Category: YouVersion App

God Will Finish What He Starts

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I start a project and then I get tired of doing it and I put it aside. I have every good intention to go back to the project at a different time, perhaps when my arthritis is not so bad or my eyes aren’t so tired, but the truth is that I don’t always finish what I start. I am so thankful that God always finishes what He starts. I am a work in progress, and He did not put to the side, saying that He will get back to me later and then forget about me. Not at all! God works on my daily to help me to be more like His Son. His plan for me is a good one and He methodically and purposefully is finishing what He started in me.

He Started It

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.

Our Purpose

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What were we created for? What is our purpose? Well, folks, that’s the big question, isn’ it? Most of us go through life and cannot figure out what in the world God put us on earth to do? I think my church’s motto answers this question: Love God, Love Others, Serve Both. No matter where you find yourself in life, you can live out this motto. Think about it and then go out and be a blessing!

From the YouVersion Daily Reading for Today:

Made for This

Do you realize that you were purposefully, lovingly, and carefully designed by God? King David said it like this: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Your eyes, brain, heart, muscles, nerves, fingernails, eyelashes, smile, everything.  Not only are you wonderfully complex, but you were also planned before life as we know it existed by your Heavenly Father.  Even as you read these words, your body is doing some incredible things—without your conscious consent. Your fingers are scrolling, your eyes are capturing, your brain is processing … All the while, your heart is pumping blood, your lungs are managing breath, your eyelids are blinking away dryness, your blood cells are multiplying by the second, your brain is directing your body while simultaneously storing memory—and so much more. David also points out in other portions of Psalm 139 that God knows everything about us, His presence is inescapable, and He thinks about us so much that such thoughts cannot be numbered. The point? You are uniquely and intentionally created by God to love Him and the people around you—to know Him, and make Him known.  So, be encouraged. You were made for this.

Strong Character

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

The character that we all want to have is to be more like Jesus. That is only possible by spending more time with Him in His Word and in prayer. I want to not only act as Jesus would act but to react the same way He would react, too. I am a work in progress, knowing that God is helping me daily to be more like Him.

From the YouVersion: Building Strong Character

How to Build Strong Character Paul, the author of the letter to the Church in Rome, frequently encouraged the believers in Rome amidst the persecution and adversity they were experiencing. The first half of Paul’s letter corrects some of their thinking, while the second half is focused on their character and actions. In Romans 12, Paul is encouraging the believers to let love be the primary motivation for everything they do. When love is the foundation of who they are, then God can renew and transform every area of life. When they allow God to transform their character, that’s when they’re able to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Christians have a unique hope in Jesus–we know that Jesus is victorious over evil and will one day return to make everything right. This means we can have hope in the midst of suffering or difficult times. Paul knew that affliction produces steadfast character within us. When we choose to endure through suffering, Jesus forms strength and confidence within us that we couldn’t attain otherwise. But perseverance through affliction also requires constant communication with the One who transforms us through His love. Prayer is a vital part of this. It is the primary way we communicate with God, and it’s also part of how the Holy Spirit strengthens us for following Jesus. These three things create within us a stronger character in life. They mold us into the image of Jesus who was joyful in hope, patient in suffering, and faithful in prayer. So today, take some time to think of a few ways that you can become more like Jesus in these areas.

Setback or Setup?

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When we are having a hard time with life, those of us who are Christians may look to God and be a little confused or even angry. What we should be doing instead is looking towards when that difficult period will end and we will be able to move forward with the Lord, looking back on the lessons we learned and recognizing the grace He showed us in the middle of the deep waters we went through. I am one of those who just doesn’t want to go through trials and who prefers the calm waters and peace. But I am also coming to see as I age that trials and problems are just a part of this fallen world. So, I try, although I confess that I am not always successful, to see the trial as passing, not the place where I will abide forever. In fact, I often pray for God to help me get through whatever it is without losing my temper or my patience with those around me. Trials are a time to press into God as David did and to remember His faithfulness. He hasn’t failed me yet, and He won’t ever leave me alone. Holding on to God’s promises of His faithfulness helps me to get to the other side of the valley and be willing to start climbing that mountain with Him right next to me.

Enduring Setbacks

As a teenager, David was anointed as the next king of Israel. But instead of ascending to the throne in a blaze of glory, he spent years running from Israel’s current king (his father-in-law) who repeatedly tried to kill him.  During this time, David laments to God: he has honest conversations about his situation while holding onto the hope that God can—and will—restore him. Psalm 59 is the result of one of those conversations.   David’s laments allowed him to express his grief, cry out for justice, and remember God’s faithfulness. Focusing on God’s faithfulness reminded David of God’s character, and knowing God’s character helped him hold onto hope. That’s why he could say, “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 59:16 NIV) Talking honestly with God helped David recognize that even though his current situation wasn’t good, God was still good, and still worthy of being worshiped. David believed that God was still in control, and that he would one day see the fulfillment of God’s promises. And one day, God’s promises did come to pass. But God didn’t waste the years David spent as a fugitive: instead, He used them to help David become the leader and warrior Israel needed. The setbacks David endured actually strengthened his character and prepared him for his future purpose. Although his circumstances were painful, God was faithful.  And God can—and will—be faithful with your life.  When you place your hope in Jesus, you never grieve in vain because the God who is now is also the God who will be forever. And He is constantly advocating and acting on your behalf. That’s why, no matter what you face, you can hold onto this hope: Jesus can turn your setbacks and sorrows into setups for your good and His glory.  God can take your pain and use it for His purposes. He can make a way through your desert seasons. He is your source of strength and your refuge in times of trouble. Nothing is impossible for God.  So today, continue to draw closer to Him, and look for evidence of His faithfulness. As you intentionally pursue God, look for ways to worship Him like David did.

Love Those Who Are Unloving

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I bet that as you read this title, you blinked and probably thought, “Who am I supposed to love?” Well, the answer according to Scriptures is everyone, of course, but when you dig deeper, you are supposed to love those for whom you don’t naturally feel love. It’s easy to love those who love you in kind. It’s much more difficult to love those people who seem to stand in the way of your success or who hinder your happiness in some way, those whom you see as an “enemy” but God sees them as a person who needs Him. When we love that person, that one who is unkind to us or who deliberately gets on our last nerve, then we are opening a door to their heart to see Jesus and His love in action through us. It’s not easy…I have no doubt that it wasn’t easy for Jesus to forgive everyone who put Him on that cross (which is all of us), but He did anyway. You know, we were once enemies of God before we became Christians, but He loved us before we even repented and came to Him for forgiveness. God is love and to be like Jesus, we are expected to show love to everyone, even the unloving. Maybe especially to the unloving because they need God’s love, too!

From the YouVersion today:

Pray for Who? All throughout Jesus’ ministry, He constantly turned things upside down for those listening. The religious leaders at the time had grown distant from following the laws of God. Jesus’ teaching helped bring them back to the heart of the law, but He often did so through surprising ways. Most of us probably think we do a great job at loving other people. But if we’re being honest, most of us probably spend our time loving those who also love us back. It’s a lot easier to love the people who we’re friends with. When there’s trust built over time and common ground, it’s easy to love. Jesus says that loving those who love you is not enough. In Luke 6:28, He challenges us to bless those who speak negatively about us, and to pray for those who mistreat us. If you’ve ever been mistreated by someone, or had someone speak negatively about you, then you know how hard it can be to love that person. It is hard to love unloving people. And yet, Jesus did exactly that. When we were at our worst, He still loved us. If you find it hard to bless those who mistreat you, begin with prayer. Between you and God in prayer, ask Him to help soften your heart. Ask Him for justice in a specific situation, but also for there to be restoration. Every person who exists is a person Jesus wants to love. And when we make steps to love those who are unloving, we’re showing the love of Jesus to someone who needs it. As we take steps to pray for those who mistreat us, we become more like Jesus. Take a few minutes right now to pray. Ask God to help you grow in love towards those around you. If there is someone who has hurt you, ask God to begin healing your heart. Say a prayer for that person as well. Ask God to be with them, to help them, and to make a way for their heart to be softened as well. Thank Jesus that He loved us even when we were unloving.

From Broken to Whole

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I remember well when our children would run to me crying about a broken toy and expect me to fix it for them. Sometimes I could and other times, I would have to tell them that it could not be repaired and they would be very disappointed in my inability. There is One who takes each of us, broken as we are, and who “fixes” us completely and makes us whole. Our sin and the darkness all around us that accompany that sin are changed to light and an indescribable feeling of being whole. I think that it because the God who made us is able to have a relationship with us due to the sacrifice of His Son. We are no longer broken by sin but made whole by His grace. Thanks be to God for His plan that makes us whole! God never turns anyone away and says we are too broken to be repaired; there is no such thing as “too broken” with God. We can all be made whole in the name of Jesus. This is “Amazing Grace”!

Healed by His Wounds

Brokenness. We see it all around us. We experience it ourselves: in our relationships, in our dreams, in our bodies. And yet, something happened over two thousand years ago that still has the power to heal that brokenness.  
 
1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took the weight of our sins upon Himself. He carried them to the cross, giving up His life not because of His own wrongdoing, but because of ours. This is the essence of the Gospel. Through His sacrifice, He offered us a path out of darkness and into His light—a life transformed by His grace. 

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we’ve been given a profound healing of our spirits; new life taking the place of sins and darkness that separate us from God. Through His wounds, we are offered forgiveness and a new relationship with God, healed and whole.  

Understanding His sacrifice transforms us. We can’t live in darkness anymore. Brokenness may surround us, but it is no longer within us. His righteousness washes over us. His healing wells up within us. Our entire life shifts as a response to the profound love and sacrifice Jesus showed us, and the healing that He alone can provide.

Deepen Your Faith Roots

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/50032/day/1

I invite you to join me in this Bible study and devotional plan. I am trying to “build my faith muscle” with this short six day devotional and can’t wait to delve into God’s Word. It is only through His Word that I can have a closer relationship with the Lord. And in moving closer to God, my faith becomes stronger. That is how God helps us through the hard times.

My Cravings

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

I have a lot of cravings, like chocolate (which I eat in moderation), cold water and cheesecake. I can satisfy those cravings easily enough with a trip to the store. But I have a deep craving in my heart to know more about God and to be more like Him. That one desire means that I have to expend some effort in order to satisfy my craving. A few minutes here and there and once in a while just aren’t working for me anymore. I’m not sure if it’s because of my age or the many hours in solitude because our children are grown and gone, but whatever the reason, in the quiet space of my heart, I crave to be with the Lord. I want to spend more time discovering new things about Him. It seems that every time I pick up my Bible, I find something new that I never saw before even though I have read those exact same verses multiple times. A trip to the store will satisfy my physical cravings, but only time dedicated to the Lord and His presence will satisfy my soul’s longing for fellowship with my Maker.

Every day, multiple times a day, little alarms are triggered inside your brain. They make your stomach growl, your mouth water, or your mind become fixed on that which you crave.

God gave us physical needs that mirror our spiritual needs, too. Needs that must be met to stay healthy and alive. Needs that must be satisfied over and over again. In fact, food is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for our spiritual needs (it’s called “our daily bread” in Matthew and the “pure milk” of the Word in 1 Peter, to name a couple.)

In the fourth beatitude, which are a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus said this:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6 NIV

Do you long for righteousness and justice? Do you desire the ways of God? Do you yearn for His kingdom to come? Do you want to be someone who chases after that which can never truly satisfy, or someone who hungers and thirsts after God?

In this upside-down kingdom where Jesus is Lord, the poor can be rich, the weak can be strong, and the empty can be filled.

Jesus Christ not only holds the keys to “living water,” but He is the “Bread of Life.” So, when you feel Him prompting your heart—to fight for justice, to love the unloved, to stand up for what’s right (even when it’s not popular)—pay attention.

He stands ready to fill you with everything you need.

Live What You Have Learned

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I am a lifelong learner. I enjoy learning new things and then using what I have learned. In fact, I know from experience that if you don’t use what you have learned, you forget it. I was a Spanish teacher for years, but teaching in the classroom was not the same as when I went on the missions field as a translator and used it or when I translated for a new couple from Guatemala who started attending our church. Using what I had learned helped me to remember the language and it also helped me feel more comfortable with it.

The same thing applies with what God is teaching us from His Word. He doesn’t want us to just read His Word. Rather, He wants us to be a walking model of what is in His Word. Love, peace, joy, long suffering, patience, forgiveness….live it, don’t just read about it. In today’s world, there is a lot of room for mercy and grace because there are a lot of people who do not agree with my conservative viewpoint. But that’s okay. I can still love them, even those living in sin, and show them grace and mercy. They aren’t going to hell because I say so and they don’t stand a chance of going to heaven if someone doesn’t extend God’s love to them and show them a better way.

Living what you have learned is not just for your benefit. It is for those all around you who are watching to see what kind of person you really are. If you practice the Christian lifestyle no matter where you are, you are fulfilling God’s Word to “do the Word.”

Keep Practicing

When someone is training for a job—any job—they must eventually make the shift from studying to practicing.

The apostle Paul knew how important such a transition was, which is why—even while confined to a Roman prison—he recorded the following words for the believers in Philippi, Greece:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

Paul had taught them. Paul had trained them. Paul had loved them. And that’s why, from the isolation of a jail cell, Paul empowered them to live out what they’d learned.

Jesus, too, was passionate about His followers not just trying to look good or to sound good, but to do good—with a heart that genuinely wanted to glorify God. James, the half brother of Jesus, also wrote about not just listening to the Word, but doing what it says.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 
James 1:22-24 ESV

It’s one thing to know about something, but it’s an entirely different thing to put that knowledge into practice. 

The peace of God is a gift that He gives us. It’s something we experience as we draw near to Him by living in a way that honors Him. If we know His will but don’t do anything about it—that shows that we don’t really want to honor God. But if we do His will, then our actions illustrate that our identity is rooted in Christ. And our closeness to Christ allows us to experience His peace. 

Doing the will of God—not just learning about the will of God—unleashes the peace of God. 

So today, study what Paul taught and modeled (which is ultimately what Jesus taught and modeled). And then, ask yourself: “What is God teaching me about Himself, myself, and other people? How can I apply His teachings to my life?”

Redemption is the Goal

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

I know without a doubt that God takes sin seriously. After all, He sent His Son to die because of our sin. But God’s passion is redemption, When we think of “passion” we usually think of Jesus’s great love for us and His death on the cross. We should also be thinking of the Father’s great love and absolute determination to redeem us. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses, not because I think that it applies to me or to our world today, because it was actually written to the Israelites in exile as a promise of hope for the future. But in this verse, I see that God is still working out His plan for all people everywhere. Sin is still around, but so is redemption and that is God’s ultimate purpose for our lives. God desires our best, and that is eternity with Him, not a relatively short life on a planet corrupted by sin. Redemption has always been and always will be God’s goal for each of us. I cling to that when times are hard…I am passing through this world for a brief time but it is not my final destination.

The Best Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse that’s often slapped onto journals, etched into coffee mugs, and printed on t-shirts.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And God does have a plan for you.
God does want to bless you.
God does want to give you hope and a future. 

But—we should also pay attention to the original context …

In this case, God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah—people who’d recently been exiled to Babylon for 70 years. 

The Jewish people were banished to a foreign land because of their insatiable appetite for sin. In fact, for 23 years Jeremiah had been warning them to stop rebelling against God or prepare to face the consequences.

God is patient, but He is also just. In the preceding chapters, God made a case against His beloved people:

They’d exploited foreigners, orphans, and widows. They’d denied the rights of the poor. They’d refused to stand up for truth or obey God’s instructions. They’d murdered the innocent and committed adultery. They’d rejoiced in doing evil and their lives were ruled by greed. They’d even built pagan shrines, sacrificing their sons and daughters in the fires. It was a dark time. And yet, somehow, God’s mercy always extends to the darkest places on earth.

That’s why, just a few verses later, God said they could seek Him and find Him, and He’d bring them back from captivity (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:13‬-14).

That’s why he encouraged them—while in exile—to build houses, plant gardens, get married, have children, and work for the peace and prosperity of their temporary home (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

He wanted them to know: He hadn’t forgotten them. He still wanted good for them. He still had plans to restore them.

God is serious about sin, but He’s just as passionate about redemption.

Though Jeremiah 29:11 was meant for a specific people at a specific time, God’s heart for the restoration of broken people is generationally timeless. 

Even when we feel stuck in the process, God still has a plan. 
We can put our trust in the God whose goal is always redemption.