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.
So, we all have a lot going on in our lives, so today’s blog is about sharing our prayer requests and thus sharing our burden. If you don’t want to say exactly what it is, just say you need prayer for an unspoken request. God knows what we need before we say it, so He will listen to those “secret” requests, too. In the spirit of climbing out of my introverted cave, I will start.
This is our cat Daisy. She has to go to the vet today because she vomited blood yesterday. So, I would appreciate prayer that 1)we can get her into her carrier which she hates and 2)the vet can determine what the issue is and 3)that Daisy will be okay. She is ten years old and has been my constant companion when I am home, which has been a lot due to retirement. She cuddles in my lap when I read, sleeps next to me on the bed and follows me from room to room. We have had her since she was four months old and I am anxious about her being ill or in pain. So, I appreciate the prayers. God cares about our pets because He knows that we love them.
Now, it’s your turn. How can I pray for you today?
I don’t want to bore you with my positivity but if I don’t make the effort to stay focused on good things, my very rebellious mind drifts to all of the bad stuff. So, here goes!
What I am particularly thankful for today:
~I slept last night for over six hours without waking up from coughing. 🙌
~I walked for fifteen minutes this morning (in five minute intervals) and did not lose my breath. 🙌
~I managed to dust a few pieces of furniture, so praise God I was able to bend to do it. 🙌
~God provided the money to pay our bills and to get our groceries this month. We buy extra since our granddaughter is here and we have enough to do that. 🙌
~I was able to get birthday gifts for our youngest grandson and our son, too! God provides the necessities and even some wants, too. 🙌
~I got a new book to read by Cindy K. Sproles (The Eyes of River) and it is a wonderful story. 👏
~I don’t have a steroid headache today after two days. Hallelujah! 👏
I wrote seven things because God says seven is the number of rest. On the seventh day, He rested. So, I am closing this Thankful Thursday post and turning it over to you to add your seven cents to it. Have a blessed day…be thankful for all things at all times!
Just open a newspaper (if you can actually find one these days) and all of the headlines deal with my title topic for the day. Killings, fires, car accidents, and on and on it goes. But our Bible tells us to get our minds away from that stinkin’ thinkin’ and think of the good things. Look up, not down and around.
So, what am I thinking this morning?
~I am breathing better after two days of meds. Thank you, Lord!
~There are eight different species of birds coming to my new camera bird feeder that our youngest son gave me for Mother’s Day. I love it!
This is my favorite visitor so far. And he comes around a lot, along with a Tufted Titmouse, a Blue Grosbeak and an American robin. So many to enjoy!
~I am also enjoying all of the hummingbirds flitting around outside my window, literally close enough to touch if I opened the window. My sweet husband put the feeder there so I can see it well.
~My yellow roses have finally started to bloom! They are my favorite flower. Again, my sweet husband got me the bush last year and it didn’t do much until lately. Lots of blossoms now!
~Today is Taco Salad Day! The local diner makes taco salads every Wednesday and this morning my sweet husband (are you tired of that phrase yet…just remember to look up!) got up early (at 10:30) and announced that he was going to order me a taco salad before he went into town to get his books from the library.
~I am really enjoying the Christian fiction books that I am reading now. Lots to read…more on that later when I get ready to review them.
~Finally, God is good, God is great. According to the scripture:
He saved me, He is saving me and He will save me! Hallelujah!
Nowit’s your turn to share some positivity with me. Don’t look at the news…look at what God has put on your heart and blessed you with!
I am map clueless, which is kind of funny considering one of my degrees includes numerous classes in geography. But my husband knows not to hand me a paper map and expect me to read it for him. I am not a good navigator, even when using GPS. I have been known to tell my husband to turn too early because I didn’t understand the directions on the GPS.
How does that apply to my life spiritually? I want to know where God is taking me and when, but He doesn’t give me a map. Instead, He just says repeatedly, ”Trust Me.” I don’t have to know where he is leading me or when I will arrive as long as I trust the One who is in the driver’s seat.
We naturally want to know ALL the things as we travel along life’s highway. What is around that curve? Where is our next stop? When will we arrive? God wants us to just trust Him for the safe arrival at our destination. When we question everything and seem to want to understand it all, we get lost in the muddy mire of unnecessary-for-us-to-know details instead of keeping our eyes on the Good Shepherd who is leading us to the green pastures we want to eventually get to.
My life lately has been one of not understanding, but it is in this place that I have come to confront the fact that I don’t need to understand to just keep moving forward with God. Sometimes He lets me know a part of His plan, but mostly I am just taking one step at a time and waiting for direction for the next one.
The only understanding we need about our circumstances comes from God and He lets us know what we need to know when we need to know it.
One of my favorite quotes from Corrie ten Boom. Do you really trust the Engineer of your life?
Even in life’s hardest and most depressing seasons, God is with us and is listening to us.
One purpose of a song of lament, or lament psalm, is to be honest with God. It’s about expressing vulnerability by telling God exactly how we feel. We should never be afraid of God or how we speak to Him, because He is able to handle our deepest emotions and complaints. And lament psalms are our model in Scripture on how we can be honest with Him.
Psalm 42 is a lament psalm. It is a song about the hopelessness of the writer’s current condition. It speaks to deep sorrow and grief that is experienced in life. The writer of Psalm 42 does not know why he is depressed. He’s not sure why certain things are happening to him. And so he goes to God in prayer and song, expressing the deepest parts of his soul.
Another purpose of lament is to connect the hopelessness of life with the hope that God gives. Laments act as a bridge between our present situation and the promises we’re waiting on.
The writer of this Psalm speaks to his own soul and encourages himself to continue to hope in God. He knows that no season lasts forever, and there will come a time when joy returns to him.
We will all go through seasons of sadness and grief. And we will have Psalms as a guide. The first step is to come before God and honestly express yourself to Him. Tell Him exactly how you feel.
Next, remember the promises that He has given you in His Word. Recount how much He loves you and cares for you.
And lastly, encourage yourself to put your hope in God. Move towards songs of praise in spite of your current circumstances.
My Thoughts
Today’s devotional was perfect for me, and I pray that it will speak to your heart, too. You see, I have been awake since 2:30 a.m. I wish I could say I was earnestly praying or praising or anything besides what I was doing. I spent four hours coughing, using my inhaler, pacing and trying to get my breath as I spoke to God about how awful it felt to have difficulty breathing. I finally got up at 6, fed our cat, used my morning meds which included my inhaler again as well as other asthma meds, and called my pulmonologist at seven, when the office opens. I now have a Telemed appointment this afternoon since my meds are not kicking in as they should.
Am I discouraged? A little, but mostly, this devotional spoke to me because I am hopeful that God’s answer is on the way. After all, torn rotator cuff, spinal issues and now asthma flare, too. Instead of complaining to God, I am choosing to praise Him and know that He is helping me through this time of my life. In the middle of the night, when the coughing was so bad that it rattled my already unstable bones, I knew that God was hearing me even when I could not take a breath to speak a prayer.
God is not just the God of the mountaintop experiences, although we would all like to stay there and just look down into the valley. He is there with us in the valleys, too. I think that He is especially close in the valley times because it is quiet and there are no interruptions to distract us from our time with God there. We may choose to let things distract us, but I think that is a wrong choice. We need the quiet so we can hear His voice gently whispering His peace and loving words to our troubled body and spirit.
God may seem distant, but He isn’t. Even as I struggled to catch my breath, I knew that He is the One who gave me the breath of life and He will be the One with me when I take my last breath. If He wants me to continue to live, He will provide the strength, healing and hope that I need to face each new day.
I hope that you find peace in the Lord today and that He gives you a reason to praise Him. My being alive is enough reason for me. What’s leading you to praise the King of Glory today?
I loved this story about a regular guy who washes windows and then promotes the restaurant. It’s amazing the small things we can do to help others stay in business. Please go to the original blog, like and follow. And comment below if you have observed an act of kindness that should be recognized.
I have a special for you today, so I will start with my surprise video interview with author Terri Reed. She offered, I accepted, sent her the questions and this is the result. You will see when you watch the video that Terri is personable, relatable and entertaining. She is a very talented author, so watch the interview, read my review and get your copy of Danger in the Rockies.
K-9 officer Maren Anderson is shocked when she catches a glimpse of her presumed-dead twin sister—moments before a shooter opens fire. DEA agent Colt Dawson rescues her and helps secure the crime scene, but before Maren can find her sister, Opal vanishes again. Maren has questions and so does Colt—especially since Opal may be the key to exposing a drug kingpin’s identity. But now the cartel leader’s henchmen think Maren is her sister and she has a target on her back. Forced to work together to unravel the deadly mystery, Maren and Colt must track down her twin before the criminals closing in claim their lives…
My Thoughts
This is a skillfully plotted love inspired suspense novel with characters that are relatable and believable. The story of K-9 officer Maren Anderson’s quest to find her missing sister Opal, even while she is engaged in her main assignment of breaking up a baby trafficking ring, is emotionally gut-wrenching at times. The equally important task of DEA agent Colt Dawson to identify and capture the drug kingpin known only as Shadow dovetails perfectly with Maren’s assignment and in some unexpected ways. Maren looks identical to Opal since they are twins and that makes for escalating danger for her since Shadow thinks she is Opal and can possibly identify him. This book led me on an entertaining and enjoyable chase to follow the clues as I tried to figure out who Shadow was and whether Opal was still alive or not. There are plenty of fake trails that misled me and the deliberate misdirection was part of what made the plot so engaging. There is good chemistry between Maren and Colt, but I most enjoyed their interactions with their well-trained and heroic canines, Haven and Rusk. I was impressed with the obedience and the natural intuition of both dogs who were intent on the task of protecting their owners and finding the villains. The realistic details throughout the book had me absorbed in the story and lent themselves to the suspense and the propulsive pace of this fascinating tale of characters facing constant danger together as they ferret out the lies and separate the deception from the truth. This book is compelling with a dramatic climax in an addictive and immersive story. I voluntarily 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.
Clean, Love Inspired Suspense, Rated PG for Intense Suspense
About the Author
Terri Reed is a New York Times and USA Today Featuredbestselling author specializing in action-packed Christian romantic suspense. She has published over 60 novels with major houses like Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, Simon & Schuster, and Tule Publishing. Her work consistently appears on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and Nielsen BookScan bestseller lists.
What type of books does Terri Reed write?
Terri Reed writes faith-rooted stories that blend high-stakes adventure, danger, and emotional depth with heartwarming character connections. Her novels are characterized as inspirational romantic suspense, often featuring professional protectors like K-9 units, US Marshals, and military personnel. Like authors Lynette Eason and Colleen Coble, her stories emphasize characters who rely on their Christian faith to overcome life-threatening adversity.
Terri Reed is an award-winning author whose accolades include NEW YORK TIMES as well as being a multi-time finalist for the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, and the National Readers’ Choice Award. She is a recognized member of the Romance Writers of America Honor Roll. Her novels have achieved #1 Bestseller status on Amazon in multiple categories, including Religion Fiction and Romance.
Where does Terri Reed live and how can readers connect?
Terri Reed resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and enjoys agility training with her Australian Shepherd. She maintains an active community of readers through her official website and Linktree, offering inspiration and “moments of escape” through her storytelling. Check out her website for a printable list of her books and more information: terrireed.com
Well, I can’t be very active physically because my body just isn’t being cooperative, but I have been reading a lot. In fact, on Tuesday, I was on launch/review teams for nine different books. I usually try not to schedule so many on one day, but I kept saying “yes” and didn’t get a good look at my calendar until I had already agreed. That being said, I read some really entertaining books and want to put the Love Inspired Suspense Books that I read on your radar.
My short synopsis: Bethany is in a car accident and loses her memory so she has no idea why someone wants her dead. Her rescuer is an undercover Fish and Game agent and risks blowing his cover to keep her safe. Lots of secrets and surprises!
My short review: I never miss the chance to read a Carrie Stuart Parks book and was delighted to find an LIS releasing from her this month. She always has a few thrills up her sleeve and does fantastic research that makes the book relatable and realistic. My rating was five stars and you can grab your copy here: Harlequin and other retailers
My short synopsis: Takes place in the wilderness and the plot revolves around weapons-smugglers who have kidnapped a little boy. The woman on the cover represents Constable Taylor Grant and her fearless canine Shadow who helps find Levi and keep him and his father safe.
My short review: This book is fast-paced with non-stop action and a surprise revelation of the villain. I kept trying to guess who was the head of the smuggling ring but kept getting it wrong. I loved following the clues! My rating was five stars and you can purchase your copy here: Harlequin and others For those who enjoy audiobooks: Audible
My short synopsis: K-9 officer Maren Anderson is desperate to find her missing sister Opal. DEA agent Colt Dawson is on the trail of a drug kingpin when the two of them find that their quests overlap. Plenty of hair-raising scenes and two lovable and trained canines!
My short review: This book started with a punch and packed a wallop all the way to the end. The drug kingpin is well hidden and the revelation of his identity was a fun surprise. I enjoyed the subtle romance in this book because the focus was on the mystery of Opal and the cartel leader. Super fast read and entertaining from beginning to end. Five stars and a must-read recommendation from me. You can get your copy here: Harlequin and others And for audiobook lovers: Audible
I hope you will choose one or more of these wonderful stories to read and enjoy! They are all clean reads, so no worries about steam or bad language.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 