God 5 - Barbara Lynn Seibel

March 2, 2025March 4, 2025

Seeing God at Work Through Elkanah

One of my seminary professors once stated that, anytime, scripture highlights a barren woman to take note because the Lord is about to do something significant.

The first chapter in 1 Samuel shares the unique turn of events that brought about the birth of the prophet and priest, Samuel, through resolving Hannah’s barrenness.

I can relate to Hannah in the early part of her story in the sense that I do not have any physical offspring.

But today, I want to focus not on God resolving Hannah’s barrenness, but on how we can see God at work through Elkanah, her husband, before that resolution occurs.

July 21, 2024July 20, 2024

Why Did God Choose Gideon?

I have fond memories of the wheat fields in Kansas.

Watching the swaying of the stalks in the wind is quite mesmerizing.

Although I spent time on my grandparent’s farm, I have never harvested wheat.

I recall a picture taken of me with my grandfather on his combine, but I never actually did any farming work.

Why am I talking about harvesting wheat?

It is what Gideon was doing when God called him to lead the Israelites.

What was it about Gideon that made him the right choice?

July 14, 2024July 13, 2024

Resolving Miscommunication in Worship

Have you ever misunderstood another person’s actions?

I know I have.

Conversely, has anyone ever misunderstood your actions?

Yep, I have experienced this too.

These situations can cause brokenness in our interpersonal relationships.

On a much larger scale, it can cause rifts between larger people groups and even nations.

Worse yet, miscommunication has the potential to destroy unity in worship.

Joshua 22 helps us understand the importance of communicating clearly with each other.

July 7, 2024July 7, 2024

Valuing Time to Pause

I gave myself this week off from my usual lengthier posting.

Why?

As a leader, it is important to model the value of pausing.

If I do not model the value of pausing, then I am not following God’s or Christ’s example.

What do I mean?

June 23, 2024June 23, 2024

Can We Trust a God Who Tests?

Tests.

How do you react to tests?

Excitement or fear?

I suppose it depends on what type of test it is.

Some personalities thrive on the challenge of being tested.

Other personalities cave under the pressure.

But what about when we are tested by God?

June 16, 2024June 15, 2024

Worship in Response to Your Calling

When you were a young child, did people ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?

My answer to this question changed frequently as I grew.

I remember being interested in driving a semi for a brief period.

Another strong interest at one point was interior decorating.

But by the time I was in eighth grade, music had captured my attention above all other potential vocational pursuits.

Then, after fifteen-plus years of a music career, I transitioned into administrative work.

Although I believe I am talented and gifted in the vocations I have pursued, I believe my calling from God is to write Bible studies. (See my About page for a few more details.)

This is why I write this blog. And it is a part of my worship of God.

I am thinking about all of this today because of Joshua 5:13-15.

June 9, 2024June 8, 2024

Are You Humbly Worshiping?

The picture above shows a stone cross nestled in a quiet woodland scene.

When I searched pixabay.com for an image to represent humility, it came up as an option.

Other words associated with the picture include cross, faith, and religion.

So why did it come up when I searched for the word humility?

What connects these words: cross, faith, religion with humble worship?

May 26, 2024April 28, 2024

Leading Hearts to Worship | Dt 30:15-20

Who would you say is the most effective leader of our day?

What makes that person stand out from other leaders?

Centuries ago, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and traverse the desert for forty years to prepare for entering the land promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Moses was not a perfect leader.

Yet, with the help of the LORD, Moses transformed into a leader whom both Jews and Christians revere.

What does this have to do with leading hearts to worship?

May 19, 2024April 21, 2024

When Detachment is to Our Benefit

What comes to mind when you see the word detachment?

One definition of detachment is the action or process of detaching or separation.

Yes, this definition is from Merriam-Webster.com.

If you have a military background, you already know that detachment can refer to the dispatch of a body of troops or part of a fleet from the main body for a special mission or service.

Yep, also from Merriam-Webster.com.

The third definition supplied by Merriam-Webster.com describes detachment as indifference to worldly concerns or aloofness.

Detachment can also show freedom from bias or prejudice.

But what is the spiritual benefit of detachment?

May 12, 2024April 13, 2024

Giving to Remember God

What does it mean to give?

Give as a transitive verb has sixteen definitions at Merriam-Webster.com.

There were five more definitions for using give as an intransitive verb and two for using give as a noun.

Then I found the section titled, “Choose the Right Synonym for Give”.

Before listing some synonyms with definitions, this section provided the following definition of the word give:

“Give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.”

This definition, although lacking specificity, is valuable in understanding that “giving” can be a highly personal activity.

But how does this apply to giving to remember God?