Beverly Varnado's Blog, page 3
March 11, 2025
What to leave behind
One recent morning I came upon these words ofKing Solomon which reference the things he has toiled for and what happens tothem when he dies: “. . . I leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knowswhether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control overall the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under thesun. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19).
Not exactly inspirational. I’ve oftenwondered if Solomon might have been a bit down when he wrote those first twochapters in Ecclesiastes. Later that morning, while waiting for adoctor’s appointment, I picked up a magazine. Photos of a beautifully appointedcoastal home graced several pages. The homeowner wanting to abandon the neutralpalette which is so popular these days had asked the designer to drench herhome in color. The designer did just that, and the result was breathtaking. Buta sad note was included. The homeowner died just after the photos were taken.
Solomon is right. I’ve watched through theyears how one generation leaves the fruit of a lifetime of work in property orfunds to the next and sometimes, within a short amount of time, it is gone. AndI wonder if that beautiful home I read about so filled with the personality ofthe owner was returned to a neutral palette in order to be sold.
Then, as I pondered those back-to-back messages, I raninto a woman who had lost her husband in recent years and was wondering whetherto write their love story for her children and grandchildren. It had beensomething long on her heart to do, but as so many of us have experienced, shewas having trouble getting started. I love to motivate folks in their writing,and I strongly encouraged her to begin that process. I told her about myearlier messages and how if we’re going to leave a legacy, it better besomething that can’t be taken out of a bank or painted over. Because thosethings are here today and gone tomorrow. But our witness and our testimony goon in the lives of all those with whom we share. And getting that witness downon paper or in a digital format where it can be passed along is important.
That is one of the reasons I do what I do.I know the testimony of others has meant so much in my life and continues toencourage me even though some of those folks have passed on. I’ve shared herebefore about my aunt Nell who learned how to use a computer and obtained herGED at the age of eighty. She had long wanted to do that after lifecircumstances stood in the way of her getting her degree. A strong believer, shewent on to write stories from her life which have been shared with family.I cannot tell you how precious those words are to me and how they continue toinspire me. I hope to do the same for someone else, if even in a small way.
Thereis power in how God has written the stories of our lives. The apostle Johnwrote in Revelation “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and bythe word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). When we declare what God has donefor us, we gain victory over the enemy’s ploys.
If the Lord has put something in your heartto do that would leave a witness for those coming after you, please do it. TheLord once said to me when I was wavering, “Just start.” So just start whateverit is that is pressing in on you. You may not think you have what it takes, butif you start, the Lord will give you what you need as you go. As I told thewoman the other day. You write and more comes.
So let me know if you decide to press ahead.I’d love to hear how you’re doing.
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
March 4, 2025
Keeping it Separate
My daily scripture reading one day last week took me toEzekiel where in a vision, Ezekiel saw a man “whose appearance was like bronze.” This man took Ezekiel on a tour of therestored temple. As I was reading, a thought crossed my mind of something Ineeded to check unrelated to the scriptures. I absent mindedly reached for myphone and the next verse I read was about the wall around the temple which was intended“to separate the holy from the common” (Ezekiel 42:20). I slid my hand awayfrom my phone.
I sensed a moment of correction from the Lord. I was aboutto bring the common into the holy space of my meeting with the Lord. Imeditated on that scripture for days wondering how in other ways I introducethe common into places which ought to be kept Holy to the Lord.
It’s a case for putting our phones in a basket as some do atmeals. Because when we meet with the Lord, we feast in such a greater way onthe very bread of life. And I don’t know about you but having that phone out ofsight helps me not to be tempted to reach for it.
I recently heard a teacher say that in the Old Testament,God built a temple for His presence. In the New Testament, God built a peoplefor His presence.
We are His temple. Holiness means set apart, and as thepeople of God we are set apart for the presence of the Lord. And though wedon’t bring the commonplace into what is holy, we do carry His holy presenceinto the common places. We walk around, His presence within, our feet coveredwith the dust of the world. But the only way we can do that victoriously is throughthe preparation of that time given to Him.
No matter where we are along our journey with the Lord, weare always seeking to be more like Jesus. A couple of lines in the old hymn,“Take Time to be Holy” are, “Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone. Bylooking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be…” Aren’t we glad God doesn’t leave uswhere we are and is taking us toward our goal—tobe like Him, holy and set apart.
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
February 25, 2025
What the promises can do
In the past few weeks, the Lord planted a sustainingverse in my spirit.
From Psalm 119:50, “My comfort in mysuffering is this; Your promise preserves my life.”
It’s good to know the word translated as “preserves”in the NIV is in the original language, the word “chayah,” which the Strong’s Concordancesays means “to live” or “to be alive.” It is used in the Old Testament inseveral ways including physical and spiritual revival as well as “restorationfrom the dead. The term can also imply thriving or flourishing, indicating astate of well-being and vitality.”
There are many nuances of “chayah” and hereare a few of the various meanings given through Old Testament scriptures:preserve alive, give life, quicken, restore to life, cause to grow, revive inGod’s favor, quicken, restore to health, nourish, and there are several more,but you get the picture. The word “chayah” has an all-encompassing meaning whichwraps in our body, souls, minds, and spirits.
So, when I read “Your promise preserves mylife,” I once more grasp the importance of God’s promises in his word. His promiseshave the power to sustain us in every possible way. We can live on his promises,breathe his promises, and as the lyrics of a song we are fond of singing at ourchurch say, we can stand on those promises. Those promises have the power torestore what is broken, revive what is listless, grow what is wilting, nourishwhat is hungry, and even to surge life into what is dead.
Depending on who’s counting, the number ofpromises in the Bible range from 3,000 to 8,000. Here are ten randomly chosenones:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews13:5).
“…He who began a good work in you willcarry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“For the Spirit God gave us does not makeus timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (I Timothy 1:7).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you shouldask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will begiven to you” (James 1:5).
“He anointed us, set his seal of ownershipon us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is tocome” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
“I can do all this through him who givesme strength” (Philippians 4:13).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for mypower is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 10:9).
“He is before all things, and in him allthings hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
“And my God will meet all your needsaccording to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
And so many more. I pray that you, toofind God’s promises sustaining in your life, that they are posted around yourhome, and written in your heart.
In these parts, we have counted on thosepromises to carry us through difficult days in weeks past and continue to holdon to them as we navigate the future.
Blessings and may his promises be yours.
What the promises can do for you
In the past few weeks, the Lord planted a sustainingverse in my spirit.
From Psalm 119:50, “My comfort in mysuffering is this; Your promise preserves my life.”
It’s good to know the word translated as “preserves”in the NIV is in the original language, the word “chayah,” which the Strong’s Concordancesays means “to live” or “to be alive.” It is used in the Old Testament inseveral ways including physical and spiritual revival as well as “restorationfrom the dead. The term can also imply thriving or flourishing, indicating astate of well-being and vitality.”
There are many nuances of “chayah” and hereare a few of the various meanings given through Old Testament scriptures:preserve alive, give life, quicken, restore to life, cause to grow, revive inGod’s favor, quicken, restore to health, nourish, and there are several more,but you get the picture. The word “chayah” has an all-encompassing meaning whichwraps in our body, souls, minds, and spirits.
So, when I read “Your promise preserves mylife,” I once more grasp the importance of God’s promises in his word. His promiseshave the power to sustain us in every possible way. We can live on his promises,breathe his promises, and as the lyrics of a song we are fond of singing at ourchurch say, we can stand on those promises. Those promises have the power torestore what is broken, revive what is listless, grow what is wilting, nourishwhat is hungry, and even to surge life into what is dead.
Depending on who’s counting, the number ofpromises in the Bible range from 3,000 to 8,000. Here are ten randomly chosenones:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews13:5).
“…He who began a good work in you willcarry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“For the Spirit God gave us does not makeus timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (I Timothy 1:7).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you shouldask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will begiven to you” (James 1:5).
“He anointed us, set his seal of ownershipon us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is tocome” (2 Corinthians 1:22).
“I can do all this through him who givesme strength” (Philippians 4:13).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for mypower is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 10:9).
“He is before all things, and in him allthings hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
“And my God will meet all your needsaccording to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
And so many more. I pray that you, toofind God’s promises sustaining in your life, that they are posted around yourhome, and written in your heart.
In these parts, we have counted on thosepromises to carry us through difficult days in weeks past and continue to holdon to them as we navigate the future.
Blessings and may his promises be yours.
February 19, 2025
Giants
However, in the telling of their story, the appeal of the fruit was overshadowed by tales of giants and their strength.
“We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33), they said and spread the news among their people causing a rebellion.
Moses and Aaron had to deal with a real mess. Of the twelve scouts sent into the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb stood to recommend the Israelites should proceed.
In the end, Israel would take the land but not with the ones who grumbled against God that day. Years later, their children inherited God’s promise.
As familiar as this story is to so many of us, we still forget it when the metaphorical giants appear. We’ve sensed God’s leading, and yet all we can see in our path are the huge obstacles hovering over us like behemoth bullies. We feel like, well . . . grasshoppers. About to be squished.
We make our excuses. Our really good excuses. We take a step back. Then another. The fear takes control, and in time we’ve convinced ourselves it’s better to stay where we are than take the risk.
All the time, God is ready and waiting to walk forward with us.
The prophet Elisha found himself surrounded by the horses and chariots of the king of Aram. Elisha’s servant expressed his dismay, “What shall we do?” he asked.
“’Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them’” (2Kings 6:16).
Elisha prayed God would open the servant’s eyes. “Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
God is bigger than any bullies we can see. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
So, if we’re feeling like grasshoppers, let’s pray God would open our eyes to see His presence overshadowing any obstacle in our path. We are NOT grasshoppers. Let’s walk forward into God’s promise repeating to ourselves that God is more. God is bigger.
God. Is. With. Us. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
February 15, 2025
When the heat is turned up
Some of the hardest writing we dois the in-process kind, where there is no conclusion neatly tied with a bow. It’seasier to put it all down when we know the outcome, because don’t we all love asunny ending? But this is where we are.
The heat has been turned uparound here for months, beginning last fall with another heart stent for Jerry,followed by more testing leading to a cancer diagnosis for him just before Christmas. Thenwe had his and her pneumonias from which I am still recovering. This week, heunderwent surgery for the cancer, and it has been something from which to recover.
To a lesser degree, throw inthere one of my publishers going under leaving three books stranded and anotherunder contract dangling. Though I have since been blessed to receive anothercontract for the newest book from Elk Lake (thank the Lord), I have had tolearn the publishing process to get the other books back up and going. Hugelearning curve.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Whenyou walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set youablaze” (Isaiah 43:2). These words written for a beloved people, included thoseon a coming day a few hundred years later when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednegorefused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, and were bound and throwninto a furnace so hot it consumed the soldiers who put them there. Yet, when Nebuchadnezzarchecked on them, he saw not three, but four men in the fire “unbound and unharmedand the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:23-26).
These words penned so long ago are also meant for us and what a comfort they are. No matter how hotit gets, there is God’s promise to be with us in the flames. On the days, whenit seems there’s no end to the hard stuff, we remember that when Shadrach, Meshach, andAbednego came out of the fire, not only were they not burned, “there was nosmell of fire on them.”
So here, we are in process, warmaround the collar, but thankful that once Jerry recovers from this, he shouldnot have to have any further treatment. We remain hopeful my situation willresolve in the Lord’s healing time.
If you find yourself in a similarplace, know the Lord is with you no matter how hot it gets. Keep up your hopeand cling to him. He has not left you alone. As a recent song title declares, “Thereis another in the fire.”
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023February 4, 2025
When we don't know how to pray
In recent weeks, I have again beenreminded of the power of a prayer given to us in answer to this question, “Lord,teach us to pray.”
Though I imagine many of us find the Lord’sPrayer a comforting prayer, it is so familiar that on this side of heaven, wemay underestimate the power in those words of Jesus that Matthew and Luke recorded.We may forget their significance and how God can use them to change not onlyour lives but the lives of others. Because of this, we neglect to pray the verymodel of prayer Jesus taught His disciples ... and us.
The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer of worship,of surrender, of petition, of repentance, of seeking protection, of exaltationof our God, and much more.
Some have said that though it seems ashort prayer, it would take a long time to thoroughly pray every word.
The Lord reminded me in recent times to useit in praying over health situations—one of them is as difficult as difficultcan be. Now I wake in the night repeating those words.
At times, when our faith struggles and oureyes tell us a situation is impossible, we may be challenged to know how topray, but we can always count on the words Jesus spoke, “Thy will be done onearth as it is in heaven.” We know whatour will is for ourselves or our loved one, but we surrender our wills to Hisin order that His will be done. We want our will to align with His will. We areasking that the heavenly order would overtake the earthly realm and that God’swill would reign supreme.
For His is “the kingdom, and the power andthe glory, forever.” God alone is all powerful, all knowing, and He alone is capableof handling the sometimes overwhelming problems around us.
With all the Lord has been speaking to meabout the Lord’s prayer, I shouldn't have been surprised to find those verses the subject ofa Bible lesson this past Sunday. It was if the Lord were saying, just in casethere were any question about how important His reminders of praying the Lord’sPrayer have been, I should persist praying this prayer given to us straight from the lips of Jesus.
If you find yourself in a difficult circumstance,not knowing where to turn--turn to the Lord and the words He has given us topray. If you don’t know them from memory, find them in the gospel of Matthew 6:9-13or Luke 11:2-4. Linger over the verses. Let’s let the words workin our own hearts as we pray them.
“Our Father whichart in heaven,
Hallowed be thyname.
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be donein earth, as in heaven.
Give us this dayour daily bread.
And forgive us ourdebts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us notinto temptation, but deliver us from evil;
For thine is thekingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.”
Amen, indeed.
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
January 28, 2025
Prayer, wings, and sails
What wings are to a bird and sails to aship, so is prayer to the soul.--Corrie Ten Boom
I recently found this Corrie Ten Boom quote hanging on a doctor's office wall. I’ve had many remindersabout prayer lately. We fix-it types tend to act first, pray later but God inHis wisdom continues to work on reversing that sequence in me.
As the bird flies, prayer wings us to anew place away from our old fix it habits and places us in the God realm wherewe trust Him to handle our challenges instead of us vainly exerting the effortto do it ourselves. When we pray, we can release those heavy burdens to Him, the only one capable ofcarrying them. And instead of focusing on the problem, we lift our eyes to theLord.
And as the sails help a ship to glide overthe deeps, prayer enables us to float atop the depths that threaten to drag usto the bottom. The enemy likes nothing better than to come at us when we’realready sagging and try to pull us under, but prayer keeps us sailing toward God.
Corrie Ten Boom is one of my personalheroes. You may know that she and her family hid their Jewish friends in an attic to try and keepthem from being sent to concentration camps by the Nazis—a fate her entirefamily would eventually face for their brave acts. Corrie was the only one ofher family to survive the camps. But upon liberation, she spent the rest of herlife teaching about the love and forgiveness of Jesus. I imagine the only wayshe could have done that is by constant communication with the One who was withher through all those difficulties.
The apostle Paul wrote his letter to thepeople at Philippi, from what was likely a prison cell. But as Wycliffe noted,Paul was “radiant amid the storm and stress of life.” He knew the power ofprayer, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”(Philippians 4:6). The Message renders the verse, “Don’t fret or worry. Insteadof worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers,letting God know your concerns.”
So, let’s do that. Let’s let our concernsand worries be shaped into prayers. As I’m writing, the Lord is saying that to me. Right there with you, friends.
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
January 21, 2025
When you're looking for "sozo"
I’ve shared before that I try to readthrough the Bible every year-ish. It always takes me longer, so I’ve given upobsessively trying to make it in a calendar year. As I go forward, I may slowit down even more because though I want to get the sweep of the story, I alsowant to carry away something every day. To that end, I aim to try and listen evenmore closely for that one verse each day that God might be using in my life.
On a recent day that verse was Luke 19:10,“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” The first thing that mayspring to mind when we read those words is how Jesus came to save us for alleternity. And oh, how thankful we are. He seeks us out to introduce us toHimself so that we may give our lives to Him.
But there’s more than one way to be lost.
When my dad died ten years ago, for aperiod of time, I felt lost. It was asif an anchor in my life had been ripped away, and I felt adrift. I’ve spokenwith others for whom grief also affected them that way.
Sometimes we feel lost when our sense ofpurpose has dwindled. We’ve lived a certain way for years and then thingschange. Which path to take? What to do?
For these times and so many more, Jesuscame. He seeks us out and as we give ourselves to Him, He saves us in allpossible ways. The transliteration of the Greek word in Luke 19:10 is “sozo.” Through the years, my pastor hubby, Jerry, has taught several times about this powerful word so it is familiar to me. According to one commentator, it is used to describe both physical andspiritual salvation.
Here are some of the shades of meaning:
-To save
-To keep safe and sound
-To rescue from danger
-To make well
-Heal
-Restore to health
-To make one a partaker of the salvationby Christ
God is not interested in only our eternallostness, but he is interested in all the ways we can become lost, because Heloves us. And for that reason, Jesus came to seek us out, to hunt all the backalleys and underground tunnels to find us, and when he does, he desires that webe saved and experience what sozo really means.
If you feel lost rightnow, remember Jesus is looking for you and wants to bring the saving to theuttermost that only He can.
Blessings in this year just begun,friends. Let's let Jesus help us find our "sozo."
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023January 14, 2025
The suffering and praying for the glory
Like so many, we watched as scorched earth images flashed across thetelevision screen shocking with the widespread wildfire damage in California--personal stories, one after another of those who have lost everything. Ourhearts sagged again from the suffering of others. It seemed only yesterday we viewedthe hurricane devastation in the southeast, where many victims are still strugglingwith the loss of their homes representing a lifetime of memories.
And still, a threat remains in Californiawhere firefighters and first responders from across the nation continue to putthemselves in harm’s way to help.
As I watched the news, a wave of despair hitme. For a moment, it threatened to overwhelm in the face of such destruction. How do weeven pray for these folks?
That’s when I remembered what happened duringworship earlier that morning. I had almost cried when we came to a lyric taken perhapsfrom Isaiah 6:3, “his bright glory fills the whole earth.” On my heart was thedesperate need of so many going through unimaginable suffering and howdesperate they might be for God’s glory to come—how they might feel God’s lighthad been obscured by smoke and ash. How can God's glory manifest itself in the places represented by the images seared in our brains?
One of the fire victims, a person offaith, who’d lost everything testified that despite how awful it all was, he believedGod could come in. I’ve heard others who have lived in L.A. talk about thevibrant faith communities there. So, we pray for God to turn this thing thatSatan meant for evil into something that God can use. How he will do that, wedon’t know. But can he? Oh, yes.
So, let’s keep up our hope for those whoare facing these hard times and let it be our prayer that God’s glory would fill Los Angeles County,the counties of western North Carolina, and the whole earth.
And let's do what we can to help. Samaritan’s Purse, who provides disaster relief and goes in the name ofJesus, is preparing to travel to California as soon as the fires are under control.They are calling for volunteers to that end. They continue to work in Florida,Georgia, North Carolina, and around the world. You can find more about this and opportunities togive on their site (This is not a sponsored post).
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
