My blog

Category: Faith

  • Military mourning.

    And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 2 Sam 1:12 NKJV

    The context of this verse is that King Saul of Israel and his son Jonathan died in battle with the Philistines.  David, who would be the next King of Israel, and his men are those who are mourning, fasting and weeping for the two men.

    David loved King Saul, and he was a best friend to Jonathan and it hit him harder because he lost both of them.

    Those of us who have lost someone dear to us can relate to this verse.  And while I have not lost a dear one in battle, there are many that have.

    It seems fitting that we talk about men and women lost in battle.  Any family who loses a loved one in war is a tragedy.  But a family who loses all of their children at one time is unthinkable. That’s just what happened to the Sullivan family during World War II.

    While the Sullivan boys stipulated they wanted to serve together in January 1942, they were all lost at sea when their ship, the USS Juneau, sunk in November 1942.

    Several years after the Sullivan parents lost their entire family, and another family lost four members of their family, the military adopted the sole survivor policy which is a set of regulations designed to protect members of a family from the draft or from combat duty if they have already lost family members in military service.

    Parents who lose a baby or a child are overwrought with the pain of loss but to lose five sons in one fell swoop, I can’t even imagine the pain of suffering that family endured. Some may say, it was a long time ago or time has a way of healing.  That may be true to some extent but a parent who loses a child whether that child is a baby, child or an adult, can’t ever be consoled and time doesn’t heal.  It only covers the grief until the anniversary of their child’s birth or death.

    Parents who have lost children have said it never goes away and I believe them.  It’s always there, in the corner of their heart. Jumping into the forefront of their minds when they least expect it.  Something or someone will trigger a memory and grief rushes into their hearts.

    May we all have an extra measure of compassion for those parents who have lost a child.

     

     

  • God’s timing.

    Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”  1 Sam 1:11 NKJV

    Let’s put this verse in context first and I’m paraphrasing here:

    Hannah was one of two wives to Elkanah.  In ancient Israel, the practice of polygamy was common. While Elkanah’s other wife had children, Hannah was barren.  The other wife derided Hannah because of her barrenness.  And while this is cruel and unjust today’s society, in ancient times when a woman was barren, it brought shame to her.

    The family had gone to Shiloh to bring a sacrifice to the Lord God which was their custom. Elkanah gave a double portion of blessing (meaning food) to Hannah because he loved her and because she was barren and looked upon with derision. But Hannah wept and would not eat.  She begged God to open her womb.

    That’s what this verse is about.  Hannah begged God to give her a child who she promised would be given to Him, consecrated as a Nazarite and set apart for God.

    God did open her womb and gave her a son named Samuel. This verse is not about Samuel but about his mother, Hannah, who could only depend on God to fix her circumstances.

    What heartbreak the woman must have endured at the hands of not only her husband’s other wife but all the women in her community!  And yet, she went directly to God for help.  It reminds us to look to God when situations are dire.

    Some might ask, “Isn’t no even harder to endure?”  I would say, no, because when a no comes, I believe God has a better plan than what I proposed.  Thus, it goes hand in hand with wait.

    Do you go directly to God when you are in dire situations or do you go to your friends for counsel?  Who is better prepared to handle your situation?

    What are your thoughts? 

     

  • The Human Spirit

    Never underestimate the power of the human spirit!  There are those who, when burdened with an overwhelming life event come through it stronger and more able to stand against the next crazy life event that could have them crawling on their knees. Then there are others who, when dealt a crushing blow, are devastated to the point of immobility and can’t rise above the situation.

    When a person has a life-threatening health crisis, like latter stage cancer, does that person stand up and fight it with their last breath or do they resign themselves to their bed to die?

    In a health crisis, we never see those who have lost their battle to cancer without a fight.  Some retreat into themselves to waste away and die with their family and friends dismayed they wouldn’t fight to live…not only for their family and friends but for themselves.  Some give up when their friends and family never wanted them to give up.  Others fight until their last breath. Even though they lose the battle, they have fought.  Even through death, they have risen above their circumstances. If you’re suffering from cancer, fight the good fight, be strong, and give yourself and your family hope!

    A couple of great examples of high-profile individuals who had fought the fight to their last breath.  Farrah Fawcett looked for every known cure and Patrick Swayze continued to work throughout his treatment.  Both lost their battle with cancer but did so with dignity and strength.

    What about when a kid is bullied?  Does he constructively fight back or does he retreat into himself possibly committing suicide?

    We often hear about kids committing suicide because they were bullied.  Sometimes it’s a genuine wish to shed light on bullying and how awful it is for the kid’s family and friends.  But oftentimes, it’s a political entreaty to advance someone’s agenda which is totally not cool.

    But what about the kids who rise above the bullying?  Why don’t we hear about those kids?  Today I watched a video of an 11-year-old kid who took free violin lessons because the kids at school bullied him because he had cancer.  Kids can be cruel and merciless.  They have no filters or have not been taught any filters.  But this boy made my heart sing.  He appeared on America’s Got Talent and blew everyone away with his violin playing.  He made it to the television show.  What an example of how the human spirit can overcome.  This boy chose music to overcome his heartache over being bullied. Other’s may choose sports or some other positive way to overcome.

    What about when a person has lost every possession to a hurricane, tornado, or flooding? Does the person retreat to a homeless shelter never to be heard from again or does he take action and rebuild his home and his life?

    When a person loses everything, it is total defeat. They have nothing.  No clothing, no memorabilia, no means of personal identification. They become lost. How do they come back from such a devastating life event?

    Personally, I trust in the Lord when some life event brings me lower than dirt.  I know it works.  It gives me peace and strength.  God gives us what we need when we need it if we call on Him to help in our time of need.

    Several years ago, my 61-year-old husband lost his job.  I was afraid at first then I remembered God had it all in the palm of His hand.  I told my husband we’d pray about it and let God lead us.  And lead us, He did.  My husband got a job offer not three weeks later.  To say it was a miracle is an understatement.  Who hires a 61-year-old man who is almost ready to retire in a few years? God can do anything, even heal the sick and restore a home.

    I don’t know if any of the people described here trusted in the Lord but I believe the Lord gives us strength and power to overcome.  It comes from within.  It comes from Him.

    What are your thoughts on where your strength comes from?

     

     

  • A model daughter-in-law

     But Ruth said:

    “Entreat me not to leave you,
    Or to turn back from following after you;
    For wherever you go, I will go;
    And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
    Your people shall be my people,
    And your God, my God.  Ruth 1:16 NKJV

    This verse was the response to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had lost not only her husband but also her only two sons.  Naomi wanted her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab, the country of their birth.  But she, Naomi would travel to her hometown of Bethlehem.  In those days a childless widow was among the lowest and most disadvantaged. They had no support you and had to live on the generosity of strangers. Thus, Naomi was desperate and had to leave but didn’t want Ruth or Orpah to come with her as they had family in Moab.

    But Ruth’s dedication to remain with Naomi was the noble and loving commitment of a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law.  Something we lack today.  Naomi’s life and love of God made an indelible impression on Ruth.   Naomi had lost her husband, her two sons…her entire family and yet she continued to honor God.  Her character was impeccable.  She trusted God to take care of her.

    Ruth saw Naomi’s lifestyle and love for God but never gave up her gods.  But when Naomi made the declared she would return to Bethlehem, that’s when Ruth left everything behind. Her gods.  Her family. And took Naomi’s God, the one true God as her God.  And stayed with Naomi for the rest of her life.

    Her story is one that is beautiful.  She honored her mother-in-law and God had mercy on her and gave her another husband.

    The website women of noble character had these ten tips for being a better daughter-in-law:

    • Speak to her and about her with kindness and above all don’t complain about her to your husband.
    • Make an effort to listen to her advice – even if you don’t agree with it or take it.
    • Allow her to spoil your children as long as it’s within reason.
    • Don’t make comparisons of your parents and your in-laws either to yourself or to your husband.
    • Offer help when you can.
    • Cultivate a relationship with her by treating her as you would a girlfriend by calling or inviting her to do things with you.
    • Don’t take advantage of her good nature and expect a built-in babysitter all the time. she may not mind but don’t overdo it.
    • Don’t say negative things about your in-laws to your husband.
    • Make plans for the holidays ahead of time with your in-laws to avoid any hurt feelings.
    • Thank your in-laws for the way they raised your husband.

    How have you cultivated a relationship with your mother-in-law?

     

     

  • God is with you!

    No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Josh 1:5 NKJV

    Joshua 1:5 is another of those Bible verses that is a promise of God. Even through trials, no one can come against you and that He will always be with you.

    To make the verse more personal, substitute “God” or “Jesus” for “I” and your name or “me” for “you” making it a personal verse to memorize and repeat when in a trial.

    For example, my life’s verse could read: “Jesus will be with me. Jesus will not leave me nor forsake me.” Or it could read: “God will be with me. God will not leave Seralynn or forsake her. And while the latter is in the third person, it’s personal and becomes a prayer. And bonus…the prayer is scriptural and praying God’s word back to Him. There’s immense comfort in it. Comfort that surpasses all understanding.

    Even in my darkest hours and there were many over the years, I always knew God was with me. And I know He’ll be with me until I breathe my last breath.

    Do you know God is with you and will be with you until your last breath?

  • Just Do It!

     Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ Deut 1:21

    This verse is definitely a life verse when considering career choices or stepping out in Faith. That was me when I wrote inspirational romances. I felt ill-equipped to write. I needed instruction on how to write and how to use the language to its fullest potential. But, God gave me a vision, and I have stepped out and worked many hours to learn the craft and I’m still learning and I will continue to learn every time my fingers hit the keyboard.

    I faced discouragement from fellow writers who critiqued my work, from instructors who made it clear it was difficult to get an agent in this day and age let alone find a publisher willing to take on a new author. But the reason for writing was so strong none of those naysayers would keep me from my purpose for writing.

     

    What “land” are you trying to possess and what are your fears?

     

     

  • Gideon’s Victory

    So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he [Gideon] sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.   Judges 7:8 NKJV

    It seemed fitting on this Memorial Day to use a verse from scripture that details how God worked wondrously through his servant Gideon, a military leader, judge, and prophet.

    As a military leader, he knew battle strategy but as a judge and prophet would he trust God to do what God had promised or would he do what he thought was in the best interest of Israel?

     God made him an authoritative figure but Gideon leaned more on his own understanding of war and took 32,000 men to the Midianites to prepare for battle.  But God told him there were too many men! Gideon then sent 22,000 men back to Israel, leaving 10,000 men to conquer the Midianites. It was still too many men for God to show His glory.  Only 300 men remained to conquer the Midianites.  Against all odds and man’s battle plans, God gave Gideon the direction to overcome their foes who were in far greater numbers than Gideon’s men.

    Today’s Bible story shows us if we have God’s ear, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.  What battle are you waging today?  Is it physical, mental, emotional, financial?  He has the answer.  Seek Him and His answer.

     

     

  • Aaronic Blessing

    “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you. And give you peace. Num 6:24-26 NKJV

    In my younger days, my pastor would sing this blessing at the end of each service. It comforted me. I did not know it was an actual blessing from the Bible. In fact, it is the Aaronic Blessing and one which I have heard both in English and in Hebrew.

    This blessing will always have the power to comfort me and I hope it comforts you today.

    Through the years, different verses have been a blessing what verses are your favorites or have been a blessing to you?

     

     

  • When God Answers Prayer

    When I first learned how to pray effectively, I was (and still am) in awe of how God answered prayer.  Sometimes it happened immediately and sometimes He was still working out the answer.  Many times God answered the prayer in an unexpected way.  Not bad, just different from what I had expected.

    I learned early on there are only three answers to prayer: Yes, No and Wait.  While we rejoice in the yes answers, the no answers don’t keep me down because it only means He has something better for me and my family or He was protecting me from something I didn’t know about regarding that prayer. And the wait…well, that’s the hardest answer to bear, particularly if it’s crucial like a physical, financial or emotional need.  And our family has had them over the years.  Big time.

    What’s exciting about it is that I’m in an expectant mood to see how He will answer it.

    Some people think prayer is private and often it should be.  Each person should sit with their creator and work out the details of their lives with Him.  God loves us and He wants to hear from us.  Whether it’s just a few words telling Him about your day or if it’s a more in-depth conversation about life events or personal issues. He wants to hear every detail of our lives, no matter how small.  Remember He has the hairs on your head counted so if that isn’t detailed enough, I don’t know what is.

    Over the years, my husband and I have prayed hundreds of thousands of prayers.  Some corporately and some individually.  But we try to make it a priority every day.  It doesn’t always work out that way but we try.

    Most of the time my prayers begin by giving Him glory. I move on to asking for forgiveness because I know I need it every day.   The prayer then turns to the needs of my family and friends, then my own needs and finally for global issues.  God has been faithful over the years to answer my prayers so I will continue to pray to Him.  Sometimes it’s daunting but I know God has called me to be a prayer warrior so that is what I will do.

    Just this past Sunday we prayed for an individual who had severed a tendon and needed surgery. My husband and I prayed, and we were specific in our prayer: the surgeon would be a believer in Christ, that the surgery would be scheduled quickly and that the recuperation period would be minimal.  The next day, I received an excited call. The surgeon who would do the surgery is, in fact, a believer along with his physician’s assistant and the surgery would happen today.  Specific answers to specific prayers. This morning we prayed for God’s own hands to guide the doctor’s hands and that the surgery would go well without issue.

    I could fill thousands of pages talking about how God answered prayer, sometimes, unbelievable answers!  I try to remind myself of all the times He was faithful even when I was not.

    These answers to prayer are what I call God Stories.  I pray you have an abundance of your own God Stories.  If you would like to share those stories here, we’d love to hear them!

  • The Blood

    Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’ Lev 17:12 NKJV

    As ghoulish as it sounds, there’s blood in the Bible.  The children of Israel painted blood on the lintel and the door frames to keep the angel of death from striking the firstborn son when God called the children of Israel out of Egypt.

    Blood is a big part of the Christian faith because it was by His blood…the blood of Jesus Christ that God forgives us our sins. I often wondered why eating blood from under-cooked meat seemed abhorrent. Now I know. 

    This verse is from the Old Testament where God is giving the children of Israel standards to live by. In those days it was sinful to eat the blood of an animal. Blood is sacred. And it’s life-giving. Without blood, we die. It’s that simple.

    Blood types were unknown to ancient Israel but we know about them today. Maybe you’ve donated blood in a blood drive on in times of crisis.  I remember donating blood on 9-11.  I was the last person they would accept for a donation.  It was almost midnight by the time they could take my blood and I was happy to do it.  We all have the potential to save someone with our life-giving blood. Donate today!   

    And there may have been a practical reason for God to give His children this command. He knew something about animals’ blood they didn’t. The animals in those days may have had diseases unknown to the Israelites. Today, the same is true but for a very different reason.  Conglomerate farms keep animals penned in crowded environments and fed less than healthy diets. If the meat is organic, bought from a small single-owned farmer, then a person is ahead of the game but it’s expensive. 

    When I see a verse like this, I want to apply it to today’s living and I can. How about you?