Faith and Sowing and Reaping

April 10, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Darryl and I loved to sow of our time, talent and treasure. We helped people in so many different ways during our marriage. God’s love motivated us and we thoroughly enjoyed it! We shared with others our home, our food and our family. We shared our faith and the spiritual gifts God gave us. We even shared our cars. It is fun to sow! It isn’t always easy, but it brought so much joy into our lives. We also reaped of His love, His provision and His promises. God truly balances His books.

But sixteen years ago, I began my journey of way more reaping than sowing. My husband, Darryl, suffered a heart attack and subsequent stroke at T.F. Green airport. The first gift—three people at the gate were medically wise. They helped me lay him down, and subsequently began CPR. Someone called the ambulance and a sweet, sweet lady handed me a bottle of water as Darryl was in the gurney on the way to the Aid Car. I called my friend, Lori, who had dropped us off and she met me at the hospital. Unbeknownst to me, she called our Connecticut Pastor, Kevin Wilson. They then transferred us to another hospital, with Lori driving me. Not too much longer, Pastor Kevin and others began to arrive. We began to reap the faith and hope of others, as they prayed for Darryl’s recovery.

It was a very serious stroke. The doctors informed me that he was deaf, blind and dumb. My children began arriving from Washington state, and people graced us with a hotel room close to the hospital. Food came, fellowship, encouragement and an amazing support system began to develop. This was as you can imagine, a very difficult time. We discovered Darryl could see, could hear but could not talk. That was hard to understand why this man who mentored many, stopped speaking. I needed the encouragement of the body of Christ to help keep me going.

After 13 days, they released us to our Connecticut home. Our church family worked to get it ready and made themselves available for the hospital bed and other equipment to arrive. Our friend Bill rode with Darryl in the ambulance, while his wife Darlene drove Elizabeth and I the 45 minutes back to our home. I called another friend, Joyce, a CNA for advice and could she come and teach me how to “turn” him. She and her puppy arrived before we got there! Food prepared by our friend Charlie showed up and fed whoever was there. Our church family in Washington sent folks who loved, prayed and help strengthen us. The reaping felt unearned and undeserved. People fixed our refrigerator (Dave), provided a generator when the power went out (Tom), another Tom fixed a problem with our slider….only our God could have prompted them to be so generous with their time, talent and treasure. I can never repay those dear folks who were actively the hands of Jesus during those times.

I discovered some dear friends who really seemed to understand the situation had helped another friend with a traumatic brain injury. Joan and Alan provided wisdom and physical help. Even their pastor called with encouraging and very thoughtful words of advice. Through it all, the reaping kept happening. Our friend Joyce met an occupational therapist at her church one night. She told her Darryl story and in only God’s ways, Vanda (and later her children) moved in an helped Darryl learn to walk again. Oh my friends, the blessing of the body of Christ flows when the love of Christ is shed abroad in their hearts. They prayed, cried and hugged me and embraced my children. They loved Darryl when there wasn’t anything but memories of who he had been to them left.

I know many folks who go through hard places and times have not had the body of Christ show up for them, and for that I am sorry. Many don’t know how—or fight their fear that something this catastrophic could happen to them. My friends, may I encourage you to sow into other’s lives? Pray the Father will open your eyes to the needs around you. Let His compassion move you, like it did Jesus. You won’t regret it. Sowing words of kindness or acts of service can reap amazing fruit. D n

March 6, my brother-i-n law suffered a stroke. It wasn’t as bad as Darryl’s, but his right side has been affected. It has been my joy to help their home become wheelchair safe this week. All the lessons I learned as a caregiver have been flooding back. I am able to sow into their lives. He can talk some and is relearning to walk. He is still being tube fed along with eating pureed food. My Darryl was on a feeding tube for over a year, so I am not afraid of them. It is my turn to sow!! As we readied the home, praying for continual healing, I was touched by God’s grace. I still think strokes are evil. He ran 8 miles the day before his, but our God is working His good out of this situation. I am not sure all He will achieve, but I am asking for a lot! Don’t be afraid to sow, and don’t be too proud to reap. It was humbling to be on the reaping side, but I definitely needed it! My sister Mary, needs all the help she can receive. She’s gone through two cancer diagnosis and treatments, heart issues and kidney issues. She is a strong lady who loves Jesus. She is a continual sower, and I learn from her. She is our sister, but also a sister in the body of Christ…it is a God-thing to care for her–not just the “unknown masses”. Sowing seeds of faith, love and hope will always bear good fruit. It challenges our selfishness and our fears, but we can do it!

Father, I am so grateful for the blessings that come from both sowing and reaping. We all need both, teach us our seasons. Most of the time it is mixed—we get to do both at the same time, and for that I am grateful. Help us understand and release our faith no matter if we are the sowers or the reapers. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and My Savior, Jesus

April 2, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 NIV.

Life is full, busy and at times complex. My heart today is simply to express my heartfelt gratefulness to the Lord for His Story in my life. I remember hearing about salvation as a young girl. Watching and listening to my father pick up his guitar and sing an amazing hymn, “In the Garden” with such sincerity and passion, that it made me want to know this Savior as well. I don’t know if I ever told him how much that impacted my life. There was something about his relationship with the Lord that was genuine. When I was nine years old, after hearing the salvation message at our local Methodist church one Sunday, I asked Jesus into my heart.

I remember playing by myself and talking with the Lord. One phrase from the song, is, “he walks with me and he talks with me”. I took that literally! I poured out my complaints, my joys, my longings to Him. The peace and presence of God was so real to me. It seemed to me that one of my other companions as a child, was loneliness. Having someone to share life with was so wonderful.

Growing up we were encouraged to have “quiet” time….a time to read the Bible and pray. My father, once again, modeled this for us. My mother, who taught us many things, did not seem to have the same connection with the Lord. She attended church, sang in the choir, but until she was in her 70’s did not comprehend what it meant to have a “friend in Jesus”. What a joy it was to come home and see an open Bible by her chair. Church was something we did. As we entered junior high and high school, youth group became a strong part of our life. There is something stabilizing to a young person when they can join together with other like-minded youth.

I can’t say I was consistent in prayer or Bible reading during this season, but somehow His wonderful love kept bringing me back to Him and His ways. Up until I was 19, my walk with God was pretty much about me. As a sophomore at the University of Washington I encountered believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit. God asked me this question, “up until now you have had me as Savior, will you now let me be Lord?” That day changed my life. All the scriptures dealing with “if you love me, keep my commandments” became much clearer. I said, yes.

Throughout the remaining years, I discovered I still need Him as Savior, more than ever. My shortcomings are real. The need for repentance and forgiveness is real as well. I am humbled by the cost He paid for my sin, especially when I don’t deserve it.

Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. I’ve begun to see how the Word of Life (Jesus) and the written word, the Bible, are one. The Word definitely has been exposing my innermost thoughts and desires…some in a convicting way, and some are actually quite inspiring.

Jesus is my teacher. He gave me some parenting lessons. (Every time I folded cloth diapers for two, He said: Remember, each of those represents time spent with your children. Don’t waste it! He is my Comforter. He helped me through the first days of Darryl’s passing and still helps when grief days appear. (Yes, they still happen!). He is my Strength and Guide. This week we have been helping my sister get her home wheelchair ready. I’ve felt not only His strength for helping with the physical stuff, but wisdom on how much to do and when. He is my Provider. I marvel how He provides for me, in both big and little ways. He is my Helper. He helps me balance my thinking, gives insight and wisdom where my thoughts are inadequate.

The good news is He is this for all His children. This Easter season, I have been reflecting on what it means to really embrace the fact we have a Savior. I am humbled by His goodness. I am also overwhelmed by His generosity. We are adopted into His family and receive the privilege of calling Him, Abba Father. What aspects of Him are you thankful for?

Father, thank you for really being our all in all. For spending the costly price for our salvation, even when we didn’t deserve it. You are so worthy to be praised, all I can say is thank you. Please forgive us when we treat you so poorly and with less honor than you deserve.. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and The Blessing of Kindness

March 26, 2026 Martha Rodman1 Comment

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Two weeks ago I went to a restaurant supply store to purchase some items for a young adult/senior ice cream social that our Senior Life Ministry is coordinating. It is not a place I frequent, so I am not familiar with all they sell. It was amazing how many of their employees took the time to ask me if I was finding everything I needed. Now that happens in other stores, but it was the sincerity of their inquiry that made the difference. Three different employees stopped what they were doing to ask me if I needed help! I felt seen and appreciated. There was something about how each of them asked that put it in the “kindness” category. Yesterday, as I was visiting my friend at her rehab, came to help adjust her IV. As she was leaving, she turned and asked if we would both like a cup of coffee! She took the time to bring it to us! It was my friends first day at this facility and this act of kindness blessed us both.

Acts of kindness necessitates us looking outside ourselves. I’m inspired often by my sisters Mary and Marie and their acts of kindness. Mary purchased a dozen small crosses to simply give to children for Easter. Marie is helping her neighbor with young children by taking the older ones to school. Their hearts are turned outward.

Jesus demonstrated kindness continually. Feeding the various multitudes, taking time to heal the sick, cast out demons and teaching the disciples were all acts of kindness. Kindness actively helps promote the welfare of others in some manner. It sees a need and fills it. It has the possibility to change someone’s day.

But there is an amazing scripture that hadn’t registered in my spirit before, until I did a study on kindness. It is: a man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts themselves. Proverbs 17:11 ESV. Yes, according to scripture, when we are kind it not only benefits others but benefits our own selves! Science actually proves this. They have proven that it reduces stress, lowers our blood pressure, and releases oxytocin and dopamine. It can reduce depression and anxiety. There is a thing called “helpers high” which comes when we help others.

Kindness is contagious. Have you ever held a door open for someone else and watched them hold a door for the next person? Or letting a driver into a lane causes others to do the same. Kindness can cause a domino effect. It strengthens relationships. Families that encourage kindness among themselves are more peaceful and happier. Helping children develop kindness is so well worth it. Some children are naturally born more aware of the needs of others. While others, have to be encouraged to think outside of themselves…most of us I think!

Godly kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is something that increases as we stay attached to the vine. Part of our God’s nature is His kindness. The demonstration of His long suffering shows forth His kindness. The Lord is good to all, he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145.9. Of the course, the greatest example of His kindness is the gift of His Son Jesus and our salvation. When we deserved death, He gave us life. Ephesians 2:7 says: So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Young children often struggle to be kind to each other. Immature adults often do themselves. When we are insecure, proud, or feel entitled, it is difficult to think of others. Life becomes all about us, doesn’t it? Kindness is definitely not the first thing we think about. Learning to walk in His love, acceptance and grace can help us look for ways to be kind to others. My friends, is it time to ask the Lord to help you learn to be kinder? To be intentional is looking out for the needs of others? It will not only be good for your soul–but also for those you are kind toward.

This is not something we should overlook or under use. Spending kindness takes time. It can reap wonderful benefits that we might not ever see. Unfortunately, being unkind always takes a toll on relationships. It can cost our influence for the Kingdom, something none of us want to happen.

Father, thank you for helping us grow in this area. Learning to be kind can be hard, because we must put others first in our thoughts and our actions. Please teach us, my Lord, in Jesus’ Name. amen.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Uncategorized

Faith and Struggles

March 19, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15. NIV.

2 Chronicles 20 tells the story of King Jehoshaphat and a bigger story than most of us will ever face. According to verse 1 and 2. After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazeon Tamat” (that is En Gedi). Wow…the enemy was between 35 and 55 miles away. These enemies were serious in their intent to destroy Israel.

The NLT version describes Jehoshaphat as “terrified”, the NIV says he was alarmed, while the ESV simply says he was afraid, but no matter how he felt, he did the right thing. He turned to the Lord. First thing we need to do when we are facing struggles, is turn to Him. He requested all of Judah join him in a fast to seek the Lord’s help. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12. ESV. My friends, isn’t it difficult, at times, to get our eyes off the great horde of troubles coming our way and keep them on the Lord?

Not only did Jehoshaphat seek the Lord, he brought in others to stand with him. As they prayed, someone else had the answer. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph in the midst of the assembly. Quite a background check! For some reason, God saw fit to send the answer–not through King Jehoshaphat, but through Jahaziel. The king was humble enough and discerning enough to know the word of the Lord, when it was given. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: ‘Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. If we are walking in obedience, and difficulties come our way, we must lean on Him. We must trust He has a way to bring us through. Do you have trusted friends who know the Lord and His ways? You need them, my friend. Last week, I shared how I was struggling with some strong believers. It was humbling to share how I was feeling. But I knew they not only would pray, but would do so without follow up judgment. As I kept pressing in to the Lord myself, things broke open and I am back to “myself”. I admit, I had tried to “pray it through” myself, it took the help of others.

God continued to speak through Jahaziel some specific things for them to do. He wants to help us know what to do with our struggles as well. But for that to happen, we need to have listening ears. Stopping long enough to hear His still small voice or seek His wisdom through His Word. This time, for Jehoshaphat and the tribe of Judah, it was very specific. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. (2 Chronicles 20:16 ESV). Don’t you find that amazing! He told them exactly where to go. They still had to go down to the fight. Sometimes, admittedly, I want to bow out and pretend there is no fight. But I have found it never works. These folks knew exactly who they were fighting. We need to identify our enemy as well. Is it flesh? Is it a spiritual battle? Is it our emotions going awry? There are times I have had the Holy Spirit quietly, but firmly, show me that my struggle was a need to forgive a person or situation. So the enemy was myself!

Jahaziel continued: You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jersusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you. No matter what you are facing, you cannot let fear take control or become dismayed. Dismayed means feeling intense disappointment, shock, distress or discouragement. It is often caused by unexpected bad news or a disheartening situation. Things happen. I shared last week about my brother in law’s unexpected stroke. He is improving, but has some hard work ahead of him in rehab. It was disheartening and “dismaying” to see him in his current situation. But choosing to walk in faith that our God is working this out for their good is comforting.

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel with a very loud voice. Praise and worship have been struggle busters for me more times than I can count. What great tools they are when things are heavy and dark. I encourage you to try it when struggles come your way.

Jehoshaphat and his tribe followed God’s instructions. They found victory that day. I encourage you to read the entire story for yourself in 2 Chronicles 20. My friends, struggles and battles come our way. Take the time to seek the Lord in the small ones and in the larger ones. He has answers and direction. Do not turn away from Him, but turn toward Him. Humble yourself, if needed. Keep making Him bigger than your problems through praise and worship. Release your faith and lean into the power the Holy Spirit provides. Struggles can help your roots grow deeper in Him and His ways, if you let them!

I know there are some people whose struggles are more like Jehoshaphat’s story…out and out warfare. These tools and insights work for those situations as well. Our fellow brothers and sisters in persecuted lands face strong “struggles” everyday. Please take the time to pray for the persecuted church, they are part of our Family.

Father, I choose to thank you for every struggle I face. I thank you for your help and encouragement as we learn how to live strong confident and faith filled lives bringing glory to your name. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and “Rooted”

March 12, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 17-19 NKJV.

This past week our family experienced another emotional storm. My brother in law Mike experienced a stroke. My sister called me after the EMT’s had arrived. I dressed quickly and we were off to the hospital. This man had jogged eight miles the day before, so to say we were all in a bit of a shock is an understatement.

Of course it took me back to my own husband’s stroke story. Sitting in the ER with them, I could only marvel that Mike was alert, could communicate and participate in his own decisions. Mike’s stroke was definitely not quite as devastating as Darryl’s, but has been life changing for them. What is holding Mary steady? Being “rooted and grounded in love”.

As a young girl, I remember my mother taking cuttings from hydrangea’s and putting them in a Mason jar full of water. They would begin to produce small hair like structures–roots. She would let them sit in that jar until the roots filled the jar. On a day she determined, she would plant them in our yard. To be honest, she may have been changing out the water, I don’t know. When she moved them to the yard, she would place a bigger jar over the top of the plants for a while. This created a little hot house to help them “root in”. Depending on the weather, some days the jars would be removed during the day, but replaced at evening. She took great care with these little plants, because she had a vision for their purpose. After awhile, the jars would disappear and the plants were left exposed to the elements. She trusted they had developed a strong enough root system to fend for themselves.

This sudden “stroke storm” that has hit our family reveals our root system. Watching my sister navigating all the test results and trusting them for insight, wisdom and decision making has been difficult. This stroke has left Mike unable to swallow as yet, so he will need a feeding tube. Because I walked this road with my husband, I know they don’t have to be permanent or super uncomfortable. (Which is another way God answered my prayer of God getting every good thing from our stroke storm!) As my mom watched over the hydrangea cuttings, God watches over us. It is our choice to allow our roots to grow deeper into His love or let fear and doubt cause us to withdraw them from Him.

When planting seeds or cuttings there is another step. It is “tamping”. After you put the seed or plant in the ground, you need to eliminate large air pockets and stabilize the plant so you “tamp” the soil. I like to think being “grounded” in God’s love does the same. Reading His Word, connecting with mature believers and being established in a home church helps God “tamp” or “ground” ground us in His love. Every believer needs this. No matter how old or young you are in Him. It has almost been 1 week since Mike’s stroke. There have been challenges every day. He will be moving to a stroke rehab in a few days about an hour a way. Only our God knows what lies ahead, but our past experiences and knowledge of who He is, helps push away fear. Embrace faith and watch how He works this out for good for those involved.

Keep learning and leaning into His loving care, no matter your life’s storms. If you find yourself in a peaceful state–enjoy it! Don’t be robbed from that blessing, but allow it to flow into your inner most being. Trust the Master gardener!

Father, I thank you for rooting and grounding us in your love. No matter what storms of life come into our lives. You are preparing us now, and for that we can trust you. Thank you for holding us steady, no matter what comes our way, we choose to trust you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and “Attitude”

March 5, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5

Our small group read this scripture last night. It was an ouch for me. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…wow. The Amplified Bible states it this way: Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example of selfless humility].

As we talked about Lordship and obedience, this phrase stayed with me. Paul was writing to the church in Philippi concerning their relationship with each other. I have found, it is much easier keeping my attitude right with the Lord, than it may be with his people! One definition of attitude has to do with: a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. (Oxford Dictionary).

This is difficult, isn’t it? In chapter 1, Paul writes: For i want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. This was one of his “prison” letters, but written with such joy and love you would never know that he was suffering. Paul’s whole attitude was set toward loving God and loving people. His heart (attitude) was to help them grow and experience the joy of their faith. (Phil 1:25).

Attitude is a choice. To have the attitude that Christ Jesus had is cultivated by wanting it. Our flesh can be so strong. This morning I struggled in my attitude about something. Why couldn’t they see things my way? As I prayed and struggled with the Lord about it, He said: “Those are my children. Not your problem”. Oops. I released them back into His loving parenthood. When I was a young parent, there was a lot of judgment and philosophy’s on so many different issues. Discipline, feeding, sleeping etc. all came with their own set of attitudes, and of course each parent felt they had the “right” way. I learned quickly, I was only responsible for my children and my decision to discipline or not the way I felt they needed. Trusting our Heavenly Father with His kids, is the same way!

Letting go of a judgmental attitude is crucial to have the attitude of Christ. (You know that critical attitude that comes from the place of negativity?) He alone is the judge. Asking Him to “parent” you in controversial matters is key. Searching His Word for His perspective is the best way to discover His attitude about a subject. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different denominations? One day I asked Him. I felt He reminded me about how many different restaurants were in our town. Most of them prepared some form of chicken. From Italian chicken Parmesan, Chinese stir fry, Japanese Teriyaki, they all started with the same type of bird. It depended on the taste of the eater, which one they selected. He said as long as each church prepared the “whole word of God”, it was acceptable. People have different tastes and He understands that. The most important thing is to commit to the church family He leads you to–knowing they won’t be perfect!

Developing the same humble attitude that Jesus had is so helpful when dealing with a critical attitude. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-7. NLT. Learning to serve others is often key to developing a Christlike attitude. The foot of the cross is a great leveler. Knowing the price of salvation was paid for me as it was/is for those I get frustrated with, helps me let go of my attitudes. It is a process and journey to grow to be like Him, but it is so worth it. I am grateful for His patience in my life, and the nudging of the Holy Spirit to remind me to adjust my attitude when needed!

Father, thank you for loving us in spite of our attitudes. Forgive our judgment, haughtiness and critical attitudes that do not reflect your love or care. Teach us to walk in humility with the same servants heart you had, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Photo by Toa Heftiba Şinca on Pexels.com

Uncategorized

Faith and “Distress”

February 12, 2026 Martha Rodman1 Comment

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. Psalm 20:1. NIV.

Distress is not a word I hear often..but it’s synonyms shows up again and again! It means extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain.(Oxford Dictionary). The Hebrew root word comes from a sense of tightness or a narrow place, straits (tsar)–a feeling of being trapped or pressured. Usually there is a feeling of being in a tight or restricted place. Sometimes it comes with the feeling of hopelessness, discouragement and suffering. Feeling trapped is a horrible feeling. Sounds pretty negative doesn’t it?

Don’t despair! God is aware of your situation as he was for the Israelite’s during their bondage to Egypt. 7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings. Exodus 3:7. ESV. Following him does not mean the absence of trouble. God actually sent them to Egypt to save their lives. He also had a plan to bring them out of that trouble. It takes faith when we are in trouble to believe there is a way out.

We have to remember who to call upon. Often in our struggles and “straits”, we feel alone and that we have to be our own salvation. There is a temptation to escape from the pain through alcohol, drugs, food bingeing or excessive television watching. But as believers, we need to turn to him. David, in Psalm 18:6 is a great example. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Encourage yourself in the word. Don’t wait. Psalm 107 contains both encouragement and instruction to those who are in distress.

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Psalm 107:4-8. NIV. Cry out to the Lord. As I was writing this, it occurred to me that our God has had great experience in delivering many, many believers from distressful circumstances! He is good at it! Do not be afraid to cry out to your God in the middle of your trouble–or better yet, the beginning.

Remember. Remember, he promised to never leave us or forsake us. So even when you are feeling all alone, you are not. Allow him to comfort you while you wait for his answers. If things are delayed from our liking, there is a temptation to grow impatient and frustrated. It’s okay to share that with him, but I encourage you to tell him, but no matter how I feel or things appear, I trust you Lord.

Paul suffered a lot for the gospel’s sake. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 0 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. ESV. God desires to use our distressful times not only for our good, but also for the good of others.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1. ESV. Take courage and remember when he delivered you before. Remind yourself of his faithfulness especially if you feel you yourself are the source of your distress. Nothing can separate us from His loving care.

Both David and the Apostle Paul faced distressing times. I am so grateful we can take encouragement from them to move through our distress into peace and freedom–trusting him to make a way where there may seem to be no way. He is able my friends…not only for you, but for your family and friends. Do not be afraid when distress comes, but turn to him. He is trustworthy. You will come through with a testimony that will bring glory to his name.

Father, I thank you that you are a very present help in the time of trouble…even in our distressful times. I am so grateful we can turn to you. Help us lean into you and your ways when we feel trapped and confined. Thank you for delivering us from all our troubles as we cast our care upon you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and “Listen”

February 5, 2026 Martha Rodman2 Comments

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One, Listen to him”. Luke 9:35 NLT.

Listen to him. Such a simple statement and request. God the Father, speaking from a cloud to Peter, James and John after the transfiguration..interrupting Peter’s off the wall suggestion he build a tent for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. My friends, this is my simple encouragement for today. Listen to him.

Listen to him as you read his Word. Really pay attention to what he asks. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105. ESV.

Listen to him as you pray. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20. ESV.

Listen for the answers to those prayers. Expect him to bring the directions and insights you need. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great, and hidden things you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3. ESV.

Listen to the sermons your pastoral leaders give. Pay attention to the corporate direction, encouragement and instructions given. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8. ESV.

Listen to the still, small voice within your spirit. When you hear it, respond with obedience. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Psalm 37.7 NLT.

Listen to the stops he gives. Pay attention to any warnings he may give. Do not ignore them. They are there for your benefit. I am God, your God who teaches you how to live right and well. I will show you what to do, where to go. Isaiah 48:17 MSG. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26. ESV.

Listen to his loving voice. When you know it is his voice speaking, enjoy the fact that you can hear the voice of your Savior who is also the Creator of the Universe.

When you listen, do not listen with fear. We must listen with faith and trust. Trust he wants to speak to you. Trust what he speaks is important and timely. Trust that no matter what you hear–it will lead you to become more like him. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27. NLT.

It is my prayer that these simple reminders will spur you on to open your ears to his voice. Remember to test the spirits, but know he is able to direct your steps. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 ESV.

Father, please teach us to listen to you. Whether it is through your Word, through others or through you personal speaking to us. You promise you sheep hear your voice. Speak, now my Lord, In Jesus Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and Dealing with Discouragement

January 29, 2026 Martha Rodman1 Comment

Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Discouragement: losing hope or confidence , a feeling of being disheartened, dejected, or losing motivation, often due to obstacles, failures, or lack of progress. We don’t like to admit it, but everyone faces discouragement in their lives. It is part of life, but so is victory over it!

Over the years, it caught me in its trap far too long and far too often. The good news is I have learned some hints, tips, and warfare tools that I want to share. Discouragement is an effective tool Satan loves to use against God’s people. He uses it to stop us from moving ahead with God’s purposes. He is happy when he can thwart believers. He uses any tool he can find. Discouragement is often one of those tools.

Sometimes it is so subtle. A small seed of doubt begins to grow and the joy and expectation we had seems to fade. We can still function and fulfill our roles, but it seems harder to do. Failed expectations of ourselves or others often lead to discouragement. It is a natural part of our emotions.

Learning to recognize discouragement it one of the first steps in dealing with it. It used to be hard for me to admit I was discouraged (anything less than perfect you know!) Pride was the root of that. Now, I’ve learned to name it and own it. All people face it, and I had to admit I am part of the human race. Once I identify I am discouraged, I try to figure out exactly where it is coming from. Am I believing a lie from Satan? Did I expect a different outcome from a situation? Uncovering the lie and replacing it with the truth is key to victory. Am I tired and weary? Do I need a snack?

Elijah needed a break and a snack–plus time with an angel speaking truth will help! (Read the story in 1 Kings 19). We may not have an angel delivery system, but we do have the Holy Spirit and His help. Take a break, spend time in prayer–pouring your heart out to Him who never grows tired of listening to His children. Pride makes us feel we can’t come to Him when we are weak, but that is the best time to come to Him. Remember, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many trouble, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. Psalm 34:18-19. NLT. He loves to comfort and encourage us, but we have to come to Him. A crushed spirit is so painful and hard. I’ve walked through feeling crushed and downhearted, but I found His faithfulness. He led me out of those dark days and into His truly marvelous light. During one season, I picked up a journal and wrote out all my pain to Him and kept writing till I found my thoughts changing, from hopelessness to hope. Discouragement tries to steal our joy, our hope and then our faith. But our God promises to be close us during those times. Do not hide from Him.

Another tool David found was worship and music. Technology is my friend for this. Alexa, Google and Spotify are easy for me to turn on and worship fills my home. Suddenly, hope is renewed. As the various worship songs play, heaviness falls off and God’s promises and truths come flooding in. The discouraging situation probably has not changed, but my attitude has. Strength is renewed.

The gift of Godly people are essential during discouraging times. Humbling yourself and asking for prayer from other believers can break discouragement quickly. Giving them the opportunity to speak truth and love into your life can be the very thing you need to keep going. God did not make us to live life alone, find a community. Remember what it says in James? Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them. The key point here, is “let them” call. You can’t expect others to know when you are discouraged and need help–nor can you wait till they see it! There is too much to be done for His kingdom for us to fall for the trap of discouragement. Discouragement longs to undermine our faith and trust in God’s goodness, love and power and put our eyes back on ourselves.

Gratitude for what I do have, or have accomplished, or people who have proven faithful is another tip I’ve learned when facing discouragement. And they defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Revelation 12: 13. Rehearse what God has already done and all the victories where you overcame discouragement. Sometimes I take a big view of history and think about how God has kept the church throughout so many difficult and struggling times. He is not about to quit. We will face trials and tribulations. Some face persecution. There are believers across the globe who are being persecuted in real time with real consequences right now. It makes our small troubles shrink in comparison. Praying for others can break the cycle of discouragement as you release your faith for them.

If a besetting sin is the source of your discouragement. It has to be dealt with. Repent and turn away from it. Admit it to someone else. Join a support group, whatever it takes. You do not have to carry the weight of un-confessed sin. If you have tried on your own to “get over it”, ask for help. Anger, lust, gossip, lying etc. are just some that often are self justified. My husband struggled with anger issues at the start of our marriage. I could tell the soul toll it took on him every time he had an outburst. He would feel disqualified and discouraged. What a blessing to watch the Holy Spirit help him overcome this learned behavior. He is able, my friends. Do not settle.

Father, I thank you for all the lessons you have taught me in dealing with discouragement. I ask you help us keep growing in these areas. I ask you to strengthen our will to persevere no matter the obstacles we face, because you are so able to finish our race. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Uncategorized

Faith and Unbelief

January 22, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.: Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-25 NKJV.

When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they rant o greet him. What is all this arguing about? Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it. Mark 9:14-19. Wow, what a situation. Just before this event, Jesus, took Peter, James and John up on the mountain, where they experienced what we now call the “Transfiguration”.

I imagine those four folks were pretty excited. The three chosen disciples who were with Jesus probably could not wait to share the experience with the rest of the team. But what did they come down to? Arguing and contention. A desperate father who very clearly understood the effects of his sons struggles. The teachers of religious law (also called scribes) were arguing with the remaining disciples, there was a distracted and disappointed father, along with the demonized son plus large crowd of bystanders! We can assume the scribes were criticizing the disciples for not being able to free the boy–although we don’t see them helping him either! It seems to be part of our human nature to quickly criticize what we can’t do ourselves.

It is a bit difficult for me to figure out exactly who Jesus was referring to to with his comment: You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Was it to the scribes, the disciples, the crowd or to the man and his boy? Back in Mark 6, Jesus commissioned the disciples. He gave them the authority to cast out evil spirits. So, was it them? Maybe he was disappointed they hadn’t learned to use the authority they had received as yet. At this time in Jewish culture there was an understanding that different evil spirits were harder to deal with. It was their understanding that you had to know the name of the spirit in order to cast it out. So dealing with a mute spirit was more difficult. This spirit caused the boy to be mute. No matter what, I am sure these 9 disciples were embarrassed and perhaps angry they couldn’t help the man and his son. Do not let the enemy discourage you from praying for difficult situations. That is his goal, to silence our prayers. If anything, stir yourself and pray even bigger ones.

There was a season in the 70’s where the church I attended dealt with evil spirits. It was amazing to watch transformation take place as our Senior Pastors spoke in authority to these evil spirits, and the people were freed. I also watched as others “tried” and the enemy seemed to mock the situation and nothing happened. It was difficult to understand. In this story, Jesus expressed his emotions and disappointment, but did not forget about the hurting man and his son.

As he turned his attention to the father, asked more clarifying questions the father ended with: Have mercy on us and help us, if you can. Mark 9:21. My friends when we struggle with unbelief, don’t we also include some kind of qualifier? “If you can”. If you want to”…”If you think I’m worthy”…maybe we don’t verbalize these qualifiers, but we may think them. The way Mark tells the story, we find Jesus sounding a bit “short”. He really wants us to trust him. I think it disappoints him, when we question his power and love. We can’t let our unbelief dictate our actions. The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief”. Isn’t that our heart when we want our loved ones freed, healed, changed etc? Are we willing to put in the time, energy and effort to build up our faith so we can see the answers to our prayers?

My question is do we comprehend that although Jesus understands our unbelief, He doesn’t want us to stay there. He really doesn’t like unbelief. Continuing the story, he looks at the crowd and then deals with the demon. The son is eventually set free and returned well to the father. We see his love and compassion for these two. When they are alone again, the disciples ask him, “why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied. This kind can be cast out only by prayer. Mark 9:29. This is challenging. Are we willing to pray and study enough to grow in our faith to see the answers we want? I heard a story today of a woman who prayed 37 years for her husband’s salvation. The 37th year, he accepted the Lord!

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12. My friends, let us be careful not to ignore areas where we find unbelief. But take them to the Lord. Pray about those areas. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to grow in your belief.

Begin to study his word in those specific areas. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes by the word of God. I think we can get complacent and not understand that if we do not keep growing in our faith: complacency, cynicism and apathy takes over. The Holy Spirit is showing me areas where I have stopped believing for change. This is not his fault, but mine. I have decided to exercise my faith muscles for our nation. Praying for our leaders as we have been told to do, instead of letting others do it. My voice counts, so does yours. The bigger prayers we pray (according to God’s Word) the stronger we will become. We will have even bigger and better testimonies of his faithfulness to encourage others.

Father, please forgive our unbelief. It is something the enemy wants us to put up with, instead of fighting it. Teach us how to grow in faith. Help us to pray like you asked us to. In Jesus Name, amen.