God 3 - Barbara Lynn Seibel

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?

November 9, 2025November 8, 2025

Are You a Person of Integrity?

Integrity.

How do you define integrity?

Merriaum-Webster.com has three definitions for integrity.

Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
An unimpaired condition: soundness
The quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness

Do any of these definitions align with your own?

Who has taught you the most about the definition of integrity?

If you were to measure yourself on a scale of one to ten, with one being least and ten being greatest, how strong is your personal integrity?

We’ll come back to these questions after considering a narrative about the reign of Jehu from 2 Kings.

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 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 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.

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.

August 24, 2025August 23, 2025

Proverbs 25:20 |How a Heavy Heart Began to Sing Again

I’ve previously shared that I didn’t return to public worship for several months after experiencing the tragic death of my husband back in July 2024.

Although I streamed worship services in the privacy of my home during that time, I often crumbled into a pile of anguished tears and sobs during the music portions of the service.

Often, music can be a balm in times of discomfort. But I didn’t experience this.

Instead, all music, not just worship music, made my grief more intense.

Although I physically returned to public worship services in January 2025, just hearing the music still made me crumble into tears. It was exhausting to fight them while in public.

There was no way I could add my voice to the singing or even hum along.

My heart was still too shattered.

There were some who couldn’t grasp why taking part with music was so hard for me.

But God understood.