Teaching Us to Pray

On September 10, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

When my children were small, I was convinced that I would be chained to the washing machine, the stove and the sink forever. But they matured and became more independent until, before I was even ready for the separation, they left home and started their own families. Many times before they left, they asked me to teach them how to do things, like the laundry or cook. I gave them the steps to take and then left them to do it. They turned out pretty well, I think since they can now do all of those things for their families.

In the school of becoming a Christian (we are ALL becoming because we haven’t arrived at our final destination yet, nor are we perfectly like Christ), we need to learn how to pray. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray using the Lord’s Prayer as our example.

I sometimes but not very often say the Lord’s Prayer, but when I do it all alone and not in a group like at church, I think about and change the words some to make them my own. I also take time to confess my sins as I pray and to intercede for others. I want my prayer time to be a time to talk to God and also to listen to Him, not a prayer that I have memorized and can quickly recite without thinking about what I am saying.

Imagine, if you will, that God has a phone line and is waiting anxiously for you to contact Him. Instead of settling in to pray (spend time with Him) to Him, you send him a text saying, “All good here. Thanks for everything.” Or you send Him a selfie of where you are and what you are enjoying at the time. I don’t think God would be offended, but He wants more. More personal communication than a quick “I’m okay” as you run to the next thing in your life.

I think that sometimes in the hustle and bustle that is part of our world, we treat God as though He is our “text buddy” and not our God. What do I mean by that? We say short thank yous, present a need or two and then feel as though we have fulfilled our “obligation” to the Holy One for the day. Now that our children are adults with their own families, I do enjoy texts from them and the photos of their current daily activities. But what I really crave is to hear their voices, so we take time to talk as often as we can. It’s an exchange that is priceless…I talk, they listen, they talk and I listen. I hope I am not overstepping my boundaries, but I think that is what God craves from us, too. It’s called building and maintaining a relationship. I think He is okay with our short text-like prayers, but He wants more and we should also want to spend more time with Him. If the only time I heard from my children were an occasional text, I would wonder what I was missing and perhaps what I could do to engage with them more. God likes the short prayers in our busy lives, the ones that are like texts. But He also wants us to take time to really settle in and talk to Him. It’s not because He needs to hear what we need. He already knows. He wants a relationship with us and we are the ones who are supposed to open that line of communication with Him.

I think we need to remember that Jesus gave us the role model as He withdrew to a place where He could be alone and prayed. He also taught us to pray, starting with praise, confessing sins and then telling God about our needs. And, just like Jesus, we should end our prayers by recognizing that God is in control of all things.

PRAY

Praise

Repent

Ask

Yield

When you yield, don’t forget to take time to listen. God might have something He wants you to hear!

A Daily Choice to Surrender

On September 9, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture7 Comments

When most of us think of surrendering, we think it’s a bad thing. After all, world leaders surrender at the end of wars and end up losing power and paying reparations, But in God’s world, surrender isn’t an option. It’s a requirement. And it’s something we have to choose to do daily.

Every day we have to give over control to God. That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? But it’s a challenge for most of us because it means that we have to show that we trust Him to work out things in our lives the way He wants them to be, not the way we probably planned. After five decades of pursuing a relationship with God, I have discovered that His plans are always better, usually surprising and seldom the way I would do things.

It is in handing the controls over to God that we can truly have the freedom we need to trust Him. I have a tendency, and probably many of you do the same thing, to think I have handed a situation over to God and then I try to take it back. If that doesn’t work, then I “pray” and in my prayer, I try to explain to God how He should be doing things. I generally present my case logically, in steps that anyone (especially God, of course) can understand. But, also in the last five decades, I have repeatedly discovered that God doesn’t need my help or my advice, as well-meaning as it may be. What He needs is for me to let go so He can do His work in my life. Imagine that you are speeding down the road at 100 mph and discover you have no brakes. You look ahead and there is a big curve with a drop off down a mountain on both sides. That’s what trying to control your own life is like. God knows the big curve is coming. He knows that the mountain drop-off is dangerous. So He wants you to take your hands away from the controls of the car and tell Him that you need Him to do what He does best. Sometimes, He will stop the car and save you from the disaster that is coming at you. But sometimes, He will let you keep going so that He can teach you more about trust and letting go. Perhaps letting go earlier in the journey would have been more beneficial. That’s why surrendering to God is not a suggestion. It’s a requirement for Christian living.

The idea for today’s blog came from the email that I get from Grant daily called “A Miracle Every Day.” A Miracle Every Day

Look carefully at the words linked to surrendering. Intention + awareness + humility = ACTIVE TRUST

You are totally aware of what you are choosing when you surrender to God, you are doing it with intention (you have mentally determined this is your choice) and you are acting with humility before your Creator. The result is a trust that is active, not a passively lying down and waiting for the results. It is an action that is taking place every moment of every day. His will, not yours. His Will, all day. His will, every day. That’s why we surrender. His way is better and ours just isn’t.

I Surrender All-CeCe Winans

What Humility Looks Like

On September 8, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Here’s What Humility Looks Like… (Daily Refresh, 9-08)

When you think of humility, what comes to mind?

In our world, humility is often seen as a self-degrading concept that reveals our insecurities and keeps us from becoming our best selves.

But true humility never leads to insecurity, because insecurity is a form of pride. Pride either puffs us up or tears us down. Pride is self-sufficient, but also self-destructive. If we’re doing great, pride makes our confidence soar. But if we’re going through a rough season, pride makes us sensitive to our failures. Pride links our worth to our accomplishments, and it prevents us from seeing who we truly are.

Pride makes us think that if we try hard enough, we can become good enough. Humility helps us realize that we are not enough—but God is enough for us.

Humility will often ask us to risk something. It might mean laying down our social standing, our reputation, our financial security, our sense of authority, or our expertise.

But surrendering our self-sufficiency lets us embrace God’s authority. And our God did miracles through Moses, established David as king of Israel, worked through Isaiah in the midst of chaos, publicly honored Mary, abundantly provided for Peter, and glorified Jesus by raising Him from the dead.

When we surrender ourselves to God, we allow Him to be glorified through us. Humility might cost us something—but it leads to abundant life.

So today, how can you humble yourself before God? Take a few moments and process what you need to lay down in order to draw closer to God within the upcoming weeks.

My Thoughts

Whenever I think that I am doing fairly well spiritually, God puts a lesson like this one in my path so that I can see that I am not “all that.” There are so many points in this post, especially the sentence about pride linking our worth to our accomplishments. That spoke to me because I have always been one who wanted to be the best at whatever I am doing, not for the sake of completion because I am really competing with myself. But that is pride and I confess that now and pray that I will do better. I was never good enough for my mom to approve of me. Straight A’s. That was good, but I wasn’t taking all honors classes. On the Dean’s List in college. That was good, but I wasn’t on the President’s List for even higher grades. You get the idea. Now I look back and I know that no one has cared what my GPA was in high school or college…they just wanted to know that I was efficient and suited for the job they wanted me to do. I think that is how God sees me too. He doesn’t care about my accomplishments but about my being equipped to do the work He is calling me to do. Everything we do should be to glorify God, not to pat ourselves on the back or shine a spotlight on our own abilities. We have no abilities without God’s giving them to us, so He should always get the glory for all we do and for all we are. That is the prayer for myself today and for any of my readers who have been struggling with pride but didn’t really recognize it.

Grace in Forgiveness

On September 7, 2026 By vickleaIn Re-blog, Scripture2 Comments

bigskybuckeye.com/2026/09/06/grace-in-forgiveness/

Please go to the original post and like, follow and comment. Richard is a talented and prolific poet who speaks God’s truth in verses that will touch your heart and soul.

Have a blessed and safe Labor Day!

Every Knee Shall Bow

On September 6, 2026 By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

He Is Lord-The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Benefits of Wisdom

On September 5, 2026 By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

The Place to Start (Daily Refresh, 9-05-26)

There are many places we can go to learn about something new, or to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Books are full of access to insightful information. The internet is overloaded with both helpful and unhelpful content about any subject imaginable.

While those are great places to start, Scripture tells us that the foundation of all knowledge is a healthy fear of the Lord. This means that while we can learn things from anyone, the beginning of true wisdom always begins with God.

The fear of the Lord doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be afraid of God. It means that we should live our lives in awe of Him. We do this by recognizing who He is—the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is all-powerful and all-knowledgeable. God’s Word says He holds the power of life and death in His hands. These attributes should cause us to live in awe of God.

Scripture also tells us that God is loving, gracious, and merciful. Even though we—His own creation—previously rebelled against Him, God graciously gave us access back to Himself through His Son, Jesus. The God who created the universe loves each and every one of us. He loves you.

Living in awe of who God is and what He has done is the beginning of all wisdom and knowledge. We would be foolish to turn away from such a powerful and gracious God.

While we can learn a lot about many different things through books, people, and the internet, the most essential and important piece of knowledge about God comes from His Word.

Today, spend some time with God in His Word and in prayer—thanking Him for who He is and what He has done for you. Begin a habit of reading Scripture regularly so that you can know, respect, and trust Him in a deeper way.

My Thoughts

As I read this devotional, I had a visual in my mind of the little chick that ran around telling anyone who would listen, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Sometimes we are all guilty of being that little chicken, thinking we know just what is happening and really not knowing anything because we didn’t pass our so-called knowledge or revelation through God’s filter. Using God’s Word as the first and final say in all matters helps us to think more clearly and to get things right before we share them with others. Spending time with God and in His Word is not a suggestion; it is a vital and important part of daily living for Christians. It is our source of the living water that runs from us to others. And it is where we get the wisdom that God wants to share with us each day. The benefits of wisdom are too many to enumerate; the lack of wisdom is apparent in today’s world. So showing God’s wisdom to a world bent on foolishness becomes our testimony and our duty to our loving God.

Our Treasure

On September 3, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony3 Comments

What do you value most in your life? Your family? Your job? Your home? Your bank account? Whatever it is came from God and He is the most valuable asset you can ever have.

So, I ask you again, what do you value the most? Honestly think about your answer and if God is not your treasure just as you are is, pray and talk to God about what you need to let go of so that He can be central in your life. God doesn’t require sacrifice; He just wants ALL of you.

Postscript~Testimony about Cardiologist Visit

I went to see my cardiologist yesterday to get test results on my heart. There was no small amount of trepidation as I waited to see the doctor. But I was surprised with the news he shared with me. Yes, I have congestive heart failure, but my heart is actually okay. The tests showed no significant problems other than aging. The issue is actually with my lungs which is causing the fluid build-up and the stress on my heart. My heart has to work harder because of my lung problem. So, the pulmonologist has directed me to use my regular meds in my nebulizer as well as the new ones and try to get my breathing better so that my heart doesn’t have to work so hard. I am still taking fluid pills for the swelling and my kidney function is lower due to the stress on my heart, but I am doing well for my age. I am definitely feeling blessed with what I think is a good report. I have lived with asthma my entire life so it shouldn’t surprise me that my lungs are the issue. But I will share a secret with you. God put the breath in my lungs and they will keep working until He says it’s time for me to be with Him. Some people thank God for the sunshine, their homes, their families, and all the other good things around them. I wake up every morning thankful to be breathing without gasping for air. God is good…all the time!

Review: Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

On September 2, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review5 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139781335002730

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication Date: 09/01/2026

Series: Murder Most Fowl Mysteries

Pages: 336

Synopsis (from the author’s website)

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

My Thoughts

The humorous antics in this novel by the amateur sleuths kept me reading and guessing and guessing again. The characters are quirky, lively and believable and easy to cheer for as Saul, Kitty and Henry try their best to follow the clues and find out who is responsible for the murders that must be happening in the Marquee. Of course, their quest is somewhat hampered by their inability to find a body as well as their normal duties. Saul is a bellhop when needed but his full-time job is the duck commandant for the daily duck parade. This was a hilarious and unexpected addition to the story and I especially loved Ruby and Uncle Joe, ducks who have a great deal of personality. Kitty is the daughter of an opera star whose aspiration is to be a detective, so she is delighted to find body parts and follow clues all over the hotel. Henry is a wannabe juggler whose paying job is the elevator operator. Together, these three make a formidable and unlikely cast of sleuths but they do a remarkable job of getting into and out of difficulties while also following wherever the clues lead. I enjoyed the fast pace, the entertaining and well-crafted plot and I especially enjoyed getting to know some of the most well-developed and unique characters ever created.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Dana Mentink lives in California where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two daughters (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo.) Papa Bear is retired from the fire department and he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

Dana writes in two genres, cozy mystery and romantic suspense. She’s a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author as well as a two time ACFW Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion recipient. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She is honored to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, and Poisoned Pen Press. Website: Dana Mentink.com