beencouraged 10 - Barbara Lynn Seibel

April 17, 2022April 17, 2022

Looking for the Kingdom of God

The daffodil in the picture above reminds me of something I noticed years ago.

I grew up in Kansas and my father had big daffodils referred to as jonquils planted around the house.

What age I was escapes me when I first noticed that it always snowed, at least one more time, after the daffodils had bloomed in the spring.

Ever since mentioning this observation to my mother, without fail, she has continued to report to me that it has remained a constant occurrence – at least in my hometown.

What does this have to do with Bible Study?

April 10, 2022April 10, 2022

LETTING GO

When have you struggled with letting go?

What triggered your struggle with letting go?

Was it a person, place, or thing that you were letting go?

Recently I assisted my parents in their second process of downsizing.

The first downsizing occurred only four years prior from a ranch house that had been my childhood home. They had lived there at least fifty years.

This time they were downsizing from a duplex to a handicapped apartment.

Letting go of space, paper, furniture, timing, control, and so on, were the operative words for everyone involved.

Stress and tension were present due to fond memories of things that were forced into the category of letting go.

How does this relate to Bible Study?

April 3, 2022March 27, 2022

MATERNAL INSTINCTS

What do you think is happening in the picture above?

Is the dog simply curious about the kitten?

Or is the dog a threat to the kitten?

How do you know?

What if instead of a dog and cat, the picture was of two half-brothers?

One is your child. The other is the child of your husband with another woman who was your maidservant.

How do you interpret the photo now?

What does this have to do with Bible study?

March 27, 2022March 27, 2022

CELEBRATION TIME

What life transitions have you hosted a feast in celebration?

Perhaps a significant birthday?

A wedding or an anniversary?

Graduation from high school or college perhaps?

Did you ever host a celebration for weaning your child?

ESV Genesis 21:8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

I personally have never been invited to or heard of someone hosting a celebration at the life transition of their child being weaned except in the verse above.

Why does scripture tell us Abraham celebrated this life transition?

March 20, 2022March 20, 2022

Babies and Old Age Part Two Bible Study

Our Bible study, Babies and Old Age Part One, focused on the age of Abraham as mentioned in the following verse:

^ESVGenesis 21:5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Although Sarah’s age is absent in the verse above, reading cross references and commentaries for this verse takes one to verses that mention Sarah’s age.

It is one thing for a man to father a child in his old age.

But for a woman to give birth in her old age? This is most unusual!

March 13, 2022March 13, 2022

CHANGE OF PLAN

I was going to share part 2 of the previous post today.

But I have a change of plan.

This change of plan is inspired from last Thursday evening.

A group of my fellow staff, church members, and myself were returning from attending the Exponential Conference in Orlando.

Our flight had been late to leave the gate so we already knew we would probably miss our connecting flight in Atlanta. We were also spread out throughout the plane so the person who was closest to the front planned to ask the flight crew or first flight attendant after deplaning to call the other gate to request if they could hold the flight for our group of 15 people. Our thinking was that they might not hold the plane for one person but hopefully would for a group of our size.

We began to taxi away from the gate to get in line for flight.

The picture above is what forced another change of plan.

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022

BABIES AND OLD AGE PART ONE

How old were your parents when they had you?

If you have parented children, what age where you when they entered your life?

What is considered “old” for a man to become a parent today?

How about for a woman?

What is the significance of Genesis 21:5?

February 20, 2022February 20, 2022

RESPONDING WITH OBEDIENCE

My husband and I have raised five dogs thus far.

Most were usually quick to respond with obedience.

Our current dog, Meghan, in general is obedient except when told no.

Not that she is disobedient when told no.

Rather, she comes towards us with the question “why?” on her face.

When asked to do something do you respond with obedience?

Does your desire to respond with obedience depend on who is asking?

Are there times you respond with obedience but in a begrudging manner?

What determines your desire to respond with obedience?

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022

HE LAUGHS

Consider the following synonyms for the word laugh:

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

How many of these synonyms describe your laughing tendencies?

What triggers your laughter?

Have you ever responded with laughter when God speaks to you?

January 30, 2022January 30, 2022

WHEN GOD SAYS NO

For as long as I can remember, something inside of me wants to immediately prove people wrong when I they tell me no.

Especially if it is about something I deeply want or believe I can accomplish.

I have observed that a no response challenges most people.

Humans are not alone in this response.

Our eldest cat is quite brazen that no is an unacceptable response for her desires. Hissing, growling, meowing, and pouting in addition to repeated attempts to get what she wants are the normal response from her when told no. Giggling.

And our current dog comes toward us with a bewildered “why not?” expression on her face when told no. We realize it is not because she is stubborn or brazen like the cat though. She genuinely does not understand why usually. Giggling again.

But what about when God says no?