Tag: sovereignty of God

God Isn’t On Our Timetable

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/8

We all have schedules and some of us still have deadlines to meet and responsibilities at work that have to be done on a certain time. So when are told that God doesn’t work on our timetable, it may boggle our mind. We say to ourselves (and to God, if we are being completely honest), “Look, I know you are busy and I am tryin to wait patiently here, but I need this today, or tomorrow at the latest.” Those words may work with co-workers and might even work with our spouses or other family members. But they don’t work with God because all of time is on HIS schedule, not ours. If we are waiting, then God has a reason for us to wait and something He is doing while we wait. God sees the whole picture while we see a tiny little corner of it and think we know what is going on and what needs to happen within our time limits. God knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it, so He works on His own timetable, not ours. Disappointing to those of us who are A-type personalities and just want things done right and quickly. God always does things right, but He may not do them as quickly as we tend to demand or the exact way we think it should all be done. Step back in your time of waiting and let God be God…He will do things in His time and in His way and in such a way that you will marvel (or may even forget) your original request.

Calming My Fears

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

Yesterday was a difficult day for me since I had to go to the cardiologist for a consultation about some problems I have been having. The day started early, with the cat demanding to be fed and then knocking over a bottle of open water, leaving me a mess to clean up before I could settle into the rest of my routine. My husband got up and got ready to take me to see the doctor and prayed for me before I went in. My problems may or may not be serious, but anything dealing with the heart and circulation is scary for me. I couldn’t help but think of my best friend Heidi who had vascular surgery, got an infection, had a leg amputated and ending up dying of sepsis only a few years later. Not thrilled about the idea of any kind of surgery, I went into the office with trepidation and told my husband that I would call him if I needed him to come in and be with me.

Of course, God was with me all along, calmed my fears and is still calming me today as I face four different tests that will determine what is going on. All I know is that I have passed out a couple of times, without warning, and I am losing feeling in my lower extremities. The doctor wants to eliminate a heart issue, so I have to wear a heart monitor for a month, have an ultrasound on my heart, another ultrasound on my legs and a nuclear stress test. I am waiting for the Bio company to send the heart monitor which is supposed to arrive by next week. Meanwhile, my anxiety kicked in and I needed this Scripture verse this morning.

God assured me that He is right beside me. He is delighting in me, in spite of my doubts and fears and He is calming me. He is rejoicing over me while I rejoice in His love and His presence with me. Yes, it is a trying time for me, but there are many going through much worse and I am thankful that the doctors are willing to do the tests that can give them the information that they need to go forward. My heart has worked well for me for over seventy years and I know that the One who determines my future is in total control of my present. That being said, I would appreciate prayers from any of you who agree with me about God’s sovereignty.

May the Lord bless your going out and your coming in and may each step you take and each decision you make glorify Him.

My Steps Are Directed

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Uncategorized6 Comments

bible.com/bible/113/pro.20.24.NIVUK

I don’t know how you all are feeling about life right now, but I have been buffeted by some heavy storms lately and I needed this reminder. I may not know what God is doing, but I can rest assured that He knows. He knows my heart is hurting because of what is happening with my grandson. We were told on Friday that his Bible that I had bought him to take to boot camp was stolen. He has no access to computers or the internet so that was his only access to God’s Word. I’m going to write him later today and tell him to ask the chaplain for a Bible and hope he can get a new one that way. My sister who has lived in the area (less than an hour from me) is moving to North Carolina today for health reasons. We share our love of books and will still be able to talk on the phone, but I cannot get to her easily if I want to because she will be almost four hours away. Finally, my daughter called and both of her dogs, the friendly faces that greet me when we go to visit, died this week. Her children are rightly upset which tears at this Nanna’s heart. Yes, they were old and they died peacefully, so there is that to be thankful for. It was just “one more thing.”

In spite of (or maybe because of) all of these events, I have been weepy and more that a little discouraged. I pray, I worship, I read and I write. Then, on Thursday, I ended up at my doctor’s office because I was having difficulty breathing. The usual for me..sinus infection and bronchitis with prescriptions for steroids and antibiotics. The good news is that our planned trip to Maryland and Pennsylvania to visit our children and grandchildren can still happen. I just have to take my nebulizer along and use it regularly. Was this part of my plan? No, of course not! None of the above circumstances were part of what I would plan for me. But God is in control and the final word is that I trust Him, completely and without reservation. He has the road map and I only have a small part of it that He shows me as He needs me to know. All of my crying and dismay is not for nothing because I have been pouring my heart out to my Heavenly Father, getting closer to the Only One who can lead me through all of this. He knows what is going on and He has comforted me and sent me words of hope and encouragement like those above. Meanwhile, I would appreciate prayers from each of my friends online for strength and for renewal of my spirit. I appreciate you all more than words can say because I know that wherever you are, you will pray for me and my little road bumps. I will go on in fellowship with God, believing that He is working all things out for my ultimate good.

May God bless you with a straight path that you can walk in victory.

Seeking Fairness

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I have come to believe that there is no fairness, no real equality in this world. No matter what you measuring rod, there will always be someone who gets “the short stick” so that fairness is not possible. Do you remember as as child being told something you didn’t like and replying to your parent.”That’s not fair.” I know that I did, but my mom and dad didn’t ever change their mind due to my opinion. I came to understand as I faced the challenges of parenting myself that you cannot always be fair, but you can make the best decision for the time and the circumstances. In my devotional this morning, I faced this whole fairness conundrum again. Is God fair?

God is sovereign. Period.
We were formed in the womb by God, so it is not right that we should question God’s creation. Again, God is sovereign.
God is sovereign.
Trust God that He knows what He is doing. The end result is good. This verse is for the Israelites, but I’m claiming it for me and for our fallen world.
Consider this carefully: God is sovereign! Hallelujah! We don’t make the final decisions. God can be trusted. He knows what He is doing. He is still on His throne! Hallelujah!

The answer to my question is that God is sovereign and yes, He is fair. Maybe not in the way we want Him to be fair, but God is not our puppet on a string waiting to do what we consider fair. He looks at the whole world, and He is fair because He can be trusted to always have our best interests at heart.

Have a blessed day, my friends. Go out and have a wonderful day, remembering that the sovereign God is watching over you and has freely forgiven you. Blessings!