Category: Scripture

From the Holy Bible

Review of TANGLED PAST by Mary Alford

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review, Scripture, Tangled Past by Mary Alford2 Comments

About the Book

Product details

Synopsis (from Amazon)

Twenty-five years after his father’s unsolved murder, Asa Dutton returns to Hope Island determined to uncover the truth. His only lead is Maya Callahan—the little girl found hiding in the barn the night his father died.

Maya has no memory of that stormy night. But as fragments of her past resurface, so does danger. Someone is watching. Someone who will kill to keep the truth buried.

As Asa and Maya grow closer, the stakes turn deadly. Because remembering the past may be the only way to survive it.

My Thoughts

This is the story of unfinished business in the past and a lost memory that is surfacing. Maya was present when her mother was dragged away and she never saw her again. She was there when the sheriff was killed, Asa Dutton’s father. When Asa comes back to Hope Island to talk to Maya and try to find out information to lead him to his father’s killer, he opens up her memory in unexpected ways. I loved how the Hope Island Securities Team worked with Asa to uncover the truth and to find the killer, following clues to some surprising locations on the island. I especially enjoyed the dynamic characters of Asa and Maya who grew from questioning the past to embracing the future. This is romantic suspense at its best, with a lot of the creep factor in it and a killer who was methodical and hard to catch. The twists and revelations kept coming in this fast-paced and totally engaging book.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, A clean read

About the Author

Mary Alford grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come naturally to her.

As a teen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.

She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked.

Today, Mary lives in Texas with her husband and loves to create characters who face dangerous situations with faith on their side.

Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook, X, or any of the social media platforms listed at maryalford.net.

To Purchase Tangled Past:

Amazon

Monday Musing: Legality Vs. Morality

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

I am absolutely not sure where I stand on the issue of the Supreme Court and the tariffs. What I do know is that our republic is still working, with the checks and balances that our Founding Fathers put into the Constitution. Tariffs continue in spite of the ruling, so it must not have turned President Trump’s plans upside down. In fact, he spoke so quickly after the ruling that it seemed to me that he was ready for it and already had a Plan B.

Meanwhile, in the state of Virginia, where the democrats are trying to disenfranchise every conservative voter by gerrymandering in an almost illegal fashion, some counties are refusing to participate in the referendum to vote for their plan since they say it is violates the state constitution. We will see how this pans out, but the democrats are saying the vote is necessary for free and fair elections. Really? One district extends from northern Virginia to the eastern shore in what looks like a large shrimp or lobster shape. The purpose, of course, is to outnumber the conservative voters. What am I doing about it? I am not being fooled and I am voting NO on their obvious attempt to discount our voices. It may end up doing no good since they control everything in the state right now, but I am trying to voice my opinion and let others know what is happening in our state.

You will see Spanberger, the new liberal governor who proclaimed to be moderate in order to get elected, giving the SOTU response. That tells you that she is the next chosen puppet of the Democratic Party, so watch for her to start her race for President as soon as those gates are open. They can’t run AOC because she is a carbon copy of Kamala and her word salad. They would be foolish to run Newsom with his abysmal record in California. So, Spanberger it is, with her policies to change Virginia into California East.

If you want to know where I got the theme of today’s blog, read Denison’s Forum for today. Enlightening and thought provoking. I particularly enjoyed his quotations from our Founding Fathers who seemed to know that later generations would do all they could to make a mess of the government.

Denison

I am concluding with a Scripture for without God, no morality is probable since He is our standard.

God’s Strength

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

Through all of the recent tests, medical visits and frustration of no real resolution, God has been right there beside me. I had a bone scan on Friday. The orthopedist had told me that there was a possibility of a small fracture in my humerus (upper arm bone), so he had recommended a bone scan. The procedure took most of the day since I had to go in, get the injection that lit me up inside, wait three hours, return to the hospital and get the scan done which took about thirty minutes. The tech Debbie was very kind and helpful the whole time, so I was made to feel comfortable and at ease as much as possible. Again, I prayed and sang praise songs to myself as the procedure was being completed. I got the written report yesterday in “My Chart” and attempted to understand it. I didn’t understand much, but it was repeated several times that there was no evidence of bone cancer. I didn’t even know that they were looking for that! But I have no doubt that God did know and had given me peace even before I looked at the report. I return to my orthopedist in a few weeks, after he has time to receive the full report and review it. Meanwhile, I am pressing into God because He is my strength, the One who sustains my life in every way. I don’t always feel well and I hardly ever feel rested these days, but I am grateful for the rest that I have in Him and the confidence that whatever happens, He has not left my side.

I pray for each of you today that you may have the same assurance that I have. I want you to know that God is always the same, regardless of the circumstances in life. His love never changes, His mercy is new every morning and His faithfulness is unending. I am reading in the Old Testament about the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. They whined. He provided. They whined again. He provided. Sometimes there were consequences for their lack of faith, but He still provided. Moses had to intercede for them because at one point God wanted to destroy them completely. We have an intercessor who is always making a case before the Father for us, our Savior, Christ Jesus. Thus, you and I can be certain that God is working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it or feel it. That is what I want you to take away from today’s blog post, that God is right there with you, just as He is with me. He is omnipresent, a characteristic that we finite humans cannot understand. But I don’t have to understand it to know that it is true. God is as close to me here in Virginia as He is to you in California, Michigan, England or Norway. I am so thankful for His calming presence and for His grace and love that sees me through the trials of getting older.

Lord, You Are My Strength-Jelly Roll

Jesus Is the Way

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Our world wants us to accept that there are many ways to God, but there is only one way and it is up to us to share that truth with others. We can run to Him and be comforted, but only when we accept with our whole hearts that He is the way to the Father. His sacrifice makes a relationship with the Father possible and our future secure.

From YouVersion, Daily Refresh 2-21-26

Perseverance Is A Challenge

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

Perseverance Brings a Harvest (Daily Refresh, 2-29-26)

Have you ever started something new, but gave up after a few tries? Maybe you tried to create a new morning routine or a Bible reading habit, only to give up after a few weeks. It can be hard to build enough discipline to start something new—or to change.

It can also be challenging to receive discipline from someone. Maybe you remember being disciplined as a kid by your parent. Or maybe you’ve faced discipline at work for a mistake you made.

In either case, discipline is hard and takes a lot of work.

Scripture says that for those who endure discipline, and persevere, there is a harvest of righteousness and peace waiting for them. However, it doesn’t happen easily and often makes us uncomfortable. We have to be trained through discipline to create godly habits that will then produce righteousness and peace in our lives.

Take some time today to consider: Where can you allow the Holy Spirit to build discipline in your life? What daily habits should you begin working on today? 

Building discipline into your life is worth it—with the results being peace and a desire for righteousness.

My Thoughts

I am thankful that the Lord loves me enough to discipline me. I recall disciplining my children who are now all adults with their own families. Discipline was not a “once and done” thing. It seemed that I was reminding them constantly of the rules and the consequences. Most of the time, I was alone, since my military husband was not at home but regularly deployed. I remember that sometimes I was so tired of the whole routine of disciplining, but I knew that it was training them for life, so I persisted.

I am thankful that the Lord never tires of disciplining me. He doesn’t just throw up His hands and say, “I give up! You are just not going to change!” Instead, He lovingly and consistently disciplines me, prodding me to go in the right direction and showing me when I got off the track and how to get back on it. God’s discipline is not always welcomed by me. I don’t always want to have to repent and apologize, but He wants me to be in a right relationship with Him, so His Spirit keeps prompting me to do the right thing. I don’t think that persevering in our discipline is a challenge or a chore for God as it seemed to me for me at times. His love for us is so great that from that abundance of love, He chooses to discipline us. I remember telling my children that I was disciplining them because I love them. It does my heart good to watch and hear my children tell their children the same thing. Discipline is love in action and it brings a harvest that we don’t even realize at the time.

My word to you today is to persevere. Choose to allow the Lord to discipline you and accept that we are sinners saved by grace. We aren’t perfect but we are a work in progress, and God loves us so much that He wants us to strive to be more like Him.

Trusting God

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Everyone who has a relationship with our Creator knows that it is easy to trust Him when the road is smooth, the view from the mountaintop is delightful and life is generally going well. But what about in the valley? The place where you feel alone, perhaps not sure that God is with you? That is where I have been for months now, but I am here to emphatically state that I will not let my feelings get in the way of my relationship with God and that includes continuing to trust Him.

Can I see the end of the battle with my health issues? No, but God knows. Can I understand why all of this is coming at me at once? No, but God knows. Do I want to go through all of this? Of course not, but I am willing to do what God allows to happen in my life so that I am in a stronger, more dependent relationship with Him.

None of the bad reports that I have gotten lately surprised God. He is not wringing His hands and saying, “Oh, my!” Or “Oh, dear, that’s too bad.” Or even, “I feel so bad for Vickie.” None of that is in God’s character. He is omnipotent, always. He is omnipresent, always. And, most importantly, He is always loving and merciful and I am believing that He will use all of this for a greater purpose. I don’t see a straight path out of this health dilemma, but this verse says clearly that God will make a path. The Creator of the Universe, the One who made me just the way I am, will make a path for me to follow, a clearly designated way up and out. Do I know how He will do that? No. But I trust Him and believe His Word and His promises. I hope that you will believe with me.

Is there anything happening in your life that I can pray for you about? It would be a privilege to do so. God, who is no respecter of persons, is totally trustworthy to handle your issues as well as mine. God bless you and keep trusting and believing. The answer is on the way and God is making a path for you!

Happy Valentine’s Day

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

If today is a day that you are feeling lonely and unloved, remember this verse. Nothing can separate you from God’s love, ever! He is right there if you just reach out to Him and tell Him honestly that you need Him, today and everyday. Let Him show you what real love is all about. It’s not hearts and flowers and chocolates. Real love went to a cross and sacrificed Himself so that we can eternally be with the Father. It’s our choice to accept Jesus’s sacrifice, repent of our sins and live in the presence of His great love for us forever. Repentance just means telling God you are genuinely sorry for all you have done in your life that was wrong, sinful, disobedient. You don’t have to make a list. He knows. Just say with your whole heart that you are sorry. Then, you show Him you mean it by turning away from those things and starting a new life with Him. Find a good, Bible-believing church, talk to the pastor and tell him that you need a mentor to disciple you. Read your Bible every day and let God’s Word minister to you and grow you into the person He created you to be. Then you will know His love and that will sustain you through hard times, lonely times, heartbreak and health problems. God’s love is forever. So, give God your heart this Valentine’s Day. That’s all He wants is a relationship with you!

God’s love isn’t a feeling. He chooses to love us, sometimes in spite of us, but always because He created us and truly, deeply loves us. Choose love for God and eternal life with Him.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Prayer from the YouVersion Daily Refresh, 2-14-26