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The Bright Side of Life #devotional by Becky Van Vleet

  

The Bright Side of Life

Fierce gusts of frigid wind whipped through the air, carrying with them huge snowflakes that danced and twirled in a white blur. The Colorado skies opened up where we live and dumped more than two feet of snow in an early autumn snowstorm, necessitating three consecutive days of school closures. As my husband and I ventured out of our house five days later, we were met with mounds of snow towering eight feet high and more, scattered all over the city from plowing efforts. We were finally able to make our way to church, picking up our granddaughter Amara, age six, along the way. As soon as we backed out of her driveway, I couldn't help but comment on all the snow and how bad the roads were at our house. How difficult it was to even get out of our neighborhood. Amara's immediate response was simple yet profound: "Well, Nana, at least we're not living at the North Pole!"

What? Another lesson to learn from a grandchild! Mine keep me humble. I reflected on Amara’s comment later in the day. I believe her point was, let’s look on the bright side of things. Yes, indeed.

I think the apostle Paul would appreciate Amara’s outlook. He writes in Philippians 4:4 (NKJV), “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; rejoice!” There must be something to this. Paul was urged to repeat it. Paul affirms this again when he writes in Philippians 4:8 (NKJV), “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

When we choose to look on the bright side of life, we’ll empower ourselves to lead a happier, more fulfilling existence.  We’ll be able to see our way out of darkness into hope where we’ll not only survive but live our lives to the fullest.

As the new year begins, many of us are making resolutions. We have various aspirations and goals in mind. Perhaps if we all resolve to focus on the bright side of life, rejoicing in the Lord, we’d experience more peace and joy. And what a better world we’d live in.

 

Becky Van Vleet

 

 

 

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beckyvanvleet/ 

Amazon Central Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-van-vleet

The Christmas Star #devotional by Becky Van Vleet

 The Christmas Star

During the Christmas season, it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing stars. They’re

perched atop Christmas trees, hang from street lamps, knitted on sweaters, displayed 

on buildings, included in advertisements, printed in books and magazines, a part 

of nativity scenes…well, they’re just about everywhere.

Did you know the closest star to earth is about 25,300,000,000,000 miles, or 

about 4.35 light-years away? This means that the movement of stars happens 

more than four years before we tually see it. What about the star of Bethlehem 

mentioned in the book of Matthew, chapter two? How could this scientific 

phenomenon have worked for the Magi to see the star and follow it? The star 

leading the Magi must have been thought about beforehand. Yes, precisely it was.

The three kings hadn’t just noticed the star a few months before Christmas. They 

had been tracking it for a couple of years before following it to Bethlehem.

On the fourth day of Creation, God had planned for one particular star to 

be a part of the Christmas story. He later used this one special star as a guiding 

light for the Magi to find the baby Jesus. And since that first Christmas, more than 

2,000 years ago, we still have that guiding light—Jesus.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we’ll certainly enjoy presents, good food, 

company, and all kinds of festivities. Nothing wrong with this. But perhaps our 

main focus should be upon the guiding light of Christ and His blessings throughout 

the whole year. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12 NKJV) 

Christ’s light embodies hope, grace, goodness, salvation, and God’s revelation for 

mankind.

What is God revealing to you about finding this light and staying close to Him?

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckyvanvleet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-van-vleet-ms-806055181/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becky_van_vleet_author/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beckyvanvleet/ 

Amazon Central Author Page: https://amzn.to/3INHIPB 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125841473-becky-van-vleet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beckyvanvleet9907

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/becky-van-vleet

Christmas Cowboy: A Mulbury Boys Novel (Hope Eternal Ranch Romance) by Elana Johnson

 

Christmas Cowboy: 

A Mulbury Boys Novel 

(Hope Eternal Ranch Romance)

September 11, 2020

by Elana Johnson (Author)

He needs to start a new story for his life. She's dealing with a lot of family issues. Can Slate and Jill find solace in each other at Hope Eternal Ranch?

Slate Sanders has been out of prison for a couple of months now. He keeps his head down and his mouth shut around the ranch, and not just because he's only a temporary cowboy. He's not sure what to participate in, because he's still trying to figure out who he is post-prison.

When he encounters Jill Kyle on the beach one morning, he can't help but go see what she's raging about. He's worried for her safety, and it's not until he gets closer that he realizes she works on the same ranch as him.

Jill has just learned about her mother's devastating illness, and she's ready to take all of her frustrations out on the beach, the ocean, and the Lord. As Jill and Slate connect over things lost, things gained, and an uncertain future, they both heal in unexpected ways. Jill didn't think she'd ever find someone to settle down with, and Slate has never had a serious relationship in his life.

But together, they seem to make sense in a world where nothing does.

With Christmas on the horizon, can Slate and Jill find themselves, create a new story for their future, and let go of the past before their heartache pushes them apart? Cowboys looking for a second chance at life, love, and happiness.

My thoughts:  Christmas Cowboy is a Christmas story set in  the south west--Arizona.  

Both the hero and the heroine struggle with depression and are trying to find themselves. 

 Despite her issues, Jill is a flirt,  and the hero just can't resist her even though he 

definitely has valid issues why he should avoid a relationship.   Some of the story 

seems a little contrived but over all it was a good read.  I was given a copy free as 

part of a 12 Days of Christmas promotion by select authors.  No review was required.