Author: Vickie

This was more than a “deer in the highlights” look. It was a “scared deer in the bright daylight look.” She looked at me with the fear of surprise, turned with a leap, and headed into the woods. A doe, on her morning walk, came across a human on her morning walk and that was not expected.

Some of us don’t like surprises because we don’t like to deal with anything unexpected. It causes us to think that we may not be in control of things and this is unsettling.  We plan our day, make provisions for our plan and charge into it. I’ve tried that more than a few times and more than a few times I’ve been surprised as the expected crashed into the unexpected and disappointment ensued.

More than having my plans changed, I hate disappointment. I hate it so much I decided that I would just not expect anything to work out as planned, so I’d stop planning anything. If I had a few minutes here or there I’d dust the furniture, or do the dishes or read a little farther along in a book I wanted to finish.  I believed that if I didn’t plan, didn’t expect anything, if I didn’t hope for anything, I would be safe. Not!

I used to make daily, “To Do” lists. Not anymore. At the end of the day so few of those “To Do” items were checked off, with the disappointment being in myself. There were too many little or big surprises tucked into my day, I couldn’t accomplish it all. There just had to be a better way to look at my day, know what was expected of me and reach it. What was I doing wrong?

Some of us like to be surprised, some of us do not. I have surprised people before and found out, by surprise, that they didn’t appreciate it very much. The very word surprise can have a fun annotation. All I have to say to my two-year old grandgirl is “I have a surprise for you” and her face lights up! But as grownups we know a surprise can mean a sudden feeling of wonder, or an unexpected disappointment. Depending on the situation, surprises can be very good or very bad.

Before I write this blog post, I pray. “Lord what do my readers need? What is it that I could possibly write that they could take the time to read and be helped in some way by You?” Sometimes I start in one direction and feel led by the Lord to go somewhere entirely different. This is one of those latter days. “But I don’t have any answer for this yet” I told Him. “I still struggle.” He says, “That’s okay, share it.” So here it is.

I pray. I pray for wisdom in knowing which things need planned, especially those things where others are involved. I do not want to waste their precious time or throw anything unexpected at them. I love to plan women’s events, VBS, Church Programs, family get-togethers. I can still do this and feel planning is necessary and even fun. Seriously –  to not plan leaves things open to disorder and that is not God’s will. I plan to work, when I’m on the schedule, for my employer. To not do that is to not be a good employee.  I plan to stay committed to whom and to what I made a commitment to. To do what you say you will, if you have the power to do so, pleases God and is a good testimony.

“Many are the plans in a man’s (woman’s) heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21, NIV

But in the day-to-day, life as it comes, I toss the planning out the window. I have a “master list” of what needs done and prioritize it according to deadlines, or not, and work at those things when I can. I try to welcome distractions as opportunities to see God at work in my life and minimize any expectations. If I get surprised by an invitation to babysit or run an errand for someone or pray with a friend, it’s a glorious wonder that holds a blessing I would never have experienced if I had stuck to the “list.”

I would like to leave a verse with you, “Many are the plans in a man’s (woman’s) heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21, NIV

So, to you mommas out there who are cleaning up mess after mess, kissing boo boos after boo boos, all the while just trying to get something “done”, I get it, I’ve been there. Look for the blessings. For all you grandmas who were just waiting until you had some “free” time to get something “done” and wish you had those little ones back, I get it, I’m there right now. Look for the blessings. Let life surprise you and give up the thought of control that you have really NEVER had in the first place.

And whenever you experience that “deer in the headlights” moment, pray, even if it’s just saying His name, (but not in “vain” if you know what I mean). Give Him first place and enjoy the wonder of living every moment for Him.

I got startled awake by this cowboy screaming, “Drop the reins! Drop the reins!” You see, there was this wagon train and there was one disgruntled, fearful member of the train that wanted to cross the river one night because the Apaches might attack.

The cowboy I heard was the wagon master and he knew that there was quicksand and whirlpools in the river and they could not be seen well enough to avoid during the dark hours, so they had to wait till morning. This grumpy traveler could not wait so he makes his wife and kids get in their wagon and off he goes into the river. The wagon master wants to rescue this man and his family, but first he has to get this guy to drop the reins and stop driving his team into the dangerous waters.

Whenever I need a power nap, I turn on my husband’s favorite TV channel, the western station. If I’m not at work in the late afternoon, and I’ve been up since before the break of dawn, it really helps to get a few zzz’s to recharge before the rest of the day hits, if you know what I mean.

Usually I can sleep through the gunfights and saloon brawls but this day “Drop the reins!” really got me. It was like a Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take the Wheel” moment. And it hit me hard because I’ve been having many anxious moments lately caused by worrying about a situation that I can’t fix.

Sometimes you have to just “Drop the Reins!” so God can reign.

When you’re in the dark, and you just don’t know how and where to go or what to do. When you want to be in charge and you realize that you don’t know enough to charge through the situation without sinking. When you realize that you really aren’t the one in control and that scares you to death.

Have you had those nights when sleep won’t come because you replay “stuff” in your head, over and over and you can’t seem to stop it?  This can’t be what God wants. He wants us to live trusting Him for the answers that we just can’t seem to find. He wants us to remember that He’s there, working things out for our good and His glory. He wants us to know that when we think about things that worry us and we have no solution for them, we have to “Drop the Reins!” He wants us to realize that He reigns from a throne so high that there is absolutely nothing that escapes His view and with a heart so loving He will  allow absolutely anything that He knows will cause us to become all He created us to be.

But how do we do this? How do we let go of the reins when we think that so much is at stake that we think we might be able to control? Here is what He told me for the umpteenth time last night in the after midnight hours when sleep wouldn’t come. I went to that part of my brain that houses Philippians 4 and pulled out some of my favorite verses.

6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

This is only one of the reasons why scripture memorization is so worthwhile. There is nothing as powerful as God’s Word when we are in those places where we are too exhausted to even read. His teachings and His promises can be merely a thought away.

At some point, after replaying His Word in my mind, I drifted off to sleep. I dropped the reins, I got out of my wagon, took the cares I had with me and allowed Jesus to rescue me. I remembered the wagon master and how he tried to save that family. I remembered my Lord, my Master, and His gentle words through scripture and I gave up the reins so He could reign. Is there anything you might need to just drop so He can reign in your heart and rescue you today?

I hate to get mail back, don’t you? You took the time to write a note or send a card or pay a bill and something was not right with the address. It comes back to you a few days after you thought it made it where it was supposed to go. Now the thank-you is delayed, the encouragement ungiven, the payment overdue.

I’ve done some inviting lately, by what is now known as “snail mail,” to our church’s Vacation Bible School. I’m old fashioned and I like to imagine the excitement on a child’s face when they get mail with their name on it. Something they can hold in their own hands. It made me sad to get some of them back because they couldn’t find those kids at the address I had on file.

To get something back, unopened by the person you intended to give it to, hurts a bit. It hurts to know that you wanted to share something with someone and they either couldn’t receive it or didn’t want it.

When I was in the sixth grade, I saved my money and bought an I.D. bracelet for my “boyfriend.” (Those things were popular back then.) He gave it back, unopened, because he said, “I didn’t get you anything.” That hurt. Sometimes we can just close up and tell ourselves it just isn’t worth the effort anymore.

I think of Jesus and all He offers to us and we either keep the door to our hearts closed or we send those blessings back. “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. An invitation to dine with someone is an invitation for friendship or fellowship. The Son of God wants to share Himself with us in a way that nourishes us like no one or nothing else possibly can. And He is not knocking on the wrong door. He says if any man (woman)…

“Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

He is not expecting us to give Him anything in return for all He offers us. He just wants a relationship with us that is based on faith. Faith alone saves. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9. By faith, we open the door and He comes in, no strings attached.

To say faith is free doesn’t mean that it came without cost. Jesus died for it. He also rose from the grave for it. He paid the price required to settle our sin debt so we could be redeemed and reconciled with God. He did the work so we could be saved from this fallen world and have eternal life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Knowing that I have the gift of salvation, in itself, can cause me to think that I’m safe so why not live like I want to. Live for me. But there is no peace there. Jesus’ love won’t leave you where you are. His love prompts us to desire what He desires. Love whom He loves. Serve where and whom He knows needs served in His name.

If you have even an inkling that God is speaking to you and you ignore it, it is just like saying “return to sender.” And I confess, I have done it many times. I hate to think of how many invitations I have ignored all the time thinking that what I was doing or what I had planned was more important than what He had planned and prepared for me.

I am so thankful that He doesn’t stop when He gets the invitation back stamped “Return to Sender.” He still loves, He still invites, He still is there for me. He gives me another chance and another. As long as I’m here on this side of heaven, He gives me another chance to accept His invitations and receive His blessings when I am obedient. His blessings, which are innumerable. I don’t understand it, but I am so grateful that He doesn’t close up and stop knocking.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive my unfaithfulness. I’m sorry that I have returned many invitations unopened. I’m sorry that I haven’t always listened. I’m sorry that I’ve closed up at times and dared to think that my efforts weren’t worth it. I’m sorry that I have not put You first. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Cause me to remember that anything You invite me to do, You will equip me for, and there will be blessings and peace when I obey. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

I didn’t want to do it but, when I started to settle into my comfortable warm couch, a whisper from somewhere said, “What if this is the last one?” Meaning, maybe tomorrow might not come for me. I didn’t feel morbid, just aware that in the blink of an eye sometimes, everything as we know it can change. That thought took me out to the deck and the cool fresh air, the brightening sky. Where I could hear the thrills, the chirps, the drumming, the coos, even the turkey gobbles. A morning feast of sights and sounds. I meet with God in the morning.

Mornings are a gift that God keeps giving. The sun keeps coming up, even when we may feel knocked down and have trouble getting up to witness it. Even when we feel really settled where we are and desire to stay there. Why do things have to change anyway? And why do we have so much stress related to it. Can’t some things just stay the same?

Things can change because the One who holds it all together never does. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 is a promise you can firmly stand on.  We can deal with change because we have a God that created a dynamic universe and He never changes. He is the true Force that makes and sustains all life. And we have to keep changing and growing in His direction or else.

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

There’s this church sign in Belpre, Ohio, that says “Where growth stops, decay begins.” Summer brings with it some glorious aromas, but decaying roadkill is not one of them. Decay has a stench that is just intolerable to the living. Every cell in our bodies has to renew itself, slough off the dead and make way for new life. There is nothing more positive than accepting the truth that we can keep growing towards the best version of ourselves. And that the best version is the one that chooses to attach closely to the Creator through a relationship with Jesus. This is truly what is the best for us and brings the most glory to God.

“Where growth stops, decay begins.”

How do we do it? How do we keep not merely tolerating change, but embracing it? This may look differently for you than me, but I attach myself to my dynamic Creator by taking the time and making the effort to. There is nothing wrong with it, but “5 minutes with Jesus” just doesn’t cut it for me. It takes time to read His Word, The Bible, it takes time to pray with focus, it takes time to worship and wait on Him. It just takes time. Think of it as an exfoliating session for your soul. When you emerge from it, you walk in newness. And I can’t even begin to tell you how taking that time will be rewarded in many other ways.

The struggles that would have knocked you down and kept you there for the count, don’t have the same effect on you anymore, because Jesus shares the punch. That change in your life, that you never thought you would be able to face, you’re facing it, and oh, so bravely. That new process you have to learn for work; the new definition of family that you didn’t ask for. The diagnosis that threatens to define you as someone less than you used to be. Those aging signs that remind you of the years you’ve journeyed here. Changes can chase us down, but they don’t have to defeat us.

How do we keep handling the changes? By reminding ourselves of the truth that if everything we know and think we have to have to be happy gets taken from us, Jesus will always be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. Just before the Hebrews 13:8 truth, we read in Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.” That, in itself, will be enough. Because He is enough. And He never changes.

Hebrews 13:5, “…I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Heavenly Father, I know that today will bring about some changes that I may not want to welcome because I just don’t want the stress of them. Cause me to remember that You took on flesh and You know how unwelcome change feels and You will walk with me through mine. I am not alone, and even though I have changeable moods that affect how I handle things, You are always the same. You can always be trusted to be just what I need, when and where I need it. Even if You are all I have, I will have all I need. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

Sometimes we don’t know what’s missing; sometimes, it’s all too obvious. But the way we feel is the same. Something is missing from our lives that we desperately need, and we’d go to the ends of the earth to find it. Where do you go to made whole?

Collectors search antique stores and flea markets trying to find that piece that will “complete” their collection. But, where do we go when something is missing in us? Once again, I am drawn to the account in Mark 5:21-34 of a woman who knew, down deep in her heart, that if she could only touch the garment that Jesus was wearing, “I shall be whole.”

But, where do we go when something is missing in us?

There’s this line in a popular movie, “you complete me.” I’m just telling you, dear sister, that’s a lie. There is no other human being in this world that can truly “complete” you. Mainly because they are human, and all humans are flawed by sin. There is only One, who has lived a completely sinless life, Jesus Christ. And by placing your faith in Him, you can come away with this promise “Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

In the New King James Version of the Bible, the word “well” is used as a more current translation of the word “whole.” To be made well, to have all be well in our bodies and souls, is to be made whole or complete in Christ. This is the missing part, He is the missing part. The answer to all the illnesses, all the relationship difficulties, all the problems in all the world is always more of Jesus. It doesn’t mean necessarily that all the problems will go away, but the Helper, the Keeper, the Strength of our heart will be infused into all those struggles. His strength in our weakness equals all we need to do what perfect love does, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

“Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace…”

Letting go of the things that are breaking us opens us up to Him filling the empty spaces of our hearts so that we can be made whole. God can’t pour into us if we don’t pour out to Him. Like the woman in Mark 5, we have to risk it. We have to reach, and we have to obey when we asks, “Who touched Me?” Of course, He already knows, but He also already knows that our response is crucial for complete healing.

The woman humbled herself. She got down low, and she told Him, in the presence of witnesses, the whole truth. It was her faith that made her well. She was healed of her affliction and received so much more.

This is what I want to remember from her story: that when she was called out by Christ, she came out. Yes, she was afraid. She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too. We can take risks and we can speak out and we can humble ourselves to God, day after day and keep giving Him our hurts and He can keep filling in the broken places because that’s what He does. He completes us, day after day.

She was so scared that she shook all over, but she did it. And we can too.

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

O Heavenly Father, I thank you and pray that you cause me to remember your promises. I pray knowing that today is really all I have, and I choose to remember that Your compassion for me is new every, single morning and that You are faithful at every, single moment of everyday. I thank You that when I start to feel the sting of pain from the wounds this world gives me, You are with me and ready to cover them and fill them in with your healing love. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

The Access of “Touch”

It is beyond my understanding how we can just touch a screen and things happen. With the technology of today, I can touch a number and a call is initiated. I can type out a text, with my index finger (because I’m old and I just can’t do the thumb thing), and hit “send,” and a person gets a message from me on their phone! Mind blowing.

It is also beyond my understanding the access I have to Jesus. All I have to do is reach out to Him in prayer and immediately He hears. I base this faith from some scripture I have been studying lately in Mark 5:24-34. There is the account of a “bloody woman.” For 12 years, she had a “flow of blood.” In medical terms we would call this menorrhagia, and we would, hopefully long before 12 years, call our gynecologist and get this taken care of. But she did not have this option. Oh, she tried physicians, “and had suffered many things” due to their inability to heal her based on the modern medicine of that day.

She had a plan, and she didn’t have long to think about it. She heard Jesus was coming through her area, and she had faith in Him. So much faith that she thought “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Just touch and have access. Access to the healing of her anemic body and soul. And she was right, and was made right, through the power of Christ.

“If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Touch technology access may be a relatively new and amazing thing, but it is not as powerful as the touch access we have to Jesus. There are times when I touch my screen and nothing happens. I try again and again and sometimes with profoundly hard touches, and then the screen freezes. Jesus never freezes. He responds, and we can count on that. He gets the message immediately, and He will hold you until He answers. Sometimes it will be immediate, sometimes not, but we have to remember that He always hears immediately. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves if the waiting time is God’s goodness to prepare us for His answer.

The account goes on to say, “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.” There’s something extra He did. He called her out to confess what had happened. When we reach for and connect with Jesus, He may call us out. He may ask us to leave our comfort zones, to testify of His goodness and risk the consequences. We might have to do a few things “in fear and trembling.” Because it is the least we can do for the great mercy He has shown to us.

“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”

Touch works both ways – the person who touches and the person who is touched. Both have a response to give. This is how good news spreads. How others get helped. If we know how Jesus helped us and we keep it to ourselves, we miss an opportunity to grow spiritually and help others know where to go for the help we are truly unable to give. The help and healing that can only come through a relationship with the lover of our souls.

Jesus gave her the most beautiful reward for her obedience in telling Him “the whole truth.” He says: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

How are we made well? Where do we find peace and healing? It depends on what the problem is. If it is physical, we have physicians and procedures that are amazing. With today’s technology, surgeons can fix something inside of bodies barely leaving a mark on the outside. But if the problem is with the soul, only Jesus can help.

Risk the throng, like this women did, reach out in faith and you will find Him reaching out to you.

Heavenly Father, I have hurts right now that only you can feel, because You tell me in Your Word that you have been touched with the feelings of my infirmities. I have wounds that only You can cleanse, and dress and completely heal. I reach out to you like this “bloody woman” because I am consumed by my lack of ability to fix my own problems. Thank you for hearing and holding and giving hope. For the glory of Your Name, Amen

Beside the still waters…Psalm 23

My daughter and I were sitting on a park bench beside a still pond. The green grass was like a soft carpet beneath our feet.

“…He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”

The wind was making its mark, creating little ripples in this small body of water. I noticed a tiny circle of fluff floating there. It remained still as the ripples seemed to be just under the surface. Like it was held there by something.

“…He leads me beside the still waters.”

Can it be that when we allow God to lead us, the ripples of circumstances in life cannot take us away from Him? We can be held on the surface where there is plenty of air and protection from the undertow. We can be restored from the dehydrating demands of this life by His living water. More powerful than the water that carved out the paths in the Grand Canyon.

“…He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

For the glory of His Name, He leads me. I am not here for me. Or you. Or anyone else. I am here for God. And so are you. That’s where the path of righteousness begins; realizing that.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”

There is a shadow that can feel like death. When the “normal” changes because something or someone has died and it’s just too hard to get up in the morning. Or too hard to get up and keep up a façade of I’m okay. How can you “fear no evil”?

“For You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Like the good shepherd never leaves his flock, God will never leave you. He will gently lead and guide and give and give more grace. How comforting to know that the rod is not for punishment but for guidance. For the next step when you don’t know when or where to place it. He knows the future and He’s got you. And He doesn’t care whose watching. Right in front of the enemies of your soul He will feed you, anoint you and fill you with His Spirit. Your strength will be renewed like the eagles.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”

Then you will be chased. Not by your enemies but by a God that will chase you down with His goodness and mercy. Not just today, but every day. For all eternity.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

I want to be like that little piece of fluff. I want to remember that I am powerless on my own, but attached to the water that He gives, I am safe, riding above the dangers that lurk under the surface.