Misplaced Confidence by James R. Coggins

Posted on February 19, 2025 by jrcoggins

In Philippians 3:1-11, the apostle Paul was warning the early Christians about relying on circumcision and following other Jewish rituals and obeying other laws and rules. He described his own life, saying, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (verses 4-6). Then Paul said that he considered all of these good deeds as garbage compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

We may find it hard to see the relevance in Paul’s description of his life as a devout Jew (Philippians 3:4-6). But consider the following testimony:

I grew up in a Christian home and was raised by godly parents. I publicly accepted Christ as my personal Savior at a Christian camp when I was twelve. I was baptized at sixteen and joined our local Baptist church. I was active in the youth group and helped out with summer vacation Bible school and Sunday school. I went to Bible college and earned a Master’s degree in theology from a respected evangelical seminary. I have taught Sunday school and led Bible studies and am a member of the church board. I am married with three children. I have never committed a crime. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. I am well respected in my community and church.

We would all applaud such a testimony. But what if the person giving the testimony went on to say: The truth is I am not saved by any of this. In fact, I consider it all as less than useless compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

How easy it is to see the flaws in Paul’s early life. And how easy it is to fail to see the flaws in our own. How easy it is for us to fall back into relying on our own righteous works to be justified before God, instead of recognizing that we are sinners saved by grace, saved by faith in Jesus alone, justified only by Jesus dying on the cross to save us.

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A Glimpse of Heaven: Our Ultimate Destination

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

Ever wonder what Heaven will be like? Me, too.

Thoughts of Heaven have inspired countless works of art, literature, and music. A place of eternal peace and joy, heaven represents the ultimate destination for those who seek solace and fulfillment beyond this earthly life. But what exactly is heaven, and why does it hold such a significant place in our hearts and minds?

A Promise of Eternal Joy

In the Bible, heaven is described as a place of unparalleled beauty and bliss. Revelation 21:4 promises that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This verse encapsulates the essence of heaven—a realm where suffering is nonexistent, and every soul experiences everlasting happiness.

A Place Prepared for Us

Jesus spoke of heaven as a place specifically prepared for His followers. In John 14:2-3, He reassures His disciples, saying, “My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.” This promise not only offers comfort but also strengthens our faith, knowing that we are destined for a divine home where we will dwell in the presence of God.

Fellowship with God

One of the most beautiful aspects of heaven is the eternal fellowship we will have with God. Revelation 21:3 proclaims, “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” In heaven, we will experience an intimate relationship with our Creator, basking in His glory and love for eternity.

A Reunion with Loved Ones

Heaven also promises a joyous reunion with our loved ones who have gone before us. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 assures us, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” This hope of being reunited with family and friends brings immense comfort and anticipation.

Living with Purpose

While the promise of heaven fills us with hope, it also calls us to live our earthly lives with purpose and intentionality. Colossians 3:2 encourages us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” By focusing on the eternal, we are inspired to lead lives that reflect God’s love, grace, and righteousness, ultimately preparing ourselves for the heavenly home that awaits.

Heaven is more than just a distant dream; it is a divine promise that offers solace, hope, and purpose. As we journey through life, let us keep our eyes fixed on this ultimate destination, drawing strength from the assurance of eternal joy, fellowship with God, and reunions with loved ones. May the thought of heaven fill our hearts with peace and inspire us to live lives that honor the One who has prepared such a magnificent place for us.

As I think of Heaven, I’m reminded of that magnificent hymn, When We All Get To Heaven!

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

What a day that will be!

Mary Alford  

http://www.maryalford.net

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A Response to Frustration by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Obi – @pixel9propics on Unsplash

Last Saturday, my husband and I were on our way to a fundraising gala supporting my favorite ministry, when we noticed a funny sound from our car. Thinking we’d picked up a plastic bag, my husband pulled over only to discover we had a flat tire. Ugh! 

A little frustration unfurled. Didn’t God understand we were on our way to a ministry event? Why would something like this happen? We had a long drive ahead and needed to get there on time. I sighed and helped my husband with the tire change—meaning I stood there and chatted while he worked. 

We returned home after he put on the spare, and exchanged our car for our truck and made it to the gala in plenty of time. The next day we took the tire to the place where we’d bought tires just a month prior to having the flat. A tire weight had punctured our tire so we were given a new tire under the warranty.

But there was a problem. The compressor the tire place used wasn’t working and they were waiting for a repairman. A little more annoyance settled in. We left the tire and returned home. 

During the week, we made trips to town for appointments and always checked on our tire. They kept saying they were waiting for the compressor to be fixed, which was a lesson in inconvenience for us. You have to understand that we live in a remote area and the place we bought the tire is almost 60 miles away.

We all face times of affliction when life isn’t going the way we expect it to go and we have no control over the situation. There is the desire to take things into our hands and manipulate without seeking God’s advice. That almost never ends well.

Abraham was told of a child of promise that he would father with Sarah, but Sarah was old and didn’t truly believe or want to wait. She gave Hagar, her maid, to Abraham. The result was Ishmael, who wasn’t the child of promise. They needed to be patient and wait for Isaac to come in God’s timing.

The Israelites followed Moses into the desert away from Egypt, seeing many miracles performed by God to keep them safe as He delivered them from Pharaoh’s cruel hand. When Moses ascended the mountain to meet with God and get the ten commandments, the Israelites grew impatient. They made an idol to worship and many of them died when Moses discovered their treachery. If they had just waited on God’s timing and Moses’ return.

There are also examples in scripture of how to handle life’s upsets the right way.

Daniel showed how to handle fear and frustration when the King made an edict that anyone worshipping someone other than him would be thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel prayed and sought God’s will and God protected him in the coming trial in a mighty way.

Jesus also showed how to gracefully handle conflict and strife. He often went away to pray and seek His Father’s will. Even on the brink of being arrested, Jesus didn’t try to escape or manipulate events so He didn’t have to die on the cross. His prayer showed that He didn’t look forward to facing the cross, but His words, “Not my will but thine be done,” conveyed the attitude of His heart.

When we face the frustrations life throws at us, our first response should be to pray. What does God want us to do in this situation? What should our heartfelt response be? What does He want us to learn in this instance?

As to our tire situation, on Friday, we went to town with the idea of picking up the tire and taking it somewhere else, if they would allow us to do that and still honor the warranty. When we arrived the repairman for the compressor was there, so we did some shopping, had lunch, and then picked up our new tire and went home.

I am thankful we went through this and saw God work out the situation in His time.

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PEACE IN TURBULENT TIMES by Vicki Hinze

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

Peace in turbulent times, christians read, vicki hinze

 

Few dispute these are tumultuous times.  It seems everything and everyone is in an uproar over something, or over many things.  If it isn’t fires or plane crashes or train crashes or hurricanes striking from the coast, it’s hurricanes striking from Wall Street or Washington.

It’s hard to keep your peace, to see the beauty in anything, when there’s so much turbulence and upset all around us.  Of course, it impacts us internally as well.  As singular individuals, we do what we can to make things better.  Yet often we look outward for ways to do that, when first we should look within.  If we’re calm, we have better odds of calming others, of seeing more clearly, of deepening our insights.  These are all coping tools, or skills, that are beneficial and integral to peace.

When we’re anxious, we look at the world and events through that prism, and too often see only the bad things happening.  True, there’s plenty to see, and since bad news sells, that’s what we hear most, so this comes as little surprise.  It is however an unbalanced view and one that, if we don’t guard our minds, can drive us into despair.

As believers, we know that regardless of worldly influences, God is in control.  We know that there is purpose and reason (as well as a season) for all things.  That evil done to cause harm, He can turn and use for good.

We also know that this conversion process is a two-part process. 

  1. We do our part.
  2. God does His part. And He is always respectful of our free will.

His respect for our free will is why it is so important to guard our minds.  If we focus on doom and gloom, God will respect it as our wish.  If we focus on solutions and finding value or good in the opportunities tough times bring to light, then He’ll respect that.  (Remember the beauty from ashes.)

Understanding His respect for free will, and how we signal what our free will is raises the question, “What do we want respected?”

An example:

Looking at the economy, you see a lot of people have been hurt by Covid and all that’s occurred since then.  There are few exceptions, and I certainly am not one of them.

A dear friend recently asked me if I’d been hurt by the stock market challenges.  I replied that the best I can figure right now, I’ll have to work ten years after I die before I can retire.

Now, you might think that’s a bad thing, and it is.  But what if instead, you think about it differently?  Okay, so retirement and traveling are pipe dreams now.  Honestly, they were just something to look forward to, not a passion, but maybe for others they are passions.  For the sake of illustration, let’s say they were passions for me and I’m bitterly disappointed that I won’t be doing either.  I have two choices:

  1. I can stay disappointed and live the rest of my life bitter.
  2. I can look for something good and enjoy the rest of my life.

Staying bitter holds no appeal for all the obvious reasons.  Dissatisfaction and discontent leads to a life of regret and disillusion until it’s too late to have a life to live.  So I’ll take the looking for something good route.

Sounds easy, this choice.  But it’s hard to find something good in losing a lifetime of savings that is the evidence of years of hard work.  But that’s on a physical level and, in the grand scheme of things, that’s a small share of eternity.  So I see wisdom in shifting to a big-picture view of my life.  A broader canvas. In the broader-canvas view, I (we all) can find something good.

Shifting focus, I ask myself:

  • What will I do during these years I thought I’d be retired? 
  • What new purpose(s) will I adopt?
  • What deeper purpose in my current purpose can I now reach for?
  • What can I do now that I would not have been able to do before? 
  • What new dreams do I now have time and the motivation to pursue?

I’m kind of intrigued at the possibilities.  I see opportunity, potential to continue to grow and be a positive influence.  I see hope.  Yes, indeed, I’m enthused!  Actually, I’m excited.

Yes, there will be hard times.  Yes, there are wrongs that need correcting.  Yes, we do have a lot of work to do in every area imaginable.  Entity upon entity failed, and they all need to be fixed.  It won’t all be pleasant.  It won’t all be fun.  It won’t all be easy.

But let’s face it.  In these areas, we’ve been lax and apathetic.  Anything neglected is always going to need repair.  We get to be a part of those repairs.  We have a voice in deciding how they are repaired.

We get an opportunity to renew ourselves and to define or redefine our purpose.  To really think about what we want to do with this “found” time.  And we face all this knowing that God is  with us, and He’ll respect our focus and free will.

And maybe, once the shock passes and the fear settles, we will see that in these trying events we have also been blessed with a divine gift:

The chance for a fresh start.

I’m going to grab this chance with both hands and hang onto the hope and promise it holds.  I’m going to be grateful for it, because I know that in seeing this opportunity, for me, God has already turned the intended harm to a good thing.

The beauty of it is that for a long time I’ve worried that collectively we were on the wrong road.  Morals and values and ethics were careening down that slippery slope at warp speed.  I don’t wish this meltdown had happened, but it has; it’s here, and that’s that. 

Now, we get a chance to think about where we’ve been and where we are and to decide if that’s where we want to be and if we’re heading where we really want to go.

Collectively, we’ve suffered a gaping wound.  Collectively, we can let bitterness keep the wound open and seeping (and suffer the infection that comes with it) or we can heal by focusing on what good can come from this.  We know we’ll gain wisdom from knowing what got us here and what we learn on reshaping our futures.

We can have faith and focus on our personal and collective fresh starts.

Blessings,

Vicki

P.S.  In case you are curious, I first wrote this article in 2008.  It felt relevant then but feels even more relevant now.  Remember, when God brings us to something, He also brings us through it.  We just need to shift our focus and align with Him.

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Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas? By James R. Coggins

Posted on February 12, 2025 by jrcoggins

Writers are often asked, “Where do you get your ideas?”

People who ask such questions are not writers. For real writers, ideas are not the problem. Writers are like a seething cauldron bubbling over with ideas, more ideas than they can ever write in a lifetime.

Where do we writers get our ideas? From everywhere. From every person, place, and thing we see and everything we experience. Writers are inveterate people watchers. In shopping malls and airport terminals and restaurants and street corners and churches, we are constantly watching people to see what they look like and how they walk and talk and act and react and interact. “Writer” sounds so much more respectable than “stalker” or “busybody.”

Here is a case in point. For our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, my wife and I booked passage on a cruise ship from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Alaska and back. It was a wonderful and memorable experience.

That experience percolated for several more years and finally emerged as “Anniversary Cruise,” the third of three novellas published together in my most recent book, Too Many Deaths.

Because we had taken this cruise, I could authentically recreate the sights and sounds and feel of being on a cruise ship to Alaska. I could remember details and peculiar observations, such as how an Alaskan fishing village of a few thousand people could support dozens of jewelry stores. You can’t make this stuff up.

For dinner every night, we were seated at a table with the same group of people and got to know them quite well. I immediately recognized this as an ideal place to people watch. I also recognized it as an ideal setting for a “cozy,” a murder mystery with a limited number of suspects all gathered in one place. In “Anniversary Cruise,” I recreated that table setting. Sort of. I am a short, bald, bearded editor; the hero of the novella is John Smyth, a short, bald, bearded editor who was on the cruise to celebrate his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with his wife. One of the couples at our table was rich; in the novella, one of the couples was rich, but from a different country and with different personal traits. Two of the men at the table had just lost their jobs; in the novella, one man had just lost his job.

There are some differences, of course. None of the people at the table on our anniversary cruise was murdered during the trip. But that happened in the novella.

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Change by Vicki Hinze

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

Change, vicki hinze, christians read

Change is as inevitable as breathing.  As humans, often we don’t like it, we don’t want it, and we don’t accept it.

We resist change because we’re settled into things the way they are.  To people, the way they are.  We know what to expect, and what not to expect.

Still, change comes.

There are life-altering accidents.  Life-changing medical issues.  The loss of a job.  The change in circumstance—financial, emotional or spiritual.  We learn something that alters our perspective and what we saw as acceptable now isn’t.

These life-defining moments, like change itself, are inescapable.  The good news is we all experience them.  Some are more painful than others, but these changes eventually impact us and those closest to us in some form.

Some changes are potent and powerful, and we feel disoriented, or out-of-step in our world, and we wonder if we will find our way back to some semblance of peace and content.  Some are minor but throw us off-course for a time.  The bottom line is we long for the way things were.  What we knew.  What was in our comfort zone.

It might not have been great, true, but it wasn’t riddled with all this uncertainty and doubt we feel now.

Most grieve, resisting the change.  That’s normal.  But it’s important not to get stuck there.  To shift focus from what was to what is.  Why?  Because change has occurred.  It is the present.  And only when you assess the present can you begin to adapt and chart your future.  Acceptance is key, and it opens to the door to new possibilities.

Have you ever lost a job and reevaluated your career and decided you wanted something different?  Or that you’ve always wanted to do something but never have had the chance?  If so, could it be that this is the new door opening for you?  That chance to do something you’ve wanted to do for a long time?

Change can bring opportunities.  But you must think about them not as inconveniences, but as opportunities for these special second chances.

If you look ahead to your future and not to your past behind you, eventually you realize that the change you thought was awful was your second chance.

Will you continue to rail against it?  Convince yourself that this change ruined your life?  Or will  you accept the change, embrace it, and seize its opportunities?

It really is your choice.

It’s not always easy, or quick, or without challenges.  But when you are on the other side of it and you look back, you will deem it worth your effort.

In the Bible, this very thing was addressed:

 

“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”  Matthew 9:17

 

What started this line of thought for me?

Reading the Bible, I discovered how often people’s names were changed.  God and Jesus did this a lot.  Saul was saved and became Paul, for example.

I started searching and saw this happened time and again, and I spotted the pattern:  A person experienced a life-altering event, embraced it, and was made new—changed.

Whether the name change, the identity of the person, was done as a physical reminder of the change or for another reason, only God/Jesus knows.  But I find it plausible that the individual benefits from an in-your-face declaration that you are not who you were.  You are who you have become.

There’s a lesson for us all in that, in my humble opinion.

Blessings,

Vicki Hinze

 

 

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Covenants by James R. Coggins

Posted on February 5, 2025 by jrcoggins

At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant, a formal agreement, with the Israelites, the essence of which was the document we know as the “Ten Commandments” (even though the Bible never calls it that). The Hebrew word for covenant is beriyth (Exodus 19:5, 24:7, 34:28). This was essentially a renewal and elaboration of the “covenant” God had made with Abraham (Genesis 15:18, 17:2-21). In Exodus, God said that He was rescuing the Israelites from Egypt because He “remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24, 6:4-5 NIV). The two stone tablets on which the covenant was written and which were placed in the ark were called the “testimony” or “witness” (eduwth). That is, they would be the evidence or proof or documentation or reminder of the covenant (Exodus 25:16,21 31:18,29, 40:20). The ark itself was called the “ark of the testimony” (Exodus 25:22, 26:33, 30:6 and many more). The word for “ark” is arown, which means literally a “box.”  

In Exodus, God also told the Israelites: “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you” (Exodus 34:12);

“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices” Exodus 34:15); “Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods” (Exodus 23:32). The Hebrew word for “treaty” is the same as the word for “covenant” (beriyth). The Israelites were not to make a covenant with other nations or other gods because they already had a covenant with the true God, Yahweh. They could not make another covenant without breaking their covenant with Yahweh. They were to have “no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), which would be equivalent to “committing adultery,” which was forbidden in their covenant with God (Exodus 20:14).

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Learning to Love: A Mother’s Seasoned Heart

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Ann Malley

As I watch snow finally melt outside my kitchen window, I sigh at the sound of confident piano practice. My grow son plays in the far side of the house. The distance lends perspective. The mellow tones make me smile deep inside because I’ve come to understand love so differently than I once did. Those early years of marriage and motherhood taught me one version of love – the kind that runs on adrenaline and determination. But now, with silver in my hair and laugh lines I’ve earned honestly, I see love’s deeper currents.

Gone are the days of preventing hurt. What say you? Don’t you care? Oh, most certainly, we mother’s care, believers care, but life happens. Trials happen and there’s a heap of hurt that’s required to take the fruit from the experience. Jobs are lost, scholarships, boyfriends, dreams, and even faith. Or so it seems.  My son took the long road home, a painful one but necessary. I’m sure you can relate, no doubt.

How many times have you caught yourself attempting to fix something that must, by design, be left alone if those you love are to grow? I’ve been there too often but, when I’m able, I recall my mother’s wisdom. This high-school drop- out, mother of eight adopted the practice of not offering help and or advice. She’d remain silent unless specifically asked. Pointers were given sparingly, even then, with specifics couched in her personal experience. Having married at 16, in a different world that was pre-WWII, she saw too much. Good, bad, and pure ugliness often came by way of undue interference, even by those with the best of intentions. But just like in Fallen Angel, my very first published romantic suspense novel, we must cleave to the truth.

God draws straight with crooked lines.

That’s why love was suffering for Mom. Love meant letting life happen, most certainly by the time she reached child number 8. Yours truly. The pain of that learning exercise was mostly borne by her.

The job of patient bearing is mine now. Yours too, perhaps. God calls us to love throughout, however, amid what seems to be the darkest night, for that trail brings forth wisdom. Our Lord’s mother suffered in manifest silence. A deafening silence, outside suggesting, “Do whatever he tells you!” Silently suffering. Accepting. Waiting. Refusing to judge. And embracing unassailable confidence in He whose designs boggle our minds. That s wisdom. That is true love.

Has your son or daughter ruined their life? Chosen bad company? Married the wrong person? Have they accepted a position that will only tempt them toward that which kills? Have they filled your mother’s heart with gall? Are your grandchildren frittering away precious time that could be, in your view, better spent? If that’s not your story, I have no doubt that you’ve heard such tales and plenty of them. But true love isn’t about steering our children back to our chosen path – it’s about keeping our hearts and doors open, no matter what.

The Good Shepherd, after all, doesn’t drag the sheep home; He calls to them lovingly and waits. That call, if you will, is often the deafening sound of peaceful, abiding, loving silence in the face of utter hell. Jesus gives us our proverbial heads, watching as we strain the leash and often hurt ourselves so very badly. That’s when kids come home, though. Isn’t it? And those who have sinned more are all the more inclined to love deeply, to the core, once forgiven. Those hideous thorns that pierce us are channels for grace once the evil is removed. Not to be crass, but we’re so much tough, cheap steak that must be marinated if anyone hopes to eat it. I’m relentless with my jabbing, stabbing fork when I want the delicious teriyaki flavor to move through the meat I plan to serve my family. How about you?

Say goodbye to avoidance. Embrace the pain that tells us we’re alive and still have much to learn. Our Lord told Peter to get behind him when the latter suggested that Jesus avoid Jerusalem and subsequent crucifixion. Peter was thinking as a man, like we would if we’re honest, not as God. Those who love in this world think, act, and proceed as humans because that’s what we are. We seek to shelter ourselves and loved ones from pain. Pain, however, is the crucible of abiding wisdom. (And tasty steak!)

This doesn’t mean that we should seek pain. No. Experience has led me to believe that we are tasked with accepting all that comes from the hand of God with an open heart. We should be open to suffering, in whatever form, as it comes, as it’s necessary. The humbling pain of having to take our medication or accept certain limitations is real. So, take your meds as directed. Refrain from berating yourselves for the ongoing instinct to lend an unwanted or overly helpful hand. Be kind. Treat yourself in the exact same way you want your children to treat themselves—the way Christ treats us. Our children will be in our position soon enough; silver hair, curves shifting location on the body, and bones that communicate their various complaints with unnerving regularity.

Now, to cease and desist from causing ongoing discomfort, I’ll end this little essay. We know what we need to do. Carry that cross. Love it. Embrace it. And trod the holy road of true love which leads to the Father. There is no other course. Seasoned mothers, and fathers, must lead the way to show and not tell!

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I AM!

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

One of my favorite mentions of “I Am” in the Bible is when Moses askes God who he should tell the children of Israel sent him and God ultimately replies in Exodus 3:14, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

That’s all they needed to know.     

The phrase “I Am” is a profound declaration of God’s eternal and self-sufficient nature. It signifies that God is unchanging, ever-present, and independent of all creation. Throughout the Bible, this concept is reiterated numerous times, emphasizing God’s omnipotence and eternal existence.

In the Old Testament, “I Am” is referenced multiple times. In Isaiah 41:4, God declares, “I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.”

The New Testament also echoes this powerful declaration. Jesus Christ, in the Gospel of John, makes several “I Am” statements that affirm His divinity and unity with God the Father. Some of these include “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These statements not only highlight Jesus’ divine nature but also His role as the savior and sustainer of humanity.

In total, the phrase “I Am” appears over 300 times in the Bible, each instance reinforcing the message of God’s eternal presence and unchanging nature. This profound truth serves as a cornerstone of faith for believers, reminding them of God’s unwavering love, power, and sovereignty.

Until next time dear friends, no matter what you’re going through, I hope you find rest in the great I Am.

All the best. . .

Mary Alford   

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Book Review by Kathy Carmichael on Vicki Hinze’s No One was Supposed to Die

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE by Vicki Hinze

Amazon

Publisher: Magnolia Leaf Press

Print and eBook

Kathy’s Book Review:

I’ve been incredibly fortunate in having the opportunity to read Vicki Hinze’s spellbinding thriller NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE not once but twice (so far). As an author myself, I’ve many times discussed with other authors the topic of writing the book of your heart. But this book by Ms. Hinze is the book of my heart.

She captivated my imagination from the first line, “The Chief Councilor stood alone on the tarmac.” Such a simple sentence, but it demonstrates her mastery at being able to convey a sense of desolation as well as suspense. The imagery made me think of old black and white classic movies from the 1940’s.

Next she introduced us to Mrs. Penny Crown, a widow with a teenaged daughter, whose insecurities clutched my empathy. Penny Crown is both someone I would love to know in real life and what we all think of as a true hero, without being over the top. Most of all, she is believable. 

Next, a stunning tale of royalty, priceless jewelry and intrigue unfolds in unexpected and enticing ways. The plot is dense and intricate, as we would expect from Ms. Hinze, but it is also accessible, easy to follow and understand. I certainly was wrapped up in it and couldn’t wait to see where the story would lead.

I truly cared about these characters and what would happen to them, including the secondaries whose destiny was carved in stone nearly two decades earlier. And, lucky me, the book resides on my kindle so I can enjoy reading it a third, fourth or infinite times.

I was so honored by Ms. Hinze’s dedication to me. This was a story I literally nagged her to write, and let me tell you, reading it has been a true pinnacle in my book-loving life.

Check NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE out. Read the free sample, and I bet you’ll be as swept up as I was in this book that I consider Ms. Hinze’s finest to date.

5 Stars. 5 Thumbs up. 5 Hearts. Highest Accolades!

Author Copy received for review.

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Patterns by Tara Randel

Posted on February 3, 2025 by tararandel

I’ve been reading the book of Ephesians lately. Paul establishes a foundation of faith in the first few chapters, then finishes the remaining chapters by illustrating how to live by using the pattern of Jesus’ teaching. When I heard the word pattern in a commentary while I was studying, it brought me back to my youth.

When I was a teen, I took sewing lessons. The sewing instructor was a good friend of my mother and my best friend’s mom. In their remodeled basement, there was an entire classroom set up. There were six sewing machine stations, and two very large and wide tables used to cut the fabric from the patterns we chose. I remember spending hours learning every step of putting together a garment, but the first step was deciding what I wanted to make, a dress, shorts or blouse, then finding a pattern in order to create that piece of clothing. There were huge books in the fabric department dedicated to all sorts of patterns. We spent hours poring over them. Once we picked the one, then came purchasing fabric and going step by step, cutting the fabric by pinning the pattern pieces to it, connecting the pieces with the threaded machine and finally, the hand finishing work to complete an outfit.

Most importantly, the pattern came with instructions. I had to know how to lay out the fabric to make all the pieces fit, and I had to know in which direction to place all the pieces.

Which brings me back to Jesus. He is the ultimate pattern of how we should live our lives. In the Word, Jesus tells us about his relationship with the Father and how we can walk in the same way, how we should interact with each other, and how the Spirit guides us to carry out these actions.

The pattern instructions were important for not only cutting the fabric but then assembling the pieces. Without the instructions, I would have no clue where to start.

Jesus lived his life as a pattern, showing us the way to live an abundant life. We are his disciples, but we need Him to show us the way we should go. John 15 is an entire chapter of Jesus laying this out.

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

I love this beautiful picture Jesus paints.  There are many other examples in the Word, but this chapter always takes my breath away.

In Ephesians, and other books written by the apostle Paul, he had a really good handle on guiding new disciples to follow Christ or helping folks who had lost their way to remember where they started. He reminded the people he was writing to that they had once lived one way, but having now found Jesus, there was a better way.

In Ephesians 4: 1-6, Paul wrote, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

And then he ended the chapter with, vs 32, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

In the Bible, we learn how important it is to follow Jesus’ example and how we can do it. Just like I learned from the best when it came to sewing. I don’t think the instructor ever bought clothing off the rack, that’s how talented she was. Because she had a foundation and had learned to follow the instructions.

It’s a process, but one that is rewarding. Just like I never knew how the end product would turn out when I started sewing an outfit, I’m amazed daily by our loving and generous Father and by remembering how selfless it was for Jesus to come to earth and be our Savior and example. We can follow that pattern by reading the instructions, His Word, the Bible.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance THE SURPRISE NEXT DOOR, available May 2025. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. 

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THE PRIVILEGE OF LIFE by Vicki Hinze

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

How often do we wake up either dreading the day ahead of us, or fearful of accomplishing everything we’re supposed to do?  

I spotted the above Marcus Aurelius quote and felt ashamed because so often in the past months, I have awakened with anything but gratitude at the privilege of being alive.  I seriously needed an attitude adjustment.

God said, “Be still and know that I am God,” I reminded myself.  I also recalled His nothing will happen to me today that He and I can’t handle.  I am His daughter, protected by the promises and covenants made in the Bible.

And so this morning, I invite all of us to heed His words:  Be still and know that I am God.

No matter how frenetic the day might become, He is with us, and we can handle it.

It shouldn’t take the death of someone we care about to instill in us the certainty and need to be still and to recognize that life itself is a privilege.  It is ours to appreciate and embrace.

So this morning, I am grateful to be alive.  I look forward to what the day holds in store, confident nothing will occur that God and I can’t handle.  I believe His word.  I believe His promises.  

It is indeed a privilege to be alive.

Blessings,

Vicki

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Exercise Tips for Seniors by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 29, 2025 by jrcoggins

As we get older, it is important that we recognize the changes that are taking place in our bodies and the risks involved in that.

When we were younger, we saw no problem with getting involved in sports. As we age, however, we realize that we have to take more precautions. Here are some simple rules to follow:

1. Avoid rigorous exercise. Just the other day, I was sitting at my desk, minding my business, and then stood up. Big mistake. I tweaked my back and for the next couple of days was in intense pain.

2. Don’t do anything you don’t normally do or volunteer for a job that is not your responsibility. A while after my back injury, I was helping to put away groceries, reached for something, and scraped my forearm over the corner of a box of pop cans. As we get older, our skin gets thinner and more fragile. My simple act of reaching for something tore a gash in my forearm four inches long, a quarter inch wide, and a sixteenth of an inch deep. Even worse, I am Canadian, so the gash was 100 millimeters long. Injuries like mine are another reason drinking pop is not good for your health. But that is not the lesson to be learned here. Obviously putting away groceries is women’s work, and I should have left it to the professional (my wife) to do it. 

3. Don’t make sudden changes to your routine. If you are sitting, stay sitting. If you are lying down, stay lying down.

4. Learn from other people’s mistakes. Remember my example from the other day when I threw my back out. Right about then, I would have liked to throw my back out. It hurt.

5. Don’t get overly nostalgic about how great things were when you were young. The idea that it was safe to indulge in sports when you were younger is nonsense. When I was younger, I played hockey and had a tooth knocked out by a stray hockey stick. I switched to a tamer sport and broke a finger playing baseball. Actually, it was softball, which is misleading. The ball wasn’t soft. I even got a concussion playing pushball in high school gym class. There was no golden age. Vigorous exercise is dangerous at all ages.

6. Don’t listen to stupid advice. Exercise is a good thing. I didn’t tweak my back because I stood up. I tweaked my back because I had been sitting too long. You won’t be injured sitting in a chair. But you might well die of a heart attack.

7. Life is to be lived. Don’t waste your life playing it safe and doing nothing. The riskiest thing is taking no risks. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).

8. Be useful. You were put on this earth for a purpose. Fulfill it. The machinery may be old and not have many years left, but it is better for it to wear out than rust out.

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STARTING OVER by Kathy Carmichael

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Vicki Hinze

John 14: Jesus Comforts the Disciples

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

I recently had the misfortune of having my house flooded out by Hurricane Helene. It has been an experience I would not care to repeat. When we bought our house, we thought it would be safe from flooding. It has been here for over fifty years without a flood, so we thought we were good. Thanks to Helene, we lost almost everything and what we didn’t lose entirely has mostly been damaged. I was thrilled when my husband was able to save a pair of new sneakers for me! We rinsed out the salt water, washed them, and allowed them to dry, dry, dry. They seemed to have shrunk at first, but now I’ve lost some (water) weight and they FIT!

I know it’s silly to make such a big deal of a small blessing, but we must count every small blessing, especially in trying times.

What’s helped me maintain my composure (and wits) is the above Bible passage from John 14. I have a room prepared for me in heaven. All of the trappings of physical life on earth are dim in comparison. They are merely belongings. Stuff. Material things. I had a relatively new recliner and I miss it daily. LOL, but I’m going to order a new one that’ll be better than the one I had – and if it gets damaged, I’ll replace it, too.

What I can’t replace are my sentimental things. I’m a hoarder–of all things sentimental. What others would have discarded along the way, I held onto it. My Mom’s dining room table. French provincial side tables from when I was a girl. The bedside tables my mom and eldest sister painted and stained (which have long since lost most of that new paint and they are more cow-colored than provincial in style). My mom’s baby bracelet. Things of little financial value but of large importance to me and my memories.

Maybe this loss was our Heavenly Father’s way of pointing me in a different direction? Had I been focused too much on earthly things? I’m not sure, but I know my focus now is squarely where the Lord would want it to be.

I’ve been fortunate in that we had some flood insurance. Not enough to repair everything, but enough to get us started. My challenge now is to find a licensed contractor to repair the drywall that’s been removed, restore the insulation and redo the floors. Then I need a whole new bathroom and most of the kitchen redone. Baby steps.

I’ve also been fortunate in friends and family. So many people have come forward to help me, both old friends and new. I landed in the hospital just about the time FEMA denied our applications for help. I’m on oxygen now and recovery has been harder this time around. My husband has heart issues, too, so neither of us were able to do what needed to be done to stop the spread of mold. A volunteer organization came here to Florida (they are out of California) and helped hundreds of families – mine included. It’s name is Team Rubicon. They were here for three days – tarping our roof, cutting away damaged drywall, removing ruined appliances like refrigerators and washers. Things my husband and I simply couldn’t do for ourselves. We are forever grateful to them.

One sister and her husband brought an RV trailer from the Dallas area for us to live in (I’m sitting typing in it where it resides on the driveway to my damaged house). We wouldn’t have known what to do, but she jumped into help. Another sister was also hit by Hurricane Helene (she’s in western North Carolina), so it struck two sisters in two states hundreds of miles apart. Even with the damage to her own home (two trees crushed her house), she came with a third sister to help me. They filled out the spreadsheet our insurance required for replacement of personal belongings and spent time with me in the hospital which I contend definitely speeded my recovery!

An electrician came out to help us and made sure we knew what to do. They replaced damaged wiring and ensured it was safe to use the power. A roofer made room in his busy schedule and came to repair our roof in record time. The list is endless. My husband and I are so grateful for these caring and loving individuals, but also to God for showing us there are still wonderful, good and loving people all around us. It just takes asking for help and they’ll be there.

Mostly I’m beholden to our Heavenly Father. He has looked after my husband and me lovingly and conscientiously.

This leads me to those who have suffered damage or destruction from the wildfires in California. At first it’s overwhelming to deal with the losses, but know God is in your corner, sending people to help, a shoulder to cry on or a stranger with donated goods or services. He has prepared a life everlasting room for you in heaven. You just have to get past this sticky patch. And with prayer and courage, you will.

God bless you and good luck.

Kathy Carmichael

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Smiling a Lot by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

My two young grandsons (ages 6 and 9) stayed with us for several days after Christmas. We played games and took walks. And, on Sunday, we took them to church with us where they loved the Sunday School program.

After church, I went to the Sunday School section to pick up the boys. I chatted with some of the people helping there, and as we left, my older grandson looked up at me and said, “Nana, I haven’t seen you smile this much.”

At first, I was taken aback. Had I been too serious and not sharing my joy with the boys? Had the stress of the holidays stolen something from me that my grandson saw? In thinking one it, I didn’t believe so. I had laughed and joked with the boys and other family members. We had plenty of fun times.

So, what did he see that was different enough he commented on my behavior? What I came up with is that at church those are my people. I’m happy to see them and to interact. I pray for them and for my church. Plus, I’d just come out of church after hearing an excellent message by our pastor. 

In the New Testament, Paul often spoke of the joy he felt toward the people of the various churches. Thinking of them, praying for them, seeing their work for the Lord brought him joy.

Paul writes to the Philippians:

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Philippians 1:3-7

He writes in 2 Timothy 1: 3-4

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”

It seems that joy for those in our congregation goes hand in hand with remembering them in prayer and thinking on the positive aspects of their faith. People in our church are human with faults, but they also have godly characteristics. If we focus on those, and pray for them with that joy in mind, then our countenance is changed when we see them.

My grandson’s comment caught me off guard, but as I thought about it, I believe his observance was the result of seeing that joy I have for the people. I hope I always show that smiling love or at least a light from within.

What about you? Do you find joy in being among the people when you attend church? 

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