Can you count all of the promises in Psalm 23? They are all for you and me and anyone else who believes in the Lord.
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!
Waiting Builds Faith
www.bible.com/reading-plans/74393/day/1
In the video that preceded today’s Daily Devotional on the YouVersion Bible App, the speaker said something profound that I hadn’t thought of before. Waiting builds faith. It’s the place where we lean on God and He comforts us and gives us direction. I hope you will consider joining in on this Bible study.
Five days…and maybe more hope and a new perspective!
First-Line Friday
I just finished this book and it is amazing…more to come soon! In the meantime, don’t forget to put in your preorder at Baker Book House for the preorder goodies and the 40% off!
Spark Life with Your Words
The Power of Life and Death (Daily Refresh, 7-30-26)
Think of a time you said something you regret, or were the target of undeserved gossip. Now, reflect on a situation where you encouraged a friend who was hurting, or felt the life-giving effects of someone else’s words.
Words matter. Your words matter. And God has given you the freedom to choose how you use them.
Are you using your words to tear down or build up? To provoke destruction or stimulate restoration? Do your words stir up drama or encourage peace?
“What you say flows from what is in your heart,” Jesus explained in Luke 6:45.
Fruit reveals the health of a tree, just as a tongue reveals what is happening in the heart.
Most of us want to use our words for good and not for harm. We don’t want to be unkind or critical. But James 3 tells us that the tongue is unstable and cannot seem to be tamed.
So, what can we do? Is there a way to control it?
Self-control is a fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us, which means we can’t manufacture controlling our tongues on our own. But, we do have a part to play in the process: we need to stick close to Jesus.
When we read His Word, seek His face, and walk in His ways (no matter how many times we mess up and have to begin again), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to grow in our lives. The biblical term is abiding: staying, continuing, or remaining in Jesus’ presence.
As we abide with Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to curb the way we speak and change the way we act. When that happens, our words start to bring life and hope to the people around us.
So this week, how will you use your words to bring healing and hope to people? If this isn’t something you’re used to doing, it’s never too early to speak words that spark life.
My Thoughts
The video that preceded this devotional gave me a lot to think about. The speaker said something that I am pondering. The words we speak to others are important and can be encouraging or destructive, but so can the words we speak to ourselves. I think the reason that means so much to me is that I am not one who thinks I am worthy of praise or recognition or anything positive really. And I sometimes find myself saying “It’s okay. You are getting what you deserve.” I am not speaking life to my own self. God doesn’t mean for me to get what I deserve. He wants me to have His best for me and I need to notice all that He has done and is doing for me and speak in expectation of what He will do next.
It is also easy for me to grumble under my breath about my husband or other loved ones who do something I disapprove of. I am the only one hearing the words but they end up hurting that person later because I am storing them in my heart and when I boil over, that is what flows out. So, the Holy Spirit has been stopping me lately, even before today’s devotional, and reminding me to think kind things so that when I am speaking to that person, kind things come out of my mouth. I’m not going to lie. It’s hard, but it is worth it to hear the encouraging words come out instead of the ones that I have no business saying just because I am frustrated or angry. I read sometime in the last few weeks that Jesus knew that He had a limited amount of time to make a difference in the world, so He chose all of His words carefully. As His followers, should that not be our habit all the time, too? I want to be a spark for life not a cold bucket of water for someone struggling. How about you?
Every Promise by Big Sky Buckeye
bigskybuckeye.com/2026/07/29/every-promise/
Read the scripture verse. Then read the poem and see for yourself how well Richard puts the truth of scripture into his poems. Please go to the original post and like, follow and subscribe.
Review: Her Reluctant Amish Heart by Pamela Desmond Wright
About the Book
ISBN-139781335529114
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: 07/28/2026
Pages: 208 pages
Synopsis (from the author’s website)
When a reckless street race injures her brother, Anika Glick wants nothing to do with the man responsible—especially when he’s sentenced to help her family. But Elam Muller is desperate to prove he’s changed. As they work together on her family farm, Anika finds herself drawn to Elam’s remorse and kindness. But when they’re presented with one last risky race that could secure their future or destroy it all, everything they’ve built is put to the test. Will their growing love survive the pull of the past—or will it all come crashing down?
My Thoughts
With appealing characters, this warmhearted romance was a delightful and sweet portrayal of finding love when you aren’t really looking for it. Anika Glick is reluctant to have Elam come to the farm and help her family after her father and brother were both hurt in accidents. But since her brother Nathan’s accident was a direct result of Elam’s carelessness, she agrees with the Bishop that one of his consequences should be helping with the chores that Nathan cannot do. The plot is well crafted even though it was obvious that Anika and Elam would end up together, reading their story was entertaining and a slam dunk pleasure to read. I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters as they went from distrust to friendship, especially the respectful way that Elam treated Anika in front of her peers. They learned how to work together for the good of the family and for each other and the fun they had getting to know each other jumped right off the page into my active imagination. The chemistry between the characters was realistically portrayed and the pace of the story was perfect for the characters to get to know each other well and for the conflicts in the plot to work out in a satisfactory way.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I also purchased my own copy to keep for my collection of good fiction books. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
New York Times & Publishers Weekly bestselling author Pamela Desmond Wright grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. From the time she learned to read, books have been her passion.
A veteran of the e-book revolution of the late ’90’s, Pamela moved into traditional publishing, writing for Kensington and NAL/Penguin. Nominated 2 times, she won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2010. Pamela was also a founder of the scam publishers and agents website, The Write Connection, which was transferred to the SFWA through (then) vice-president A.C. Crispin to become Writer Beware. Her experiences with scam agents and publishers was documented in Professor Jim Fisher’s book, Ten Percent of Nothing: The Case of the Literary Agent From Hell.
In 2013, Pam took a break from publishing. Unable to shake the story bug, she came back in 2019 with a new focus, fulfilling a promise to write wholesome books readers of all ages could enjoy.
Find her online at pameladesmondwright dot com. She’s also on social media: Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram as @pamdwrites. More information is available on her website at https://www.pameladesmondwright.com/
Purchase Links
God’s Promises
One of the things that keeps me going on the really hard days is reviewing the promises of God and reminding myself that He always keeps His promises.
As a person who has always been afraid of being in total darkness, this promise means a lot to me. I won’t need the sun or moon because God will be an everlasting life for all of us. No more darkness, ever!
With all of the medical tests I have had to undergo and facing more to come, this scripture verse has been my mantra. I am not facing any of this alone. God is right there with me and if the tests show results that are not good, then I know that God is still holding me up and will continue to do so until He calls me to come home to Him.
Sometimes I feel like a pellet from a BB gun. The gun may be aimed at the target, but somehow, some of those pellets go every way except where you want them to go. I keep in mind that God has perfect aim, is pointing me just where He wants me and if I will just be still, I will get there. Fretting doesn’t work nor do sleepless nights. In fact, God’s peace allows me to sleep in the midst of all of this chaos of doctor visits. I have concluded that I should sleep because God “has the watch” all night, every night.
What are some promises that speak to you in a special way? Feel free to share them in the comments. I look forward to reading them!
God Is Worthy
He is Worthy (Daily Refresh, 7-26)
We have a powerful Creator, but it’s easy to forget how magnificent He is. We live in a world filled with His miracles, but it’s common to become desensitized to the wonder of it all.
God created something from nothing—speaking life, meaning, and purpose into existence. He’s the author of everything. He is worthy of our worship.
Whales roam the seas, bears scavenge the mountaintops, fireflies light up the countryside. People explore the world, build skyscrapers, cook meals, develop languages, and form complex relationships—with God and with each other.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 4:11 NIV“All things,” as the verse says, includes everything we can see and even the things we can’t—both the visible and invisible. “All things” also includes you.
You were intentionally and uniquely designed by God. You were put on this planet on purpose, at this specific time in history. You have been empowered to shine and share His love, in a distinct and special way that’s completely unique to you.
So take a moment to recognize… God made you and He loves you. He is worthy of your praise.
My Thoughts
I sit in my recliner each morning for my devotions and as I look out the window next to me, I can see some of the wonderful things that God has created for us to enjoy. The roses and other flowers, the hummingbirds, the goldfinches, the sky, the trees, even the annoying little squirrels. Then, I look around the room where I am sitting. There are digital frames that show me pictures of loved ones, the ones I cherish and want to see more frequently. I am so thankful for each of them. I look around more and see gifts from those loved ones. A photograph of my son’s hand on a chess board. A wooden craft our granddaughter painted for me. All made by their ability to create and imagine, an ability that God gave to each of us. As I type this post, I am grateful for each of you and the positive words and encouragement you speak into my life. God created each of us for a purpose. I am here in 2026 and that was part of God’s plan for me. I am thankful for each moment, each day, each hour I have to spend time with those I love and doing the things that God made for me to enjoy. Let us always remember that He is worthy and He who is worthy loves us.
Speaking Life
Words have meaning and can impart life or death to others. In my devotional today, I was encouraged to think about the words Jesus spoke and how careful He was to say just what needed to be said. He spoke to a fig tree and it died. He spoke to a blind man and he was able to see. Jesus spoke what was needed, not what He was possibly thinking.
I have a tendency to spew out what I am thinking and then to apologize later. I can usually do that without serious repercussions. But if Jesus cursed the sun and the moon, parts of the creation that He participated in, would they have disappeared never to shine again? If he told the people to go away, that He was tired of dealing with them, would they simply vanish? Jesus knew that His words carried authority and power so He spoke wisely and with discernment.
We need to remember that our words have power, also. As followers of Jesus, we need to be careful what we say and to whom we say it. We are constantly sowing seeds of life or weeds of death. Jesus didn’t speak without hearing from the Father what He should be saying. That’s a good reason for us to pause before we speak, say a little prayer and then speak what the Holy Spirit prods us to say. I need to work on this…how about you?
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 