Tag: God

God, The Promise Keeper

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

God Keeps His Promises (Daily Refresh, 12-09)

“’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.” 
Jeremiah 33:14 NIV

A lot of people would have laughed at Jeremiah when he said these words. Why? Because it seemed like God had abandoned both Israel and Judah. 

At this point in the story of the Bible, Israel is gone—wiped out by an invading army. Now Judah is alone, and another massive army is at their gates to destroy them too. The situation couldn’t have been more hopeless. 

Have you ever experienced a moment like that? Maybe it was a life-changing loss, or impossibly difficult news. In those painful moments, it can feel impossible to trust God’s promises. The people listening to Jeremiah probably felt the same way. But it wasn’t the end of their story because circumstances can’t ruin God’s promises. 

Yes, the enemy broke in and took God’s people into captivity for decades. But God didn’t abandon His people or give up on His promises. Over time, He rescued His people from captivity and brought them back home. 

God hasn’t abandoned you in your pain either. You might feel like there’s no way out of your situation, or that your choices disqualify you from God’s love. But God keeps His promises. 

For generations after returning from captivity, God’s people struggled. They continued to face heartbreak, setbacks, invasions, and captivity. But when they least expected it, God fulfilled His promise. He sent His son, Jesus, to lead everyone, including the people of Israel and Judah, into a new and better future. 

God’s promise of a better future applies to you, too. When we pursue God with our whole lives, we find peace, strength, and contentment. And we live with confidence knowing that one day, we’ll get to spend eternity with Jesus. We have new life believing that God has fulfilled His promise.

My Thoughts

One of my memory verses for this year has been Numbers 23:19, which says that “God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Has He not said and will He not make it good? Has He spoken and will he not do it?” I have pondered and pondered that verse and I always conclude that I cannot find a single circumstance in the Bible or in my life in which God did not keep His promises. When God says He will punish, He does. When He says He will reward, He does. When things look the bleakest, God is still there, carrying out His plan and His promises because He is a Promise Keeper.

Christmas is the season for joy, hope, and giving. God gave and we accept. We like the lights, the decorations, the gifts coming in the mail or under the tree. But pause and think about what it cost our Heavenly Father to keep His promise of redemption. He sent his ONLY Son, the One who had been with Him from creation, to us as a babe born into lowly circumstances and sent to minister to a doubting and needy world. God keeps His promises, always. If God says it, you can count on it happening. Probably not when you think it will come. After all, there was four hundred years of silence from the prophets before Jesus was born. Probably not how you think it will come. The people to whom Jesus came expected a warrior to free them from Rome. What they got was a Savior to free them from sin and offer them the gift of eternal life. God’s promises are fulfilled in a way that is better than we expected and more than we hoped for. He is a Promise Keeper who shows us the way to Him. Waiting for a promise is hard, but if it is coming from God, the wait will be worth it!

Whose Garden Is It?

On By vickleaIn God’s blessings, Scripture2 Comments

My husband works hard on our garden. He has planted all kinds of beautiful flowers just outside the window next to my chair. Roses are my favorites so there are plenty of those. But he also has sunflowers, irises (for our granddaughter Iris), purple asters (for my best friend Heidi whose birth month was September and these were her favorites) and a variety of wildflowers. In the vegetable garden Harry has planted tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and potatoes. Just this week, he planted several kinds of peas. Yes, Harry works hard in his garden. That’s why he gets a little frustrated when he goes to pick the fruits of his labor and bites are missing out of the produce. Groundhogs, deer, rabbits…they all live in our yard because like Farmer MacGregor’s nemeses in the story of Peter Rabbit, they know that our year has a bountiful supply of good things for them to eat. So, whose garden is it?

Whose Garden Is It? By Mary Ann Hoberman

This is a delightful read-aloud story for children, but we adults can have the fun of pondering the wonders of nature right along with the children. Whose garden is it?

I submit this verse to you to definitively answer the question.

The garden and all that grow there belong to God. We are the recipients of His gifts of beauty, fruits and vegetables. And so are the little creatures that share with us!

Gardening

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture1 Comment

Isn’t this lovely? Well, that is no thanks to me because I kill all the plants. In fact, I joke that they just go ahead and wither when they see me coming around. My husband Harry is the gardener and this is the rose bush he planted for me after my stroke. He put it just outside the window next to the chair where I sit daily. Since then, he has added all kinds of other flowering plants as well as bird feeders. He is truly a gifted gardener. We also have a bounty of fresh veggies that he plants for us each year. As my dietary requirements have changed, he has changed what he has planted. That means fewer tomatoes and more things like squash and cucumbers and even some melons. He takes what we can’t use to share with the people in our Monday Bible study group, so it all gets used. Anyway, he is the gardener and I benefit from his talent.

Let’s break this verse down in relationship to what I just said about my husband being the gardener around our house. In this verse, Jesus clearly states that He is the true vine. God is the gardener and we are the branches. What does God do as the gardener in our lives? The same thing my husband does to keep things growing properly in our yard. God weeds out the bad things, prunes back the unproductive growth and fertilizes and waters. We cannot produce fruit unless we allow God to be the gardener. We can keep weeds, those pesky little sinful habits that we know we should not have around, but they will keep the plant that God is working on inside our hearts from flourishing. We can say that pruning hurts and we don’t want to cut things out, even if they are killing the plant inside us. But, again, the plant won’t grow properly unless it is pruned, and it may even die without this process, no matter how painful it may be. We can say that today is not a good day for fertilizer and water. Since our plant food (fertilizer) and water is the Word of God, every day is a good day to feed the plant. God is a good Creator who knows just what He is doing in the garden of our hearts. He sowed seed, our mentors watered it until it began to grow and now God is the gardener who continues to take care of it. His desire is for us to produce good fruit for His kingdom, but for that to happen, we actually have to remain still and let Him work on us from the inside out. Our root system has to be healthy for the rest of the plant to grow as it should. We need to keep in mind that we will wither and die without our Father as our gardener. God’s desire is to help us flourish here on earth with Him in charge of weeding, pruning, feeding and watering. Let’s let go and allow God to be the Great and Loving Gardener!

A close up of my a beautiful rose from my rose bush in the front of the house. Harry worked hard on this bush to make it continue to grow and look the way it does. That is what God wants for us, beauty from ashes and a new life in Him.

He’s A Big, Big God

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

Deep Confidence in a Big God (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, 5-16-25)

Before the telescope was invented, all that was known about the sky above was what could be seen with the naked eye.

Now, thanks to advances in modern technology, we are aware of far-off galaxies, stunning nebulas, and mysterious black holes. Now, we realize that our knowledge was (and still is) severely limited. 

There’s something about staring up at a blanket of stars that beckons wonder. There’s something about a watercolor sunset that invites curiosity. There’s something about standing on top of a giant rock—that’s suspended on nothing in the middle of a massively complex universe—that invites worship.

We are merely discovering what God has put here in the first place. And the more we uncover, the more we are filled with awe.

Yes, the heavens remind us of God’s majesty; the skies remind us of His splendor. But they also remind us of how big He is and how small we are. They remind us of His vastness and our limitations, and of His independence and our utter dependence on Him.

So whenever you see a star-filled sky, are stopped in your tracks by a brilliant sunrise, or read about some extraordinary discovery on the fringes of space, don’t forget to praise the One who has created and sustained it all along.

My Thoughts

If this trip of over 1000 miles this week has taught me anything, it has taught me to look around me at the wonderful world that God has given us to enjoy. I have looked at the mountains of PA, the rolling hills there and the beautiful sunset after a mostly rainy day. I have seen the green, mountainous landscape of West Virginia, the flat farmlands all along the way and the beautiful flowering trees and plants. God created and put us here to enjoy it. We see, we are grateful and more than that, God’s creation teaches us to trust. In times of change, like having three grandchildren whom I held as infants graduate from college, it is a good time to remember that God does not and will not change. He is always as close as our next prayer. I am deeply grateful for all that God has allowed me to see and experience. I know that He is a big, big God because of all He has done and continues to do for me.

Today, we head home (yes, that was a big sigh of relief), and tomorrow is the final college graduation of our oldest grandson. God continues to amaze me with the talents he has given these young adults and the way I am certain He will use them if they will let Him. There are a lot of miles on this body and so many steps over the last ten days that I am aching, but God is an awesome God who gave me the strength for each mile and each step, and I am confident He will be with me, showing me new things until He calls me home.

“Are You There, God?”

On By vickleaIn devotional, promises, Scripture2 Comments

Sometimes, in very dark moments, as I cry out to God, I really want to know if He is there as He has promised. I want to feel His presence. God’s answer is found in His Word.

He doesn’t say He is taking a break, resting or on the phone right now with someone else with a bigger issue. He says He is always with us.

In my devotional on Wednesday (from ALL GOD’S CREATURES: DAILY DEVOTIONS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS 2024), I read a quote from Cathy Mayfield that resonated with me and my propensity to doubt. She wrote: “‘Are you there, God?’” “‘Are you breathing, My Child?’ I heard Him say.”

Since I have struggled with breathing all my life, having been born with asthma, this simple quotation really spoke to me. Every breath I take is from God, and He is as close as my next breath. I thank Him for His reassurance and His constant presence.

Not Alone in Battle

On By vickleaIn devotional, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

Sometimes, I feel as though I am all alone, fighting the battle against my own sinful nature. Today’s devotional was a welcome and humorous reminder that I am never alone. I used to watch the Popeye cartoons every Saturday morning. In spite of the fact that the show always ended the same way, I sat in front of the TV weekly to get my weekly look into heroism and true love. The answer was in a can of spinach. (Yuck!)

These days, when I am battling against temptation, I have only to call upon the name of the Lord and He is right there, reminding me of scriptures that I have memorized and testimonies from my past. God is always there and He does truly love me. We are all blessed to have a Savior as close as the next prayer and always willing to help us in our struggles.

From the YouVersion Bible App, “Daily Power, Day 9” by Craig Groeschel

I loved the old Popeye cartoons. You know, Popeye the Sailor Man? It was clear he was our hero and Brutus was his natural enemy, threatening to harm poor Olive Oil, the love of Popeye’s life. Every episode, after Brutus’ taunting and bullying, Popeye reached the point where “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” Out came his can of spinach, down it went, and suddenly his muscles were popping and fists were flying. Brutus didn’t stand a chance!

I’m convinced we occasionally need to choose a “Popeye moment.” When the Enemy attacks and we keep struggling, we need to “draw a line in the sand” and have a showdown. That’s all we can stand, and it’s time to change.

What fight are you facing today? Are you overworking, missing what’s most important in life? Are you battling an addiction and telling yourself it’s not that big of a deal? Are you putting off a conversation, hoping the problem will solve itself? Are you making excuses as to why you can’t drop the pounds, making jokes about it to help relieve your pain?

Maybe it’s time to stop. Make a decision. Enough is enough. It’s time to change. The good news is your strength doesn’t come from a can of spinach. Yours comes from our God. His power is available to you. His strength dwells within you. His spirit will help you do what you can’t do on your own.

Power Lift: That’s it, Lord. I’m tired of fighting temptation and giving in more times than I can count. Help me change—and help me change now!

Who Are We?

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Out of This World

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. (From the YouVersion Bible App Daily Devotional)

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

Need a Vacation?

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/23192/day/6

Everyone looks forward to getting away for a while, escaping the humdrum of everyday life. But I have found that when my husband and I get away, we take the humdrum stuff with us. My husband still listens to news like it’s his source of life and reports the things he considers important to me diligently. I have told him numerous times that I don’t watch the news for a reason, but he has decided that it is his obligation to keep me informed. So, I just listen without commentary. Anyway, the news goes with us. The challenges we face in life before we go away don’t disappears; they are just placed on a back burner and continue to simmer there. I like the advice in this column that tells us to be thankful and know that God is right there through it all. Being thankful is a choice, just as focusing on the things that make us need a vacation to begin with. If we could just keep our focus on the “author and finisher of our faith”, we would be much better off and more likely to be thankful first and complain later, if at all. God listened intently to the whining complaints of Job’s friends and how they blamed Job for all his own troubles. Then, God listened to Job and his complaints about how he had been faithful and still suffered. When God answered, it was not to tell Job that he had valid points and should have been able to complain. No, instead, God reminded Job of who He is and His sovereignty. Job recognized God’s control all along and pointed out to his friends that God was still his Lord in spite of his circumstances. If we could only get to the point where we can be thankful regardless of our problems and the world’s pressures on us, I think that we wouldn’t be feeling as much pain in our dilemmas and we would be able to be thankful all days in all ways. Vacations are necessary, but they shouldn’t be to get away from problems. I think they should be used to get closer to God and to ask Him to see our problems with His perspective.

Not Home Yet

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

I have been in Maryland for four weeks and have two more weeks to go. My heart yearns to be home among my familiar things, people and places. I was so homesick last night that my husband could hear it in my voice when we spoke and volunteered to drive the five hours one way just to come and be with me for a few days. I discouraged him from the long trip, promising him that today I would get my son to take me to the doctor and hopefully would start feeling better. I have been sick with a cold that has headed to my lungs as usual for the last ten days, so that has not helped my attitude. Being ill has also contributed to my desire to want to be home, with tea, heated throws and a husband who cuddles me close when I have difficulty breathing. Yes, I do desire to be home again and I know that day is coming soon.

In my devotional this morning, God reminded me that even when I go home to Virginia, I am still truly not home. My home is in Heaven and everything here is temporary. All of the comforts of home that I seek pale in comparison to what awaits me when I get to Heaven. So now my yearning has taken a new direction. I desire to be with the Lord, looking forward to seeing His face and praising the One who loves me best for all of eternity. Change has always been difficult for me. A different routine disturbs my peace because I am an introvert that needs to be alone at times. But God has spoken to me clearly that He is here with me, no matter my physical location or circumstances, and He, too, is looking forward to the day when I am with Him. Imagine that! God looks forward to my being with Him!

As for now, I am happy to serve and I will be happier to get home. But the home I will return to is temporary, also. I am there until God calls me to be with Him. Perspective is everything.

Have a blessed day and may you, like me, look forward to going to live with the Lord. It’s in His time, but it’s still coming and will be a great and glorious day!