Near to God

On May 11, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, Video8 Comments

I have been pressing into God lately, mostly because of life changes but also because I want a closer relationship with Him. I have had some physical challenges lately that have let me know that I need to depend on God or I just won’t make it through all of this.

This scripture is comforting to me…He is already near me when I call. He is not a distant God that I have to yell to be heard. He is right there all the time whenever I want to talk to Him.

Talking to God is like second nature to me. The doctor says my spine might collapse so I can’t lift over five pounds. I talked to God. The same doctor says that I have a better than average chance of breaking my hip in the next year, especially if I fall. So, before I get up to walk around, I talk to God and ask Him to keep me upright and stable. My neurologist is sending me to a neurosurgeon because he says that I need spine surgery. You better believe I am talking to God about this one! In fact, I think God and I have a constant conversation going and instead of this being odd or new, it is actually commonplace. I used to talk to Him a lot about our children and their needs and my problems disciplining them. They are all grown, and now I am older, so most of my conversations deal with medical issues that God knows about but that I need to address the issue to the only One who can truly help me persevere.

I hope and pray that you have daily conversations with God, all day long, just as if your best friend were there in the room with you. He is God and He is to be adored and praised and lifted up. But He is also the friend who is close by and also available when I call out to Him for wisdom, relief from pain or safety as I walk from room to room. I really enjoy talking to God because I can be honest with Him and tell Him anything, including that I am unhappy with the situation, even as I ask Him for His grace to get through it. Tell God what you’re thinking and then step out of His way so He can work in your life. He is as close as your next breath and He desires to bless you and to let you know how much He loves you.

Draw Near to God-Russ Taft and Leigh Nash

Sunday Worship

On May 10, 2026 By vickleaIn Poem, Scripture, Song, Video2 Comments

Worship the Lord-Ron Kenoly

In the Silence-Chris Tomlin

Postscript for moms

Have a blessed and Happy Mother’s Day!

Is God Your Crisis Manager?

On May 9, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

We were called to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, but some of us treat Him as though He is our personal and sometimes effective crisis manager. What is a crisis manager anyway? That’s the person within a business structure who prepares for and makes “quick and informed decisions” in order to mitigate damages during an unforeseen crisis. (Wikipedia) This person is paid for his skills in managing crises in order to keep the unexpected event from affecting the business in a damaging way. In treating God like a crisis manager, I think many wait until the unexpected thing happens in their lives and then expect God to stop whatever He is currently doing and immediately address their issue in a way that would have a satisfactory outcome for them. In other words, they want to tell God what to do and when to do it in order to fulfill their expectations of what and who God is supposed to be in their lives.

I have said it before and I will say it again. God is NOT a genie in a box at our beck and call for when we decide we need Him. He is our Heavenly Father who desires an everyday, in every way, relationship with Him. Having a good day? Tell Him and praise Him. Having a so-so day? Tell Him, talk to Him about what is making it not so great and praise Him. Having a bad day? Tell Him you need His help making it through the day and praise Him. God helps in crises, but His primary focus is being with us all the time, whether we are calling on Him constantly or not. If the only time I spoke to my husband was when there is something that I want him to fix right away, we would not have a relationship but a business contract or something similar. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to enter a business contract with God. I am in a covenant relationship with Him instead and that is so much better. We limit God when we try to make Him our crisis manager. We only want Him to come around when bad things are happening and we want His intervention. God is omnipresent, always there. He is omniscient, all knowing, and He is always loving and faithful. He wants what is best for us whether we agree with Him about what is best or not.

I appeal to you all that you form an ongoing relationship with God, one in which He is your “all in all” and that includes your crisis manager because you have established a relationship with Him. So, is God your crisis manager? I hope so, but He is so much more if you will allow Him to be your Father who created you and loves you more than you can ever understand.

Dear God-A Raw Prayer

Review of Operation Guard Your Heart by Alicia Gilliam

On May 8, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GZ7ZPP8D
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 30, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8255593149

Synopsis (from author’s website)

They don’t call Genealogy 1101 the “death class” for nothing.

Peter’s out to save his job as history professor from fatal budget cuts. His only hope is to enroll students for the least attended course on campus. Who could convince vacationing teenagers to spend a semester studying their grandparents?

Julia, his wife. Er, ex-wife. Wife on hold?

Julia drafts a list of rules to keep their relationship strictly professional but agrees to take on the project. Peter will research and portray members of his family tree. She’ll photograph him and flood the school’s social media with a unique marketing campaign.

Never mind that Peter’s allergic to the limelight. Or that Julia’s keeping secrets about her mother’s dementia. They’ve signed the contract, for better or worse.

When the unsuspecting ex-couple stumble into a family mystery, survive a dreaded road trip, and welcome home a matchmaking daughter, their carefully-laid ground rules are tested in all the right ways.

My Thoughts

This is a clean romance with drama and humor dealing with a couple who are separated while the wife contemplates what her next step should be. Julia and Peter tell the story in a dual narrative that adds interest to the story since both have reasons for their choices that need to be expressed. Since Peter is an assistant professor of history and Julia works as an adjunct professor, they still see each other, but their relationship is not stable. When Peter’s job is threatened, Julia agrees to help him save it with social media posts to gain interest in his new class. The pace is moderate, a pace that is perfect for the story being told and the reflection that both adults have to do. It also allows for them to be seen in their own environment without the presence of the spouse in order to better understand how they got to the point of separation to begin with. The book has a somewhat complex plot as Julia’s mother Eileen is suffering from dementia but also desperate to find out what happened to her father. Peter, who is good at historical research, agrees to help find the information for Julia to present to her mom. That whole backstory is a glimpse into the history of a soldier who dedicated his life to serving his country. There is another story of Addison, the daughter who is leaving for college and really wants her parents to get back together. Her getting ready to leave the nest adds another layer to the reason Peter and Julia are having trouble with their relationship. This is a book with layers, family drama told in a realistic and heartfelt way and a history that needs to be discovered before Julia can move on into whatever the future holds. With hope and a big dose of forgiveness and desire to really love, this story was beautifully told and memorable. The characters are relatable and dynamic as they discover truths about themselves in their journey to rediscover the love they once had for one another.
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.

About the Author

Alicia Gilliam creates character-driven stories, dipped in romance and mystery, always aimed at deepening readers’ faith in God. After teaching writing and literature for twenty years, she reversed roles and became a student of indie publishing. Her other job, managing a resource center for foster parents, pays for her education and a weekly ration of chocolate chip cookies. For more information, check out the author’s website: aliciagilliam.com

To Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon

Not An Exclusive Club

On May 7, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Calling Out for Rescue (Daily Refresh, 5-07-26)

Do you remember a moment—maybe dramatic, maybe quiet—when you realized you needed help? Not just a little assistance, but rescue?

Romans 10:13 gives us this promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These words were written by the apostle Paul to the people in Rome, explaining how anyone can begin a relationship with God. Just before this verse, Paul describes trusting in Jesus—believing in Him and calling out to Him. There are no prerequisites, no religious background, no good behavior, nothing else required. It is about turning to God and asking Him to save.

At its heart, this verse is about calling out for help—admitting a deep need, a need you cannot solve yourself. And it’s about trusting that God hears and responds.

This promise is for every person.

In God’s eyes, there are no insiders or outsiders, and no one is too far gone. There is a Rescuer available to all—and His name is Jesus.

Maybe you can look back and see a time in your life when you called out to God, and He answered. But so often, there is more to the story. God loves to use people to accomplish His will. Did someone share God’s hope with you, or encourage you? Did someone show you kindness or point the way forward?

There are so many who don’t yet know about this wonderful promise of God. They don’t know that there is a Rescuer, offering salvation and new life.

This message of hope is meant to be shared. You can be the one to share it. And it can be as simple as saying: There is someone who cares and is able to save you. This promise is real. And it is for you.

Who in your life might be one step away from calling out for help? Will you take a step of faith today and share the hope you’ve found in Jesus?

My Thoughts

I used to think that being a Christian was an exclusive club for those who were “good enough” to be accepted by God. Then, my neighbor shared with me the truth of the gospel message, gave me a NLT Bible to read and shortly after reading the book of John, I prayed and gave my life to the Lord. I remember being on the floor in the bedroom of my small apartment. I didn’t know what to say or how to talk to God, but I just told Him that I needed Him in my life and wanted to accept His free gift of salvation. The next morning when I saw Verna (my neighbor), I shared with her what had happened. She hugged me, prayed with me and invited me to church. Thus began a lifetime of praying and talking to my Heavenly Father.

But life with God is a journey and a commitment. When I accepted His mercy and grace, I also committed to be a soldier on the battlefield of life, to help others to recognize the truth that I had found. I try every day to share a word from God on my social media pages. I give encouragement and tell others that God is in control. I don’t think I am doing enough, but I am doing something.

I would love for you to share your testimony with me, the person or people who introduced you to Jesus as your Savior, whatever you want to share. In addition, please think of several people with whom you can share that testimony personally and make a difference in how they see God. Someone cared enough about you to sow a seed in your life. May you go forth in joy sowing seeds in the lives of others. Being a Christian isn’t an exclusive club…it’s for everyone!

Review: Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan

On May 6, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781335013231

Publisher:MIRA Books

Publication date:05/05/2026

Pages:368

Synopsis

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

My Thoughts

This is a cozy romance set at a gorgeous, historical inn in Cornwall, with characters that jumped off the page into my imagination. Evie is the manager of the inn by default since the previous manager got ill and had to step out of the picture. What Evie finds when she takes over is a beautiful place that is hemorrhaging money and she is determined to save it, if she can. Help arrives in the form of a young woman from “headquarters” Abby Jones. Abby can and does work wherever she is needed and becomes Evie’s right arm as well as a friend in whom she confides. Abby’s secret mission there at the inn may derail their friendship, so she has to make sure that Evie doesn’t find out who she really is. There are great family dynamics, a lot of drama, multiple secrets and romance, too in this well-written and compelling story of living through circumstances beyond your control and tackling challenges as they come. There are lessons to be learned here as well as a fantastic story and relatable characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HTP Books via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Sarah Morgan is a #1 Sunday Times and USA Todaybestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She has sold over 25 million copies of her books, and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and have earned her starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal.

Sarah lives near London, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves spending time outdoors, walking or riding her mountain bike. She frequently stops to take photographs, much to the annoyance of her family. For more information about Sarah and her writing, please visit her website at Sarah Morgan.com

Purchase Links

Review: A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

On May 5, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781400351381

Publisher:Nelson, Thomas, Inc.

Publication date:05/05/2026

Pages:416

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble)

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She’s built her life—and her late grandmother’s tearoom, Tea Thyme—around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.

After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He’s looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn’t matter that she’s ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn’s heart is not open to being broken again.

But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled—Wisteria hasn’t seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.

When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship—and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.

Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

My Thoughts

Daphne Austen is the owner of Tea Thyme, an English tearoom in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is barely keeping her head above water when Finn Dashwood comes to town and opens an English-style pub next door to her. The competition begins almost as soon as they meet each other, both trying to create a dish and/or a drink to entice more customers. This is a delightful rom-com with a little drama mixed in too as the town of Wisteria takes the competition seriously and begin to take sides, especially when the prize is being the caterer for a big wedding. Plus there is a natural disaster that occurs, showing how well the town comes together in a crisis. I enjoyed the flirtatious banter between the two main characters and the humor that started each chapter with text messages as the townsfolk lined up to support either Daphne or Finn. The characters were relatable and appealing and the plot was well written and charming, The foods and beverages that were featured made me want to be a part of the town’s population and try some of them. With an emotional depth that was unexpected and a trop of rivals to lovers, this book was fun, flirty and a slam dunk in the romance department for me.
I voluntarily 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.

About the Author

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her twentieth book, The Cairo Curse, came out in February. Next up is Positively, Penelope, the sequel to her bestselling novel, Authentically, Izzy. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com

Purchase Links

An Urgent Call

On May 4, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

Imagine that you are enjoying a relaxing evening at home when your phone disrupts the silence and your good mood. The call comes up as “Unknown” but you are curious about who would be calling after nine at night, so you answer. It’s the hospital calling. Your beloved grandmother has been admitted and is being diagnosed with a probable stroke. The nurse on the other line says that it’s imperative that you come quickly if you want to talk to her because her condition is critical. What do you do? I have to believe that you rush to get ready and go to the hospital as soon as possible. After all, your grandmother is precious to you and you want to see her, tell her you love her, perhaps spend her last minutes on earth with her.

Now, imagine the same scenario but this time it’s Jesus calling you. He tells you about someone, a stranger to you, who really needs to know Him as Savior before He is called home. The Lord tells you exactly where to go and that the need is urgent for you to go quickly. When you protest that you don’t know what to say, the Lord tells you that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say, but you need to go quickly. Do you think it’s a prank call and hang up, or do you follow the instructions, get ready to go and head to talk to a stranger about Jesus and His gift of salvation?

We all think that we know what we would do, but do we really? Are we answering the call daily to tell someone about the Lord? Every person is just as precious to the Lord as your loved ones are to you. Every. Single. Person.

The stranger to you may be a seeker to the Lord, the person who is unsure to whom to turn to find the answers, but he wants to know who can help him out of the mess he has made of his life. Maybe the person Jesus sends you to is a neighbor, a friend, a coworker or a boss. The need is no less urgent because you know them. How many people do we see every day, assume that they are okay and pass out of their lives and onto our busy routine? My guess is dozens, perhaps more. Which of those people will you share the gospel with?

As I look around at all that is happening in the world, I cannot help but think that Jesus must surely be coming soon. I am not prophesying, and I don’t know when He will come. I do know that we are always supposed to be ready. And one of the ways we get ready is to take as many people with us as we can by sharing the message that Jesus has given us to share. We are called. We have a choice to hang up and continue as though the call never happened or we can answer it and heed what Jesus says to do. The call for reaching out to the lost is an urgent one. Jesus loves…He gave everything. Can you take a few minutes of your time, step out of your comfort zone and share the gospel with someone that the Lord puts on your heart this week?

Prayer from Daily Refresh, 5-04-26, and the inspiration that started this post today

Rescue the Perishing-Hymn

A New Heart

On May 3, 2026May 2, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

A New Heart (Daily Refresh, 5-02-26)

When someone needs a physical heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. Their heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will physically die.

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. However, in order to get a new heart, a good and capable surgeon is essential. More importantly, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. The failing heart is then replaced with a thriving heart, and abundant life is once again possible.

In the same way, when someone needs a spiritual heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. The heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will spiritually die.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

God is our good surgeon, and Jesus gave His life for yours. He takes your insufficient efforts and replaces them with something better. But to receive His abundant life, you must humbly ask for His help. You must allow Him to do surgery on your heart. You must surrender what is dying and trust Him with your life.

Maybe the thing that needs to die is a habit that’s impacting your life. Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship, or guilt and regret over your past. Maybe it’s an attitude of pride or insecurity.

Whatever it is, Jesus wants to take the broken and failing parts of your heart and replace them with something completely new and life-giving.

As you process today’s verse and what God is capable of doing, ask yourself:

Do I trust Him—really trust Him—with the details of my life? Am I willing to let Him do “surgery” on my heart and show me a better way to live?

My Thoughts

Several years ago when I had to change to a new nephrologist because my former doctor retired, I met with the doctor for the first time and he was very kind, telling me the CKD stage I was in (3A) and telling me that we might have to talk about dialysis and a transplant sometime “down the road.” I told him then and I have the same opinion now. I don’t want to go on the transplant list because I am elderly and I have lived a good life, so I want someone young with a lot of years ahead of them to receive an organ that becomes available.

Then I read today’s devotional and I am happy to report that God is the surgeon for ALL who desire a transplant of a new heart. There is no list, no waiting, and the One who died for us already offered that sacrifice for everyone who trusts Him and accepts it. God did surgery on my heart many years ago. He continues to work on me, opening a valve up here and there that has been closed off because of my stubbornness or unwillingness to change. He wants me to be whole, with a new heart and a peace and trust in Him that never waivers. God’s transplant is for everyone, just as John 3:16-17 says.

I am thankful that there is no list and God doesn’t pick and choose who will be saved. The invitation is for everyone. Everyone…including you!