I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Since I start every day with devotionals and Bible reading, praise and prayer, I generally have God speak to me through His word. But I know for a fact that His word doesn’t only speak to my heart. It is for all of his children. So, I pray that these verses will speak to you as well.
No matter what I go through, God is always my refuge and strength. Sometimes I selfishly believe that I’m the only one going through such hard times, but God reassures me that everyone passes through the waters and he is with all of us. My current battle is with macular degeneration, the dry kind. I have a referral for a retina eye specialist in May, so I will know more then. For now, I’m content that my regular ophthalmologist says my numbers are “very good” and to continue to use eye drops regularly. What he doesn’t know is that I also pray regularly and know that will benefit me more than the eye drops.
God keeps telling me that the way of life is to give up this life and all its pleasures and to just focus on Him. I’m trying and some days are better than others. I desire to go to be with the Lord, but I also don’t want to leave loved ones behind. Nevertheless, God has clearly spoken to me that one day I will leave the earth behind and I will have no regrets when that time comes. I don’t want to be double-minded, so I’m praying to be more focused on Him and less on myself and my own selfish desires. When I woke up yesterday, one of my first thoughts was how grateful I am to have seen all of my grandchildren born and some of them becoming adults now. God is good, all the time!
May you be blessed as you read His Word today and focus on Him and His love for you. Have a great day with the Lord as your focus!
I confess that this morning my faith is being tested. You see, our daughter, our little girl who is no longer little or a girl, has a surgical biopsy this morning and I’m not with her. She says it’s no big deal, that the surgeon is removing the entire growth and then they will biopsy it. It may be skin cancer, maybe not. But this mama’s heart is beating fast in spite of the fact that I awakened with a prayer on my lips and praise playing now in the background. So, I am asking for all of you believers out there to join me in prayer for Hope (her name), that the surgeon can remove the tissue he needs to remove and that healing will be complete in Jesus’s Name.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. The surgery starts at 10:30 this morning (DST).
My verse to encourage me for the day. It’s hard to put into practice, but God calls us to practice what we tell others that they should be doing.
Will you join me in prayer today, specifically at the time of her surgery? Thank you in advance and God bless you for your faithful friendship.
What a perfect book to read to escape the doldrums of everyday life and all of its challenges! Robyn is a divorced mom, a woman who has never really found her niche in life but who desperately wants to. She is dealing with her spoiled daughter Harlow who wants her to keep the expensive home she can no longer afford just so Harlow can get married there. She is also dealing with a selfish ex-spouse who flaunts his affairs and who insists that his way is always best. When Robyn has finally had enough of the drama at home in Naples, Florida, she takes a flight to visit her great-aunt Lillian, a wonderful elderly woman who dispenses wisdom and encouragement as if it’s her second nature. There, Robyn meets Mason, a retired army drill sergeant who will inherit Lillian’s house when she dies. Mason and Robyn have interesting conversations as they realize how much they have in common and how attracted they are to each other. What started out as a getaway from everything for Robyn turns quickly humorous and chaotic as all the people she thought she left behind follow her to California. The plot is multi-layered and character-driven, written with an eye for detail that I greatly appreciated. There is romance, drama, wise advice and unforgettable characters who made an indelible mark on my heart and mind. Of course, not all of the characters are likable, nor are they meant to be, but they are all portrayed realistically, complete with flaws, doubts and hard decisions to make. This is a book that is well-paced, with just enough conflict to keep me guessing about the outcome and enough romance to keep me enticed. With a mansion filled with antiques that also interested me as well as the Pacific Ocean in the backyard, the setting was perfection! All in all, this is one of the best standalone books for beach reading that I have ever read and I highly recommend it. It’s cleverly plotted, intricately woven and so filled with emotional highs and lows that this book is a getaway for anyone who reads it. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing 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.”
Rated a hard PG because of content. Extramarital sex is an accepted part of the plot of this book and may not be appropriate for all readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the two Ragdoll cats and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.
Robyn Caldwell picked up her glass of white wine and briefly thought about swallowing the entire contents in one gulp. Mindy’s statement was certainly gulp-worthy. But she knew pacing herself through lunch was the responsible thing to do. A lesson her friend had yet to learn.
“You are not,” Robyn murmured, because shrieking wasn’t attractive. Especially at “the club,” where their friends and frenemies were also enjoying Thursday’s lobster salad. The dining room was filled with forty or so women, all dressed in Florida chic—diamonds sparkling, gold or platinum charm bracelets clinking, necklaces resting on tanned and toned skin.
“I might,” Mindy Krause said, picking up her champagne. “He’s gorgeous.”
“Of course. He’s a thirty-year-old tennis pro. What else would he be?”
Mindy, a petite brunette who was six months from turning forty, sighed. “I need a Dimitri in my life.”
“You have a great husband. Payne loves you and the kids, and never has eyes for another woman. Why would you screw that up?”
“Payne would never know.”
“There aren’t any secrets in this town. Not in our social circle.”
Something Robyn had learned the hard way herself. She’d been blissfully unaware of her ex-husband’s affairs until a “friend” had oh-so-sweetly informed her.
“Maybe just some kissing,” Mindy mused. “I want a little Dimitri action. The fantasies make me happy, so imagine what the real thing would do.”
“The fantasies are safe. The real thing could destroy everything you have. Knowing you’ve cheated would devastate Payne.”
Mindy’s mouth formed a pout. “I never see him anymore. All he does is work.”
Robyn stared at her friend-slash-boss. “You two talked about how that promotion would be more work for him but that it would be worth it. You wanted this for him.”
“I didn’t know how much he’d be gone.”
The unreasonable statement grated nearly as much as Mindy’s whine. “This isn’t a good look for you,” Robyn murmured. “You’re changing the rules without telling your husband. That never ends well.”
Mindy dismissed the warning with a quick shake of her head. “I’m not worried. Besides, if he does find out, I can just move in with you.” She laughed. “You’ll soon have that big house all to yourself.”
“You have four kids,” Robyn pointed out. “If things go south in your marriage, I’d rather have Payne move in.”
“Well, that would get people talking.” Mindy held up her empty glass to the server. “More, please.”
The server obliged.
Mindy took another sip. “My sister called, swears she found a Thomas Pister chest in a tiny shop in Wales. It’s dirt cheap, so I’m afraid it’s a fake. She’s looking for someone to prove authenticity. Wouldn’t that be a find?”
“It would. I’d love to see it.”
Thomas Pister had built beautiful chests and cabinets in the late 1600s and early 1700s. His intricate designs with stunning inlays sold quickly and for huge amounts. Depending on the condition and the materials, a good-sized chest of drawers could go for sixty or eighty thousand dollars.
No matter what has happened in my life, I have counted on God to be there for me and He has never failed me. He is my refuge and fortress, and I hope that he is yours, too.
May you be blessed as you go through your daily routine, always mindful that God is only a prayer away.
Every Monday evening my husband and I attend a small group Bible study that is associated with our new church. We love the group, the camaraderie, the different topics and just being around like-minded people. But last night, I was disturbed by something and I would like some input from my faithful readers (emphasis on FAITH-ful). I know what I think, but I seemed to be in the minority.
Part of the discussion was how to treat people who are blatant sinners, lost in sin and who don’t seem to want to find their way out of it. Our video presentation last week had an insightful message about the topic. The speaker said that the sinners are not our enemies, although we often treat them like they are. They are victims of the enemy who is trying to destroy all of us and take as many as he can with him to hell.
During the discussion last evening, we also talked about how Jesus would respond to the LGBTQ+ advocates who are sometimes aggressive. My opinion was and is that he would love them. He always loves the sinner! But what disturbed me was when one member of the group spoke up, kind of off topic, and said that one church pastor from a local church (not the one I attend) had said from the pulpit that anyone living in sin with a partner outside of marriage needed to leave the church because they weren’t welcome there. The consensus of the group last night, at least among the vocal ones who spoke out, was that was the correct thing to do. Kick the sinners out! My heart plummeted but I did not enter the discussion. I just pondered it and awakened this morning with the issue in my mind and heart. Is that truly what Jesus would do? They justified it with a few references to Scriptures, but I looked the verses up.
This verse specifically says if someone sins against you, not the church, not God’s law and moral code, you, then you go to him/her privately. The second step is to take witnesses and confront the person and the final step is to go to the whole church. I’m not sure that the issue we were discussing last night falls into this category. Rather, I think it’s more of confronting the log in your eye instead of the speck in another person’s eye since God is the final Judge of all. I hope it is obvious to you that I think it is totally uncalled for and wrong to publicly humiliate sinners and tell them that you expect them to leave the church. Where out in the world will they hear the Gospel if the church people, those supposed to be filled with the love of Christ have rejected them? Furthermore, will these sinners be even willing to listen to a Christian again? All of this disturbs me greatly.
This was another reference that I looked up and now I see clearly that it is the leadership of the church being held to a higher standard. They are reproved before all so that others are warned. But I still did not see anything in the Scripture about asking them to leave the church. I think in the Catholic Church, that is known as excommunication and is an extreme consequence rarely used. Not wanting to focus on differences in beliefs here or one particular church, I want to draw your attention back to the matter at hand and my question on which I sincerely desire your input.
Is it ever right for the leadership of the church to call out sin before the congregation and ask those sinners to leave the church? To tell them that they don’t belong there, so they just need to leave?
My mind is going in circles at the repercussions of such abuse of power (that’s what I think it is) as well as a judgmental spirit that is not working towards restoration but all reproof and rebuke. Jesus was our example and he hung out around sinners all the time, to the point that the “religious leaders” called the Pharisees judged Jesus for being around those who sinned so much.
I don’t know about you guys but I don’t want to go to a church in which the sinners are not welcome. I am a sinner saved by God’s grace and I want everyone to understand God’s love and mercy. Yes, He is filled with righteous anger at sin and will one day judge all of us. But is it right to not offer the bread of life to the hungry? Of course, I agree that living with someone to whom you are not married is a sin. But I don’t think this sin is any worse than others and Jesus would have rebuked the sin and loved the sinner.
Now that I’ve rambled on for a while about my own frustration, please feel free to leave me a comment about your thoughts. I would greatly appreciate Scripture verses to defend your own thoughts. I’m not confused but I am astonished that any church could do this to a non-believer and think it’s okay. What happened to forgiveness and restoration?
Have a blessed day, remembering that you are a sinner saved by God’s grace and left here on earth to tell others about His mercy and forgiveness.
Every citizen of the United States has probably participated in a census at one time or another. An envelope comes in the mail and there are numerous questions for you to answer and return to the sender (the U.S. Census Bureau). The purposes of a government census are many: to make sure a state is represented correctly in the House of Representatives, to allocate funds to the states, and to see population trends, for examples.
But as I read the Book of Numbers, I have come across an interesting census. God ordered Moses to take a census of the people. So, I began to ponder why God who knows the number of hairs on our heads would want the people counted. I am sure that He knew exactly how many people were there in the desert traveling with Moses. But I am also sure that His census had a purpose.
Can you even fathom the fact that God knows your name, your age, and all of the other facts that the U.S. census asks you about and He never has to ask? I think one of the purposes of the census God asked for was to make sure that each individual knew without a doubt that they counted to the Lord. We matter to God! He doesn’t need to take a census for His benefit, but rather, He takes it for ours. Every single individual is important to God, our Creator who loves us and wants us to have a relationship with Him. Even as God ordered the census, He already had in mind every man, woman and child that stood before Him.
I think that another possible purpose of the census was to call on Moses to do something and then watch what happened. Have you heard from God lately? Or ever? Was He telling you to do something? The big question is: Did you do as He asked? Did you follow His instructions? I have found that when God asks me to do something, He only tells me one step at a time. Once I complete that step, He tells me the next step to take until my task is complete. When God told Moses to take a census, I can imagine how impatient the people may have been to just move on in the desert and get to where they were supposed to go. But God had a plan. He wanted to number the people and so He did. I recall later in the Bible when David did a census without God’s calling for one and God punished Him for it. Why? Because it was not God’s plan at the time. Sometimes we get ahead of God and sometimes we fall behind. His timing is what is perfect. So, God told Moses to complete a census. When Moses acted and obeyed, the census was completed and now there is a record for all to read of the tribes and the numbers in each of them. The first step was the obedience to count, a step that may have not made much sense to the people in the desert wasteland. But God had a plan and this was part of it. Like allocating resources with a current census, God had a plan. I don’t know all of it, but I know He had one. God never does anything without a reason and I’m pretty sure the reason had something to do with God making sure that individuals knew that they counted and they could count on God to include them in His plans.
What is God’s plan for you today? Or tomorrow? Or in the distant future? You know what? We don’t know. And that is okay because regardless of how ignorant we may be of what God is doing, He has a plan and He is working to carry it out.
I think it was also interesting that all of the members of all of the tribes were counted in the census except for the Levites. These were the priests, those who were anointed to take care of the tabernacle and to camp around it and protect it. So why were they not numbered? I don’t have an answer to that except that these men already knew how closely God watched over them, having received explicit instructions for their own cleansing and for the sacrifices they made for the people They were not a higher class of people, but they were already set aside for God’s purposes. They knew it and so did God, so I don’t think He had a reason to number them.
Listen for God to speak to you today, tomorrow and whenever He will. Then, be obedient and act on what He tells you to do. Like Moses, just start doing. You don’t have to understand everything. You just have to take that first step of obedient action and work with God in fulfilling His purpose for your life. You matter to God, and He has a good plan for you!
Is this Scripture not true and applicable to our fallen world today? We are a proud people who think that we know all there is to know and yet we know nothing about the great God who created us and wants us to fellowship with Him. I’m saddened by this scripture that was written as a judgment against Israel so many hundreds of years ago. It seems that we have learned nothing about repentance except to be more prideful and less humble.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 