Month: July 2024

Trust Him to Do More

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With our finite minds and bodies, we cannot imagine all that God can do in and through us as we become willing partners of His plan. He has had a plan since the beginning to bring people to His saving grace, and in His mercy and love, He has made us a part of that great plan. We are not spectators, but participants! We need to trust God to use us to do more and be more, growing more like Him daily and asking Him what He wants us to accomplish today that will help Him achieve His plan.

Immeasurably More

What’s the boldest prayer you can think to pray? Or the most incredible thing you can dare to imagine?

Did you know that God can top it?

Paul said it like this: 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You know those quiet dreams in your heart? God put them there. You know that ache for something better than this broken world? God gave you that desire. You know the deepest longings of your soul? God knows how to fulfill them. 

Like Paul said, God can do more than we ask or imagine, but we also must remember the second part of his words: according to his power at work within us. 

It’s all God’s power and His plan. But He has invited us into it.

So what’s our part in this process? 

We can give glory to Him—knowing that it’s Him who gives us the desire and power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). He created us, loves us, and has entrusted us with sharing His message with the world.

We can submit ourselves to His plan—knowing that it’s all God, but He chooses to work in and through His people to accomplish His purposes. He doesn’t need us to be perfect, He just wants us to be willing.

We can trust Him with the process—knowing that He is good, righteous, worthy, strong, and eternal. We don’t have to know all the answers because we already have Him, and He can do more than we can ask or imagine.

Waiting is Worth It

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/18

In the middle of the valley of waiting, we all get tired and wonder if the promise we wait for is ever coming. The story of Joseph offers us hope. Think of all that Joseph went through and all of the years he waited, for it all to culminate in God’s saving an entire nation through him. We never know what God is doing on the other side of the tapestry of our lives, but we can be sure of one thing…if it is from God, it will be the right thing, at the right time and for the right reasons.

God’s Perspective

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/17

The devotional today is one that encouraged me and made me think, too. Where is God in my current circumstances? But, God… Fill in the blank with a praise for what you are going through and what God has done in the middle of your challenge. For example, we had planned to go to PA just as we do every summer. But my health has made it so that living in a place that is not air conditioned is not feasible right now. I really dreaded telling my daughter that we couldn’t come. She said that she would talk to her husband and they would come up with something. When she called back with her plans to do a staycation at our house, I was overwhelmed with praise for God that He was working things out for me to see my PA family! But God worked things out in an unexpected way. I thought the answer would be that we could meet them at a beach or somewhere (which we don’t have the funds for). Or maybe that the visit could wait until the weather was cooler and I was feeling better, but that would mean not seeing the kids in college. But God had a different plan and has worked things out so that we see our daughter’s entire family and get to spend time playing games and doing all of the things I love best about visiting PA, only without the long trip and the lack of AC. I confess that I didn’t see things from God’s perspective, but I did trust Him to work things out so that all are content with the plan. And bonus! Aaron is going to work on repairing our steps. I love my husband dearly, but he cannot fix anything…not cars, household maintenance, nothing. Things were easier when we were both working and could pay for repairs, but since we are both retired, our steps are sadly lacking in safety. Another but God…He knows what we need and supplies it in unexpected ways.

On a Mission for God

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I confess that I have not dedicated my entire life to God’s mission. I am trying to do better and look for opportunities to spread His Word and His love. How are you doing on the task that God has given each of us? He doesn’t want us to be condemned by our lack of success in meeting the goal. He just wants us to work on it.

The Mission of God

All of our lives are used for something. Most people spend their lives focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions.

While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.

In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.

For Paul, God’s grace and salvation is so great that nothing on this earth is as important as God’s work.

Paul says that nothing in His life matters as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 NIV

The mission of God is not opposed to growing families or building careers. In fact, God desires for us to use those opportunities to faithfully accomplish the mission of God. We can raise families in the way of God, and we can tell our coworkers about God’s grace. Any place we find ourselves in can be an opportunity to accomplish the mission of God.

Take a moment to consider your own life and where you spend your time. Are you using every opportunity you have to spread the good news of Jesus? Does your life, like Paul’s, point toward God?

Consider a few ways that you can begin to change your perspective and live your life on mission for God.

Review of COLD VENGEANCE by Nancy Mehl

On By vickleaIn Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780764240478. Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:07/16/2024 Series:Ryland & St. Clair , #3 Pages:336

When a renowned crime podcaster vanishes without a trace, former FBI behavioral analysts turned private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are called upon to track her down. As they wade through the evidence she left behind, they unearth a startling connection—she may have discovered the existence of an unknown killer, and he will stop at nothing to carry out a deadly plan.

As the pair delves deeper, they soon find themselves the targets of a relentless enemy determined to silence them. With their lives—and hearts—on the line, can they confront the evil that threatens them before it consumes them both?

My Thoughts

Wow! This book is a faith-filled thrill ride and the perfect conclusion to River and Tony’s story. In this final book in the Ryland and St. Clair series, River and Tony are investigating a missing podcaster, April Bailey at the request of her boyfriend Nathan. They begin to methodically research and end up delving into the cold cases that she covered in her podcast. This novel is a propulsive thriller and impossible to put down. Expertly crafted to weave faith into the storylines, Cold Vengeance is multi-layered and a gripping tale with escalating tension as the story unfolds. The second layer is one of family and relationships as River struggles with forgiving her father for walking out on her mom. This is heart touching and so realistic that I found myself praying for her to do the right thing before I reminded myself that she is a fictional character. The third layer is the helper of the Salt River Strangler who is still stalking River; the danger that he presents to her life is always there, just beneath the surface, as Tony won’t even let her out of his sight. Tony makes a good, determined protector and even shows his vulnerable side when he is personally attacked. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and their humorous banter. I really liked River’s endurance and steadfast faith as she faces the unimaginable. I especially enjoyed the glimpses of the villains and the clues they gave me into who the perpetrator was. This is intriguing, complex and brilliantly written Christian fiction that balances faith with action and suspense with romance in a masterful way.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, but I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Christian Fiction, Rated PG

About the Author

Nancy Mehl is the author of more than fifty books, a Parable and ECPA bestseller, and the winner of an ACFW Book of the Year Award, a Carol Award, and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award. Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their puggle, Watson. To learn more, visit NancyMehl.com

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Purchase Links

Amazon

Christian Book

Barnes and Noble

Baker Book House

Audible

With many thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for the ARC to read and review.

What Ifs and Hiding Your Feelings

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www.bible.com/reading-plans/26293/day/15

This devotional really hit me right where it hurts this morning. Innumerable times, I have a situation that is less than ideal and I try to comfort myself with “what ifs”, imagining the worst that could happen and what God can do to help out. I have found that generally the situational “what ifs” don’t happen. The only place they come to fruition are in my mind, and that is not a good thing for my stress level.

The other part of the devotional that spoke clearly to me is the part about hiding my feelings. I do that a lot because I have been trained by life experiences that people either don’t want to hear it or don’t really listen. For example, I have given up on telling my husband how frustrated I am with living in a rural area, far from medical care that we are needing more often. He is determined to stay here, so I just don’t talk to him about it. I hide my feelings and again, that is not good for my stress level.

On the plus side, as I wait, I do wait expectantly for God to act in spite of the “what ifs” and I tell God honestly how I am feeling. He can work on my husband’s heart if He feels it is necessary and that’s a good thing. I can just let go and trust God. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do anyway?

Just Read Publicity Tour: Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford

On By vickleaIn Book Review8 Comments
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Ambush in the Mountains Author: Mary Alford
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: July 23, 2024 Genre: Romantic Suspense


Innocent lives at stake…
Can a former soldier and his canine save them?
Helping a pregnant woman he comes across in a mountain storm puts Axel Sterling right into the path of ruthless human traffickers. Now it’s up to the ex-soldier and his dog to keep Summer and her unborn baby safe from the abductors she’s finally escaped. But between the icy wilderness and the armed gunmen following them at every turn, one wrong move could cost Axel and Summer their lives.


From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop |Book Bub

My Thoughts

With themes of helping a stranger in trouble and a second chance at love and life, this book dealt with the dark topic of human trafficking in a compassionate and informative way, Summer is running from her captors, specifically a man named Ray, when she stumbles onto the road where Axel Sterling is returning home from a shopping trip. Axel sees her need and meets them the best that he can, with a fast-paced and intense journey over and around the mountains during a blizzard in order to avoid her tormentors. The plot is a compelling one, with action that never slows down and an intricate plot of evil versus good where evil seems to be stronger. But nothing can beat Axel’s determination to keep Summer safe, even at the cost of his own life, if necessary. I enjoyed the complex and well-developed characters, including the Summer’s backstory and how she got caught up by the traffickers to begin with. I was also captivated by Axel’s heroic dog Camo who consistently throws himself into danger to protect those around him. This is an intricately woven tale, told in a mesmerizing way and with characters that I just wanted to reach out and hug. Unputdownable, skillfully plotted and with characters that are easy to cheer for, this book was edgy and crackled with tension. Giving insight into the dark work of human trafficking was a bonus that made the story relevant and eye-opening as well as a definite page turner. With a strong message of hope, this is a must read book for those who enjoy quick reads that are as intriguing as they are intense.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Love Inspired Suspense: Clean Read

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can’t put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.
Connect with Mary at maryalford.net to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Ambush in the Mountains!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 22, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 29, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.


Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies. Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Shining the Light

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I think we can all agree that this world is a very dark place, a place that needs light. The more we shine for Jesus and show the the light of His truth in the world, the less darkness there is. We have a job to do…be the light. When people are arguing over politics and the state of the world, remember to shine your light. Remind them that the only Kingdom that will stand is that of Jesus and the only power that matters is His. The Gospel is not ours to hold tightly to our chest; it is ours to shine out into a needy world, a world of sinners just like we once were. Going from darkness to light can change a neighborhood, a nation and the world!

Shining the Light of Jesus

Have you ever walked from a dark place into a very bright space? Light has incredible power over our senses, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But light is necessary for us to live. It illuminates the world.

In Matthew 5, Jesus uses light as metaphor several times to describe the life of a disciple. He says that His disciples are like a town built on a hill that shines light into the valley (Matthew 5:14). He also says we’re like a lamp that gives light to a whole house (Matthew 5:15).

The life of a disciple of Jesus is meant to be like that of a light that shines brightly for others to see. So what is the light that we have?

It is the message of the Gospel. We’ve been given knowledge of what Jesus has done for us, and it’s that knowledge that changes everything for us. We now have a new life because of Jesus.

Jesus also says that people recognize our light through our good deeds. When we choose to love others, we are showing them the light and love of Jesus.

If you want to be a light in a dark world, remember this: the most illuminating act of all is loving people like Jesus. We are a city on a hill, a lamp shining into a whole house. The darkness around us may seem overwhelming, but the love we show because of the light within us illuminates everything.