Author: vicklea

I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!

Claim Your Blessings

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

If you knew that someone had started a bank account in your name with, say, a million dollars in it, would you just leave it there and never touch it or use it? Or would you go to the bank, present the appropriate ID, sign the forms they require and start using your unexpected wealth? I’m pretty sure most if not all of us would do the latter. But did you know that we are daily not claiming gifts from God?

God’s Word is filled with blessings for His people, yet there they sit, unclaimed, either because we don’t know about them or think that they cannot possibly be for us. In today’s world of selfishness and each one out for himself, it’s hard to fathom that God is our advocate, in our corner at all times and has provided for us before we even ask. So, today, I leave you with a blessing to claim and a challenge to look for other blessings in the Bible that are yours if you would only see them, claim them and praise God for them. Now, just a disclaimer: I do not belong to the “name it and claim it” group of prosperity-driven Christians. I am just saying that if you have a prayer that needs to be answered and find a blessing in the Bible that fits that need, then claim that blessing as an answer to your prayer. Sometimes, we are still praying when God already sent the answer and we didn’t notice yet.

Don’t forget to say “Thank you” to God for all of His rich blessings that He gives us every day!

A Thought about Gratitude

On By vickleaIn Quotation and Citations, Scripture3 Comments

Remember the Biblical story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus, yet only one came back to thank Him? How many times have you been the one who remembered to give thanks instead of continuing on your merry way and forgetting quickly what God has done for you?

We don’t need to give God thanks because He needs to hear it. Our hearts need to be open to the relationship with God that becomes fuller and more complete when we give Him thanksgiving instead of taking His love for granted.

Look at that very small and very important word “all.” When things are going well, be thankful. When things are not going great, be thankful. Getting into the habit of having an attitude of gratitude will open our hearts and minds to hear from God and be blessed by Him, even in the midst of trying circumstances.

Sunday Prayer

On By vickleaIn prayer, Scripture2 Comments

Sunday is a day of reflection, spending time with God and other Christians at church and also with my husband just talking. So, I don’t have a lot of time to spend on writing my blog. When I prayed about what to do for my Sunday posts, God said to just pray. Thus, here is my prayer for you today.

In Jesus’s Name. Amen!

Timid but Bold

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

I am generally a very introverted, timid person. I don’t like large crowds (or even medium-sized ones). I avoid being around a group of strangers, not because of them but because of my own timidity. Today I have a women’s group meeting at church. I have looked forward to it and dreaded it at the same time. I look forward to it because of the fellowship but I dread it because I’m so shy and it’s hard for me to talk to people and feel as though I fit in. Usually, in group settings, my husband is there to run interference, check on me, draw me into conversations, etc. But with a women’s meeting, I’m on my own. Thus, the dilemma.

As I prayed this morning and spent time in God’s Word, this is the Scripture that I read. I did not go looking for it, but God directed me to it through a devotional that I read daily. Just in time for my meeting today! God will be with me, He loves and accepts me and I can count on Him to stay right by my side even when I’m feeling alone. I know that all of this is very strange to my readers who know that I taught in public schools for over thirty years, a profession that required public speaking daily. But I should note that I always had lesson plans to keep me focused on my tasks instead of how self-conscious I was feeling. In the group today, I fear leaving my comfort level, but I am also going to be bold and go regardless of my timidity. How’s that for stepping out in faith?

My other verse for the day is all about God’s calming my fears, so I’m trusting Him to come through for me and that I will make some new friends there. (The ladies that I used to be with at these meetings have moved to a different church.) Inhale and exhale, deep calming breaths…almost time to get ready to go. God is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Father and my Best Friend, so I’m counting on Him!

Review of LOST AND FOUND by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

Genre: Fiction
Tag: Lost and Found
Publisher: Revell
Publication Year: 2023
ASIN: B0BW1373WH
ISBN: 9780800739522

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found.

What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.

My Thoughts

Set in the quaint Amish town of Stony Ridge, this book included all of my favorite characters and gave me greater insight into some of my favorites. Most of the characters are facing difficult life choices and have to learn to depend on God and each other to make their decisions. David is the pastor of the local church and has to decide whether to relocate his church or not since the Beachy Amish have moved in and are encroaching on their farmland and tourism. Micah Weaver, an intrepid birder and a good friend of Trudy Yoder, faces his own challenges when he answers a call for help from Shelley Yoder, a young woman who left Stony Ridge and is not apparently in some kind of trouble. Trudy thought her relationship with Micah was progressing well until he starts insisting that he has to leave the town. It makes her question her judgment and her developing feelings for him. I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into each character’s mind and heart as they faced almost impossible difficulties and had to overcome them. The story tells how they reached their decisions and why as well as adding details about the other Amish citizens and the dynamics of the town itself. The pacing is good, just right for the story that is being told. The characters are all dynamic and relatable, especially Trudy who has to learn to live with a broken heart and move on with her life. I especially liked the descriptions of the birds at the end of each chapter featuring Trudy as she relates the birds to Biblical truth and stories. I also appreciated the author’s notes at the end explaining the schisms between the Amish and why there are three different groups referenced in the novel. I learned from this book, Biblical lessons about trust and faith, and practical lessons about getting along with others and life in general. Inspirational and welcome addition to the series that can certainly be read and enjoyed as a standalone!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I 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. 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.”

Rated G, clean Christian fiction

About the Author

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher wrote her first novel in sixth grade, about Pompeii, a dog, and the erupting volcano (terrible ending!) and, from that point on, she was hooked on the writing life. Curiously, she doesn’t remember anyone, ever, telling her she was a talented writer. She just loved to write. (And she worked hard at the craft. She still does.)
College happened, work, then marriage, children, a sprinkling of corporate transfers, and Suzanne kept plugging away at freelancing for several magazines. (Four kids = lots of great material.)
As her children headed off to college, Suzanne had the time to get serious about writing. She wrote a little World War II love story, Copper Star, which was published by Vinspire, a small royalty press. The novel won some awards, and it also caught the eye of a wonderful agent. And that’s when things started to happen.
Joyce Hart of the Hartline Literary Agency knew of an editor at Revell Books who was looking for an author who had a genuine connection to the Plain People. Knowing that Suzanne’s grandfather was raised Plain, Joyce connected her to that editor. The result was Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a finalist for the ECPA Book of the Year.
Thirty-some books later (in a variety of genres—historical fiction, contemporary women’s, and Amish fiction), Suzanne is still writing for that same editor at Revell Books. And she still loves to write. For more information, go to her author page at https://suzannewoodsfisher.com/meet-suzanne/

Purchase Links

Baker Book House

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book

Bookshop

With great appreciation to the Revell Reads Blogger Program for including me in the blog tour for this wonderfully informative and uplifting book!

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

Blessed are the Persecuted

It’s not always easy to stand for what’s right—especially when someone makes fun of you, gossips about you, lies about you, or even abuses you because of your decision.

But when sharing the eighth of the beatitudes—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus offered some hope:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10 NIV

Leading up to this verse, Jesus had spoken unexpected blessings over an unlikely group: the poor in spirit, those who were mourning, the meek, those craving righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. Finally, He offered a blessing to the persecuted.

Jesus elaborated:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now, we won’t be blessed for facing the consequences of our own terrible decisions. But Jesus is saying that you will be rewarded when you are shamed, canceled, or even physically persecuted because of Him.

Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer for the sake of righteousness.

You will be blessed for standing up for what is right, for trusting in God’s Word, and for defending those who cannot defend themselves. And when it gets hard, remember: you’re not alone.

The prophets before us were mocked, beaten, and even killed. Jesus’ disciples, the ones hearing these words, would also suffer and die because of their beliefs. They were persecuted for doing things differently: for loving their neighbors, fighting for sexual purity, resting on the Sabbath, and most of all, for declaring Jesus as Lord.

So no matter what it costs you, you will be blessed for standing up for what is right. Jesus says that yours is the kingdom of heaven.

A Pure Heart

On By vickleaIn Quotation and Citations, Scripture2 Comments

Is Your Heart Pure?

What do you think about when you hear the word pure?

Do you picture a tall glass of crystal clear water? A freshly washed load of white sheets? Or maybe someone who’s morally wholesome and good?

In the sixth of the beatitudes—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus said this:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 NIV

The word “pure” means clean or blameless, free from corruption or contamination, purified by fire, or unstained by guilt. None of us can truly be pure on our own—despite our best efforts.

Before Jesus showed up, the highest ranking Levitical priests were charged with ministering and mediating in the holiest spaces (inside the tabernacle in the wilderness and, later, the temple in Jerusalem)—where God’s presence dwelled on earth. But even they had to be purified over and over again.

Now, because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, He has paved the way for us. His blood covered our sins, and when we accept the sacrifice, He makes us pure. Now and forever, we can “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God,” where we can find mercy and grace when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16). Now, our bodies are the modern-day temples where God’s Spirit has chosen to dwell.

Being pure of heart is not about being perfect, but trusting in Jesus to purify our souls.

As Isaiah once prophesied…

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬