Tag: testimony

Spark Life with Your Words

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

The Power of Life and Death (Daily Refresh, 7-30-26)

Think of a time you said something you regret, or were the target of undeserved gossip. Now, reflect on a situation where you encouraged a friend who was hurting, or felt the life-giving effects of someone else’s words.

Words matter. Your words matter. And God has given you the freedom to choose how you use them. 

Are you using your words to tear down or build up? To provoke destruction or stimulate restoration? Do your words stir up drama or encourage peace?

“What you say flows from what is in your heart,” Jesus explained in Luke 6:45.

Fruit reveals the health of a tree, just as a tongue reveals what is happening in the heart.

Most of us want to use our words for good and not for harm. We don’t want to be unkind or critical. But James 3 tells us that the tongue is unstable and cannot seem to be tamed.

So, what can we do? Is there a way to control it?

Self-control is a fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us, which means we can’t manufacture controlling our tongues on our own. But, we do have a part to play in the process: we need to stick close to Jesus. 

When we read His Word, seek His face, and walk in His ways (no matter how many times we mess up and have to begin again), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to grow in our lives. The biblical term is abiding: staying, continuing, or remaining in Jesus’ presence.

As we abide with Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to curb the way we speak and change the way we act. When that happens, our words start to bring life and hope to the people around us. 

So this week, how will you use your words to bring healing and hope to people? If this isn’t something you’re used to doing, it’s never too early to speak words that spark life.

My Thoughts

The video that preceded this devotional gave me a lot to think about. The speaker said something that I am pondering. The words we speak to others are important and can be encouraging or destructive, but so can the words we speak to ourselves. I think the reason that means so much to me is that I am not one who thinks I am worthy of praise or recognition or anything positive really. And I sometimes find myself saying “It’s okay. You are getting what you deserve.” I am not speaking life to my own self. God doesn’t mean for me to get what I deserve. He wants me to have His best for me and I need to notice all that He has done and is doing for me and speak in expectation of what He will do next.

It is also easy for me to grumble under my breath about my husband or other loved ones who do something I disapprove of. I am the only one hearing the words but they end up hurting that person later because I am storing them in my heart and when I boil over, that is what flows out. So, the Holy Spirit has been stopping me lately, even before today’s devotional, and reminding me to think kind things so that when I am speaking to that person, kind things come out of my mouth. I’m not going to lie. It’s hard, but it is worth it to hear the encouraging words come out instead of the ones that I have no business saying just because I am frustrated or angry. I read sometime in the last few weeks that Jesus knew that He had a limited amount of time to make a difference in the world, so He chose all of His words carefully. As His followers, should that not be our habit all the time, too? I want to be a spark for life not a cold bucket of water for someone struggling. How about you?

The Peace of God

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

The Peace of God for Anxious Hearts (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, June 29, 2026)

There is a lot of anxiety and worry in the world around us. Many people are worried about the quality of their future, the security of their investments, or the threat of sickness or war.

Anxiety and worry aren’t just things that happens around us, but something that can also happen within us. A lot of people struggle with anxiety over their future, their family, their finances, their career, or their personal health.

Scripture tells us that while there are some things that are within our control, most things in life are outside of our control. So more often than not, we spend time worrying about things we have no control over.

Scripture tells us that trust in God should fill the gap between reality and what we desire. We should not be anxious about the things we cannot control, but rather we should submit everything to God in prayer. He alone has control over the unknown.

That is why the writer of Psalm 4 says that he will lay down at night in peace, free from anxiety and worry. Even though the writer is surrounded by danger, he places his trust in God. That leads him to sleep peacefully in safely.

The quality of our sleep is often a symptom of our trust in God. If we are anxious and restless at night, it could mean that there are things we’re not trusting God with.

Spend some time considering your own heart. Are you anxious or filled with worry? Meditate on God’s power and sovereignty. Ask Him to fill you with His peace and assurance that He is in control of your future. Continually remind yourself of the promises that God has given you in Scripture.

My Thoughts

This devotional spoke to me this morning, particularly since I got another medical report yesterday. Apparently, all of this coughing, lightheadedness and swelling of my feet and ankles is being caused by something called pericardial effusion. That means I have some fluid around the sac of my heart, perhaps caused by a previous infection or one still present. As you can imagine, when I first read the report, I was in a little bit of a tizzy. My lungs are already a mess, my kidney is okay but not great, my bones are giving up on holding me up and now my heart is in rebellion, too. But you know what God had to say? “Be still and rest.” So, I did. I went to bed and slept soundly all night. When God’s peace is present, nothing can disturb it because it in His presence that we find the trust we need to face the next battle.

I see my PCP on Wednesday and will talk to him about all the stuff going on with my body. But I have already and continue to talk to God about it. He made me and I am not leaving this earth until He calls me home. So, today, tomorrow, next month, next year or years from now, I will be ready because I am ready now. Meanwhile, I will rest in His loving arms and just know that He has command of my ship and He will never steer me wrong.

Thankful Thursday

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

I don’t want to bore you with my positivity but if I don’t make the effort to stay focused on good things, my very rebellious mind drifts to all of the bad stuff. So, here goes!

What I am particularly thankful for today:

~I slept last night for over six hours without waking up from coughing. 🙌

~I walked for fifteen minutes this morning (in five minute intervals) and did not lose my breath. 🙌

~I managed to dust a few pieces of furniture, so praise God I was able to bend to do it. 🙌

~God provided the money to pay our bills and to get our groceries this month. We buy extra since our granddaughter is here and we have enough to do that. 🙌

~I was able to get birthday gifts for our youngest grandson and our son, too! God provides the necessities and even some wants, too. 🙌

~I got a new book to read by Cindy K. Sproles (The Eyes of River) and it is a wonderful story. 👏

~I don’t have a steroid headache today after two days. Hallelujah! 👏

I wrote seven things because God says seven is the number of rest. On the seventh day, He rested. So, I am closing this Thankful Thursday post and turning it over to you to add your seven cents to it. Have a blessed day…be thankful for all things at all times!

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart-Created to Worship

Sharing Your Story

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

I remember being lonely and discouraged when I left home for my first teaching job. I didn’t know anyone in the new town, although my boyfriend planned to come visit me there since I was close to the navy base where he was stationed.

One late afternoon as I was unlocking the door to my apartment, the lady who lived next door greeted me with a smile and just chatted with me for a few minutes about what I was doing in the little town and how things were going for me. After that, Verna seemed to arrive home about the same time I did every day, so our conversations got longer as we shared about our lives and what was happening. That day, Verna invited me in, we had a soft drink together and she shared the gospel with me. She wasn’t pushy or demanding. She just shared that Jesus made a difference in her life and He could make a difference in me, too. Then she gave me a copy of The Way Bible and told me to start reading in the Book of John. I remember that it was a Friday night and Harry couldn’t come that weekend for a visit since he was on duty. I must have made my solo dinner as I did every night and then I settled in to watch some TV. Since nothing seemed to interest me, I decided to go to bed and read. I picked up the new book that Verna gave me, found the table of contents, found John and started reading. I read the entire book and then I fell on my knees next to my bed and prayed for God to come into my heart and life and save me. I know that I was crying and had no idea if my prayer would be heard, but as I prayed a peace came over me that I had never felt before, a feeling of being loved and accepted. A virtual stranger shared her story with me and thus began a journey that has lasted over five decades.

But my story doesn’t end there. Verna discipled me, inviting me to go to church with her where the pastor told me about baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. When Harry came to visit a few weeks later, I told him about my salvation experience and he brushed it off, telling me that I could choose Jesus or him. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I do know that I told him that if I had to choose, I would choose Jesus because He died for me.

That made Harry start thinking and Verna and her boyfriend Chris invited him to go to church with us. He did, the pastor talked to Harry for hours afterwards and Harry gave his life to Christ. I became a Christian on February 28, 1973; Harry, on March 10 that same year. We got married in April by the pastor of our new church and Verna and Chris came to our wedding, a trip of about five hours for all of them.

Now, my question to you is, who are you going to tell about Christ? With whom will you share your story? You don’t have to be an evangelist or a pastor? You just need to share your story to someone who needs to hear it. The Holy Spirit will go before you and tell you who to tell and then that seed that you plant will start growing, with God’s help. Jesus started with twelve disciples and now there are millions of Christian believers worldwide. We may not believe in the same doctrine, but we are all related to each other, brothers and sisters in Christ. And we all have a unique story that someone needs to hear today.

Wednesday Whimsy

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

First, I will explain to you what the definition of “whimsy” is so that you understand the title of my post. Whimsy according to the online dictionary means:

“Whimsy is behavior that is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than having any serious reason or purpose behind it.” (Source: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/whimsy)

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from my neurologist about the results of my MRI. You know how an IPhone transcribes voice messages? This is a screenshot of what I saw when I checked my voicemail.

I laughed out loud that “Duck Smith” had called me. And even better the MRI was a game. Who knew?

I love to laugh and joke around a lot, so this tickled my funny bone and helped me to laugh even though the diagnosis wasn’t so great. Apparently, I need to see a surgeon (which I already knew and have an appointment for) since I have five herniated discs in my spine and lots of compression of nerves going on. Now, back to whimsy.

If you read the headlines of the newspapers, you will probably get stressed. If you listen to news all the time, you will probably get stressed. Instead, I choose to read my Bible, starting the day with God’s Word. Sometimes, I find humor in what God says because it’s like He’s shouting at the people, “You aren’t listening to me!” And indeed, they didn’t listen, just as we sometimes don’t listen. God says “go” and we sit and wait for Him to tell us more loudly, or perhaps to dump us out of our chair and onto the floor just to get our attention.

I also enjoy reading fiction, much to the dismay of my husband who only reads (besides the news) non-fiction like biographies, memoirs and other educational things that he can then expound upon and debate. Debating is one of his favorite things, but it’s not mine, so I just listen, comment rarely and he moves on to the next topic. Anyway, I read a lot of clean fiction that amuses me, inspires me and entertains me. I find it a lot better than most of the TV shows that are prevalent today.

I do like PureFlix and its choices of shows. Last week, before my daughter and her family arrived, I was tired of reading so I decided to watch a show on PureFlix. But I couldn’t get signed in. So, I called customer service. One hour and thirty-five minutes later, a nice, heavily accented voice answered. At last! A person! Another forty-five minutes later, she had my PureFlix account working again…shut down, remove the app, install the app, shut off the internet, turn it on again. The directions seemed endless. I thanked her for her help and her patience, but by then, it was too late for me to want to watch a show. So the next day, I turned on PureFlix. Uh-oh! It wouldn’t start up again. Not wanting to call and remain in a queue for over an hour again, I tried to remember the steps the nice lady had told me (Who knew that I should have been taking notes?) and got it on again within a few minutes. This was whimsical to me because my being able to get an electronic gadget to work without my son right there next to me is an unusual occurrence. But it happened!

I joke with my family that my body parts are deciding to rebel and they have recently joined together in a revolution. I could whine, moan and complain but that doesn’t help me or anyone else. Yes, the pain is there. So? It’s part of aging. Accept it and move on. Shoulder pain? Yep! Back pain? Yep! Surgery? Nope! Not if I can help it. I like surgeons. They are genuinely nice people with great skills, but I don’t like the idea of being asleep while someone digs around inside of me and tries to fix things. I feel like an old car where the mechanic looks inside and says, “Well, I can fix it, but it’s going to cost you.” The cost is not always monetary either when it’s your body. I have had more than one physician tell me that I don’t need to worry about cost because my insurance will pay. That’s true…because of my husband’s military insurance, we are well covered. But just because the insurance will pay for it doesn’t mean that I want to have the surgery. Surgery is unpredictable, the outcome is uncertain and I prefer not to have it unless there is no other alternative and only then if God gives me the green light.

I like things that are whimsical, like a flower growing in a field of weeds and a child smiling as though they have a secret that they will never share. I don’t pick the flower because I want others to enjoy it. And I don’t demand that the child tell me the truth because I want that smiling light to continue to shine in their eyes. I want the child to trust me and talk to me when they are ready.

You know, that brings me to the end of my discourse on whimsy. God is like that to us. He knows what we need, He sees what we need and He wants us to spend time with Him talking to Him about what we think we need. It’s okay to talk to God without being all serious and speaking in a stern voice. When I talk to God, I talk to Him as though He is a friend and a Father. I laugh with Him, cry with Him, rant about my issues and then sit quietly and wait for Him to speak to me or reassure me that He is right there, going through whatever the current problem is right alongside me. God is One who is big enough to handle my swinging emotions and understands that sometimes I need to vent and sometimes I need to laugh. Today was a day to laugh a little and enjoy the new day that God has given me.

Overwhelmed

On By vickleaIn Scripture8 Comments

Have you ever had one of those “I Love Lucy” days in which one unforeseen circumstance follows another? If you remember those episodes, which were frequent, Lucy generally cried at the end.

That was sort of what I looked like yesterday after a really rough day.

Harry and I had to get up very early to get to an appointment with my ophthalmologist in town, over an hour’s drive away. We did that, made it to the appointment a little early and I was delighted that the tech took me back to check me early. I needed to finish this appointment on time because I had an early afternoon appointment with my neurologist about my leg going numb. The game at the ophthalmologist became one of waiting. I was taken back, did a test and returned to the waiting room. Multiple times. Finally, I got to see the doctor and he gave me the good news that my macula hasn’t changed in the last year and all is good with my eyes. I was happy about that since I had been anxious about the results.

We then headed to my neuro appointment and we made it there on time, too. I really like my neurologist who has been my specialist since my stroke eleven years ago. Anyway, he asked questions, put me through a battery of uncomfortable tests and concluded that I likely have a pinched nerve in my back causing my leg’s numbness. He gave me a referral to a spinal specialist (another specialist!), a referral for an MRI of my spine (another MRI!), a referral for physical therapy (again, a repeat), and an order to return for an EMG on April 8th. So, I left his office feeling overwhelmed.

Now, let’s get this straight. I prayed before each medical appointment and Harry prayed with me. I knew that something was wrong, of course, but I was just not ready to hear another diagnosis of something else broken in my body. I just got my second cortisone shot for my torn rotator cuff in my shoulder a week and a half ago, so I am still dealing with that pain daily (mostly nightly, when I try to sleep). And now this diagnosis. I wish I could say that I was praising God on the way home and thankful that I had an answer to the numbness. Instead, I started crying and Harry couldn’t console me with his words about our just getting older and things break down.

On the way home, the “idiot lights” came on in the car. I must say that we drive an older car (it wasn’t old when we got it, but it is now) so this was not new. It was just one more thing. So, the crying continued and Harry tried to console me with the fact that the car is also old. Not helping!

We made it home, Teya was there and had just gotten back from her run that she tries to do daily. She was getting ready for a shower and I was getting ready to lie down since I got up before 5 and it was not almost 4 in the afternoon. Suddenly, I heard Teya call for me rather frantically, so I rushed to find out what the problem was. The hot water faucet was detached and hot water was spewing everywhere in the bathroom. It was too hot to try to re-attach the faucet and turn it off, so I went to find the main water valve and shut it off. I located it behind a hatch of sorts, moved the things out of the way that Harry had decided to place there and got the hot water off. Yay! All the while, I think I must have been thinking, “Are you kidding me, God? Don’t I have enough on my plate right now?” Harry, of course, was nowhere to be found since he was wandering around the yard planning his garden. (He deals with stress by gardening, I do so by reading.) I found Harry, told him what was going on and Teya tried to reattach the faucet. She did so successfully and then Harry checked it and said it seemed to be okay for me to turn the water back on. I did and that seemed to work.

By that time, I was really overwhelmed with everything and planned to rest, but I had to eat to take medicine, so I ended up staying awake for several more hours, not really happy about life and its circumstances that day.

I have to confess that I cried myself to sleep, telling God honestly that I was just “up to here” with problems. I have always known that God knows how I feel anyway, so I may as well be honest with Him. I woke up at 4, and prompted by the Holy Spirit, I prayed for my niece who is in premature labor and tried to go to sleep again. I was still feeling overwhelmed, like I just did not want to face a new day. When I finally rolled over about 6 or so and decided to get up, I followed my usual pattern of thanking God for a new day and praying for a few minutes, waiting silently for Him to speak to my heart. He spoke a song into my heart that I haven’t heard or sung in many years. So appropriate for me!

God Will Make a Way-Don Moen

The bottom line is that circumstances have not changed. I have not changed. My shoulder hurts, my leg is numb, my back hurts and I am getting older even as I type this. What is changing is that I haven’t lost hope. As I talked to God this morning, not only did He give me a song, He also showed me a vision of my hanging onto a rope that was breaking and as I swung precariously over a cliff at the end of that rope, I looked up and there was the Lord holding on to the other end. God is still right there. He knows what is happening, and He is holding me as steadfastly as possible, even at the end of my rope, in high winds and with a cliff below me.

If you need a lifeline today, just know that God,who loves everyone equally, can be your source of hope and strength too. As I said, my circumstances haven’t changed, and if I focus on what is happening, I again feel overwhelmed. But I know deep within me that God is in control of the outcome, so I can let go of that rope. He will catch me…and you!

God’s Strength

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

Through all of the recent tests, medical visits and frustration of no real resolution, God has been right there beside me. I had a bone scan on Friday. The orthopedist had told me that there was a possibility of a small fracture in my humerus (upper arm bone), so he had recommended a bone scan. The procedure took most of the day since I had to go in, get the injection that lit me up inside, wait three hours, return to the hospital and get the scan done which took about thirty minutes. The tech Debbie was very kind and helpful the whole time, so I was made to feel comfortable and at ease as much as possible. Again, I prayed and sang praise songs to myself as the procedure was being completed. I got the written report yesterday in “My Chart” and attempted to understand it. I didn’t understand much, but it was repeated several times that there was no evidence of bone cancer. I didn’t even know that they were looking for that! But I have no doubt that God did know and had given me peace even before I looked at the report. I return to my orthopedist in a few weeks, after he has time to receive the full report and review it. Meanwhile, I am pressing into God because He is my strength, the One who sustains my life in every way. I don’t always feel well and I hardly ever feel rested these days, but I am grateful for the rest that I have in Him and the confidence that whatever happens, He has not left my side.

I pray for each of you today that you may have the same assurance that I have. I want you to know that God is always the same, regardless of the circumstances in life. His love never changes, His mercy is new every morning and His faithfulness is unending. I am reading in the Old Testament about the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. They whined. He provided. They whined again. He provided. Sometimes there were consequences for their lack of faith, but He still provided. Moses had to intercede for them because at one point God wanted to destroy them completely. We have an intercessor who is always making a case before the Father for us, our Savior, Christ Jesus. Thus, you and I can be certain that God is working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it or feel it. That is what I want you to take away from today’s blog post, that God is right there with you, just as He is with me. He is omnipresent, a characteristic that we finite humans cannot understand. But I don’t have to understand it to know that it is true. God is as close to me here in Virginia as He is to you in California, Michigan, England or Norway. I am so thankful for His calming presence and for His grace and love that sees me through the trials of getting older.

Lord, You Are My Strength-Jelly Roll

Trusting God

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Everyone who has a relationship with our Creator knows that it is easy to trust Him when the road is smooth, the view from the mountaintop is delightful and life is generally going well. But what about in the valley? The place where you feel alone, perhaps not sure that God is with you? That is where I have been for months now, but I am here to emphatically state that I will not let my feelings get in the way of my relationship with God and that includes continuing to trust Him.

Can I see the end of the battle with my health issues? No, but God knows. Can I understand why all of this is coming at me at once? No, but God knows. Do I want to go through all of this? Of course not, but I am willing to do what God allows to happen in my life so that I am in a stronger, more dependent relationship with Him.

None of the bad reports that I have gotten lately surprised God. He is not wringing His hands and saying, “Oh, my!” Or “Oh, dear, that’s too bad.” Or even, “I feel so bad for Vickie.” None of that is in God’s character. He is omnipotent, always. He is omnipresent, always. And, most importantly, He is always loving and merciful and I am believing that He will use all of this for a greater purpose. I don’t see a straight path out of this health dilemma, but this verse says clearly that God will make a path. The Creator of the Universe, the One who made me just the way I am, will make a path for me to follow, a clearly designated way up and out. Do I know how He will do that? No. But I trust Him and believe His Word and His promises. I hope that you will believe with me.

Is there anything happening in your life that I can pray for you about? It would be a privilege to do so. God, who is no respecter of persons, is totally trustworthy to handle your issues as well as mine. God bless you and keep trusting and believing. The answer is on the way and God is making a path for you!

Look at Yourself First

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

A Look in the Mirror (Daily Refresh, 2-04-26)

As humans, our default setting isn’t exactly selflessness. We often judge ourselves by our intentions, but judge others by their actions. We can be quick to accuse without first looking in the mirror. 

But Jesus calls us to live differently:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 NLT

Often referred to as the “golden rule,” it’s a brilliant litmus test for discerning how to respond to people in the face of hardship, uncertainty, and pain. 

Here are some ways we can apply this verse to our daily lives:

WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU…

Think: Have you ever hurt someone, either accidentally or intentionally? And when the mistake was made or realized, did you want to be screamed at and given a harsh consequence, or did you long for grace and a second chance? 

To the extent that we forgive, we are forgiven. So what if, today, we give others the same grace, compassion, and mercy that we’d like to receive?

WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING…

When you personally experience hardships, you might seek counsel from a pastor or mentor, but you probably also want a friend who will listen and help you process. You want someone to come alongside you who can handle your honest thoughts, and help you navigate the hurt in this world. 

Just as we need people to encourage us, we are also called to be that source of support to others. So today, consider what you can do to point people to God’s love and truth. 

WHEN SOMEONE HAS ANNOYED YOU…

People can be irritating at times. But if you’re ever considered an annoyance by somebody else, would you rather that person talk bad about you, or have patience with you? We are all works in progress and are all called to show mercy and grace. 

So this week, when you’re tempted to lash out at someone requiring a little “extra” of you, or dismiss someone who’s getting on your last nerve, consider asking yourself: If I were them, what would I want? 

If we want to live like Jesus, we need to do what He asks of us. And Jesus explained a key mindset in following Him—to treat others how you want to be treated.

My Thoughts

The practical advice in this devotional really spoke to me in all of the places that I needed a big reprimand. The devotional is exactly correct. I let myself slide, thinking to myself, “Well, I meant well.” But I hold others to the letter of what my expectations were. For example, in the middle of the cold wave, the heat duct in our bedroom stopped warming the room. Instead it was sending out a blast of cold air. My husband couldn’t get under our house to check things out until it was drier and at least a little warmer, so he went outside on Monday. He was there for several hours and when he came back in, he said he fixed the crossover but didn’t get to our bedroom. What?!? That’s the only room in the house without the heat working and it has been going down to the 50’s there at night. I was irate and more than a little flabbergasted that he worked on every vent except the one not working right. I let him know exactly how I felt, using the phrase that “I wish I were his renter because then it would be fixed.” Yesterday, I had to repent. We had to go to two of my medical appointments and Harry was tiptoeing lightly around me, not knowing if I was going to explode again or not. He did explain that that part of the house is more difficult for him to reach and in order to work there, he has to prepare the ground, make it lower and then try to work on the insulation and vent. All in continued cold conditions and with the ground very wet still since I’ve continues to cover the yard. I told him that I understood and that he needed to get to it on better days, like when Virginia warms up some. Today’s devotional certainly applied to this situation. If I had taken the time to ask Harry why he couldn’t fix the part that he definitely knew needed a repair, I would have found out the truth before I flew out of control at him. I wouldn’t want him to treat me that way, but I neglected to look in the mirror, didn’t I?

Unfortunately, I think that is true of most of us. Remember the Lord said that before we worry about the speck in the other person’s eye, we need to get the log out of our own. My offensive behavior towards my husband was purposeful and hurtful to him. He didn’t mean to upset me; he simply did not have the capability to do that part of the house without additional tools and time that he didn’t have.

I could go on and on with examples of when I needed to extend grace and operated with judgment and little thought or kindness. I would like to say that I have learned my lesson, but I am a work in progress and I know that I will continue to act in ways that are not how I should act. I just pray that this devotional will help remind me to think before I speak and to take a deep breath as I look into my mental mirror. Then, I can hopefully speak in love and not in anger. I am so grateful that God deals with me gently and desires me to grow, not to stay the same.

God’s Plans and Timing

On By vickleaIn Scripture12 Comments

About forty or so years ago, when my husband was in the USAF and we had three children ranging in age from thirteen to five, we had plans to move overseas. We were living in Arkansas at the time when the opportunity arose to go to Japan. So, my husband applied and got accepted. All of our household goods were packed up, the car was sold and we thought we were on our way. A real answer to prayer, or so we thought. Then we got a message from command saying that my husband and children could go but I was not allowed to because of my health issues. My husband, being loyal and not really wanting to take care of three small children alone while I lived a single life in the states, turned down the orders and waited for the next opportunity.

That came in the form of a chance to go to Iceland. Iceland? Really? Not exactly the ideal place for this southern, hate ice and snow girl! But, I was willing, if not enthusiastic, so Harry put in the paperwork. The next snafu came in the form of housing problems. Military people live on base there because the housing off the base is exorbitantly expensive. The problem was that there was a two-year wait for base housing. So, we prayed (fumed some about the plans once again being thwarted) and Harry decided to go on a “remote” tour to Iceland for a year. That means he went alone and I had to find a place to live while he was gone.

Back to the prayer closet, this time with an urgent request for God to show me where the children and I should live while Harry was gone for a year. The Spirit spoke to my heart to return to South Carolina. We had lived there for over six years already, just not six years in a row, but several different tours there made me familiar with the area. I knew people there, had a church there and was confident we could find someplace for us to live while Harry was gone.

So, off we went to South Carolina, in our very old Lincoln since our newer car had sold. (Remember the orders to Japan that fell through?) We found an apartment near the church I planned to attend. The apartment was okay, nothing fancy, but furnished and basic. And it fit the bill of being near the church, Northside Assembly.

Thus, I moved in, got the children enrolled in school and settled in as best I could to wait out the year totally alone as a single parent. This was about the middle of September, so I knew I would not be able to find a teaching job, but I figured the kids would need me at home more since we had just moved, had very few of our personal belongings (in storage due to the orders to Japan) and I was going to help them make the best of the situation.

Then the unexpected phone call came. I had taught at Northside Academy, a Christian school based at our church, for a couple of years the last time I had been in the area. When the principal found out that I was living in South Carolina again, she called and told me that she had a dilemma and hoped I could help out. The seventh grade teacher had a health crisis (terminal cancer) and was out of the picture for the foreseeable future. Her students were devastated because of her illness, the poor prognosis and having no one to step in and teach them. So, Loretta, the principal, asked me if I would be willing to teach these students that I had last seen when they were in third grade. I told her I would pray about it and get back to her. I did, God affirmed that it was a good plan, especially since Loretta said that Steven, our youngest and in kindergarten, could attend the school there and I would only teach half a day so that I could go home when his school was dismissed.

Why am I telling you this long-winded story? Is there a point? Of course, there is! God had a plan. Harry and I didn’t know the plan, but we did pray and fell in with God’s plan that He already knew because He could see the big picture. Japan? Nope! Iceland? Nope? South Carolina? Yep! I was needed there for a group of heartbroken kids whose teacher ended up passing away shortly after I took over. I was a familiar face in their sea of uncertainty, and I did my best to assure them that I was there for them and that God loved them enough to make sure that they had a teacher for the year. I also got to tell them all about God’s plans for Harriet. The last time they had seen her, she had been very ill and then she died. We got to talk a lot about Heaven and God’s promises that year.

This whole episode made me think of Joseph. No, I was not sold into slavery by my brothers. But Joseph ended up unexpectedly in Egypt and God used his stay there to bless the Israelites during a time of famine and to make sure that they were cared for. God is a God of details, and He worked things out for Joseph’s betraying brothers and his elderly father to come to Egypt to live where they could thrive until the next plan God had for them came along.

It was not the original plan, but I ended up in South Carolina. I was a space-filler, but I was a needed one at that time. God fills needs and spaces with those willing to listen and change their plans for His. Was the move easy? No, but it was necessary and God used me for His purpose in that little school in South Carolina. We got some of our personal things delivered from storage when I went to the base chaplain and appealed to him for help, since our children had no winter clothes or toys. We prayed about that, too, and God answered. If you know anything about the military, they do not easily change their plans for anyone. Their plan was for our items to remain in storage until Harry finished his remote tour. Instead, through God’s grace and mercy and the intervention of a kind and understanding chaplain, I had about a dozen or so boxes delivered to our temporary home in South Carolina. God is good and works out all the little things to help us make the best of the plan He is working through.

I taught. The children thrived with their SC friends. Harry enjoyed being in Iceland and came home in November for an early Christmas celebration with the kids. Then in July, I went to Iceland for almost a month to be with Harry while our children stayed with my close friend and fellow teacher and her children. We didn’t know it, but like Joseph, we had been blessed to be a blessing.

The military and their rules did not intend to harm me or our family, but God used them and their many regulations to send me where I needed to be, to help children who were grieving the loss of a beloved teacher and who did not understand what would happen for their school year. No, I did not save lives, but I did witness to them, as I am testifying to you, of God’s goodness and His plans. His timing is always perfect, even when it doesn’t make sense to me until afterwards.

Go with God’s flow. His plan is the right one and His timing is always just on time.