My blog

Category: Life

  • Munich BMW Museum


    My husband is a car nut, so he was in his glory when we lived in Germany.  The Porsche and Mercedes museum are in Stuttgart, and since we lived outside of Stuttgart, we felt we could see those museums anytime. We missed out visiting the state of the art VW plant, I’m sad to say.
    But on this early spring day; we visited the BMW museum in Munich.  The Germans pronounce it “Mewn-chin”. I don’t know where the Americans got their pronunciation but I digress.
    Originally, my husband wanted to visit the actual plant but was told the BMW people schedule those tours six months in advance so we settled for the museum.

    Upon arriving, we thought the building we were in was the museum but it was actually the BMW factory showroom with a high-rise office building attached.  The pristine showroom is modernistic in design and huge.

    What fascinated us about the factory was if you buy a BMW and pay an extra 400 Euro (about $650) they will bring your new car up through the factory floor on a round dais to the factory showroom, spin it around so all the spectators and visitors can admire the new car and then allow you to drive it out of the building.  An extraordinary and cool process to watch.  Sadly, I only had a camera and didn’t get a video.

    The museum was across the street from the factory and they had a walking bridge overpass to get to it.  I snapped a photo of the building but couldn’t get the whole thing in because it was so big.  I’d have needed a panorama camera to get it all in.
    While I’m not a huge fan of the motor aspect of the cars, I like the history, the looks and the technology that has gone into making them. There’s also a bit of romance with the design of the cars.  Guys are especially enthralled with all of it!

    One element of the technology is the study of airflow. The first room we visited had silver balls hanging from clear wire (similar to fishing wire). This was the airflow room and the balls would move according to however they programmed the air to flow. It was uber cool to watch, but a photo doesn’t do this exhibit justice.

    The old models were particularly fascinating, and I found them beautiful (and romantic).   I particularly like the paint job on the 1934 model. seen here. I would drive that car! There weren’t many (at least I didn’t see them) from 1939 to 1950. I would imagine they curtailed the cars made for public consumption to work on war machines and were re-building their country and infrastructure after the war ended.

    For those that don’t know, BMW stands for Bavarian Motor Works. BMW originally designed airplanes. The insignia is a circle with the blue (the sky) and white (propellers). The museum contained virtually nothing about their airplane production. The Germans glossed over the war years. I believe they are ashamed of their country’s part in the annihilation of so many Jews.

    I loved the little blue and black model that never went into production.  It is SO cute! I don’t remember the year it was supposed to go into production but judging by the style, I believe it was the late 30s probably around the time World War II started.

    BMW that never went into production

    They also had not only a chronology of cars but motorcycles (road and racing). The road cycles were stacked in a plate-glass case that went from the bottom floor up to the top floor of the museum. This one reminded me of the one Harrison Ford and Sean Connery used in one of the Indiana Jones movies. Can you guess which movie?

    If you thought the “Smart” car is one that’s brand new. Think again because this tiny little car was built in 1955! It was called an Isetta. Notice that there are no side doors, it opens from the front and the steering is attached to the door!  And it is super tiny!

     

    Side view of the Isetta.  I must admit I was fascinated by this car.  How people got in and out of it. No doors. God forbid something happened to the front of this car, a driver would have a hard time getting out.

    From a safety perspective, this car is a death trap.  Cute, but a death trap, nonetheless.

    This 1956 model was one of my husband’s favorites.  Its sleek lines would attract anyone!

     

    Another favorite of mine is this Red job. I don’t know the year but notice the driver’s door. I would imagine the passenger door does the same. The door slides down but doesn’t open like a conventional car door. My husband seems to think we never saw it in the US because of safety reasons. I don’t know. I just like it!

    Another of my husband’s favorite cars is this Z8 model. He can drool all he wants, he’ll never afford it! It’s over 235k Euros which is about 300k dollars! I can’t believe people would actually spend that much money for a car. Nice or not, to me, it’s just not worth it! Of course, I can’t afford it either.

    Remember that bowl-shaped building from the photos at the beginning of this blog? Well, there was a circular ramp with an open center so you can see to the bottom floor. I didn’t even count the floors because it made me dizzy, but there were a LOT of them!

    As we walk up the ramp on either side of the ramp, there are these big ball-like structures attached to the handrails. They depicted the history of vehicles including the plastics and other elements of the production throughout the years. As we reach the top, there’s an incredibly long escalator, but it only goes ONE way – down, so we continue our trek to the top. When we get there, there’s a bevy of concept cars.

    1934 BMW – My favorite

     

    The very last exhibit had a video but no car on the dais. The video depicted the use of ultra-lightweight material allowing a person to open the door and it would bunch up (like skin). There were no openings where the door hinges should be. That’s the best description I can give for what we saw. It’s called the Gina. I would love to see the Gina (probably named for someone’s daughter or wife) in production but it won’t be for years.

    Another building housed ONLY Z-4s!  I spent at least 30 minutes playing with the onboard computer system which includes navigation, phone, contacts (probably downloaded from your phone), radio, DVD and CD’s. It was SO cool to play with.

    As we were leaving, there was a gentleman who worked at the museum who had been standing around I think he had been eavesdropping on our conversation. We were looking for the exit and he escorted us and we had a lovely conversation.  It turns out he had spent a year in New York and traveled the southwest for six weeks. He loved the States and was curious about what we liked about Germany. During our long conversation, he finally admitted to speaking four languages, one of which was Italian! With a name like Damato, I would think so! Sadly, he no longer had any relatives in Italy. His grandfather had immigrated to Cairo no less.

    We also visited the main plaza in Munich but that’s for another day.  Enjoy the cars…I sure did!

     

     

  • 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?

     

     

  • Lichtenstein Castle

    Castle Lichtenstein

    The last adventure on my adventure page was the last castle we toured while living in Germany. It was the weekend we found out we had to vacate Germany within 30 days (another story for another time).

    We decided we wanted to visit one last castle before the stress of moving began and we wouldn’t have time to do much sightseeing.  This one is Castle Lichtenstein (not the country of Lichtenstein, of course.) It is in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg.  That probably means nothing to you but it’s near Stuttgart—where Mercedes and Porsche have their headquarters (also another story for another time.) It’s about 40 kilometers from where we live but Julie (our GPS guide) was not helpful.  I had printed out a Google map because I didn’t have an exact address.   We knew it was west of Reutlingen.  So we plugged in Reutlingen and then stopped when we got there and try to find it using the Points of Interest feature on the GPS.  It worked.  The GPS listed the castle. Thank goodness!

    Other Buildings from the drawbridge of the Castle itself.

    As expected, we traveled up a hillside to get to the castle, parked the car and trekked the rest of the way to the entrance.    Enchanted by the German castles, as always, this last trek was no different.  “Castle Hopping” which military personnel and ex-patriots (those who were in the military or civilians who live in Germany or any other foreign country) call visiting castles was our most favorite thing to do while living in Germany.

    I’m always amazed at the size of the grounds and this castle was no different.  The outer bailey had more out-buildings than the other castles we visited.  They had converted one building from a lodge to a restaurant for visitors.  The Tudor type building housed a museum of sorts and a place to buy cold drinks.

    Castle Keep

    The castle itself is a “fairy-tale” castle.  One that easily could have been the subject of a dark fairy tale given where it sits.  It’s on the edge of a cliff and to get to it, we had to walk a bridge to the keep.  It’s smaller than most of the buildings on site but the beauty of the rooms and the artifacts were amazing.  Weapons mounted on walls along with various shields captured my husband’s attention. These remnants of the past are irreplaceable.

    What surprised me was how small the rooms were but they were so ornate.  Every available wall and ceiling was gilded or painted or a combination thereof.  The detail and intricacy of the work made me stop and stare. I didn’t know where to look first.  The other thing I noticed was how many stained-glass windows were in this castle but in the other castles, there weren’t many, if at all.

    An ornate room in the Castle.

    I didn’t have the heart to take the picture but our guide showed us bullet holes where the German army in WWII took over the castle and shot up the walls.  They didn’t see the value in the castle.  Such a waste and so sad.

    After the tour, we had a bite to eat at the cafe.  We sat outside under an umbrella.  We split an order Maltauschen (a rolled-up ravioli with spinach – the Germans call them ‘noodle bags’) with egg and a salad.  It started to rain as we started to eat but we thought we could wait it out and sure enough, the rain was just a drop here and there.

    Thank you for allowing me to share this adventure with you and taking me down memory lane that was an enjoyable and lovely day!

    View from the drawbridge to the village below

  • 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?

  • Hohenzollern Castle

    The first castle my husband and I visited in Germany was Hohenzollern Castle in Hohenzollern, Germany.  Where else?

    We had been in Germany for less than two months and we were still getting over what my husband’s colleagues called the “German crud”.  But it was a Sunday afternoon, and we wanted to do something but we needed to stay close to our apartment in Bonlanden, Fielderstadt (outside of Stuttgart). There were three castles to choose from less than an hour’s drive.  We chose Hohenzollern.

    I misspelled the name when I entered it in the GPS.  Goodness but those German names are hard to spell!  I was not yet proficient in spelling the cities and didn’t think I’d ever be proficient.  Difficult was an understatement, German was nearly impossible to learn even though English has its roots in the Germanic language!

    It was one pm when we arrived and we could see the castle in the distance.  It was magnificent.  This was the first castle my husband had ever seen.  I’d seen a few when I was a teenager and traveled to Italy with my grandparents but this was different.  These castles were high on hills in a defensive position and not in the center of a village.

    We felt it was in our best interest to take the shuttle to the top of the hill where that majestic castle stood.  The trip in that shuttle was a nail-biting horror.  The road was narrow, and the shuttle was wide.  There were shuttles going back and forth not to mention people who chose not to ride the shuttle walking up to the top of the hill. But the driver was skilled and took the road’s hairpin turns with ease.  With a sigh of relief, we got out and walked toward the arched opening that perhaps had been the drawbridge centuries ago.  Going through that arched opening led us to a road that had high walls next to it.

    What’s exciting is you don’t know how long you’ll have to walk to get to the actual castle and you don’t know how high you’ll have to go.  Upward we climbed on the cobblestone “road” walking through various archways.  My romantic imagination thought those on horseback may have hidden under those archways waiting for severe rainstorms to subside.

    As we walked on we went through another archway.  This time, it was a tunnel of sorts.  It was May, but that tunnel chilled us.  On one side the tunnel had small windows that let a little light in but not much warmth and the other side had small gated cells.  I thought they housed the horses but my husband seemed to think that’s where the castle kept their prisoners.  Think dungeon and creepy.

    We kept moving in a circular fashion until we finally saw sunshine and the castle rose above us.  Seeing that huge stone castle made the walk through the cold, creepy tunnel worth it.

    The Germans had transformed the gardens on the side of the castle into an area where people could buy a meal and sit outside.  There was live music that day, too.

    We took the tour of the castle even though we couldn’t understand the tour guide. At least we could see the inside of the castle.

    The German castles are exceptional and so well-maintained.  It’s a tourist attraction but still, there are many castles in Europe which are not well-maintained. Plus there’s a large army base right there in Stuttgart to bring in even more tourists. Like us.

    We ambled along and realized the tour would take a good hour and hoped the tour would end so we didn’t miss the bus.  We did not want another escapade like the one we had in Heidelberg.  (That’s another story for another time.)

    Anyway, we climbed the stairs into the castle.  We were the last ones in and the tour guide shut the door behind us with a loud kerthunk.

    We walked into an extraordinary room. There were about fifty or sixty people crammed into that small room. We sat on wooden seats attached to the wall.  My husband pointed out the tourists were all wearing felt slippers.  I didn’t see where or how they got them and since we didn’t understand the language we were at a loss.  It’s confounding when you can’t communicate!

    I snapped photos of the room (the family tree on the wall) then I noticed the ceiling was all wood and the chandelier had real candles in it. I couldn’t imagine trying to light those things every night, not to mention the fire hazard and being burned.  But it was gorgeous.

    Buying a tour book in English would have helped us follow along with the tour guide but we didn’t even know where to buy it.  The tour guide droned on and on and seemed to describe the castle’s heritage and the family ancestry. The tour guide said something to me but I didn’t understand him and kept shooting photos.

    An elderly woman with a cane pointed it at our feet and motioned we should have slippers on. Well, we would have if we had known where to get them.  She realized we didn’t speak German, turned and pointed to the room behind us.  At that point, we saw the large wooden boxes hidden from our view when we crammed in the ancestry room.  I trotted back to the box and pulled two pair out. We weren’t being disrespectful, we just didn’t understand the instructions.

    Back in the Dining Hall that same elderly woman turned to us and motioned to the camera and said, “Ist verboten.”  We understood she meant taking photos was forbidden inside the castle. Now that bummed me out!

    I apologize I don’t have photos of the many rooms we saw but the craftsmanship of the woodwork was extraordinary.  The cost to repair or replace any of the woodwork details or the fine furniture and artifacts would be astronomical today. We were told the camera flashes have a negative impact on the tapestries and fabric so that’s why no photos were allowed. I wonder if that’s still the case especially with phone cameras.

    We came to a room with a small door.  Inside that small room was a small bed (a twin size but very short) and a dressing table with a mirror.  I told my husband it must have been the King’s bedroom, but he thought it was the Queen’s bedroom.  The tour guide who said he could only speak a little English told us it was the King’s bedroom.  I would have thought it would have been more palatial, but it wasn’t. Three or four centuries ago maybe it was palatial.  I had to wonder how the lower-class people lived and I shivered.

    One of my favorite photos of this castle. I loved this circular stairway.

    We toured more and more rooms and ended up on an enclosed circular stairway that led outside but the tour guide escorted us back into the castle’s first floor where suits of armor and various kinds of weapons were on display.  What struck me was how heavy those suits must have been.  How cold in the winter and how hot in the summer?  I can’t even imagine it.  Perhaps that’s one reason soldiers died young. Who knows?

    Gold chalices, silver pieces, and place settings were on display.  It’s amazing those priceless pieces have endured all these centuries.  But in the final room, we came to a glass case with the King’s crown covered in precious jewels. Magnificent.  I asked my husband if he thought the jewels were real.  He said he thought so because it was an electronically monitored case.

    Once back outside in the courtyard, the band had moved to the outdoor dining hall, and it was curious to hear a Simon & Garfunkel song in such an ancient setting. We had a snack in the courtyard to tide us over before dinner.

    While having our snack we noticed the castle had dog bowls with water.  The Germans love their dogs and allow them in restaurants and all stores except grocery stores. And those dogs behave themselves, too.  I loved the sign above the doggie bowls.  It translates to “Doggie Bistro”.   Funny.

    The wind picked up, and we took the shuttle back to our car and another work week then another adventure in the lovely country of Germany.

     

  • 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?

     

     

  • Reading Romances

    When I look back at all the romances I’ve read over the years, it seems to me they have changed.  No longer do readers want “just” a romantic movie or book where the central theme is a love story and there’s a satisfying end to the story.  Most of the time that means “lives happily ever after”.

    No, today’s reader wants something extra.  Whether it be the amount of heat, that’s in a book or a movie or something suspenseful, today’s romance has a secondary and sometimes a tertiary plot running through the novel.  Then there are sub-genres: paranormal, western, Amish, inspirational, contemporary, historical, young adult, erotic or suspense.  A veritable smorgasbord to choose from!  And each person who loves a good romance has a different perspective on what they like or don’t like.

    These days the category or series romances are popular.  Personally, I love them because some of the same beloved characters show up again in another story!  Or sometimes it’s the setting where all the stories take place. It doesn’t matter, readers love them.

    While researching what surprised me was the number of men who read them.  A whopping 18% of all readers are men.  The men I know wouldn’t touch them unless they were being forced to as is the case with my husband who gives me feedback on dialogue.  Perhaps men who read them are incredibly secure in their own masculinity to do so.

    The statistics on the age of readers today were also surprising.  I would have thought it would be more baby boomers, but it wasn’t.  Very frequent readers were under the age of 34!  And only 64% were e-book reader which also surprised me.  Personally, I use a service with my iPad mini to read as many as I can in a month for a small monthly fee.

    There are other statistics regarding romance readership but these were the most interesting.

    Are you surprised by the statistics?  What’s your favorite sub-genre of romance?

     

  • 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.