Sarah L. Frantz's Blog, page 11

From the Swing Fiction Feature Friday: A Time to Be Born

A Time for Everything: A Speculative Fiction and Sci-Fi Anthology compiled and edited by Ben Avery.

(Click title for Amazon link to purchase)

When Ben invited us to contribute a story for each of the couplets found in Ecclesiastes 3, we were excited about his vision and the resulting book. With 29 authors contributing, a rich and diverse grouping of short stories follows- a smorgasbord for your gastronomical reading delight!

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

The first is Parker J. Cole‘s A Time to be Born. She masterfully spins a tail that enveloped me from the get go! I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but the tension between her main protagonists and their opposing viewpoints sets the stage for a dramatic tale.

A Time to Be Born

A Time for Everything: A Speculative Fiction and Sci-Fi Anthology compiled and edited by Ben Avery.

(Click title for Amazon link to purchase)

When Ben invited us to contribute a story for each of the couplets found in Ecclesiastes 3, we were excited about his vision and the resulting book. With 29 authors contributing, a rich and diverse grouping of short stories follows- a smorgasbord for your gastronomical reading delight!

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

The first is Parker J. Cole‘s A Time to be Born. She masterfully spins a tail that enveloped me from the get go! I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but the tension between her main protagonists and their opposing viewpoints sets the stage for a dramatic tale.

Begin Within: A Gratitude Series

Twyla Franz invited me to share a story for her Begin Within: A Gratitude Series and I couldn’t help but think current thoughts of God’s grace in our life over the past year were planted by a kind Father who knows how to encourage His children.

From Twyla:

Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.

May the testimony of His work in our lives encourage you to follow Him in love, obedience, and deepening joy. He is so faithful.

Please follow this link to read the rest of the story…

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

2 Chronicles 6

Solomon said

“Reside here…”

God chose

This place

Promise fulfilled

Solomon reigns

Arms spread

Figure kneels

Confession spoken

Our truth

“O Lord,

Holy One…”

Pleas spoken,

Sin acknowledged

Against Him

Him only

Heaven hear

With heart

Cloaked in

Steadfast love

His beautiful, merciful, steadfast love.

Do you have a goal to read God’s Word every day?Join the 28-Day Devo Challenge and let’s do it together!For the month of February we will hear from 28 women of faith and have daily giveaways of great resources with one goal of keeping each other motivated

28 Daily 5-minute video devotions28 Daily giveaways1 Goal– to get in God’s word every day!
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Monday morning washing in His word.

2 Chronicles 2

Solomon’s decision
To build

Holy Temple
Personal palace

Stonecutters conscripted
Overseers aplenty

King Huram
Is asked

Great House
Fragrant offerings

Bread offerings
Burnt offerings

Morning, Evening
Sabbaths and

New moons
Appointed festivals

God ordained
For Israel

Honest Question

Who Builds,
God’s house?

Highest heaven
Cannot contain

Who? Indeed.
Offerings House

Huram answers
“He loves…”

“Blessed be…”
Huram-Abi sent

Craftsmen, Artisans
Will come

Lebanon forest
River moved.

Great works
Begin here.

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

1 Chronicles 28

(Zondervan, NRSV)

David assembles
Israel’s officials

“Hear me,
My brothers…”

“But God…”
Directed otherwise

Warrior’s hands
Blood-covered

Solomon’s throne
Will build

Chosen son
Father instructed

Enduring kingdom
Follows obedience

Search out…
His commands…
For possession…
And inheritance.

“Solomon…seek…”
Don’t forsake

David trusted
Relinquishing control

“All this, in writing at the Lord’s direction, he made clear to me – the plan of all the works.”

Further direction

“Be strong, and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the Lord God, my God, is with you.”

What a beautiful promise! Solomon won’t be alone in the building of the temple, from one Kingly Father to His Son… I hear His heart echoing throughout eternity.

Monday Morning Washing in His Word

1 Chronicles 26

Following the previous chapters outlining the Levitical priests and the establishment of the temple musicians by David and the officers of the army…

Pause.

David AND the officers of the army appoint temple musicians.

My breath catches as I consider the value placed by David on God’s worship.

And with him, his mighty men of valor. God-fearers every one of them. They know battle firsthand. They’ve tasted blood many times, felt wars sting, sweat its curse, felt adrenaline pound their heart until its rhythm overcomes all senses.

They know the value of worship.

Of who has numbered their days. They know who they have turned to time and again at the moment of death, after victorious wins, and in the heat of the unknown outcome.

And then fell the appointment of the division of the gatekeepers… with its governance over each gate leading into the city. For those in charge of its treasuries. Its security. Spoil, some of it, won by David in battles, some given as dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord.

Men were appointed who exercised authority in their ancestral houses. Able men, the word says. Guards.

And I see the alliance of a people pulled together in their awe, fear and love, of God. And it is a thing of beauty. This city of God, the house of the Lord- where every person has their place and fits together beautifully.

May our houses of worship have this same alliance to Him and may we be warrior-worshippers appointed for the protection of its treasuries and gates. May we encourage one another in the pursuit of the awe, fear and love, of God.

For His glory, others’ good, and our eternal joy.

Testimony & WOTY 2024

I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s grace, His growth work in me and my family as I look back over the last three years. Each January baptized in deep grief and tears.

Is this what was needful to shape me into His fit pot?

2021’s word of the year, Forge was born from an uttered prayer as our son lay in the hospital after a January 1st hazardous ice accident. Trapped for three hours in the freezing cold… too many injuries to relate here… We waited for His direction and mercy and were present, watching to see what God would do… and I am thrown upon the Potter’s wheel.

And in my fear, God was still good.

2022’s word of the year Chesed- God’s tender mercy needful as another January rolled around with a fresh onslaught of grief in the loss of our nephew and grandmother within 24 hours of one another…. And again waiting and listening closely for when to be where and how… Our hearts conformed to tenderness as I felt the pressure of His thumbs go deep.

And in my tears, God was still good.

To this past January 2023, and my word of the year Credence. A unplanned car trip to a Taos hospital where my post stroke father was struggling… Listening, watching, arranging…. God opening doors for a medical transport to an Oklahoma facility near us. My dad’s desire answered, in honoring him we honor God. Then, our table extended to bring dad home to live with us. And the scripture proven true from a house move and sale to our utter dependence on Him each step of the way, “The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.” Psalm 16:6 The day to day care of my father is my inheritance. I will be His pot for common use.

And in these valleys of weakness, God was still good.

Even with all His answered prayer and faithfulness through this season, I must admit I was probably cringing for most of November and December wondering what January might bring. A well known quote by C. S. Lewis kept springing to mind, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

Instead of running from the pain of what might happen, I stepped forward and extended an offer to a dear friend to prepare a wedding reception charcuterie table for her upcoming wedding. (It’s this Saturday) I may have cried when she answered, “Please, yes.”

An almost imperceptible weight lifted.

To be honest, it’s still lifting. And God is still good.

My word for 2024 is Unfurl as I desire to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, not rushing ahead, but looking upward, petal by petal unfolding in His presence both in work and rest.

If you are in one of these seasons where your clay is being thrown on the wheel… please know you are not alone, you are in good company.

His.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Happy New Year!

You know what that means!

Yes, it’s my annual free offer to stamp pendants for the first 10 who request their word.

10 on facebook, 10 here on wordpress, 10 on Instagram. So you have multiple opportunities to get in on my stamp party!

The first I ever stamped was “Wildly Loved” and it underscores the truth of His great salfivic love for us!

2023 Word of the Year – Credence

Just drop your 2024 Word of the Year in the comments & if you are in the first ten I will stamp you a pendant with a small heart bead on it- each varies!

Blessings, Friends!