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!

The Saddest Day and the Best One

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

No Greater Love

There is no greater love than the love Jesus showed when He laid down His life—for His friends. For us.

Jesus wasn’t just a good man who died an unjust death. He was the spotless Son of God—sinless, blameless, holy. Death had no rightful claim on Him. And yet, He willingly embraced it. He gave up His life so that others might have eternal life.

That alone would be enough to leave us in awe. But what makes His sacrifice even more astounding are the people He died for.

When Jesus spoke these words in John 15, He was talking to a group of His friends who were far from perfect. A hot-headed fisherman. A skeptical doubter. A tax collector. A political zealot. Brothers who once wanted to call down fire on a village. And beyond that room? Prostitutes. Outcasts. The unclean. Sinners.

And for us, too.

Jesus laid down His life so that anyone might become His friend. So that everyone might receive His love. So that we might know—deep in our hearts—that we are not rejected or forgotten, but known and embraced.

So, take a moment today and rest in this truth: There is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you. He proved it on the cross.

My Thoughts

As a child, I have to admit that I didn’t think at all about the meaning of Good Friday. I didn’t know why it was called Good Friday, but I accepted that it was a good thing because I was always out of school. Yes, I knew from going to Sunday school that it was the day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, but since I didn’t have a relationship with Him, that meant little to me. Once I became a Christian, I was amazed at the love that the sacrifice of Jesus showed. He was not eager to give His life, but He was willing to carry out the plan of the Father. Thus, submitting His will to His Father in Heaven, He went voluntarily to the cross. Why do I think that? Jesus Himself said he could call down legions of angels to defend Him. But He didn’t. So, when Pilate questioned Him, He did not reply. The answers were in the hearts of those who believed in Him then and believe in Him now. He is the Son of God who gave His life for me, you and all who accept Him. One verse I memorized this year is John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” This is the good news of Good Friday. Because we believe, we accept God’s free gift of eternal life. Remember when God created the world and said it was “good”? I am sure that He would call today a good day, too…a good day to reflect and remember and to worship Him for His plan of redemption that reaches out to all mankind. Have a blessed Good Friday and may we ever cherish the love of our Savior!

Review of THE ACCUSED by Cara Putman

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780825448058

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Publication date:04/15/2025

Pages:360

Chase Crandall is a burned-out defense attorney ready to extricate himself from the grind of criminal law. After he loses a client to tragedy, he’s ready for an in-house corporate position.

When Chase is assigned to Anneliese’s case, Margeaux is horrified. She doesn’t want him to provide legal counsel—not after what happened to his past client. And not with the evidence incriminating Anneliese.

Despite their mutual misgivings, the lawyer and professor pair up to find the killer and prove Anneliese’s innocence. Will they be able to untangle the mystery—and navigate their growing interest in one another—before the wrong person is charged with murder?

My Thoughts

This is a legal suspense/thriller with lots of unexpected twists and a whole cast of possible suspects to keep you reading. Annaliese is a college student in the U.S. who is from Germany and who is the central focus and the title character. She is almost a loner, not making friends easily and that makes her an easy target for the justice system when they begin to look for the person who killed her roommate. Lost in the maze of legalities, Annaliese depends on her professor Margeaux Robbin to help her. Margeaux unexpectedly becomes part of her legal defense team and insists persistently to Chase Crandall, her defense attorney, that Annaliese could not possibly have killed anyone. I loved the surprises within the story that were breathtakingly complex and completely engrossing. The story of Chase’s dogged determination to represent Annaliese well was gripping and fascinating as the author realistically portrayed he investigation leading up to the trial as well as the courtroom scenes themselves. All of the action rolled like a movie in my head and included some nail-biting suspense as well as a budding romance. I liked getting to know the characters and found them to be likable and relatable. Annaliese was a sympathetic character, far from home and totally dependent on others to get her out of her predicament but not able to offer much of an alibi that would help her legal team. My favorite character was Margeaux, the professor who related well with her students and thus was able to befriend Annaliese and to help in her defense. This story is expertly crafted and led me on a merry chase to find clues and figure out what was happening within the ranks of the police department as well as the office of the commonwealth attorney. The plot was fast-paced with authentic details about the legal process that were fascinating and that kept me immersed in the unfolding drama. The intricate plot threads were well woven together at the end, making this a totally satisfying and richly entertaining story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own honest thoughts about this book.

Christian Fiction, Rated PG

About the Author

The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.

Purchase Links

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Baker Bookhouse

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Review of THE VOICE WE FIND by Nicole Deese

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review7 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780764241208

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:04/15/2025

Series:A Fog Harbor Romance

Pages:416

Two voices. One story. A chance to rewrite their future. 

Sophie Wilder returns home to California with nothing more than a failed Broadway career and a geriatric cat. Stuck working at the family winery with her egotistical brother and desperate for a way to revive her acting dreams, she takes a side gig as an audiobook narrator with Fog Harbor Books. But getting mixed up in the life of her reluctant sound engineer was never a part of her plans. 

August Tate is still reeling from taking on guardianship of his teen sister. Determined to find a solution to her degenerative hearing loss and to prevent his private recording studio from going under, he agrees to produce audiobooks part-time. When Sophie breathes new life into his creativity and forms an unexpected bond with his sister rooted in their common faith, he must confront the reasons he turned away from his own or risk losing the second chance he’s only just started to believe in. 

My Thoughts

This book has multiple layers as well as a great cast of characters, all dealing with their own emotional baggage. I enjoyed the moderate pace which was perfect for the story since it allowed me to really think about what I was reading and how I would handle a similar situation. I also enjoyed the way the characters were so well developed, in a very methodical way as they conversed and interacted. The story flowed together just as the characters ran into bumps in their interpersonal relationships. I really enjoyed the way the author brought the three stories of Sophie, August and Gabby’s stories, with details that quickly got me invested in their lives and wanting the best for each of them. Sophie is an actress who has problems being on the stage and performing, August is feeling guilty about his parents’ deaths and Gabby is dealing with being left deaf in the same accident that took her parents. I was amazed by the strong characters and the layers of the story that peeled apart like an onion skin, revealing the heart of the problem and the hopes of each character in a believable and compassionate way. This is my first book that I have read by this author, but I definitely plan to look for others since I had difficulty putting this one down and had to tell others about how great it was right after finishing it. With the themes of self-discovery and forgiveness, this is a book that lends itself to group discussions in book clubs.
Disclaimer
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. (FTC, 16th CFR, Part 255)

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Nicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning, bestselling author of hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels. When she’s not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times. She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Christian Book

Barnes and Noble

Baker Publishing Group

Apple Books

Audible

Blocking the Way to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

A Clear Path to God

In one of the most dramatic moments in Matthew 21, after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus flips tables, scatters money, and sets animals free in the Temple courts. His anger wasn’t impulsive—it was righteous. He saw people being robbed in two devastating ways.

First, merchants sold animals for sacrifice at outrageous prices, exploiting travelers with inflated exchange rates. It was blatant financial robbery.

But the deeper theft was spiritual. Those who couldn’t afford the inflated costs were excluded from worship, left without the opportunity to pray and connect with God. The merchants and the religious leaders who enabled them had filled the Temple with obstacles, barring access to God’s presence for the poor and vulnerable.

Jesus’ response was decisive: “Enough.” He cleared the Temple to remove every man-made barrier between people and God.

This act wasn’t just for that moment; it’s a truth for us today. Through Jesus, every obstacle between us and God has been torn down. The price has been paid, the path cleared, and the invitation extended.

No matter who you are or what you’ve done, there’s nothing blocking your way to God. In Jesus, a great clearing has been made. Let’s step into his house of prayer with gratitude, knowing his doors are wide open for us all.

My Thoughts

I don’t know why I did not understand this truth before. I have always seen this part of the Bible, Jesus clearing the Temple of the merchants who were cheating people, as Jesus doing what the Father told Him to do and with righteous anger, He carried out that mission. I don’t know how I missed the fact that this demonstrates Jesus clearing away obstacles that keep people from getting to God. The perfect sacrifice, God’s own Son, wanted to make clear that we have access to God regardless of social status, wealth or position. Of course, the religious leaders were irate since Jesus was “stealing their thunder,” usurping their authority that no one had dared to question before. This devotional for today on Daily Refresh on the YouVersion App came with a clip from “The Chosen” that shows the scene in which Jesus’s outrage is evident. I have not watched anything except clips of “The Chosen” so I cannot recommend it as scripturally sound or not, but I can say that this one clip brought home to me the hurt and anger that the Father must feel when anyone tries to block access to Him. We are not completely free to go by the Father ourselves, without need of any kind of intercessor or physical gift. He just wants us to come and has cleared the path. We are not blocked from the Father except by our own stubbornness and unwillingness to approach His throne, repent and confess our need for a Savior. This Holy Week is a wonderful time to make a commitment to God. The path is clear, the choice is clear. Choose to believe and receive.

Immortal, Invisible

On By vickleaIn Song, SpotlightLeave a comment

govmikehuckabee.substack.com/p/hymn-of-the-day-immortal-invisible

I get Ambassador Huckabee’s Prayer Tree each day in my Messenger and it really is worth the subscription. Uplifting and powerful words, plus prayer requests that keep us in touch with other hurting siblings in Christ. Remember to keep Mr. Huckabee and his wife in your prayers. They plan to be in Israel to start their service to our nation by this Thursday. May God bless Him and keep him and his wife safe in that war-torn nation that is still God’s chosen people.

Just Reads Blog Tour: Waylaid by Jerusha Agen

On By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review6 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Waylaid by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Waylaid
Series: Windy City Westons #1
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead.

Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again.

Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late.

If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live.

Waylaid is the first installment in the thrilling Windy City Westons series that features five siblings who encounter danger and love in the city of Chicago.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Jerusha Agen | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

My Thoughts

What a stellar beginning to a new series by the talented Jerusha Agen! The story of Spring Weston, a rising star in pro cycling until she is paralyzed in a hit and run accident is heartbreaking and totally absorbing. The police officer assigned to investigate her case, Detective Torin Cotter, is suffering himself from a past that he can’t change and a future that he considers hopeless. The two of them have to come to grips with their present reality and decide if they want to accept God’s will for their lives or just give up on life. When Torin is faced with having to keep Spring safe in spite of his challenges with hearing gunfire, he is forced to face his demons or suffer another unimaginable tragedy. The choices in this novel are realistically portrayed and the characters and storyline are compelling. This is a story of forgiveness that seems impossible and self-discovery that leads to a chance at grabbing onto hope for the future. I loved every minute I spent with Torin and Spring as their characters popped from the page into my heart and I found myself giving both of them advice and even praying for their safety. The entire story was well written with compassion and a heartfelt understanding of injuries, both mental and physical. Fans of fantastic romantic suspense will want to dive into this book and not surface until the satisfying conclusion!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

More in this Series

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About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to follow her on social media, subscribe to email newsletter updates, find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels and get a free suspense story.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Waylaid, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, and a Waylaid mug, notebook, and magnet!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 14, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 21, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Palm Sunday

On By vickleaIn Scripture, SongLeave a comment

This day is also called the day of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I can only imagine what our Lord was thinking or feeling as He entered the city for the last time, welcomed by crowds of cheering people. Some of those same people will be in the crowd that in about a week insist that He be crucified even though He is totally innocent of any sin or crime. Let us ponder this Palm Sunday if we have put aside all of our doubts about who He is and worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is a day of celebration but there is somber spirit, too, because we know, just as Jesus knew, what awaits Him. Yet He willingly went to the cross for each of us so that we could be reconciled to the Father. He knew, yet He went to Jerusalem. He knew what would happen to Him there, but He went anyway. As you think about Jesus’s sacrifice, spend some time today thinking about areas in which you struggle and know that Jesus set the example for us and followed God’s will, even to the point of death. Problems with repetitive sins? Jesus understands. Problems with moving past your sin and forgiving yourself? Jesus knows your heart and loves you. Problems with forgiving others? There is not one single person in all the earth then or now that Jesus was not willing to die for. Be thankful and thoughtful today. Meditate, ponder, appreciate.

Hosanna-Hillsong Worship

Excuses or Forgiveness

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/24911/day/4

This is one of the devotionals that I am reading as we approach Easter and I want to share today’s with you along with the insight I received from it. Each devotional starts with an infographic that clearly explains what C. S. Lewis’s theme was. Today’s topic was about making excuses.

I am one who really hates it when someone I confront makes an excuse. They come up with things like, “Well, this other person was already doing that, so I just joined in.” Or, “Before I knew it, I was part of it.” Or the best one, “No harm, no foul. Yes, it was wrong, but no one got hurt, so it’s all good.”

Now imagine, if you will, standing before the Father and saying these things. You don’t think it really happens? Yes, it does! I have even found myself justifying my action to the Father instead of just simply approaching His throne and asking for forgiveness. It seems like a simple thing to do but in actuality it is hard to humble yourself and honestly admit that you were wrong, that what you did was a sin against God. We can justify things by saying that the end result was not what we had planned to happen, but it’s the start of sin where we have to say “no” and turn away. God wants a heart change, not excuses that show that we are not taking responsibility for our actions.

Think about Jesus on the cross. He bore our sins; He took responsibility for our choices, choices He would never make because although He was tempted, He never sinned. God knows our humanity, so He provided Jesus to save us from our sins. God also knows that we will face temptation, so He provided the Holy Spirit to remind us of what is wrong and what is right, according to God’s Word. Once again, it is a case of making choices and really listening to what the Spirit is saying to us. If we are making excuses for our actions, then we weren’t paying attention when the Spirit tried to warn us away from that wrong decision. Once we have made that wrong choice, if we then make excuses, then we are not listening the heart of the Father who desires true repentance, a true turning away from sin, not a flippant, “But it’s all good now” attitude. I need to take today’s devotional and ponder it some more, but it really spoke to me and I hope that it speaks to you.

Paul’s Belief in Strength

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, testimony1 Comment

Strength in Every Season

Philippians 4:13 is a popular Bible verse that you may have seen posted on signs, social media, stickers, or cars. Maybe you’ve heard someone recite this verse before a sporting event or while trying to accomplish a difficult task.

Unfortunately, this verse is often misunderstood. This verse is not saying that we can accomplish whatever we want. Paul isn’t talking about winning a sports game or having the courage to do something daring.

Instead, Paul is actually talking about his time in prison. He is referencing the power of God that was with him during this difficult time of ministry.

In Philippians 4:12 he talks about the power he has to live content in every situation in life. He learned how to live with abundance and with nothing. He learned to live with very little food and resources, and also with a lot of food and resources.

Paul found that regardless of his circumstances, God continued to supply him with the power to do the work of God. He never lacked the strength and resources to tell others about the good news of Jesus—even while he was stuck in a prison.

Paul could live in every season of life and accomplish all that God asked of him through the strength that God gave him.

So, instead of God giving us strength to do anything we want, He gives us the strength we need to endure various circumstances and accomplish the mission that He has given us. This means that you will never lack any resource to live a growing and godly life, or to share the good news of Jesus with others.

If you’re in a season of abundance or a season of lack, remember that God is the one who gives you the strength to endure every season. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, ask God to supply you with the strength that only He can give.

My Thoughts

I think I am like most people when I honestly admit that I have used this verse incorrectly, thinking it means only that God will give me the strength to finish a job or to face a challenge. Well, it does kind of mean that. But this devotional today opened my eyes to the fact that the real thing God wants us strengthened to do is His will. And what is His will? We are to fulfill the Great Commission to “go and tell.” As an introverted person, I have to depend on God’s strength to even approach the cashier’s station, much less talk to them about the Lord. God is showing me daily that He does not expect more of me than I can give, but He does have expectations for which He will give me strength to carry out. I don’t have to stand in front of a group of people and share my testimony, but I can pronounce a blessing on the clerk who helps me in the store and I can ask the waitress if she needs prayer for anything. Both of these may seem simple to you, but for me they are a lot since I prefer to avoid people rather than speak to anyone that I don’t know well. I am the one who used to spend a lot of time in the bathroom during social functions and came out only if I knew my husband would be ready to leave soon. I have missed so many opportunities to tell others about my faith and how they can have the same relationship with the Lord because I was depending on my own strength and boldness. I am so thankful to know that it’s not my strength but God’s and He will give me the words and the boldness when I need it.

I am not saying that I will change overnight. I know that I won’t. After all, I have spent over seventy years withdrawing from the world and only coming out when I needed to. But I will say that God is working on me and when I am out on errands, He is prodding me more to speak out and to speak up. Have you claimed the promise in this verse today? What does it mean to you?

Taking a Test

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture, testimony2 Comments

I am fairly certain that no one enjoys taking tests. When I was in high school and college, I used to suffer from what people today call “test anxiety.” I would study diligently, but when I went to school to take the test, I would be so nervous that I wouldn’t remember what I had studied. I usually took deep breaths, looked away from the test and out the window or at something distracting and then took the test. I generally did well (except on math tests on which I scored lower than I wanted but high enough to stay on the honor roll), but I was never satisfied unless I got a top score.

When I became a mom, I encouraged my children to pray before tests. They had done their part by studying, so I instructed them to pray that God would help them remember what they had studied. I believe that as a result, all three children did well in school and had no more than what I considered normal test jitters. All three finished college and did well, so kudos to the Lord for getting them through.

So, what kind of tests do we take today? Every day we face a test of our faith with the choices we make and the things we do once we make that choice. Jesus showed us how to face life’s tests and excel by setting an example for us to prepare us for tests.

First, in the wilderness, Jesus answered Satan with God’s Word. We cannot give an answer to Satan or any friends, neighbors or acquaintances about our beliefs if we don’t study God’s Word diligently and faithfully. Jesus knew and applied God’s Word appropriately. I think when we hide God’s Word in our hearts, then the Holy Spirit will remind us of just what we need from His Word when we need it. (See John 14:26) We have to choose to turn from wickedness (sin) daily.

Jesus also prayed consistently and found a solitary place to do so, one without distractions.

It’s not always convenient to get up early or find a solitary place, but it is a part of being ready for life’s tests each day. Maybe you pray late at night or even in the middle of the day. Whenever and wherever you pray, be like Jesus and consistently make time to talk to God. You can’t hear from your Heavenly Father in the middle of a tough situation if you don’t regularly tune in to have a conversation with Him when there are no outside pressures.

Jesus was also continually in the temple. In fact, when He was arrested, He asked the officials why they came to arrest him in a garden at night instead of in the temple where he was daily. (Matthew 26:55) So should we not neglect getting together with other believers for the purpose of worship, fellowship, exhortation and enlightenment from His Word.

So, what does our test entail? What is on it? How do we pass it if we don’t know the questions? Well, the test is almost the same daily. What will you do if faced with temptation? Don’t say you are never tempted, because everyone is in some way. Just accept that it will happen. For example, your choices may be to watch a show you have really looked forward to or to spend time with your spouse and children. Which would be more pleasing to God? Watching the show is not a bad thing; it’s just not the best choice. Like a multiple choice test for which you are told to choose the BEST answer, there can be more than one right answer and you have to discern which one is the best one.

What will you do when you are with another person and the Holy Spirit is prodding you to share something about your faith? The quick answer is, of course, that you will share. But is that true? Or do you spend your time with non-believers talking about the weather, politics, health conditions and children? See how easily I named those things? That is because that is how I deflect from talking about the Lord. More and more, the Lord’s Spirit is prompting me to say something about Him and what He has done in my life. I don’t feel called to stand on a street corner with a sign that says “Repent” and follow that with preaching through a megaphone. But I can still offer hope to someone who doesn’t know the Lord just by sharing a word with them about God’s work in my life. I don’t have to give a sermon, just an encouraging word to get them thinking about God and His influence on their lives. It’s called sowing a seed and I want to get better at it.

Test anxiety is a real thing, but Jesus promises that He will be with us and that we will not fail, because loves never fails.

Okay, I am done telling you all about tests. Now, go out and do your best knowing that God goes with you and is cheering for you to pass with flying colors! Ask Him for the help you need to pass today’s test and He will help you…He promises!