Tag: Hope

Weary of the Battle

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/1201/day/1

I confess that there are days when I just want to stay in bed, pull the covers up over my head and snuggle down, just ignoring my responsibilities and what is going on in the world. I don’t turn on the news because it’s not new and it’s rarely fair, balanced and accurate. I don’t listen to podcasters spouting their interpretation of the news, for the same reason. However, I live with a man who listens to all news, all the time and who reports to me gleefully and repeatedly throughout the day about what he heard and how he interprets it. The world is broken. The news is mostly a lie. And my husband is annoying, but I am holding on to the hope that one day God will make everything right. Does my breathing quicken and my heart speed up when my husband gives me his latest report? Unfortunately, yes, it does. Even when I tell him honestly that the news he is reporting is stressing me, he continues to report. After all, who else is going to listen to his 16 hour a day broadcast? So, I continue to fight the battle of the war of what is right (patience with my husband’s enthusiasm for the news) and what is wrong (losing my temper and telling him to go away). This is one example of a spiritual battle that I fight daily, but there are many others. Satan would love to destroy our marriage of fifty one years with constant disagreements like this one. But we have made a commitment to love each other, which means putting up with the differences we have and forgiving each other when an offense occurs. It must make Satan cringe when we go to bed together again each evening, not angry and not ready to “throw in the towel” on our relationship. The battle is real…but so is God. And since I know that God wins in the end, I will just keep fighting on His team, with the faith and assurance that this earthly battle will not last forever. (And praying that there are no newscasts in Heaven, of course.)

Christ’s Resurrection

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/42932/day/4

The good news keeps coming! Yes, we are weak humans with a finite time on earth. But the good news is that, with Jesus and His resurrection power, we have hope for an eternal future. That is the source of our joy on earth. We don’t have to go around feeling defeated by all of our earthly diseases and pains. We are ultimately victorious, and we need to live like we are victors, with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts.

Soar Like the Eagle

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/46391/day/8

There is a big difference in the view of life that my sister and I have. I know that life is finite, that I am just passing through and I have the hope of eternity with the Lord. My sister, on the other hand, believes that this life is all there is and is in a state of constant despair because of her failing eyesight and health. She tells anyone who will listen that she is frail. She is correct; we are all weak and need a strong God on our side. She doesn’t like to hear about the freedom that comes with belief in God and the salvation of His Son Jesus. I am still praying that the Bible stories we heard as a child and the truths I have told her over the years will open her heart to hear and believe. It seems impossible, but God is the Creator of the impossible and will do what only He can do. Meanwhile, our differences in philosophy mean that I can get sick and not lose hope, knowing that this life is temporary and a better life awaits me. Do I enjoy the tests and multiple medical visits? No, of course not. But I see them as a part of this life that I am enduring with patience until I can once again be with the Lord who created me. I hope you will join me in prayer that my sister will have that hope one day soon. The love of God in my heart changes my entire perspective and I want that for her.

Hope, Mercy and Comfort

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/2

If any nation today needs restoration, it is the United States. We have not fallen away as some say…we have walked away (in some cases, run away) from God as hard as we can. May the God of all hope offer hope, mercy and comfort to those of His servants who live here and are waiting for Him to act. His action may very well be a much deserved judgment and justice, but that, too, shows God’s love. After judgment comes the restoration.

Steadfastly Clinging to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13952/day/23

This devotional really spoke to me about not being wrapped up in circumstances but rather clinging to the hope that we find in God. Yesterday was a tense day around our house since we knew Isaac was seeing his specialist and getting his test results back. Our son Scott called as soon as Isaac was done at the doctor’s office and we were all on speaker discussing what the doctor had said.

First, the good news. Isaac’s CT scans and bloodwork were clear, showing no malignancy currently present. So, there was rejoicing when we heard that.

The doctor presented three options for treatment because the cancer they removed is extremely aggressive. According to the doctor, this type of cancer most often attacks the abdomen and all of the organs there. The first option is testing every two months. Isaac will have to have bloodwork and or CT scans every two months, regardless of whether he chooses to do the other options or not. The second option is preventative chemotherapy. Of course, there are numerous side effects. Isaac plans to discuss this option with the oncologist when he sees him tomorrow. He is leaning towards just option one and hoping (praying) for the best outcome. The third option is very radical in that they would do surgery and remove his lymph nodes in his abdomen as well as part of his intestines, the area that they think the cancer would head for next. The doctor did not recommend that but he said that if what the cancer attacks is no longer there, it cannot survive, so it is an option. Isaac definitely does not want to do surgery again unless it is necessary. He is still suffering from being sore from the first surgery.

So, in the good news department, clear tests and more to follow. Apparently, this cancer does not just disappear as the doctors had originally reported. So, vigilance is key. Isaac will talk to the oncologist tomorrow and listen to his recommendations before he makes the final decision, but he is leaning towards just getting tested every two months and dealing with the cancer problem if it rears its ugly head again. I would prefer the preventative chemo, but that does interfere with his normal routine and I can understand why he doesn’t like that idea.

Isaac is handling this well, if a bit stoically. He is resigned to whatever comes next and needs a big faith boost. I would like to spend more time with him feeding him with the Word and prayer, but so far, he has no time or interest. His “why, me” attitude has not turned into bitterness, just a resignation that somehow he is under a dark cloud that he cannot escape. I should say here that Isaac had a tough childhood because his sister is non-verbal autistic and from the time he was six, Iris became the priority. So, this is another blow for him and I want to be able to reassure him that God loves him all the time, in all ways and that He didn’t send the cancer to punish or pick on him. Please pray that my husband and I get the time to share truth with Isaac and that God will open his heart to hear and accept it. He has always been curious about our faith, so I pray God will open the door and let us in to help him through this.

I appreciate all of the prayers so far; your love and caring have helped me to face each day’s new challenges. I will post what Isaac finds out from the oncologist and what he recommends once I know anything. I am not enjoying this journey, but I am so thankful that I am not taking it alone.

By the way, my son sent me a nice photo of Isaac in the doctor’s office, looking out the window and wearing his eclipse glasses. He got to see part of the eclipse anyway. And he is really looking forward to his trip to Austin the first week of May. I am happy that he has something to look forward to that will be fun for him. God is good, even when the situation stinks.

God Uses Our Brokenness

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/13696/day/32

I am broken, and if you are honest, so are you. In what ways are we broken? We are not perfect yet, not what God wants us to be. As one writer said, “We are all still under construction.” Sometimes, I feat that there is so much broken inside of me that it just cannot be fixed. And then God reminds me of where I started and where I am now, and in looking back with thanksgiving, I see that He is still working out His plan for me. God can use that brokenness that I am so frustrated over sometimes to show others that I am not complete in God but that I am trying. It is in my failures that others can see me as God sees me, a work in progress. I think it encourages others to want to know how they, too, can be a project for God to work on and one day bring to completion. The Christians who present themselves as “holier than thou” and “be like me” are not doing God or themselves any favors, nor are they drawing people to a loving God who is patiently working on each of us to make us more like His Son. We have to let others see us as we are, not quite fixed yet but better than we were. I think God can use that to draw others to Him because they will see in us the possibility of change and hope.

Good News

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App1 Comment

When you get a raise or a promotion or a new baby arrives, you cannot wait to share the good news with everyone you know and even some strangers you may meet. The really good news that we should be sharing is the new life made possible because of the arrival of Jesus. On this Christmas Eve, take time to share the reason you are joyous and celebrating. Take time to tell others about your hope, your peace and your Savior!

Abounding in Hope

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Abounding in Hope

The good news of Jesus Christ is for all people and nations. This truth is something that Paul continuously reiterated in his letter to the Roman Christians. Paul wanted to make sure they knew that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has been given access to God through Jesus Christ.

And so, as Paul neared the end of his letter, he encourages the Romans with this prayer: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13 ESV)

What a wonderful promise! God is doing the work of filling us with joy and peace, and as that happens, by His Holy Spirit, we will abound more and more in hope.

Hope for what? Hope in what?

In Romans 5:1-5, Paul describes how those who believe in Jesus are now at peace with God…

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV; emphasis added)

Because of our faith in God, we hope in God’s glory, and we hope in God’s love.

So right now, consider how God’s love might fill your heart with hope. In what ways can you hope in God during this Advent season?