Prophets - Barbara Lynn Seibel

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

Have You Prepared Your Heart for Christmas?

Part One

In the United States and many other cultures, it’s hard not to know that the annual celebration of Christmas is coming thanks to the retail industry.

Not to be outdone, the entertainment industry also makes sure the culture is aware.

But neither the retail nor the entertainment industry is what I’m referring to by asking, “Have you prepared your heart for Christmas?”

I’m desiring to look past the tinsel, gifts, and frivolity to something much more personal and enduring.

Join me in exploring some thoughts from Micah, where a promise was given regarding what our hearts need most.

November 23, 2025November 22, 2025

Something Only God Can Do

My late husband was normally not an early riser.

But when he went hammock camping, he always offered to be the one to get up to make cowboy coffee for the group.

I asked him once why he did this when he wasn’t normally a morning person.

After all, he used to say he preferred the morning to start at 2:00pm most days.

His response was that he enjoyed the quiet time of solitude when no one else was up yet, watching the sunrise, and listening to the birds sing while enjoying his first cup of coffee.

I also think he secretly enjoyed being in control of the coffee. 😊

One of the most touching things the hammock club did after learning he had passed, was to put up an empty hammock with a stock pot and a twig cross nearby in honor of their fallen friend for the duration of their camping event.

Today, our passage talks about God’s power to transform the world much like a sunrise opens the dawn of a new day. Whether it’s morning or evening, take some time to enjoy your own quiet time of solitude with the Lord’s transformative power.

November 16, 2025November 15, 2025

Are You Dating or Preparing to Marry God?

This feels weird to write about.

Why?

From an earthly perspective, having become a widow in 2024, the thoughts of dating and marriage are very far from my mind.

After all, I’m still recovering from the shock of this earthly loss.

But the title question is not about earthly relationships.

It is asking what type of relationship you have with God.

Is it a relationship where you’re just testing the waters? Curious but not committed?

Or are you preparing for a relationship to last for eternity?

Further, what is God’s role in this?

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.

August 20, 2023August 19, 2023

Ezekiel 3:1-3 | Are You Eating God’s Word?

Every year, as a part of my daily time alone with the Lord, I use a chronological arrangement of scripture to read through the Bible.

I use this reading format to reinforce my grasp of the historical timeline.

This year I am copying into a journal the verses that intrigue me as I read through each day’s portion.

My reading this week prompted me to copy down the following instructions from the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel:

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” ²So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. ³And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. ^{^[1]}

Why is the Lord asking Ezekiel to eat a scroll?

August 13, 2023August 12, 2023

Jeremiah 7:23-26 |Are You Listening to God?

As I type this, I hear a variety of sounds.

The gurgle of my pet’s water bowl fountain in the next room.
A fan drying out a recently cleaned carpet spot. (Yes, a pet was the culprit!)
A neighbor’s car door slamming shut.
The clicking of my computer keyboard.
The occasional sound of kids playing outside.
And my breathing.

These are easy sounds to identify.

But what does it mean to listen to God and how do we do it?

April 2, 2023April 1, 2023

If Anyone Asks You

What leaps to mind when you hear someone begin a sentence with, “If anyone asks you”?

Obviously, when someone starts a sentence with that series of words, more instructions are about to follow.

Back in 2009, I had just started my first day of a two-week temporary assignment as a receptionist at a church.

Within the first hour of my temporary assignment, the senior pastor called the staff into a meeting. Meanwhile, being a temp, I remained at my post. As the staff came out of this unexpected meeting, I realized they had received upsetting news. Many were crying as they walked past the reception area to return to their offices.

My manager came and shared with me the news that the person whose role I was covering had stage four cancer and would most likely not return to work. She then proceeded with a version of “if anyone asks you” instruction on how to respond to questions that might come from church members as word of this spread.

This was a tremendous help to me in that unexpected situation. She coached me to be truthful while still protecting the privacy of the person.

Jesus once coached two of his disciples to respond to an “if anyone asks you” question for a specific situation.

December 18, 2022December 18, 2022

What Are you Joyfully Celebrating? Part Three

Recently my husband and I have hosted some driveway firepit nights.

The most recent time was on Thanksgiving evening. We prepared a traditional thanksgiving meal but shared it around a driveway firepit instead of a formal table setting. It was a relaxing and simple time of joyful celebration with our friends who joined us.

One of our neighbors even came over to join in the fun for a bit.

Our conversations flowed easily as we enjoyed the warmth of the flames, the succor of the savory foods, and the fellowship in a laid-back setting.

How does this relate to this series of considering what we are joyfully celebrating this holiday season?

July 3, 2022July 2, 2022