Help Me to Do My Part

On December 12, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture7 Comments

I often despair when I hear or read the headlines of daily events in our world. It is so apparent that darkness is winning. But, taken from the perspective of God’s Word, what is happening is only for a season. We who are believers in Jesus Christ know that His ultimate triumph is assured, and good does overcome evil. In the meantime, while we wait for His deliverance, it is a good thing to ask God daily to show us what part we can play in overcoming evil with good. No matter how small, we can make a difference!

God will guide us to do the work that He has purposed for each of us, if we are open vessels for Him. We all live in darkness these days, but God has placed us as lights in the darkness so that we can guide others onto the path of peace. Jesus is our example, a rising sun that we can reflect to others.

It’s honestly beyond comprehension that Jesus can be the light of all mankind and that He uses each of us to shine the light that began with Him. So, yes, there is definitely darkness in the world, with evil being called good by evil, manipulative people. But, we win in the end…we just have to persevere and keep asking God to help each of us do our part.

May your day be blessed with a multitude of reminders of how you can help God’s final purpose, fulfilling your destiny and God’s plan for your life.

Why God Loves Us

On January 8, 2021 By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/luk.15.32.mev

In my devotional this morning, the speaker, Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, said something so simple and yet so profound. He said, “God doesn’t love me because I’m good. He loves me because He is good.” That was a “wow” moment for me. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t consider myself self-righteous and/or good. In fact, I have always been in the camp that believes that I can never be good enough to earn salvation. After all, it is a free gift from God. We just celebrated Christmas, the time when we rejoice in the free gift that God sent to the earth, His Only Son. Why did God send Jesus? Because of His love for us. Because God is good. Yes, I already knew that, and so did you. However, today, this word got into the deep parts of my soul, creeping into the places where there has been doubt and fear. He loves me. He is good. Nothing will happen today that I can’t handle because God is on my side. Almost fifty years ago, I stopped running from God and accepted His free gift of salvation. The road since then has been rocky and twisted. I’d like to think that I have never doubted God’s love for me, but if I am honest, that is not true. When I was feeling all alone in yet another new place, I can remember having pity parties for myself instead of turning to God and His love. In the middle of those parties, God would reach down, pluck me out and tell me what He wanted me to do so that I would feel better. That was His love, continually reaching out for me. In less than two weeks, many in the U.S. will be celebrating the inauguration of a new President. I am already mourning this new government because it means change. I don’t like change; I have never liked change because it is…well, different, unexpected and frightening. But God keeps telling me that He is in control. I have been “lost” in my fear and God spoke to me clearly this morning that He knows what is going on with me, why I cannot stand to watch a news broadcast or hear the sound of the voice of the incoming President. He knows my heart, the heart that He created. He has spoken to that heart that He loves me and I’m going to be okay. That won’t be because the new administration promises hope and prosperity. It will be because God offers that hope, in His Word as I study it daily. I pray that you realize today just how much God loves you, not because you are good and deserve His love. No, He loves you because He is good and will always want what is best for you. God is good, all the time. Blessings, my friends, for a day filled with love, joy and laughter, knowing that the King of the Universe loves Y-O-U!

Fight Evil With Good

On September 18, 2020 By vickleaIn Uncategorized4 Comments

I am disturbed, very distraught, about all of the evil in the world. In these days, we are seeing evil called good and good called evil in ways that I have never seen before in my lifetime. Surely, the Lord’s judgment is coming, and His wrath will be over all the earth! I am not prophesying here, folks; I am just declaring truth as I have read it in God’s Word. Franklin Graham is leading a prayer march in Washington, D.C. on September 26th. I hope that multitudes of people go to support prayer for our nation. I can’t go, but I will certainly be praying at home.

Today’s article from Dr. Denison reminded me of how much evil is in the world, but it also encouraged me by the good that some are doing in order to overcome evil. In fact, that was the daily verse today in my Bible study, i.e. overcoming evil with good.

Here is the link to Dr. Denison’s forum for today:

Dr. Denison Sept. 18, 2020

I hope that you will read the entire article. Some of the statistics, like how many believe that pre-marital sex is okay, were eye-opening to me. I admit that it should not be because I have seen this happen repeatedly with former students, just living together until they get married. The problem is that this not the order that God established. Call me old-fashioned, but marriage is a sacred union before God and when you are “just living together”, then there is no vow to stay together through the hard times. It all just saddens me, but it is also a call to action.

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