Vicki's Wednesday Word

  Psalm 19:1-4 NLT 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. We vacationed in Daytona Beach, Florida nearly every summer of my youth. My parents loved the Atlantic coast and my mom couldn’t get enough sun to satisfy her. Seeing the clouds floating low over the horizon was another boon to her Florida visits. Whenever the skies over our hometown were a particular shade of blue and the clouds were fluffy and puffy and white, she would pause to revel in the moment. If at all possible, she would call me at that very moment and ask, “Have you looked up today?” She wanted me to feel the same joy that the beauty of God’s hand brought to her. Now, I not only thank God for th

Luke 15:20-24 New Living Translation 20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. 22 "But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. It is easy for us to judge the Prodigal Son for his selfish and profligate behavior. He wanted what he wanted and he wanted it now. While the actions in this story are extreme, demanding his inheritance so he could do as he pleased, this young man strikes a familiar note. Hav

  John 17:13-19 NLT 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. Jesus prayed for his disciples and all those who believed in him, in the Garden the night before his death. You and I have the opportunity to be counted among those for whom Jesus prayed. All we have to do is to love and do our best to obey. He asks God to keep his followers safe from evil. Even more impactful, Jesus asks God to

  Psalms 51:1-2, 10-13 1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. 
 Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. 
     Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, 
     and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 
     and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, 
     and they will return to you.   This passage raises an interesting perspective. “…Make me willing to obey you.” King David, the author, doesn’t promise to obey. He asks for forgiveness, mercy, and grace not because he has changed his ways or even claims to have tried. David asks for another chance with a clean slate. He doesn’t claim to have had a renewed sense of loyalty or faithfulness to God, but asks God to renew it in him. Maybe he realized something I have yet to fully accept. No matter how m