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Joy in the Freedom of Christ

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 29, 2026 Respond

Here are the FOURTH qualities of a victim and a victor.

The VICTIM lives on lies, while the VICTOR operates on truth.
The victim absorbs the world’s lies, such as:
—“Whatever is uncomfortable is serious suffering and bad.”
—”I have to look out for number one, no one else will.”
—”I don’t like this rainy weather, it is terrible!”
—”When i don’t get my way, I have to fight for it.”
And then the victim may look for support of these lies in Scripture!
This is called isogesis,
In contrast, the Victor finds truth in Scripture
As Jesus said in John 8:28, “You will  know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
—“What the Lord allows He has a purpose for, so I will embrace this even if it is uncomfortable.”.
— “My purpose is to seek God’s Kingdom and He will care for me.”
— “I was hoping for a sunny day, but God will use this rain for good.”
— “If I don’t get my way, then I can trust God to have a better plan.”
All of these responses come out of Scripture, out of Truth,
and they bring freedom from anger, disappointment and complaining,
as well as self-centeredness, pride and cruelty.
To be a victim is to live in slavery to lies.
To be a victor is to live in freedom, joy and positiveness.
Freedom for the victor:
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Building Faith

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 28, 2026 Respond

Here’s the third quality of Victim/Victor (faith) mentalities.

A victim suspects God, “How could He do this!!!
 I thought he was supposed to be good!”
As it says in Proverbs 19:3, “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the LORD.”
In Genesis 3:5 Satan worked at getting Eve to suspect God of depriving her of good:
“”For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
But God was not withholding something good from her;
He actually was protecting her from evil.
In contrast, a Victor, who is a person of faith,
has taken time  to know God:
His love, His goodness, His wisdom,
so when unpleasant things happen,
he can trust God to work it out for good.
Psalm 34:8 tells that he has remembered
 how God has helped and protected him in the past:
“Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
In every happening we can be a victim or a victor.
Choose wisely!
Picture: Remembering God’s goodness in the past
so I can trust Him in the future.
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Victim blames others

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 27, 2026 Respond

Post number 2 on Victim vs Victor mentality

As said, the first response of a Victim is to whine, “How could this happen to me?!!!”
while a Victor will thank God and ask “What does God want to teach me in this?”
The second response of a Victim will blame others. This started at the Fall when Adam
blamed God and Eve for his own sin (Gen. 3:12). And this is certainly the pattern
of our present society, it’s always someone else’s fault, “who can I sue?”
 rather than taking responsibility for his part.
In contrast, the second response of a Victor is to  take responsibility for his share, even if it’s only 1 percent.
We can do this because whatever God allows into our lives,
He will use to help us mature spiritually.
As it says in Heb. 7,10,
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children…
 God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”
 
It we act like a victim, we will miss the lessons He has for us and bring others down, too. 
Hebrews 12:15 says,“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God [fails to take up His help]
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
 
The victim becomes a source of anger, complaining and bitterness and affect the people around them
negatively polluting them with “victimness.”
 
In contrast the Victor brings peace, calmness and a good example to those around him,
lifting them to a higher plane of life. 
 
The choice is ours.
May be an image of fire and text that says 'Victim blaming others or. Victor, trusting God'
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It’s so positive to be a Victor

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 26, 2026 Respond

Yesterday I wrote the first installment contrasting VICTIM mentality  to VICTOR mentality.

Today has been the perfect opportunity to reject victim thinking and live in victory.
As you know we had a big storm last night, dumping a lot of snow on us.
One could complain about the inconvenience, uncertainty and extra work.
But a victor would look for reasons to praise God in this, trusting Him  in discomfort.
Here are some reasons:
Instead  of the 18” predicted, we got only 12 inches of snow
It could have been heavy and wet, but was dry and fluffy.
The predicted heavy winds did not come.
We did not lose electricity.
We were warm and comfortable at home.
I got lots of exercise shoveling snow.
There were opportunities to complain:
Our neighbor did not plow us out until 3:30 this afternoon.
One renter was upset with  the late plowing.
I had to shovel a lot for us and some neighbors.
Tomorrow  i will have SSS syndrome: snow shovel soreness!
It was cold out!
But each of these were another blessing,
an opportunity to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 50:23)
letting go of discontent, holding on to God’s goodness  and rising above.
Being a victor is much more fun than being a victim!
May be an image of snowplow and arctic
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Which will we choose to be?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 26, 2026 Respond

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

 … No, in all these things we are more than CONQUERORS through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35,37

In life we have two choices, we can be a VICTIM or a VICTOR (a conqueror).

Our society teaches us that being a victim is good means of getting your way.

For us as followers of Jesus, we want His way, not ours!

For the next few days I will give contrasting responses of the victim and victor.

This will help us spot when we fall into the trap of natural thinking and feeling,

so we can repent and again become Conquerors in Christ.

In response to a difficulty, disappointment for unmet demand,

The VICTIM says, “How could this happen to me?!!! This is terrible!!!”

He is thinking he deserves only what he deems good, not knowing or remembering

 that all we actually deserve in our natural selves is condemnation, suffering and death.

 In contrast, the VICTOR says, “What does God want to teach me in this?”

As it says in Hebrews 12:11-13 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT..

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

GOD, like a good coach, always has something more to teach us; the VICTOR embraces this and learns,

thanking God and turning to Scripture for understanding and comfort.

Picture: what one can do when he obeys the coach.

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Welcome Home

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 23, 2026 Respond
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 92:!,2 which says:
“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your LOVE in the morning and your FAITHFULNESS at night….”
 
In the morning we do not know what will come—but God does,
and He has laid out a course for us to run, and Jesus runs with us, as it says in Hebrews 12:1b,2

“let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

He has a plan and will carry us through,

whether it be

a wonderful day,

or full of disappointments,

or a tragedy,

or pleasant things.

So whatever  comes, we can look back over the day

and proclaim His faithfulness as He guided us through.

Today, Barbara and I did not know what would come,

whether she would be releaed from the hospital (our desire)

or be sentenced to more sleepless nights and long days (not our desire),

But we proclaimed His goodness in the morning

and here at 7 pm are sitting together in our home.

He is faithful to do what is best.

Picture: Back Home

No photo description available.

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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 21, 2026 Respond

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.”  Psalm 89:15

Praise be to you, Lord God,

for your goodness and grace,

for your fineness and faithfulness:

I wake up each morning and there you are, watching over me with a new day ready for me to live in your presence.

Praise be to you, Elohim,

the triune God,

powerful beyond imagination,

faithful beyond conception,

always good,

always wise,

always at work.

As it says in Psalm 89:15,16, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you…”

They praise you in every circumstance,

recognize you in every detail, a

re constantly aware of “God sightings”

as you protect and provide.

“who walk in the light of your presence.”

They are aware by faith of your being with them,

of your watching over them,

leading them, lighting the way.

Help me, Elohim to walk in the light of your presence every day, all day.

May be an image of tree, horizon, twilight and lake

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All Joy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 21, 2026 Respond

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:1


This is easy to say, hard to practice. Why? Because it is done in the face of pain, and is completely by faith—faith in God’s goodness, His plan, His power.
 
My wife, Barbara, has landed back in the hospital, her least favorite place. She has low sodium, low temperature and low kidney function. To count this joy is, by human standard’s illogical, hard to do–and right. 
 
James goes on to say, “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” God has a purpose (actually several), and this is a big one. Our suffering is not random or purposeless, but has positive goals.
 
Jame encourages us to press on through these trials: “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Why persist? Because God is seeking to make us complete, mature, entire.
 
Are we going to embrace the trials He allows? Or are we going to  complain, feel sorry for ourselves or question God’s goodness? The right answer is clear and powerful.
 
In the midst of this, we would appreciate prayers for Barbara’s recovery and return to home in the Lord’s timing.
May be an image of one or more people, people smiling and hospital
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Twitching Grace

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 19, 2026 Respond
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28

The Lord has allowed another malady in my life: restless legs, which started when I was in my mid-thirties. I would go to bed and sleep for an hour, then my legs would start to twitch or jump involuntarily, waking me up. There was no point in staying in bed, so I’d get up and work.

This pattern would continue for 4 or 5 days, then I’d be so exhausted that I could then sleep one whole night—then it would start over.
At that time in addition to  my family, I had 3 big responsibilities, each of which could have been a full time job: leading our large team, being one of the temporary elders in a church plant and teaching full time at the university.
My restless legs providentially gave me much more time to carry out these three responsibilities. God has a way of turning a “malady” into a blessing.
There were some things that helped with restless legs: exercise, magnesium and avoiding stimulants like sugar and tea, but these did not cure it.
After two decades of dealing with this, a friend recommended a medication for it: Mirapex. It is actually for  Parkinson’s, but works wonderfully for restless legs. As long as I remember to take it early enough (it takes 2 hours to take effect), I can sleep wonderfully.
But on those  times I forget to take it on time, I have at least two more hours to work, write and pray in that day!
Truly, “God works ALL things together for good!”
May be an illustration of ‎text that says '‎Nighttime leg twitching طس ارص‎'‎
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Why, Lord?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 18, 2026 Respond

Eczema is an interesting disease to have. Its cause is unknown and there is no cure. I have a cream called Aveno which is very helpful, but not curing.

For those of you who have never had it (and hopefully never will), it is a burning, itching sensation in your skin. It can be mild to intense, and if you scratch it, you can easily cut your skin, making it worse.
Mine moves around my body. One day it may be on an arm, the next on my ankle, another day on my back. Some days there’s none, some days there are several spots; some days it’s intense, some nights it’s unbearable.
 At night the discomfort intensifies and can make it impossible to sleep. Then I have to get up and put ice packs on the burning points, then can sometimes sleep.
Why does God allow this? He always has reasons. Here are some: it’s a great opportunity to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, to accept and rest in Him, to develop  endurance and to mature in faith.
God is good and wise and we can trust Him in all. As Psalm 23 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  Note that they follow: I may not see any now, but looking back I will, for He is faithful.
Picture of eczema
No photo description available.
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