Review of TO LIGHT THE WAY FORWARD by Nancy Naigle

On April 30, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780593601044 Publisher:PRH Christian Publishing Publication date:04/29/2025 Series:A Shell Collector Novel Pages:368

Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug.

But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild.

As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

My Thoughts

Rosemary is a widow who is searching for a new purpose in life, but she doesn’t know where to begin to find it. She is just fairly certain that living with her newly divorced daughter Nina is not going to fulfill her, so she sets out on a trip to visit Whelk Island, a little town in the Outer Banks where she can visit her high school friend Kathleen and have some time on the beach to reflect on her past and her future. Having spent almost fifty years with her husband in Hawaii, Rosemary hears the call of the ocean and really thinks that time there will ground her and show her what she should do to continue her life without her beloved husband Kai. Once there, she meets Tug, the owner of a renowned diner and an all-around good guy and friend to everyone. The two hit it off immediately, and their friendship is encouraged when a hurricane comes through and forces people to work together to prepare and then to clean up. I really enjoyed the realistic setting of the beach town facing a natural disaster and the fact that the characters all pulled together and watched out for each other. I also liked the dual romances in the story and the way the author seamlessly wove the two stories together in an engaging and moderately paced plot. My favorite parts were the humor and the ones where the characters just enjoyed being together, enjoying a meal and dancing or strolling on the beach. I also liked the themes of a hopeful future and living in the present instead of dwelling in the past. Forward together is a good and memorable theme for this novel and I enjoyed how this happened for the youngest to the oldest characters. This book is a sequel to the first novel set on Whelk Island, The Shell Collector, but this one can be read and enjoyed as a standalone as new characters and a whole new story is told here.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Contemporary Christian Fiction, Clean Read, Rated G

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career as an SVP for Bank of America and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm.

Now enjoying an early retirement from the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls the small town of Franklin, Virginia home.

Download a printable list of Nancy’s publications here.

Nancy’s 2021 release of The Shell Collector debuted in the top #20 on the ECPA Bestseller list and was optioned in a book-to-movie deal as the first Fox Original movie. The Shell Collector can be watched on FOXNation.

Several of Nancy’s books have inspired made-for-television movies. Watch Christmas Joy, Sand Dollar Cove and The Secret Ingredient on the Hallmark Channel and Hope at Christmas on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Nancy also wrote the novelization for the first three Hallmark Original Movies in the popularChristmas in Evergreen series.

Purchase Links

With appreciation to WaterBrook and Netgalley for the ARC to read and review!

Review of SUMMER IN A BOTTLE by Annie Rains

On April 29, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781496740892. Publisher:Kensington. Publication date: 04/29/2025. Pages: 320

Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, past memories lead her to a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .

Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.

She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.

My Thoughts

This entertaining novel has some deep truths in it and I really enjoyed the way the author brought them to the forefront as she weaved the tale of Lyla and her life. Lyla, dumped by her boyfriend, returns to Echo Cove, North Carolina, a small town that she gladly fled when she graduated from high school. She had great plans to be an author and she has kind of met that goal by becoming an opinion columnist who is well-known for her columns. Once she is back in Echo Cove, with the task of helping her parents sell their home there, Lyla is confronted with her past and her present dilemmas and has to decide what she will do about her future. I thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted banter between Lyla and her friend Amanda and Lyla’s gung-ho attempt to win over Bernadette as a friend. The friendship between Travis and Lyla was realistically portrayed as was their gradual realization about their romantic feelings for each other, even if they didn’t want to pursue those feelings. I loved Lyla’s compassionate nature and how she reached out to Amanda when she knew she was hurting from all of her losses. Bernadette was feisty and reluctant to accept friendship, but her fun-loving and warm heart won me over. All of the characters were relatable, so much so that I just wanted to go into the pages of the book and tell them what they needed to do. The novel’s plot is fast-paced and engaging, with some complex elements woven into the simple tale of a girl who just wants to escape from her small town and never look back. The author masterfully creates a story around the central characters of Lyla and Travis and even includes snippets of Lyla’s opinions, some of which are humorous and others that are thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the magical element that was included with the fireflies, noting that Lyla needed those little guys to point the way for her. What a clever way to get Lyla to pay attention and what a great reminder of the fun I had with those little bugs in my childhood! I loved everything about this book and even ordered my own copy so that I have one to keep and re-visit Lyla’s story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains lives in a small, coastal North Carolina town, full of lovable folks, scenic downtown areas, and breathtaking nature—similar to the towns she writes about in her books. Annie’s love of reading and writing grabbed hold of her at a young age and never let go. Her first book was published in 2015, and she’s been writing heartfelt, page-turning stories ever since. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s reading from her never-ending TBR stack on her bedside table, taking long walks while plotting her characters’ happy endings, and living out her own happily ever after with her husband, three children, feisty rescue cat, and mischievous dog. Website: AnnieRains.com

Purchase Links

What Is Faith?

On April 28, 2025 By vickleaIn Quotation and Citations, Scripture1 Comment

The second definition in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary is “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” The sub-definition is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” First, I was concerned about why faith in God is not the first definition. That place belongs to the word “loyalty.” I can see that, but my personal opinion is that the definitions are not in proper order. Nevertheless, now that we know from the dictionary what faith is, what is it really? What does the word “faith” mean to you?

To me, faith is what allows me to go through hard times, knowing that the God I love and serve is waiting for me on the other end. Faith is also what I tried to show to my children and still try to show to my grandchildren. I show them through my prayers and my testimony and my Bible study that I truly believe in God. Proof that He exists? Faith is not dependent on any scientific study but rather it depends on a relationship that is established on the day you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and start a relationship with the Father.

Faith is not a feeling that you get, but a heartbeat that pumps inside you and becomes part of who you are. I could no more wake up without faith than I could awaken without a heartbeat. I wouldn’t exist as the person I am without my faith in God, my belief that He is there working on my behalf and will never let me down.

My faith in God started as a small seed, trusting Him to save me from my sins and to bring me into a right relationship with Him. How did that seed get sown? By reading God’s Word and believing it! And every day that I read and study His Word to me (and to you), my faith is nurtured, much like watering the rose bush outside my window.

We have faith that when we go out to start our car in the morning, the car will turn on and we will go. We have faith that the GPS giving us directions knows what it is doing. You get the idea. Can you see all of the internal workings of the car that make it go? No, but you trust that it will. Do you understand how a GPS works? I guess some real brainiacs will say “of course” but I don’t understand it and doubt that most people do, but I still trust it will get me to where I want to be, even with a several “re-routing” statements along the way.

Faith in God is kind of like believing and knowing without seeing or totally understanding. I know that God created me because His Word says so. It is not by accident that I was born or that birds can fly or that fish can swim. God designed it all this way and He is the sovereign One who continues to watch over His creation. How do I know that? Because I have faith that the Word of God is totally accurate and true.

Whatever you believe in or have faith in is what your life focus is. If your belief is only in yourself, then you focus on keeping yourself happy and secure. I am glad that my focus is on God since I don’t have to be so self-centered on my happiness and security since it is a part of what God promises me, i.e. contentment and provision.

Others have used this analogy so it is not mine originally, but we cannot see the wind, but we can feel it. And if there is a big storm, we can hear it. The wind is there whether we see it or not. So is God. He is there, working behind the scenes of our lives to help us to get to know Him better. But we have to do our part. When we know a hurricane is coming, we prepare by gathering supplies like batteries and toilet paper. The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming again. Are you getting ready? Are you faith-filled and prepared to meet the Lord? You can get ready by spending time with God and His Word. Learn what it says to you about His love, sacrifice and plans for you. Every day that you spend with God is a blessing and an opportunity to build your faith.

We cannot know the future, and I don’t think I would want to know it, honestly. But I can trust that whatever the future brings, God will be right there with me. That is faith.

We may not know where life will take us each day, but we can rest assured that the One who is leading will be faithful to lead us through the storms, out of the valleys and ultimately into His presence.

The Truth about Sleep

On April 27, 2025 By vickleaIn promises, Scripture4 Comments

I have found that as I am aging, I am becoming less likely to sleep. I awaken early in the morning, may or may not take a short nap and then stay up until around midnight. This has been my new schedule for months now. Prior to that, I was rising early (about six) and going to bed by nine or ten. That is a much better choice for me, I think, but insomnia has become an issue. Thus I have sought out scripture verses about sleep.

This verse tells me that sleep is a gift from God that I have to accept and be thankful for. So when I sleep more than a few hours, I am very grateful to God for His love and His gift of sleep.

I have never been one who has a lot of bad dreams that keep me awake. Rather, it is my mind that won’t shout off, thinking of all I need to do to prepare for whatever is coming into my life soon. This verse tells me not to be so concerned about tomorrow and its problems, but just to lie down and get some sweet sleep.

I am grateful every morning that I awaken to a new day with new possibilities. There are few nights that I don’t get up at least once during the night to head to the bathroom, but even when that happens, this week, I have been able to go right back to sleep instead of the usual tossing and turning. God sustains me all night long, and He gives me songs in my mind to comfort me and scripture verses like this one to remind me of His constant presence in my life.

We all have very busy lives and need to rest as much as we can. A normal night’s sleep for me is 5-6 hours. If I sleep less than that, I need a nap sometime during the day and usually rest for about an hour, depending on how tired I am and how cooperative my cat is. I am envious sometimes of my husband who sleeps 8-10 hours every night. He goes to bed late but he doesn’t get up until noon or after. That works well for me because it gives me the quiet time I need every morning with the Lord.

If you are having difficulty sleeping, I don’t have a solution but I have the answer. Pray, recite verses, sing quietly to yourself or just say the words to a favorite song to yourself. Counting sheep doesn’t work for me, but counting blessings and reminding myself that sleep is a gift from God does.

Just Read Publicity Tour: The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch

On April 26, 2025April 26, 2025 By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Other Sister
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Thriller, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

My Thoughts

This book sets a standard for high-intensity psychological thrillers with a foundation of hope and faith. Charlotte finds out that she is a twin and circumstances thrust her into Acelynn’s life. Charlotte thought her life was messed up until she stepped into the dumpster fire that was Acelynn’s life. What a wild ride this book is, from beginning to end! The twists just kept coming, along with serial murders, suspects and lots of family drama. I loved the interactions between the realistic characters, mostly high society and full of themselves, with little desire to lower themselves to common people. Charlotte is basically a hot mess who has no idea what she is doing in Savannah, but she is determined to hide there for a while since she is running away from a murder in her hometown. So much action happens so quickly that I couldn’t take my eyes off the page and was on the edge of my seat for much of the story. The faith factor is one of hope and redemption, undeserved mercy and grace and offered a welcome respite from all of the dark parts of the story. A child who is manipulative and dangerous is in the center of the story. So many secrets in this brilliantly written and cleverly executed complex story! I cannot write a lot more without giving something away, but let’s just say, run to get a copy of this book and prepare to read all night with all of the lights on.
Disclaimer
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Also Available

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About the Author

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch has penned over 27 novels and is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense or a dark, twisty thriller. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, down the street at the Mexican restaurant, or collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook.

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicarpatch.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to her email newsletter “Patched In” updates and receive a FREE short thriller.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of The Garden Girls & a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 22, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 29, 2025. Winner 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!

First Line Friday

On April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, First Line Friday1 Comment

I don’t usually participate in First Line Friday, but I have a lot of books releasing next week, so I thought I would put a few of them on your radar.

I will not write my entire review here, but I will tell you that this book is humorous and offers practical advice that really makes you ponder how you do things. The main character, Lyla, is a newspaper columnist who writes her opinion about everyday circumstances and in so doing, she discovers truths about herself.

First Line: “Lyla Dune turned in to her parents’ driveway and parked, her gaze moving to the FOR SALE sign on the front lawn.”

Barnes and Noble has a 25% off sale now, so if you want to get this book at a good price, it’s a good time to get it. The sale ends today and requires the coupon code PREORDER25.

This quick read had me reading as fast as I could to find out what would happen to Florene. At the beginning of the story, she is tossed out of the car by her boyfriend, in the middle of nowhere and during a blizzard. What happens to her is God’s providence for sure!

First Line: “She’d made a mistake. And she was going to die. Florene Schroder lay on the hard, cold ground. Twisted and limp, she didn’t move.”

This quick read takes place in the Allegheny forest of Pennsylvania and is a book with riveting suspense and compelling characters. Eli is an FBI agent who hunts down cybercriminals and the focus of the story is that one of the bad guys doesn’t like being hunted so he is chasing down Eli and his young daughter who are on vacation in the Alleghenies.

First Line: “‘Daddy, why do you keep looking at the trees?’”

This story grabbed at my heart and wouldn’t let it go! It is the story of a young woman who has been rejected by her husband and is trying to start a new life for herself in a new town. Unfortunately, she has few resources and fewer items in her pantry and fridge, so she ends up at a food bank, much to her embarrassment. There she meets some welcoming and kind strangers who show her the way to acceptance and real love. Sigh! Great story!

First Line: “Kayla Harding had walked by the building at least a hundred times. She’d even dropped off items in the back on occasion. Back in another life.”

Again, if you would like to purchase any or all of these new releases, you can check them out at your local retailer. They all release on Tuesday, April 29th.

Question for you: Which book would you really like to see a blog about here on my page? Give me your opinion and I will try to accommodate your wishes, depending on my schedule.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed my first First Line Friday!

Who Is an Evangelist?

On April 24, 2025 By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture3 Comments

The simple answer to this question is that we all are. Some are more vocal than others and some have evangelism as their profession, but we have all been called to be evangelists, to share the good news about Jesus.

In the devotional this morning that I read about evangelism, I chuckled when the speaker in the video reminded us that we don’t plant seeds and then stand and yell at them to grow. Our responsibility is just to plant the seeds and that can look like a lot of different things.

We can encourage someone when they need a pat on the shoulder, a hug or a kind word. Speaking of kindness, we should always be kind to others no matter what kind of day we are having or the mood we are in. There is never an excuse for rudeness. In today’s world of selfishness and entitlement, it is evident that rudeness seems to be prevalent. That is why Christians can stand out and consistently offer kindness as our banner, not demands. And, of course, we can share our testimony with others about the difference Christ has made in our lives.

The last one is the hardest one for me because of my introverted nature. But I know that if I have established a relationship with another person, then it is easier for me to talk to them about my past, where I came from and how my life changed. I think one of the keys of a good evangelist is establishing relationships, not just preaching the gospel and expecting people to take your word for it.

Regardless of how we do the job that Jesus tasked us to do while we wait for His return, we are not in this alone. Evangelism is a team effort. We are the seed sowers while others who come behind us may be the ones who water or give nutrients to the new plant. We do what we feel the Spirit prodding us to do and then let God take over. That relieves us of the burden of thinking that is all on us…it isn’t and God’s Word tells us that.

Our purpose in evangelism is not so that others can see us and offer us any kind of recognition. Rather, it is to just go and tell. We tell with encouragement, kindness and our testimony. We tell with words from God’s Word. God will bring the growth but the seeds have to be planted first and that is our responsibility.

A Scripture that Is Hard to Share

On April 23, 2025 By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

Humble Confidence

At the top of John chapter 5, John explains that anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ—the prophesied Messiah—has become a child of God.

When we become children of our Heavenly Father, we not only inherit a forever kingdom and an incorruptible legacy, but we’re also granted the privilege of approaching the King of all kings.

John said it this way:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As the text continues, John reiterates the fact that God loves to give us what we ask for—when it’s asked with the right motive.

Think about it this way: is a child concerned about approaching his loving parent for a snack, for a hug, for advice, or for help?

When we come to God with a similar childlike confidence—in sincerity, humility, trust, and even desperation—we can be certain that He hears us. When we submit a request, we might get a yes, we might get a no, or we might get a not yet. But regardless…

We can know that God hears us as we trust Him with our prayers.

The author of the book of Hebrews put it eloquently: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Whether you need wisdom, direction, or practical help, you can come boldly to our gracious God. You can come to God with your praises and doubts, opinions and concerns, thankfulness and questions.

My Thoughts

I hate to write this because I don’t want you to misunderstand what I am saying, but I John 5:14 is one of those scriptures that I don’t like to share. For years, this particular verse was what I call the “prosperity gospel” of “Name it and claim it” fame. I am not a proponent of this particular method of trying to attract people to the Lord because I think it twists God’s Word and tries to get people to come to the Lord for the wrong reasons. On the other hand, as the writer of this devotional in the YouVersion points out, if we ask according to His will, then we can indeed expect answers. The caveat is that the answer may not be what we wanted or expected, but He will answer.

The problem I have with sharing this scripture verse is that people don’t always seek God’s will before praying and then get disappointed when He doesn’t answer. Or they don’t really want to know God’s will before their petitions because they already have a vision of what they plan to ask for. A bigger house, a powerful position or anything material is not promised in God’s Word. He says He will give us all that we need, not all that we desire. The only way to find out God’s will is to spend time with Him and His Word. The time we spend with God molds our will to be more like His and then when we pray, we can do so with confidence and expectation, knowing that what we are asking is something that God really wants to do for us. For example, God wants people to come to know Him, so we can certainly expect that praying for hearts to be open to Him is in His will. But, we also have to be aware that God is not going to make that person we pray for into some kind of responsive robot. They have to want to know Him, choose to know Him and repent. God can create situations in which the sinner comes face to fact with the reality of their sins, but He does not change their heart just because we ask for it; the sinner has to change. God has already provided the sacrifice, once for all, and He waits patiently for the sinner to come to His throne of grace. So, although we pray for salvation for a friend or loved one, once we pray this prayer that is part of God’s will, we have to accept the fact that God can do all things but He chooses to limit Himself to the individual making the correct free will choice. We cannot just “name it and claim it” because there is a lot going on in the spiritual realm that we may not be aware of.

The steps are not to see the shiny new toy and then pray that you will get one just like it. Absolutely not! We spend time with God in Bible study and reflection and then we pray according to His will that He has revealed to us in our time together. The final step is the hardest one. Then we wait, confident that God is working out His will in His time and for our good always.

Thus, with all that being said, I have difficulty sharing and telling you my thoughts about this verse since I don’t want you to take the verse out of context or misunderstand my words. Do I believe God answers prayers? Without a doubt! Do I believe that God answers every prayer just the way we expect? That answer is a firm “no” because I believe God answers prayers according to His good will, not mine and not in my established timeline.

My Status

On April 22, 2025 By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony2 Comments

First of all, let’s define “status.” According to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, status is: “position or rank in relation to others or relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige especially : high prestige.” Kind of wordy, but it does say what status is. First, let’s talk about it in relationship to others.

In today’s world of never having enough, people tend to equate their well-being, their status, if you will, with the number of material things that they have and the quality of those things. It’s good to have a nice house, but a big, nice house is better, for example. It’s great to have a nice car, but an expensive car with all of the newest bells and whistles is better. Status is elusive and changes quickly, depending on your social circumstances. I know this from experience because I grew up in a home that was considered upper middle class and my family was considered well-to-do. Not wealthy, but respected for all of the things we had, like a Cadillac in the driveway and a pool in the backyard. Then came the devastation of my family losing everything. There went their long-standing status in the community, in less time than it takes to read this blog post!

The second definition for status is rank or prestige. That is not so different from the first definition, but I think it also deals with how you see yourself in society. The lepers in the Bible were outcasts, so their status in society was the lowest of the low, yet they still called out to Jesus to be healed. They knew that they were unworthy, but they knew to whom they could appeal. India still has a caste system and the status that you are born into is one that you will have your entire life. While we in the U.S. gasp at such a concept as not being able to improve your status, we have the same general concept. A Rockefeller family member is automatically accorded more respect and gets the best tables at the best restaurants like it’s part of the benefits of having that name. The Smiths, however, are not treated so royally. In fact, the working class Americans generally remain in that working class for a lifetime. On the other hand, one of the great things about being in the U.S. is that one can work hard, get a better education and move from one “class” to another. Nevertheless, we are still a nation of “haves” and “have nots.” I am sure that we can all agree that some are privileged and some are impoverished and sometimes it is a case of birth family and circumstances, not choices.

Now, back to status and the real purpose of this post today. I used to be upper middle class. Now, I am lower middle class and not bothered by my drop in rank in society. That is because my status is not dependent on what the world says I am or thinks about me. I must confess that once I was into titles and status and wanted to succeed and be recognized as worthy of honor and respect. I earned some titles and awards as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. But nothing that I have ever won can compare to what I am now.

I am a DK, a Daughter of the King. I can rest fully secure in my Father’s love, knowing that will not change because He does not change. My position in the family of God is not dependent on anything I do but on all that Jesus already did. That gives me peace as well as rest from competition with others. God puts all of us on an even plane; we are all sinners saved by grace. The wealthy cannot buy their way into heaven and the poor cannot beg their way in. There is only one way, one door to get to spend eternity with God and that is through His Son Jesus. So, I have given up on the FFV (First Families of Virginia), the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and OWC (Officers’ Wives’ Club). I have traded that illusory status for one that is everlasting, a a child of God and there I remain, in my little house in the big woods, driving an older car and not really caring that I don’t have all the things.

Death is a thief that takes all you have accumulated and gives it to someone else. Wealth doesn’t endure, but hope in a future with God does.

This verse says clearly what our priorities need to be and it is not in gathering things so that we look better to others. That is not to say that all people who have nice things are wicked, just that having nice things won’t get you out of death and into heaven.

This is a promise that we who confess Jesus as Lord can firmly grasp and count on. No matter how others view my status, God only sees whether I have been made clean by the blood of His Son and accepts me just the way I am.

Just As I Am-Brothers of the Heart

The Truth-Megan Woods

My Monday Minute

On April 21, 2025 By vickleaIn Heaven, promises, Scripture1 Comment

I have been up for over two hours and I am just now getting around to my devotionals. Why is that, you may ask? The reason is that I have six or seven books releasing in the next ten days and I was busy promoting them online. Now, to start my real day…

I awakened in the wee hours of the morning with a deep pain in my chest and a fear about a heart attack. Since I have multiple health problems and see a cardiologist regularly, I did not awaken my slumbering spouse. Rather, I prayed and did some deep breathing, relaxed and fell back to sleep. But the pain was my wake up call that we all die and leave these bodies behind. When I got up and read the headline that the Pope had died, I was reminded of what the Lord had told me as I suffered through the anxiety of pain in my chest. We all die…even the head of the Catholic Church is not exempt from the end of life here on earth.

But…good news awaited me in my devotional today! When I die, as we all must some day, I will not be left in the “realm of the dead.” My soul, the real part of me that relates to God and will continue to live, will never decay. This body is a tent, a temporary dwelling place for my soul until God calls me home. And so is your body and the body of anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior.

So, that’s my Monday minute. Have a blessed week and enjoy the weather wherever you are and whatever it is doing. God made today for us to live, laugh and love others.

Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner

Month: April 2025

What Is Faith?

The Truth about Sleep

Who Is an Evangelist?

My Status

My Monday Minute