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Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTER 3 ~ THE HISTORY

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A note from the author: The lesson for Chapter 3 may seem a bit off-target since it focuses on things that happened long ago—better known as history. You may ask, why do I care? Or why should I care? But you will soon discover that our history is very much a part of who we are today. So, dive in and see where God takes you! ~Sarah Jane

1.  History Matters to Us

In my book, There Is Life after Tragedy, I described history like this: “I like to think of history as looking in a rearview mirror. You’re not going that way, but it does give you a small glimpse of where you’ve been.” History matters to us—or at least it should. Yet, I know there are many who would rather not know their family history just because it feels tainted or spoiled, and you’re thinking why not just leave that stone unturned. That may well be an accurate description, but it also may not be. The truth is that you will never know for certain unless you try to unpack your own history. Only you can make that decision.  

Just in case you think you might like to take a peek at what’s out there about your family, there are some things you may want to consider. It is sad but true that many of us seem not to care about our history until it is too late. Oft times family members leave us way to early, and we are left with a thousand questions we intended to ask them someday. I’ve seen it happen many times. So, take my advice—since it’s free—and get your courage up and ask them now. In this lesson, I will give you some ideas on how to go about it, some dos and don’ts, and as always, some valuable treasures to look for in the process.

Do you have one or more older family members whose life or memory is slipping away? ________ If so, list them below:

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2.  History Matters to God

One good reason for gathering our history is because history matters to God. You may ask why does it matter to Him, and how do I know that it does? As usual, the best resource we have about our God and His ways are His written Word. We’re going to start by looking at the Index in our Bible. As I point out various things about the Old and New Testaments, look down the list of books and locate what I have mentioned.

At the beginning of the Bible, we encounter the first five books that are accredited to Moses as the author. While some theologians question the bases of this accreditation, it has never been proven one way or the other. One commentary said that Moses was more of a recorder than an author; but regardless, God told someone in His family to write down what happened in the beginning. And aren’t we glad He did?

Many books in the Old Testament are named after the author, such as Joshua, Samuel, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Habakkuk. The point is that someone close up and personal to these stories had an inner leading to write down the events.

The New Testament books were mostly named after the authors as well, except for some that were named after the recipients of the letters written to them. For example, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians are what the people were called who lived in the cities of Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, and Philippi. Lastly, we are so incredibly blessed to have four authors recording the life of Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. WOW! Different authors, different viewpoints, and different reasons for writing—all things that matter to us as readers.

Several books of the Bible are categorized as prophecy—something to be unveiled at a later time. For instance, in Daniel 12:4 NLT we read these words: “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Because much of Daniel’s book applies to the times you and I are living in, we can know what was on God’s heart thousands of years ago about us and our day.

In the Book of Revelation, we find an interesting fact about how the person assigned to record something carried out his assignment.

Revelation 1:1-2 NLT “This is a Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him concerning the events that will happen soon. An angel was sent to God’s servant John so that John could share the revelation with God’s other servants. John faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ—everything he saw.”

Did you notice the part that basically said, “so that John could share it with others?” God has His servants write things down so His other servants—and that would be us—can read them, too! Clearly, history matters to God.

3.  Make Yourself a Plan

A.  If you want to capture your family’s history, developing a plan would be a wise place to start. Ask yourself what you want to know, why you want to know it, and who might be the best person to ask about it. Be aware that much of your ancestry data may have already been gathered by another family member simply because websites like Ancestory.com have made it easier to do. So, ask questions before you start. You can tap into their findings if you sign up for the same app they used, but the monthly fee eventually gets expensive.

Do you know if a family member has already gathered data on a site like Ancestory.com? _______ If not, who might know?

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B.  Dos and Don’ts: Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you build your plan. When you determine who you would like to interview about your family’s story, pray about it first, and then ask God to give you wisdom and courage to move forward. As you attempt to unpack the story, always be kind, sensitive, and thoughtful because these memories could bring pain to that person. Since I already knew to be careful in gathering information about my family’s tragedy, I continually watched for signs that I was going too far, stepping over the line, or asking pointed questions. I mostly let it flow naturally, and did it ever flow!

C.  One of the questions my cousins had for me was: “What are you going to do with this information?” I was upfront and honest. I told them I planned to post it on my blog and perhaps publish a book. Throughout the process, I kept my cousins informed at every stage of writing, proofreading and publishing. They were allowed to make changes or clarify things I had written. In short, we walked through it together.

4.  Finding Treasures in the Process

One of my fondest memories was an interview with my great aunt, Ruth Bode, two days before her 100th birthday. Ruth was a sister-in-law to my grandfather (who was killed in the tragedy), and she was the last living person of their generation. You will read about this interview in Chapter 5. It holds a special place in my heart as a priceless treasure gleaned from the process of gathering information.

Although this entire chapter is historical, it still made a huge mark on my life. The quote by Priscilla Shirer at the end of Chapter 3 (page 24), spells out our responsibility to the younger generation: “The patterns you set will form a pathway that others will walk.”

To get an idea how someone might feel about being interviewed, let’s fast forward several years and think about the fact that you are now the person sitting in a rocking chair with a throw draped across your lap. Then a young whipper-snapper niece or nephew comes up to you, pulls up a chair, and wants to pick your brain about the past. How would you handle that?

__________________________________________________________________

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Do you feel certain things deserve to remain private?

Yes or No ______________

Why do you feel that way?

__________________________________________________________________

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Do you think the younger generations have a right to know what you know? ___________ Why or why not?

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These kinds of encounters can turn out good or not-so-good. However, they can also yield treasures that we didn’t know were there. If we use wisdom, we might develop a new relationship with a family member we never dreamed possible. Who knows, they might even change our mind about some mis-information we were told years ago. Whatever we do, we should work towards a positive outcome for everyone involved. And that will honor God.

The best advice I have to give is to use discretion and a great deal of respect for those you want to interview. In reality, they are not obligated to tell you what they know; therefore, be grateful for their willingness to share anything at all. Otherwise, you may come away from the interview with a blank piece of paper. Just saying.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am grateful for those you spoke to thousands of years ago to record their stories so that my generation can read and learn from them. Help me capture my own family’s history, if it hasn’t already been done, so I can pass it down to my children and grandchildren. I want to always be sensitive to your leading and have the courage to talk to family members. I desire to honor you in how I do this. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen. 

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTER 2 ~ THE GATHERING

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A note from the author: You do know that God is always moving us forward in life and in knowing Him—right? It’s a wonderful journey, especially when we anticipate the powerful Holy Spirit working in us. This lesson is packed full of good things—the very things you have been looking for. So, let’s get started! ~ Sarah Jane

1.  Finding a Place of Freedom

To give us a point of reference for this chapter, think about a family secret, situation, or controversy in your own family that has never been discussed in a gathering of family members. But now it is being addressed. Can you for a moment sense the strain on everyone attending? In my book I called it, “opening a can of worms that no one wanted to open.”

Have you ever been a part of such a gathering? ______________

When: __________________________________________________________

Record below what was the subject of your meeting?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Perhaps because I was the youngest cousin in the group and I had called the meeting, it felt as though the air was so thick I could slice it with a knife. I was so nervous that I forgot to locate the outline I had carefully prepared to guide me through the meeting. So, I had to wing it. Yet, what happened next was nothing short of a miracle.

If I have one favorite sentence in my entire book, it is the one located at the bottom of Page 15: “It seemed as though a dam had broken and pent-up water gushed forth across a newly opened pathway.”

God was there and He never left. It was God Himself who created that pathway for these cousins to open up their hearts and allow their seventy-year-old pain to find its way to freedom. Let’s be honest: How many of us need for God to show us a pathway to freedom for our pain? Aren’t our tired and weary hearts ready for relief from this heavy load? Answer this question as honestly as possible: Are you now willing to face your pain?  Circle one: I am willing or I am not willing.

2.  How We Cope with Our Pain

When it comes to pain, we humans have a vast array of ways that we cope with it. Here are just some examples.

A. Some people hold on to their pain because they fear letting go of the pain means they didn’t love their lost loved one as much. This approach is very real and active in the lives of many people. Do you know people who have taken this approach to their pain?

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B. I have come across people who actually say, “I don’t want to get over this pain, so thank you very much, but I’ll just keep it!” Do you know someone who may not admit this out loud, but their actions seem to support this approach?

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C. There are people who have lost a loved one, or lost arms, legs, eyes, etc. in an accident, or are diagnosed with a debilitating disease, and they refuse to let go of their pain because they believe that suffering is their lot in life. Do you know anyone like this and how does it make you feel when you are around them?

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I am certain there are more approaches to pain than the three mentioned above. Yet the truth of the matter as stated in the Chapter 1 Study Guide is this: God has a pathway for all sufferers to find freedom from their pain.

Freedom from the pain in our wounded and broken hearts can belong to us, but we will likely have to give up something in order to gain that freedom. Here are a few things we might have to turn loose of, but see if you can add others to the list:

1) An unhealthy mindset

2) False teaching

3) Lack of knowledge about God

4) Self-pity

5) ______________________________________________________________

6) ______________________________________________________________

7) ______________________________________________________________

8) ______________________________________________________________

3.  Discovering God’s Pathway to Freedom

Our focus scripture for this lesson is one of the greatest, most powerful, and best loved passages in the entire Bible. Let’s read Luke 4:16-21.

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Here we find Jesus at the very onset of His ministry going to the synagogue in His own hometown—Nazareth. He introduced Himself to the audience as being the Messiah and then spelled out for them precisely what He came to earth to do. Can’t you just hear Him declaring to them: “It is done! It has already been accomplished! Today! Now! You don’t have to wait any longer!”

WOW! What mighty and powerful words from the ONE who cannot lie!

4.  Are Jesus’ Words True or Not?

Unquestionably there were people in the synagogue the day Jesus announced that He was the Messiah who had doubts about what He said. After all, many of them had known Him for His entire life, including His own brothers and sisters. I’m certain it was shocking news to most everyone. Only time would tell if what He said was true, but Jesus didn’t doubt for one second. He knew exactly who He was and what He could do. Yet in time, each person in that audience would have to decide for themselves if they believed His words or not.  

Now let’s think about all the different scenarios we discussed back in Section 2 above—people dealing with all sorts of situations, untold consequences, unhealthy reactions, devastating accidents and losses of life and love. And if we look closer at the words of Jesus, we will discover that every person, all of them, can be found in Luke 4, Verse 18! Read that verse again. They are all there. They are all covered. There is not one person that is left without a pathway to freedom from their pain! Hallelujah!

What happens with each person grieving a loss of life or love today is exactly like each person listening to Jesus that day in the synagogue. Their outcome depends on whether or not they believe Jesus is who He said He is and that He can do what He said He can do. What about you? Do you believe Him?

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If you are not sure what you believe about Jesus, just answer “I don’t know” and then write any questions you may have about Him here:

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For those who believe, it will be a glorious day when they are set free from their pain to return to life, love, and wholeness again! That is God’s good plan for each of us. They will no longer let fear hold them in their pain, because Jesus healed their broken hearts. They will no longer choose pain over joy because Jesus set the captives free. They will no longer believe suffering is their lot in life because Jesus liberated those who were oppressed.

The most important question for you to answer is: Am I willing to give up my pain? Be honest with yourself, and circle one:  I am willing  or  I am not willing.

I hope each of you were able to say “I am willing,” because finding freedom from pain is the very journey you and I are going to take in this Bible Study. If you responded “I am not willing,” I pray that God will give you the strength to let go of your pain sometime during this study.

If you have a friend who needs to hear this good news about freedom from pain, why not share it with them today and invite them to take this Bible Study along with you! There is a place on the website to leave a comment right below the title of each lesson. If the lesson came to your email inbox, the comment button is directly below the last line of the text in this post. Please feel free to comment and I will respond to all comments.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me face to face with my pain. I truly want to be willing to face it and to give it up. Show me what is hindering me from finding the pathway to freedom that you have designed especially for me. I claim and declare Luke 4:18 as my personal verse. I want to live again, love again, and enjoy life again. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.  

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy

STUDY GUIDE FOR THE INTRODUCTION ~ There Is Life after Tragedy

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A note from the Author: This is the first Bible Study Guide for my book, There Is Life after Tragedy. We start with the Introduction in the very front of the book. I trust you will enjoy the content below and become expectant for what God has in store for all who choose to travel this road to recovery. Welcome aboard! ~ Sarah Jane

1.  Family Secrets

It is no secret that every person has his or her own viewpoint. A good example is found in Henri Nouwen’s book, The Return of the Prodigal Son, where he uses Rembrandt’s famous painting to describe the characters in the Bible Story found in Luke 15:20-32. Take a minute to Google Rembrandt’s painting Return of the Prodigal Son and look at it closely. You will see that there are five different characters, and unsurprisingly, five different viewpoints: the prodigal son, the older brother, the father, and two bystanders. Just as a quick exercise, see if you can identify different viewpoints in your own family’s story or controversy.

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__________________________________________________________________

What might be the benefits of seeing viewpoints other than your own?

__________________________________________________________________

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2.  Our Story vs. God’s Story

The challenge for us is to find God’s story in our story. God always has a larger perspective than we do because He is all-knowing and all-seeing. A story in 1 Kings Chapters 18 & 19 makes this point clear. Elijah had killed 450 prophets of Baal, and as a result Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. So, Elijah ran to the mountains to hide. When God asked Elijah what he was doing there, Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then God answered Elijah: “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal.” These two very different perspectives tell us that we do not see what God sees, and we can be assured that God will be right every time!

What might you do to ensure that you are making an accurate evaluation or comparison?

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3.  Recognizing God’s Plan

God’s loving and intricate dealings with His children will be covered in detail later in this study, but they can basically be defined as: He brings us out—in order to bring us in. He desires to bring you out of one thing, so He can bring you into something better. Fill in your answers below of what God might want to bring you into based on the following hard things:

1) Out of loss, into ______________________________________

2) Out of pain, into ______________________________________

3) Out of grief, into ______________________________________

4) Out of emptiness, into __________________________________

God never has a plan to harm us. That is always the work of Satan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” One thing we must never do is to accuse God falsely. He is always good! Always!

How can you build your faith to believe that God is for you and not against you? __________________________________________________________________

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(Example: Track your prayers to see how God is performing His Word in your life.)

4.  Expectations   

A.  Identify below what you would like to gain from this Bible study.

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B.  Before starting this study, did you believe God can and does use our losses to help others walk through hard times?  Yes ____ No _____

5.  God’s Family

There is Life After Tragedy is basically a book about the author’s family. Yet, the goal of this Bible Study is to learn more about God’s family and how He interacts with them. If we look at the Bible as a whole from beginning to end, it is basically a book about God’s family—and that includes US!

Let’s look at Acts 17:28 ~ “For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said ‘We are His offspring.’”

Did you know before now that you were God’s offspring? If not, how might this piece of new knowledge impact your life going forward? __________________________________________________________________

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If you already knew this piece of knowledge, how might being more aware of God’s goodness to His own children help you maneuver future difficult circumstances, including tragic ones?

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am excited to be right here, right now starting this exciting Bible Study. I know your Word has insights for me that the world cannot give, and I look forward with expectation to all you want to show me and teach me. Make me teachable and receptive to your Holy Spirit as He guides my heart and my mind through this study. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

To print this lesson on 8 1/2 x 11 paper from the Website, simply highlight the entire study guide you want to print by using a right click; leave your cursor in the highlighted portion, and use a left click to bring up the menu; then select print.

NOTE: This free Bible Study Guide is based on the book, There Is Life after Tragedy, by Sarah Jane Kellogg. The Study Guide goes hand-in-hand with the chapters in the book. To purchase a copy, go to www.sarahjanekellogg.com and click on the “BUY THE BOOK” tab. Clicking on the link there will take you to Amazon. Cost is $13.95.

Bible Study Guide ~ There is Life After Tragedy

IT’S HERE: Free Bible Study Guide!

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This week I will be launching a free online Bible Study Guide to my book There Is Life after Tragedy. I will be posting the lessons on my blog one or two per week until all lessons are out there. If you are already subscribed to my blog, they will come directly to your email inbox. If you’re not subscribed, simply locate Subscribe in the black section on my website and sign up now! And here’s why….

This Bible Study could be just for YOU—if you feel like the enemy has stolen your life and won’t give it back. If the pain of loss is holding you in a headlock. If you have memories that hurt, or you’re drowning in sadness, sorrow or grief. If any of these describe you, you are not alone.

“A recent study done before the pandemic by Amerispeak and WebMD, found that 57% of Americans are grieving the loss of someone close to them over the past three years. That means every other person you see is grieving—because grief never really goes away.”1

That was life in America in 2019. I’m not sure I want to know the percentage after the Coronavirus, if it’s even measurable. But regardless of how many of us are stuck in the grief cycle, the bigger question for you is: How can you get free?

In this Study Guide you will find answers to your questions and discover that God has a plan to bring you out of your pain. In case you don’t already know this: God already has a plan to help you! You will also find current-day issues being discussed that society tends to leave untouched—such as mental illness or the pitfalls of modern technology. Every lesson is packed with helpful questions and thoughtful meditations, and ends with a prayer crafted just for you. You won’t be disappointed. I promise!

This Study Guide is designed for either personal study or small group study. You can go as fast or as slow as you want. If you would like the Study Guide in printed form, the easiest way to get it is to subscribe to my blog. You can unsubscribe at any time.

My website, “Treasure in Earthen Vessels,” can be located at www.treasureinearthenvessels.net  or  www.sarahjanekellogg.com.

If you can’t do the study right now, you can locate the lessons at a later time on my website in the Categories section. Go down until you find Bible Study Guide ~ There Is Life After Tragedy. Also, there is help on how to print the Study Guide from the website by clicking on the STUDY GUIDE tab.

Get your Bible Study friends gathered up so you will be ready when the first lesson goes live. If you don’t already have my published book, it is available online from any book retailer or it can be found by clicking on the BUY THE BOOK tab on my website. It provides a direct link to Amazon. The book sells for $13.95.

For a quick preview, check out the Sample Study Guide by clicking the STUDY GUIDE tab on my website. You can get an idea of how it feels, looks, the style, the tone, and the depth of questions to be considered. AND, please leave me some comments if you have any input that may help or encourage others!

I am so excited to share God’s great plan with you soon!

~ Sarah Jane

1 Accessed February 19, 2024, https://www.eterneva.com/resources/coping-with-loss

Holidays

A New Perspective This Christmas

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If your Christmas feels a bit plain and ordinary right now, I’d like to offer a suggestion: Ask God to open your eyes to see Christmas from a new perspective this year. It can happen for any seeker of God, since He always rewards seekers. (Heb.11:6)

Several months ago, I awoke very early one morning and began rehearsing what had been on my mind the night before. To my surprise, I heard the Lord gently speak these words to me: “This has never been about your love for Me; but it has always been about My love for you.” The subject I had been grappling with before falling asleep that night was how to walk in the Spirit, deny my flesh, and become an overcomer. Having struggled with this very thing for years, I was disappointed that I still hadn’t figured it out. I was confident it would require more obedience, more self-discipline, and certainly more resolve to get it right.

Although this nugget-word from the Lord would require some unpacking in the days ahead, in that moment I knew the Lord was showing me the inaccuracy of my long-held belief. I had thought my love for Him would be enough to make me an overcomer at some point. Yet, in one brief moment, His tender words had shot down my misconception.

I have always had a great love for God, yet through the years my love had waned, just as Peter’s love had waned—when being fully exposed as a Jesus follower; when faced with a decision to obey or not to obey; or when required to take a stand in the face of opposition. In my moment of honesty that morning, I suddenly realized my love would never be enough. With this new insight into my not-so-strong love for Jesus, I wondered what could possibly save me? It would be none other than the good news announced one starry night in Bethlehem: God’s love lying in the manger would save me!

The birth of Jesus was the greatest phenomenon to ever happen on planet Earth. Perhaps spending some time gazing into the Nativity scene could change our perspective. Let us look at it long. Let us look at it closely. God’s love was demonstrated in terms we can understand. The story, the setting, the unlikely cast are permeated with clues to His generous kindness toward us. The greatest story ever told is so simple a child can grasp it, yet so unthinkable that the angels shuddered at the thought of the Creator becoming a human. Creation swayed in its glory, as Mary held Hope in her lap.

The Prince of Peace had shattered all the protocols for being a “Royal.” He identified with the lowly, the poor, the rejected. He became one of us, as the incredible plan of God rocked the demonic realm. The miracle story was entrusted into the arms of a teenage girl, an insecure step-father, and stunned shepherds gawking in wonder. Love was born in Bethlehem as its oblivious residents slept. A King on their doorstep went unnoticed by the masses and worshiped by the few—yet strategically positioned to save them all. His love would encircle the globe—yearning, seeking, and reaching for the lost. He had come to save us, just as promised. The first “Gift” of Christmas wasn’t placed under a tree—but in a manger. Don’t forget to look there.

Ask the Divine to show you what He wants you to see this year. Gaze into the eyes of Mary and notice her unexplainable peace and calm. Then, gaze at the concern etched upon Joseph’s young brow as he weighs this new assignment. Don’t forget to gaze at the motley crew of shepherds who were astonished to be invited to such an event. And never fail to gaze at the wonderment of the wealthy kings who came prepared for this very moment and made it theirs—just by being seekers! As Mary does her pondering, may you sense the great love the Father has for these beloved children—hand-picked eye-witnesses to the most significant moment in history.

Our plain and ordinary view of Christmas changes remarkably as we gaze at this sacred scene. Right there in the midst of the most common pieces of life, God’s LOVE is found. For the gazers who recognize what they see, a miracle of extravagant LOVE invades their hearts. And that same extravagant LOVE can invade our hearts as well.

Love’s name is Jesus! He is our Gift from God for all eternity, and His love will be enough to save us.

My Christmas wish for you and yours is none other than: Happy Gazing to all!  ~ Sarah Jane

Books and Book Reviews, Christian Living, Devotional

My Friend, Kay Vandevier Henry

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When my grandchildren were small, they had a favorite book at my house that was read to each child a thousand times, or at least, that’s the way I remember it. The title was Jan Lewis’ Fairy Tales,1 and contained four popular childhood stories: “The Ugly Duckling,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” and “The Three Little Pigs.” The book was large and colorful, with amazing imagery of those childhood characters. Yet, the authors had added a nice touch to their rendition of these timeless stories that caused great delight as we turned from page to page.

At the beginning of each story, the reader learns that an unfamiliar creature is hidden within the familiar scenes, along with how many times it appears in each story. It was a race to see which child could spot the creature first, and each sighting was celebrated with loud cheers! Page after page, we looked for a mouse, a caterpillar, or a little black bird, keeping count of the sightings as the story progressed. My grandkids have long outgrown that book, yet we all have fond memories of moments together while glued to this entertaining book.

In March of 2023, I spoke at a book signing event in Claremore, Oklahoma, a community where I spent twenty years of my life. It was a thrill to connect again with many wonderful friends. One of those friends made me an offer that day. She said, “I’d like to trade you one of my books for one of your books, if that works for you.” It absolutely worked for me!

I didn’t know my friend, Kay Henry, very well when we lived closer to each other, but our renewed friendship has brought joy to both of us. We never tire of talking about everything books! Today, I want to tell you about her and her wonderful devotional book—Living in the Light, A Journey of Goodness and Mercy.

You may wonder what my grandkids’ story has to do with Kay’s book. I simply say, “Much!” I had no expectations as I began to read her book, but I soon discovered something. Tucked within the well-written pages about the amazing God she serves, you will find hidden surprises, or snippets (as her husband calls them) on every page. It’s not unusual to run across a “Hallelujah!” or “Praise the Lord!” right where you don’t expect it. Kay dots her writings with mention of things that bring a smile, such as lyrics from Fiddler on the Roof, her husband’s homemade sourdough bread, or calling homemade jam a “love language.”

My friend’s life has been surrounded by Christians, be it family, friends, church, or career—Kay has lived life with God. She knows Him well; she knows the scriptures well; she has lived the Christ-life well. And in her book, she shares it with her readers so very well. I have no qualms in saying that Kay has and is living in the light! The statement on the back of her book cover is totally true: “Reading Living in the Light will stimulate ah-ha moments, switching on spiritual light bulbs so you can discover and rediscover….”

Her writing style amuses me, and I love her down-to-earth conversations. She writes: “In our daily lives, we say good morning to our family and hope for good news, good times, and good company. We want to look good, do good, and be good. We want our children to be as good as gold, our food to be finger-lickin’ good, our coffee to be good to the last drop, and our investments to be in good hands.”

Kay and her husband, Joe, have visited the Holy Land, and she shares the sights and sounds she discovered there. The richness of her written thoughts, all intricately woven together with scriptures, bring wealth to our own experiences of communing with God. I recently confessed to her that I am jealous of her vocabulary, knowing full-well that jealousy isn’t a good attribute to have. However, that word truly reflects how I feel about her mastery of the English language.

Kay’s book challenges us to think about what we do and why we do it, getting right to the heart of the matter. She also places us front and center into the story: “Sunrise at the Sea of Galilee is the setting for Jesus’s post-resurrection breakfast reunion with Peter and other disciples. He spoke important words to Peter that laid the groundwork for Peter’s ongoing calling.” And then surprise! She plunges us straight into the story with this thought-provoking question: “Are you willing to meet Jesus for sunrise rendezvous?”

I’m quite sure that Kay has met her Lord in a sunrise rendezvous. We’re even challenged by her devotional titles: “What Is Your Soul Worth?” “Has Your Salt Lost Its Flavor?” and “Why Do You Fail To Obey Me?” Yet just as quickly as we are confronted, Kay renders answers that stir deep: “Surrendered submission is stubborn disobedience that has been prayed over.”

Kay spent much of her career in church ministries and authored preschool resources. She also served as an assistant vice president at Oklahoma Baptist University in leading alumni and donor projects. After retiring in Claremore, she was invited to write a column for the Claremore Daily Progress, which would appear on the newspaper’s “Faith” page. Unquestionably, they picked the right person for the task.

Kay’s book can be purchased at her website www.kayhenrybook.com or any major book retailer. You won’t be disappointed—I promise!

~ Sarah Jane

1Amery, Heather, Mick Wells, and Bob Mathias, Jan Lewis’ Fairy Tales, (London, UK: Tucker Slingsby Ltd, 1998)

Christian Living, Political

His Truth Is Marching On ~

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The words to a familiar song came to my mind this morning during my walk with God. You know it as well as I do, since we all learned it in grade school—”The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Its title gives us pause as we reminisce about those good old days when we sang it in patriotic programs on the 4th of July and Veterans Day, and covered our hearts with our hands and pledged allegiance to the grand ole flag. A trip down memory lane might serve us well today.

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was written by Julia Ward Howe after a visit with the Union Troops during the Civil War.1 The inspiring lyrics stir us as we consider the seriousness of that moment. The United State of America was in the crux of a battle in which our nation and its God-given purpose to stand for freedom and justice throughout the world was at stake.

I don’t know about you, but to me it feels that we could be in a similar place today where once again our nation and what it stands for is at stake. I have copied the words to the song at the end and I think it benefits us to read through them, but the words that the Lord turned my attention to this morning was the last line of the first verse: His truth is marching on.

I can’t help but wonder if my generation has succeeded in keeping His truth in the forefront of our lives and moving it forward to the next generation. Have we reared our children to seek truth, find truth, and know truth? And lastly, have we challenged them to take a stand for truth?

In a time when everything is being challenged and redefined, do we know what “truth” is? I think we actually do know what His truth is, even if we don’t live by it. But have we moved it forward? I suspect that every generation will have to answer for what they’ve done with “His truth.”

Tomorrow, we have the grand privilege of casting our vote once again in this greatest nation on earth. But before we do, I challenge us to determine what “His truth” is…about life (born or unborn), righteousness, justice, honesty, and greed. Career politicians have turned our governmental institutions into a platform to gain power and wealth. Their rhetoric and deception are mindboggling, while every freedom we have is on the ballot. I heard a recent poll revealed that our trust in Congress is at an all-time low of 7%.2

Our responsibility as citizens of this great country is simply to look at what (not who or which party) is on the ballot and determine if it lines up with God’s truth. If that is difficult to sort out, then go ahead and spring for some good old- fashioned common sense. Our nation is at stake tomorrow, so let’s get this right. If we don’t, future generations may never know “His truth.” ~ Sarah Jane Kellogg

The Battle Hymn of the Republic ~ (Public Domain)

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on.

CHORUS:

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps;

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,

His day is marching on.

CHORUS

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His Judgement Seat.

Oh! Be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on.

CHORUS

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;

As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on.

CHORUS

Songwriters: John William Steffe / Julia Ward Howe / Peter Knight

1Battle Hymn of the Republic The story behind the songhttps://www.kennedy-center.org › media › music

2Trust In U.S. Institutions Hits Record Low, Poll Finds – Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com › madelinehalpert › 2022/07/05

Christian Living, The Last Days

A Christian’s Greatest Challenge in Today’s World

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A Christian’s greatest challenge in our world today is to hear God’s voice above all other voices. There are many voices out there, but here is a list of things we need every day in order to survive as Christians and to live godly lives. Without them, our personal space and place would be in disarray and our sanity greatly challenged. I purposely placed each one on a line by itself to give us time to ponder the deep meaning each one has for us. I cannot imagine a world without the voices of God. See if you can.

The voice of truth

The voice of freedom

The voice of righteousness

The voice of reason

The voice of wisdom

The voice of life

The voice of mercy

The voice of forgiveness

The voice of hope

The voice of love

The voice of joy

The voice of peace

The voice of patience

The voice of kindness

The voice of goodness

The voice of faithfulness

The voice of gentleness

The voice of self-control

The voice of triumph

I fear that we have taken for granted the goodness of God. We have simply thought that America would always be free and decent. That is the very reason millions flock to our nation every year. Yet today, we are living in a very different America. Ungodly voices have been allowed to rise to a near unbearable roar, attempting to shut down any opposition whatsoever. Our children’s future is at stake, while even common sense has been pushed aside.

The Word of God tells us that the last days will be evil. Friends, those days are upon us here and now, and we must not be deceived by the voices of the Evil One. We can no longer depend on others to keep us informed. Therefore, when voices arise that promote death, deceit, destruction, hatred, cruelty, lawlessness, turmoil, fear, murder, theft, intolerance, perversion, false accusations, injustice and anger, we must be aware that these voices are not of God.

As Christians we love to quote the wonderful promise God gives us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

My personal belief is that that verse of scripture is not talking about when we get to heaven. God has always intended for man to have a good life right here on planet earth, and for those men and women, and even nations, who have loved God and followed His teachings, a good life has been experienced.

Yet today, the plans some have for our beloved USA are not the plans God promised us. His plans are always good, whole, healthy, kind, peaceful and loving. We must not be deceived.

Oh, be careful little ears what voices you listen to today! Your very life and freedoms depend on it. Blessings to all ~ Janie

Humility, The Secret Place Secrets

The Elephant Revealed

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I wonder how many times when the elephant in the room is suddenly faced and its truths revealed that we discover the elephant wasn’t nearly as bad as we had expected.  In fact, the exact opposite is often the case, and we question why we had dreaded it in the first place.

I fully believe that will be the case with humility. Once we see humility for what it is, we will be pleasantly surprised. I also believe the enemy of our souls has known all along that humility is the crucial key to the Christian life, and therefore he has deliberately diverted us away from it.

Perhaps a look at what brought down the arch-enemy of God in the first place will give us some insight into the confusion surrounding humility. Before the world was created, Satan desired to take God’s place as the most-high God—in short, he wanted to be worshipped. In seeking that position for himself, he convinced one-third of the angels to buy into his plan. Satan did not deserve nor earn that position, but he exalted himself to that place. As a result, he and his team of rebellious imps were cast out of heaven.

It is easy to see why Satan approached Adam and Eve with his plan as well. His convincing, but untrue argument was to cast doubt on God’s integrity. Unfortunately, like the fallen angels, they too fell for Satan’s lies.

Can you imagine the grief in God’s heart when his crowned creation followed the path of his worst enemy? If we could grasp that fact, we might better understand why God hates pride so much. Pride cost God one-third of His angels as well as the creation that reflected His own image. But wait, that isn’t all—pride would cost Him even more.

The entire human race would now inherit the sin of pride from their parents’ DNA. It would cripple every child that would ever live. Pride would rise up in their hearts, and if gone unchecked, it would cause them to desire a position of highest honor and praise; perhaps even to be worshipped. What could possibly stop the universal spread of this devastating disease?

An antidote was needed, but what? The antidote must be equally as good as pride is bad. In His great wisdom, God knew that only the exact opposite of pride could counter its deadly effects on the human soul. Thus, it would require God’s greatest virtue—humility.

Being the supreme essence of humility, God determined it would be necessary to demonstrate this virtue to the world. The plan was made and set into motion—“our Lord Jesus emptied Himself and came to earth to live a poor man’s life and die a felon’s death.”1 Jesus gave up His perfect, sinless life on a despised cross to rescue us. There is no greater act of humility than that.

The antidote for pride would come with a high price tag. The unthinkable! The unimaginable! The unexplainable! The most painful of all costs! For 33 years God would be separated from His Son, and for 33 years He would foresee the excruciating pain His Son would endure. God saw it. God felt it. God allowed it. We want to scream, “Why? Why would God do that?”

If pride had not been stopped, we would be destined to join Satan and his angels in the eternal lake of fire. Yet, God thought we were worth saving. Can we not clearly see why God would have a deep and intense hatred for even a hint of pride? ~ Janie Kellogg

Small footprintKey Quote: Christ is the humility of God embodied in human nature; the Eternal Love humbling itself, clothing itself in the garb of meekness and gentleness, to win and serve and save us.2 ~ Andrew Murray

1Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark, CLC Publications, Fort Washington, PA, Pg.15; 2Andrew Murray, Humility, Fig Books.com, Pg.12

Humility, The Secret Place Secrets

The Elephant in the Room

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Our God is so gracious to show us treasures we might otherwise overlook—such as the huge benefits in this thing called humility. I recently made a bold statement in my post The Fast-Track to Success in 2015:  In order to go higher in God, one must first go lower. If I even slightly aroused your thinking, I am thrilled.

For some time we have given Carte blanche privileges to denominational teachings, church leaders, and popular TV ministers; so much so that we find it difficult to accept some out-of-the-denominational-box ideas, even when they are firmly rooted in our Judeo-Christian beliefs.

So it is with humility, a subject that has neither been embraced nor taught for some time. Have we overlooked its value? And why wouldn’t anyone believe that it is for us, when we have the supreme humility of Jesus as our example? What do we think Jesus meant when He said, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted?”1

Could humility be the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about? Is it the obvious truth that is being ignored? Perhaps it is a message the enemy of our souls has purposely buried in the modern-day rhetoric of God’s plan for us. Most popular teachings today tell us that God wants us living the good life of the rich and famous.

The truth is that God wants us to deny ourselves, give up our life, and be available to Him for His purposes only. That, my friend, is the call to follow Jesus, and that is the destiny of all true followers of the cross. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”2

We are certainly called upon to humble ourselves, for giving up our life for Him will require much humility. That would mean no longer pursuing our will, but His will in all that we do, say, and think.  In order to acquire humility at that level, one must go very low. It is spelled: servanthood.

Because we were bought with a price and our life is not our own, 3 Christ has the authority to tell us what to do, say, and think. As His servants—with no rights, privileges, or say in the matter—we are told only to obey.4 Are any of us willing to follow Him that far?

This is a humility which many Christians in America know little about, and our American rights and privileges have not helped us get there either. Yet, if we profess to serve a humble God, who gave up everything for us, we must seek to be humble and embrace all that servanthood entails.

We are going to spend some time here, because we really cannot go higher with God until we first go lower. Lower is our true destiny; and as difficult as it sounds, I promise it will be worth the trip! There is a great message in humility that has been hidden from this generation of believers—it simply got lost in the “seek the good life” mentality. The truth about the way of the cross can open a whole new spiritual dimension for us. ~ Janie Kellogg

Small footprintKey Quote: “Here is the path to the higher life. Down, lower down. This was what Jesus said to the disciples who were thinking of being great in the kingdom….Look to it that you humble yourselves and take no place before God or man but that of a servant; that is your work…. Just as water ever seeks and fills the lowest place; so the moment God finds the creature abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless.”5 ~ Andrew Murray

Additional Insight: Refer to “What Other Writers Say about Humility and Depravity” in Treasure in Earthen Vessels, April 18, 2013. (Use the search feature and enter “What Other Writers Say.”)

1 Luke 18:14; 2Luke 9:24; 31 Corinthians 6:19-20; 4 John 14:23; 5Andrew Murray, Humility, Fig Books.com, 2012; page 17