Category: promises

Paul’s Belief in Strength

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony1 Comment

Strength in Every Season

Philippians 4:13 is a popular Bible verse that you may have seen posted on signs, social media, stickers, or cars. Maybe you’ve heard someone recite this verse before a sporting event or while trying to accomplish a difficult task.

Unfortunately, this verse is often misunderstood. This verse is not saying that we can accomplish whatever we want. Paul isn’t talking about winning a sports game or having the courage to do something daring.

Instead, Paul is actually talking about his time in prison. He is referencing the power of God that was with him during this difficult time of ministry.

In Philippians 4:12 he talks about the power he has to live content in every situation in life. He learned how to live with abundance and with nothing. He learned to live with very little food and resources, and also with a lot of food and resources.

Paul found that regardless of his circumstances, God continued to supply him with the power to do the work of God. He never lacked the strength and resources to tell others about the good news of Jesus—even while he was stuck in a prison.

Paul could live in every season of life and accomplish all that God asked of him through the strength that God gave him.

So, instead of God giving us strength to do anything we want, He gives us the strength we need to endure various circumstances and accomplish the mission that He has given us. This means that you will never lack any resource to live a growing and godly life, or to share the good news of Jesus with others.

If you’re in a season of abundance or a season of lack, remember that God is the one who gives you the strength to endure every season. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, ask God to supply you with the strength that only He can give.

My Thoughts

I think I am like most people when I honestly admit that I have used this verse incorrectly, thinking it means only that God will give me the strength to finish a job or to face a challenge. Well, it does kind of mean that. But this devotional today opened my eyes to the fact that the real thing God wants us strengthened to do is His will. And what is His will? We are to fulfill the Great Commission to “go and tell.” As an introverted person, I have to depend on God’s strength to even approach the cashier’s station, much less talk to them about the Lord. God is showing me daily that He does not expect more of me than I can give, but He does have expectations for which He will give me strength to carry out. I don’t have to stand in front of a group of people and share my testimony, but I can pronounce a blessing on the clerk who helps me in the store and I can ask the waitress if she needs prayer for anything. Both of these may seem simple to you, but for me they are a lot since I prefer to avoid people rather than speak to anyone that I don’t know well. I am the one who used to spend a lot of time in the bathroom during social functions and came out only if I knew my husband would be ready to leave soon. I have missed so many opportunities to tell others about my faith and how they can have the same relationship with the Lord because I was depending on my own strength and boldness. I am so thankful to know that it’s not my strength but God’s and He will give me the words and the boldness when I need it.

I am not saying that I will change overnight. I know that I won’t. After all, I have spent over seventy years withdrawing from the world and only coming out when I needed to. But I will say that God is working on me and when I am out on errands, He is prodding me more to speak out and to speak up. Have you claimed the promise in this verse today? What does it mean to you?

God’s Presence

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony4 Comments

I lean into the presence of God when I am lonely, afraid, discouraged or just plain tired. At no time in my life’s journey has God ever forsaken me; rather, as I lean harder on Him, He becomes a stronger comfort for me.

I know I have said on this blog before that I have moved twenty-five times since our marriage almost fifty two years ago. What I did not tell you was how each move took a little bit of stability away from me. I had lived in one home for most of my life, from early childhood until I graduated from college. That hometown was all I knew and the familiar places were what spoke security to me. Then, when we got married, we began a series of moves, some harder than others and all of them challenging in their own way. God gave me a promise as I faced one move after another. Sometimes, we stayed in a place for a couple of years, sometimes only a year, and once or twice for as many as four years. The scripture that God spoke to my heart reassured me that the place was new, the people were new, but He would always be the same.

This is what God actually told the Israelites as they were getting ready to wander around in the wilderness on their way to the promised land. It is also what God told me as I once again packed boxes, suitcases and bags to prepare for another move. I was exhausted from taking care of the children, feeling almost like a single parent since everywhere we went, my husband was generally sent for some kind of training while I stayed in a new place with the children. God reassured me of His presence because I needed to know that I was not alone. When I had to move from a small apartment that was temporary while we waited for military housing, I was overwhelmed with all that I had to do. The apartment was furnished. The base housing was not. I was in a new place with few friends and no family except for a small child and one on the way. So, I did what I was comfortable doing and called the pastor of the church that I had been attending for the few months I had lived there. He got a group of people who rallied around found furniture for me and moved me into the new place on base. I don’t recall everything about that move, but I do remember the unselfishness and kindness of God’s people and the thought that God was indeed with me. When I gave birth alone in the naval hospital (my husband was on a ship floating around on the other side of the world), a neighbor took me to the hospital and took care of my daughter until my friend from church could come and take care of her. God’s presence is real and He sends His helpers to be there right on time.

I have clung to God’s promises for over five decades, through all of the moves, the fear and the loneliness and the feeling of being uprooted constantly. God has always been there for me. It was His presence that calmed me when I had a stroke and no one could get my husband to answer his phone. It was His presence that spoke peace to my heart when I was unable to speak and tell the doctors what was happening to me. I could not speak, but I could pray. And when Harry made it to the ER (he had been in the garden and didn’t hear his phone), it was God who spoke to both of us telling us that my best chance for survival was a clot-busting shot that could also kill me if it did not work. Peace, God’s assurance, hope, safety and security. All these years later, God’s Word has never failed me and His presence has gone with me to eleven different states and twenty-five different homes. He is my home. He is my rest. He is my everything.

Creation

On By vickleaIn promises, ScriptureLeave a comment

I believe what the Bible says about God’s creating everything. I am not a proponent of combining science and the Bible and coming up with new theories about how everything came to be. I just believe what God said. After all, He is the Creator and He was the only One there at the time, so I will take Him at His word.

Many like to refute the truth of the Old Testament, saying that it is no longer relevant so people need to only pay attention to what is in the New Testament. Really? ALL of God’s Word is relevant and necessary if we want to truly get to know Him. But for those who need verses from the New Testament that point to God as Creator, there are many.

Not only did God create everything to begin with, He puts the people in power who are on thrones or even in the Capitol building. It is hard for me to grasp that, but I think of it as, “God put them there for this season and He will be the One to remove them when that season is over.” We were created “through Him” but notice that we were also created “for Him.” We were created to have a relationship with God and it is to our detriment that we turn away and choose not to do so.

Scientists want to prove everything with things that they can explain with math formulas and experiments and observation. We Christians, however, know that understanding that God formed everything is by faith. We can’t experiment with faith or come up with a good math formula that replicates it. There are all kinds of physics laws, but one I remember from long ago is that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. I suppose that is true when man tries to create something from nothing or totally destroy something so that it no longer exists. But God created the laws of the Universe and He doesn’t have to operate within their boundaries. He created something from nothing and He can also totally destroy things so that they no longer exist. If you don’t believe me, read Genesis 1 and then turn to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. The towns were there and then they weren’t, due to their great sin. We can trust that God’s Word is always true and that He is in control of all that He has made. What we cannot trust is mankind’s idea of putting God in a box and commanding Him to stay there until they are ready to let Him out or need Him for something. God is not the genie in the bottle, ready to appear when we want Him to. He is always there, always looking, always listening, and ever waiting for us to accept Him as not only our Creator but also our Savior.

It amazes me that the God who made everything knew we would need a Savior and planned for Jesus and our redemption from the beginning. Read Genesis 3:15 and see the plan’s beginning. In this month in which we celebrate the Resurrection, we can also see the evidence of new life as flowers and trees bud and blossom. They are the visible representation of the new life that God has for us if we just accept it.

Creation was God’s plan. How did He do it? I don’t know and I don’t have to know because I have the faith to believe that He said it and that makes it true.

Real Peace

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, Song, testimony1 Comment

I never really understood what God’s peace means in my life until I started having one health problem after another. My natural tendency would be to rail against the unfairness of life and to give God a stern talking to about the fact that my life was not being blessed as He promised and I expected. The problem was that I was blessed, He kept His promises, but it was my expectations that were wrong.

This quotation from C.S. Lewis explains what I discovered is absolute truth. No matter how many problems I faced, I still had God on my side, in my corner, watching my back. All of those things and more! The circumstances didn’t change, but my attitude toward them did. What could be so wrong, you may ask? I was born with asthma, a single kidney that started failing about fifteen years ago and I had a massive stroke in 2015. So, in short, I have had and still have a lot of health problems, but there has not been a single problem that I have had that God has not helped me through it. He didn’t leave me floundering after the doctors pronounced their words of wisdom over me about my conditions. Rather, God comforted me and kept whispering to me that He was right there with me.

How do I find God’s peace in the middle of my tumultuous life? I spend time in God’s Word, daily, consistently and faithfully. His promises are there, including the ones about peace. I say them over and over until they go from my mind to my heart. Then, I accept that God is in control and move on to the next thing that I have to do, with my hand in His and my life submitted to Him.

Could I choose to be bitter and angry? Of course, because we all have that choice. Instead, I choose to be thankful for each day God gives me and each new thing He shows me in His Word. Some people look at the silver lining and proclaim loudly that they see a cloud. Rather, I look at the silver lining and I am thankful for it, no matter what may follow.

Yield means to let go, to slow down and be aware but you don’t just stop living. I have peace because I have chosen to yield to God. My number of days is in His hands. He is the One who gives me peace and He hasn’t let me down, even when I have disappointed Him with my initial reaction of rebellious demands.

I leave you with this old hymn that means a lot to me and I hope that you will listen and enjoy the lyrics and the meaning behind the words.

Peace Like a River-Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Have a blessed and peace-filled day!

God Rejoices

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, ScriptureLeave a comment

We have a lot of different kinds of celebrations during our lifetime. We celebrate birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. Each time there is a new celebration, we enjoy the food, the fellowship with others and the general well-being that we have. One of my morning routines is to review scripture verses that I am memorizing and this morning, my focus was on Zephaniah.

Zephaniah is a very short prophetic book but it has a strong message of repentance and turning back to God. According to Biblical scholars, Zephaniah was from the lineage of Hezekiah. If you recall this king’s story, he repented and God added years to his life. Zephaniah probably served as a prophet during the time of Josiah, a time when the people were repented after the reign of the wicked king Manasseh. The storyline of the Israelites seemed to be come to God and repent, turn from God and commit sins, then repeat. Their walk with God was not a steady and committed one, depending on who their king was and how closely they followed him.

This is one of my favorite verses in Zephaniah. Personalize it and it will mean even more to you. “The Lord MY God is with ME, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in ME; in His love, He will no longer rebuke ME, but will rejoice over Me with singing.” I am not one who likes correction, but I am happy that God loves me enough to correct me and set me back on the right path when I stray. If I stay on the right path, He doesn’t need to “rebuke” or correct me, so I need to make right choices to stay on the straight and narrow and keep my focus on following the Lord. The result is amazing! God rejoices over us with singing! Can you imagine the heavenly choir all together singing a song of rejoicing because we are making right choices and delighting the Lord in going the right way? God rejoices over His children who delight Him with right choices. He gives us the ability to choose, but then He steps back and leaves our final decision to follow or to go our own way up to us. And when we choose to follow, He rejoices. Such is the great love of the Father. He is a Mighty Warrior, but He is also our Creator, our Father who loves us so much that He breaks out into song when we do what is right.

This verse shows God’s love, His character and His steadfast presence in our lives. I know that when I make a wrong choice, I can pick myself up, ask God for forgiveness and move on, with Him right there with me, cheering me on to reach for the better way, the life with Him that I strive for daily.

Choose God…choose life…choose to have God rejoice over you!

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.

Jesus Never Changes

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App6 Comments

Devotional from Daily Refresh, YouVersion Bible App

Unchanging

In an ever-changing, always-moving, constantly-shifting world, we can count on the unchanging nature of God.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author of Hebrews said it like this:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

A title for the three distinct parts, or “Persons,” of God is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the Son—Jesus Christ—is the purest reflection of the Father, who never changes.

When you unpack the stunning mystery that is God made flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ, you’ll notice that He said audacious things like: “I and the Father are one,” (John 10:30) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,” (John 14:9) and, “Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John 17:5) 

John described Jesus as the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

God said of Himself, “I the Lord do not change…” (Malachi 3:6) This unchanging quality is called the immutability of God. 

From generation to generation, God is the immovable rock where we can firmly plant our faith.

God cannot lie. He cannot be unjust. He’s always good. He’s always faithful. He’s fully perfect. He’s self-sufficient. He’s continuously steady and constant, enduring and everlasting.

If your world has been rocked, or if everything around you seems to be shifting, or if it’s challenging to tell what is solid rock and what is shifting sand, you can trust in, count on, and place your hope in Jesus. 

He’s not only your righteous Savior, but He’s also your unchanging God.

My Thoughts

I am not a person who likes change. Yes, I moved twenty-five times. But moving was hard for me. It always seemed as though I had just made new friends and off we went to a new place. I don’t even like to rearrange furniture. I put things where I like them to be and I want them to always be right there.

I like the definition of “consistent”: steady reliability. That is what Jesus has been to me. My world may be rocking, but He is my rock that doesn’t move. I can totally depend on Jesus to always be there. An overnight hospital stay? He is right there, in all of the hustle, bustle, testing and prodding. He is right there, keeping me steady in the rocking world. Bad weather pattern coming through? Jesus is right there, letting me know that He has not ever nor will He ever leave me, not even when the power goes out and it’s less than 30 degrees outside. When the noise in the church sanctuary is too much for my sensitive brain? Jesus is right there, comforting me when I am distresses about not being able to be around the others in the congregation because the bass and percussion reverberate too much for me. The bottom line is Jesus has been with me and for me most of my life. He is my shelter and my anchor in the storms of life. I cannot make plans and know with certainty that they will come to pass. But I can know for sure that even if they don’t, it will be okay because Jesus is there, right beside me, walking through the changes in my life. Other people will disappoint me. Things that happen in the world may scare me. But…Jesus!

God Is Worthy

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture2 Comments

Each of us is a special creation by God, made uniquely for a purpose that only we can fulfill. The people in my life are not the same as those in yours. The places I go are not the same either. Thus, the lives I touch with the message of God’s great love and forgiveness are different than yours. God gave us a great task to complete, to tell all about His Son. He will carry out His purpose in the world with or without our cooperation, but if we get in step with God’s plan, we are showing God that we trust His plan and that we want to be a part of it. I need to pray daily about what God wants me to do that day to fulfill the reason He created me. Some days, it’s a simple act of kindness. Other days, He puts specific people on my mind that I should pray for or contact. Every day, I have to be open to hear His direction, or as I call them, my daily marching orders.

The message we share with the world is a simple one. God showed, God sent, we live.

Have a blessed and fruitful day!

Going Home

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture7 Comments

I am very excited about going home today. I can’t wait to be in my warm house again, with my familiar things and my cat. I always enjoy visiting family, especially grandchildren, but with health issues, this visit has been a rough one. And yesterday, the day of the birthday party that we came for, two of the three grandchildren started with fevers and a stomach bug. Poor babies! I prayed for them and their mommy and daddy took care of them, just as it should be. But it’s another sign that this is not my home.

When I return to Virginia, that is not really my home either. My true home is in heaven and nothing makes that more real than a stay in the hospital where the doctors and nurses are calling your case urgent and rushing you around for testing. I know in my heart that I am ready for heaven whenever God calls me there and my excitement about being with the Lord Jesus and all who have gone before me overwhelms me sometimes. We have to always keep in mind that the home we have on earth is temporary, just a tent dwelling while we wait for the real home Jesus has prepared for us in heaven. Glorious thoughts!

You Version Daily Refresh and Answered Prayers

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimonyLeave a comment

A Peace that Never Leaves You

Think about a time when you were worried. How did you deal with it? Maybe you tried to distract yourself, or perhaps you let your mind race through your problems. It’s natural to want to respond to our worries this way, but God shows us a better way to respond. 

Not long before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples that He would be leaving them. Worried about experiencing life without Him, the disciples wanted answers. But instead of giving them the response they hoped for, Jesus told His disciples to be at peace and not let their hearts be troubled. 

Imagine how frustrating this must have been for His followers. They sensed that Jesus was leaving, but they were trying to align what He was saying with their ideas for the future.

They questioned His words because they couldn’t understand them. 

In the same way, we can also be quick to try to find solutions to our problems when we’re worried. We can let our understanding of current events cloud our thinking and influence our conversations with God. But God’s purposes are beyond what we can see and understand. 

When Jesus told the disciples to be at peace and not worry, Jesus saw beyond the cross—He saw His resurrection, His return to heaven, and the arrival of God’s Holy Spirit.

In the same way, He sees beyond our situations. 

Because we live in an imperfect world, we will experience disappointments and hardships—but because we serve a good God, He sees beyond the bad things we go through. He sees our future filled with hope.

Jesus told His disciples to be at peace because He wanted them to trust in Him. Similarly, God wants us to be at peace in every situation as we trust Him to work things out for our good and His glory. 

So take some time today to reflect on some of the situations that are causing you to worry. Then, take a moment to tell God that you trust Him with each of these circumstances. Imagine handing Him each concern, and allow Him to hand you His peace in return.

My Thoughts

My latest visit to MD has been one filled with worries and stressed. It has been very cold here and our room, the one for guests, is in the basement. We have a space heater here, the basement is finished and furnished well, but it is cold here when the weather is cold. It was in the teens here all week, so, that space heater ran a lot, like almost constantly. It’s dry heat so I kept waking up with a headache. Then my blood pressure started rising. I tried to think of other things, scripture verses, praise songs, to distract me from the fact that my BP was higher each day, starting on Wednesday. When it went up to 178/110 and then to 198/108 I asked my husband to take me to the ER. I had tried unsuccessfully to get advice from my cardiologist in VA, but he never responded. His nurse told me to drink more water. I was already drinking 5-6 glasses a day, but I increased it, to no avail. Anyway, to make a long story short, I was treated in the ER for Hypertensive Urgent and then a migraine. My BP when I got there was over 200, concerning for me as a stroke survivor. The doctor ordered medication in my IV that brought the pressure down, then it bounced around a bit and my headache was worse. So, the doctor decided I had a migraine. She said the migraine may have caused the BP or the BP caused the migraine, but her next step was to give me meds for a migraine. That seemed to work well, my BP was more or less stable, so a little after midnight, she discharged me and my husband brought me home to our son’s house to rest. I was thankful to be in bed and able to sleep without the constant hospital noises and lights. I am very thankful for a friend who was praying for me and sent me several scriptures to meditate on while I was feeling so bad. One of them was the verse in the devotional above. Another was the same thought was Psalm 94:19: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” I kept telling myself that God was surrounding me, and once again, He came through for me. I was disturbed with my husband’s attitude. He told me just to take deep breaths and not think about my BP numbers and I would be fine. When I asked him to please pray with me, he didn’t. He was distracted with talking to our daughter-in-law’s parents who were also here. Anyway, I was distraught that he wouldn’t pray, so I contacted our daughter to pray and she put me on a prayer chain. That didn’t help the disappointment that I felt with my husband, so I am sure that didn’t help my stress either. I would like to thank all of you who took time to pray for me and especially praise be to God our Father who never left me.

In news about Dave, for whom I also asked for prayer: he is still in the hospital and has a lot of what his wife is calling “gunk” around his lungs. He is somewhat depressed because they first told him he would go home on Sunday and now they have moved it to Friday, so he has another week in the hospital. He is very ill and continues to need your prayers. He is having a front chest tube inserted today, so please pray specifically that procedure goes well.

Thank you all for your faithfulness and concern. You are friends, even though you are online, and I appreciate each of you. May God’s peace surround you all.