Vickie

God Bless Grandmothers…

Published on September 29, 2017October 13, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

I Missed Grandparents Day…

Writing this as a kind of apology, Jesus revealing to me that I’ve been using my little kids too much. That even though we learn so very much from them, I have learned so many crucial life lessons from grown-ups too. Taking some space to share a bit of what I have learned from seasoned Christian women on this journey.

My grandmothers. On my father’s side, I have learned so much from my grandmother, Edna Grace Ludwig, posthumously. She was ill most of my formative years, so I did not have much time with her, but she certainly made up for it when I had to go through her estate after the passing of my dear Aunt Mary.

My greatest treasure is the notes she left from an exhaustive Bible Study she worked on during her later years. I have her handwritten answers to the wise instructor’s questions. No computer to write with and store her wisdom. Just pen and paper. “Spirit” duplicated worksheets, with corrections and additions from the wise hands of her discipler. My Grandma Ludwig sought God. She cherished His Word and I hope she sees that her faithfulness is a legacy that I am so extremely grateful for.

Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man (woman) who walks not in the counsel of the ungoldly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his (her) delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law doth he (she) meditate day and night.” (God’s Words are for all of us.)

On my mother’s side, I have learned so much from my grandmother, Clara Mae McElfresh. This “grandma” influenced me much before she went to be with the Lord. She was a caregiver. She wanted so much to be a registered nurse, yet she was able to provide nursing care that more than made up for the fact that she did not have a “degree.” I saw how she made a difference to those who suffered and I wanted to be able to do the same thing. However, she first and foremost loved Jesus. He rescued her and she never stopped praising and serving Him in the new life He gave her after she was saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

These women had struggles.

Grandma Ludwig, lost a baby shortly after he was born. She raised a son with challenging health problems; polio and a seizure disorder. She operated a small general store where she extended credit to many families who were never able to pay. I am sure she talked with Jesus about all of these heartaches and more. Those are just the profound highlights of what had to be the darkest nights. Add those to the inconveniences of getting your water from the well and doing laundry on a wash board!

Grandma McElfresh had what I have understood to be a difficult upbringing. Yet Jesus found her and turned things around. One of my most poignant memories is watching her care for her dying husband, crying out to God to ease his suffering. I had the privilege of staying day and night with her during those first few days of grieving for her loss and they made an impact on my life that will always stay with me. Such a tear-filled gift. She also lost two sons from this earth before the Lord took her to Heaven. Again, just some highlights of her darkest nights for she also lived in a world without the many conveniences we have today.

And I could go on and on about the wonderful example my own mother, Donna Ludwig, has been of a grandma that goes above and beyond to make sure her grandchildren know they are loved and precious and that Jesus is her Lord. She is still going strong, even now that she is a great-great grandma!

Some of you may have your own stories of how much of a difference a grandmother, or older-wiser woman has had on your life. Remember them and think of how we can have an impact on those women who are coming after us.

I am finishing up a study focused on the directions God gives to older and younger women, based on Titus 2. We older women are to teach younger women to follow Jesus in all the many directions their lives take them. This is not the same world we inherited from our grandmothers. There are so many distractions from the true, holy life God requires to experience His blessings. Younger women need our guidance and better yet, our support and prayers. The example of our faithfulness will make a difference, even if that difference is realized many miles down the road.

I am going to a conference this weekend in Indianapolis, Revive ’17. Women will gather together from many places in this country and will be watching via livestream from all over the world. We will be praying and worshiping together and learning together the importance of “passing the baton” to those who will be coming after us. Please join us at this address, https://buff.ly/2y7gWhl , or go to reviveourhearts.com and see what this is all about.

Teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.

They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

TITUS 2:1-5, 10

Don’t Pick At It!

Published on September 22, 2017October 13, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

Don’t Pick At It!

She looks like she bumped into an unyielding object, quite hard. Bruise on the forehead, abrasions on the side of her little nose and between the other eye and eyebrow. It seems she took off running, not realizing that something was in her way and BAM! Can you relate?

She knows there’s something there, even though she can’t see it and so she tries to pick it off. Only it’s not ready to come off yet. I told her “Jesus is healing it.” He has placed a protective cover over the boo-boo until it’s ready. To pick it off will interfere with healing and “He will have to start all over.” Hard concept for a two-year-old to grasp. Can be hard for us grown-ups to grasp too.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11

Several lessons there, huh?

1. There are times when Jesus heals immediately. The time when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and Peter would not stand for it. He grabs his sword and swings at one of the soldiers and the ear gets sliced off. Well then, Jesus would have none of that, and reaches up and restores what the impetuous Peter has done. Immediate healing. (John 18:10 and Luke 22:51)

I remember a time when I witnessed my little boy jumping off the end of my bed’s footboard and heard his blood-curdling scream when he hit the floor with his little two-year-old feet and ankles. We prayed together and the tears stopped and he hopped up and played like nothing ever happened. Immediate healing.

2. But sometimes, and it seems like most times, healing takes time. But we have to remember that time does not do the healing, Jesus does. If we leave it alone and let Him do it. If we stop picking at it and picking it back up and reopening the wounds that He promises to heal. If… and that’s a pretty big IF, we grow up a little bit in our faith and start trusting Him more. Start thinking like a grownup in Christ.

Remember, we “…walk by faith and not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.

3. We need to trust that God is working things out, healing what needs healed, even when we can’t see it or feel it. We must remember that just like picking at physical wounds can introduce bacteria that complicates healing, we can put complications in our own path to spiritual healing and growth. Holding on to anxiety and grief can impede recovery from wounds we have experienced, when it is possible to experience the peace of God through prayer.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6

I asked for boo-boos to pray for in Sunday school class, and this same little girl asks for prayer for the small scabs on her knees. I asked about those on her face and she says, “I don’t have any boo-boos on my face.” Out of sight, out of mind. Hmmm.

So remember, if it’s a physical injury, bring out the peroxide and antibiotic ointment, and don’t pick at it! But remember the advice from the Word when it comes to the wounds of the heart. Walk by faith until those wounds are out of sight. Pray, asking for what you need, remembering to give thanks, and then enjoy the peace of God. Don’t try to understand it. God’s healing surpasses understanding. Rest in the protection of His Spirit that guards you in every step of this journey.

I Want the Cymbals!

Published on September 15, 2017October 13, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

I Want the Cymbals!

Music time with my preschool Sunday school class can be a bit deafening. But one thing can be said for sure, they make a joyful noise! I think they all want to be the one who gives the loudest praise. The two instruments that are fought over more than any others are the drum and the cymbals. So we take turns. How fun it is to watch them pound that drum and clang those cymbals. They have to be reminded to sing, but they don’t miss a beat on those two noise makers.

As much as I appreciate their “music” I can be glad when we go to a “quieter” activity. Cymbals have their place in an orchestra at just the precise second, but a consistent clanging of them can be quite unnerving.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1

So starts the “love” chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. Words are important and I love to communicate but if what I have to say is equated to a clanging cymbal, I am sure those who read my words or hear me speak would rather I just shut up. How much love is in my talk and how in the world can I say what I think needs to be said without seeming unloving?

I’m feeling a bit guilty about a note I sent to someone where I honestly expressed my opinion on something and it was not all that positive. I hated to do it but felt like I had to do it, you know, one of those things that bugs you so much, you just have to spill it. I’m not sure how it was received because I have not heard anything back. I still stand behind what I said, yet I wonder if I could have said it in a more loving way.

God has used this as a lesson. No matter how much I am offended by something, I need to always respond in love. Love can do hard things. Love can say, “I disagree with you.” Love can say “No, I’m sorry but I can’t fit that into my life right now.” Love can say, “Your words have hurt me, but I still love you.”

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

How can I love like this? A pretty tall order, huh? A kind of love that is impossible for us to do on our own. Only with God’s help can we love like we should. And with God, ALL things are possible. I know I have problems loving people like I should. I can say I feel like it is getting easier as I am getting older, but oh my, when I read what some people write or hear what some people say, the clanging cymbals of it all is enough to stir in me some pretty unloving thoughts. I want to put my hands over my ears and scream STOP!

“But Jesus looked at them and said “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27

When Jesus spoke those words He was teaching about salvation. How impossible it is for a man to enter the kingdom of God on his own. As impossible as “a camel to go through the eye of a needle…” verse 25. Loving someone well is just as impossible without God. God is love. (1 John 4:16) How could we truly love without His help?

There’s this little ceramic statue of Jesus that sits on a shelf across from my desk. Jesus, holding little children close. It’s a picture of the love that He has for us. Holding us close. Always holding us close. He was and is the perfect example of how to love in word and deed. And I can love that way with His help. That truth makes me hopeful.

If Jesus could love through the suffering of the cross, I can love through the times when I feel slighted or misunderstood. I can love when I am used or ignored or taken for granted. When things are going badly and we just don’t see eye to eye, I can still love. I can always, always respond with love. It is possible because God can make it possible, YES! – cue the cymbals!

First Days, All Over Again

Published on September 10, 2017October 13, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

Amy, my firstborn, with her Hollie Hobbie lunch box, 1st day, 2nd grade

First Days…All Over Again

I loved the first day of the new school year. It was fun and exciting to get to wear my new clothes and shoes. Backpacks weren’t around when I was little. I carried a “book satchel.” It had twisty closures and a handle. Too cool, right? I didn’t go to kindergarten, let alone pre-school. The first grade opened my eyes to so many new experiences and I got in trouble on the very first day. It’s funny how vividly I remember it. I chased a boy down the hallway yelling his name “J.J” over and over, quite loudly. He was dropping some papers and I just wanted to help. I didn’t know I was supposed to use my “inside voice.”

Couldn’t find a picture with my satchel, but I probably looked a lot like this

I love seeing all the posts with the pictures of all the little ones experiencing their “first days.” Wasn’t it just yesterday I held them as tiny babies? Time does fly, doesn’t it? They can’t be babies forever, it just wouldn’t be right. They have to move on. And so do we.

With each of my four, I watched as they boarded that big school bus, knowing that they would never be the same. Their world would get bigger and I would fear that they would think less of the world I made for them at home. I wanted to protect them from everything and how could I if they were out of my sight? I learned that I could do something for them that would mean much more than following them around all day. I could pray.

Matt, #2, first grade, getting ready to catch that big yellow bus with big sister

I could prepare for the scary stuff by bringing it to God and trusting Him to surround my little ones with protection and love. I could seek wisdom for how involved I should be in their formal education. I could follow through with a commitment to support their teachers, as they were entrusted with my most precious possessions. I could cheer my little ones on with praises for their papers and stickers and sign up on all the “volunteers needed” sheets. I could be right there with them, doing my part as they did theirs. I was “in” school too.

I certainly didn’t do it all right. Looking back, I would have this advice for those of you sending your little ones off this Fall. Your child’s teacher should be very important to you. He or she needs your prayers and support. Any good teacher will appreciate the help and will realize that cooperation at home is the key to the success of the child at school. Mammas, make sure your little ones have good rest and nutrition. A school-night should be protected and regarded as preparation for the day ahead.

Mark, #3, first day of Pioneer Preschool

I read something so sad the other day. In some school systems a well-known washer and dryer manufacturer has donated these appliances to the schools; this is not the sad part. The sad part is that they have discovered that children who had clean clothes to wear had better attendance and participation in school. There were many homes where the children didn’t have someone making sure they had clean outfits to wear. Attendance improved because the schools picked up where the home life dropped the ball.

It all starts at home. Whether God has led you to homeschool or given you peace about sending your little ones to church-affiliated or public schools; you are their first teacher. As you keep learning new things with excitement, you are setting an example that they will follow. Learning is fun and has rewards that no other endeavor holds.

Melanie, #4, first day Pioneer Preschool

First days are great, whether they are the first-ever days of school or the repeat first days of the new years. Let’s start each new day as a first day. Forgetting and letting go of the mess-ups of yesterday. It does us all good to remember that awesome advice from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s go onward and upward, following the example of those little ones on their first days of this new school year. Say cheese!

Our Time Is Now

Published on September 3, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

Our Time Is Now

“Can I just trade these and go?” Says this woman to the staff, while waving two DVDs in the air at the customer service desk at Walmart. “No, you have to get in line to do the paperwork,” was her answer. Another frazzled female making her way behind me in line said, “Good thing I’m patient…” after she grumbled about how she had been out since eight o’clock this morning and has got “nothing” done. Which was preceeded by the story of how the other places she had already been to this morning failed her. Did I mention that the line was long? Kind of like “the day after Christmas” size. Oh my.

I had to decide to change what would be my default reaction and try to think of another way to process this. I said to myself “when they call me up, I am going to let the lady behind me go first.” It was fun. She says, “Are you sure?” Then quickly goes ahead. Then I offered this to the next lady in line, the one with the DVDs, and she declines. She instead said something to the effect “oh no, I can wait, I shouldn’t have let that bother me so much.” We then had a pretty pleasant conversation until the staff could help us with our exchanges.

It was good. Thankfully, I was not under any time constraints, so I know I wasn’t much of a hero. Yet it was a victory over my normal way of dealing with hold ups. I’m the worst at waiting. I will drive the long way around rather than wait my turn when there’s road construction. I will get there no faster, but at least I won’t be sitting there waiting. I have enough examples to fill this page, but you get the picture. I have a problem with time; always worrying that I’m wasting it.

Time has been called lots of different things. It can be a gift, a curse, an illusion, a friend or an enemy. Each true depending on the circumstance. Something about time that is true in every circumstance is our time is now. This is all we really have. I love how Christine Caine says it in her book Unstoppable, “God has plucked you out of eternity, positioned you in time, and given you gifts and talents to serve him in this generation. Your race is now. This is your time in history.”

It excites me to think that God placed me in that line today to do that seemingly small thing and I know it changed someone else’s day. Mine for sure. He has you in this special time in history to do what you can to help others and to glorify Him. It’s just not all about us. And when the right “time” comes, He’ll pluck us out of time and put us back into eternity. The question is, what story are we writing while we’re here and where are we storing up our treasures?

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The time we have here can add some wrinkles and wounds, the effects of the Fall. But we have to look deeper than that. We need to look for the treasure in each day that we have. Each decision to put others first glorifies God and adds to our treasure in heaven. Challenge yourself to overlook offences and extend graces in your relationships. By doing so, you’ll be racking up treasure in eternity that can never get tarnished. The only things we should be rushing to are those things that count for pleasing God and helping others. (Preaching to myself here.)

One thing that is so true about time is that it has a limit. We can run our race, the race we are all called to run, with joy, in the time that is now. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) And when what we consider hold-ups in life happen, we carry out whatever would hold up to those goals for our journey here. Pleasing God and helping others.

Solomon, considered to be the wisest man this side of heaven, wrote about time. How everything under heaven has a purpose. Only those closely attached to God can have the wisdom to know when those times are and choose the appropriate way to react or respond.

Ecclesiastes 3

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

These are the first 8 verses, then in verse 17 the wise king says:

“God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,

For there is a time there for every purpose and every work.”

Only those closely attached to God can have the wisdom to know when those times are and choose the appropriate way to react or respond. I can only pray that I will know and trust God’s Spirit to tell me. May He always find us following Him so closely that our answers are as plain as can be during our time which is now.

Undone at the Drive-thru

Published on August 27, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

No, I wasn’t losing it because they put tomatoes on my sandwich when I specifically said “no tomato.” I wasn’t even trying to get some fast food. I was actually at a bank waiting on the teller to cash a check for my mother-in-law when it happened.

I grabbed my mail at the end of the driveway on my way to town to run some errands. I noticed the return address was from a friend that I had not seen in about 20 years. The coast was clear so I took out into the road thinking I’d open it later when I had more time.

First stop, gas up the car. Check. Second stop, cash the check. Check. Well almost. I’ve noticed, if you haven’t, that it seems to take longer and longer to get a check cashed nowadays. There must be about the same number of check-points for a teller to pass through as when a nurse tries to give an aspirin to a patient in the hospital, and true to form, I was getting impatient. So I remembered the mail and opened the little envelope.

It was a homemade card. I could tell because there was no greeting card company logo on the back cover. The front and inside contained glued-on, computer printed greetings. The front proclaimed “If it weren’t for great people like you…” and the inside continued “…there wouldn’t be grateful people like me!” With the “me” underlined three times.

Because of her, I looked forward to getting older, knowing how faith in Jesus looks on a lady who trusts Him with everything.

With the teller still busy clicking through the steps at her computer, I decided to read the personal hand-written note, from an obviously shaky hand. It starts, “My Dearest Vickie”, and I get a lump in my throat and water in my eyes that cloud all the words that come after. My dear 82 year-old friend penned some words that hugged my heart and gave me joy unspeakable and full of glory!

How in this world, could I deserve a gift like that? Truth is, I don’t. But God gave it anyway. You see, this dear godly lady was an older woman that took a younger woman (me) into her heart years ago. Prayed for her, gave her good godly advice and yearly checked on her. She kept in touch, always sharing how good God is at every stage of life. Because of her, I looked forward to getting older, knowing how faith in Jesus looks on a lady who trusts Him with everything.

She was a beautiful example of a Titus 2 woman then and now. Being an example. A woman of great faith, living in front of me a life surrendered to God at every age and stage. Beautifully adorning the gospel. (Titus 2:10)

1^st Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

In our small group study, “Adorned”, I challenged each of the Bible Group Girls to think of a lady who had inspired her or helped her at some point to live a life more devoted to God. I suggested she text her or write her a note telling her how important she was and is; expressing how truly thankful she is for her influence. I followed my own suggestion and wrote to this dear lady who had me crying at the bank window. I hoped that my note would reach her okay because it had been 7 months since Christmas Cards were exchanged, and she is “getting on” in years. And it did. By the words she returned to me, I could tell that it provided a blessing to her.

How about you? Is there someone who has been an encouragement when you were down, pointed you toward the God who comforts all sorrows and can guide all decisions when you didn’t know what to do? Can I challenge you to tell this dear person before it is too late; and we never know when that is. Would you like to share it with others in this community in the comment section? I’d love to hear about her!

My sweet friend closed her note with “Once again, Our Lord is so faithful, He is with us no matter what age. The best friends believe in each other! Encourage one another and build each other up. You did.” She cited 1^st Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

I put my sunglasses back on so the poor teller wouldn’t think the wait for her to do her job had undone me. Amazed that a few moments at a bank window brought about one of the greatest encouragements I’ve every experienced. Never underestimate your power to change a day or a life by sharing Jesus’ love.

Searchlight

Published on August 20, 2017August 20, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my anxieties;” Psalm 139:23

I read this morning that the average American adult makes 35,000 decisions each day. If you’re someone who hates to make decisions, that can bring on a tremendous amount of anxiety. I don’t think we realize this because we do so many things out of habit. Yet operating out of habit is a decision in itself. There’s this line in one of my favorite movies, Riders of the Purple Sage, “the habit of life is stronger than life itself.” If this is true, we better make sure we’ve got good habits.

I had a scare yesterday. As my habit is, after I get my husband off to work in the morning, I go to my recliner and spend about an hour in Bible study and prayer. During the last few mornings, when I got up from this chair, I’ve experienced a sickening weak, numb and tingling feeling in my lower body and legs. Yesterday morning it lingered for a longer time and interfered with walking so it got my attention. I’m not sure what is going on other than maybe my herniated disc is acting up when I sit in that chair, at that angle, for that amount of time. So, I decided today I would change this habit.

As I type this, I promise you, I am sitting up quite straight in my office chair hoping this new habit of sitting will prevent any medical attention. When a habit no longer serves you well, change it.

Godly habits are good things as long as we don’t rely on the habit more than the abundant life they were supposed to help us achieve.

To present a spiritual parallel, consider some things we think we do for God without noticing that the life has gone out of the effort. Consider going to church, out of habit, and not being the Church. Isn’t it just like us, walking like the living dead, going through the motions, all the while not being fully present?

And what about our prayer habits. Isn’t it just like us to take our prayer time and spout out requests without taking the time to consider that we are addressing a holy God that blesses those who come to Him in pureness of heart? (Matthew 5:8)

Yes, Christians should go to church. Christians should pray. But if these good habits have lost their “life” – what has eclipsed their original intentions? Let’s make it our new habit to stop thinking about what we can take out of church and start thinking about what we can bring into it. After all, it is all about Jesus, isn’t it? Let’s sing our hearts out, worship with undistracted hearts and minds, fellowship with our forever family like it really matters. Because it does. Let’s start our prayers with praise and adoration for the God we’re addressing and maybe the request list won’t be so long.

The habits of life should not be stronger than life itself. Godly habits are good things as long as we don’t rely on the habit more than the abundant life they were supposed to help us achieve. Habits are tools we can use for positive change. If the habit is no longer producing the result intended, change it. With God’s help, we can. The habits of our days are well known by God. Read all of Psalm 139 and you will see how well your Heavenly Father knows you.

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:16

Before we were conceived in our mother’s womb we were known by God. Every day that we live has been fashioned by God. All our days have been creatively constructed by the wisest, most intelligent Creator with so much love for us that He would rather die than live without us.

All our days. The good ones when we hum “Oh, what a beautiful morning….everything’s goin’ my way…” like the Oklahoma musical; and the bad ones when we just can’t get out of bed and we want to smack those hummin’ that tune. Give them all back to Him because He’s with you and knows just what you need and when and how you need it.

Let’s get out of our comfy recliners that aren’t doing us any good, any longer, and do something brand new for Him. God’s searchlight is on us right now, nothing escaping His view. Let’s fashion fresh, new habits that will help us grow closer to Jesus and help others along the way. I’m in, how about you?

Greater Than All

Published on August 13, 2017October 12, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

What is the biggest thing? What is the best thing? What is the most important thing? What are we supposed to pay the most attention to? These questions have always caused me a lot of distress. Maybe I’m weird but I’ve always thought if there was something I should be doing, I wanted to make sure I was hard at it. To not be would be bad and I didn’t want to be bad. I hope I’m not the only one.

As I’ve been around the block a few times, I’ve realized that I’m severely lacking in what it takes to be doing everything I deem important and when it is important that those things get done. Because the truth is, I’m only one, small woman. What difference can I really make in this world? And what part of this world am I supposed to make a difference in?

We all know that we have to prioritize things and hopefully we live in freedom enough to do so. The most important has to be able to float to the top and I think it’s interesting that the Spirit of God is a floaty thing. Even though the weight of His importance is compared to a Rock in Scripture, God’s presence is compared to the lightest, sweetest, purest experience this side of heaven.

God comes to the top. Or He should. No matter what the day holds, what time constraints we live with, the length of our daily to-do lists, He has to come to the top.

The Bible says in 1 John 4: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” So… all those “in the world things” are lesser things than God, who has taken up residence in you, the child of God.

The Scripture that has captivated my heart lately, which I have been writing out every day that I journal in my newest journal and what prompted this post…

John 10: 28-30: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

I’ve read those verses many times in the past, used them to claim the blessed assurance that comes from my salvation, yet never had the words “greater than all” jump out at me like they have lately. When I pray I tell Him, “Lord, you are greater than all” and when I am tempted to worry and fret over something I’ve already prayed about, I remind myself, “He is greater than all.”

Those words were spoken by Jesus, written in red. All the words in the Bible are important, but those words written in red, WOW!, they come from the mouth of Christ, the Son of God! Jesus tells us that His Father is GREATER than all. No room for wondering about what is most important. No room for procrastination or hesitation when it comes to setting our priorities. He is GREATER than all the other things that are pulling at your heart today. He is GREATER than any temptation you face. He is GREATER than any lack you feel in energy, in time, in finances, in intelligence, in skill or technique. He is GREATER THAN ALL.

This has given my prayer time radiant energy, quantum even. When I go to my God in prayer I proclaim to Him that there is nothing that is impossible for Him. I remind Him of Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” The angel Gabriel said this to Mary when he announced that she was to have a Baby that would be the Savior of the world. Talk about impossibilities. From this sweet, young, virgin woman who gently responds, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (vs. 34) comes this answer. This answer is all she needs to cause her to say “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (vs. 38) Oh that my faith would follow this example.

When Jesus was born, this world had no room for Him. He came into this world in a borrowed barn. The little Baby grew to be the Man that this world rejected because they had no room in their hearts for the Savior. The Messiah that bragged on His Father when He said His Father was “GREATER THAN ALL.” Those of us who love and cherish our earthly fathers and lavish on them our love and respect, cannot make the same claim. For truly there is only ONE who can be GREATER THAN ALL.

But I Don’t Feel Like It…

Published on August 6, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

Having one of those days where your body and your heart don’t line up? I know what I should be doing and could be doing, just having a little battle with my bones. My mind wants to have a little sympathy and I just want to say “get over it, the bones are not the boss of me!” Dig deeper and move on. Whine. Whine.

Here’s what I know I should do. I need to be reminding myself of the precious time I am wasting that I’ll wish I could get back. I will always regret later what I could have done while I just didn’t feel like it. If nothing is truly pressing me to get up and moving, how about preparing for some things I know I have coming up? How about preparing for my future? Kids hear this a lot, but don’t we grown up girls need to listen and heed our own advice? There are rewards for those who are “made ready.”

How many times have I come up short on things because I did not use my time wisely to prepare for them and I must suffer the consequences?

Revelation 19:7 says “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” This lovely verse is prefaced by the truth that when these words are spoken in heaven, they come from a great multitude. There are also sounds of “many waters” and “mighty thunderings.” Wow! This is an announcement to top all announcements! Someone, the bride of Christ, has done something – got herself ready – and it was beyond awesome.

How many times I come up short on things because I did not use my time wisely to prepare for them and I must suffer the consequences. I dilly-dallied around and wasn’t ready. Oh how I do not want this to be the case when it comes time to being at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

This is my future. As a believer, I am part of the Church, the Bride of Christ. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is the event in Heaven that takes place after the Rapture and after our time at the Judgment Seat of Christ. At this point our lives have been reviewed by Christ and some rewards have been handed out. We will be poised and ready to experience the forever union of the Church with her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

So how do I get myself “ready?” My Study Bible takes me back to 1 Corinthians 3:12-15:

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation (salvation through faith in Jesus Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (parentheses mine)

Fire, in this section of scripture, is a figurative word that means judgment, “the absolute righteous judgment of God.” This is a refining fire that takes the impurities out of everything we had to offer. If we build on our salvation with things that will not survive the fire of judgment, we will not be meeting our Bridegroom adorned with the beauty a bride desires to display at her wedding.

I need to take the time God has given me to-day, to prepare for the-Day when the church is presented to Christ. The refining “fire” does not take away our salvation, but “burns” away all the stuff we did with the wrong motive or an impure heart. Then we are presented to Him adorned as the bride He is worthy of.

I need to make ready myself and serve Him by helping others to make themselves ready. God has given us the ability to influence other women so that they will be “made ready” for that great Day.

I need to preach to myself that it does not matter if I feel like going about the business of prayer, Bible reading and studying. I should be doing it anyway. I need to be meditating on His Word instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media and watching forms of entertainment that do not enrich my soul, but drag it down. For if I do not get a grip on what I feel like doing, I won’t be ready. I’ll be asking for just 5 more minutes…5 more minutes.

Sisters, we cannot trust our feelings. Ann Voscamp writes “You don’t judge your feelings; you feel feelings – and then give them to God.” (The Broken Way, pg 179) We can trust God. His promises, His commands, His truths. We do not have to see or feel the rewards now, they will come. It is our faith that will carry us to the “city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

This offering today does not mean to lay a guilt trip on anyone. I am preaching to myself, really. I am trying to tell myself that I deserve a break and so a lazy day is just what is in order. But I can lay down and read, and I can pray and I can purpose in my heart to make tomorrow better. There is always something I can do to prepare myself for the future even when the now is not all I wish it was.

Someone once said that the difference between not reaching your goals and reaching them is whether or not you are willing to trade what you want now for what you want most. In this type of trade, no one really wins. Live in the moment as much as does your soul good, but not to the sacrifice of what you hope to achieve in the future.

Every single day that passes by is another day we can make ourselves better prepared. I am convinced that God’s promises are true and that they should be embraced until He embraces us with those strong, nail scarred arms in Heaven. “So listen here bones, get up, get ready and get going! It will be so worth it!”

(Scripture references: Revelation 19:7, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 11:10, 13)

Sore Muscles

Published on July 31, 2017 by VickieLeave a comment

Crazy as it sounds, I love the feeling of sore muscles. They are like evidence to me that I was successful in my workout. I found those hiding muscles, called them out, made them work a little past what they were used to and now they offer me the proof of their obedience. Ouch, thank you very much. I can’t visibly see any results yet, but oh I will, if I keep at it, and I can’t wait.

As I live right now in the “hope” phase of a stronger body, I think of Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” Isn’t it interesting how physical fitness can be related to spiritual fitness? All the things hoped for and all the things not seen… yet. Living in faithland can be difficult. There can be a lot of aching and groaning and moaning.

Just as we exercise our physical muscles and dig them out of hiding, trials in our lives cause us to dig deep into our resolve to overcome them. They cause us to pray more and seek the comfort and help we can only get from God. We delve into our stores of faith-related knowledge. We seek out those we can share our burdens with. We search the scriptures. Our spiritual muscles are not used to this, our heart complains. We ask “Why God?”

There are physiologic reasons why our muscles get sore when we workout. Taxing them past what they’re used to tears them up a little bit. They rebuild, bigger, better, stronger. So worth it, right? There are also reasons why suffering yields spiritual strength. Trials remind us that we are not in control here. We wouldn’t bring them on ourselves, knowingly, yet they find us, and we realize that in order to work through them we need help. The upside down way of God says that in weakness we are made strong. Just as when our muscles are torn down and rebuild stronger, when we are cast down by whatever bad stuff we’re going through, we can call on God and be rebuilt stronger. Those spiritual muscles get taxed and He turns our weakness into strength.

We must choose to exercise our faith. But, what is faith? Where do we go to find it? Faith is like the wind, impossible to see, but we know it is there because of how it effects everything it touches. Through faith we can see things as if they are already accomplished. Even when they are not actually… yet. Through faith, we are living between the now and the not… yet. We can tell when faith is taken out of the equation, by the lack of its effect. The language of unexercised faith sounds like, “This is never going to get better.” “You will never change.” “I will always have this problem.” “I will never have enough.”

Let’s say this again, Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” (NKJV) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)

The dictionary defines substance as “actual matter of a thing, as opposed to the appearance of shadow; reality.” Substance is reality – faith is the reality of things hoped for! If I have faith for something or in something, I see myself like a little child in line. Waiting her turn at the water fountain. I know I’ll get my turn. I can already taste the water because I will have it when it is time for me to have it. I can wait. The thing I am hoping for is as good as mine.

The dictionary defines evidence as “that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.” Through faith in God, the proof is in trusting Him. If you say you have faith in God and don’t trust Him, watch out – there is a problem with that. The evidence does not have to be seen during the hoping time because we know the God we trust has got this. We can wait and have the assurance that what is promised will happen. Faith carries us until all promises are fulfilled. You will see this throughout Hebrews 11.

This is such a good chapter to camp out in if you have been faithfully, patiently waiting for God to answer your prayers. You may be praying for something or someone for a long, long time. Not getting the answer you seek and most likely causing you a lot of pain and hardship. Me too. It is hard to walk by faith and not by sight. God never said it would be easy. He did say however, that it will be rewarded. It will be worth it.

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

We have to dig our heels into His promises and refuse to move into the land of hopelessness and despair. Faith-filled women don’t belong there. No matter what we see or if the land we dwell in is not yet what we know we are promised, we hang in there. And not just hang in. We flourish. We exercise our physical muscles and our spiritual muscles and keep hope alive because He lives. And He can be trusted.

James 1:2 has a recommendation that makes me kind of think that I’m not crazy to love sore muscles. It says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” I believe he knew that going through trials that test our faith builds spiritual strength, just as the workouts we’re faithful to do build our physical strength.

Sisters, look differently at those things that challenge you to step out of that comfort zone. Step up to those things that used to send you into hibernation. Dig deep knowing that you can do anything through Christ, seriously, you can! Thank Him for the broken places in you that are evidence of a faith under construction. They will be built up, stronger than they were before. And you, more faithful than you ever imagined you could be.

(Scripture References: Hebrews 11, Philippians 4:13, James 1:2, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)