I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
I will just leave this here for you to think about. Sadly, I am a lot like the elder son and need to spend some time before the Lord repenting for my own self-righteousness. I hope that each of you will take a good look at your hearts. Are you like the prodigal son, the one whose sin was so evident? Or maybe you are like the elder son, suffering from what Mark Hall calls “sinvy”? Blessings to each of you for a day filled with love, kindness and introspection.
On a side note, if you happen to be on Twitter, please go on the site of our gracious First Lady and read her post today. Without getting political, I just want to say that Melania Trump has been a shining example of what a First Lady should be. In spite of all of the constant criticism of her husband, she has maintained a calm and loving demeanor. I pray for her and Barron (and the President) as they leave the White House and pursue a private life. I wish them all the best that God has to offer because of all of their sacrifices and hardships for the last four years.
Never, never give up! Jesus faced hostility on every hand, up to and including death on the cross. Yet He never stopped ministering to the needy and speaking truth to the people who desperately needed to hear it. We say that we are living in hard times. Well, so were the Israelites as they were under the mighty and ruthless hand of the Roman government. Who has it tougher? That’s not a question we can answer because those living during a particular time only have the viewpoint of their own timeline in which they are living. I’m sure that the Israelites thought that they had it tougher and I’m equally sure that the “man on the street” whom you ask would reply that today is tougher. Nevertheless, Jesus ministered. He walked the walk and talked the talk. He said that what He spoke and did was what His Father in Heaven had told Him to say and do. Can we do any less? We need to spend time in prayer, ask God what He wants us to do and say and then do it and say it. We cannot grow weary just because things are hard. Following Jesus’s lead, we should never give up. There are souls who need to hear the Gospel and for whom we are the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s move, Army of God! We have our orders and they don’t say to sit and wait passively for His coming! Our orders say to work and to go! God bless you as you complete your mission.
In my devotional this morning, the speaker, Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, said something so simple and yet so profound. He said, “God doesn’t love me because I’m good. He loves me because He is good.” That was a “wow” moment for me. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t consider myself self-righteous and/or good. In fact, I have always been in the camp that believes that I can never be good enough to earn salvation. After all, it is a free gift from God. We just celebrated Christmas, the time when we rejoice in the free gift that God sent to the earth, His Only Son. Why did God send Jesus? Because of His love for us. Because God is good. Yes, I already knew that, and so did you. However, today, this word got into the deep parts of my soul, creeping into the places where there has been doubt and fear. He loves me. He is good. Nothing will happen today that I can’t handle because God is on my side. Almost fifty years ago, I stopped running from God and accepted His free gift of salvation. The road since then has been rocky and twisted. I’d like to think that I have never doubted God’s love for me, but if I am honest, that is not true. When I was feeling all alone in yet another new place, I can remember having pity parties for myself instead of turning to God and His love. In the middle of those parties, God would reach down, pluck me out and tell me what He wanted me to do so that I would feel better. That was His love, continually reaching out for me. In less than two weeks, many in the U.S. will be celebrating the inauguration of a new President. I am already mourning this new government because it means change. I don’t like change; I have never liked change because it is…well, different, unexpected and frightening. But God keeps telling me that He is in control. I have been “lost” in my fear and God spoke to me clearly this morning that He knows what is going on with me, why I cannot stand to watch a news broadcast or hear the sound of the voice of the incoming President. He knows my heart, the heart that He created. He has spoken to that heart that He loves me and I’m going to be okay. That won’t be because the new administration promises hope and prosperity. It will be because God offers that hope, in His Word as I study it daily. I pray that you realize today just how much God loves you, not because you are good and deserve His love. No, He loves you because He is good and will always want what is best for you. God is good, all the time. Blessings, my friends, for a day filled with love, joy and laughter, knowing that the King of the Universe loves Y-O-U!
Dr. Denison said it much better than I could, and his article is below. Yes, I’m still upset about what I consider a fraudulent election that took place on November 3rd and again on Tuesday in Georgia. But, there is a peaceful way to do things. Yesterday was not it. I am saddened by the thought that the world looks at our democracy as an example of what not to be. I pray for the United States of America to survive the next four years of socialism, but if we do not, then I believe that it is because we did not truly submit to the Lord. Pray for the U.S.A. Do not condemn us; we are hurting and need to heal from a divisive election that was not transparent and seemingly not free and fair as we tout that our elections should be. God bless all of you. No matter which side of the debate you are on, God loves you and wants you to know that His love is greater than your sin.
The cover is just as beautiful as the book itself.Five big stars for this wonderful book. Rated G.
Oh, my! I don’t even know where to start with this amazing book! I would give it more than five stars if I could because it had me pondering, imagining, and crying at times, too. What a wonderful story of a broken relationship between two siblings who take a hike together in order to try to reconnect. If things could go wrong on the hike, they did and both Olivia and Melanie are left wondering what they were thinking when they chose to go on this trip. The characters were so very realistic that I could see myself in Olivia, the sister who just had to organize everything down to the last detail. The story also included Christian beliefs, why we believe what we do. This story had me doing some deep diving into my own beliefs as I read the story of the two sisters coming to terms with what they believe and why. I really enjoyed reading about the character of Josh, a young man who always seemed to be there to rescue them right at the moment when they needed him. Definitely a picture of Jesus! And then there was Justin. He was a young man who was so needy and whose needs were met in the most miraculous of ways! I can’t say more without spoiling the story for others, but I highly recommend this book for all who want to read a tale of two sisters, a hiking trail and their journey to the truth. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
ERIN BARTELS is the award-winning author of We Hope for BetterThings—a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, winner of the 2020 Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association in both the debut and general fiction categories, and a 2019 Christy Award finalist—The Words betweenUs—a 2020 Christy Award finalist—and All That We Carried (coming January 2021). Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine and current director of the annual WFWA Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Erin lives in the beautiful, water-defined state of Michigan where she is never more than a ninety minute drive from one of the Great Lakes or six miles from an inland lake, river, or stream. She grew up in the Bay City area waiting for freighters and sailboats at drawbridges and watching the best 4th of July fireworks displays in the nation. She spent her college and young married years in Grand Rapids feeling decidedly not-Dutch. She currently lives with her husband and son in Lansing, nestled somewhere between angry protesters on the Capitol lawn and couch-burning frat boys at Michigan State University. And yet, she claims it is really quite peaceful.
The answer to the question that I have posed is in the Scripture–ALL the time! When things are going well, when things are going badly, when you’re well, when you’re ill, basically always. When you pray, it’s okay to tell God that you are having problems with faith. In fact, I prayed this morning for God to help my unbelief. It’s not that I doubt the existence of God, but that just sometimes like many of you, I get discouraged. The pain in my body was overwhelming this morning; there were not enough ice packs to take care of all of it. Nevertheless, I arose, thanked God for a new day, and here I am with this Scripture verse that God gave me in my devotional this morning. Perhaps this verse is only for me, but I’m sharing it here just in case someone else out there in the blogosphere needs it. It’s okay to tell God exactly how you’re feeling because He already knows and provides a shelter for us in His loving arms. God is good…all the time. I repeat that mantra to myself frequently, sometimes to remind myself and sometimes as a praise to Him. I hope that you remember that God wants what is best for you, all the time. He is always there to answer, even when you may be like me and suffering and grumpy. It’s amazing to me that God never gets grumpy with me! Blessings, my friends, for a day that is filled with God’s goodness and a day of trust and amazement at God’s goodness to you!
I remember a math class that I took many years ago. As a logical person who wants everything in its place, I didn’t really understand much of that geometry class, but I did understand the conditional statements. You remember them, too, I’m sure. They are the “if…then” statements. For example, you may say, “If it’s sunny today, then we will go to the beach.” The ‘if” clause has to be true for the then clause to kick in. Well, this Scripture is like a conditional statement. IF you are faithful, then God sets you apart and hears when you call on Him. I think that is is awesome that the God of the Universe takes time to listen to me! Are you faithful? Then He hears you. Blessings, my friends for a day filled with the awesome power of God touching your life and drawing you closer to Him. Choose to be faithful!
The second book in the Justice Seekers series is filled with non-stop action and is a fast-paced thrill ride. The female protagonist, Teagan Ray, is a survivor of a vicious attack and torture at the hands of a man who is supposedly in prison. Teagan was studying for a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice when she was attacked. Stopped in her tracks and working on her own mental health, she has decided that the way to get closure is to find her attacker. She wants the help of former FBI profiler turned Justice Seeker, Bryson Anton. Bryson is way off the grid because he was injured, so he is having a pity party and working on getting stronger. Motivated by Teagan’s persistence, Bryson decides to help her solve the case, if for no other reason than to find out if her attacker is really the Kentucky Ripper or not. The two of them together form an indomitable team. Both are curious, intuitive and have sharp wits with their repartee. The plot is very complicated, but the romance between the two main characters gives breaks from the constant tension and angst over what may happen next. This is a Harlequin Intrigue with the emphasis on “intrigue.” The mysteries are deep and seem to pile up, a part of the book that I really enjoyed since I’m a real mystery buff. I also enjoyed the budding relationship between the two characters and the way they played off each other. Both have injuries and are quick to react because of it and that made both of them realistic to me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book a PG-13 because it does have extramarital sex and some really intense scenes as well as violence.I’m delighted to be a part of the January Blog Tour for Harlequin.Author Bio: Lena’s heart belongs to the rolling hills of her homestate of Kentucky. But you’re more likely to see her near the ocean these days in northeast Florida where she resides with her hubby and two children. A former Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® finalist, she’s also a four-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award and a Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller. When not writing, she can be found sprucing up her flower beds or planning her next DIY project.Author Links: Website: https://lenadiaz.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LenaDiazAuthor GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5026871.Lena_Diaz
Long before the shadow fell across the end of the dock and hovered over Bryson Anton’s wheelchair, he knew the man was there. Motion sensors and security cameras had made Bryson’s watch buzz against his wrist when the man parked his car in the driveway. More messages warned when the man crossed the back patio. And again, when he’d descended the gently sloping lawn that ended at the creek. Bryson didn’t care who was now standing behind him, as long as he didn’t have to engage in conversation.
“Nice place,” the man’s voice rang out. “Probably one of the highest views in the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains. I’ll bet at night you can see nearly every light in downtown Gatlinburg from here.”
Bryson sighed but didn’t turn around. “My former boss took pity on me after I got myself hurt on the job. He gave me a boatload of money, and I was selfish enough to take it and buy this property. But that doesn’t mean he can drop by any time he wants.”
“I’m still your boss. I haven’t accepted your resignation.”
“That’s not how it works, Mason. I resigned, whether you accept it or not. I’ll never be a Justice Seeker again. I’m not going back to Camelot. You and your knights of the round table are better off without a washed-up former profiler jacking up your investigations.”
“Is that why you’re sitting out here drinking like a fish, because you think you jacked up everything?”
“Something like that.” Bryson grabbed a can of beer from the cooler beside his wheelchair and popped the top. He took a deep long swallow, more to irritate his unwelcome visitor than because he wanted it.
Mason retrieved a beer and eyed the label, then tossed it back unopened. “Fish biting?”
“Do you see a fishing pole around here somewhere?” Bryson emptied his can in the water and dropped it on his lap before wheeling around. “Enjoy the view as long as you want. You paid for it.” He rolled his chair up the flagstone walkway toward the house.
“Dalton and Hayley missed you at their wedding last week.” Mason fell into step beside him.
“Yeah, well. I didn’t have time to learn the latest dance steps.” He stopped at the sliding glass doors and tossed the empty beer can in the recycle bin. When he reached for the door handle, Mason leaned past him and held it closed.
Bryson swore. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to do your job. A new client came to Camelot yesterday. She specifically wants to hire you.”
He scoffed. “You expect me to believe she asked for a washed-up former FBI agent to screw up her case so someone else will die? If she did, send her on over. I can accomplish that without lifting a finger.”
Mason leaned back against the door. “That’s a heck of a guilty conscience you’re nursing. Or are you just feeling sorry for yourself?” He waved toward the wheelchair. “If you’d actually go to your physical therapy appointments instead of being a no-show half the time, you’d be out of that thing by now. Don’t look so surprised. I pay your insurance premiums. I see what’s billed. And there’ve been a surprising lack of medical invoices lately. You’ve given up, Bryson. The question is why?”
“Why?” he gritted out. “Let me remind you that when I was the FBI’s golden boy, everyone treated my profiles like biblical text. So when I presented them with a profile for the Kentucky Ripper, they focused all their efforts on Avarice Lowe, the suspect at the top of my list. Meanwhile, Leviathan Finney—the real Ripper—was no longer under surveillance. To celebrate, he kidnapped and gutted another woman. Because of me, he was able to kill again.”
“Because of you, the police were able to significantly narrow their list of suspects much faster than they could have otherwise. The choices they made after that weren’t your fault. Hell, Bryson. If it wasn’t for the work you did, it would have taken far longer to catch the Ripper and put him in prison.”
“Tell that to the family of the last woman he killed.”
Mason shook his head. “I hear someone anonymously sends money to the last victim’s family every month. While I admire the generosity and kindness of the gesture, that person is making payments on a debt he doesn’t owe. The only person responsible for that woman’s death is the man who killed her—Leviathan Finney.”
Bryson fisted his hands on the arms of the wheelchair. “Are we about done here? It’s getting late.”
“Big plans tonight?”
“I have to wash my hair.”
Mason let out a deep sigh. “Just explain one thing, then I’ll go. Why now? You left the FBI over three years ago and started working for me as one of the Justice Seekers. Why is the Ripper case bothering you again after all this time?”
This is a totally clean Christian romantic suspense.
A quick-paced and explosively good book! Hannah Fontaine has returned from the battlefields of Afghanistan where she was a compassionate and caring surgeon. Unfortunately, the war seems to have followed her back to the states since her life is increasingly in danger as the plot progresses. With kidnapping, bombs, threats to friends and total chaos in her life, Hannah accepts the help of Travis Walker, a man who owns his own security company and who is determined to keep Hannah safe. With characters from previous books in the series playing key roles in this one, it was like seeing old friends again. I really enjoyed the intricacies of the plot and the “jump off the page” realism of the characters. I felt as though I was right there in the story with Hannah, with my heart pumping and my feet running. This book was a journey into the dark world of lack of forgiveness and revenge, with a stunning reveal of the villains at the end. My favorite character was a teen named Ryker, a young man with a hard life and a big heart. The author did a masterful job of creating a story that is compelling and riveting from the first page all the way to the end. Fans of romantic suspense mixed with a thriller will really enjoy this book. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but I enjoyed the entire series. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Instead of making resolutions for the New Year and asking God to bless them, my plan is to ask God what the “new thing” is that He wants to do in my life and to follow His path. I have made so many resolutions, but I hardly ever kept them. So, my new thing to do is to wait for God’s “new thing” and to expect Him to act miraculously on my behalf throughout the year. I’m almost seven decades old, almost forty-eight years with the Lord as my Savior, and He hasn’t ever failed me. Hardships? Yes, of course. That is a part of life. Disappointments? Too many to name. But not one time have I ever been abandoned by the Lord and left alone in a wilderness. So, my word for this year is “obey.” I want to obey where and when the Lord leads me and know that He is the light for my path and the river in my wasteland. This is the Scripture that I will use as my theme this year. In a new year, I’m expecting new things from the Lord. He never disappoints. After all, He is the Creator!
www.bible.com/reading-plans/23588/day/5
www.bible.com/1171/heb.12.3.mev
www.bible.com/1171/luk.15.32.mev
www.bible.com/1171/psa.62.8.mev
www.bible.com/1171/psa.4.3.mev
www.bible.com/1171/isa.43.19.mev
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 