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!

Making Choices

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9114/day/2

Sometimes when I am praying for God to give me wisdom about a decision I have to make, I get impatient and instead of waiting for His answer, I knock down the door that I want to have opened for me. It doesn’t usually turn out well for me when I do that because I got ahead of God. That might have been the place He wanted me to be, but not the right time. I am thankful that God is faithful to help me make choices. Rebekah had a difficult choice, to leave her home and all that was familiar and to go to a strange land and marry a man whom she had never met. She was willing to go and became the wife to Isaac, Abraham’s son, and the father of the nation Israel. God must have been working in her heart and life for this to happen because I cannot imagine making the choice she did. Abraham’s servant had prayed a specific prayer for guidance and God answered Him with a specific answer. When I am floundering to make a wise choice, I pray that I will have the boldness to pray and the wisdom to then listen and accept His answer, even if it isn’t one that I want to hear.

Influence

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion AppLeave a comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/9114/day/1

We are easily influenced by others, so we need to make sure that those whom we allow to influence us are following God as their source. In like manner, we can be influencers. As a book reviewer, one of the titles that the authors give us is “influencer.” We can persuade others to read a certain book because we recommend it. More importantly, we can influence others to follow the Lord because we are good examples of His working in our lives. Influence can be good or bad. Let’s strive to be good influencers in an evil world and to watch out for bad influencers in our lives!

Remaining Steadfast

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44512/day/5

God doesn’t move or change and he is unshakeable. Good to know in a world that is constantly shifting its values and the people it esteems. God is the One who is always there, always steadying me and helping me to get through life’s surprises. Curve ball after curve ball has been thrown at me this last year, but each time, God is the catcher and has not allowed the unexpected pitches to throw me. I may have been down for a while, but I was never out of the game of life because God has been there for me. In a sea of whitewater everywhere, He has been my anchor and the person in my boat who calms me. The sea may be rolling all around me, threatening to tip my boat, but the Lord calms me so that I see Him and trust in Him instead of fearing the power of the overwhelming waves. I hope that you let God be your steady anchor in the storms of life. If you aren’t in a storm right now, then praise God for the calm, but be ready to face the storms when they come by choosing to trust the Lord no matter what comes your way.

Resist Sin and Pursue Obedience

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44512/day/4

What does resisting sin look like? To me, it means not putting myself into situations when I am tempted to sin. If I have a choice, I prefer not to get into the situation to begin with. But if I find myself in the middle of temptation, I know that for me resistance means to call on God for the strength to make the wise choices, even when they are not the popular ones. I have had many occasions to read books that are secular and do not represent my values. For a long time, I accepted the invitations because the author was one who was popular and I wanted to read the book. But once I started reading the woke garbage that was included in these books, I decided to walk away and not review them. Now, I am turning down more opportunities to read the popular books in favor of reading for the Christian publishing houses like Revell, Tyndale and Bethany House. One of the things that influenced my decision was the fact that I know if my eyes are seeing the page and my mind is taking in those words, the Spirit within me is also seeing them. Sometimes, it’s not the words that are so bad but the actions of the characters and the fact that they are doing things that mock God and His word. I really got bothered by the plots, the characters and sometimes the language, so I put them away. I am a voracious reader, but I don’t want to be tempted to sin by reading things that are unwholesome. A few years ago, maybe as many as five or ten, I could read the secular books and there wasn’t offensive material in them. Now, it seems that every secular author has to include a gay couple or a transgender person or something that indicates that they are going along with the culture of today. Since I am not, those books make me uncomfortable so I cannot enjoy them.

Instead of just resisting sin, I am also trying to pursue obedience. As a child, there wasn’t a lot that I could do to make my mother happy with me, but I surely tried. I did all that she asked of me and more, but she still found fault with my actions. According to my mom, I never measured up. As a new Christian, I thought God was like that…nothing I did was going to be good enough, but I tried to please Him anyway. After several years of waiting anxiously for the hammer to fall and for God to roar that He was displeased with me, I had a pastor tell me that there is nothing I can do to make God love me any less. He created me because He loved me before He even knew me. Revelation! Unlike my mom, God was pleased that I existed, whether I did things exactly right or not. That was a freeing moment for me, and since then, I have tried hard to obey God, not because of His wrath that might come but because of His unfailing love that is always there. I trust in His love and goodness and acceptance of me, and that has made a big difference in my life.

Resisting and pursuing go hand in hand. Is there something that you have to constantly resist? God is there to help you and to give you the wisdom to keep yourself pure and holy before Him.

Review of JUSTICE DELAYED by Sarah Hamaker

On By vickleaIn Book Review1 Comment

ABOUT THE BOOK

Publisher:Sarah Hamaker

Publication date:05/15/2024

Series:The Seeking Justice Series

My Thoughts

Melender Harman has had a rough life, with her grandmother who was taking care of her dying and then having to move to live with her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Quentin. She knew from the beginning that she wasn’t welcome in their home, but she had no other options so tried to make the best of a bad situation. When her baby cousin Jesse disappears, Melender is accused of kidnapping and killing him and her nightmarish life gets worse. Melender spends seventeen years in prison for the crime and now she has returned to town and is determined to discover what actually happened to baby Jesse because she knows that she did not harm him. Enlisting the support of reporter Brogan Gilmore, a man who is more than a little leery about her claims of innocence, Melender sets out to methodically discover the truth. This book is a fast-paced quest for truth and justice, with a lot of suspects along the way who threaten both Brogan and Melender. In addition to being a great suspense novel, it is also one with a heartfelt foundation of faith as Melender depends on the faith she learned from her grandmother Sudie to get her through her stint in prison and now through all the suspicion that she is facing in the town that she has returned to. The characters are dynamic and if they are not all lovable, they are all totally believable. My favorite character was Brogan, a man not afraid to champion the underdog. I did not like Melender’s cousins Jared at all, a smarmy druggie who not only doesn’t tell the truth, he doesn’t see any reason to do so. This book made it easy to pick favorite characters and those who were immediate suspects although I had to wait for the intricate threads to reveal what really happened and why. Masterfully crafted and totally mesmerizing, this is a story that would lend itself to a good book for a group discussion and it is definitely a thought-provoking novel with a theme of forgiveness and a forward look to the future.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I 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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is Christian fiction and includes intense suspense. Rated PG.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Hamaker has been spinning stories since she was a child. While she’s had two traditionally published nonfiction books (Hired@Home and Ending Sibling Rivalry), her heart is writing romantic suspense. You can find a list of her books, listen to her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” and connect with Sarah at sarahhamakerfiction.com.

Purchase Links:

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Delayed-Seeking-Book-ebook/dp/B0D2VPS8YF/

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/justice-delayed-sarah-hamaker/1145518920?ean=2940179840572

• Apple books: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/justice-delayed/id6499559247

• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/justice-delayed-8

Unity in the Body of Christ

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44512/day/2

I am so thankful for our church and all of the kind and loving people I have met there. It is a big church, with three services and over 1000 people attending each Sunday. Even so, I have met some awesome Christians there, through Sunday school, through just introducing myself to those around me and through our small group Bible study on Monday nights. In fact, when I was out sick for three weeks, someone from the group contacted me every other day just to see if Harry and I needed anything and how I was doing. I rejoiced when I got to return this past Sunday and I even went to Bible study last night. I was greeted with hugs and genuine joy that I was back and better. It’s good to have a support group, and when you know that each member of your group knows you and misses you when you aren’t there, that means everything.

Unity in the body is important because I think it’s the way we show others that we are different. We don’t just ask “How are you” and then not listen to the answer. We genuinely care because when one is missing, we feel the pain of their absence. God’s desire for each of us is to live in unity so that the world can see that people can get along and love each other without taking advantage of each other or expecting anything in return for kindness. In a world where everyone seems to be using the shoulders of others to boost themselves up, we are united in holding each other up, bearing each other’s burdens and fulfilling God’s law of loving each other first. Real unity can become a reality, even in a big church, if you just make sure you are an active participant and get to know others within a smaller group. God is good and He knows the best thing for us is to get together with other believers and discuss what is happening in our lives as we study His Word.

Response to Hardship

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

www.bible.com/reading-plans/44512/day/1

Many of us respond to hard times by crying out to God, but for me, and probably for a lot of you who are reading this, asking God for help was a “last resort” kind of response. What do I mean by that? Let’s say you have a serious illness. First, you call the doctor, go to the doctor, get tests, see specialists, get more tests, even undergo some kind of treatment. Then, when you have done all that you can via human means, you remember that you should be praying and you cry out to God for help. I confess that I am guilty of playing out that very scenario for years. I am learning (progressive tense because God is still working with me on this) that if I pray first, the other things that I have to do suddenly lose their threat of overwhelming me. It’s all about in whom you place your trust. I have a mantra that I have even told to the doctors…you are treating me for this sickness, but God is healing me. Doctors practice medicine, but the Lord who created me truly knows exactly what I need to be well. I am not saying don’t go to see doctors, but I am saying to depend on and trust God first and foremost. When I go to see physicians, I pray for God to give them the wisdom they need to properly treat me. Our circumstances in life and how we approach hard times depends on our reliance on God.

Really Believe

On By vickleaIn Book Review, Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/540/day/4

If we really believe, then there is only one place to run when life seems to be assaulting us from all sides. We run to the Lord, the One who has always been there over and over again and who will always be there for us. We have to remember to call on Him first. The red phone that connects us to the Lord is always right there, always available and He is ready and waiting for our call. Psalm 27 and Psalm 91 are two of my favorite Psalms, one I have frequently read and quoted during challenging circumstances. What Scripture comforts you in your troubles? I encourage you to write it down, put it where you can see it daily and memorize the lines that speak to your heart and comfort you. There is no greater comfort than to have God’s Word right there in your heart and soul when you need it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms and the stand-in moms! It may be a tough day for you because your mom is no longer there to call or visit. Or maybe your mom was not a good and nurturing mother. Call on the Lord to comfort and be close to you today…He will.

Belief, Not Feelings

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/540/day/3

We live in an era in which the mantra seems to be, “Do whatever feels good to you.” Feels good? Really? It might feel good for me to slap the person who is annoying me by being rude to the clerk in the store, but that doesn’t mean I have the license to do it. It might feel good for me to rob a bank and have lots of money to spend on a lavish vacation, but I don’t follow through on that thought…consequences, right? Unfortunately, in society today, people have decided to do things based on feelings and there are no consequences, at least none that are readily apparent. The Hamas-supporting protesters keep the Jewish students from attending class. What is their consequence? But they “feel” that they are justified in their wanton destruction and hatred, so it must be okay. After all, no one is stopping them. But I digress…this post is not about the poor choices of students. It’s about choosing faith over feelings.

I may be afraid to step out and witness to someone that the Spirit clearly tells me to speak to. If I go by my feelings, I will walk away (and honestly, I confess that sometimes I have done that). But if I go by faith that God will give me the words to say and the courage to say them, then I speak.

In this devotional, David is used as an example of faith. I have just read in another devotional about Absalom and his betrayal, David’s journey away from from Jerusalem and his cries to God. He was not blaming God for his troubles; rather, he was calling out to Him in faith to restore him to his throne and to keep him safe from the traitor. Would that we would have that kind of faith that continues to call out to God in the midst of betrayal and a real wilderness experience! Instead, we have a tendency to say “I’m just not feelin’ it today.” What if you were praying to God and His reply was, “Yes, I hear you, but I’m just not feeling it today.” God doesn’t go by feelings because He knows they change constantly, with outside influences and inner thoughts at war inside us. He expects us to choose to live by faith, no matter what the outside circumstances are and no matter how we feel about them. The Bible teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Time to get off the feel good train and hop on the faith train that takes us to the throne of God. One is a bullet train that speeds us on an out-of-control path to wrong choices. The other is slow and steady, taking us in the right way to the right place, in God’s time.

The Shadow of His Wings

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song1 Comment

Do you remember as a child noticing your shadow? Did you have fun trying to make your shadow merge with someone else’s? I vaguely remember that game I played, but since I have young grandchildren and I have watched them playing the same game, it reminded me of the joy I had in such a simple game.

Life isn’t a game in which we chase shadows. The challenges are real and as we grow older, reality sets in and we stop playing the shadow game. I think it’s past time for us to recall our youth and apply it to hiding ourselves in the shadow of God’s protective wings. Do you remember how when your shadow merged with another larger one, yours was no longer visible? God hides us completely if we will allow Him to do so and take shelter there. The world and all of its troubles continue, but we are safely surrounded by the peace of surrendering to His protection.

We can sing for joy in spite of the problems, trials, or news stories that dismay us. God is right there, hovering over us, and protecting us from the things that threaten to overwhelm us and destroy our peace. If you remember, you had to pursue that other shadow and make an effort to stay within it in order to have your shadow hidden. Pursuit of God is the key to peace; meditating on His truths brings the help and joy that are so needed in order to rest in Him.

Let this song remind you that God holds on to you and is right there when you need Him.

Hold On To Me-Lauren Daigle