Tag: personal testimony

A Favorite Hymn

On By vickleaIn Song, testimony, Video6 Comments

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Link to the hymn on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/yKP_XxCBDZY

Lyrics:

1 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

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2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

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3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.

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4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

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5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.

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6 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

My Musings

I was raised in a traditional church, although I did not attend regularly. But hymns were a regular part of every Sunday when I did attend, and I learned to listen to the words as I sang them. Now that I am a Christian, I have found that the words of the old hymns continue to speak to my heart of a faithful God who is eternal and unchanging. The world may change; the standards all around us may change. But God will never change, so we can count on Him to fulfill His promises and to take us to be with Him one day.

A Personal Note:

I am spending the weekend with our son and his family at a water park in Williamsburg, Virginia. This trip was planned several months ago and we all have been excited about spending time together in a relaxing environment. Unfortunately, on the Friday before our trip, I had to go to the ER because of awful pain in my left foot. After x-rays and an examination, the doctor said that he thinks it is just badly sprained but it may have a hairline fracture. So, later this month, I have to see the orthopedic specialist. Meanwhile, I am in an ortho shoe for support and using pain patches. I cannot get in the water with the rest of my family, but I am enjoying seeing their exuberance and excitement here. So, no worries because God is good all the time and I know and believe it even when my plans don’t work out as I expected!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Technology and Its Effects

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “Reconnected”, Day 1

Have you ever thought about the fact that most of us notice things way less than we used to? Let’s not just focus on screen time. How about how the screens interrupt us from noticing? They keep us from noticing two very important and necessary things: the beauty and the brokenness of the world around us. And both are vital aspects of being human. 

We need to be noticing both. . . . 

This is one thing that Jesus did so well. 

He noticed. . . . 

He walked at three miles an hour, and he took time to notice those who needed to be noticed. 

He noticed the woman at the well. 

He noticed that she was thirsty for more than just water—she was thirsty for love and acceptance. And he gave her both. 

He noticed the tax collector, Zacchaeus, who was completely despised by his own community (and for good reason). But Jesus noticed the good inside Zacchaeus and his longing for forgiveness. Once again, Jesus gave what was needed. 

He noticed the woman who was caught in adultery and filled with fear and shame as she was about to be stoned. But because he noticed her, he offered her grace and mercy. 

He noticed the lepers who were outcasts from society. He noticed their pain and isolation and offered them healing and acceptance. 

Jesus’ ability to notice people was central to his calling. 

Prayer

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be a model for me, and please help me follow his example as I notice those around me. Amen.

My Thoughts

I confess that I am guilty of using my technology too much and not paying attention to those around me. Can you imagine Jesus walking down the road with His i-phone in His hand, saying, “Wait just a minute. I have to finish this text.” Yeh, me either. Jesus gave 100% of His undivided attention to the task at hand. He knew His time on earth was short and I think He wanted to touch as many people as possible with God’s love before He returned to the Father.

Shouldn’t we be the same way? Should we not actively pursue touching as many people’s lives with God’s love and truth before we are finished with our life her on earth? Going through life with a phone attached to our hand and EarPods in our ears, drowning out even the slightest disturbance to what we think is important, we are missing out a lot on what God is trying to show us all around us.

I know that God convicted me recently of being on my phone while my husband is driving. I tried to justify my using my phone to calm me in traffic, but that didn’t wash with the Lord. He is my peace, not my phone. So, I started putting my phone away, at least unless I have to use it for something. And my husband and I are having good conversations in the car on our many trips to medical offices or church. He even commented that he was enjoying talking to me and I have likewise enjoyed the give-and-take that we used to take for granted. I also notice the crops growing, and Harry points out that it’s broccoli that they must have added a lot of fertilizer or something because in a week’s time, it I was almost ready to harvest. We talked about the pro’s and con’s of adding such things to our food supply. That was just on one trip, so I look forward to many others.

It really annoys me in a restaurant when two people are sitting across from each other and both are on their devices instead of relating to one another, God created us for a relationship, with Him and with others. He never said to go out and create relationships with our idols of technology. That’s what I believe tech has become, an idol that is too important in many of our lives. I am trying to wean myself away from depending on it so much for online friendships and such and instead seeking relationships with real people who need the same real contact that I need, that all of us need really. In this world of technology everywhere, I think Christians can stand out by being the ones who notice others and their needs and when they are hurting or desperate for someone just to see them. We are supposed to be a part of the world, but we are also called to be separate. One of the ways I want to strive to be separate is by my public use of technology. People deserve to know that they are special to God and that they have my attention when they are speaking to me. Maybe that’s a small thing to you, but it is a big thing in my life, and I want to do better and be a better representative of Christ to others.