Falling Down

On October 23, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

As I have aged, I have discovered that the law of gravity seems to be more active in my life. As I told one of my physicians, “I don’t know how or why I fell. I was just walking, and then I wasn’t.” Fortunately, each time I have fallen, I have had the helping hand of my spouse to assist me in getting up.

Did you know that it is possible to fall in other ways, too? When we venture too far from the Lord and the reading of His Word, we have a tendency to “fall away” from Him. I don’t think that this is the law of gravity at work, however, because it is actually that we are moving away instead of toward Him. It is my belief that we are always moving in our relationship with God, either closer to Him or further away and that is based on our own choice. But God doesn’t leave us way out in left field, unable to get up and calling loudly for help.

No matter how far we get from the Lord, He is only a prayer away. We just call on His Name and He lifts us up. That is not to say that confession and repentance may not be necessary. It is saying, though, that God doesn’t just leave us there on the ground unless that is where we want to be, stubbornly refusing to call on Him for help. It is in our actions that we determine how much God will do for us because I firmly believe that He will not come in when He is not welcome. So, if you feel yourself getting further from God, ask yourself honestly who moved. I can assure you that it was not the Lord who moved away from you! Since you are the one who moved, then you can also be the one to move back and press in closer to the one who upholds and lifts you up.

**May you be blessed with God’s grace, mercy and peace today and may you always strive to move closer to Him.**

Holding Onto Hope

On October 22, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

I don’t get on scary rides at theme parks very often, but I have a couple of times, once when I was assured that it was a “mild rollercoaster.” Well, mild is not the word I would have used as the ride slung me from one side of the seat to another as I tightly grasped the bar in front of me. My hope was that the bar would hold me in my seat so that I didn’t tumble out into an unknown abyss.

Isn’t that what our hope in the Lord is all about? We hold tightly onto the hope that we have in Him, the sure knowledge that He is bigger than all our problems and that He will be with us through everything we face?

God is always faithful and always keeps His promises. We can count on Him not to move away from us and leave us hanging over the challenges that life tosses at us.

But there is another reason to hold onto hope. Others are watching us and how we react when the storms of life assail us. Do we behave like those around us, kicking and screaming about the unfairness of life? Or do we quietly pray and ask for God’s help to get through the situation or to remove it, whatever is best for us in the long run?

I want others to be glad to see me because they know that I put my hope in the Lord. How do they know that unless I have shown them through the faith that I live out daily? We are a walking testimony, either showing others the faith and hope that God has instilled in us or the fear and anger that man daily inputs into our lives. I choose faith and hope and pray that each of you does the same, knowing that others are always watching.

I screamed on the roller coaster and I even have a photo record of my terror. What would it be like if each time I face a new test in life, a photographer were to capture my reactions? That is certainly food for thought, isn’t it? May my reactions be consistently Godly, representing the Christ whom I serve!

Have a blessed day as you hope in the Lord and give those around you reason to rejoice!

A Day to Anticipate

On October 21, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Almost everyone looks forward to certain days of the year: birthdays, Christmas, anniversary, etc. My favorite holiday has always been Easter. When I was a child, it was because that was the day I finally got to wear the special outfit that mama had gotten me for just that day. And, even better, we all went to church together! It was the only day of the year that my family went to church as a group, so I was happy to introduce them to the friends I had made going to church with my neighbor. Nowadays, there is a day that I am anticipating more than any other. It’s described in Scripture like this:

Only God knows when Jesus will return and the whole earth will be changed so that there is no more darkness or night. Won’t that be marvelous? In the meantime, knowing that the day is coming, it is imperative that we share the Gospel message with as many as we can.

We are studying the Book of Revelation in our Wednesday night Bible study and let me just say that I am excited about the end to come but also frightened for those in my family and my friends who have not yet come to the Lord. Waiting too long is not an option because we don’t know the hour when He will return, so we must always be ready. We also, as His ambassadors on earth, need to take as many people to the cross with us as possible. Unfortunately, we can’t drag them there; they have to go willingly, kneel at the cross and confess their sins to the Only One who can forgive them. Nevertheless, we are called to share, to sow those seeds and pray that some fall on ground that is ready to accept the truth of His Word.

Yes, I am excited about Jesus’s return and I know that the day is coming when there will be no more night, no more sin and darkness. But I am also excited about each new day that God has given me on earth to share His story and all He has done for me. Not being a respecter of persons, He can and will do the same for others. His salvation is for everyone, not just those of us who are anticipating the time of His reign. Since I believe the time is short, it is like a burning in my soul to tell as many as I can as often as I can and as much as I can about Jesus and how He came, He lived as man, He died, He forgives and they can live forever because He was willing to lay down His life for them. It is His great love that compels me to tell others, and I hope that you feel compelled as well.

**Have a blessed day and may you reach out to others with the message of eternal life today!**

Review of HAPPILY EVER AMISH by Shelley Shepard Gray

On October 21, 2022 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

Combining contemporary romance with Amish characters gave this book a sense of authenticity. Addie Byler is the main character, an Amish girl who really lacks self-confidence since she was abandoned by her parents as a young child and raised by her grandmother. Daniel Miller, a young Amish man, sees how shy Addie is and wants to help her be more confident, so he comes up with the idea to send her anonymous notes commenting on her good qualities. The story is predictable but a good one in that Addie and Daniel have some bumps in the road in their pursuit of romance. Addie also has to overcome her rejection from her mother and what she feels is betrayal from her grandmother. The themes of forgiveness, self-acceptance and loving the unlovable are all portrayed well in this quick read. The pace was just fast enough to keep me interested but not so fast that I lost out on details that were needed later. This is the beginning of a new series set in Apple Creek and was so heartwarming that I look forward to more books just like it.
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. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is a clean read and is suitable for all ages who can read at this level.

**BIO and PHOTO are from the author’s website at** http://www.shelleyshephardgray.com

This sweet Amish romance releases on October 25, 2022, but it is available for preorder now. If you love happily ever after stories, then “Happily Ever Amish” is perfect for you! Purchase Links:

Persistent Prayer

On October 20, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

We rejoice before the answer from God comes because we have hope that He will answer in His good timing as we persistently pray. But what does “persistent” mean? According to the online thesaurus, it means ceaseless, continuous and enduring. To me that means that we start praying in the morning and keep that line open to God all day long. Even in the night hours when I am restless, I have only to speak His name to know that He is right there with me, already listening for my call.

Well, what should we be praying for? Here’s a Scriptural answer to that question:

We need to be praying for all believers everywhere. If you think you can pray quick prayers and cover everyone everywhere who needs prayer, then I would say that you have barely touched the surface of needed prayers. It is when we are listening to God speak to our hearts, though, that He tells us for whom we need to pray and how to pray for them. There are times when I am praying that God will bring someone to my mind and I won’t know how to pray for them, but I know without a doubt that God knows their need and has brought them to my mind so that I could bring them before His throne in prayer. I don’t know, but God always knows and is ready to hear and answer.

Have you ever picked up the phone and been about to call someone when it rings in your hand and it is that person calling you? It’s a really strange feeling that the two of you were thinking about each other at the same time. Now, put that into God’s perspective. He is always reaching out to us to speak to us. We just have to be ready to listen. Prayer is more than telling God a “wish list” of things that we want Him to do for us. It is telling Him what is on our hearts and asking that He speak His will into our lives and into the lives of those for whom we are interceding.

God starts sending the answer to us before we even call on Him. He is always ready to listen. Unlike our friends or our spouses, His entire attention is devoted to listening to each of us. God loves us and wants us to call Him, much as a doting Father wants to hear from His distant children. We are denying ourselves a close relationship with God when we neglect prayer since that is how we communicate with Him and how He communicates with us. How long can a relationship last without any communication between the parties involved? I hope that you will take time to talk to God today, about your frustrations, your victories, your fears, your worries. Talk to Him honestly about whatever comes to your mind because whatever it is, He already knows and wants to answer. Some say that it is not necessary to pray because God already knows what we need and will answer when He chooses. I, however, choose to believe that it is not for God that I am praying. It is to build my own faith and to establish a firm relationship with the only One who has all of the answers. Yes, God can answer without my prayer, but I want to be an active participant in this faith journey, so I pray.

Starting your day with prayer means starting it in tune with the One who knows your heart and wants to touch you with His mercy and grace throughout the day. May your day be blessed with persistent prayer!

Crossing the Street

On October 19, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

I am sure that you remember being a child and having the adult with you grab your hand at each intersection of the road, carefully taking you safely to the other side of the road. I still do this for my younger grandchildren. Even in crowded parking lots, I am quick to grab a hand in the hope that I can keep them safe from the cars that are coming from all directions.

Did you know that sin comes at us from all directions? These days, it is prevalent wherever we look. If we look in the newspaper, there it is! Listen to the radio or television, there it is! So how do we navigate to the other side safely?

God takes our hand, just as we take the hands of those we love in order to safeguard them. But just as we walk carefully and lovingly to the other side, so does God. He doesn’t grab our hand forcefully and pull us to the other side of the road. Rather, He takes our hand gently in His and leads us there. How is that possible? Because His Word is in our hearts, so we are constantly being led to the safe place where we can fellowship with Him instead of with evil. Yes, evil is rampant, but God is bigger and will always help us get to safety if that’s where we want to be. Unfortunately, many of us like the sins more than the Savior, so we choose to stay in the unsafe territory where we can be run down by the sins all around us, much as a speeding car can do at an intersection if we are not vigilant. Choosing to take God’s hand is the right choice and for me it is the only choice. We don’t need to be afraid of all of the sin that surrounds us; God is bigger, better and already victorious!

***May you remember that God is always reaching out His hand to you to take you safely to the other side of the street, no matter how much chaos there is between you and safety. God bless you!***

No Darkness

On October 18, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Like many people, I hate total darkness. When the electricity is off in our house, it’s extremely dark because we live in a rural area and there are no lights around us at all. We have purchased all kinds of battery operated lanterns and candles for when those times come because although I know the layout of my home well, I don’t want to stumble accidentally and perhaps fall. But, like everything else, God has a good word for this situation.

The darkness is not darkness to God. That boggles my mind but it shouldn’t since He created the night and the day. God can see in the dark just as if it were light.

Now, think about the analogy between sin and darkness. If we have darkness in our hearts (sin), God can see it. We can put on a smile and do all the right things in all the right places and with all of the right people but God is never fooled. The darkness in which we try to hide our sins is like a fully lit room to the Lord. Since we can’t hide our sin from the One who made us, it seems that we should just confess it and make ourselves right before Him, doesn’t it?

Think about the darkness the next time you are in a totally dark and enclosed room and then think about God looking down on you and seeing you as clearly as if it were broad daylight. Remarkable imagery and good to remember that the darkness tries to hide things but God always brings them to light.

May the Lord shine His light ever brightly on you, in you and through you so that others in darkness may see the light and walk towards His truth, mercy and love.

Nothing Too Hard

On October 17, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture, Song1 Comment

Have you ever tried to do something and before you even started, you were feeling defeated, like you just couldn’t do it? Maybe it was a chore that you dreaded and had put off so long that the task itself seemed to multiply before you. Maybe it was a difficult conversation you knew that you needed to have with someone. Or maybe it was believing for a miracle from God in your situation. God is a good God, all the time and He always wants what is best for you. Be encouraged by the Scripture today and know that if God can bring Israel back from captivity in Babylon, He can also take care of whatever you are facing today.

The same God who created all of the earth and the heavens is watching over you and waiting for you to call on His name in faith, believing that nothing is too hard for Him.

Ah, Lord God-Don Moen

Have a blessed day filled with the possibilities of what God can do!

Encouragement

On October 16, 2022 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

God has been speaking encouragement into my heart and mind this week and I wanted to share some of that with you. There is a lot wrong with our world. We all know it and if you’re like me, you get frustrated over the condition of this fallen world and all of the effects that the rampant sin is having on the younger generation. But God has told me over and over that He is in control and will not allow this debauchery to continue forever. He has also encouraged me to live my life for Him in spite of what others are doing or saying. We are called to just keep on doing good deeds and saying good words until our Savior returns or until we die, whichever happens first. Thus when someone “of the world” annoys me, I want to be able to give them an encouraging and loving word because that is what Jesus would do and that is what He is exhorting me to do. When we think that chaos is reigning, we have to remember that it really isn’t…God is still sovereign and will one day show Himself in all of His righteous glory and power to the world that He created, the world that has fallen away from Him into the sin of following the idol of self-determination. In all of my musings, I am encouraged because in the end God wins. Like a long chess match in which the opponents are trying to determine the next move of their rival, God knows the next move and has an end game in mind…all for our good and for His glory.

May you let these words from this verse sink deeply into your heart and soul, touching you in all of the places that need to be healed from the daily wound of walking in this world. God bless you!

Review of THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by Debbie Macomber

On October 15, 2022 By vickleaIn Book Review5 Comments

This is a Christmas story to remember and share with others because it is filled with life lessons, love and laughter. Pete Armstrong and Hank Colfax have been best friends for years and decide just before Christmas to switch places at their jobs. Pete is a pastor of a small local church while Hank owns a bar called The Last Call. The predicaments that these two get into are just too funny for words! Pete has to deal with bikers and young women who work at the local strip club while poor Hank has to deal with a stingy old woman who refuses to help the church pay for a new roof. The friendships formed are ones for the record books as they are totally unexpected. The life lessons include not judging others and forgiving others as well as the importance of family values. I enjoyed the quick pace and the credible characters, but mostly I enjoyed the story within the story as Nana told the tale of Pete and Hank to her beloved grandchildren. The tale is well-written with a wonderful happy-ever-after conclusion and all of the loose ends tied up in a bow. A perfect book for the holiday season!
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. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

*A clean read appropriate for all audiences. Rated G.*

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2022, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include *The Best Is Yet to Come* (July) and *The Christmas Spirit* (October), a new adult coloring book, *Debbie Macomber’s Holly Jolly Christmas Coloring Book* (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, two adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

This magical holiday book releases on Tuesday, October 18th from Ballantine Books. Purchase Links: