God has decided to lift up my face today to see Him in all of His glory and to look toward the future and not back at the past. Did you know that when you are looking backwards, you can’t look forward? I think that is why the manufacturers put mirrors on cars. You can quickly glance into them to see what is behind you, but you don’t focus on them all the time because then you would have a collision with what is in front of you. I think that recently I have been too focused on the past, on a time that is no more and will never be again. No matter how much I miss that time, I can’t call it back. But God has reminded me that He is the God of redemption and restoration, and although I cannot go back to the past when my children were small and living with us, I can go forward to a future filled with the laughter of grandchildren and the promise of a tomorrow with the Lord, for all of eternity. Is life going to be perfect now that I have come to this great revelation? No, of course not! And it is probably not a great revelation for anyone else. It is just something that God has spoken to me about, to pull me out of my pity party and the doldrums that I have been suffering lately. I even wanted to go back to before I had surgery, a time when I was on a restricted diet but nothing as restrictive as the one I am on now. However, God wants me to be thankful for today, regardless of what I am allowed to eat or drink. After all, life isn’t all about eating and drinking; it’s about serving God to the best of my ability, and trusting Him for my future. God has shown me the sunshine today and the birds outside my window. Why, a chickadee visited the bird feeder this morning! How beautiful he was in all of his yellow feathers with his startled look when he noticed my peering at him through the window! I’m not sure he realized how much pleasure he gave me, but I know that God knows how lifted my heart was to see such a pretty fellow right outside.

Photo from Pinterest.

I am one of the ransomed of the Lord and I am claiming today that all of the sorrow and sadness that I have been feeling will go away. I know that Jesus lives and that one day I will be with Him in the Courts of Glory. Until that time comes, I cannot go around with a long face and sighing about what was. I am to show Jesus to the world, with a smile on my face and ready to meet the needs of others.

Greater Things by Mack Brock

Let us all remember the words of this song today! Blessed to be a blessing!

This is absolutely the gift to give for Mother’s Day to grandmothers—new ones, veteran ones. It doesn’t matter because it is perfect gift. Told with truth and humor, this is the story of Anna Quindlen becoming a grandmother for the first time. She explores families with different nationalities and learning different languages. She offers her sage advice about when to butt out and when to give your two cents worth. This was a very fast read and enjoyable the entire time that I was reading. The vignettes were humorous as well as realistic which make the book very readable and enjoyable. I plan to purchase a hard copy for myself so that I can read it again and again when I need to remind myself of my true role as a “Nanna.” Loved it!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This wonderful book is available TODAY from your local bookseller. Buy one for yourself and definitely get one for the grandmother in your life!

I read somewhere that about 360,000 babies are born daily. As I ponder the fact that I am attending the funeral of a dear friend today, I wonder how many die daily. No matter how many newborns come into the world, they cannot replace the hole in my heart where my friend lives, nor should they. The older I get, the more thankful I am for each day. I read a quotation this morning that is applicable to my life and may be suitable for yours, too.

We learn from what happened in our past, or at least that is the hope. Nevertheless, we cannot go back and repeat the past; instead, we have to continue forward in our lives. Living for today means to me to take every moment and live it to the fullest since we never know what may suddenly change. Or, in my case, who may suddenly disappear from our lives. This saying also has an inherent lesson in it for Christians. We are to be all that we can be on a daily basis. We should not put things off that the Holy Spirit has been prodding us to do because one day it may be too late to do it. Latin has a phrase for that: Carpe Diem, which means “Seize the day!” Make today the best that it can be for yourself and for those whose lives you touch!

I cannot make it a good day today or any other day if I don’t start with praise and thanksgiving. You may think that I’m being foolish or perhaps double-minded. How can I start today with thanksgiving and praise as well as grief? Because I know that the Lord who made me and gave me this day to live was my friend’s Lord also, so I rest in the fact that he is with the Lord and at peace. I will miss him dearly, for he was the only one in our church who graduated from my college alma mater, or at least the male part of my college since I attended the female school. Every Sunday, he would talk to my husband about how UVA was doing in sports. He was beyond delighted that “his boys” had won the national title in basketball, a feat that they accomplished a mere week before he passed away. So, that being said, I know that he is praising God in Heaven, so I will look for things to be thankful for here on earth, for as long as God chooses to leave me here.

Not worrying about anything is hard about me, because I am, honestly, a hand-wringer. If the sun comes up nice and bright, I inevitably refer to the weather report that says that bad storms are coming later. I call myself a realist, but really, in many ways, I am a pessimist. I have decided long ago that this was a learned behavior because I saw so many of my dreams for my life fall by the wayside as I actually went through my days and lived it. But then I read the Scriptures that tell me that God will restore all things to me and give me hope and a future. (Job 33:26 and Jer, 29:11 NIV)

I am disciplining myself to be joyful before the Lord and to praise Him with all of my heart and soul. I am learning to be thankful for the new day and trying hard to break old habits of looking at things in a negative light. I am working on myself, just as God works on me. I am a work in progress, so as today is an ending, a farewell to a friend, it is also a beginning. Today is a new day to praise the Lord and to thank Him for His goodness, grace and mercy to me, an imperfect and negative being who is working on being more positive.

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Hello, fellow bloggers and readers of things online! I was chosen for this award by Stu, a friend online who can be found at Something to Stu Over. I am honored and a little mystified about this award and how to tackle it, but I will do my best, Like Stu, I also love this image that represents the award. The fog is what mysteries are made from, right? You can’t see far enough in the fog to see what awaits you!

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition that they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. -Okoto Enigma (https://www.okotoenigmasblog.com)

RULES:

• Put the award logo/image on your blog.
• List the rules.
• Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well.
• Tell your reader 3 things about yourself.
• You have to nominate 10-20 people.
• Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
• Ask your nominee any 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny question.
• Share a link to your best posts.

3 Things about Vickie:

I am at an age at which I never know what new medical condition will appear next, but I do know that God will go through it with me.

I am very introverted, preferring to stay at home and read to going out into public for any reason. At one time, I was diagnosed with mild agoraphobia (fear of crowds).

I am married to an extrovert who tries very hard to pull me out of my shell and into society. He is generally only successful if I know the people in the “crowd” that I will be joining.

Questions for me to Answer:

1. What do you consider to be the worst evil in the world?

Abortion–I think the murder of innocent babies is comparable to the Holocaust or the Old Testament practice of pagans sacrificing children to Molech. We have truly lost our moral compass when we think that sacrificing babies to Molech is okay. God will not be mocked, and He calls this travesty sin!

2. How has your blog changed since you began writing?

I started just doing book reviews and the title of my blog was only “Vickie’s Book Nook.” Then one day, as I was praying during my devotional, God spoke to my heart and told me to change the title to “Vickie’s Book Nook and Meditation Corner” so that I could write about my faith there.

3. Are you an animal lover? If so, which type?

I love small animals. I have a cat, but I also love bunnies, birds and small dogs. My husband has placed four different bird feeders just outside the windows of the room where I spend most of my time so that I can enjoy nature without having to venture outside unless I want to do so.

4. Are you prepared to meet God face to face?

I am prepared when He calls me home to walk with Him into eternity. That is how I see death; one moment, I will be here on earth and the next I will be walking with my Lord and Savior in Heaven.

5. Are you, as a Christian, prepared to share what God has done for you at any given moment?

I have the Bible knowledge and I know how to share, but my tendency to be an introvert often keeps me from sharing. However, recently, God has placed people right in my path for whom I can share in the form of a genial conversation and that is more comfortable for me.

Here are a few of my favorite posts:

Quotations from Corrie Ten Boom

Positive Tuesday: 10 Things that Make Me Happy

Think and Rejoice

Review of THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center

I’m choosing ten bloggers to receive this award. Please do not feel that you have to participate, but please know that I chose you because I appreciate your blog and the effort you put into it.

Parallax

Lydia Potter

My Creator’s Creation

Knitting with Heart

Teen, Meet God

Heart Tokens

Seriously Seeking Answers

Equipping Blog

Big Sky Buckeye

The Lost Coin Blog

Questions for my nominees to answer:

1. What is one piece of advice that you would tell a teen today?

2. Name one place in the world that you would like to visit before you die and tell why.

3. What is the funniest/strangest thing that has ever happened to you?

4. If you could be an animal, which one would you choose to be and why?

5. What is the evidence in your life that you could present to a stranger to show them that Jesus is your Lord and Savior?

Thank you to everyone who reads and follows my blog. Blessings!

I have been reading lately in the book of Deuteronomy, and I have found that it is so full of treasures.

We are not under the law any longer because of Jesus’s sacrifice. But the law was given to us to show us that there is no way we can meet all of those requirements, so we would have to be sacrificing animals constantly for our sins. Thank God that He sent His Son to be the sacrifice for us! God reveals Jesus to our hearts and that is our heritage to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

The only way we can love God the way we are supposed to is that God draws us to Him and “circumcises our hearts.” Honestly, I’m not sure what that means except that circumcising was the way to show that there was a covenant between God and that person. I do have an agreement with God; I am a Christian because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior. Once that happened on February 28, 1973, my heart was circumcised and I was welcomed into the family of God.

God’s Word is never far from us; He has written it on our circumcised hearts. I have found that the older I get, the more I forget things, but I still remember Scriptures that I learned in my younger years. That seems odd, doesn’t it? But not if you think about the Word being written on your heart. Jesus is the Living Word and His Holy Spirit lives in each of us who has accepted Him as Lord and Savior. I may not remember the entire verse or even the reference, but I do remember enough of the verses that I need to remember when I need them, and they comfort me.

This is one of my favorite verses that I remember and quote sometimes. I choose life! I choose blessings! And the promise is also to our children…not that God has grandchildren, but they have the opportunity to make these same choices. They have the choice to choose to serve the living Savior and to walk life’s journey with Him. They have the choice to have their hearts circumcised and to have God’s Word written there. Praise God!

This is another favorite of mine, but it is also one that should stir up fear in the minds of unbelievers. They can bow to Jesus now or bow later, but they will bow. ALL will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord! When the Word is written in your heart, there is not a chance that you would not bow before the Lord. It is the natural posture of those of us who are His servants. He is the Lord of all and one day will be recognized by all as the Lord who came to save all of mankind.

All of that being said, the Word is a comfort to me. I had a good friend from church die this morning. I was devastated, sobbing for the loss of yet another friend. But then, God spoke to me and told me that Bob is in Heaven now and has begun his eternal reward; and even better, he has rejoined his beloved wife Barbara who passed away a few months ago. God also reminded me once again that death is not to be feared, but rather to be welcomed as a natural part of my life. I have to die in order to live forever! And so do you, my friends. I pray you got something from my rambling today. Blessings on this Easter weekend, and may you know the joy of Resurrection Day and celebrate Jesus’s triumph over the final enemy!