Our Work Isn’t Finished

On August 5, 2023July 1, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Just about every Christian probably knows no quotes Jesus’s words from the cross, “It is finished.” He declared that the sacrifice was done, the work the Father had sent Him to accomplish was done and because of His great love and death on the cross, He knew that He was opening to door to eternity for us. But is our work on earth done as soon as we become a Christian?

The work that Jesus gave us to do is to continue to tell others the Good News about the grace available to them through accepting the Lord Jesus as Savior. I used to be so diligent about every task. If a teacher assigned me something to do, I jumped right into it, eager to complete it and do a good, impressive job of it. I don’t think it’s an accident that Jesus is called “Teacher” and that He left us an assignment to do. He wants us to participate in bringing the story of His mercy and grace to others. I wish I could say honestly that I am been just as diligent about this assignment that Jesus left me to do. I have been more of a “hit or miss” kind of person. Because of my shyness, I am reluctant to approach others, so I need boldness that can only come from God. I need His guidance to show me the people to whom I should speak His words of comfort and affirmation, those who are ready to receive His Word. I am elderly now and don’t work at a regular job anymore. I am in awe that God gives us a job to do in spite of our weaknesses and infirmities. I can still tell others about Jesus and the gifts of grace and eternal life that come from freely to those who believe. I am not finished with my life on earth, nor am I finished with my assignment from God. If you are still walking on earth, living and breathing, then you, too, still have an assignment. Let’s work on it together!

The Imagery of Snow

On July 28, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture, Song2 Comments

I have to be honest and confess here and now that I don’t like snow. For me, it’s too cold, too slippery, too dangerous to walk on for my unsteady legs. When we moved to Maine, I often told people that Harry had moved us to hell and it was cold. We had almost two hundred inches of snow the first winter that we were there, with snow reaching our second story windows, and that was not an exaggeration at all. We lived there for four years (I called it surviving) and God taught me a lot of lessons there, mostly about not being so self-centered and thoughtless. That being said, I never really appreciated the snow there…it quickly became brown (or yellow) and a real mess to walk on or drive in during the eight months it was present. However, now that I am aged and no longer living in the frozen north, I can reflect on the imagery of snow and appreciate what the Scriptures say about it.

Scarlet is a deep and vivid red color. If it spills on anything, it will definitely be noticeable. So, when I think about how my sin is scarlet, covering my entire life, that is a brutal picture of reality. There is not one part of my former life that my sin did not affect. But thanks be to God who provided His Son to cleanse me completely from my sins! I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on February 28, 1973, and my life was completely changed. Not only did I leave my sins behind, but I was no longer stained by it. God looked down and saw whiteness, not red. The red was in the blood that His Son shed. The white is as pure as snow.

I still don’t like snow—the cold, the danger it presents. But I do like to see it now, especially when it is freshly fallen and a pristine white. No small animal tracks, no dirt, just white as far as the eye can see. That is an advantage of living rurally…there is no traffic and until we move our car to go out, there are no tire tracks, ruts or mud. Everything is white…an indescribable color that glistens in the sun and reflects the soft light of the moon. That is how God means for us to be, glowing in the reflection of His Son, totally clean from all of our impurities, the sin that separated us from Him.

One of my favorite old hymns when I was a new Christian was “There’s Power in the Blood.” At the time, I didn’t really understand all of the words but I liked the music and I enjoyed raising my voice in song with the others who clapped and sang along as the church band played. These days, I still enjoy this hymn; however, I don’t see it as a song to raise the enthusiasm of the crowd but as a song that acknowledges the sacrifice of our Savior and the demonstration of the powerful love of God. Do I sometimes mess up and sin? Yes, unfortunately. I am still a sinner saved by grace. But the good news is that each time I choose the wrong way, God’s Spirit corrects me, I confess and He washes me clean. I praise the Father who provides such wonderful grace and mercy that I can share my image of snow with you and pray that the power that is in the blood will also cleanse you from sin as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The imagery of snow will long be with me, not the mountains of snow in Maine, but the acres of snow that I sometimes glimpse in my front yard. Pure, untouched and shining for God…just like I want to be!

There’s Power in the Blood

Thankful for Grace

On June 22, 2023June 21, 2023 By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture2 Comments

There isn’t much in this life that is free. I get excited when I win a prize from an author that gives me a free book. But once I read that book the excitement is gone and I look forward to the next one, even if I have to pay for it. God’s grace is free all the time, ready and waiting for us to accept it. His unmerited favor is right there…like a gift that keeps on giving every day if we just reach out to God, stay connected to Him and accept His free gift.

We have nothing that we can do to save ourselves. God did all of the work on the cross through His Son Jesus. We just have to accept that gift and its magnificent benefits and then use that grace that we have to bless others.

The knowledge and understanding that we need is readily available to us these days though various sources. I have multiple copies of different versions of the Bible to read. I also have the YouVersion Bible App, technology that makes it possible to have all kinds of versions at my fingertips on my computer. The real knowledge and understanding come from a relationship with God. He loves us, we love Him and that love overflows to others. That is the foundation of our understanding God. He is love, pure love, poured out for us and on us so that we can pour out that love to a lost and dying world that needs to know Him and His grace.

Forgiveness

On June 14, 2023June 12, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

You would think that I am asking for the sun, moon and stars when I ask that my siblings try to get along with each other. But there is this thing called forgiveness that is the obstacle. For many years, I have been the only sibling talking to everyone. As a second child of five, that is a somewhat precarious position for me at times and often stressful. I have talked to each sibling, explaining to them that the cost of forgiveness is not to the person that they aren’t forgiving but to themselves, but my pleas are to no avail. The offenses seem petty but I am sure that they are not to the one offended. Nevertheless, I still keep trying to get everyone together. I keep telling them that it’s going to be really sad for the first time for them to see and talk to each other in decades may be at my funeral and I won’t be there to see it.

People in today’s world don’t understand that holding a grudge, no matter how small, affects you physically, mentally and emotionally. God knew that and used Paul to instruct us to forgive. After all, God forgave us so who are we to hold a grudge against anyone? Give people grace…that’s what God gives us. Allow them to make mistakes and then forgive and move on. The burden of not forgiving is heavy and the price may never be known. So, go to bed each night with forgiveness on your lips and in your heart. Let God carry the burden to carrying out justice if it is needed. That’s not my monkey or my circus, so I personally refuse to demand that God let me do His job. What a presumptuous thing that would be!

Not Destroyed

On June 13, 2023June 11, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

I have been reading the Book of Job and have discovered many spiritual nuggets there that are profound in their simplicity. Although Job’s friends missed the mark in their advice, sometimes what they say has a tiny little sliver of truth that can be extrapolated and is certainly useful to hold onto. I think of the friends who gave Job unsolicited advice, Elihu is my favorite. Here is one of the things he says:

Read that verse several times as I did. It is absolutely awe-inspiring to realize how powerful God is. He made the earth and all that is in it, sustains life on earth, sends storms, keeps the seas within its boundaries, and even numbers the hairs on our heads. Through all that we do to show that we desire our independence from God, He continues to be just and righteous and does not just wipe us out with one word. He could, but He doesn’t because His love is more powerful than His anger at our sin. A day is coming when this earth will be destroyed and all that is in it, and God will be totally justified in His wrath-filled judgment. In the meantime, He gives us His Word, with verses like this to remind us of His grace and mercy.

Need a Do Over?

On May 16, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Do you recall when you were a child and playing a game and something happened to cause you to perform badly? Maybe a leaf blew across your field of vision or a small child was yelling on the swing set and distracted you. So, when you tried to kick the ball, you missed because you were not paying attention. That’s when you would call out loudly that you needed a “do over.” Usually, because you were playing a game meant to be fun and with friends, they would grant your wish and you would get to do the whole thing again, this time with better results.

Sometimes, in our Christian walk, we need a “do over.” We need to press into God and appeal to His mercy and grace, deeply and sincerely repentant for messing up and asking for the grace to do that thing you messed up again. Maybe it was the opportunity to speak to someone about the Lord and you blew it. Maybe it was the chance to be kind to someone in need and you ignored the whisper of the Holy Spirit to reach out. Whatever you missed out on, God is the God of second chances. He is the God of the “do over” , not because we deserve it but because of His great love and mercy for us. He shows us grace, His unmerited favor, and allows us to try again, and again, and again. We just have to be willing to admit that we have blown our chance, missed an opportunity or sinned once again when we really didn’t want to. Distracted by the things of this world, it’s hard sometimes to stay focused on the important things that God has for us to do and the changes He wants to make in us so that we become more like Him. But when we straggle behind or go in the wrong direction, God is right there, waiting for us to request a “do over” so that He can lead us back on the path He wants us to be on.

Just when we think that God cannot possibly still love us and continue to forgive us, He does. We confess, repent and He is always faithful to His promise to forgive. Even better, He grants us a “do over” so we may get the chance to see that person again and tell them about Jesus or do participate in a ministry that we neglected previously. Whatever it is, God is in the business of providing grace to His children. It’s one of the ways He instructs us and expects us to extend that same grace, mercy and forgiveness to others.

I don’t ever want to get to the point where I cannot receive instruction from God and His Word. I have had a lot of “do overs” in my lifetime, but none has been as important as the ones when I know for sure that I have disappointed God and I need to go back and try again. I have learned a lot from those experiences, mostly about being more aware and striving to do things right the first time. Nevertheless, because I am still a disciple in training, I still need His grace and mercy every day. I need a “do over” more frequently than I would like, and I am always thankful that God graciously provides those opportunities for me.

Give Each Other Grace

On February 4, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

We all want God to extend His grace to us, but when it’s time to extend that same grace to others, oftentimes we fall short. According to the dictionary, grace is unmerited or undeserved favor. Every day that I wake up, God extends grace to me. He gives me grace just to get though the day and to make good choices. He treats me like a favorite child. And then I come across a person who irritates me and I avoid them or cut them off in mid-sentence or treat them like they annoy me (because they do). I think of all of the times that I must have annoyed God yet not once did He withdraw His presence from me and turn away. I am ashamed to say that I need to practice more extending grace to others.

We need to practice the art of patience with each other. We are all works in progress, so we need to show each other love, humility and gentleness. There is a world of people out there waiting like sharks to devour us and to belittle us and our faith. We need to support each other, give each other the time needed to show encouragement, uplifting each other so that we can survive what the world and the enemy throws at us.

May you take these words to heart and be a blessing to someone today who needs a kind word.

Not by Works

On January 23, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture, Song2 Comments

I am and always have been a person who seeks the approval of others. I want people to like me, to appreciate what I have done and to notice that I am helping. I don’t think that I am alone in this desire, but I do know that this need to work towards acceptance isn’t necessary with my relationship with God.

I have read these verses, memorized them, taken notes from numerous sermons about them. But they are now settling into my heart. I spent years trying to please my mother, but there was nothing I could do to make her happy with me. I just was never good enough. I had straight A’s on my report card, but my mom brought up the fact that I had gotten a C on a test recently. I was just not good enough. I knew from a young age that my mother cried when she had me, stated repeatedly that she never wanted me and even refused to name me. (My dad names me, ironically, for my mother.) In spite of a less than welcoming childhood and all kinds of physical problems, I grew and matured and at the age of twenty-one, I became a Christian. I didn’t have to do anything special for God to love me. I just had to be me…a sinner saved by grace. There was and is absolutely nothing I can do to make myself more acceptable to God. He loves me just the way I am. That has been a freeing truth in my life. I still like to please people, but if I don’t, I’m not totally devastated. I just keep trying to please God instead by serving others. Not because He requires it, but because He doesn’t require anything of me except for me to believe and accept Him as my Lord and Savior. I have been changed from the inside out and it’s freeing to know that I can’t earn grace!

May you, too, find the freedom that comes only from accepting God’s free gift of salvation. And may your day be blessed with finding others to tell about His love, mercy and grace!

Just As I Am-The Vagle Brothers

Grace and Truth

On December 24, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

This is the reason that we celebrate the birth of Jesus. He came in the flesh to be a man on earth and walk among mankind. It was like the Lord God came and stepped into the neighborhood and decided to make His home there. He brought to the earth grace and truth. Grace is what saves us; it is God’s undeserved mercy that takes away all of our sins so that we can stand before Him, righteous and clean. We did nothing while He did it all for us on the cross. The truth that Jesus brought is what sets us free. We are freed from the curse of the law, freed to come before the Lord God as many times a day as we want, without going through a priest or a lot of ceremony. We can have a conversation with our Heavenly Father because Jesus showed us the truth of how to have a relationship with God. We just have to confess, repent and be the person He created us to be. In my devotional two days ago, this verse was the central focus and the video that I watched from the YouVersion inspired this post. One of the things the speaker said in the video stuck with me, “Lean on His grace and live by His truth.” It is in the leaning and the living that we find the pathway to eternal life and thus we have the reason for the season!

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas Eve as you ponder Jesus’s birth, life and sacrifice which left behind His grace and His truth for each of us to enjoy forever.

Thankful for My Intercessor

On November 13, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Many years ago, my husband and I attended a Bible training school called Youth with a Mission. I don’t recall a lot that we studied there, but at least one truth we learned and book that we studied stuck with me through the years. The title was THE INTERCESSOR by Norman Grubb and it relates how to be an Intercessor like Rees Howells, a man of God who made a difference by praying for others. If you want to perhaps purchase the updated version, here is a link to do so:

Christian Book

The reason this book made such an impact and stayed with me is that this true story of a man who believed in prayer and made a difference with his petitions to God was amazing to me. Since then, I have strived to be an Intercessor for others, but I have never reached the heights of Rees Howells, not even close.

Today in my devotional, the verse that jumped out at me was about Jesus’s being my intercessor.

I cannot imagine Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and speaking up on my behalf, but that is what the Holy Bible says that he does. The tense used is one of the present ongoing tense, not past, not done, but rather still happening. I remember when I was a child that my father was my mediator with my mom. She had a heavy hand of punishment and I seemed to be always in trouble for one infraction or another. It was my father’s soothing voice that calmed her down and prompted her to think before she dealt out severe blows to my legs. I still got punished, but the punishment was not half as severe as when daddy wasn’t there to intervene. Now, I can put that into the context of Jesus speaking to God on my behalf and letting the Father know that I am His and the price has already been paid for my salvation. Yes, I still mess up, and there are consequences to actions, but Jesus’s intercession is there and the Father has shown me mercy and grace over and over again.

If you get a chance to read THE INTERCESSOR, remember to put it into the context of Jesus interceding for you, on a daily basis and every time you need it. He is right there, always ready to go to bat for each of us because He loves us so much. Yes, He is the King of Glory, He is the Lion of Judah, and He is also the Great Intercessor who speaks to the Father for us, always operating with unfailing love and forgiveness. I want to be like Jesus, in Intercessor for others, and I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice that makes Him the Intercessor for me and for each of His children who know Him as Savior.

Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner

Tag: Grace