A Favorite Hymn

On By vickleaIn Song, testimony, Video6 Comments

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Link to the hymn on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/yKP_XxCBDZY

Lyrics:

1 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

—

2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

—

3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.

—

4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

—

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.

—

6 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

My Musings

I was raised in a traditional church, although I did not attend regularly. But hymns were a regular part of every Sunday when I did attend, and I learned to listen to the words as I sang them. Now that I am a Christian, I have found that the words of the old hymns continue to speak to my heart of a faithful God who is eternal and unchanging. The world may change; the standards all around us may change. But God will never change, so we can count on Him to fulfill His promises and to take us to be with Him one day.

A Personal Note:

I am spending the weekend with our son and his family at a water park in Williamsburg, Virginia. This trip was planned several months ago and we all have been excited about spending time together in a relaxing environment. Unfortunately, on the Friday before our trip, I had to go to the ER because of awful pain in my left foot. After x-rays and an examination, the doctor said that he thinks it is just badly sprained but it may have a hairline fracture. So, later this month, I have to see the orthopedic specialist. Meanwhile, I am in an ortho shoe for support and using pain patches. I cannot get in the water with the rest of my family, but I am enjoying seeing their exuberance and excitement here. So, no worries because God is good all the time and I know and believe it even when my plans don’t work out as I expected!

Have a blessed Sunday!

The Lion’s Den

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture1 Comment

I am hazarding a guess that most of my readers, if not all of you, know the Biblical story of Daniel in the lions’ den. When he refused to stop praying to our God, the king fulfilled his decree and had him thrown into a den of lions. The Lord protected him, and the king saw the truth that the Lord God is the only God worth worshipping.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God rescues us daily, too? Sometimes we are rescued from our own foolish choices and sometimes we have to be rescued because we took a step into temptation.

As many times as I have read this verse, I never associated it with Daniel in the lions’ den. We are all facing down the enemy of our souls daily and have to stay alert and resist him. He wants to devour us, to destroy our faith in God and to undermine our trust in the Father. But, like Daniel, we can choose not to be afraid but to continue to make the choices that honor our Father in heaven and show that we are Christians and the victory belongs to us.

We need to always keep in mind that Jesus defeated the enemy, all of the powers and authorities in the “heavenly realm” that set themselves against God and His chosen people. Jesus triumphed at the cross, and we win daily battles by making the choices to stand up for the Lord and not to fear confronting the enemy of our souls. We win, and the enemy knows his time is short. So, be ready to face the lions, knowing that you have already won your eternal life through Jesus!

News Notes and Observations

On By vickleaIn News Notes and Observations6 Comments

On our drive back from Maryland, I was appalled to receive this news blurb:

The headline is bad enough, but here is part of the story:

You should follow this link if you want to see the news video and more about what the police discovered: New York Post

I read the article to my husband and we discussed how she would have been lauded by the liberals if only she had chosen to have an abortion instead of waiting until the newborn was born alive and then killing the child. What a commentary on how sadly misled our world has become that a young woman, who actually appears “normal”, could think that it’s okay to discard a newborn in a trash bag along with the cleaning supplies from cleaning up the after-birth. To think that throwing a child into a trash bag is exactly what the abortion clinics do. Or worse, they sell the parts for money and make more of a profit from dealing death to the innocent.

Like I said, I was appalled, but I must admit I was not surprised. Much of our society has been on the wrong side of the abortion issue since the beginning. Contraception made it easy not to get pregnant and if that wasn’t available or didn’t work, society accepts disposing of the “mistake.” I just wonder how long it will be before the liberals demand this girl be released because, after all, it was “her choice.” It’s a baby, not a choice, a person whom God created and meant to be loved, nurtured and cherished, not tossed into a trash bag. What a travesty!

My personal opinion is that this cheerleader should have the harshest penalty possible as a statement/warning to others not to follow in her footsteps. But my assumption, given the climate in our society and the fact that Kentucky is a mostly liberal state, is that she will get a slap on the wrist and freed to pursue her dreams while her dead baby never got to have any. I am disgusted, saddened and angry that such a thing can happen in our nation. But more, I am calling out to God for forgiveness for a nation that does not value life and thinks it is disposable at will.

Review: Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:9780800744731 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:09/02/2025 Pages:176

Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn’t helped!    

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas—by herself—bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas—one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

My Thoughts

This novella offers a sweet Christmas story with family drama and a developing romance. Carol is planning a Christmas vacation from Washington state to the Bahamas but gets stranded in Michigan when a big winter storm grounds her plane there. Fortunately, she has an aunt she doesn’t know well living close enough to get to, so she ends up at her Aunt Maria’s house to wait out the storm. She makes a new friend named Victor, once a restauranteur but now just caring for his elderly parents. He is a good cook and an all-around kind man who chauffeurs Carol wherever she wants to go, so they get to know each other. I really enjoyed how the story was woven around Carol’s disdain for Christmas and the way she gradually comes to accept the holiday and then actually enjoy it. I liked most of the townspeople and thought that all of the characters were well-developed, even the secondary ones. There is one character who was perfect for her part, but she wasn’t particularly likable and that was purposeful. The pace was moderate, a perfect way for a developing romance to be showcased as I got to know each character’s strengths and backstories. There were multiple themes to the story, all based on faith and including self-discovery, forgiveness and kindness to strangers and estranged family members. This is a perfect story for the Christmas season as it embodies giving, sacrifice and love in one beautifully written story.
I voluntarily 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.

Christian Fiction, Rated G

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest.

To purchase your copy:

Baker Book House

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book

Tuesday and All is Well

On By vickleaIn Scripture, testimony6 Comments

Those of you who read my posts regularly know that I recently posted that our church was considering a merger with another church that is slightly larger than ours. I am out of town right now and Sunday, I started getting messages one after another on my phone from our Bible Study group. They were all happy about the news announced in church that day. Since I hadn’t been there, I asked “What news?” The news was that the pastors and elders of our church had decided to no longer pursue a merger. Hallelujah! No real details were given about their decision, just “after careful consideration and prayer…”

So, the scriptures prove true once again. No surprise there! We were all in a dither about what we would do if the merger happened, especially since the way it was presented to us, it seemed like a “done deal.” Most of us in our group planned to start looking for another church if the merger came to be. But we all determined to pray, speak out about our reasons for reluctance for change and then wait for God to act. Somehow, in some way, he touched minds and hearts and they changed. It is definitely a God thing to do and we are thankful. So, worrying doesn’t do any good. It just brings stress and anxiety and maybe some health issues. Just turn things over to God and wait for Him to act! I am still very unhappy with the noise level of the bass and percussion at our church, but I am still praying and still expecting God to act. I don’t want to take any action that God is not the leader of. Out of His will is NOT a good place to be!

Knock and keep knocking until there is an answer! Yes, No or Wait are all answers, although they may not be the one we want or expect.

Review: FALLING FOR HIS NASHVILLE NURSE by Janice Lynn

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

Dr. Wryn appears happy-go-lucky, but past pain bubbles beneath the surface. So it’s a surprise when Nashville Medical Clinic’s captivating new nurse, Everleigh, has his traitorous heart racing…which only worsens as he gets to know the single mom and her adorable son. Wryn should keep his distance—Everleigh swore off romance following her divorce. But when she admits to feeling the same, his restraint shatters. If a fling is all they can have, he’ll treasure every moment. Falling for Everleigh was never part of the plan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:9781335993267 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Pages:240

My Thoughts

Although I don’t generally read romance books, this one captured my attention from the beginning with relatable characters and a compelling story. Dr. Wryn Cooper is a real heart throb who turns heads everywhere he goes, but he also distances himself from anyone who has children because of an unfortunate part of his past. When Everleigh Bennett finds herself working with him at the clinic where she is a new nurse practitioner, she can’t deny the attraction but shies away from relationships since her husband walked out on her and Hayes, her young son. The two have a meet-cute at the park and there seems to be a magnetic pull between the three of them. Because Wryn is hiding a secret, there is a plot twist and a lot of drama before the two can get to their happily ever after. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially the precocious Hayes and the dog Brandy who provides a lot of entertainment for Hayes and for me, too as I read. The plot was paced perfectly to keep me engaged in the story and there were a few twists that kept me wondering how the couple would ever get to an HEA if they had so many problems and differences. The author did a masterful job of bringing everything together in a realistic and heartwarming way and managed to make me want to read more of her medical romance books since this one was so good.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, but I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Harlequin Medical Romance, Rated PG

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Janice Lynn lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who’s the true princess of the house and a bunch of unnamed dust bunnies who took up permanent residence after Janice started her writing career.

After writing more than thirty books for Harlequin, Janice began writing heartwarming sweet romance stories featuring the Quilts of Valor Foundation. As a Blue Star Mom, the organization is dear to her heart.

Janice’s stories have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice Award, The Golden Quill, The Golden Pen, the Holt Medallion Award of Merit, and RT Book Club’s The American Title Contest. She’s a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling author.

In addition to writing romance novels, Janice has a Master’s in Nursing degree and works as a nurse practitioner. She’s a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and a member of and supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. Website: Janicelynn.com

Please follow this link to purchase your copy:

Harlequin and other retailers

Vickie Approved and Vickie Recommended

A Reminder

On By vickleaIn Scripture6 Comments

Payday is here! The day when I can finally buy the thing I have been waiting to get…but then I think about it some more and realize that I no longer really want it enough to pay the money for it. The desire for it has diminished with time. When we want something that is earthly, sometimes those desires change. But when we set our real affection on God and the things that are important to Him, then we are focusing on what will last, like God’s love, His love for others that He wants us to demonstrate, mercy, grace, forgiveness. The cost was tremendous since it cost Jesus everything. But the gift for us is free. We just have to want it enough that we cherish it and pursue it daily.

Review: ALIBI FOR MURDER by Debra Webb

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

When Allie Foster becomes the prime suspect in a murder, the small-town loner reaches out to the one person she can trust. Convinced Allie’s innocent, Colby Agency investigating attorney Steve Durham uncovers a shocking connection to a decades-old cold case in her past. The twisting path to the truth unleashes an attraction that plunges the high school friends into deeper danger. Now Steve and Allie must outmaneuver an elusive killer in a case where nothing and no one is what they seem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:9781335690142 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Series:Colby Agency: The Next Generation , #2 Pages:224

My Thoughts

The latest Colby Agency book has so many head-spinning twists and turns that it had me wondering what would happen next, and I loved playing the guessing game as I read. Allie Foster becomes a suspect in the murder of a man she never met before, but he does have a past relationship with her deceased parents. She calls on her friend, Steve Durham who is an attorney with the Colby Agency and he rushes to assist her. In the investigation that the two of them pursue, they discover secrets that have remained hidden for decades and someone wants them to remain hidden. Thus their lives are in danger from an unknown assailant who seems to know where they will be and the clues that they are following. The assailant was a total surprise to me when revealed, even though I will admit that there were numerous clues pointing to him/her hidden among the red herrings that the author masterfully included. The plot is fast-paces, intricately woven together with the past playing an important part in the current problems that Allie is facing. The romance is a part of the story, but the main thrust of the book is the mystery and solving Allie’s dilemma before she is arrested by the FBI. This is part of a series, but it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, but I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Harlequin Intrigue, Rated PG-13

About the Author

DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 175 novels, including reader favorites Devlin & Falco, Finley O’Sullivan and the Faces of Evil  series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity.

With more than ten million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm and spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.

To purchase your copy, follow this link:

Harlequin and other retailers

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Vickie Approved and Vickie Recommended

Review: PROTECTING THE TEXAS WITNESS by Virginia Vaughan

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review3 Comments

About the Book

Deputy Drake Shaw rescues single mom Isabelle Morris from an assailant’s attack, only to be mistaken for her late husband. After exposing the corruption at her health-care company, Isabelle fears danger has followed her and her daughter all the way to their remote cabin. Now Drake must keep them safe long enough for Isabelle to testify against her former boss. But when her child is taken, the stakes are raised. Can they survive to unravel the truth about the present…and the past?

ISBN-13:9781335957252 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Series:Lone Star Defenders , #3 Pages:208

My Thoughts

Isabelle Morris had no idea that doing the right thing for all of the right reasons would put her and her teen daughter in the crosshairs of a ruthless foe. She had made the choice to be a whistleblower against her former boss, exposing his corruption and causing many friends to lose their jobs. Once the decision was made, Isabelle couldn’t go back and undo it, so she decided to take Kelsey to her late husband’s cabin, just to get away from the people who hated them and had started threatening Kelsey. Once there, Isabelle finds that the danger has followed her and Deputy Drake Shaw is determined to keep her safe. The main plot dovetails well with the secondary plot, the fact that Drake reminds Isabelle of her deceased husband Raylan, so it is easier for her to trust him to safeguard her and Kelsey. The plot was just complicated enough to keep me engaged throughout the story and was expertly crafted to keep drawing me into the lives of the realistically portrayed characters. With nail-biting suspense and unexpected danger continually cropping up, this fast-paced book kept me hooked and entertained all the way to the satisfying conclusion. This was a story with great heart and depth along with an underlying foundation of faith that were remarkably well crafted together. The story balanced the suspense and romance well and ended up being a cleverly written page turner with some skillful misdirection that kept me guessing. This was a captivating and multi-layered book with good chemistry between the characters and a delightful conclusion.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary advanced copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Love Inspired Suspense, Rated PG

About the Author

Virginia Vaughan is a former investigator for the State of Mississippi who left a promising career to pursue her dream of being a writer. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include hearing stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself, delving into the genre of romantic suspense, armed with her passion for writing and the knowledge gained from her criminal justice background.

Follow this link to purchase your copy:

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Vickie Approved and Vickie Recommended