Tag: YouVersion

Whom Do You Imitate?

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Be Imitators (Daily Refresh, 2-27-26)

Children learn to function in real life by imitating those around them.

They learn to speak by listening to their family’s words and copying what they hear. They learn to interact with others by observing how their loved ones interact with others. They learn what’s culturally and socially appropriate by watching and imitating.

They learn how to eat, play, read, pray, cook, fish, braid, draw, garden, build, worship, invest, and navigate relationships by noticing and mimicking those around them.

And it doesn’t stop with children. People will often reflect those closest to them, as well as their environment.

Perhaps that’s why, while writing from the confines of a Roman prison, the apostle Paul gave the believers in Ephesus a heartfelt charge:

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul knew that loving and reflecting God was foundational. What we observe will get repeated and, eventually, passed along. The fancy word for this concept is discipleship—where we learn from those we trust and teach others what we’ve learned.

Regardless of where we’re at in life, we’re all being discipled by something. That’s why we should carefully consider who we are listening to and following.

It is vital to build our lives on Truth.

It’s already in our God-given makeup to reflect God. But as humans, we still have to intentionally remember who and whose we are, which is the first step in becoming more like Christ.

My Thoughts

If you don’t believe that people are natural imitators, just step into a high school for a day and watch the interactions between the students. One student pokes fun at another and a group joins in. Another student quietly works and those around that student do the same. It works the same in most large groups, particularly when people are just “going along to get along.”

As an introvert, I am not really a joiner, but I am a watcher. And watchers, too, are a group of imitators, but just not overtly. In high school, many decades ago, I joined the groups that were more academically inclined like the newspaper, the yearbook, the literary magazine. Those were my people, the ones I learned from and followed.

In college, I followed the example of peers who were studious because that was part of who I was. My identity had been formed by those I hung around with in high school, so I continued with that pattern in college.

After college, I was feeling kind of lost. I didn’t have any assignments to study or a group to be with. I was a new teacher in an old school, filled with students who were in my classes but who were not friends, not even really acquaintances. The other teachers had been there for a while, knew each other and were jovial colleagues. Thus, I found myself lonely and feeling isolated. That is when I met Verna, the next-door neighbor in my apartment building. She befriended me, told me about Jesus and gave me a new outlook on life in general. I began to follow the example of Christians that I was around in church groups. I discovered that I could be around others who did not swear, smoke or drink a lot of alcohol and feel comfortable and like I fit in. In short, I found a new family in Christ.

I started reading my Bible regularly and from that point on, I wanted to be more like Jesus and less like those in the world. As a new Christian, I didn’t know a lot, but I quickly learned that there were some things I should not do because Jesus would not approve. Around that time and afterwards, there was a movement called WWJD (what would Jesus do). I thought that was a great idea and subconsciously used that mantra to check out my actions, words and relationships. Harry and I were engaged at the time and he really wanted to go to bed together. I told him “no” and avoided those kinds of situations, persuading him that the sexual part of our relationship was for after marriage. So, in a surprising turn of events for our parents, we compromised and got married just three months after we became Christians. We had planned to wait, but Harry didn’t want to wait any longer and I was amenable to that. I kind of, sort of followed my WWJD guidelines there as well as talking to trusted friends and our pastor about where our relationship was headed and what we should do about it.

I am saying all of this to encourage my readers to check out who your friends are, what you watch, what you listen to, even what you read. The people and things you bring into your life are the ones that will influence you. GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) isn’t just for computers, is it? Choosing examples in your life wisely is a way to look for God in them and then to follow His example.

I don’t think any of us has “arrived” yet; that is, no one that I know is a perfect imitator of the Lord. But if we realize that we are all in this life together, all on the same path to the same eternity (with God, hopefully), then we can encourage each other to live according to things that would please our Father and make us indeed His “dear children.”

Jesus Is the Way

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Our world wants us to accept that there are many ways to God, but there is only one way and it is up to us to share that truth with others. We can run to Him and be comforted, but only when we accept with our whole hearts that He is the way to the Father. His sacrifice makes a relationship with the Father possible and our future secure.

From YouVersion, Daily Refresh 2-21-26

Perseverance Is A Challenge

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Perseverance Brings a Harvest (Daily Refresh, 2-29-26)

Have you ever started something new, but gave up after a few tries? Maybe you tried to create a new morning routine or a Bible reading habit, only to give up after a few weeks. It can be hard to build enough discipline to start something new—or to change.

It can also be challenging to receive discipline from someone. Maybe you remember being disciplined as a kid by your parent. Or maybe you’ve faced discipline at work for a mistake you made.

In either case, discipline is hard and takes a lot of work.

Scripture says that for those who endure discipline, and persevere, there is a harvest of righteousness and peace waiting for them. However, it doesn’t happen easily and often makes us uncomfortable. We have to be trained through discipline to create godly habits that will then produce righteousness and peace in our lives.

Take some time today to consider: Where can you allow the Holy Spirit to build discipline in your life? What daily habits should you begin working on today? 

Building discipline into your life is worth it—with the results being peace and a desire for righteousness.

My Thoughts

I am thankful that the Lord loves me enough to discipline me. I recall disciplining my children who are now all adults with their own families. Discipline was not a “once and done” thing. It seemed that I was reminding them constantly of the rules and the consequences. Most of the time, I was alone, since my military husband was not at home but regularly deployed. I remember that sometimes I was so tired of the whole routine of disciplining, but I knew that it was training them for life, so I persisted.

I am thankful that the Lord never tires of disciplining me. He doesn’t just throw up His hands and say, “I give up! You are just not going to change!” Instead, He lovingly and consistently disciplines me, prodding me to go in the right direction and showing me when I got off the track and how to get back on it. God’s discipline is not always welcomed by me. I don’t always want to have to repent and apologize, but He wants me to be in a right relationship with Him, so His Spirit keeps prompting me to do the right thing. I don’t think that persevering in our discipline is a challenge or a chore for God as it seemed to me for me at times. His love for us is so great that from that abundance of love, He chooses to discipline us. I remember telling my children that I was disciplining them because I love them. It does my heart good to watch and hear my children tell their children the same thing. Discipline is love in action and it brings a harvest that we don’t even realize at the time.

My word to you today is to persevere. Choose to allow the Lord to discipline you and accept that we are sinners saved by grace. We aren’t perfect but we are a work in progress, and God loves us so much that He wants us to strive to be more like Him.

A Life Filled with Hope

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Fight Fear with Hope (Daily Refresh, 2-05-26)

It seems there’s always something to worry about: natural disasters, current (and potential) wars, shaky finances, relational brokenness, unmet expectations, political/cultural/racial divisions, senseless violence, our kids, our jobs, our health, and more—much more. But many of the things we fear are largely out of our control.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose our response.

You can constantly be worried, negative, anxious, fearful, critical, and bitter. Or, you can be known for seeing the good in people, choosing joy, offering encouragement, looking for God’s fingerprints, and always finding something to be grateful for. In either case, the cycle feeds itself. 

Like hummingbirds are attracted to sweet things while vultures scour the earth for dead things, we will always find what we are looking for. Why? Because darkness and light both exist. Good and evil are everyday realities. And we must decide who we’ll trust, and how we’ll spend our lives. 

There are plenty of scary things happening in the world, but—because of Jesus—there is always good.

Even on our darkest days, Jesus is the light of the world. He’s already carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders, which means we don’t have to. He has already made a way where there was no way, which means we can follow the path He has blazed. The Holy Spirit is already compelling us and leading us and teaching us and comforting us, which means we’re not alone.

The hope we have in Christ isn’t just wishful thinking or positive vibes. It’s hope that’s based on truth—on facts and faith.

So what can we do? The Bible says:

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can fight anxiousness with hope.
We can ward off worry with truth-filled encouragement.
We can resist fear by offering life-giving words.
We can refuse to settle for living scared.
We can expose the darkness to light.

So the next time you feel anxiety and fear weighing down your heart, ask God for help and encouragement. Remember, He is closer than a prayer away.

My Thoughts

As usual, the devotional today was just what I needed. Lots of anxiety about various issues have been pressing in, but I have chosen to look at God while diving into His Word for the comfort and strength that I need.

I went to my arthritis doctor yesterday for a bone density test and a consultation with the doctor afterwards. The news he shared with me was bad, but since I know Who made me and the eternity that awaits me, I am choosing not to be discouraged. He told me that I cannot ever lift over five pounds because my spinal column can collapse. And my hip has a high probability that it will fracture if I fall. And my wrist won’t just fracture, but the bones there are so thin that they will shatter. Then, he told me that there are no medications he knows of to help my bones because of my single kidney. So, he wants me to see my endocrinologist to see if she has any suggestions.

I really, really like and trust my endocrinologist. She takes all the time she needs to be with me and generally assures me that she will research my problems until she has an answer. I don’t know that she will have an answer for me, but I do know that her soft-spoken words help me stay calm. She doesn’t falsely claim that all will be okay; rather, she says she will do all she can to find an answer.

Meanwhile, when I spoke to my family about the situation, they were first upset for me and then I told them that God is writing the end of my story. Not the doctors. So, whether I pass away from kidney failure, another stroke or fractured bones that won’t heal, or even something else, God will be with me. He has never left me and this new scan did not catch Him by surprise, nor is He in heaven wringing His hands over the results. God is doing what God does every day, taking care of me and you and His world. I choose to live a life of hope and for me, that means continuing to live with God first, family second and friends next. Am I rejoicing over the prognosis? No, but neither am I sleepless and anxious. I know who is in control, and it’s not me or the doctors. God is and was and always will be in control of what happens to me; thus, I walk into a certain future because it is one God planned for me. And all He does is good! 🙂

Comfort in God’s Word

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

He Comforts Us (Daily Refresh 2-03-26)

In ancient Israel, the rod and staff of a shepherd protected and guided the sheep, and even reminded the sheep that the shepherd was there. And so King David (who was a shepherd as a boy) used the metaphor in Psalm 23:4 to convey this truth: God was his protector and guide. 

King David faced death many times and had enemies bent on killing him. He also dealt with his own sin issues and personal mistakes. But in the midst of all this, he repeatedly turned his attention to the faithfulness and assurances of God. 

Where did he find these assurances? 

King David would have been a student of the Hebrew Scripture, the Torah—the first five books in our Bibles. 

To a Hebrew, the Torah wasn’t just a story about God, it was the very Word of God. It was authority, promise, and guide. It was this Word that David based his life—and his psalms—upon. David could write about God’s character because:

1. He knew the Word of God.
2. He experienced the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that Word.

We, too, have this—and more. We have the revealed Word of God from the ancient prophets in the Old Testament, the words of Jesus while on earth, and the revealed words of Jesus through the apostles and authors of the New Testament. In other words, we have what David had:

1. We have the Word of God.
2. We can experience the faithfulness and goodness of God based on that word. 

Read what Jesus said to His disciples:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 
John 16:33 ESV

Like David, we don’t have anything to fear, because God is near—and He is our comfort. Knowing Scripture helps us confidently believe that God is and will be a faithful protector, guide, and presence to those who love Him. So today, commit to getting God’s words deep within you.

My Thoughts

We just went through over a week and a half of below freezing temperatures here in central Virginia, preceded by ice and snow and then wind. I prayed a lot before the storms, during the storms and after the storms. What did I pray for? For protection, for our power to stay on and for us to continue to have water and heat. In the past, an ice storm generally signaled to us that our power would go off, sometimes for days. This time, with such cold temperatures, we knew we needed electricity. Our son contacted us and told us to go to a motel, that he would reserve a room for us. But we told him “no” because we didn’t know how long it would take for the storm to pass and everything to settle down. We told him that we were praying. He still continued to check on us and ask us if we were sure we didn’t want to go to a motel. He knows we live rurally and once the storm hit it would be almost impossible for us to get out to a shelter. In staying here, we may have been considered foolish, but I kept my mind focused on God’s being a shield and on His faithfulness in the past.

We can count on God’s Word when we have it hidden deep in our hearts. John 14:26 says that our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught us. Part of those “things” is all about His constant caring, faithfulness and love.

Today is the day I go to get my crown fitted. Am I thrilled about my first outing in ten days being to the dentist and then to the pulmonologist? No, but it needs to be done and I am fully trusting that God will be with me in this procedure, too, just as He has walked alongside me in so many other trials and tests. God is faithful, all the time, in all ways. Life doesn’t stop and pat us on the head and tell us that today there won’t be any problems. Instead, God tells us that we are to be courageous no matter what we face because he is always with us. Even through bad storms and very cold temperatures. Even when we go to the dentist. And I am especially trusting Him to get me across the ice to the car this morning as I leave. He is right there as I fear falling, reminding me that He is holding on to me.

With God at my side, I can face an unknown future, and so can you!

God’s Divine Contentment

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Called to Contentment (Daily Refresh, 1-17-26)

Observing Sabbath-rest allows us to step into the same rhythm God established in creating the world. Scripture tells us when God rested from His work, it was because His work was complete (Genesis 2:1). God took joy in His accomplishment. 

In Hebrews 4:10, the writer draws a parallel between God’s rest and ours: “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” We’re invited to delight in His presence and share in God’s divine contentment.

This rest isn’t about taking a break from good works. It’s about surrendering the need to control by trusting in the completeness of God’s work. Our “rest” releases us from the burden of proving ourselves good enough to earn His love and approval. These things have been secured through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. When we step into this rhythm of rest, we can find contentment that spills over into every part of our lives.

Is God calling you to stop trying to do everything on your own and instead find peace in Jesus’ finished work on the cross?

Lay down your burdens, not out of laziness, but surrender. Believe that the One who made the world also takes care of you.

My Thoughts

I don’t know about you but I have trouble resting. I don’t mean falling asleep, although that is sometimes an issue, too. I mean “resting”, just letting go and being content with being in God’s presence and in a safe place in my life. I am always looking for the next thing that I need to do, the next appointment I need to go to, or the next person I need to call. Rest means that instead of looking around for what I need to do next, I am happy with what has already been accomplished and just rest. I am at peace and instead of having scatter thoughts all over the place, my mind is resting, too, as I consider my relationships with God and others as the blessing they are to me. Jesus has already done everything that needed to be done for me on the cross, so I don’t need to prove myself to God once I accepted Him as my Savior. Something in my mind, however, keeps wanting me to prove myself to others, and I need to work on getting to the point where I accept myself as I am and don’t strive so hard to please others. That way I can rest, whether they approve or not. That’s because deep in my heart and soul, I know that God approves and He is calling me to rest, to accept and to be content.

The God Who Sees

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, Song, YouVersion App2 Comments

Part of my blog today is from my devotional, “The Bible in One Year, 2025 by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel” from the You Version:

All this is by grace (vv.15,17,20–21). Allow these truths to sink deep into your heart. See yourself as God sees you – as righteous in his sight – and believe that, because of what Jesus has done for you, when God looks at you he is pleased with you.

Lord, thank you so much for the death of Jesus on my behalf. Thank you that although I deserve judgment and condemnation, you have made it possible for me to be justified and to receive the righteousness from God by grace as a gift.

God sees us as righteous, forgiven, loved by Him beyond anything we can comprehend.

Hagar was ready to just admit defeat for herself and her small son Ishmael. But God was right there and saw her and had a different plan.

How often are we ready to just give up, to admit that we cannot face the challenges of life any longer? I had a week like that. I don’t talk about it, but my husband is a hoarder which almost drives me crazy since I am an organizer bunny. I was getting ready this week for family to visit, and I do try very hard not to go into the back bedroom, the site of my husband’s “treasures” but I had to dust. I was so dismayed to find that he had decided to “clean out the closet” and other spaces by stacking things under the mattress of the bed. The bed now sits about three feet higher than the frame and I think it looks ridiculous, not to mention, slightly unsafe since it’s uneven. We had an argument about it and neither of us is happy with each other. I want the family members coming to be safe but also to not be overwhelmed by the sheer outrageousness of my husband’s collections. Newspapers, boxes, video tapes, plastic containers, etc. There is no reason for all of it…it just is. The whole hoarding thing has gotten worse since retirement and I have no solution. I cannot face it, but God can. He sees my frustration and discouragement. And he also sees my husband’s mental problems that cause the problem to begin with. So, what to do? I choose to submit to God, knowing that He sees me just the way I am and will help me once again get through this situation that seems to have no answer. I generally end up backing off and my husband has his way about everything, but I am so tired of that posture. I really want God to intervene, but His intervention may be that I change and not my husband. In the meantime, I feel somewhat like Hagar, in the wrong place at the wrong time and with no one to help me. But then, there is Jehovah Roi, the God who sees. I am blessed beyond measure by God who sees all and continues to love me.

The God Who Sees by Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullen

Letting Your Light Shine

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

I am participating in a group Bible study online with some ladies from my church. It’s called “Loving God Greatly-Abiding in Jesus: Bearing Fruit that Lasts.” We are only on Day 4 of fourteen days, but this devotional is really speaking to me and in some ways calling me out. Today was one that did the latter. Here is the text from the YouVersion Bible App:

The Light that we are called to shine through our lives is not for others to better see us, but to better see Christ. When we abide in Jesus, our lives begin to reflect His Light, shining in a world that desperately needs to see Him. This Light is the evidence of God’s Love within us, transforming our lives and radiating out to bless those around us. 

As we learn to abide in Jesus, something beautiful happens: gratitude begins to overflow in our hearts. We start to see God’s Goodness in every moment. Praise becomes part of our daily rhythm. It’s not just a quick “thank you” here and there but a deep and constant awareness of and gratitude for His Presence. 

Our lives become a testimony of God’s Faithfulness, a Light that points others to His Love. It’s shown in acts of kindness, forgiving those who’ve wronged us, speaking comfort into someone’s pain, and choosing humility over pride. When we abide in Christ, we find that our good deeds are simply the natural overflow of His Love in us. 

Sweet friend, your Light may seem small at times, but Jesus assures us that God uses every act of faithfulness and obedience to bring Him Glory. The impact of your abiding life goes far beyond what you can see or even imagine. When we choose to live as a Light for Him, we’re part of something Eternal, pointing others to the source of all Light—Jesus Himself, the Light of the World.

This devotional made me see how far I have come, but more importantly how much further I need to go. I have a little, tiny light that I hope is bringing hope to a lost world, but I don’t always see the effects of anything that I do, so I am not sure that I am having any kind of effect at all. I just want people to see Jesus in me and to show gratitude to God for who He is and what He is doing in their lives. Some days I feel pretty good about how I have represented Christ that day and other days I just feel beaten down, like a dry corn stalk in the summer heat. I don’t feel successful but I keep trying. After all, I am representing the King, and anything I do on His behalf is a way that I hope is bringing glory to Him. How about you? Is your light shining?

The Faithfulness of God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App4 Comments

From the YouVersion Bible App Devotional, “A God Who Is Faithful”, Day 1

A Faithful God and an Unfaithful People

The book of Judges presents a stark contrast between the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of his people. It is astounding to consider that so soon after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, a generation arrived on the scene that neither knew the Lord nor the works that he had done for them. The very same nation who was an eyewitness to the stunning might of God had now forgotten him altogether. Their forgetfulness is seen in their ever-increasing propensity toward rebellion.

One would anticipate that their sin would prompt God to abandon his people forever. Yet, time and time again, an avalanche of God’s grace meets the faithlessness of the people. In fact, the text records God’s pity on the people and his attentiveness to their cries. Previously, Moses recounted how the people of God groaned because of their slavery and cried out to the Lord (Ex 2:23 – 25). These cries for deliverance were met by responses from the Lord. He heard their cries. He remembered the promises he had made in his covenant with them. He saw their need, and he knew their pain. This is the nature of the faithfulness of God — he hears, remembers, sees and knows.

Now, generations later, God heard the cries of his people and provided judges to lead them to victory. He did this despite the fact that they had demonstrated a perpetual inability to obey, even for a generation. God’s faithfulness is clearly not predicated on the goodness of his people. Rather, God’s faithfulness is founded on his character. He is a faithful God who always keeps his promises.

The faithfulness of God is the hope on which the Christian life is built. Those who know Jesus through repentance and faith can rest assured that God is faithful to his promises (1Co 1:9). He will not abandon his people, nor will he turn his back on them when they are unfaithful. Instead he hears, remembers, sees and knows. (Emphasis added by me) He hears the cry for mercy from those who know they are broken. He remembers his covenant, made long ago to Abraham, to save his people. He knows the needs of his people and, by virtue of Christ’s work, has made provision to meet those needs and restore them to a right relationship with him forever.

Today’s Prayer: 

Jesus, I thank you and praise you for your grace and faithfulness. Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I am ungrateful, rebellious and forgetful of your goodness. Amen.

My Thoughts

I have never been in slavery, captive by people who use me mercilessly. But I have been in slavery to sin, and God has freed me, not because of anything I have done but only because of His mercy and grace.

It is reassuring to know that God remains faithful even when we lose sight of the pathway He has us on and wander away. He is faithful to get us back on the right pathway and get us headed again in the right direction. God knows that we are human with all of the weaknesses and temptations that come along with it, and the good news is that He loves us anyway and is always faithful. He hears when we cry out to Him. I have a regular routine of praying daily, but that was not always the case. Even if I went days without acknowledging God (confession here: I am guilty of having done this in the past and know that I can fall into that pattern in the future if I allow myself to do so), once I called on the Name of the Lord, I felt Him draw near to me, ready to hear and answer my call. Why would He do that? Why would He be so faithful when I, and other humans, have a tendency to turn towards self-sufficiency instead of toward Him? Then the going gets rough and we turn to God. I have learned a big life lesson to always call on God, every day, no matter how I expect my day to go or what is going on in my life.

Having said all of this, I have a prayer request for a dear friend in PA. She was diagnosed with tongue cancer. No, she never smoked or used tobacco products, ever! That was last year. Now, it has progressed and she is on hospice care. We share a love of good Christian books and I have sent her some of my favorites via my daughter who attends her church. In fact, she taught all of my grandchildren there at one time or another. Please pray for Millie and her family. She has two sisters, one a twin, and I am sure that the knowledge that she only has a few months to live is devastating to them. I know it is breaking my heart; she is such a kind, sweet lady. I won’t tell you how to pray, but I am asking you to pray. God is faithful!