Category: YouVersion App

Perspective of Peace

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, Song, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional “Advent, Day 7”

What Is Peace?

What do you think of or imagine when you hear the word “peace”? Maybe you imagine your favorite vacation destination, when the rest of the world seems to come to a standstill. Perhaps your brain takes you to the resolution of a previously chaotic event. It’s possible you even think of a time when you had inner peace, when anxiety or worries seemed to quiet down.

Writers of the Bible sometimes use the word shalom as a way of describing peace as complete wholeness. At its core, peace is a state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between us, God, and others.

This can seem great in theory, but has the potential to feel unattainable when we look at the world around us—especially in the rush of the holiday season. Still, when we look at different stories in the Bible, we can see how God has been our source of peace since the beginning of time.

We’ll take a closer look at different examples in the days to come, but here are a few things we learn about peace as we read Scripture:

  • Peace comes when we keep our perspectives locked on God. (Isaiah 26:3)
  • Peace fights against fear. (Psalm 56:3-4)
  • Peace is a gift God gives us through the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
  • Peace isn’t limited to the circumstances happening in the world around us. (John 16:33)
  • Peace doesn’t always make sense, but it always connects us to God. (Philippians 4:7)

As you look at your life today, peace might feel impossible. It takes a lifetime to work toward peace, but we all have a step we can take today to more fully experience this gift. You might take a few minutes after you finish today’s reading to sit in God’s presence and thank Him for today. As you do, ask Him to fill you with His perfect peace.

Pause and Pray:

God, thank You for the gift of peace. Help me to experience You in new ways. I trust that You are my ultimate source of peace, even when I don’t understand. Please work in the areas and relationships in my life that feel far from peaceful. Bring them into a state of wholeness and renewal with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

Even as I type these words, my mind is churning away with a list of things I need to get done today. My bare Christmas tree is visual evidence that I am behind on my chores, but still, here I sit. I am seeking God’s peace to come through to my heart this holiday season. I don’t know what happens at your house for the holidays, but my life is filled with the regular things I have to do, plus ordering gifts for children and grandchildren, decorating (I do it sparsely, but I do it) and running errands as well as medical visits. Whew! Just writing out the list is somewhat overwhelming!

But the real reason for the season, the birthday of our Savior, is not lost on me. So, I tackle one thing at a time and I am thankful for the energy to get things done. They may not be perfect, but they will be done with my best effort for my age and physical limitations.

With the passing of time, I have found that the more I sit quietly in God’s presence, the more likely I am to be organized and cheerfully ready to take on that day’s tasks. I tend to get more irritable as Christmas Day draws closer, knowing that I only have a certain number of days to complete the shopping, decorating, etc. My prayer is always for God to help me to do what I can do each day and He always comes through. His peace seems to envelop me as I play Christmas songs and read His Word. It is His peace that connects me to Him and that helps me keep my focus on Him and not all that I have to do.

Here is a song that I listen to that helps me remember why I am doing what I do these days. I’m not a big fan of the singer and her current woke attitude, but I do like the song and the message to be still before God.

I Need a Silent Night-Amy Grant

Look for the Light

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Article: How to Find Hope in God Right Now, from “Advent, Day 6”

What drives people to persevere in impossible situations? What motivates someone with a challenging diagnosis to keep fighting? Or to keep believing in a relationship after years of conflict? It’s the powerful sense of hope.

Hope propels us to do impossible things. Hope is vital for tackling the toughest obstacles, conquering challenges, and driving the change our world desperately needs.

Hope is powerful, yet a lack of hope is devastating.

Without hope, simple situations can turn into unsolvable problems. Hope is one of the greatest gifts you can be given and one of the most valuable things you can lose.

So, how’s your hope? In this article, we’ll explore what biblical hope looks like and how we can find hope in God every day.

What Is Hope in the Bible?

In the Bible, hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

Hope isn’t a vague positivity or a naive optimism. Instead, true hope acknowledges our world’s pain, problems, and dysfunctions. Hope knows the worst life has to offer, yet still believes that God can and will create a better future.

But what do you do when all the evidence in the world around you tells you that the future will only bring more pain? What about the violence, wars, and division we see every day?

Feeling Hopeless About the Future?

If you’re feeling hopeless about the future of the world, you’re not alone. Around 500 years before the time of Jesus, the people of God had been invaded, captured, and forcibly deported to a faraway nation. They were separated from their families, their homes, and for many, their hope.  

Several biblical laments (songs of pain and suffering) were written by these people in exile. One lament was written by former musicians who had been forced into servitude.

Their captors asked them to play the music of their people, and they responded with despair, their words communicating, “How could we sing songs of hope and praise to God when our nation has experienced so much pain?” 

When things go wrong, it feels like evidence that God is against us, ignoring us, or that He’s left humanity behind. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Throughout their time in Babylon, the people of God not only survived but learned to thrive. They discovered that God was present in their pain and had a plan for their future. 

One of the most famous Bible verses (Jeremiah 29:11) is about God’s plan for His people in exile. In that verse, He promises to give them hope and a future. And God delivered on His promise. 

How Do I Find Hope in a Broken World?

Remember that pain isn’t evidence that God doesn’t care or that He’s far away. Pain is evidence that God is still working on His plan to make all things new.

From the “Advent” Devotional on the YouVersion Bible App

Wholehearted Hope

Let’s go back to two thousand years ago in the Roman province of Judea. People were low on hope and ready to give up. Their people had been steamrolled by a handful of empires, and it seemed like their story was almost finished.

Thousands of miles away, educated stargazers looked up and noticed something strange. A new star in the sky, shining brightly over Judea. We don’t know much about the stargazers (often called wise men), but we do know they came from around Babylon—the same place the Judean exiles were sent 500 years earlier.

Some scholars believe these wise men learned the stories of God from descendants of Judean exiles who remained behind.

The wise men believed the star signified the birth of a new, divine king. They hoped that if they followed the star, they would find the King. So they left home and traveled west. But they didn’t find the king in the palace or anywhere in the capital city.

So they kept following the star which moved with them on their journey, until it rested over a humble home.

Imagine what they thought when they came to the door. The wonder, awe, and disbelief at finding a divine king born in a simple town. It probably didn’t make total sense, but the evidence told them it was true.

That’s why they entered the home, bowed low, and presented kingly gifts.

To the rest of the world, the actions of the wise men might have seemed irrational, irresponsible, or naive. After all, what would you say if your friend decided to travel hundreds of miles because they saw a new star in the sky?

Hope looks risky to the people around you, but if you, like the wise men, have the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that this baby would make the future better than the past or present, then hope makes sense.

The little child the wise men found was Jesus, along with His family. He was one child in a big world running out of hope. But even a little light can make a big difference and bring hope to countless people.

His life became a life that led people out of despair and into hope. His words and actions provided evidence that God’s plan was still moving forward.

But Jesus didn’t just tell His followers to sit back and watch while He brought hope. Instead, He called us the light of the world and a city on a hill, inviting us to be a small source of hope in a dark world.

It’s easy to feel despair, but when life gets dark, keep your eyes open and look for the light. See it in Scripture, in the generous actions of others, and by reflecting on your story. Then, you can be a light in the darkness for others as a source of wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

My Thoughts

Think about it. Jesus had a ministry of about three years. Generally, each of us lives many decades more than that, so think of the impact we can have by continually shining our light into a dark world. It’s easier to withdraw and just sit in the dark and have a pity party about all of the sin in the world. But that is not what we are supposed to do. We have to look for the light in God’s Word and in our own testimony and in that of our friends. Then, we have to show that light to others.

The Wise Men didn’t look at the star and say to themselves, “Well, that’s very nice, but the world is a scary place, so I will just ponder what that light could mean while I sit here at home.” No, they traveled to see the reason for the light. They found Jesus, worshipped Him and presented gifts to Him. Then they returned home. I don’t know what they did on the way home or what they said when they got there. But I cannot imagine that they kept the secret of the light to themselves.

I have hope for a future with God but I also have hope that the world will be better because of each individual shedding our light out into the world. God is still working out His plan and He invites us to be part of it. Christmas isn’t just a season for putting up decorations and giving gifts. It is the season to remember the reason we celebrate and it’s the perfect opportunity to share with others the reason for our hope. Whether we believe it or not, there are people looking for the light that we have and we may be the only ones who can share it with them. Share and shine!

How to Find Hope

On By vickleaIn Christmas, prayer request, Scripture, testimony, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, Day 5”

3 Practical Ways to Find Hope

In the Bible, hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

Hope isn’t a vague positivity or a naive optimism. Instead, true hope acknowledges the pain, problems, and dysfunctions of our world. Hope knows the worst life has to offer yet still believes God can and will create a better future.

Hope is like a lighthouse on a dark, stormy night. It doesn’t make the waves go away, but it does offer you direction and a reason to keep going.

The Bible has quite a few stories about light and darkness. Early in the Bible, God leads His people through the wilderness using a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of smoke during the day. These people had been slaves, and now they were walking across a barren desert. Yet they could have hope because they knew God was leading them to a new and better future.

But what about today? We don’t have divine pillars of smoke or fire to follow when we’re low on hope. So where do we look to find hope?

1. We find hope in friends.

When we’re feeling hopeless, we can turn to trusted people who can lend us their hope. So if you’re searching for hope, include others. Their words, stories, and guidance could be exactly what you need to renew your confidence in God’s plan.

2. We find hope in our stories.

Look back to who you were before you knew Jesus. What’s different about you? How do you live, think, and act differently? Avoid letting exceptionally bad days define your journey with Jesus. Instead, try to see the big picture. Reflecting on God’s work in your past can give you hope for your future.

3. We find hope in God’s story.

The Christmas story is one of the main events in God’s big story. In the story, we see Jesus, who is God, choose vulnerability and humility to show us His love. So when you feel hopeless about the direction of the world or the direction of your life, remember that God will do whatever it takes to make all things new.

Of course, none of these three ways to find hope are quite as dramatic as a divine pillar of fire, but they can serve the same purpose. They remind us God is present, even when life is hard. And they help us keep moving forward with confidence, no matter what storms we’re facing.

When we cling to others, reflect on our stories, and explore Scripture, we can expect to find hope. But hope can also come from unexpected places. So keep your eyes open for hopeful moments all around you.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, please be a light to me as You were to Your people in the wilderness. Thank You for dying for me while I was still a sinner so I could be united with You. Help me to set my hope on You. In Your name, amen.

My Thoughts

I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have God going before me in a pillar of cloud or fire. I suspect that I may have been so awestruck that I would not have been able to move at all unless someone else prodded me to do so.

Since we don’t have God visibly present in this way, we need to tune our spirits to see Him in other ways. We can see Him in others, in our own testimony about the past and in His Word. I think that I mostly depend on God’s Word for assurance and hope for the future. I do have friends, but most don’t know me intimately and I am not in frequent contact with anyone except our daughter. I do know that contact is important because God created us to be social beings. Thus, when I need that personal contact, I reach out to others with a phone call or a text. I have members of our small group from church who check on me and my husband often, just to make sure that we are okay and don’t need anything. And we do the same for them. It’s all about connections, isn’t it?

That’s why it’s important to connect to God and to stay that way. We shouldn’t be wandering off into the wilderness of life without Him right there with us.

Now, another prayer request. My daughter’s friend Desiree is in the hospital in Pittsburgh. She discovered this week that she has a large mass in her brain. She had brain surgery yesterday and the doctors think that there are other “specks” that they weren’t able to remove. She is having tests today. Please pray for Desiree, her husband Joel and their four children. The youngest is only eight and the oldest is fourteen. If you follow me on Facebook, I posted a GoFundMe photo of them all together. The youngest child is the most distraught and Hope, my daughter, says she is crying a lot or screaming in frustration because she wants her mommy. Joel is with Desiree, and his mom is taking care of the kids. I know that this situation didn’t surprise God, but it certainly surprised this young family, and they need as many prayers as they can get. Thank you in advance for remembering them. Please pray that God will be close to them all and give them hope.

An Infusion of Hope

On By vickleaIn Christmas, promises, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Advent, a 25-Day Countdown to Christmas, Day 4”

God Is With You Always

Yesterday, we left off in the exile, when God’s people were trapped in a faraway nation. Yet, many had hope. Why? Because they knew God wasn’t done writing their story. In exile, they looked to past evidence of God’s care.

One of those stories was the story of Elijah. Elijah was a prophet who lived a few generations before the exile. A prophet is someone who speaks truth from God to people in power.

Elijah’s greatest threats were the king and queen of Israel, Ahab and Jezebel. Throughout Elijah’s story, he constantly let them know that their words and actions weren’t honoring God. But they didn’t listen. Instead, they doubled-down and even attempted to have Elijah killed.

Despite immense pressure in a hostile environment, Elijah remained faithful to God. And through his work, God led many people to know Him.

But Elijah still had moments where his hope ran out. On one occasion, right after a dramatic showdown with rival prophets, he felt intense despair.

Despair is the opposite of hope. It’s the feeling that the world is against you, and you’re doomed to fail. Have you ever felt despair?

Elijah hid in the wilderness and wished for death. But God met him in his despair and brought him food and water. Then, He invited Elijah to go to a mountain. There, Elijah had a powerful encounter with God that reaffirmed God’s care. This experience renewed Elijah’s hope and gave him the strength he needed to continue his mission.

Despair can overwhelm us, as it did for Elijah. Despair lies to us, telling us we’re alone and doomed to fail. But God offers hope. Hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

When we look at how God provided for people in the past, it can give us hope for a better future today. For anyone dealing with despair, remembering stories like Elijah’s can be a source of strength. They remind us to have courage, no matter what opposition might come our way.

So, do you feel despair today? Maybe it’s about a relationship you’re about to give up on or a dream that feels like it’s dead. No matter what it is, God wants to infuse you with hope.

Sometimes life doesn’t go our way and we end up facing intense opposition. But God is still with us. We can face today with confidence, believing the best is yet to come.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for being patient with me. Thank You that when I feel hopeless, You are always there to renew my hope. Help me to fix my eyes on You and trust in You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

For years, I went to an infusion center monthly to receive a biological medication to help with my asthma. The infusion actually consisted of an injection in my lower arm and then I had to wait a minimum of half an hour to make sure that I did not have a bad reaction. So, with that in mind, I was interested in the use of the word infusion with hope in this devotional. The infusion I had replaced some allergen cells with cells that would fight against allergies, or at least that’s the way I understood it. And the hope that God infuses us with replaces the despair we feel over what we consider a hopeless situation. Nothing is hopeless to God because nothing is impossible for Him to do.

The story of Elijah in I Kings 19 is a testimony to God’s provision even when our faith is low or non-existent. Elijah had just defeated the prophets of Baal and then Queen Jezebel says she plans to kill him. Instead of leaning into God, he got afraid (let’s face it, we probably would get scared, too) and ran away and hid in the wilderness. There God fed him and God personally assured him that he was not the only prophet left. If Elijah can get discouraged so completely and still hear from God, then we can, too. We just have to be listening. Sometimes, I think we listen to the circumstances and fear the consequences, running away from God instead of toward Him.

I needed this reminder today and every day. I have a tendency to withdraw when I am feeling upset. I am trying to train myself to reach out to God and tell Him exactly how I am feeling, whether it’s frustration, anger or grief. After all, He already knows; I am the one who needs to get it out of my system by talking it over with God.

I like the scripture illustrated above that reminds us that our suffering is not just so that we can suffer and move on. We learn a lesson each time we go through something hard, if we just allow God to teach us. At the very least, we learn to persevere through it, to pray and keep on praying, to trust and keep on trusting, to be faithful to God because He is always faithful to us. He will infuse us with hope if we let Him.

God Is Still Working in His Plan

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Scripture, Song, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent, A 25 Day Countdown to Christmas, Day 3”

Hope When Things Go Wrong in the World

Yesterday, we said hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

But what about when all the evidence this Christmas tells you the future might only bring more pain? When forces outside of your control, like war, the economy, and sickness, cause chaos all over the world.

If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone. Around 500 years before Jesus, the people of God were invaded, captured, and forcibly deported to a faraway nation. They were separated from their families, homes, and, for many, their hope.

Their forced migration is called the exile, and its trauma influenced countless Scriptures.

Today, you’ll read a lament (a pain-filled song of praise) by a few of these people. These exiles were musicians, but after their capture, they were taken as servants or slaves to work at a farm in a nation called Babylon. Their captors asked them to play the music of their people, and they responded with despair, saying something like, “How could we sing songs of hope and praise to God when we’ve experienced so much pain?”

Global events outside their control made hope feel impossible. Can you relate?

When things go wrong in the world, it feels like evidence that God is against us, ignoring us, or He’s left us behind. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Throughout their time in Babylon, the people of God not only survived, but learned to thrive. They discovered God was present in their pain, and God still had a plan for their future.

In fact, one of the most famous Bible verses (Jeremiah 29:11) is about God’s plan for His people in exile. In that verse, He promises to give them hope and a future. And God delivered on His promise.

Your pain isn’t evidence God doesn’t care or is far off. It’s evidence that God is still working on His plan to make all things new.

True hope doesn’t ignore the pain of life. Instead, it trusts God’s plan despite the worst life has to offer.

Yes, it’s a slow process. And it’s normal to get frustrated with God’s timing. But when we look at the experience of the exile, we see the evidence of God’s faithfulness in the middle of pain and in the fulfillment of His promises.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You that even in the darkest of times, You are working for good. Help me to have hope even when things are hard in my life. Help me to share the hope I have in You with those around me. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

My Thoughts

My heart is not heavy today, but it has been in the past. I want to know what God is doing to bring the suffering in the world to an end. I want things to get better, but they seem to get worse instead. I know the Bible says that these are signs of the times, but sometimes I am just ready to stop being a foreigner in a strange land and be home with the Lord where I belong.

God’s Word to me is to be patient and wait. He is working out His plan for me, just as He did for the Israelites who were exiled in Babylon for decades. He didn’t say to them, “Well, you sinned, so I am just going to leave you to suffer through your consequences.” He never stepped away from watching over them and keeping His promises to them, and He hasn’t left us either. God is the One who is working on His plan, not my plan or your plan, but His plan. He sees the big picture, and He continues to methodically work with fallen man to work out His plan for the end of the age.

So, while I may be impatient with things as they are, I can be thankful that God is patient. How many would be lost already if He were not patient with all of us? I just read a Christian book about human trafficking that absolutely broke my heart. It’s fiction but it could have been ripped from headlines. The story of a group of girls stolen from their village in Peru and sold to men to be used, abused and discarded was hard to read but it also had a message of hope and faith. It is undergirded with the message of the Prodigal and the Lost Sheep. We have all been prodigals at one time, and we have all be a lost sheep. God sees and He cares about all of the cruelty and injustice in the world. There is no one who loves more deeply than our Heavenly Father.

This is the book that I am referring to and I highly recommend it. It is hope for the hopeless and a light in the darkness. The author is new to me, but I can recommend this book because I just finished it and cried through many of the gut-wrenching scenes. It isn’t too graphic but it does deal with difficult topics, so I would rate it five stars and a PG-17.

This is one of the songs that I have requested be played at my funeral. Yes, I am one of those controlling people who plans in advance, but not for control but rather for the comfort of my family so that they don’t have to worry about details. When I heard this on the radio years ago, it spoke to my heart because of all of our military moves and the fact that I have never really felt settled into a home or community. When I arrive to my eternal home, then I will truly know what home is like and I am looking forward to that day. Until then, I will wait, just as God is waiting, patiently working out His plan and hoping that I am helping in some small way to help Him fulfill it.

Where I Belong-Building 429

A Better Future with Hope

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Advent: 25 Day Countdown to Christmas,” Day 2

How Can We Have Hope?

Is your life going to get better, or will it get worse?

How about the world? Will it get better, or will things spiral further out of control?

Or what about a person in your life who keeps making hurtful choices? Will they change? Or are they doomed to keep causing pain?

Delightful questions to start day two of a Christmas Bible Plan, right?

So why did we ask these questions? Because how you answer reveals your hope.

It’s easy for life to steal your hope, even if you’re naturally a “glass-half-full” kind of person. Tragedies, unrest, division, aging, and natural disasters can make it easy to feel like our best days are behind us or impossible to reach.

But is that true? Or could it be possible that by reflecting on the story of Scripture, we can find real, resilient, and realistic hope? The kind of hope that can keep you afloat, no matter your circumstances.

First, what is hope?

Hope is the wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present.

Sounds great, but what evidence? Well, let’s go back in time to over 2,000 years ago.

In those days, in a province of the Roman empire called Judea, people were low on hope. Most of the evidence from the past told them to give up. A handful of powerful empires had steamrolled their people, and it seemed like their story was almost finished.

But God was still writing their story. And through both prophets and ordinary people, His message of hope spread throughout Judea: a promise He wouldn’t leave them alone in the darkness, but would come to save His people when the time was right.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s only day two, after all. For today, ask yourself, “How’s my hope?” Ask God to help you renew your hope in Him.

Pause and Pray:

Thank You, God, for making me new in You. When things feel out of control or painful, please help me to remember that You’re working. Help me to build my hope step by step until I have complete faith in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I have always been a “glass half empty” kind of person, thinking that if things are going well now, all I have to do is wait and something bad will happen. Generally, I have not been disappointed in my low expectations. God has been working on me to help me overcome this negativity. I am better, but I am not there yet and I know it, so I have to continue to press into the promises in the Scriptures in order to keep myself focused on God and not on what might possibly happen. The middle scripture above is just right for me!

I like that the devotional points out that God is making the future better. I look back on my younger years and remember having energy, a fulfilling job and children at home. I miss those years. Presently, I am aging and right now I am sore from wrestling with a toddler who wanted constant attention and for me to pick him up and hold him, even when he was very wiggly. Do I like feeling sore? No, but I know that the soreness will pass but the memories I made with my grandchildren will last. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds my future and I am confident that He will bring me closer to Him even as I move away from life on earth. That is a future to look forward to!

Because of Jesus, when I find myself discouraged, I can go right before God, into His holy presence and tell Him exactly how I am feeling. He already knows anyway, so being honest with Him is the only way to go. Once I do that, I usually feel encouraged. Why? Because I am not carrying the burden alone; Jesus has taken the burden away from me and that helps me to see things more realistically and with a hope that comes from His steadfast love and faithfulness.

I trust that you are enjoying the days leading up to the greatest holiday of the year. Christmas is a time to renew our hope in the Lord and to show others how hopeful we are. It’s not about who is President or the wars going on in the world. It’s all about Jesus! He’s where our hope lies!

Advent: Day 1

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the You Version Bible App devotional, “Advent: 25 Days”

Find Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love This Season

How are you feeling this holiday season? Is life like a Christmas movie, full of wonder, happiness, and endless cups of hot cocoa? Or are you feeling stressed out, anxious, or maybe even grieving? The classic Christmas song says it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for many of us, it can be the most overwhelming time of the year.

We can’t guarantee that reading this Bible Plan will make it snow on Christmas or magically make all your holiday worries disappear, but it is designed to help you find hope, peace, joy, and love this season.

What Is Advent?

Advent is a Christian tradition of anticipating Jesus’ birth on Christmas. Each week of Advent focuses on one word that reveals how Jesus’ birth changes us. The four words which you’ve seen already are hope, peace, joy, and love.

Now, let’s pause because if you’ve been to church, read the Bible, or spent any time around Christians, then you’ve probably heard these words a lot. And maybe these words feel a bit vague. That’s why we’ve defined these words below.

  • Hope: A wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God is making the future better than the past or present
  • Peace: A state of wholeness, calm, and renewal between us, God, and others
  • Joy: A resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God
  • Love: Following Jesus’ example by treating everyone as valuable and worthy of sacrificial care

Over the next few weeks, we will explore the Bible and see how God’s gift to us provides hope, peace, joy, and love. We’ll also see how these gifts impact how we live every day.

So whether you’ve practiced Advent for years or you’re just learning about this tradition, we can all find hope, peace, joy, and love this season. Tomorrow, we’ll begin our first week by taking a closer look at God’s plan for hope.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for the great gift of Your Son. Please help me focus on You this Christmas season. Free my life from distractions and give me Your hope, peace, joy, and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

My Thoughts

I researched a little bit and found out that Advent comes from that Latin word “adventus” which means arrival. Arrival of what? At Christmas, we celebrate the arrival of Jesus on the earth, the only One who can reconcile us to the Father and who teaches us about what true hope, peace, joy and love are.

I just returned from a trip to Maryland and got to witness just a little. I shared with my young grandchildren about our tradition of baking a birthday cake for Jesus. We have been doing that since our children were very young. I told them that Christmas isn’t about the tree and presents but it’s all about Jesus. One of the kids was amazed while the toddler was bored and the oldest wandered away. But I least I got to share about the real meaning of Christmas and hope that it stays with them in some way for a long time. It breaks my heart that the only meaning some people have for Christmas is a wish list and a visit to Santa. The real meaning is lost in the commercialism of the season that the retailers have hyped so much that Jesus seems lost in the commercials for the newest gadgets, toys and must-haves before anyone else has things. I don’t think Jesus minds our enjoying giving, but I am fairly sure that He does not appreciate the greed associated with the “this is what I want for Christmas.” If we have Jesus, we actually have all that we need.

I hope that the first day of Advent is one that you can take time to reflect on the arrival of the One who changed your life forever. That’s my goal for today.

The New Covenant

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “A God Who Is Faithful”, Day 7

Old Testament Connection

People broke the relationship with God that he had established. The creation and the Creator were once tethered together by a life-giving relationship, and humanity broke the bond by sinning against their Creator. Since that moment, life has been filled with pain and frustration because it has not had the life-giving power of God flowing through it. But God loves people too much to leave them in this condition, so he made a series of promises to bring his people out of it.

The Bible speaks of a “new covenant” that God makes with his people. This covenant does not depend on people’s ability to fulfill it by loving and being faithful to God. Instead, this covenant depends on God. In this covenant, God promises to help his people obey his law (Jer 31:31 – 34). God also promises to bring his people from death to life and to care for them forever (Eze 37:24 – 26). The author of Hebrews declared that God has fulfilled and accomplished that covenant through Jesus. The sacrifice of the great high priest Jesus supersedes all Old Testament rituals. Jesus, therefore, fulfilled the Old Testament laws. He fulfilled the terms of the covenant by being the priest who presides over the covenant. He is the priest who brings his people into the presence of God (Heb 10:19).

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for the new covenant. Thank you for bringing me out of death and into life. Amen.

My Thoughts

It never gets old for me to be reminded of the new covenant that God has established through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. God set the terms of the agreement and God works to make sure that it is fulfilled. What we have to do is accept the sacrifice and then dedicate our lives to living for the Creator who gave us life and then renewed that life through Jesus. That is the good news of the new covenant and the reason we can share our joy this season!

Being Sanctified

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “A God Who Is Faithful,” Day 6

Sanctification

Sanctification is simply the process of becoming more like God. Believers become more like him in holiness out of gratitude to God for what he’s done in their lives. The Greek word “sanctify” means “to set apart” for God’s special plans. Paul urged the new believers in Thessalonica to live this kind of life, outlining that it was God’s will for them to walk with Jesus, thus pleasing God with their lives (1Th 4:1,3). He expressed that holy living is very practical and that rejecting the instruction of God brings consequences (v. 8). God has called his people to make daily choices through a different lens: the lens of gospel truth.

When someone puts their faith in Christ, he or she has been sanctified, or “made holy” through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once and for all (Heb 10:10). Sin is completely wiped away, death is defeated and eternal life is at hand. This is the good news! At the same time, the believer enters into a lifelong process of being purified and becoming more like God through the power of the Holy Spirit (1Th 4:8). [Emphasis added by me] Paul echoes this reality, declaring that God would sanctify the Thessalonians “through and through,” and keep them “blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Th 5:23).

Followers of Jesus today can hold on to that promise, for “the one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1Th 5:24).

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for the work you are doing in my heart and in my life. Please continue to sanctify me until that day when I join you in paradise. Amen.

My Thoughts

My thoughts are simple this morning. God is still working on me and will continue to work on me to make me holy and like Jesus every day of my life on earth. I am glad that He is patient and full of mercy and He never gives up on me!

Suffering Comes

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From YouVersion Bible App, “The God Who is Faithful, Day 5”

Suffering with Purpose

Paul understood the reality of suffering as well as anyone. His troubles extended to the point that he “despaired of life itself” (v. 8). But Paul recognized that just as believers share in the sufferings of Christ, “comfort abounds through Christ” (v. 5). Knowing this, Paul found joy in his own sufferings and encouraged the believers in Corinth to do the same. Further, Paul recognized that Christ comforts believers in their sufferings so that they, in turn, can bring comfort to others. Paul used his own times of suffering as opportunities to bless those around him. Even when all seemed lost, Paul knew that his suffering occurred so that he would learn to rely less on himself and more fully on God. Having seen Christ work in his own trials in the past, Paul had even greater confidence that God would continue to deliver him so that he might, in turn, continue to minister to the young church.

Just as Paul did, believers today can view struggles and suffering as opportunities to bless those around them. Just as he did not abandon Paul, Jesus will be faithful to his people in all circumstances.

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for the growing pains I’ve experienced. Please use me and the experiences from my past to help others. Amen.

My Thoughts

I don’t know about you, but I am not one of those people who say about suffering: “Yes, please sign me up because I know God will be with me.” I am, however, realistic about the fact that we all suffer, to different degrees and at different times, and when we do, God is always there. I do not believe that all suffering happens to teach us a lesson. But I do believe that we can ask God to help us learn from what we go through so that we can help others who go through similar circumstances. I consider myself a realist. We live in the world. It is broken, and as a result of the sin that broke it, we are all suffering until Christ comes again. But we don’t have to suffer with bitterness or anger or even in vain. I truly believe that if we have to suffer, we should sincerely have our eyes open to the opportunities that God will give us to help others later. The One who suffered the most can relate to each of us in our pain and help us through. Then, we in turn, can help others.