Month: August 2026

Review of Things We Cannot Keep by Amanda Cox

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139780800746629

Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Publication Date: 08/18/2026

Pages: 336 pages

Synopsis (from the author’s website)

Tess has built a new life in Alabama, repairing timepieces and avoiding her troubled past as she restores her customers’ family heirlooms–treasures she never had herself. When a mysterious package arrives addressed to Teresa Baker, the name she abandoned, Tess finds herself drawn into a puzzle that threatens her delicate peace. 

Then Elliot Sullivan appears at her door after eighteen years, and Tess knows he’s after more than just forgiveness. She doesn’t trust his motives, but it becomes apparent that he could be the key to uncovering the origin of the mystery package and its cryptic contents. 

Tess has found safety in her simple life, but reuniting this lost heirloom to its rightful recipient requires her to come out of hiding. Each clue leads to a different place around the world, and each story reveals hidden truths. The question is whether she’s brave enough to face what she might find–and whether the man beside her can be trusted with what matters most.

My Thoughts

This beautifully written novel touched me in all of the right places. It made me think about what is important in my life, it made me ponder what I am leaving behind and it made me thankful for all I have in my life. This is a poignant story of Tess Holcomb who has secrets from her past that she prefers not to confront, so she stays in a small town in Alabama with new and supportive friends. She has a business established there in which she restores old treasures. It is her business that brings her past to the forefront when a pocket watch with a mysterious message attached is sent to her to repair. The watch brings her former childhood friend and first love Elliot back into her life, and together the two of them explore the mystery behind the watch. This book is a saga of the history of the watch and the people who owned it and passed it on to others. This story is so well-crafted with numerous characters who have their own connection to the timepiece, each one with a story to tell that Elliot and Tess discover together. The story is complex but woven together so masterfully that all of the pieces fit perfectly together to make one wonderful and thought-provoking tale. The characters are realistic and the plot is compelling with a quick pace and a story that engaged me from beginning to end. This is one of the best Christian fiction that I have ever read, combining history, mystery, and contemporary romance into one lovely story of life choices and what we truly need to leave behind. With lessons of second chances, redemption and a hopeful future, I enjoyed my time with Tess and Elliot and highly recommend this book for individuals but most especially for book groups as the entire book lends itself to discussion and self-reflection.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and I purchased my own copy to add to my collection of Amanda’s books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Amanda Cox is an award-winning author of inspirational women’s fiction who loves telling stories about belonging, forgiveness, and the quiet courage it takes to love well—usually through flawed characters trying to make sense of life’s messy, beautiful moments.

She is a three-time Christy Award–winning author whose novels include ECPA bestsellers Between the Sound and Sea, The Bitter End Birding Society, and He Should Have Told the Bees. The Edge of Belonging, her Christy Book of the Year debut novel, remains a longtime reader favorite.

Amanda’s novels are known for their layered characters, emotional depth, and hopeful honesty. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her past experience walking alongside hurting families continues to shape the way she writes about grace, healing, and the complicated beauty of relationships.

Through her stories, Amanda hopes to offer readers a place to pause, exhale, and remember they are not alone.

Amanda lives in Tennessee with her husband and three children, where life is full, noisy, and rarely predictable. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found homeschooling, reheating her coffee, or losing track of time in a story that lingers long after the final page.

Website and Social Media Links

Website: https://amandacoxwrites.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandacoxwrites/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandacoxwrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacoxwrites/

Blog: https://hopeperch.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20033571.Amanda_Cox

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Baker Book House

Christian Books

Google Books

Target

Apple Books

Audible

Don’t Forget to Worship

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

From Dawn to Dusk (Daily Refresh, 8-20-26)

Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.)

Everything that you just imagined—God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him.

From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans.

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised!”
Psalm 113:3 NIV

The sun “rises” and “sets” on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles.

An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have been praising God from generation to generation—and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop.

In Revelation 7, John has a vision of a “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,” who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night.

God’s people—past, present, and future—are a worshiping people. 

We can worship with our songs.
We can worship with our money.
We can worship with our lives.

And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we don’t have to wait to worship.

When sunlight streams through your windows, you can worship.
When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, you can worship.
When you’re in a season of waiting, you can worship.
When you’re in a season of receiving, you can worship.
When your heart is breaking, you can worship.
When your heart is full, you can worship.

From dawn to dusk, let the name of the Lord be praised.

Today, think about this verse and consider what compels you to worship God. Then, shift your heart toward Him and don’t forget to worship.

My Thoughts

I would add that when you’re feeling discouraged, that is a good time to worship. It will lift your spirit and prepare you for the next thing God is doing in your life.

When you are anxious, just close your eyes and worship. I can tell you from experience that it is a way to calm your spirit and take your eyes away from the situation and fix them on the only One who can help you in your troubled state.

Life is full of ups and downs and sometimes an unexpected sideways detour. Just remember that God is there at all times, in all of the places and He who made you desires your worship and fellowship with Him.

Eternal Hope

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Jesus died but He arose and lives forever. So shall we all one day. That is our eternal hope!

Amen and amen! God has the final word and will one day write not “the end” but “the new beginning” of our story.

Live in Humility and Grace

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Learning to Live Humbly (Daily Refresh, 8-17-26)

Have you ever met an angry Christian?

You may have come across Christians who seem to grumble, complain, or even speak harshly about other people. Maybe you’ve even been that person at times in your own life.

If we’re not careful, we can easily become self-righteous within Christianity. After all, we know the truth and others may not. You might see how tempting it can be to look down on others, demean them, or consider them as worse off than ourselves.

But this misses the point of the gospel of Jesus.

The gospel tells us that all of us begin at the same starting point. And it’s only by grace through faith that we come to salvation and learn the truth about God’s love for us.

That doesn’t make us any better than other Christians! In fact, as Paul says in Ephesians 4:2, we should actually be humble and gentle with others, rather than harsh and critical. He says we are to be patient with one another, helping each other in every way possible so we can all grow together.

These ideas aren’t original to Paul. They actually came from how Jesus lived his life. As followers of Jesus, we too should strive to be gentle, humble, and patient with everyone in our lives. Regardless of whether they look or think a different way, every person deserves dignity, patience, and love.

Take some time today to consider a few ways that you can grow in patience, humility, and love with others. It could be slowing down long enough for people to know you care, saying something encouraging to someone, or admitting that you’ve made a mistake.

Make the decision today to live in humility and grace with others.

My Thoughts

I like the part in this devotional that states that we all begin at the same starting point. There are so many things in live in which the playing field is not level, like the nation you were born in, the family you were born into or raised by, the education you have access to. But the one thing we all have in common is we are all sinners and have the opportunity to accept Christ and His grace. Our making that choice doesn’t make us better than other, but it just make us thankful for God’s grace that reached out to us. Thus, we should reach out to others. We aren’t saved to be boastful or hide our relationship with the Lord. We are saved to tell others and extend God’s grace to them, those born in other nations less privileged than ours, those born to the wealthy and to the poor, those who have degrees and those who are laborers or even out of work and homeless. We aren’t better than they are…we are just living under God’s grace.

Choose Patience

On By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

The Sweetness of Patience (Daily Refresh, 8-15-26)

Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely?

Perhaps you were drawn in by its vibrant color or sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there was one missing ingredient…

Time.

Even the simple act of picking fruit can teach us about time and patience:

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near.”
James 5:7-8

The author, James, penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to a community of new Jewish converts to Christianity, dispersed throughout various regions. These early Christians faced many trials, including persecution and opposition, because of their newfound faith. James’ call to wait patiently and endure was more than mere words on a page; they were a lifeline of hope and encouragement in the midst of adversity.

And just as those early believers confronted trials, we, too, will encounter challenges and suffering in our Christian journey. And, just like those early believers, you can choose patience—allowing the fruit of the Spirit to ripen within you, no matter the season of life. And when you do, your character will mature, your faith will deepen, and your relationship with God will become sweeter than you could imagine.

Patience always bears the fruit of perseverance and strength, even today and even for you!

My Thoughts

I am not a patient person. I make plans and execute them on my time table, as much as is possible in a world where other people have a different time table and keep interfering with mine. Traveling and staying with family is an exercise in patience, as I learn to wait for my turn in the bathroom to take a shower, wait for others to be ready so we can go to an event, wait for my husband to come back from an errand so I can eat and take meds. There is a lot of waiting going on around here these days.

Today our granddaughter gets married. After getting engaged back in October and beginning the plans for her wedding then, the day has arrived. Lots of planning and preparation going on! But you know what it makes me think? Jesus is preparing for a wedding too when we (His bride) will finally be with Him forever. Imagine the preparations going on in Heaven for this awesome day! Do we like waiting? No, but it’s a necessary part of our growth so that we are ready to meet our bridegroom and rejoice together forever.

Waiting is never easy but it is always worth it!

A Friday Blessing

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Well, here I am in PA ready for the big wedding day tomorrow. Well, not actually ready. I am in my pj’s waiting for an optimum time to take my meds and to get dressed and ready for the day. The rehearsal is this afternoon and I am excited about all of the festivities. Harry and I are not part of the wedding party but are invited to the dinner and I am looking forward to meeting Josh’s family in a casual setting. That being said, I am with family and don’t have a lot of time, so here is a blessing for you from Peter.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Walking in Light

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Last week we had a big storm that came up suddenly. Just as suddenly, we lost our electricity. I grabbed my phone that was beside me and called the electric company. It was about nine at night and since we live rurally, everything was total darkness. After calling Dominion, I turned on my phone’s flashlight, checked on our granddaughter and then went to bed. The lights came back on about three in the morning, so not as bad as it could have been.

When we walk around in the dark, it is easy to stumble and fall. That is why I reached for the closest thing I had that would provide light.

Now apply that truth spiritually. When we walk in the darkness of the world, we need to make sure we have the light of Jesus shining brightly in us. We may not mean to stumble but we probably will if we don’t carry the light with us. Jesus is our light wherever we go and we shed that light to a dark and crazy upside-down without God world. They cannot see Jesus unless we bring the light; rather, they just stumble around in the darkness and don’t even realize that they are falling for lies and the deception of the deceiver.

Light doesn’t seem very important until there isn’t any. Be a light to a dark world. Their “electricity” won’t come on without Jesus and they will be totally lost forever if we don’t help with our little beams.