Comfort in God’s Word

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

He Comforts Us (Daily Refresh 2-03-26)

In ancient Israel, the rod and staff of a shepherd protected and guided the sheep, and even reminded the sheep that the shepherd was there. And so King David (who was a shepherd as a boy) used the metaphor in Psalm 23:4 to convey this truth: God was his protector and guide. 

King David faced death many times and had enemies bent on killing him. He also dealt with his own sin issues and personal mistakes. But in the midst of all this, he repeatedly turned his attention to the faithfulness and assurances of God. 

Where did he find these assurances? 

King David would have been a student of the Hebrew Scripture, the Torah—the first five books in our Bibles. 

To a Hebrew, the Torah wasn’t just a story about God, it was the very Word of God. It was authority, promise, and guide. It was this Word that David based his life—and his psalms—upon. David could write about God’s character because:

1. He knew the Word of God.
2. He experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that Word.

We, too, have this—and more. We have the revealed Word of God from the ancient prophets in the Old Testament, the words of Jesus while on earth, and the revealed words of Jesus through the apostles and authors of the New Testament. In other words, we have what David had:

1. We have the Word of God.
2. We can experience the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that word. 

Read what Jesus said to His disciples:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 
John 16:33 ESV

Like David, we don’t have anything to fear, because God is near—and He is our comfort. Knowing Scripture helps us confidently believe that God is and will be a faithful protector, guide, and presence to those who love Him. So today, commit to getting God’s words deep within you.

My Thoughts

We just went through over a week and a half of below freezing temperatures here in central Virginia, preceded by ice and snow and then wind. I prayed a lot before the storms, during the storms and after the storms. What did I pray for? For protection, for our power to stay on and for us to continue to have water and heat. In the past, an ice storm generally signaled to us that our power would go off, sometimes for days. This time, with such cold temperatures, we knew we needed electricity. Our son contacted us and told us to go to a motel, that he would reserve a room for us. But we told him “no” because we didn’t know how long it would take for the storm to pass and everything to settle down. We told him that we were praying. He still continued to check on us and ask us if we were sure we didn’t want to go to a motel. He knows we live rurally and once the storm hit it would be almost impossible for us to get out to a shelter. In staying here, we may have been considered foolish, but I kept my mind focused on God’s being a shield and on His faithfulness in the past.

We can count on God’s Word when we have it hidden deep in our hearts. John 14:26 says that our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught us. Part of those “things” is all about His constant caring, faithfulness and love.

Today is the day I go to get my crown fitted. Am I thrilled about my first outing in ten days being to the dentist and then to the pulmonologist? No, but it needs to be done and I am fully trusting that God will be with me in this procedure, too, just as He has walked alongside me in so many other trials and tests. God is faithful, all the time, in all ways. Life doesn’t stop and pat us on the head and tell us that today there won’t be any problems. Instead, God tells us that we are to be courageous no matter what we face because he is always with us. Even through bad storms and very cold temperatures. Even when we go to the dentist. And I am especially trusting Him to get me across the ice to the car this morning as I leave. He is right there as I fear falling, reminding me that He is holding on to me.

With God at my side, I can face an unknown future, and so can you!

Our World in Chaos

On By vickleaIn Dr. Denison’s Forum, Hymn, Song3 Comments

I have pondered a lot over the happenings in our world lately. It seems that the whole world is “on fire” and no one is interested in putting the fire out. Protests all over the U.S., civil unrest over government agents doing what they were hired to do, and general disharmony throughout the world. So, what exactly is happening? I venture to say that Christ’s coming is ever closer and these events are part of getting us ready. Am I a prophet foretelling the coming of Jesus? No, of course not! I am just pointing out that we need to be ready whenever He comes back and, for me, looking at world events, the sooner the better. But He is waiting until the Father tells Him to “go” and we are waiting, too. In our time of patience or impatience, depending on the day and the events therein, we are to continue praying, working, and doing. The world’s events do not change what God has asked us to do.

I have said for a while now that the United States, along with most, if not all, nations, have lost their moral compass. For me, my moral compass is God and His Word. Denison’s Forum has an interesting perspective on the situation in our nation and the world, so I am presenting that here for you to read. Scroll down until you reach the section about the resignation of Brooks and then keep reading. Parts of this were eye-opening to me while others just made me nod my head in agreement, saying, “Yes, that is what is needed.”

Denison’s Forum, 2-02-26

I want to end my blog today with a reminder that no matter what is happening, God is there and He is always faithful.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness-Dutchforward

Worship the King

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song4 Comments

I am a little sad today because it is still so icy here in Virginia that it is dangerous to be out and about, especially if you are prone to fall as I am. So, no church today. In fact, our pastor made a video of the parking lot and it’s mostly a sheet of ice. He says that they are having the 11:00 service only (we usually have four services) and only those with four-wheel drive should plan to attend. So, I will be watching the streaming service online and I am thankful that is an option. With the ice and cold and snow and cold, I have been inside, missed appointments and not very cheerful these days. God reminded me this morning that He is still the same, in the cold and icy places, too. So, I am choosing to worship and hope that you will join me.

And a song from Chris Tomlin:

O Worship the King-Chris Tomlin

Have a blessed day and stay safe and warm!

Live God’s Word

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

The Living Word of God (Daily Refresh, 1-30-26)

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Bible is that it’s just another book.

In fact, many Christians treat Scripture as if it’s just a collection of ancient letters and books that inform us about God and religious matters.

While the Bible is certainly a collection of ancient documents, it is also much more than that. It is the very word of God. The Bible is inspired by God, which means He spoke through humans to create these letters and books.

More than that though, God’s Word is living and active. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to speak to us even today. This is what makes Scripture distinct from any other book.

James tells us in James 1:22 that the power of Scripture doesn’t just come by hearing it, but by living it out.

Scripture has the power to radically change the way we live, but we must take the effort to first read it, and then do what it says.

James goes on to say in verses 23 and 24 that anyone who reads Scripture and doesn’t follow God’s way is only deceiving themselves. We think we are following God simply by reading His Word, but God desires that we live out the truths of Scripture in our own life.

This is what it means to follow God’s way rather than our own.

Take a moment to consider a few ways you can begin to live out the truths in Scripture. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal to you an area of your life that needs transformed by His Word. And then, resolve to not just hear God’s Word, but to do what He says as you follow after Him.

My Thoughts

When I read this devotional today, my mind automatically went to Hebrews 4:12 which says, “For the word of God is alive and active.” I must confess that in memorizing that verse, I generally overlooked this part and went on to the “Sharper than any double-edged sword” part. I think for years that I missed the importance of the first part of the verse. Why is God’s word alive and active? Two reasons come to mind. First, because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and God speaks through the Spirit to each of us, if we are listening, of course. But the second reason is also a valid one, I think, that came to me as I was meditating this morning on the devotional. It’s alive because it lives in each of us. We walk it, talk it and live it. And through us, others who may never pick up a Bible get to see the “alive and active” word of God. When we do what the Bible says, we are showing all those around us the truth and the power that is in God’s word and that spurs us to live as “little Christs” or Christians. I hope this devotional encourages each of us to “do” the word so that we are demonstrating that Christ lives in us all the time, and not just on Sundays in church.

Only God

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

No One Else (Daily Refresh, 1-29-26)

Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she wasn’t able to conceive. Year after year, she was mocked, tormented, and left heartbroken because of her infertility. 

Have you ever known disappointment? Discouragement? Devastation?

Maybe you have desperately wanted something: a godly marriage, a healthy body, a thriving family, a hard-earned title, a close community, a restored relationship. Maybe you’ve looked around at everyone else’s seemingly full lives and wondered why your arms were empty. 

Eventually, after years of waiting, God answered Hannah’s prayer. And because of that, she was filled with wonder and worship, saying:

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Despite the excruciating years of longing and disappointment, Hannah knew there was no replacement for God. There’s no one else who’s able to create something from nothing. There’s no one else who holds the power of life.

There is no other Rock on which to build our faith. 

There’s no one else who sees the worst of us and loves us anyway. There’s no one else who has compassion for our deepest longings. There’s no one else who can be trusted with the most tender part of our dreams. There’s no one else who’s there to guide, teach, and comfort—when it feels like everyone else has left. 

There’s no one else who has the power to save.

Because God is holy, He is always good. Most of all, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Rest assured, there is no one else who’s more worthy of your trust, your respect, and your heart.

My Thoughts

In the middle of the night, when the pain hits me in waves, there is no one else who can comfort and soothe me like the Lord. My husband is sleeping quietly beside me, unaware that once again, I am experimenting pain in my shoulder or foot. But God knows.

He also knows of all of the dreams I have had that have not been fulfilled. I don’t speak them to anyone, but I have told Him, and then I hold them close to my heart. I know that God knows and that is enough.

Disappointment is a part of everyone’s life. You don’t get the promotion, the recognition you deserve. You don’t feel welcome or wanted and sometimes not even loved. When you are feeling all alone and desperate for a friend, God is right there, holding out His hand and welcoming you into His comforting arms.

I like to sit in God’s presence when I am feeling overwhelmed. The problems don’t always just disappear, but they do seem smaller and more manageable. The peace He promises is there for us. God always makes a difference, and we are never alone when we worship and serve the One True God.

Review of Whispers in the Snow by Heidi Elijarbo

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review3 Comments

About This Book

Product Details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G8GVHTSD

Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 27, 2026

Pages: 125

Part of Series: Heartwarming Christmas

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief.

Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband.

But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality.

Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.

My Thoughts

This is a cozy historical mystery that held me enthralled with the magical setting of a fictitious town in Norway in the winter. Cornelia Gran is my kind of heroine, absorbed in mysteries and looking for local mysteries to solve. When she discovers a missing resident, she throws herself wholeheartedly into solving the puzzling disappearance and in her quest for the truth, she encounters unexpected danger. The villains are ruthless characters who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims, and therein lies the fast pace and a riveting story. Cornelia’s curiosity is relatable and realistic and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her as well as her grandmother and her faithful and loving servants. While she is trying to unravel the mystery of a little yellow cottage and its missing heir, Cornelia meets a widow and her great-nephew Simon, the center of the mystery and with a fascinating backstory about keeping papers hidden from an unknown and unscrupulous man. Once Cornelia discovers that their lives have been threatened, she is even more determined to get to the bottom of who is threatening them and why. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, but I must say that the prose that described the setting and the characters read more like poetry to me, flowing masterfully from the hands of an author who demonstrates her genuine love of history as well as her talent in creating stories that are clean and entertaining. The book is hard to put down and I sighed contentedly at the perfect ending.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Rated G, Clean Christian Fiction

About the Author (bio from Amazon)

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

For more information about Heidi and her books, check out her website at https://www.heidieljarbo.com/

To purchase her book:

Amazon

Creator of All

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Out of This World (Daily Refresh, 1-26-26)

For thousands of years, people have gathered around campfires and peered into the night’s sky, studying the stars. 

Now, thanks to telescopes and satellites and advances in modern technology, we’ve uncovered more about God’s celestial creation than ever before: diverse planets, interstellar dust, mysterious black holes, and billions of other galaxies. 

What we’ve discovered, however, is not new to God. It’s the very same heavens and the very same earth that He spoke into existence at the very beginning of time. And though we’ve only scratched the surface on what’s still to be discovered, the vastness of the heavens and the brilliance of its design beckons both humility and worship. 

In Psalm 8, David wrote: 

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” ‭‭
Psalm ‭8:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The same God who hung the sun, moon, and stars in the sky also created us. He created you. It’s mystifying to think that He considers us His prized creations. 

Like David, this should humble us and compel us to worship.

Who are we, after all, to be loved, chosen, and redeemed—especially when we don’t deserve it? Who are we, when we consider the magnificence of our Creator, to be made in His image? Who are we that God is mindful of us? Who are we that He cares for the details of our lives?

We are His people. His children. We belong to Him.

So today, let’s trust in our creative, compassionate, and loving God. He is where we’ll put our confidence. He is where we’ll put our hope.

My Thoughts

The scientists and aerospace engineers have celebrations when they “discover” a new planet or star. I can only imagine what God is thinking as He looks down on mankind with all of their instruments and knowledge and is probably thinking, “It was there since I created it at the beginning.” God is not amazed by man’s discoveries, but we often are.

What we should be in awe over is God’s infinite capacity to create new things, like us, in exactly the way we work best. The stars twinkle in the night sky because that is their purpose in God’s universe. The sun lights the day, the moon brightens the night. And we have a purpose, too. I think our purpose on earth is to find the reason God created us and then run after that goal with all of our hearts. Some are created to be teachers (like me), others explorers, scientists, mathematicians, historians, etc. Whatever we were created to be, we all have one thing in common. We were all created by our loving Father in Heaven and He desires a relationship with us. His love is unfathomable and indescribable. It is always there, even when we aren’t looking for it. Just like the stars are still there in the daytime but invisible to our eyes, God is there, watching over us and applauding us when we make right choices while He corrects us and guides us for the wrong ones.

Yes, I am in awe of the universe that God has created, but more than that, I stand in absolute, open-mouthed wonder at a God who loves so deeply and completely that He made me to be just the one He wants me to be. And you know what? He made you, too!