Tag: Jesus

Posted in Moments and Musings

Steeped in God: Finding Joy in Today

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Some mornings, I wake up and life feels…ordinary. Or maybe a little heavy. The house is quiet for a moment, and I sip my coffee, watching sunlight spill across the kitchen table, thinking of all I have—and yet sometimes still feeling restless. Psalm 118:24 gently reminds me: this day is a gift from God.

“This is the day the Lord has made…” Every single day. Not just the spectacular days when everything goes right, but also the mundane, messy, ordinary ones. The days filled with dishes and laundry, phone calls and errands, or the moments spent watching my granddaughter toddle across the room with pure delight. God made this day, just as it is, with all its ups and downs, and He invites me to recognize it as His handiwork.

“…we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Rejoicing is not always effortless. Sometimes it takes conscious effort to shift my perspective from what’s missing or what’s hard, to what’s present and good. That’s where I come back to one of my favorite images: being steeped in God like a tea bag in hot water. When a tea bag is placed in the water, it doesn’t fight the process—it releases its flavor, coloring and enriching the liquid around it. In the same way, when I immerse myself in God—through prayer, scripture, gratitude, and simply noticing His presence—He saturates my heart with His love, joy, patience, and peace.

The more I let Him steep into me, the more my ordinary moments begin to taste extraordinary. The laughter of my daughters becomes sweeter. The quiet presence of my family at home feels comforting and grounding. Even the small things—my granddaughter’s tiny hands clasped in mine, the first sip of my morning coffee, the turning of a page in a book I love—become opportunities to savor God’s goodness.

Being steeped in God doesn’t mean that challenges disappear. Bills still need to be paid, deadlines still loom, and sometimes hearts still ache. But when I am fully immersed in Him, I carry a flavor of His presence with me into every interaction, every task, and every moment of life. My joy doesn’t depend on circumstances—it flows from the One who made the day.

Today, I want to be fully steeped in God. To let Him infuse me so that my heart, mind, and spirit are saturated with His love. To recognize the blessings around me, both big and small, and let gratitude and rejoicing become my natural response. Life is not perfect—but this day is God’s, and in Him, it can be beautiful.

Prayer:

“Lord, help me to be steeped in You today. Immerse me in Your presence so that Your love, joy, and peace flow through every part of my life. Teach me to see the blessings in the ordinary moments and to rejoice fully in the day You have made. May my life reflect Your goodness, and may my heart be glad in You. Amen.”

Photo by Lara John on Unsplash
Posted in Moments and Musings

The Year I Get Intentional: My 2026 Goals Revealed

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

I’ve always loved the beginning of a new year. It feels like a clean slate—full of new opportunities, new growth, new joy, and best of all… new goals.

I’m not a resolutions person. Resolutions feel like promises I make to myself that eventually drift away. But goals? Goals demand action. They call for intention. They push me to move, not just talk.

And 2026? It’s going to be a big year for me. I can feel it.

When I started researching and brainstorming what I wanted for 2026, I won’t lie—I got overwhelmed. There’s so much I want to do, and the older I get, the faster time seems to move. So I narrowed each area of my life to three goals. Do I know exactly how I’ll measure them yet? Nope. But I trust God to keep me honest, guide my steps, and help me stay on track.

Before anything else, I surrender every goal to Jesus. Above all, I want His plans more than mine. God’s ways are better, higher, and infinitely wiser. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

It’s not too late. Not ever.

So here are my goals for 2026:

Career
• Learn a new skill that will enhance my career—Excel, AI, and others—and earn a certification
• Officially launch my creative business, Vikki Lynn Stitches, with online ordering, digital art, patterns, and even online classes
• Learn how to monetize my blog

Financial
• Increase my giving
• Commit to no unnecessary spending
• Pay off all debt—including my car

Health
• Be active for 30 minutes each day
• Include vegetables in two meals each day
• Commit to only one sweet treat per week

Mental Health
• Do a one-week digital detox every month
• Complete a Bible study at least three times a week
• Travel worry-free

Creativity
• Complete at least 20 crochet blankets
• Finish all pre-bought embroidery patterns
• Learn to draw
• Create at least 20 new embroidery patterns
• Publish at least two articles per month on FaithLoveJoy.com

2026 will be all about stepping outside my comfort zone. Consistency has never been my strength, but with prayer, discipline, and faith, I know these goals can become reality.

What about you?
What goals are you setting for 2026?
What do you want the new year to look like?
And what tools are you using to stay accountable and track your progress?

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Posted in Moments and Musings

The Year That Stretched Me: A Reflection

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

As 2025 comes to a close, I like to take time to reflect on the year—what it’s taught me, how it’s stretched me, and what I’m carrying with me into 2026.

2025 was a year of change. Beautiful, emotional, uncomfortable, growing kind of change.

The highlight of my year was becoming a grandmother. It has brought me more joy than I ever imagined, but it also stirred up unexpected emotions. I found myself wishing I lived closer to my daughter and her family. I want to be the one who pops over to help when the baby is fussy, who babysits at a moment’s notice, who gives my daughter an afternoon off when she’s overwhelmed. Those longings led to moments of, “I’m not happy here.”

Since I bought a house with my sister last year, my living situation is set for a while. But what surprised me was the wave of grief I felt—grief over not being there for my daughter and granddaughter in the way my heart wanted. So I took those feelings to God, and He gently gave me my word for 2026: content.

Not “content” as in social media content—but content as in satisfied, at peace, rooted in gratitude.

I found myself thinking about my own mother, and how different our situations are. When my girls were born, I lived in Texas—over 1,100 miles away from her. She was a three-hour plane ride away from her granddaughters. I’m a three-hour car ride away from mine. She saw my girls once a year. I see little Sophia at least once a month. My mom saw her granddaughters grow up in pictures I mailed to her. I get daily photos and videos sent instantly to my phone.

In so many ways, technology has become my best friend. My mom didn’t have this. I’m blessed. And God reminded me of that. He reminded me that if needed, I can be in the car and with my granddaughter in just a few hours. And, bonus—there’s an Amtrak route from Joliet to Springfield, which my daughter has already taken several times for quick visits.

God also started pruning things in me—little things, but things that were stealing my peace. Like stressing over the temperature in the house. Menopause is unpredictable, and I can’t expect everyone around me to match my changing thermometer. What used to feel big has become small, and I’m learning to just let it be.

I started school this year—and then realized school isn’t for me right now. But I also learned something important: I actually AM smart enough. That lesson alone was worth it.

I’ve set some goals for 2026 that touch my physical well-being, my mental health, and my creativity. And I’ve been leaning more into what God wants me to do, not just what I want to do. One thing He made clear? I’ve become very whiny this year. Very complainy.

One day while walking the dog and having my usual “I’m not happy with my life” internal rant, the Holy Spirit cut me off with a loud, clear “STOP COMPLAINING.” And I literally stopped in my tracks. He was right. I’ve been complaining about things that many people are praying for—a good job, a beautiful home, stability. That realization shifted something deep in me. And with that shift, God started giving me ideas on how to improve both my home and my work life.

This season of pruning hasn’t always felt good—but correction rarely does. Yet I’m grateful for it. A loving father corrects His children, and I know I am deeply loved by God. This season has helped me release old hurts I didn’t even know I was carrying.

2025 was also a year of unexpected provision. My car accident ultimately allowed me to pay off almost all my debt—aside from buying a new car. And that new car has been such a blessing, not only to me but also to my family. My sister and I were also able to refinance the house. Now I’m this close to being debt-free except for my home and my car. My stretch goal for 2026? Pay off that car.

It’s a big goal—but I serve a big God, and He finishes what He starts.

As for this Christmas season, for the first time in many years, all my shopping was done in cash and kept beautifully simple. With my home decorated and the presents wrapped early, I’ve spent the rest of the year wrapped in the comfort and coziness of my home, surrounded by as much family as can be here.

2025 has been a challenging year of personal growth, but a meaningful one. I’m finally starting to feel more like the version of Vikki that God wants me to be.

And I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Posted in Moments and Musings

5 Steps to a Prayer Life

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Have you ever struggled with praying? Have you ever thought to yourself, “am I doing this right?”

Trying to pray “the right way” is something I’ve struggled with all my life. I would sit in a room, timer on the table and list in front of me of things I felt obligated to pray for. 

I prayed more for results than relationship. Insert a coin, get a prize. I approached prayer in the same fashion. Insert a prayer, get an answer (maybe). 

Joining a church meant praying in a group. I would break out in hives at the idea of being called upon to pray aloud. I wasn’t good enough, didn’t have the right words to pray and always felt like I didn’t know enough of the Word to pray. I would spend prayer time comparing myself to Sister Sally Sue who got at least 5 rounds of solid “amens” when she prayed. I would pray more to hear a “yes, Jesus” just to prove I wasn’t a bad pray-er. 

And of course, Satan used this over and over, repeatedly telling me, “See, you’re not as good as they are. God loves them more than He loves you.” 

Friends, can I tell you a secret? That’s not a relationship with God. That’s religion. 

Imagine my joy at finding a small group of women at my last church who humanized the idea of prayer for me. They were intimate with God and it made me desire that for my own life. And guess what? When they prayed, it wasn’t perfect. They stumbled over their words, they stopped to gather their thoughts, they laughed and cried and even said the word, “um” once or twice. It dawned on me that their “imperfections” were actually conversations. 

They were having a conversation with God. 

So, I stopped trying to be perfect. I stopped treating God like a gumball machine and I stopped trying to get “likes” when I prayed out loud in a group. Here’s 5 simple steps to get you on the road to a prayer life that produces relationship. 

  1. Read the Word. If prayer is a conversation, then we must know the One we are conversing with. Knowing who God is and what He’s about helps us to understand more of what the conversation will be like. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 
  2. Ask God to help you pray. God’s Word is all we need to get help in every situation, including prayer. John 14:13 encourages us to ask for help. It states, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do…” So if you need help knowing how to pray, just speak that verse and relate it to prayer. 
  3. Be yourself. This is probably the most important one. I fell into the comparison trap and lost precious time with God. I tried to copy the prayer style of others. God knows all about you. He wants a relationship with you on a one-on-one level. There’s nothing we can hide from Him. So stop trying to be like others and you do you in your prayer time with God. 
  4. Start simple. You do not need to thee and thou your conversation with God. He knows you! He wants to hear from YOU! If you’re stuck on where to start, just thank Him for who He is and all He’s done for you. The rest will follow, I promise! 
  5. Be honest and real. When my mom died, I went to God and let Him know I didn’t understand Him or His plan in this. I was so upset and in so much pain. I cried out to Him out of complete fear and anger. God was a total gentleman and He said, “Vikki, I hear you. I love you. I won’t leave you. You can either move forward with me, or without me. With me will be so much better but the choice is yours.” (Yes, God is that real with me!)

There are days when I start out in prayer. There are days when I end in prayer. There are also days when I say little prayers all day. Sometimes, I talk to Him as a wife would to a husband and sometimes, I talk with Him as a daughter would to her father. Most often, I talk with Him like the best friend I know Him to be. 

Through all this, I’ve learned this is what it means in the Bible when it says “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, The Message)

So without fear, I encourage you. Find your spot. Get your cup of coffee. Grab your blanket. And talk with Jesus. I guarantee you, friend – Jesus cannot wait to hear from you! 

Let me know in the comments how it goes. I’m praying for you!

Posted in Moments and Musings

Footprints in the Snow

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

One morning after it’d snowed overnight, my older sister and I were getting ready to walk to school. Hats, boots, gloves, scarves…much of which we’d take off once we were out of Mom’s sight because cool kids don’t wear hats and gloves. The snow was deep. Plowing and shoveling hadn’t been done just yet in our neighborhood. My mother commissioned my sister to watch over me as we walked to school. Then she told me to be sure to walk in my sister’s footsteps to help me navigate my way through the snow.

My sister was at that age where lugging her little sister around wasn’t considered cool. Typical sibling relationships. Her answer to my mother’s directive was to make sure those footsteps were as wild as she could make them. She pointed her feet inwards, and she pointed her feet outwards. She took super huge steps and walked in a zigzag. Anything to make it hard for me to follow. Again, typical sibling relationship stuff. I fought hard to keep up with her and she laughed watching me mimic her unusual walking pattern.

We laugh about it now as we’re older and wiser. We share a home where she is my best friend, my fellow prayer warrior and one of my favorite people on this planet. I still think she’s cool.   

Recently, I’ve been marinating on that word “follow” during my morning Bible study. Following Jesus and what all it means. As a natural over-thinker, I’ve wasted a lot of time looking for the perfect answer.

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus isn’t about my ability. It’s also not about being perfect. In fact, God keeps telling me to stop focusing on perfection. Just take one step and then the next and the next. When I asked where these steps would lead, He reminded me of this story.

Even though I knew my destination, the snow was falling so heavy I couldn’t really see where I was going. I didn’t know if I was on concrete or grass. I wasn’t sure if I was in the street or on a sidewalk. The only thing that helped me get to school that day were those footprints.

I said to God, “That was crazy! Her feet were all over the place, and I had to step in wherever and however she planted her foot.” God said, “But she knew how to get there, so all you had to do was trust her.”

Trust her? Yes. I did then and I still do.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus doesn’t always feel like it’s a straight shot to our destination. In fact, many times, we’re not sure what the destination is, outside of Heaven. There are times when we have to jump to make it to the next step. Call it a leap of faith, if you will. There are also times when we may need to take steps that don’t make sense to us at all. But God knows where he’s taking us even when we don’t. And all he asks us to do is follow him.

If you’re in a similar season, let me encourage you. We may not see the destination but it’s important to find joy in the journey. That all sounds very Hallmark-y, I know but it’s also true. Every day, God shows me the next step to take. My part is to be obedient. I take a step, then the next and the next and soon, I see the path. Like any path in a forest, you can’t always see where you’re going but that’s not as important as staying on the path. When I think back on that day now, trying to walk in my sister’s footprints was fun!

“So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you’re about to possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33, MSG

Each day we follow Jesus brings us closer and closer to God and He uses each moment for His glory and His honor. Following Jesus can seem hard some days but remember, God’s not interested in perfection. He’s interested in obedience. We don’t have to figure out where to go or how to get there. All we need to do is trust Him, stay on the path and walk in His footprints.