Posted on by Angela

Third Verse Devotion: The Old Rugged Cross

The cherished hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” was written by a Methodist Episcopal minister. He wrote the words in 1913, and it is his best-known hymn.  

For our purposes, we will look at verse three. The hymn is in the public domain, and you can find it as always at www.hymnary.org. Here is the third verse for reference.  

 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, 
a wondrous beauty I see, 
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, 
to pardon and sanctify me.  

There is a key word in this beautiful verse that I want us to focus on for a while. Sanctify. The word comes from Latin, and it means, “to make holy”, or “to set apart.” It is first used in the Bible in Genesis chapter 2 and verse 3 where God sanctified the seventh day. He set apart the seventh day and made it holy.  

Yet our hymnal verse is talking about us as being sanctified. Jesus died to “…sanctify me.” We have been sanctified. What does that mean? It means that once we have accepted Jesus’s gift of salvation, we too have been set apart. We have been made holy. When Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, He bought our redemption. So, when we give ourselves to Him, we are set apart from the rest of the world. We are His.  

The first thing we need to understand about sanctification is that it is the work of Christ in us. He is the one who sanctifies. Consider the following verses: 

Hebrews 13:12 

Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. 

Hebrews 10:10 

By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. 

Hebrews 10:14 

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 

So, since the blood of Jesus sanctifies us by His sacrifice on the cross what is our response? Since salvation is by grace through faith and we are not saved by works, what are we now to do? We remember we are changed. We are set free from the entanglements of the world. We no longer are slaves to our old selves and the old habits. We have been set apart. The blood of Christ has made us holy. Yes, holy. We have been bought at a great price. The Son of God gave His life on a cross for our sins. The price could not have been greater. He paid that price for you and me. Our acceptance and belief in that singular act set us apart from the rest of the world. It sanctifies us.  

Now we live by new guidelines. The old way of thinking is gone. The old way of talking is gone. Sometimes the old friendships we had are gone. Here are some more verses to consider: 

Romans 6:22 

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 

2 Timothy 2:21 

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 

Romans 12: 1-2 

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Sometimes it happens quickly. Other times it happens slowly. But we begin to change. The way we conduct business changes. Our interaction with family changes. The way we talk changes. The way we dress might even change. Everything about us is new. We are set apart for God’s use. We represent Him to the world.  

Does that mean we always get it right? Of course not. Think about some who were set apart by God yet messed up terribly. Samson, David, Moses, the disciples, Israel, yes, the list could go on. Also add my name to the list, yours too. God set each of these apart for a special work. All of them had a different task. They all knew God and had witnessed his power and majesty. David was a man after God’s own heart. Moses had to wear a veil over his face after being in God’s presence. The disciples walked daily with Jesus for three years.  

It could be assumed that if anyone could get the idea of what God had in mind it would be these individuals, but some of the greatest failures came through them. David slept with Bathsheba and when he learned she was pregnant tried to cover it up, but when that didn’t work had her husband killed. Moses disobeyed God and did what had worked before, striking a rock instead of speaking to it. He didn’t enter the promised land as a result. The disciples were competitive and slow to understand Jesus’s teaching then fled when Jesus needed them most. One betrayed Him. One denied he even knew Him. Israel is still God’s chosen people, the apple of His eye even though they have rebelled time and time again.  

From this we understand once we have been sanctified, God does not rescind that covering. The above examples were still set apart despite their failures. There were consequences certainly. But they were still set apart for God’s purposes. And so are we.  

We have a responsibility once we realize the importance of what it means to be sanctified, to be set apart. We no longer can look like the rest of the world. We still live in the world, but we don’t look like the world. We are supposed to be different. We talk differently. We dress differently. God now convicts us about what we watch on television or at the movies or what we read. Put away the filthy language. Change your clothes. Change the channel. Put down the book. Remember, you are set apart. You are sanctified. Instead, “…cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.” 

If you need a little more convincing, let me leave you with a few more scriptures that might help. 

1 Corinthians 6:11 

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 3:15 

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect 

Have you stumbled? Have you fallen? Look to the Father. He is waiting to restore you. Jesus died on the cross to pardon and sanctify us. Cling to Him. Remember the Old Rugged Cross today.  

All for One  

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Third Verse Devotion: Just When I Need Him Most

People today carry great burdens. We carry the wandering of a child. The loss of a parent. The abuse of a spouse. We watch as addiction takes hold of our child or other family member and cannot do anything to help them. We long to break free from our own addiction and burdens but cannot seem to break the chains that tie us down.  

These burdens are sometimes invisible, and we carry them in secret never letting on they are there. But when we are alone, we give full vent to them. The result is high anxiety, high blood pressure, sometimes substance abuse and even worse when we cannot see the end, suicide. Let me assure you this is not what God ever intended for humans. If you are struggling with substance abuse or thoughts of suicide, there is help available. For free 24/7 help call 988 or visit  www.988lifeline.org.  

Our hymn today highlights that we do have Someone to turn to in those dark moments. It was written by a Methodist minister who wrote hymns as recreation. He was to have written over five hundred hymns. Here is the third verse of “Just When I Need Him Most,”   

Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong, 
Bearing my burdens all the day long; 
For all my sorrow giving a song, 
Just when I need Him most. 

https://hymnary.org/text/just_when_i_need_him_jesus_is_near_just

This verse is just as appropriate for us now as when it was written. It assures us that Jesus is strong and gives us a song for our sorrow. No matter what our circumstance or what we are going through Jesus is there waiting for us to come to Him.  

The Bible is replete with those who have gone before us who thought their life was done and there was no other option for them. Remember Jonah, after he preached to the Ninevites and they repented? What did he do? He found a shady leaf and sat under it and pouted. When the leaf was eaten by a worm, he was ready to die until God intervened. What about Elijah? Jezebel was determined to kill him. He was convinced he was the only prophet of God left until God revealed to him there was over 400 prophets who had never bowed the knee to Baal. David? After he sinned with Bathsheba, she gave birth to his child and the child became sick. He prayed for the child’s life and refused food and drink. So much so that his servants were afraid to tell him the child had died. We could continue with many other examples of those who walked in sorrow and grief until God stepped in and changed their thinking. 

Maybe you need some personal verses to get you through your day and situation. Here are a few, as always these are from the New American Standard Version,  

Psalm 46:1 

God is our refuge and strength, 
A very ready help in trouble. 

And, 

Psalm 68:19 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. 

And still,

Psalm 55:22 

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; 
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. 

And again, 

1 Peter 5:7 

…cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 

And lastly, 

Isaiah 46:4 

Even to your old age I will be the same, 
And even to your graying years I will carry you! 
I have done it, and I will bear you; 
And I will carry you and I will save you. 

No matter what your age or situation, Jesus is ready and more than able to meet you in the middle of your burden and carry you and bear your burden and give you peace. There are many other instances and verses to support this. The ones I have listed are only a few jumping off points. I encourage you to meditate on these and search out others to meditate on if your burden is heavy and your days are dark. Let me further and more importantly urge you to accept Jesus as your Savior. He paid the price for your sins and is ready to receive you; come to him today.  

Your situation will not immediately change. You will still have to walk through dark days and hard times, but you will have an inner peace and strength that only comes from knowing Jesus. He will bring you through whatever your situation. He is strong and wants to bear your burdens and in the middle of your trial he will give you a song for your sorrow, Just when you need him most.  

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Stuff We Accumulate

If you have ever moved from one home to another, you know we as humans accumulate stuff. In fact, we like our stuff. We build buildings to house our stuff when our houses aren’t big enough to keep our stuff. Then we decide we have too much stuff and we decide to get organized and toss the stuff out. We might sell it in our yard or garage for other people to buy and add to their stuff. But we feel better because the stuff is not in our house anymore.  

Others hold on to their stuff and keep adding increasingly till it overflows and takes over their home and lives. They need help to overcome this problem. Some sadly never overcome this problem. They feel secure with all their belongings around them. We call them hoarders and we pity them and we don’t understand them.  

(Image sourced from the Public Domain Image Archive / Internet Archive / University of Toronto Libraries) 

There are still those that have no stuff at all. They are the poor and destitute. They live among us but we don’t like to look at them. They remind us of all the stuff we have and how little they don’t have. Sure, every once in a while, usually around Christmas we will donate money to some charity or give away some of our stuff to make us feel better. Basically, though we slosh through our stuff content, we have done our part to make the world a better place.  

I am not here to judge or condemn. That is not my job or my point. Goodness knows I have enough stuff of my own. No, I am not here to make any of us feel guilty. We carry enough guilt. I do want us to be mindful of what we already have. We have been blessed in our lives. In our journey to live all for One, part of our understanding involves our possessions in relation to our God and Savior. We can take none of what we have with us when we pass from this life into the next. In fact, the Bible gives a story of a man who had plenty and wanted to hold on to what he had. Take a look. 

 But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.  And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’  And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’  Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”  Luke 12:15-21 NASB 

This man thought he had it figured out. The land had produced well for him. He had become prosperous. What was he to do with all the extra? He had more than enough for himself and his family. “I’ve got it.” He said with a snap of his fingers. I will tear down all my barns and build bigger barns. That will solve my problem. He forgot about the hungry people he passed from his fields to his home. He never paid attention to the poor who could have shared his wealth had he given away some of his prosperity. Instead, he tried to have as much as he could by building bigger and better barns to hold it all. To what end? God said he would die that very night. Then what would happen to all of his plans and wealth? Who then would reap the benefits? He wouldn’t take it with him. 

In 1922, Howard Carter made an extraordinary discovery. He opened an Egyptian tomb containing abundant wealth. The Egyptians had planned on everything the dead man might need in the next life. Of course, we know that the man was King Tut and all the wealth he was buried with is in a museum. Tourists can go to his tomb and view the painted walls. Archaeologists are still uncovering truths about this young king. All the riches buried with him, he never used. The only reason King Tut’s tomb was so remarkable was that grave robbers had not been able to find the tomb or break into the tomb. So, it sat for centuries untouched until Howard Carter saw “wonderful things” through a small opening.  

(Page  2023 Free-images.com. All images are Public Domain) 

We have the opportunity to see wonderful things as we move from looking at the things around us to the things above. Let us set our eyes on the things of Christ and His Kingdom. When He returns, the things we have saved and collected and hoarded will not matter at all. They are rust and dust compared to Him who sits on the throne. So, before you make the next purchase ask yourself why? Is it just one more thing that you will later toss into the donate box? Or is it something that you can use to help lead someone else on their journey to give their all for One. After all, isn’t that what it is all about? 

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Supermoon Protocol by J. T. Fluhart – book review

The book Supermoon Protocol by J.T. Fluhart seemed to have it all. A CIA cover up, Mexican cartel, prostitution, science experiments gone wrong, car chases, guns, death, murder, the list goes on. I am not sure what else could be crammed into this book of 318 pages, except chickens trying to kill people. Oh, wait that was there too. Yep, you read that right. If you ever raised chicken and had a rooster look at you the wrong way, then be warned the opening scenes are a wild ride of rooster revenge. The wake left behind destroys a family and eventually separates a brother and sister until history threatens to repeat itself fifty years later. 

Supermoon Protocol is set in Northeast Texas around the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex area. Rob Florchett is plagued by nightmares and is about to find himself homeless. He seeks the help of therapist Dr. Maria Sheltie. She helps him unlock his nightmares and helps him uncover and understand more of his family’s wrecked past. She puts him in touch with another individual who knows more about what happened on his family’s farm all those years ago that led to mental instability, broken relationships and resulted in Rob and his sister, Mel, in foster homes. Sheltie helps Rob escape when the CIA shows up, and they are both lucky to escape alive. In the meantime, Rob is desperate to find his sister who has become caught up in the Mexican cartel headed by Jeffe Manuel and has fallen from grace to having to prostitute herself to pay off a debt to stay alive. When they finally meet, they find themself pursued by the CIA and the Mexican Cartel. It is a run to the Mexican border to find their father and the family they thought was lost all before the next supermoon rises and what was started fifty years ago happens all over again.  

J.T. Fluhart has written a fast-paced action thriller. The plot is unique and well-paced. Fluhart has a two-pronged plot in the book and solves one by the end of the book and continues the second in the sequel. There is a great deal of violence in the book, some of which I could have lived without. Fortunately, the author does not spend a great deal of time describing the violence beyond what is necessary. There is mention of rape in the book so readers should be aware if this is a trigger for you. It is not described but mentioned as having already happened. There is foul language as you would expect in this sort of book, but it is kept as a minimum.  

I would rate Supermoon Protocol by J. T. Fluhart four out of five stars. The writing was well done, and the fast-paced action kept the book moving. There was a great deal of violence, and I was not a fan of the ending. I can’t say I liked the book, but I didn’t dislike it either. It certainly was not what I expected. I can only recommend this book to readers ages 18 and over with cautions.  

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

What I am Working On

This year is off and running. I have a lot going on behind the scenes and others that should be going on. Here are some things I am working on and others I hope to accomplish.  

BLOG 

Writing here in All for One is my priority. I have an appointment every morning at 4:00 to be at my desk working on what I will say to those of you who drop by.  I have kept up with writing here since May posting once or twice a week. I have learned a lot and still have much more to learn. I have a verse on a sticky note posted on my monitor that reminds me that it is ok to be small.  “Do not despise these small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10 NASB) It is one of my key verses for me for writing this blog and for my writing. Yet that doesn’t mean I want to stay there. Even though it is okay to be small, there is always room for growth. I want to grow and reach more. This is where that learning comes in. There is a wealth of information about blogging available. So, my job becomes what is worth my time and what isn’t. Sifting through it all takes time I don’t always have working a full eight hour day.  

BOOK REVIEWS 

You may have noticed more on books this year already. I will be adding more in book reviews. I read digital and paper. I also want to see good books in the hands of readers.  I believe reviews are the way to combine the two. Expect to see more book reviews this year. I hope you will find some books you want to add to your own reading list. There are so many books on the market and not all of them are worth reading. As Christians, we are called to be different. So, immediately some genres are off the table. Erotica and LGBTQ are among them after that you have to judge. For some, horror and true crime are not on their reading lists. I personally don’t read a lot of horror, but I like some true crime. I love mystery and some fantasy. Some of you may not. I used to read romance but now the line is blurry between romance and erotica, so I tend to avoid the genre completely. What I hope to achieve is balance. Some mystery, a little true crime, some history, some thriller, a little fantasy, and a little science fiction. Some Christian fiction. Some Christian nonfiction.  

In my reviews, because we are all about All for One, the books I read are to find the good ones from the bad. So, I hope I will warn you if I come across any that cross the lines. I don’t think a lot of foul language needs to be in a novel, and I will let you know. There are some great indie authors coming up, and I will help you find them.  

SHORT STORIES 

It used to be that if you wanted to break into the writing world you should probably begin by the magazine market through short stories and build a portfolio. I am not sure that is still prevailing wisdom. Have you bought a magazine lately? Wow. They are expensive. Yet, I do think short stories have potential in writing even though the market may be harder to find. Short stories teach writers to write more tightly because there is a smaller word count.  The story must be told quickly, the action rises faster and is resolved sooner. While I haven’t decided if I will post any here, I will be working on a few short stories throughout the year and looking for some markets.  

NOVEL 

Finally, last November I tackled Novel November and began a novel in earnest. I am still working on this though I have hit a block. I will have to figure out how to write my way through it. This is all I will say about the novel right now. I am tackling a dream long held. 

So, there it is. It is February and here is what I hope to achieve in 2026. I have a lot to learn. I always have a lot to learn. I may be in my fifties, but I never want to stop learning. I have some other things in mind that I haven’t shared, but we will keep those on the back burner for now. I hope you will grow with me this year and share some of your own plans for growth. I would love to hear them.  

All for One  

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

The Morning Meeting

Exodus 24:4 

And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. (NASB) 

The response we have to the Bible indicates our response to God. After all, the Bible is His written word to us. If we neglect His word, it is an indication of neglect in our relationship with Him. If we are hostile to His word, then more than likely we are hostile to Him and do not know Him.  

In our verse, Moses is acting in response to the people. They had agreed that all that the Lord had said they would do. So, Moses wrote down the words of the Lord for the people, then he got up early in the morning and built an altar. The word of the Lord and his interaction with God moved him to worship. If you read chapter 24 of Exodus, which I challenge you to do, you will see that several others had been invited onto the mountain and had a holy experience with God. Here is what the Bible tells us they saw. “…they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.  Yet He did not reach out with His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:10-11 NASB.) 

What an experience! Afterward, Moses was asked to go higher on the mountain. I can’t help but think that He wants something similar with us.  Reading, praying, memorizing, studying, and even writing down His word are all ways we can draw closer into an experience with Him.  Our text says that Moses got up early in the morning and built an altar. We don’t need to build an altar because Jesus is our sacrifice, but we do need a place that is special so that every day we have a time set apart that is ready and waiting. A corner of a room. A desk, a special chair. Maybe your deck or back porch. Someplace that you know is your place to meet with God.  

The Bible talks about meeting with God early in the morning. Why do you think that is? I believe that it is because to meet with Him early in the day before the day begins sets the day. The trouble of the day hasn’t begun. The day is fresh. The work for the day hasn’t begun yet. It makes the ideal time to meet with God to make Him the priority of the day. But I also think that the time is less important than the meeting. Plan daily to meet with God.  

So, the question is where are you? Are you neglecting your Bible interaction and as a result your interaction with God? Does your interaction with God’s word lead you to worship? Or are you fumbling through your day?  

My hope is that we each will write down the word of the Lord and get up early in the morning to build an altar. So, we will interact with the word of the Lord in such a way that we can only worship Him who sits on the throne. 

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Angela’s Bookshelf: The Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner

This was a free download from Net Galley in exchange for a book review. 

When an anonymous donation of documents arrives at the British Museum, documents clerk, Clara Whitmore, is charged with the task of cataloguing and documenting each item. She undertakes the task with curiosity and enthusiasm as the documents are both mysterious and intriguing. Of particular interest is a leather-bound book which is quickly labeled the Codex Arcanum 1888-x. This codex contains mysterious symbols and language that Clara is charged with translating and deciphering. News of this codex soon reaches esoteric and influential people, and Clara finds herself among new friends and acquaintances. She must learn to navigate and decipher friend from enemy as well as decipher the codex. When it becomes clear that people will kill to get the codex, Clara must do whatever is necessary to protect herself and the codex, but can she be sure who to trust?  

The Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner is the first book in a series of the Alchemical Chronicles. This book follows the story of Clara Whitmore and how she came to obtain the codex and her experiences surrounding and understanding the book. Turner writes from Clara’s point of view and does an excellent job of staying true to Clara. There is no hopping from one point of view to another.  

There are some problems with objects and characters appearing out of nowhere and in places where they did not originate. For example, two characters may be seated in armchairs in front of a fireplace when all of a sudden one is rearranging items on a desk. Or a group of four previously introduced, may go to lunch and suddenly a fifth joins them without warning. It is things such as these that in the early chapters had me going back and trying to find out where I missed something only to find I had not. These issues seemed to clear up in the latter chapters but were irritating early on. 

There was no foul language or sex scenes in the book. There was one murder and it was not explicit. The murder took place “behind the scenes” as it was and not witnessed by the main character. 

I enjoyed the book even with the flaws that were distracting. I had a little trouble discerning what the book was about. The Codex Arcanum 1888 picked up speed following the murder as it gave the character something to do, and the distractions early on seemed to disappear as the real book began. The book found strength and purpose, and the author was skillful in handling the remainder of the book. I would be interested in reading the second book in the series. 

I would rate The Codex Arcanum 1888 3 out of 5 stars primarily because of the acrobatic characters and objects which could prove confusing. I look forward to seeing more from Tasmin Turner. I would recommend this book to anyone ages 16 and up. 

Posted on by Angela

First Reading Choices 2026

Sometimes we make choices without really thinking about them. Other times we agonize over a choice or decision, wanting to be sure to make the best one. I wanted to do that with my reading list for the year. So many books and so little time. Yet, almost without realizing it, I made my choices. Some of them I started last year and carried over to finish.  

I wonder if anyone else is like me. I figure probably not. Most people probably just pick up a book and start reading. Oh no. I have to make a production out of it in my head. I mean I can’t just grab a book. What if I grab the wrong one? Then the whole year is off on the wrong foot, and the tone is set. It must be just right, see. The right book can set the tone for the whole year of reading. Anyone with me? No? I was afraid of that.  

Of course, your reading plan can go off the rail at any time. Last year I started with Killing the Witches by Bill O’Reilly. I usually like this series and looked forward to reading this book. I was disappointed. As I was by The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. That ending, really?  Big disappointment there. I was also disappointed by The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. So much so, I didn’t even finish it. My year was redeemed with other books such as Little Buried Secrets by Cheryl Bradshaw, Soulbound by Bethany Adams, When Birds Fall Silent by Shana Frost, Raven Black by Ann Cleeves and the four books I read by Brandon Sanderson. I’m not going into a review of each of the books, but I enjoyed them and would read another by each of the authors.  

My beginning list contains authors I have never read or heard of before, except for one, I have heard of Robert Whitlow but am not sure I have read any of his books, so it will be fun to read his newest, Witness Protection.   

So, here are my first five selections for the 2026 reading year. 

Death on the Doorstep by Mary Lancaster 

Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner 

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow 

Super Moon Protocol by J.T. Fluhart 

Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness 

Of course I have already finished Death on the Doorstep, by Mary Lancaster and you can find my review here on All for One. Not on the list is the third Mistborn book by Brandon Sanderson, Hero of the Ages. I started it last year and need to finish.  I usually read a couple of chapters in bed before I turn out the light, which is why it has taken me so long to finish. I am currently reading Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner and Super Moon Protocol by J.T. Fluhart. I am enjoying both books although they are very different in tone and structure and language. I am enjoying one more than the other but more on that later. I will give my review on both when I have finished them.  

How do you select your books? Do you line them out for the year? Or do you wait and see what comes out and go from there? Maybe a mix of the two?  

What makes the grade? Are there any topics or genres that are off limits? What sections do you pass right over in the bookstore?  

I hope all of us say that the one book above all others that is on the list without question is our Bible. May you be blessed as you read the Word of God this year. If you need ideas where to start, there are abundant options online to choose to get you started. The Bible app always has some good reading plans. If you are new to Bible reading, then I hope is the year you start.  

Let me know your choices. I look forward to hearing from you. 

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Third Verse Devotion: Abide with Me

In John 15, Jesus admonishes His followers to abide in Him. In all things, we as his followers are to spend our lives abiding in Him. It is through this abiding that we find our strength and rest.  

The writer of our hymn “Abide With Me” takes a slightly different angle. Here the writer implores our Heavenly Father to abide with us. Or specifically, to abide with me. The Father has promised never to leave us or forsake us. So, why would we need to implore the Father to abide with us?  

The hymn contains four or five verses depending on which hymnal you are using. I will focus on verse three. The entire hymn speaks about the close of life.  Each of the verses contains a finality of life that would make it appropriate for the end of life. Verse three gives us four instances in our lives when we need to be reminded that we need our Father to abide with us.  

I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour; 
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? 
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? 
Thro’ cloud and sunshine, O abide with me! 
 

EVERY PASSING HOUR 

The writer stipulated that we need God’s presence every passing hour. Indeed, this is a true word. How many times have we tried to handle a situation on our own only to realize that it didn’t work out so well? Then we do what we should have done in the first place. We ask God to guide us through the problem and fill us with His presence. We truly need His presence every passing hour. Often, every passing minute, but I get the author’s point here. The line takes us back to John 15:5  

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (NASB) (emphasis mine) 

We need His presence every hour because without Him we “can do nothing.” It doesn’t work. It is flat and lifeless and without color. But, when we rely on Him, the colors come alive and we can accomplish things we only dreamed of and more. We need His presence every passing hour.  

GRACE CAN FOIL THE TEMPTER’S POW’R 

If not for God’s grace, we would not be able to withstand the tempter. His grace gives us the strength we need to endure the temptation.  1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that in temptation there is a way out:  

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NASB) 

Do you see where God’s grace lies? He provides a way of escape. Temptation comes to all of us.  Our temptations may be different for each of us, meaning what tempts you may not trouble me and what tempts me may not trouble you. The common denominator is that we are all tempted. We don’t have to give in to the temptation. When we give in to temptation, it is by choice. His grace foils the tempter’s power. We have a way out, by God’s grace as we abide in Him and He abides with us.  

MY GUIDE AND STAY 

He is our guide and stay. He leads us through dark places and light. He is with us when it feels like we are going nowhere. He is the one who tells us, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NASB) He also tells us, “Stop striving and know that I am God…” (Psalm46:10 NASB) We need to spend time in His word and in prayer so when He prompts us to move or to stay, we will understand. Remember John 15:5? We can do nothing apart from Him. Learning to let Him be our guide and stay is not easy, I will admit, but it is essential to abiding with Him and Him abiding with us. And I daresay it is a lifetime process. There is no one better able to lead us than our God and Savior. There is no one better able to stay with us in the dark times than Himself. Are you striving? Are you allowing Him to be your guide and stay? It isn’t too late to begin. Why not start now? 

THROUGH CLOUD AND SUNSHINE 

We tend to notice we need God more when it is cloudy, don’t we? The overcast skies get to us after a while, and we can’t seem to break free from the dreariness. But when the sun comes out suddenly, we are on top of the world and we put our hand up and say to God, “I got this.” Take a big step forward and… fall flat on our face. It is then that we realize we need Him in the clouds and the sunshine. The cloudy days and darkness may physically affect our mood, creating depression. We don’t think of it so much when the sun shines bright. Yet we need our Heavenly Father just as much in sunny days as in the cloudy. The writer of this hymn was wise to include the phrase “through cloud and sunshine.” It wasn’t a literary tactic because he needed his song to rhyme or needed to complete the meter.  I know we have all had days and seasons when the sun was shining but there seemed to be a dark cloud following us wherever we went. Anything we tried turned into dust. New ventures failed. Relationships soured. We felt we were a failure and our self-worth plummeted. It is in these dark days that we know we need God to be with us. The more we abide in Him, the more we know He is with us.  

WHERE ARE YOU? 

When Adam and Eve fell in the garden, they hid themselves from the Lord. It was, of course, a vain attempt. They knew the fellowship had been damaged by what they had done. So, when the Lord came in the cool of the day to walk with them as He always did, they hid. They failed to abide in what they knew of their Creator and believed the lies of the tempter. Since that day, we have all done much the same. We bear the curse of their actions. In fact, had we been in their place, I imagine the outcome would have been the same.  

But now there is hope. Jesus paid the price for what began in the garden when he gave His life on the cross for you and me and everyone who ever lived or ever will live. Now we have the hope of abiding in Him.  

So, where are you? Are you caught in the grip of the tempter’s power? Are you abiding in Him? Is He your guide and stay? Have you learned to lean on Him in cloud and sunshine? Do you understand that you need Him every hour?  

This hymn has so much truth to offer, so much hope. This one verse has given us so much to think about. Take some time today to meditate on the scriptures I have given us here and visit www.hymnary.org to hear and read Abide with Me. Let it be the beginning of something wondrous. 

All for One 

Angela 

Posted on by Angela

Angela’s Bookshelf: Death on the Doorstep

I read this book as a free download from NetGalley in exchange for a written review. 

Constance Gray and Solomon Silver have just returned home from their Italian honeymoon and almost immediately are confronted with death literally on their doorstep. Two men are found dead on the back door of Constance’s “establishment.” The two men seem to have nothing in common as one is a vagrant who makes his home on the streets and the other is a wealthy man with a good reputation. It takes unraveling plots and clues to sort truth and ill intent in this seventh book in this series by Mary Lancaster. The book contains references to drug use, alcohol, prostitution, and suicide, so the reader should be aware if these are personal triggers.  

I downloaded this book not realizing I was jumping into a well-established series with well-developed characters.  Fortunately, Death on the Doorstep is a wonderful standalone book and the author does a good job of making the reader aware of past events without making them feel as though they have missed much.  

The author weaves this tale with blackmail, threats, secrets, and old relationships resurfacing. The book is about 200 pages long and makes for a good weekend read. I appreciated the fact that there is no foul language and no explicit sex. Bedroom scenes are left in the bedroom. Although the reader should be aware that Constance is the owner of a brothel. She runs her “establishment”, as she calls it, as an opportunity for young women to leave the streets behind and learn a trade and find employable work. If they choose to remain in the oldest profession, they can do so safely, without fear of abuse or exploitation.  

Constance and her husband, Solomon, have established an investigation service and it is through this agency that they investigate the deaths found on the doorstep. 

I enjoyed Death on the Doorstep book and would read another book in this series or other books by this author. I give Death on the Doorstep book 4 out of 5 stars because of the references previously mentioned. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of eighteen.  

All for One 

Angela