look to Him or to follow Him or to worship Him, God was already at work—in you, around you, and through you. 

Sometimes it feels like we’re just wasting time and taking up space, without real purpose. But—it turns out—God is intentional and He makes no mistakes. To top it off…

God always finishes what He starts. 

The story isn’t over. When Christ returns once and for all, the work of God through His people will finally be complete.

Until then, let’s commit to God’s good work inside of us. 
Let’s magnify Him in everything we do. 
Let’s believe that He’ll finish what He has begun.

My Thoughts

I like to finish what I start and I generally have good intentions to do so. But sometimes, I am thwarted by others or I just drop the ball myself, losing interest in the project. For many years, I had an unfinished crochet blanket in my closet. I had started it when my son’s wife was pregnant and then I never finished it. It was a nice color and had a nice pattern, and I did enjoy crocheting. As the years passed and I still saw the unfinished blanket in the closet, I tried several times to finish it, but I had lost two things: 1)the ability since my arthritis was painful in my hands and 2)the knowledge since I had forgotten how to crochet the stitches as well as the pattern I was working on. I had lost my motivation to complete the project. My intentions were good, but my follow through was lacking.

I am thankful that God does not have that problem. He starts something and sees it all the way to completion. He is our Creator and His love for us is perfect, not wavering and distracted. Thus, He can be trusted to bring us to the finish line. That truth motivates me to stick with God and to keep trying. I may fall and fail but I know that if I pick myself up and truly repent, God is right there helping me to get back on the right track again. He doesn’t just say, “That’s it! I am done with you. You’re on your own now!” I think many people have had that experience in life with other people and that makes it hard for them to trust God. But God does not lie and He does not quit. He keeps working, molding, shaping, whispering words of encouragement to us. I don’t always see what God is doing or the plan that He has for me, but I know that whatever the end result is will be a good one and the one that is perfect for me. It’s all a matter of believing God’s Word and it says He will finish what He started. I believe that and I hope you do, too.

Greater Is He…

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

As I sit and write this post, I have been watching the VE Day Celebration in Great Britain on BBC. That is not usually what I do in the mornings, but my husband arose at o’dark thirty and left the TV on and I was drawn into the pomp happening on the screen. I watched the king salute the troops, I watched Kate and Prince William and their family greeting people. Mostly I watched faces. People looked happy and perhaps grateful to be there. Eighty years since this big war was over and the evil Nazi empire was stopped.

It has been over two thousand years since our victory was won and yet many of us (including me) still go around with long faces some days, looking as though we have lost or are about to lose everything. But the victory was ours the minute that Jesus said, “It is finished” and we accepted Him as Lord and Savior. The battle was for our souls, our future with God and we won because Jesus fought for us with His life!

Unfortunately, the battle for our minds continues as Satan wants nothing less than to come between us and God. He wants to convince us that he is more powerful than God and that there is nothing we can do about it. Here is a portion of my devotional from the YouVersion Daily Refresh on May 5th:

Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. To pervert, manipulate, and confuse, distract, divide, and disable. 

But God is greater than the doubts that clutter your mind, the enemies that frustrate your plans, the heart-wrenching and even soul-crushing situation that’s currently consuming your thoughts. 

You can fight from a place of victory because the battle has already been won. 

Jesus has already conquered death. And now, while we wait for others to come to salvation and for God to bring all things to completion under Christ’s authority, we can fight with a confident hope.

Knowing that God is greater should give us peace in our hearts and help us to be ready to win the battles here on earth. They are small skirmishes compared to what Jesus had to go through, although to us they may seem like the great battles of WWII. We need to keep a perspective that God is greater and that we can and will get through to the other side. Years of testimonials to this truth help to assuage the doubts and fears; we just have to remind ourselves of our relationship with God and that He is always faithful.

I found this graphic online and I thought it was cute as well as appropriate. I hope you get a chuckle from it and also remember what it says when you face the next challenge. I don’t want to discourage you, but the challenges will come in this life. It’s our response that makes the difference for us!

Victory in Jesus

We Are His

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture4 Comments

Do Not Fear (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, 05-04-25)

In Isaiah 43:1, God speaks to His people with a message of hope and encouragement: 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” 

These words are not just a reassurance—they are a reminder of who we are, and whose we are.

God is both our Creator and Redeemer. He is the one who formed us, knitting us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), and He is the one who redeemed us, bringing us back into relationship with Himself through Jesus. 

We can rest in peace and confidence knowing are not forgotten or abandoned, but intimately known and cared for by the God of the universe.

When God says, “Do not fear,” He is not ignoring the challenges you face. He is acknowledging the reality of fear and offering comfort in His presence. Fear often arises from feeling alone or uncertain, but God’s promise is clear: He has called us by name, and we belong to Him. We are His, no matter what we face.

Whether you are walking through a season of uncertainty, facing personal challenges, or carrying burdens that weigh heavy on your heart, this verse invites you to rest in the truth that you are redeemed, known, and loved. 

God’s call on your life is unshakeable. Today, stand in that assurance and walk forward with courage, knowing you are never alone and always held in His loving care.

My Thoughts

What a great follow up devotional from the previous one about worrying! My greatest takeaway is that God doesn’t say there is no fear. He acknowledges that fear exists, it’s real, but we can overcome it by realizing that He knows who we are and what we fear. We can be courageous in whatever we face because we don’t face anything alone.

As we prepare for our long trip, I am thankful that God continues to reach out to me with assurance that no matter what happens, He will be there. I am not confident in my body being strong or our car being reliable. But I am confident that God is able and He will love me through this adventure that has me tied up in knots. I am trying to focus on positives, the pleasure of seeing grandchildren graduate and visiting with family. I am working on thinking on the good things just as God encourages me to do in His Word. I appreciate your prayers as I fight this battle with my mind.

May God bless and keep you.

The Truth about Sleep

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture4 Comments

I have found that as I am aging, I am becoming less likely to sleep. I awaken early in the morning, may or may not take a short nap and then stay up until around midnight. This has been my new schedule for months now. Prior to that, I was rising early (about six) and going to bed by nine or ten. That is a much better choice for me, I think, but insomnia has become an issue. Thus I have sought out scripture verses about sleep.

This verse tells me that sleep is a gift from God that I have to accept and be thankful for. So when I sleep more than a few hours, I am very grateful to God for His love and His gift of sleep.

I have never been one who has a lot of bad dreams that keep me awake. Rather, it is my mind that won’t shout off, thinking of all I need to do to prepare for whatever is coming into my life soon. This verse tells me not to be so concerned about tomorrow and its problems, but just to lie down and get some sweet sleep.

I am grateful every morning that I awaken to a new day with new possibilities. There are few nights that I don’t get up at least once during the night to head to the bathroom, but even when that happens, this week, I have been able to go right back to sleep instead of the usual tossing and turning. God sustains me all night long, and He gives me songs in my mind to comfort me and scripture verses like this one to remind me of His constant presence in my life.

We all have very busy lives and need to rest as much as we can. A normal night’s sleep for me is 5-6 hours. If I sleep less than that, I need a nap sometime during the day and usually rest for about an hour, depending on how tired I am and how cooperative my cat is. I am envious sometimes of my husband who sleeps 8-10 hours every night. He goes to bed late but he doesn’t get up until noon or after. That works well for me because it gives me the quiet time I need every morning with the Lord.

If you are having difficulty sleeping, I don’t have a solution but I have the answer. Pray, recite verses, sing quietly to yourself or just say the words to a favorite song to yourself. Counting sheep doesn’t work for me, but counting blessings and reminding myself that sleep is a gift from God does.

Who Is an Evangelist?

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture3 Comments

The simple answer to this question is that we all are. Some are more vocal than others and some have evangelism as their profession, but we have all been called to be evangelists, to share the good news about Jesus.

In the devotional this morning that I read about evangelism, I chuckled when the speaker in the video reminded us that we don’t plant seeds and then stand and yell at them to grow. Our responsibility is just to plant the seeds and that can look like a lot of different things.

We can encourage someone when they need a pat on the shoulder, a hug or a kind word. Speaking of kindness, we should always be kind to others no matter what kind of day we are having or the mood we are in. There is never an excuse for rudeness. In today’s world of selfishness and entitlement, it is evident that rudeness seems to be prevalent. That is why Christians can stand out and consistently offer kindness as our banner, not demands. And, of course, we can share our testimony with others about the difference Christ has made in our lives.

The last one is the hardest one for me because of my introverted nature. But I know that if I have established a relationship with another person, then it is easier for me to talk to them about my past, where I came from and how my life changed. I think one of the keys of a good evangelist is establishing relationships, not just preaching the gospel and expecting people to take your word for it.

Regardless of how we do the job that Jesus tasked us to do while we wait for His return, we are not in this alone. Evangelism is a team effort. We are the seed sowers while others who come behind us may be the ones who water or give nutrients to the new plant. We do what we feel the Spirit prodding us to do and then let God take over. That relieves us of the burden of thinking that is all on us…it isn’t and God’s Word tells us that.

Our purpose in evangelism is not so that others can see us and offer us any kind of recognition. Rather, it is to just go and tell. We tell with encouragement, kindness and our testimony. We tell with words from God’s Word. God will bring the growth but the seeds have to be planted first and that is our responsibility.

My Status

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony2 Comments

First of all, let’s define “status.” According to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, status is: “position or rank in relation to others or relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige especially : high prestige.” Kind of wordy, but it does say what status is. First, let’s talk about it in relationship to others.

In today’s world of never having enough, people tend to equate their well-being, their status, if you will, with the number of material things that they have and the quality of those things. It’s good to have a nice house, but a big, nice house is better, for example. It’s great to have a nice car, but an expensive car with all of the newest bells and whistles is better. Status is elusive and changes quickly, depending on your social circumstances. I know this from experience because I grew up in a home that was considered upper middle class and my family was considered well-to-do. Not wealthy, but respected for all of the things we had, like a Cadillac in the driveway and a pool in the backyard. Then came the devastation of my family losing everything. There went their long-standing status in the community, in less time than it takes to read this blog post!

The second definition for status is rank or prestige. That is not so different from the first definition, but I think it also deals with how you see yourself in society. The lepers in the Bible were outcasts, so their status in society was the lowest of the low, yet they still called out to Jesus to be healed. They knew that they were unworthy, but they knew to whom they could appeal. India still has a caste system and the status that you are born into is one that you will have your entire life. While we in the U.S. gasp at such a concept as not being able to improve your status, we have the same general concept. A Rockefeller family member is automatically accorded more respect and gets the best tables at the best restaurants like it’s part of the benefits of having that name. The Smiths, however, are not treated so royally. In fact, the working class Americans generally remain in that working class for a lifetime. On the other hand, one of the great things about being in the U.S. is that one can work hard, get a better education and move from one “class” to another. Nevertheless, we are still a nation of “haves” and “have nots.” I am sure that we can all agree that some are privileged and some are impoverished and sometimes it is a case of birth family and circumstances, not choices.

Now, back to status and the real purpose of this post today. I used to be upper middle class. Now, I am lower middle class and not bothered by my drop in rank in society. That is because my status is not dependent on what the world says I am or thinks about me. I must confess that once I was into titles and status and wanted to succeed and be recognized as worthy of honor and respect. I earned some titles and awards as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. But nothing that I have ever won can compare to what I am now.

I am a DK, a Daughter of the King. I can rest fully secure in my Father’s love, knowing that will not change because He does not change. My position in the family of God is not dependent on anything I do but on all that Jesus already did. That gives me peace as well as rest from competition with others. God puts all of us on an even plane; we are all sinners saved by grace. The wealthy cannot buy their way into heaven and the poor cannot beg their way in. There is only one way, one door to get to spend eternity with God and that is through His Son Jesus. So, I have given up on the FFV (First Families of Virginia), the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and OWC (Officers’ Wives’ Club). I have traded that illusory status for one that is everlasting, a a child of God and there I remain, in my little house in the big woods, driving an older car and not really caring that I don’t have all the things.

Death is a thief that takes all you have accumulated and gives it to someone else. Wealth doesn’t endure, but hope in a future with God does.

This verse says clearly what our priorities need to be and it is not in gathering things so that we look better to others. That is not to say that all people who have nice things are wicked, just that having nice things won’t get you out of death and into heaven.

This is a promise that we who confess Jesus as Lord can firmly grasp and count on. No matter how others view my status, God only sees whether I have been made clean by the blood of His Son and accepts me just the way I am.

Just As I Am-Brothers of the Heart

The Truth-Megan Woods

My Monday Minute

On By vickleaIn Heaven, promises, Scripture1 Comment

I have been up for over two hours and I am just now getting around to my devotionals. Why is that, you may ask? The reason is that I have six or seven books releasing in the next ten days and I was busy promoting them online. Now, to start my real day…

I awakened in the wee hours of the morning with a deep pain in my chest and a fear about a heart attack. Since I have multiple health problems and see a cardiologist regularly, I did not awaken my slumbering spouse. Rather, I prayed and did some deep breathing, relaxed and fell back to sleep. But the pain was my wake up call that we all die and leave these bodies behind. When I got up and read the headline that the Pope had died, I was reminded of what the Lord had told me as I suffered through the anxiety of pain in my chest. We all die…even the head of the Catholic Church is not exempt from the end of life here on earth.

But…good news awaited me in my devotional today! When I die, as we all must some day, I will not be left in the “realm of the dead.” My soul, the real part of me that relates to God and will continue to live, will never decay. This body is a tent, a temporary dwelling place for my soul until God calls me home. And so is your body and the body of anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior.

So, that’s my Monday minute. Have a blessed week and enjoy the weather wherever you are and whatever it is doing. God made today for us to live, laugh and love others.

Grief to Sorrow

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture3 Comments

The world cannot understand the attitude of Christians when someone dies. It is our belief that death is not the end of life but a new beginning, so we mourn the fact that our dear one is no longer with us, but we celebrate their new life with the Lord if they were believers. I can only imagine the devastation of the disciples when Jesus was crucified. We have the Bible to read and encourage us, including the testimony in the New Testament of all who saw the Savior alive again after the Resurrection. They had to truly believe without any evidence except their wholehearted faith in who Jesus was and all of the miracles that they had seen Him perform. I think it would have been an especially difficult time, filled with fear and doubt and a feeling of “now what.” Three days later came the rejoicing, but what a tumultuous three days those must have been, with emotions churning and fear attacking constantly.

No matter what face in life and in death, there is always hope. Jesus made sure that we knew that when He encouraged us that our grief would become joy. In the Old Testament, there are passages that say our mourning turns to dancing and our sorrow turns to singing. How can we do anything less than worship when our eternity is secure because of the sacrifice of the Lord?

I like this graphic that I found online. It perfectly describes what death should be to each of us. Yes, we mourn, but as Paul said, we don’t mourn as the world mourns because we know death is a new beginning, not a complete ending. I don’t know what Heaven is like or the experience of death, but I do trust the Father to be with me when I die and that He has prepared a place for me to be with Him. After all, He promised and He always keeps His promises. (Numbers 23:19)

So, if you are going through a period of grief this Saturday before Easter, remember that the Lord promised that joy is coming. I have found since the years that I lost various loved ones and my best friend to that enemy called death, I can look forward to a day of total joy when I am reunited with them and never have to say “good-bye” again.