I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
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!
I am map clueless, which is kind of funny considering one of my degrees includes numerous classes in geography. But my husband knows not to hand me a paper map and expect me to read it for him. I am not a good navigator, even when using GPS. I have been known to tell my husband to turn too early because I didn’t understand the directions on the GPS.
How does that apply to my life spiritually? I want to know where God is taking me and when, but He doesn’t give me a map. Instead, He just says repeatedly, ”Trust Me.” I don’t have to know where he is leading me or when I will arrive as long as I trust the One who is in the driver’s seat.
We naturally want to know ALL the things as we travel along life’s highway. What is around that curve? Where is our next stop? When will we arrive? God wants us to just trust Him for the safe arrival at our destination. When we question everything and seem to want to understand it all, we get lost in the muddy mire of unnecessary-for-us-to-know details instead of keeping our eyes on the Good Shepherd who is leading us to the green pastures we want to eventually get to.
My life lately has been one of not understanding, but it is in this place that I have come to confront the fact that I don’t need to understand to just keep moving forward with God. Sometimes He lets me know a part of His plan, but mostly I am just taking one step at a time and waiting for direction for the next one.
The only understanding we need about our circumstances comes from God and He lets us know what we need to know when we need to know it.
One of my favorite quotes from Corrie ten Boom. Do you really trust the Engineer of your life?
Even in life’s hardest and most depressing seasons, God is with us and is listening to us.
One purpose of a song of lament, or lament psalm, is to be honest with God. It’s about expressing vulnerability by telling God exactly how we feel. We should never be afraid of God or how we speak to Him, because He is able to handle our deepest emotions and complaints. And lament psalms are our model in Scripture on how we can be honest with Him.
Psalm 42 is a lament psalm. It is a song about the hopelessness of the writer’s current condition. It speaks to deep sorrow and grief that is experienced in life. The writer of Psalm 42 does not know why he is depressed. He’s not sure why certain things are happening to him. And so he goes to God in prayer and song, expressing the deepest parts of his soul.
Another purpose of lament is to connect the hopelessness of life with the hope that God gives. Laments act as a bridge between our present situation and the promises we’re waiting on.
The writer of this Psalm speaks to his own soul and encourages himself to continue to hope in God. He knows that no season lasts forever, and there will come a time when joy returns to him.
We will all go through seasons of sadness and grief. And we will have Psalms as a guide. The first step is to come before God and honestly express yourself to Him. Tell Him exactly how you feel.
Next, remember the promises that He has given you in His Word. Recount how much He loves you and cares for you.
And lastly, encourage yourself to put your hope in God. Move towards songs of praise in spite of your current circumstances.
My Thoughts
Today’s devotional was perfect for me, and I pray that it will speak to your heart, too. You see, I have been awake since 2:30 a.m. I wish I could say I was earnestly praying or praising or anything besides what I was doing. I spent four hours coughing, using my inhaler, pacing and trying to get my breath as I spoke to God about how awful it felt to have difficulty breathing. I finally got up at 6, fed our cat, used my morning meds which included my inhaler again as well as other asthma meds, and called my pulmonologist at seven, when the office opens. I now have a Telemed appointment this afternoon since my meds are not kicking in as they should.
Am I discouraged? A little, but mostly, this devotional spoke to me because I am hopeful that God’s answer is on the way. After all, torn rotator cuff, spinal issues and now asthma flare, too. Instead of complaining to God, I am choosing to praise Him and know that He is helping me through this time of my life. In the middle of the night, when the coughing was so bad that it rattled my already unstable bones, I knew that God was hearing me even when I could not take a breath to speak a prayer.
God is not just the God of the mountaintop experiences, although we would all like to stay there and just look down into the valley. He is there with us in the valleys, too. I think that He is especially close in the valley times because it is quiet and there are no interruptions to distract us from our time with God there. We may choose to let things distract us, but I think that is a wrong choice. We need the quiet so we can hear His voice gently whispering His peace and loving words to our troubled body and spirit.
God may seem distant, but He isn’t. Even as I struggled to catch my breath, I knew that He is the One who gave me the breath of life and He will be the One with me when I take my last breath. If He wants me to continue to live, He will provide the strength, healing and hope that I need to face each new day.
I hope that you find peace in the Lord today and that He gives you a reason to praise Him. My being alive is enough reason for me. What’s leading you to praise the King of Glory today?
I loved this story about a regular guy who washes windows and then promotes the restaurant. It’s amazing the small things we can do to help others stay in business. Please go to the original blog, like and follow. And comment below if you have observed an act of kindness that should be recognized.
I have a special for you today, so I will start with my surprise video interview with author Terri Reed. She offered, I accepted, sent her the questions and this is the result. You will see when you watch the video that Terri is personable, relatable and entertaining. She is a very talented author, so watch the interview, read my review and get your copy of Danger in the Rockies.
K-9 officer Maren Anderson is shocked when she catches a glimpse of her presumed-dead twin sister—moments before a shooter opens fire. DEA agent Colt Dawson rescues her and helps secure the crime scene, but before Maren can find her sister, Opal vanishes again. Maren has questions and so does Colt—especially since Opal may be the key to exposing a drug kingpin’s identity. But now the cartel leader’s henchmen think Maren is her sister and she has a target on her back. Forced to work together to unravel the deadly mystery, Maren and Colt must track down her twin before the criminals closing in claim their lives…
My Thoughts
This is a skillfully plotted love inspired suspense novel with characters that are relatable and believable. The story of K-9 officer Maren Anderson’s quest to find her missing sister Opal, even while she is engaged in her main assignment of breaking up a baby trafficking ring, is emotionally gut-wrenching at times. The equally important task of DEA agent Colt Dawson to identify and capture the drug kingpin known only as Shadow dovetails perfectly with Maren’s assignment and in some unexpected ways. Maren looks identical to Opal since they are twins and that makes for escalating danger for her since Shadow thinks she is Opal and can possibly identify him. This book led me on an entertaining and enjoyable chase to follow the clues as I tried to figure out who Shadow was and whether Opal was still alive or not. There are plenty of fake trails that misled me and the deliberate misdirection was part of what made the plot so engaging. There is good chemistry between Maren and Colt, but I most enjoyed their interactions with their well-trained and heroic canines, Haven and Rusk. I was impressed with the obedience and the natural intuition of both dogs who were intent on the task of protecting their owners and finding the villains. The realistic details throughout the book had me absorbed in the story and lent themselves to the suspense and the propulsive pace of this fascinating tale of characters facing constant danger together as they ferret out the lies and separate the deception from the truth. This book is compelling with a dramatic climax in an addictive and immersive story. I voluntarily 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.
Clean, Love Inspired Suspense, Rated PG for Intense Suspense
About the Author
Terri Reed is a New York Times and USA Today Featuredbestselling author specializing in action-packed Christian romantic suspense. She has published over 60 novels with major houses like Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, Simon & Schuster, and Tule Publishing. Her work consistently appears on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and Nielsen BookScan bestseller lists.
What type of books does Terri Reed write?
Terri Reed writes faith-rooted stories that blend high-stakes adventure, danger, and emotional depth with heartwarming character connections. Her novels are characterized as inspirational romantic suspense, often featuring professional protectors like K-9 units, US Marshals, and military personnel. Like authors Lynette Eason and Colleen Coble, her stories emphasize characters who rely on their Christian faith to overcome life-threatening adversity.
Terri Reed is an award-winning author whose accolades include NEW YORK TIMES as well as being a multi-time finalist for the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, and the National Readers’ Choice Award. She is a recognized member of the Romance Writers of America Honor Roll. Her novels have achieved #1 Bestseller status on Amazon in multiple categories, including Religion Fiction and Romance.
Where does Terri Reed live and how can readers connect?
Terri Reed resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and enjoys agility training with her Australian Shepherd. She maintains an active community of readers through her official website and Linktree, offering inspiration and “moments of escape” through her storytelling. Check out her website for a printable list of her books and more information: terrireed.com
Well, I can’t be very active physically because my body just isn’t being cooperative, but I have been reading a lot. In fact, on Tuesday, I was on launch/review teams for nine different books. I usually try not to schedule so many on one day, but I kept saying “yes” and didn’t get a good look at my calendar until I had already agreed. That being said, I read some really entertaining books and want to put the Love Inspired Suspense Books that I read on your radar.
My short synopsis: Bethany is in a car accident and loses her memory so she has no idea why someone wants her dead. Her rescuer is an undercover Fish and Game agent and risks blowing his cover to keep her safe. Lots of secrets and surprises!
My short review: I never miss the chance to read a Carrie Stuart Parks book and was delighted to find an LIS releasing from her this month. She always has a few thrills up her sleeve and does fantastic research that makes the book relatable and realistic. My rating was five stars and you can grab your copy here: Harlequin and other retailers
My short synopsis: Takes place in the wilderness and the plot revolves around weapons-smugglers who have kidnapped a little boy. The woman on the cover represents Constable Taylor Grant and her fearless canine Shadow who helps find Levi and keep him and his father safe.
My short review: This book is fast-paced with non-stop action and a surprise revelation of the villain. I kept trying to guess who was the head of the smuggling ring but kept getting it wrong. I loved following the clues! My rating was five stars and you can purchase your copy here: Harlequin and others For those who enjoy audiobooks: Audible
My short synopsis: K-9 officer Maren Anderson is desperate to find her missing sister Opal. DEA agent Colt Dawson is on the trail of a drug kingpin when the two of them find that their quests overlap. Plenty of hair-raising scenes and two lovable and trained canines!
My short review: This book started with a punch and packed a wallop all the way to the end. The drug kingpin is well hidden and the revelation of his identity was a fun surprise. I enjoyed the subtle romance in this book because the focus was on the mystery of Opal and the cartel leader. Super fast read and entertaining from beginning to end. Five stars and a must-read recommendation from me. You can get your copy here: Harlequin and others And for audiobook lovers: Audible
I hope you will choose one or more of these wonderful stories to read and enjoy! They are all clean reads, so no worries about steam or bad language.
Growing up in Niagara Falls, Lauren Benedict and Seth Jones were inseparable…until he seemingly betrayed her family. Ten years later, Lauren finally learns the truth, so she sets out to apologize and, hopefully, rebuild their friendship. But Seth, now a firefighter and a dad, doesn’t want to mend fences. His quiet son, however, is fascinated by Lauren—whom he calls the flower lady. And he’s desperate to join her summer gardening class. As Lauren shows Teddy how to nurture seedlings, she and Seth are drawn into each other’s lives a second time. But can one magical summer prove it’s never too late for friendship…or love to bloom again?
My Thoughts
What a wonderfully uplifting story of love lost, found again and forgiveness between family and friends! Lauren Benedict and Seth Jones were good friends before they started falling in love. Then, Seth did a responsible and sacrificial act and his long-standing relationship with the Benedict family was broken. Through serendipity, Seth’s young son Teddy loves the “flower lady,” his nickname for Lauren who’s a horticulturalist in the park at Niagara Falls. Through opening doors of communication and making right choices to really listen to each other, Lauren and Seth reconnect. The story is believable and strongly infused with family and hope for a bright future. I really enjoyed the setting, but I was totally entranced with the characters, especially little Teddy who had problems speaking until he found a passion for flowers, much like his beloved “flower lady.” The story is heart-warming, well-paced and a perfect romantic escape into a world where people work things out instead of accusing and dividing. I really enjoyed the entire story, the well-crafted plot, the characters and the setting. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I am adding this author to my “must read” list. I voluntarily 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.
Rated G, with mention of one character pregnant out of wedlock
About the Author
Amie Denman is the author of more than fifty romance novels offering plenty of laughs and a few happy tears. She writes sweet Heartwarming romances for Harlequin, but also publishes sassy romcoms and small-town love stories. Amie has a B.A. in English Literature and knows all the works of Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf, but she’s most proud of reaching the milestone of twenty books published by Harlequin—the MVP of romance!
Amie lives on the shores of Lake Erie with her husband, sons, extended family, and numerous pets. She loves playing outside, running, and paddle boarding. Her favorite indoor activities are reading and writing (of course!), sewing and crocheting, and playing her antique Steinway grand piano. Connect with Amie on her website: AmieDenman.com
Before I share worship songs with you, I just want to add a disclaimer of sorts. I call this post Sunday Worship since Sunday is the day of corporate worship for me. But we should all be worshiping God every day. I’m sure you know that but I wanted to just put it into words to remind myself as well as others.
