This is an absolutely delightful children’s book that explores vocations and the dreams of what one can be when one grows older.  The author uses beautiful illustrations and an excellent rhythm that will attract the young readers as well as those growing a little and beginning to ask the question, “What will I be when I grow up?”  Children often hear that they have a hidden talent and this charming book delves into how God gives each of His children a talent that they can use for Him.  The writing is simple but eloquent in its revelation of God’s truth for all children.  What a beautiful gift this would be for any child in anyone’s life!  I can ‘t wait for the book to be released so that I can get a copy for my young grandchildren!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

 

 

This is my meditation verse for the day;  praying for Israel.  This prayer is not something I take lightly.  Indeed, it is very serious.  Israel is being attacked by enemies from all sides.  That is their physical reality.  But the prayer I am referring to is for their salvation.  I want God to open their eyes to the reality that their Messiah has come and is ready to forgive them.  I hope that you will join me in this important prayer.  Israel is and has been God’s chosen from the time He chose Abraham.  As the people who make up the church of believers, it is our privilege to pray for God’s chosen.  Please pray for the people of Israel to be saved.  Paul prayed long ago; let us join our prayer with his and then wait expectantly for God to act and draw His people to salvation.

 

Okay, so this is a hard topic for me to tackle, but it seems to be where God is leading me today.  I must first confess that I have a tendency to want to always put in my two cents, in person and online.  Well, God has been dealing with me about that lately.  Feelings have been hurt, there is a rift in the family and I am now listening to God’s still small voice when He tells me just to be quiet.  I am trusting that He is working to straighten everything out, but it is certainly hard to wait.

Since I do not want to be considered a fool in the eyes of the Lord, I have been letting go of anger and bitterness and just letting God handle things. That means, for me, that I am not just telling everyone exactly what I think.  My grandmother used to call that “giving someone a piece of my mind.”  I’m at an age now when I need all the pieces of my mind, and I know after many years of experience that it means that I am  responsible not only for my words and actions but also for my thoughts.  So, once again, I am trusting God to work things out without my help.  In fact, in the past when I tried to help, it didn’t work out so well.  So, time to take a step back and see what God can do!

This is where I am now, choosing a path and the current path is one of silence and waiting.  I know that He is able!  I hope that wherever you are that you have come to the same conclusion that I have…God will show you the path to take if you just seek Him.  Have a blessed day and may the Lord direct your steps.

 

This was my meditation verse this morning.  My circumstances have been challenging lately, but God reminded me that His love is still there for me to rest upon.  One writer put it that His love is like a pillow.  I have a favorite pillow that I use each time I lie down.  It is comfortable and just seems to hold my head and neck in positions that allow me to sleep all night.  That is what God’s love is like…a pillow that I can just rest on and give up all of my problems.  I can just rest, knowing that God is faithful and His love will always be there for me.

So, believing in God’s great love, I must then also believe that He is working on my behalf to make everything turn out okay.  He loves me so much that He wants good things for me.  This truth makes me ponder about how many times I have doubted God and basically said like a little child, “I can do it by myself.”  The Lord’s gentle response was that He would let me try, and then He held me when I failed and cried over my failure.  And He would always remind me that He is working out a plan in my life if I will just let Him.  He will always be there for me even when I am demanding to do things my way…He just knows a better way because of His great love for me.

I am one who likes to always be in control, so I don’t like it when circumstances are out of my control.  That has been the case lately, so I needed to be reminded of this scripture.  No circumstances can separate me from the love of God.  Not anything!  So, I can rest in His love and His reassurance to me, “Vickie, just rest.  I’ve got this.  I’m working on your behalf and I love you.”  That’s a big WOW from me.  The God who created the Universe loves me enough to tell me that He is taking care of the small details of my life.

Now that I have been convinced once again of God’s love for me, what am I to do?  I am supposed to put His love for others into practice.  God doesn’t love me just so I can sit back on the pillow of His love and just recline until Jesus returns.  Nope!  He expects me to get busy sharing His love with others.  My blog is one way of doing that, but I also need to show love to all with whom I come in contact.  You know, there are a lot of needy people in the world who have never had the chance to hear about and receive the great love that is theirs freeely, just for believing in Christ.  So, as I go about my errands today, I am praying for the opportunity to share and bless others with the love of God.  That’s what matters…His love that never ends and that flows out from me to others.  God is so good!

 

Do you ever plan to do or say one thing and the next thing you know, you are doing exactly what you were trying to avoid or saying what you know you shouldn’t?  That is me, a lot of the time, honestly.  And do you know you pushes my buttons the most and I react too quickly for my own spiritual good?  My spouse, of course!  After forty-five years together, he still knows how to upset me.  But I am figuring out that he can’t push my buttons unless I let him.  I sin because I am still a sinner, saved by God’s grace.  I am being saved from sin daily and sometimes I make wrong choices and have to turn around (again), repent, and then start moving forward.  I know that I belong to Jesus, so there is no condemnation.  There is, however, the Holy Spirit, nudging me to make things right and not to hold a grudge.  Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself because I can feel the anger or bitterness burning inside me, and I know that I should be talking to the Lord right then, not spouting off like an uncontrolled fountain at my spouse.  I am getting better, but I am not “there” yet.  I just know that I am God’s child and I don’t want Him to be disappointed in me.  So I keep going back to the altar of repentance.  Is that something you need to do today?  Salvation is only found in Jesus.  There is no condemnation to those who are His children.  Isn’t that good news?  Moving forward is much better than looking and going backwards…you make more progress in your Christian walk that way.

Have a blessed and forward-moving day!

We came back home on Saturday and my heart misses these little ones so much already.  I played with Penny in her play room and in her bedroom.  She enjoys playing that she is a superhero and has the costume to make it all the more real to her.  Little Evie is a doll baby; she still likes to eat, sleep and poop because she is such a small baby, but she is starting to smile a lot and laugh a little.  It’s always hard to come home, knowing that it will be months before I see them again, but the visit was a good one, with lots of good memories to last me a long time.  Isn’t that just what life is about?  Making memories?  I hope that you make some good ones today!

Next week you will not find me posting on my blog because I have a very important visit that I will be making. Because of all of our moves with the military, our children are scattered. Thus, we don’t get to see our grandchildren as often as I would like, but I am blessed to be able to see them three or four times per year. One of those times will be next week, s visit with two of our distant granddaughters. So, no blogging. But lots of hugs, kisses, playing and holding tight. If you look closely at the picture below, you will see the part of my heart that I will be with next week. Evie is three months and Penny is three. So off I go! Don’t forget me while I’m gone…I will still need your thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed and safe week!

Everywhere we look there are people searching for someone or something that they can truly count upon.  Many of them never think to look to God.  They count their money or they look at their homes or relationships with other people, but what they really need is a relationship with God.  People are fallible; inevitably, they will fall short of your expectations of them.  Things disappear; money is all used up or the house is depreciating.  Even gold and other precious metals have values that fluctuate.  But God never changes.  He is eternal; His faithfulness is everlasting and His mercies are new every morning.  Some days it is harder for me to remember this than others, but God gently reminds me that He is always there for me.  He was right beside me when I heard the news of my mother’s death.  He was next to me when my son put his arm through a glass window.  He was with me when a truck ran into us on the way to Bible study.  He has been with me each and every time my husband was deployed and I was left alone in a new place.  No matter what I was going through, God was right there.  His Holy Spirit comforted me, guided me, and showed me God’s love.  This peace, this knowing that you are not ever alone, is what I want for my family members, for my readers, for everyone in the world actually.  To know that every day you start new with God.  He doesn’t hold grudges or turn His back on you because of yesterday’s mistakes.  I am so thankful for His love and presence with me.  I want that for each of you who is reading this little missive.  Take the time today to thank God for His faithfulness and never-ending mercy.

One of my favorite hymns tells of God’s faithfulness and mercies.  I hope that you enjoy it, too, and recognize that Jesus is the Lord of your life and wants to be with you every day, through every trial.  Your hope is in Him and His name because He is faithful and true.

Every day that I wake up to a new morning with the Lord is a blessing to me.  You see, after I had my stroke about three and a half years ago, I did not know if I would see another morning.  So, I am blessed to be alive and blessed to be able to share how God has changed my life.  I cannot imagine that people wake up every day, look around at the beautiful world that God has given us to enjoy and not believe in Him. Science is one thing, but faith is something totally different.  It comes from the mind and the heart.  It means that you acknowledge that there is a Being greater than you and more powerful and knowledgeable than all the scientists in the world, One who started this whole thing rolling, with His words.  Over and over again in the book of Genesis, it is stated that God said and it was.  God said, for example, “Let there be light” and there was light.  How awesome is that!  No technology or gadget we have today in our modern world can out-do God.  He is awesome, and all you have to do is look around.  Have an open mind, let God fill those questioning spaces with His Spirit, see with a new perspective, and worship!  Your days will start better if you start it with worship…and your eternity will hold more promise, too!

To start you out on your road to worship, here is one of my favorite worship songs sung by a new, young artist.  I hope that you enjoy and that you will look around and worship!