Our God Of Common Senses

By Victoria Hicks

Dictionaries have multiple definitions for both the word common and the word sense/senses. Together, they represent all of humanity, along with the animal functions of hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste.

Several years ago, Victoria participated in a women's retreat. The theme was "Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God." The scripture reference was Psalm 34:8, which has become a favorite of hers. She says of the retreat, "It changed my writing, and in several ways, it changed my thinking, my life."

Take a walk through Eden, as Eve makes a choice that changed lives forever. Sit on a grassy pond bank and watch the meandering of a small flock of sheep. Let your heart feel the love of a young, new mother holding her hours-old, tiny son. Feel the wind tearing through trees as Elijah hides from God in a cave. Smell the perfume. Hear the whispers of men as a woman dares to intrude and anoint the feet of Jesus. See their shock when he tells her, "Your sins are forgiven." Hear a child's long-awaited first, "I love you," to his mother--understand and feel her inexpressible joy.

Walk with Victoria through experiences both biblical and personal, as she explores some of the ways God has used his gifts of senses to work in people--past, present, and for all of time to come.

Come. Taste and see.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886161182

Book preview

Defining Love

But, he said, You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.

—Exodus 33:20 NIV

I stood at the back of the yard, a mug of hot tea warming my hand in the coolness of dawn. Pinks and blues ribboned their way across the sky. Pastel shades deepened while the sun slowly rose to peek over the treetops. Sunrise on the farm is my favorite time and place—a heavenly way to begin the day.

I lifted the mug to my lips; the tea was hot and sweet. I watched the rim of the sun become brighter as it rose. Soon its full shape was visible, a vivid coral orb floating toward heaven in an ocean of blue.

Birds were singing praises to their Creator. This is the glory of God, I told them. The sun reached higher now. Coral had become blinding white. I closed my eyes, but could still feel its penetrating brightness and had to look away.

What I saw was but a glimpse of God’s glory—so great that man cannot look on it and live. Imagine—a God whose radiance outshines the sun. This God, as Christ, left heaven’s unmatchable beauty, knowing he would be beaten, mocked, humiliated, and finally nailed to a roughly hewn cross, for me—for you. What wondrous love is this! Tears filled my eyes. I turned and walked slowly back to the house.

Precious saviour, sweet Jesus. When you stepped out of the tomb on that first Easter morning, you truly defined sacrifice. You defined victory. You defined love. Thank you.

My Cuppa Friend

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

—Psalm 123:1 NIV

More than forty years ago, God introduced me to my soulmate. I was director of Girls in Action, a missions organization for girls ages six to twelve at Deer Park Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. A few years later, Marilyn and her family moved back to Louisville and the church she’d known as a teen.

The GA group had grown, both in age and number. When Marilyn became my leadership partner, we divided the group, making activities and lessons more enjoyable for everyone.

We quickly became friends, but it would be years before either of us had any idea of the plans God had for us and our families. She was a nurse; I was a full-time mom.

God soon uncovered our shared interests, tastes, ideas, and most of all, our love for him and for England. Several years later, Marilyn and her family moved to Tennessee, then later to Florida. By now, God had orchestrated our relationship into more than friends—we were soulmates. Distance is nothing to God. Through our visits, he continued to grow friendship into family. Bonds grew between our husbands, and eventually we became travel partners.

Marilyn still lives in Florida but has family in Kentucky and is in town several times a year. We nearly always manage to make time for a cuppa. Tea brews in one of my favorite teapots. Teacups from my collection add to the British ambiance. We catch up on family, share joys, sorrows, and frustrations. We include the Lord in our joy, with prayer and praises for whatever he is doing in our lives. We marvel at the similar paths our families have trod and pray for those journeys.

The warmth of the teacups in our hands and the sweetness of the snack feeds our taste buds and our hearts; we are home. In much the same way each of us need time with Jesus, just as he wants time with us—time to be still, to know he is there—time to thank him for his gift of life; time to be at home with God.

Sweet Jesus, I stand speechless, realizing that you—Father, Son, Spirit—who created the world and all life, actually want time with me! As you want this for me, you also want this miracle for each of your children. Oh, Lord, may they too desire the sweetness of your presence!

Shhh… Listen for the Whisper

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

—1 Kings 19:12 NIV

Because Elijah had killed four hundred of the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel vowed to kill him. Afraid for his life, Elijah fled into the desert. Exhausted, he came upon a broom tree. He sat beneath it, prayed to die, and fell asleep; perhaps he hoped God would take him while he slept.

However, God wasn’t