Tag: Election

Selfishness and Conceit

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Selfish to Selfless (YouVersion Bible App, Daily Devotional, 11-08-24)

Our default setting is selfishness.

Don’t believe it? Try hanging out with a toddler for a day.

Toddlers want what they want, and they want it now. Toddlers will fight (and sometimes bite) to maintain dominion over their prized possessions. Toddlers have little concern for schedules, agendas, or perfectly white walls.

The good news about toddlers—and people in general—is that they have the capacity to change into selfless people as they grow. But, if toddlers aren’t lovingly redirected and taught how to consider others, that selfishness will continue.

So if we’re naturally self-centered humans, how do we train our minds not to default to selfishness?

The Bible encourages us to model our lives after Jesus…

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:3‬-5 ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus didn’t leverage His authority for personal advantage—power, pleasure, control, or comfort—but took on the nature of a servant.

Jesus spent His time investing in others.
Jesus focused His attention on helping others.
Jesus gave up His own life for others.

If you find yourself becoming self-obsessed, self-indulgent, or even a little self-righteous, consider asking God for His help.

  • Ask Him to help you see people the way He does.
  • Ask Him to use any knowledge you gain to love Him and serve others. 
  • Ask Him to put opportunities in your path to lead others toward Him.
    ‬‬
    The Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and relationships with other believers are what refines our hearts. And with God’s help, we can change our tendency from living selfishly into living selflessly.

My Thoughts

I thought that when the election was over, things would calm down, but apparently, there are some hard feelings in my family over the fact that I would dare to vote for Trump. Anyway, there is a division brewing and I am heartbroken over the harsh words that are being directed towards me. Nevertheless, I feel as if I can continue to value others as friends and family members, in spite of our differences. And I covet your prayers during this hard time. I want to show others that I value their friendship and our relationship and that politics is not the most important thing in my life. God is! And that is why I voted the way I did. I had to choose the candidate who most represented Biblical truths…not perfectly, but better than the one who thinks abortion and transgenderism are values to be touted. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. We could all do to read and heed this verse daily. It reminds me that He is everything and without Him, I am nothing.

Come Together with Our Differences

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Striving Toward Unity (You Version Daily Devotional)

Almost every successful company or group in history has shared something in common: they all had a unifying mission.

As Christians, we all share the same mission. We are unified in following Christ. We’re saved by His blood (Romans 5:9) and we’re all called to make disciples in His name (Matthew 28:19).

And yet, even among Christians, there is so much division and disunity.

In Psalm 133:1, Psalmist reflects on how good it is when the people of God live together in unity. There is something powerful that happens among Christians when we are unified. 

Unity is not putting away our differences, because there would be no need to be unified if we were all the same. No, unity is coming together with our differences and striving to make much of Jesus together.

We can accomplish so much more for God’s kingdom together than we can alone. But, we must strive for unity to make that happen. Life’s better when we work together.

Take a moment to consider the people in your life who might be different from you. What steps can you take today to build a greater sense of unity with those around you? Consider a few ways that you can make Jesus famous in your life through the relationships and communities that you’re in.

My Thoughts

Well, it is finally here…the great division between the donkeys and the elephants! We went to Bible study last night and one lady commented that she could not understand how a Christian could possibly vote for Kamala, considering all she stands for that is ungodly. Without getting too deep into that topic, I agreed with her. But then I thought about it as we drove home in the heavy darkness, with only a sliver of a moon in the sky. The reason is darkness. If you choose to cloak yourself in darkness, you do not welcome light, nor can you see it. I am not saying that the other candidate is light…far from it. But I support him because his values more closely align with my Biblical worldview.

So what does that have to do with unity? We are one body…all sheep, protected and watched over by the Good Shepherd. So my prayer for today is that at the end of the day, we can all be “One Nation, Under God” not a divided nation as we have been for decades. No matter who wins the election, we all have the same purpose if we are Christ’s followers. We are to glorify Him and to pray for the people in leadership. Things will never be perfect on earth; it’s not meant to be. But we can help make things better by uniting with other believers to make the world a better place for everyone.

Unity

On By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

This is my prayer, not just for believers but for our nation. Please enjoy this devotional from the YouVersion and join me in praying for our nation today, for unity in spite of our differences of opinion about candidates.

And without adding it to the Scripture, because that would be wrong, let me add the comment there is neither Republican nor Democrat. We believers are called to be one!

Christ Calls You to Unity and Fellowship

Key Verse

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul offers a glimpse of the demographics of heaven. And it looks like paradise. If there were a census in heaven, it would ask only one question: Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Everything else is incidental.

But Paul is not necessarily talking about heaven in Galatians 3. He’s talking about the church—Christ’s followers in this world. The unity of our shared purpose far outweighs any differences in race, gender, or background. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Paul uses the human body as an analogy for the church. Within the body, various parts have different features, different functions, and different ways of working. But they share a common goal—one that unites them profoundly and overrides their differences. Like the parts of the human body, Christ’s followers work together and depend on one another to accomplish Christ’s work.

The unity to which Christ calls us can serve as an example to the world. It can inspire and give hope to people who know little about Christ. Learning to embrace—and celebrate—the unique set of cultural mores, personal experiences, and God-given gifts and sensibilities that every believer brings to the work of Christ is one of the most powerful forms of outreach the church has to offer.

A lack of unity within a church can have a devastating effect on its outreach. If people look to the church and see fractious relationships, backbiting, and internal warfare, they will likely, and justifiably, chalk it up to hypocrisy. For many, it will confirm their worst suspicions about Christianity. If they see there’s nothing special about the way Christ’s followers interact with one another, they may question Christ’s ability to change lives. If, on the other hand, people see loving concern, cooperation, encouragement, accountability, and “iron-sharpening iron,” they may be inspired to investigate Christ further.

Romans 12:18 gets to the heart of the matter: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” You may be surprised by how much doesdepend on you—that is, how much unity you can inspire simply by developing a Christlike heart for others.

The walls that separate us are much more fragile than they seem. If you take the time, effort, and risk to reach out to other believers, especially those who are different from you, you’ll find that those walls can be toppled in no time.

(Note: I added the emphasis on those two sentences.)

At 6 p.m. tonight, the night before the election, all believers everywhere are being asked to pray for the election, our nation and that we may be unified afterwards in a miraculous way. Please join me in prayer tonight, no matter what time zone you are in.

May God bless America!

Where Is Your Faith?

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, Video3 Comments

First, I must admit that the days before an election have found me anxious and fearful for the future of our nation. Over and over again, God has spoken quietly to my heart and told me to have peace, that He is sovereign and in control and nothing is impossible for Him. But it was not until this morning that I had a real breakthrough.

After the strong storm came up and Jesus awakened and calmed the storm, Jesus’s words to His disciples, those who had been following Him and seeing all of His miracles, were, “Where is your faith?” That is what He asked me this morning. If my faith is in a man to lead this nation and help us to become more moral again, then my faith is in the wrong thing. If my faith is in a party or a church leader or anything or anyone that is not God, then my faith is misplaced. The same God who commands the winds and waves commands the whole world and He can take care of the United States or judge it or whatever He want to do. Whatever God chooses to do is part of His ultimate plan and I can neither change His mind or divert Him from His plan. So, instead of being afraid in the rocking boat, I am choosing to do as Jesus did, to be at peace and to rest, trusting that the Father has it all under control.

As a side note, another interesting thing I got from my devotional this morning is the times Jesus healed and told the person not to tell others. Jesus wants us to focus on the majesty of God, on His glory, grace and mercy, not on the miracles He does for us. Yes, they are numerous and they happen every day. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of what God has done for us in any given day. But the focus of our lives should not only be on what God has done for us, although gratitude is important. Our focus should on our response to what God has done. Are we truly in awe of Him and His power and actions for us? Are we honestly thankful or do we just take Him and His work for granted? Do we tell others the testimony of how He has changed our lives and we are not the same? Or do we only talk about miraculous healing? I am not saying that miracles are not important; they are, but they are not the reason we seek God, or at least I hope that isn’t the reason. God wants a relationship with us, not for what He can do for us, but just because He loves us and wants us to love Him because He is our God. God is not our personal genie (I said the same thing in a previous post long ago.) There is no magic bottle that we can rub and summon the Lord God. He is always there, right beside us, listening to us and waiting for us to come into a right relationship with Him, one of respect and genuine amazement at who He is, yet He still notices us and all the little details of our lives. Our God is truly an awesome God!

Our God Is An Awesome God-Michael W. Smith

God Is Our Protection

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Changes in life and in this world are never more evident that when it’s an election year and when you are aging quickly. Election years bring all kinds of anxiety for me, so I have learned to tune out the news and to turn to God. He knows what is going to happen and He isn’t afraid, so why should I be? As far as the aging process that seems to get more aggressive these days, it is a natural part of life. Again, with the aches, pains and dimming vision, I can turn to God who already knows what I am going through and who comforts me, heals me and strengthens me. My bones don’t work so well anymore as they pop and creak at each movement, but God never changes and is a stalwart and dependable refuge for me. I don’t have any idea how people without God cope with life and its many challenges, and I don’t really want to find out. But I feel sad for them, because I know that without God every day would be bleak and hopeless. With God, every day is a new day, filled with hope and expectation of what new thing He will do that day to show me His love and protection. Have a great day and remember to run, don’t walk, to the Lord God! He is waiting for you with outstretched arms.

God Our Rock

There are hundreds of different names and titles for God throughout Scripture. And since the Psalms are written from various seasons in life, there are many different perspectives of how God acts within those seasons. Psalm 18 is written at a time when the author, King David, was delivered from his enemies by God.

In this Psalm, David almost immediately calls God his rock, because God was dependable and stable. There was nothing that could overtake God or move Him. This truth wasn’t just for David, but for everyone who relies on God.

When we belong to God, He is a rock and a fortress for us as well. Everything in the world constantly shifts, but we belong to a God who never changes. He is our protection from things that might seek to harm us.

We belong to a God who can protect us throughout our lives. Even if we don’t have physical enemies, we can run to God when life gets difficult. That’s why, like David, we get to respond to God with praise. We need to remember what God has done so we can praise Him for who He is. 

Take some time today to thank God for how He has led and protected you so far in your life. And if you’re currently in a difficult season, run to God and ask Him for help. He is able and willing to protect and comfort you.

From Politics to the Gospel

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

This blog looks at a moving discussion I had with a dear unbelieving friend.

From Politics to the Gospel

Dear Friends of Vickie’s Blog: Please go to the original post and LIKE it there! I really want to give credit where credit is due and this entire piece was penned by David Ettinger. I’m sure he would enjoy knowing who actually likes his blog and would also enjoy the encouragement you could give him by following his blog. SO, REMEMBER, GO TO THE ORIGINAL POST AND LIKE IT!

From Politics to the Gospel

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

This blog looks at a moving discussion I had with a dear unbelieving friend.

From Politics to the Gospel

Dear Friends of Vickie’s Blog: Please go to the original post and LIKE it there! I really want to give credit where credit is due and this entire piece was penned by David Ettinger. I’m sure he would enjoy knowing who actually likes his blog and would also enjoy the encouragement you could give him by following his blog. SO, REMEMBER, GO TO THE ORIGINAL POST AND LIKE IT!

Losses and Wins

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized8 Comments

This weekend brought devastating news to me. First the MSM declared that Biden is the president-elect. Never mind that the vote has not been certified and there are all kinds of allegations of election fraud and legal challenges to the current vote. There are statistical anomalies that make more sense and the election is being compared to Richard Daley taking over Chicago with “down ballots.” I’m disgusted and dismayed, but I’m not defeated and neither is the President. And if it turns out that he LEGALLY loses, then the USA has gotten what we deserve and what many asked for. Nevertheless, I continue to cry out for God’s grace and mercy for our nation.

But, to me, even more upsetting news was the death of the “Jeopardy” TV show host, Alex Trebek. I have watched Jeopardy since I was in my teens at home with my mom and siblings. We watched, played along and enjoyed that half hour of TV each night. (At that time the host was Art Fleming.). Then, when I got married and moved every couple of years, the one show that was a constant in my life was “Jeopardy.” I felt like watching it made me smarter somehow as I absorbed the trivia that was presented there. When Alex Trebek wrote his memoir last year, I got it and read it intently, wanting to know more about this guest in my living room for over three decades. The memoir was heart-touching and heart-rending as he accepted his inevitable death from pancreatic cancer. And yesterday, he passed away. May he Rest In Peace.

So, what wins do I have? I went to church yesterday for the first time in eight months! My husband and I attended a new church in a town about forty minutes away (twice the distance as my previous church), and I thought the service was amazing! Excellent praise and worship time, communion and a sermon that my heart really needed. Just going into public was a real challenge for me since I haven’t gone anywhere except to medical appointments since March. But, masked up and limping around with my boot on my broken foot, I went to church and loved every minute. Afterwards, I met an elderly lady outside waiting for her ride. But as it turns out, Deborah didn’t have a ride. She was trusting Jesus for one. Since she is currently staying in a town near ours, we took her home. Win! We got to help someone! Then, we went to the local restaurant and ordered a thin crust pizza for our lunch. I haven’t had pizza since March either. Even with my very restricted diet, I was allowed two pieces. A lot of thanks for that taste in my mouth again!

Here is Dr. Denison’s Forum for today. I hope that you enjoy reading news from a Christian perspective.

Dr. Denison November 9, 2020

By the way, I joined Parler because it doesn’t censor conservatives. If you want to join, it’s quite easy. I’m @wattsvickie on this app. I hope to see some of you there.