Blog – Barbara Lynn Seibel

November 2, 2025November 1, 2025

The Power of Simple Obedience to Transform a Heart

I’ve shared in other posts that I’ve been reading the Bible through yearly for some time.

No one told me to do this.

It isn’t a rule or obligation.

Instead, it is a simple act of personal obedience to make sure I am staying connected to the Lord God I say I worship.

When I first began this habit, I struggled with understanding who God truly is.

Before I share more about this, join me in a study of a Syrian commander who also struggled to understand God.

October 26, 2025October 25, 2025

Learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah | Part Two

Who do you lean on when overwhelmed or uncertain about your future or a decision on a course of action?

A parent?
A sibling?
A spouse?
A friend?
A colleague?
Other?

Several years ago, my employer asked me to accept a role change I knew was wrong for me. I was so distraught when I saw the initial rough draft of the job description that I fell to my knees in tears.

Instead of getting ready for work, I kept following my now-late husband around the house.

Just as he was about to step out the front door, he realized he needed to pray for me regarding this challenge. As he embraced and prayed for me, I felt a sense of peace blossom. Afterwards, he also told me that, although it would be better if I had another job lined up, he would support me if I quit rather than accept the role change.

Before I share more about this, let’s continue our study Learning About God Through Ahaziah and Elijah | Part Two.

October 19, 2025October 18, 2025

Learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah | Part One

Having lived away from where I grew up for over twenty years now, I can easily forget how much I still have mannerisms and other things that were modeled for me by my parents.

When my father passed in 2024, a friend remarked about the picture of my dad used for his obituary that she could see him in me by the way I held my head. Previous pictures she’d seen of him had failed to reveal that to her. I never noticed this detail until she pointed it out.

What I notice the most when I’m with my mom is how much my sense of humor and laughter is like hers. And we both enjoy good Bible study discussions.

Besides my parents, there are others who have influenced me over the years. Various teachers, friends, and colleagues come to my mind.

What does this have to do with learning about God through Ahaziah and Elijah?

Keep reading.

October 12, 2025October 11, 2025

Influential Relationships and Their Impact on Worship

When you read the words “influential relationships,” what comes to mind first?

Networking for career advancement?
Healthy living advice?
Political clout?
Other?

Some influential relationships I’ve had include parents, siblings, extended family, friends, coworkers, teachers, counselors and my late spouse.

The level of influence varies, as well as whether it was a positive or negative influence.

By pairing these words with “and their impact on worship,” I hope your thoughts move towards relationships that have helped shape your understanding of spiritual matters.

Today’s study considers the introduction of a king of Israel named Ahab.

As a king, Ahab was at the top of society with the authority to influence an entire nation on many levels.

October 5, 2025October 4, 2025

God Rescues a Rebellious People

A Study of Isaiah 53:4-6

For many months I have wondered if there was something wrong with my refrigerator that was purchased in June 2024.

It seemed louder than I recalled, but it was still working fine.

The internet research basically said refrigerators can make loud noises randomly and that if it was working properly otherwise, there was nothing wrong with the appliance.

But I still felt something was wrong.

So, I asked the opinion of every person who came to my home who I knew was mechanically minded about it.

None of them seemed overly concerned about it since it was such a new appliance.

In July 2025, my in-laws vacuumed the coils for me and agreed it might be wise to have it checked out if it continued to sound loud to me. But they too felt it wasn’t an urgent issue.

What does this have to do with a study of Isaiah 53:4-6 and God rescuing a rebellious people?

I’ll explain after we review the passage.

September 28, 2025September 27, 2025

Why Do We Falter in Our Worship?

I faltered in doing my daily stretching this past week four days in a row.

Along with this, I spent those four days toting around a heavy backpack while at a conference for my work.

When I resumed my stretching routine on the fifth day, my body was extremely tight and less flexible.

I also suffer from DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness. This is one of the primary reasons I practice a daily stretching routine.

Thus, the consequences of my faltering yielded a cranky low back and stiff joints throughout my body on the sixth day.

I know better, and yet, I still faltered.

But this is a Bible study blog, not a fitness blog.

Still, the example above reveals that there are consequences when we falter in our daily habits.

The study below reveals the consequences of when we falter in our worship.

September 21, 2025September 21, 2025

I Got New Flooring This Week

Greetings Readers!

I have been busy packing up my household belongings to prepare for the installation of new flooring over the last few weeks.

The flooring installation began last Wednesday and continued through Saturday.

Aside from a few items they ran out of material for, the project is essentially done.

Because I’ve been directing and moving items around, and dusting repeatedly, these last few days, I’ve had little time to work on a Bible study post.

I did my research, but the actual crafting of a post will wait until next weekend.

Why next weekend?

September 14, 2025September 13, 2025

What Happens When We Try to Rush God? | A Study of Genesis 16

Why is waiting on God’s timing so difficult for us?

Many of us, especially in our fast-paced, instant-gratification culture, struggle even when we’re waiting for something as simple as a red light to change at an intersection.

But what about waiting for something more significant? A spouse, a child, or even a particular career aim?

How long are you willing to wait on God for these types of relationships or objectives?

What follows next is a study of Genesis 16 highlighting how Sarai took matters into her own hands rather than continue to wait on God’s timing.

September 7, 2025September 6, 2025

Responding to an Unexpected Question

A few days ago, I received an unexpected question in an email from a coworker.

This question caused me to pick up the phone and share my reaction with my coworker.

Now, it’s not uncommon for me to get lots of questions during my workday.

In fact, one time, as I was preparing to leave for vacation, I emailed all employees with the following subject line: Ask Barbara Not an Option.

I then explained in the email’s body that I would be away from the office with little access to the internet. Thus, “Ask Barbara” was not workable during the time I planned to be away.

This email generated a mixture of responses ranging from “good for you” to “what will we do while you’re gone?” comments.

But before I share the unexpected question I recently received and how I responded to it, I want to look at John 18:19-19:11.

After all, this is a Bible study blog.

August 31, 2025August 30, 2025

Does How We Live Matter to God? | 1 Kings 9:1-9

Are you a faithful follower?

No, I’m not talking about social media.

Although who and what we follow on social media can reveal what matters to us most.

But the question I’m asking is deeper than surface interests such as being an animal lover or decluttering expert.

(I’m the first, not the second, although I’m working on that.)

Seriously, I’m asking, are you a faithful follower of God?

And I’m asking whether how we live out this faithfulness matters to God.

Join me in studying 1 Kings 9:1-9 to consider an answer to these questions.