Don’t Let Labels Define You

On May 29, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9115/day/7

We are who God says we are, not the words the world uses to label us. After I left home and got married to a man in the military, everywhere I went, I was labeled as a “military wife.” I wasn’t sure at first what that meant, but I quickly found out that I would be alone a lot, learn to be independent in new places and basically a single mother for much of the childrearing years. I learned that that label carries with it sacrifice and a lot of tears. But I also learned that it led me to lean closer to God. He was my husband when my spouse was deployed, sometimes a year at a time. God was the One I clung to when the children were in the ER. And He always sent a friend to stand beside me, taking me to the ER or even to the maternity ward when I was having a baby while my husband was thousands of miles away. So, when the world said I was “only a military wife”, I knew that meant I was honored to be a part of the mission that my husband was on, keeping the things at home stable for the children and for him when he got home again. We do what God has set before us to do, knowing that God gives us the label of His precious child and that He will look over us in spite of life’s challenges. The label of “military wife” did not define me; rather, it challenged me to be the best military wife I could be as I threw myself into volunteer work, caring for our three children, packing and unpacking twenty five times and all while doing my best to nurture the children in loving the Lord and seeing His hand in our moves and their opportunity to meet new friends. Whatever label the world puts on you, don’t let it define you but rather let it be the impetus to be exactly what God created you to be, a Christian with a vision and a mission.

Review of UNFORGIVEN by Shelley Shepard Gray

On May 28, 2024May 27, 2024 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

ABOUT THE BOOK

ISBN-13:9780800745790

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:05/21/2024

Pages:304

My Thoughts

The two main characters, Seth Zimmerman and Tabitha Yoder, have an unfortunate part of their lives in common. Both live in semi-isolation from the Amish community where they live. Because of their past choices beyond their control, they have not been shunned but neither are they welcomed by the Amish around them. Seth shows up at Tabitha’s house frequently, chopping wood for her, leaving gifts of groceries and helping out around the house as much as he can. Tabitha is a recluse, rarely leaving the confines of her house since her divorce from the abusive Leon, a choice that has led to her isolation from family and friends. Seth is an ex-con who accidentally killed a man who was attacking another woman, so he is not accepted in the Amish society either. The plot is mesmerizing and totally engaging, with the friendship that the two establish gradually developing into mutual respect and finally love. The title of the book is intriguing, especially since I spent a lot of the time I was reading it thinking that the two were “Unforgiven” by the Amish. There is a deeper reason for the title and I won’t spoil it for you by revealing the hidden meaning. The characters are so realistic and relatable, characters who are caught in the challenges of life and end up victims of their circumstances in more ways than one. I enjoyed getting to know Seth’s heart, what led him to be so kind and compassionate to others. I also liked getting to know the quiet and talented Tabitha who weaves baskets so that she can earn money to live on. The story seems realistic and believable with a pace that is perfect for the story being told. There is a lot of spiritual truth built into the story but it doesn’t overwhelm the tale with preachiness. An entire community is affected when these two find themselves combining efforts to keep Tabitha safe from Leon, newly released from prison and determined to possess what is his. I loved the story, the life lessons and the character development. The entire book is brilliantly written, action packed and addictive. A rich story infused with spiritual truth, “Unforgiven” immersed me in the drama of the story with its intricate plot threads and satisfying conclusion.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley as well as a hard copy from Baker Book House. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Christian Fiction, rated PG due to content about abuse

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

More information about Shelley Shepard Gray and her books can be found at her website at shelleyshepardgray,com

Purchase Links:

Hummingbird or Vulture?

On May 27, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I prefer to be a hummingbird, positively looking around for the good and sweet things in life. It’s a sad fact that there are vultures around, too, just as it’s sad that there is darkness and light. In a world filled with criticism, be the encourager. In a world filled with evil, be kind and generous. Be the one who makes a difference so that others want to know the reason for the hope within you.

Fight Fear and Hold Fast

It seems there’s always something to worry about: natural disasters, current (and potential) wars, shaky finances, relational brokenness, unmet expectations, political, cultural, or racial divisions, senseless violence, our kids, our jobs, our health, and more—much more. But many of the things we fear are largely out of our control.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose our response.

You can constantly be worried, negative, anxious, fearful, critical, and bitter. Or, you can be known for seeing the good in people, choosing joy, offering encouragement, looking for God’s fingerprints, and always finding something to be grateful for. In either case, the cycle feeds itself.

Like hummingbirds are attracted to sweet things while vultures scour the earth for dead things, we will always find what we are looking for. Why? Because darkness and light both exist. Good and evil are everyday realities. And we must decide who we’ll trust, and how we’ll spend our lives.

There are plenty of scary things happening in the world, but—because of Jesus—there is always good.

Even on our darkest days, Jesus is the light of the world. He’s already carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders, which means we don’t have to. He has already made a way where there was no way, which means we can follow the path He has blazed. The Holy Spirit is already compelling us and leading us and teaching us and comforting us, which means we’re not alone.

The hope we have in Christ isn’t just wishful thinking or positive vibes. It’s hope that’s based on truth—on facts and faith.

So what can we do? The Bible says:

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can fight anxiousness with hope.
We can ward off worry with truth-filled encouragement.
We can resist fear by offering life-giving words.
We can refuse to settle for living scared.
We can expose the darkness to light.

So the next time you feel anxiety and fear weighing down your heart, ask God for help and encouragement. Remember, He is with you always.

God Purchased What Was Already His

On May 27, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9115/day/5

The lessons from the book of Hosea are many but none is more important than the one of redemption. Hosea was already married to Gomer; she was already his wife. But when she left him and their three children, he did what God told him to do and went in search of her. After he found her, he had to pay to get her back with him. Isn’t that the story of our own salvation? We belonged to God from the day He created us. We wandered away, strayed far from our Heavenly Father. Then He sent Jesus as the price for our redemption so that we could be accepted back into His presence again, restored to a relationship with Him. The story of Hosea is one of forgiveness and love, even when the object of your love is not worthy. We did nothing to deserve God’s love and forgiveness, yet He forgives us anyway. You may be thinking as I did; But we are not prostitutes. We didn’t go out and sell ourselves to others. Really? In our state of sin, that is exactly what we did. We sold ourselves to whatever caught our eye and took our attention off of God and what was holy and right. It may not have been an idol of lust, but whatever replaced God in our lives was our idol and He redeemed us because of His great love for us, not because we deserved it. Grace…mercy…love. All equal salvation. I don’t know if Gomer was thankful or not but I know that I am and I hope that you are grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus’s blood that God paid for our eternal souls.

Memorial Day

On May 26, 2024 By vickleaIn Holidays, Scripture1 Comment

Jesus gave His life for us to have eternal life and He knew that the sacrifice He made showed His great love for mankind. Let us remember this Memorial Day to honor those who died. My husband is still alive, and he knows that Memorial Day is not to honor him but rather the untold thousands in graves here in the U.S. and in Europe who gave their all to safeguard our freedom.

Trust in God’s Faithfulness

On May 25, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

It is an absolute truth that men will most likely disappoint you. They make promises that they don’t keep, whether because it is out of their control, they forget or they don’t have the means to do so. But God always keeps His promises. Instead of being fearful in challenging circumstances, pause and think of all the times that God has been faithful in the past and trust Him to continue to be true to His character.

God is Faithful

We all have to face hard things. It’s not if you will face them, but when. But when those challenges come, you can know you’re not alone.

In Isaiah 43:2, God reminds Israel that His faithfulness doesn’t change with their circumstances. He was faithful in the past, and He would continue to protect and provide for them…

“When you pass through the waters…”
After 400 years of slavery, God empowered Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity. Just as the opposing army was closing in and all seemed lost, God made a way—right through the Red Sea. (See Exodus 14.) This is probably what the book of Isaiah is referencing to remind the Israelites of God’s power.

“When you pass through the rivers…”
Isaiah’s readers would have probably been reminded of the time God dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites when they were crossing over with the ark of the Lord. They even built a memorial, so that generations to come would remember God’s presence. (You can find this story in Joshua 3.)

“When you walk through the fire…”
In the book of Daniel, three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were thrown into the fiery furnace after refusing to obey the king’s decree to bow down to an idol, instead of to God. They were miraculously delivered, and didn’t even smell like smoke. (This story is in Daniel 3.)

Even though this event probably hadn’t happened when Isaiah was writing, God’s words still came to pass. And today, when we look at His faithfulness to the men in the fiery furnace, we can reflect on His promise in Isaiah, and remember that God is faithful to protect His people.

Recalling God’s faithfulness in the past helps us trust Him with the future.

Even when faced with worst-case scenarios, God is not surprised. He’s already gone before you. No matter what happens, life’s trials and difficulties will not get the final say. God is still powerful, still providing, and still protecting you … and nothing can stand against our God.

So today, as you think back on your life, how have you seen God’s faithfulness? And how can those memories help you trust Him with your future?

Give Back to God

On May 24, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9115/day/2

This devotional hit me hard because I have not been giving things back to God with which He has blessed me, especially our children. Instead, I have a tendency to cling to them tightly, afraid to let them out of my sight or mind lest something happen to them. I have been learning the lesson of letting go for a while now, and I confess that I am not there yet. I need to let my children go. I am disappointed daily in their lack of a relationship with God, or even a desire for one. So, I pray for them over and over, the same prayers. Knowing that their eternal destiny is in the balance, I want to commit them to God and let Him handle their disbelief and the questions that they have raised about Him. Our sons have bought into a lot of the lies of the current culture and I feel that only God can restore them in truth. I want to be like Hannah and give them back to God. Many years ago, they were dedicated to the Lord in church; may the Lord receive that dedication and continue to work in their hearts as I strive to let them go.

Facing Difficult Circumstances

On May 23, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9114/day/7

We all face difficulties in life; that is part of what life is all about. It is our response to those difficulties that shows others in Whom we believe and put our trust. We can wring our hands, cry and become bitter or we can pray to the Lord who made us that He will fulfill His promises to work things out for us in the best way possible for us. I remember several devotionals in the last year pointed out that God did not lead the Israelites around the Red Sea, thus circumventing the challenge. Instead, He parted the Red Sea and led them through it. Whatever our “Red Sea” might be, God will be with us all the way to the other side if we believe and trust in Him.

Run Your Race in Your Lane

On May 22, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9114/day/6

We have such a competitive spirit in our nation. We want to be the best at all that we do, and we are so busy striving for that number one position that we forget that one of our purposes is to encourage others. Instead, we have a tendency to tear others down and make them feel small so we can feel bigger. I like the concept that we are in a race, as described in the Bible. I also like that we each have lanes to be in and we are running an individual race, not a competition. We are all supposed to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on each other, especially the shortcomings of others. When we feel as though we just have to say something negative, we need to remember that the person to whom we are speaking those words is a special creation of God, He made them and He is working on them in their race just as He works on us in ours. Running life’s race can be challenging, so let’s offer each other a hand up instead of stomping our foot down on others. We are not here to compare ourselves to others and rejoice when we think we are better. We are here to help each other along the way and our only model of comparison is Jesus, our Lord.

Our Story Is Still Being Written

On May 21, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9114/day/5

My big takeaway from the devotional today is that God is not finished with me until I draw my last breath here on earth. He is still writing my story, and it will have a happy ending. Each day is a new page in the book of my life and I want the new pages to be filled with gratitude and experiences that glorify God. It doesn’t matter what others say about you or what happened in the past; each day is a new day to make a difference in your world for Him. I am not who the world says I am or even who they think I am. I am exactly who my Heavenly Father created me to be. Like the rest of His creation, I am convinced that God looked at me and said, “It is good.” All that He does is good and created for a purpose, and I am happy to report that I continue to have a reason to live and to serve God every day as He writes new pages in my story.