You Can’t Earn Your Way to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Jesus is Lord (Daily Refresh, 12-27)

No matter how good you are, how hard you try, or how decent of a person you attempt to be, when it comes to following Christ, you can’t earn your way to God. You can’t do enough good things to tip the scales in your favor. You can’t buy, win, impress, or manipulate your way into salvation. 

But Jesus has already purchased your freedom on a cross and offered it to you as a gift. 

But you do have one job, as Paul describes in his letter to the Romans…

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV

Many people believe that Jesus was a real, historical person. Many people believe that Jesus was a genuinely good man. But the Bible says that even the demons believe there’s only one God—and shudder (James 2:19).

Minutes before their deaths, two criminals hung next to Jesus on the cross. One of the criminals mocked Him, but the other one trusted in Him. Jesus told the one who trusted Him that he would soon be in Heaven. He received grace.

You see, we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standard. We all need His grace, but we haven’t all received His grace.

So are you trying to be good enough for God? The bad news is, you can’t. You can’t ever be good enough on your own. But the great news is, Jesus has already made a way. However, you can’t simply know that He was a real person or think that some of His teachings were nice.

But the most important question remains: Will you make Him the Lord of your life?

My Thoughts

There are multiple people in my family who have the philosophy that I also grew up with, that if I am “good” then one day I will go to heaven. I didn’t find out until I finished college and a neighbor presented the gospel to me that I found out that you can never be good enough to go to heaven because being “good” is not how to get there. There is one way to heaven, and that is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Some people are so accustomed to having enough money to buy anything that they want, they may have convinced themselves that they can buy their way into heaven. A definite false belief since God has no need for money. After all, He who created and owns everything doesn’t need our wealth if we have it. Others think that they are such savvy negotiators that they can talk their way into heaven, perhaps at the last minute. That seems to give them permission to live however they want and then talk to the Gatekeeper and enter into heaven. Again, not the way God established His world and the “ticket” into salvation. Once we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, then we want to do good works because we want to be more like Christ. We aren’t so worried about gathering riches on earth because we know that they don’t last. And we are more careful about what we say because we know that we represent our Savior and will one day account for all of our words. So, the bottom line is that salvation is your choice now, today, not the minute when you die and stand before God. You need to make that choice before you face your Creator. Being good isn’t what God seeks; He wants sold out, absolute surrender to Him. Sounds scary, but it’s really not because at the bottom of what God wants from you is His firm foundation of love. He wants what is best for each of us, and He knows it is to choose to be with Him forever.

Tis the Season

On By vickleaIn Christmas, Holidays2 Comments

Bells are ringing,

Phone is sounding,

Carols playing.

Tis the season

To shop and give,

But let’s not forget

The reason.

The Christmas story

Told in God’s Word

Is not a myth,

But a true miracle, the gift that we all need,

But the one that many avoid.

Not wanting to be convinced,

They shy away from the truth.

They prefer the noise of the bells ringing,

Children demanding, Phone sounding,

And carols playing.

I prefer the silence in which God speaks to my heart,

And reminds me of the reason for this season.

Have a very blessed Christmas, from my house to yours!

God Is the Author

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

Trusting God’s Story (Daily Refresh, 12-22-25)

Imagine Mary and Joseph getting ready to become parents. They probably asked a lot of the same questions expectant parents do today: Is the baby healthy? Are we prepared to care for this child? Do we have what we need? Where will we have the baby? Are we ready for the birth?

Near the end of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that everyone within the Roman world return to their hometown for a census (Luke 2:1-4). This meant that Mary and Joseph had to leave their home in Nazareth to take the four-day journey to Bethlehem, the city of David, who was Joseph’s ancestor. 

It could’ve been because of the census that Bethlehem’s inns were full of people making the journey home. It also could’ve been because of a misunderstood “scandal” surrounding Mary and Joseph. Regardless, when the time came, Mary gave birth to Jesus in the only place available to them: a stable. She placed him in a manger—a feeding trough—because that’s all there was. Surely this was not the birth that Mary would have planned for her firstborn child.

And yet, it was exactly what God had ordained. God showed us a lot about His Kingdom through the circumstances around the birth of His Son. 

He showed us that Jesus is humble. Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger. The King of all Creation, yet such a humble beginning.

He showed us that the Kingdom of God is accessible. This King wasn’t tucked away in a castle or a mansion, separated from His people and surrounded by luxuries—shepherds and wise men alike were able to come visit Him.

He showed us that we can trust the story. Mary had to trust God’s story. Joseph had to trust God’s story. Imagine how the story would have been different if Mary and Joseph had demanded that room be made for them in an inn, shouting, “This is the Messiah, people! We need a room with amenities!” But they didn’t do that. They accepted the situation in front of them, trusting God’s story regardless of how strange or undesirable the setting seemed. 

And from that surrendered posture and strange set of circumstances, God brought forth His Son, exactly as He had planned. 

We can trust the story because God is the Author. Jesus’ humble birth was not an accident—it was a message, a picture to all of us of what God’s Kingdom is truly like. It’s also an invitation for us to surrender our plans, our ideas of how the story should be, and trust the trustworthy hand of God in our lives. We can trust God.

My Thoughts

We can trust our story to God, also. He planned and executed His plan perfectly, with the perfect timing, the perfect setting and the perfect place. God is the Author of each of our stories, so on this wonderful Christmas Eve, let’s lay down our plans before His throne and trust that His plans are better.

If you are reading this and enjoy it, please leave a comment. I am having some difficulty with Word Press. Some cannot see my posts. Others cannot comment. So, if you can see and comment, I would appreciate knowing that. Thank you and have a blessed Christmas Eve. May we always work towards fulfilling God’s plan for us!

Give from a Place of Gratitude

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13415/day/22

I am not a Scrooge, but I do watch my pennies around the holidays. Our nuclear family has grown exponentially as each of our three children has two, three and five children of their own. Plus our siblings to buy for, too. So, yes, I budget. But I also give when I see or I am made aware of a need. That is not to toot my own horn by any means. I don’t give so others will look at me and be thankful. I try to give anonymously and give the glory and all of the gratitude for providing to the Lord. He blesses me so that I can bless others. I like to use what He has given to me wisely so that more can receive a blessing. I would rather be a Bob Cratchit than a Scrooge any day!

God Cares

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/619/day/349

I hold on to the promise of God that He cares about me and all I do, say and all of the challenges I face. In the New Year, I will be starting PT again, this time for my shoulder that the doctor thinks has a rotator cuff problem. I am trying to avoid surgery, having already had a steroid shot a week or so ago. The pain is better but not gone, so I am thankful that God truly cares for me and everyone I love. Casting my cares on Him means letting it go and not worrying about surgery that may or may not happen. He is a good, good God and it is beyond my scope of understanding how much He cares for me. I just accept that He does and my heart’s desire is to show others that He cares for them, too.

Hear Jesus in the Quiet Moments

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13415/day/21

It’s hard to be still in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays, especially when company is coming and you will have a house full. That is me this year. In a “normal” year, it would just be me and my husband, celebrating Jesus’s birth together, opening a few gifts and then resting and enjoying the day. In the past, we have traveled to Maryland to be with our son and his wife’s family. A big and very noisy and boisterous group! This year, our daughter from PA is arriving on Tuesday with her husband and three of their children. One of her daughters is living with us already and their oldest, a son, is driving down from the Lancaster area where he is now working. So, seven people on Christmas Day! I am still trying hard to carve out my devotional time and so far, so good. On the day after Christmas, Teya’s fiancé arrives to add to the numbers here. I am anticipating the visit with great happiness and prayer that all will go well and we will enjoy our time together. Our daughter is the one who is a strong, solid believer, so she will understand if I need to go away and have some quiet, “be still” time. She does the same thing herself. Meanwhile, on this last Sunday of Advent, may all who read this know the peace and stillness that only Jesus can bring to your heart, soul and mind. God bless you with the ability to be still!

Believing

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Believing Beyond Norms (Daily Refresh, 12-20-25)

Mary was a young girl immersed in the quiet rhythms of Nazareth when an angel announced that she would bear the Son of God (Luke 1:31). The typical response to hearing this might be fear, or shock, or awe. Instead, Mary responded with belief—a belief that what the angel was telling her was the truth. “May your word to me be fulfilled,” she said to the angel (Luke 1:38). 

Witnessing this unwavering faith, Mary’s older cousin Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged Mary’s faith and blessed her: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

In these simple words, we hear a reminder to anchor our faith in the unwavering truth that God is faithful to fulfill His promises according to His Word. Elizabeth’s statement, “Blessed is she who has believed,” is more than an observation; it’s a present affirmation. The emphasis isn’t just on the fulfillment of these promises, but on the blessing that comes from believing and trusting in God’s plan. And it prompts us to examine our own faith journeys. Do we, like Mary, choose to surrender and trust in God’s promises?

Today, as you seek the Lord in prayer, express gratitude for the unexpected blessings. Ask for discernment to recognize God’s hand at work, even when circumstances seem contrary.

My Thoughts

God picked Mary, I think, because He knew how she would respond, with the same faith she had been showing in her life all along. I like the part of the devotional that places emphasis on believing and trusting in God’s plan. Yes, God would fulfill His promises, but how did Mary know that? Because she believed God and trusted Him. I am absolutely certain that I don’t have the kind of faith Mary had. I am more of a Zechariah kind of person who lost his ability to speak until after John the Baptist was born. He questioned the angel, saying in Luke 1: 18, “‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.'” I am one who likes to see the evidence before I step out, but God is consistently reminding me that I must step out in faith in order to see Him move. Do I believe? Yes. Do I doubt sometimes? Yes. Does that make me an awful Christian? No, I think it tells you that I am flawed, just as we all are. Some things are easy for me to believe for; others are harder. I think the difference is knowing God’s will and that He will bring it to pass because He has promised it already in His Word.

I am sure I could not be a Mary or even an Elizabeth. But that is okay because God takes me just the way I am and works with me to make me a better Christian. I am a cracked pot on His potter’s wheel, but He continues to mold me and make me the way I should be. Flawed, imperfect but so very loved and blessed!

True Humility

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A Humble Beginning (Daily Refresh, 12-19-25)

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

Generations of anticipation. Prophets foretold it and the people hoped for it. There, in a simple town, it happened. The Son of God took on the vulnerability, frailty, and weakness of man by beginning His life as we all do—as a a baby. Holiness and power were made present in humanity. And to Mary, He was born.

Do you think anyone imagined, after all the prophecies of Jesus’ coming, that He would begin ‌His life on earth as a baby? That He would grow from an infant to a child to a teenager to an adult, the same way that man has since the offspring of Adam and Eve? Even during His ministry, people loved to view Jesus as a conqueror—a man of power that was going to topple the Roman government and establish Himself as their king. They wanted Jesus to show His power in a way that gave them power, too. 

And yet Jesus was humble to His core. 

He willingly began His time on earth completely powerless, born to His mother Mary into a simple life. 

Jesus went from being one with the Father in Heaven, powerful and supreme, to willingly taking on a human beginning, being born as an infant inherently dependent on others. Such humility marked His life and ministry. He did not come to topple governments but, by His loving sacrifice, topple sin by taking on a human life and then giving it up of His own accord. 

The Son of God. Mary’s son. God’s perfect plan made manifest at last.

Humility. It marked Him from the beginning.

My Thoughts

Jesus did not have to come humbly. He could have come as a conqueror, with all the power and might of heaven behind Him. Instead, He was born just as we are, through the labor pains of a willing servant of God. The people of the day looked for a new ruler, a new king to overthrow the Romans. What they (and we) got was someone not interested in power but in real “peace through strength.” His strength was demonstrated in His humility. We would to well in this very divided world to emulate our Savior and show His peace to others who need to know what a real leader who loves regular people looks like.

Decide to Be Humble and Gracious

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Learning to Live Humbly

Have you ever met an angry Christian?

You may have come across Christians who love to grumble, complain, or even speak harshly about other people. Maybe you’ve even been that person at times in your own life.

If we’re not careful, we can easily become self-righteous within Christianity. After all, we know the truth and others may not. You might see how tempting it can be to look down upon other people, demean them, or consider them as worse off than ourselves.

But this misses the point of the gospel of Jesus.

The gospel tells us that all of us begin at the same starting point. And it’s only through grace that we come to salvation and learn the truth about God’s love for us.

That doesn’t make us any better than other Christians! In fact, as Paul says in Ephesians 4:2, we should actually be humble and gentle with others, rather than harsh and critical. He says we are to be patient with one another, helping one another in every way that we can—so that we all grow together.

These ideas aren’t original to Paul. They actually came from how Jesus lived his life. As followers of Jesus, we too should strive to be gentle, humble, and patient with everyone in our life. Regardless of whether they look or think a different way, every person deserves dignity, patience, and love.

Take some time today to think of a few ways that you can grow in patience, humility, and love with others. It could be slowing down long enough for people to know you care, saying something encouraging to someone, or admitting to someone that you’ve made a mistake.

Make the decision today to live in humility and grace with others.

My Thoughts

I really need to work on myself in being humble and extending grace. I have a tendency to speak first and then repeat and apologize later. It would be a lot better if I would extend grace to all, knowing we are all headed to eternity and that I want to take as many people with me as I can.