Faith and Reality Check

October 9, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 ESV

Several years ago I became connected via Messenger to a friend in India. She and her family live in central India, where there is much persecution. There has been a deliberate attack against Christians and an effort to get believers to reconvert to Hinduism. Many believers in this area meet in house churches. Some of them have been burned. Many pastors and leaders have been arrested. I’ve included excerpts from our shared messages, her words are in italics. It is a reality check on how some of our brothers and sisters are facing persecution.

There ministry includes a Bible College that trains church planters. These are very courageous believers that are living persecuted lives. May 28 she sent me this message after we prayed for one of their pastors to be released from jail. Pastor Ramesh is one of our senior Pastor and he had more than 500 members were there. After he closed the church believers are scattered. Please pray for this church and family. She sent me pictures of those displaced believers. Sleeping in a large room, with no place to go. She sent me pictures of gentlemen who were beaten for their beliefs. I am sorry for sending these pictures. I just wanted you friends to be aware of the fact of persecution and its seriousness and take action for Indian Christians. During this time, new leaders were elected with the plan to legislate against conversion, similar to Muslim countries.

July 15, I received this message. Thank you so much for your prayers and concern dear loving Friend. Hearing from you means a lot. On Sunday two more church was attacked and Pastors were arrested. Believers are scattered and forced to reconvert to Hinduism. Please continue to pray for our family and ministry. These are real people experiencing persecution and tribulation as Jesus foretold.

July 17: Thank you so much for your prayers for our family, ministry and people. Appreciate you interceding and standing with us in prayer support. Last Sunday we met underground. Radicals are getting furious when we meet for worship. Our country supposed to be secular but after joining of radical prime minister Hindu are provoked against Christians and Muslims, they forcefully trying to reconvert. They wanted India to be Hindu country. WE are continue under terror, seek your continue prayers. I keep responding with encouragement and prayer support.

July 28: We do pray everyday for the intervention in our ministry. God is doing great miracles answering our prayers. Our churches too are growing in numbers despite of severe persecution. Persecution has become part of our life but our God Almighty is giving us the increase. I love you dear precious friend. You means a lot and I am indebted you are remembering us in prayer.

August 13: Yesterday we had a big rally against the radicals and my husband and myself joined there. It was a peaceful one. Please pray government hears our supplication and gives us protection. Many churches have been destroyed. They are needed to rebuild. People are not having a place to worship.

August 16: She sent me a video of the radicals rally. It was very frightening. Of course it wasn’t in English, but you could feel the intimidation and threats. Today they have viral whatsapp message to attack 10 churches. Very sad they are attacking girls and women, last Sunday they attacked a church at Kukurbeda and abused the women and did all kinds of vulgar actions and threatened to rape in ass. My heart is breaking for my people. We are insecure in this place but what to do, only the Lord protect. This message broke my heart.

After I sent scripture and prayer she sent this response August 21: Blessed hearing from you sweet loving friend. Your precious words are an encouragement to me at this crucial hour. Please continue to pray we are fighting a battle. We believe the Lord is fighting our battle and we are more than conqueror. Love you so much for your prayers.

Sept 11: Good morning sweet loving friend. How do you do? WE appreciate your prayers. Situation is not in our favor. Please pray for India. Government has issued Anti-conversion bills to trap Christians and put them in jail. Please keep praying for India, may the Lord intervene for our situation.

Then in the middle of this: September 19: I was away for Samaritan’s Purse NCONNECT India. WE have completed two seasons and planning to go for the third one. I am blessed to be selected as a Discipleship Co-ordinator for Chhattisgarh, I love you and appreciate your prayers for my country. What an encouragement that Samaritan’s Purse is connecting during these difficult times. I know it was a blessing for her to take a break for some encouragement.

Unfortunately October 4, I received this short message. My husband pastor Kishor Senapati and father pastors Sinkandar Singh is put to jail in accusation of conversion. So now her husband is in jail. They plan to fight against his arrest.

I asked her how we/I should pray. Please pray for provision to hire a lawyer who can fight my husbands case and win. She then sends a short message. If any body wants to donate please link them to my PayPal account. marymessiah@yahoo.com.

This is the first time she has asked for funds. We have been communicating since 2019. Even if you do not feel let to give, would you please pray for our brothers and sisters in India? It’s never been easy to share the gospel there, but now it is even more difficult. I share her story here, because they need our support and care. Plus it is a heads up to what we as believers in this country could face. Southern India has the most Christian population compared to Northern and Central India. Please pray for the believers specifically in these areas. Our prayers do make a difference. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 10.

Father, I ask you set these two brothers free. Give peace to their families and wisdom to hire the right lawyer. Oh my Father, may your name be glorified and your kingdom expanded in India. Show us how to help them. Thank you for these believers who are willing to suffer for your kingdom’s sake. In Jesus’ Name amen.

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Faith and Our Words

August 7, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge in it will eat it’s fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21 AMP

I’ve so enjoyed our Life Group’s study on the book of Ephesians and I’ve loved reading the prayers Paul prayed for the Ephesians (which also mean us!). His exhortations on how we should function in unity without division is challenging, but also encouraging us to keep the unity. I also love digging deep into the different parts of the armor of God. It has made me even more aware of how I use my words!

Words flow off our lips so easily, and unfortunately, at times thoughtlessly. The other day as I attended a prayer gathering, I thought about a discussion I had with a gal just few days before, about the power of consistency. God brought that conversation back to me during this prayer time. He said, “Speaking unbelief, criticism, gossip and negative speech dilutes our prayer’s effectiveness.” In my mind’s eye, I saw someone fervently praying and seeking God in their prayer closet, they were in heartfelt prayer, crying out to Him. But when they finished, I saw them walk out and complain to a friend about their situation. What I realized, is their faith was smaller than their declarations. The words they prayed were true, but not built on a foundation of trust and faith.

The Holy Spirit’s sharing this to me saddened my heart. The fruit of our faith is revealed by all our talking, not just when we pray. This can be really hard to live out. God is gracious and merciful all the time. However, I think it saddens Him when we speak unbelief about the very thing we have asked Him to do.

When my children were toddlers, it was hard work. Teaching them the way they “should go” took time and energy. But when they were getting ready to graduate from high school and move into adulthood, it became even harder. I recognized my faith and trust in God had to grow. Either I believed what His Word said, or I didn’t. Would He show up for them, as He did for us? Of course. I had to pray this through for myself. I needed to come to a place of trust and faith in Him. I also needed faith in their walk with the Lord. Peace came. If you struggle to believe your own prayers, I suggest you spend more time with Him, engage with His Word and invest time in prayer. He is such a good God. My faith in Him increased. My faith for them grew as well. It became easier to release them into His ways and His will.

This year I have three grandchildren who are facing their new seasons of life. One is a college graduate looking for a teaching job. One will attend George Fox University as a junior. Another is moving to Medford, Oregon, to attend an internship program. Three distinct personalities, three different futures, but I know our God has them in His hands. Because of the lessons I learned with my own children, I know I can trust Him with these. I am very careful to speak faith, hope and trust when I am around them. It isn’t hard to do, because I believe it! When doubts come, I process them in prayer and in the Word.

My friends, please be careful with your words. Maybe you will find yourself praying, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief”. That is okay. He will help you. Expect His help. He wants us to pray powerful, effective prayers. They start with a recognition of who you are praying to! He loves you, cares for you, and delights in answering prayers. If you discover you are diluting your prayers with doubt, unbelief, judgmental thoughts, take the time to repent. Remember, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34-37). Be careful what you meditate on, because it could pollute or dilute your effectiveness.

My friends, it is time to guard our hearts, speak life and watch God move! Take the time to examine your thoughts, your heart and your words. His mercy is there to help us in these areas if we let Him. He is ready, are you?

Father, I thank you for helping us become people of consistency. People who live and talk, trust and faith in you, because you are so worthy of it! You are who you say you are, and so must we, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Prayer

July 31, 2025 Martha Rodman1 Comment

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 NLT

We finished the book of Ephesians with our small group. After exploring our warfare gear (i.e. the armor of God), he finishes with exhorting us to pray. The Bible Expository Commentary opens this section with the following statement. Prayer is the energy that enables the Christian soldier to wear the armor and wield the sword. (By Warren Wiersbe.) How and or why? I think this statement comes from Wiersbe’s own prayer life. Oh my friends, do not let the enemy rob you of the blessing of prayer.

When I think about PRAYER. yes with capitals. I get intimidated. I feel like a failure and that I don’t do it correctly. One day, as I was struggling to feel like I was doing it “right”, the Lord spoke to me. “He said, how do you and Darryl communicate in your marriage? That really took me back. As I took a moment, I realized that sometimes we chat up a storm, other times much quieter. Sometimes it is my actions, facial expressions, or even notes that communicate my thoughts. Then He reminded me we were in a “relationship” and that it was O.K. for things to ebb and flow. Prayer became a much freer and more relatable time.

Along my prayer journey, I discovered Psalm 5:3. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Rising in the morning, I greet the Lord, just like I used to greet my husband. It sets and settles the tone for my day. I know He is with me. It is my habit to have “coffee with Jesus” and His Word each morning. Some days I eagerly look forward to this time, other days, I confess it is a habit. The blessing of the habit is they sustain you during some dry times. Just like in my marriage when things seemed a bit dry, we would take the time to reconnect.

In Matthew 6:9, Jesus answers His disciples’ request to teach them how to pray. He begins with “Our Father.” There is a part where the marriage analogy breaks down. We must remember who we are praying too. It is the God who created the universe we are talking to. This is the God who lovingly, graciously, and sacrificially laid down His life for us. We must be respectful and honoring in our honesty. Our Father, hallowed be your name, is a way of keeping Him in His rightful place.

Just like in a marriage, if all I did was ask for things, the relationship wouldn’t develop. When we only petition God for things, our relationship is limited. God becomes a “fix it up chappy” for us and we wonder why we lose our joy. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 informs us of many different types of prayers we are to pray. First of all then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life,godly and dignified in every way.

Which type do you find yourself using the most? I have intentionally added more thanksgiving to my prayer life. Just like in my marriage, when I thanked and praised my husband more than criticized him, things went smoother. For me, thanksgiving has helped me grow in trust and faith. Releasing my faith becomes easier when I thank Him. I am grateful for what He has already done. Praise, worship and thanksgiving gets us out of our own limitations and brings God in. My flesh often just wants to “get to the point”, but thanksgiving actually gets me there sooner!

My friends, effective prayer begins with acknowledging who we are talking to. It begins with understanding we are in a relationship and that He has proven He wants to talk with us. He has proven His love already. If you struggle in an area of unbelief, take the time to be in His Word first. Build a scriptural foundation for what you are asking. Accept that sometimes God’s wisdom says “no” to our requests, just like a parent would say no. James 4:2-3 offers a humbling reminder. It shows what happens when we walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit. Yet, we still expect the fruit of the Spirit. You desire but you do not have so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2-3 NIV. Ouch, so true.

Ephesians 6:18 emphasizes the importance of prayer. Warren Wiersbe, a respected Bible teacher, made this statement. Prayer is the energy that enables the Christian soldier to wear the armor and wield the sword. My friends, keep on praying or as Paul says: and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18. NIV.

Father, keep on teaching us how to pray. I thank you for the privilege we have been given to talk with You, the creator of the universe. You have given us the ability to partner with you, and that is amazing, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Dealing with Doubts

June 12, 2025June 12, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 24:38 ESV.

Doubts: a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. Have you ever faced a sneak attack, from the enemy, of doubt? I faced such an assault last week.

This is a very transparent story I am sharing with you. A couple of weeks ago, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to write a letter. It wasn’t an easy letter to write, so I sought Him for the wording. The day I wrote the letter, I actually woke up with, what I felt was His wording for the letter. This came with such peace, that I knew I had heard from Him on the matter.

All went well for the next few days. Then, one night as I was falling asleep, a very subtle feeling of unease crept in. I dismissed it, and went on with my life. But slowly but surely the unease led to insecurity which led to condemnation. The condemnation became so strong that I began to doubt anything and everything else I was doing. Along with the doubt, insecurity came fear.

The “feeling” was awful. I went back to the Lord, apologizing and repenting if I had misunderstood His assignment. I asked Him to be merciful and gracious to the person I wrote to. Finally, I shared the letter with someone. She knew the person I wrote to. She said, “it’s a good letter”. That helped.

As I went back to the Lord, I heard Him whisper: “doubt”. No wonder I was struggling. Doubt is an insidious tool. It subtly caused me to turn my eyes away from the Lord. Focusing on myself is never a good thing. I truly was like James 1:6 says, but let him ask in faith, or the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. My emotions had me all over the place.

When the Holy Spirit whispered the word “doubt”, peace came and it was like a light turned on! I knew I was the victim of a sneak attack by the enemy. What began with the letter, tried to spread to every ministry area in my life. It tried to undermine my calling and my purpose. Doubt and insecurity attempted to steal my confidence in the Lord. They wanted me to focus on myself. This shift in focus distracted me from God’s ability.

My friends, I felt confident that the letter I wrote, written in love, was an act of obedience. Only God knows what the outcome will be. Part of the letter challenged the works of darkness. I knew of the possible backlash, but was still unprepared for how it came. My friends, obedience isn’t always easy. We do have an enemy that does not fight fair. He seeks any entry he can find. He found an area of weakness in my life. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit and His words of life and truth. The peace of God came immediately.

In Mark 9, we find the story of a father bringing his son to Jesus for help. His father asked “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. And Jesus said to him, “if you can! All things are possible for one who believes. Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”. (Mark 9: 22-24. ESV.) The Lord has gone on to show me, what I started in faith, I needed to continue in faith. Praying and believing the words I wrote, spoken in faith and love, would produce the good fruit God intended. When doubt entered in, I stopped praying for the situation. It began to be about me. I’ve gone back to praying in faith, that He is moving. I’m praying the truth will set free and God’s will, will be done.

We must continue to grow in our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17. My friends, don’t let doubt and unbelief hinder you from obedience. It is not worth it.

Father, I thank you for your victory. I am humbled by your gracious Holy Spirit who speaks words of life to us. Please teach us how to resist doubt and unbelief by learning Your Word and Your Ways.

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Faith and Heart Honesty

March 6, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3. NLT.

April 2010, my husband suffered a massive heart attack that led to a massive stroke. It was obviously a very trying time. I found a journal entry I wrote on July 2, 2010. I need you, Lord. Desperately. I need your love, grace, and help. I am afraid Darryl won’t progress. I am afraid that once he gets “better”, his “better” is not ‘enough’. I am afraid that the healing process is contingent on my little faith.

These words took me back to the emotions I was obviously going through. But amazingly, I didn’t stop there. All the above are settled with your touch. Fear is tormenting. You are love and peace. I know you love me and Darryl. You are walking these things out for many situations. I will surrender once again to be a coin in your pocket, ready to be spent anyway you choose.

Oh my friends, when we are honest about our fears to the Lord, He shows up. As we wait on Him, He begins to show us how to deal with our fears. I remember peace coming as I wrote what I knew about His character. Simply listing our fears without including Him in the scenario can magnify them. But, reminding ourselves of who He is can being to free us from those fears.

This heart honest with the Lord, was definitely not a one and done! August 7, 2010 found me sharing these words: I am troubled, I need you to help me. I am afraid of the future. I feel alone. I feel abandoned in the very place I need you–on the inside. You are good. I “see” Your goodness, but I don’t feel your goodness. I see and feel my badness, my need of a Savior even more desperately than I have ever needed you before. I need your help. Your sent Joan, Vanda, Joyce and the girls, but I need you. Abraham waited YEARS for the promise to be fulfilled. I am impatient for it now. Abraham and Sarah had to deal with their own deadness. I feel dead as well. I feel more dead than ever before, but…. (Those listed were such a God sent gift to help Darryl and I. There were many more!)

I actually ended there…no great declaration of faith, just simple heart honesty of how I was feeling. It is almost fifteen years since Darryl’s heart attack. And I am still walking with the Lord. I don’t always understand the circumstances of my life, but I know He does. Life is still challenging, but the lessons I learned during this season have stood me well.

If you are struggling with fears, anxiety or frustrations, I encourage you to take the time to process it with the Lord. There is something helpful about writing them down. In March of that same year I wrote: an encounter with God comes from a heart cry. A heart cry comes because we are desperate. Desperation comes because of a painful awareness that our soul is in trouble. Was God preparing me for this future overwhelming, life-changing event? Probably. He is that good. The amazing thing is God already knew where my heart was struggling. Peace came when I was honest with Him. If you need some scriptural foundation for being honest with God, take a look at King David. Psalm 6:2 have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord for my bones are in agony,. I am sick at heart, how long O Lord until you restore me? Psalm 13: 1-3: O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle in my eyes, or I will die. But he goes on to verse 5-6: But I trust your unfailing love, I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me. NLT.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Oh my friends, God wants to return the sparkle to your eyes. Take the time to share your honest heart. But don’t stop there, begin to remind yourself of what He has already done for you. Do not let the fears and regrets of your past hold you back. Do not let the concerns and fears of the future stop you from moving ahead in His ways. It is not worth it!

Father, I am so grateful we can be honest with You. I thank you for listening with attention and concern. I thank you for teaching us how to keep our hearts free from the clutter of fears and hidden anxiety. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Praying for Others

February 27, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, Colossians 1: 11 NLT.

Are you ever overwhelmed by all the needs in your life and the lives of others you really care about? I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit and His ability to show us how to pray. It is one area I want to grow in this year, praying more effectively.

So here are some steps I am trying to incorporate. Maybe they will help someone else..or you can pray for me!

Instead of going straight to bed and sleep, I’ve incorporated listening to worship. I intentionally try to listen to the words and worship along with the music. Afterwards, I pray for my more challenging situations (at least in my mind!). It is much easier to release my faith after worship than without it. These are probably situations I’ve already prayed for during the day.

Another tool I’ve added is praying Paul’s prayers. Growing up as a Baptist girl, we did not have set prayers like some of our Catholic or Episcopalian brethren have. We did pray the “Lord’s Prayer”, but not too often corporately. We were encouraged to just pray from the heart. It took me a while to incorporate these amazing prayers for myself and for others. Like the above scripture, praying for others to be strengthened with all his glorious power so [they] will have all the endurance and patience [they] need. May [they]be filled with joy. This is a prayer that can be prayed for almost everyone! The Greek word translated ‘endurance’ here is hupomone. It is a word that combines “hupo” meaning under and “mone” meaning to remain. So when praying this prayer, we are asking the Lord to help our friends to bear up under difficult circumstances without weariness or defeat. It specifically refers to situations, not people. So many are dealing with difficult circumstances around me. I am so grateful I can pray this prayer for them.

Along with praying for the needs of others, I haven’t forgotten the scriptural instruction to pray for our leaders. When I hear people complaining about either our political leaders or spiritual leaders, I want to ask, “have you been praying for them?” This is a reminder to pray for our leaders, my friends. Criticisms or behind their back complaining are only going to hurt your soul, not bring any positive change. I urge, then, first of all that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1-2.

When was the last time you prayed for your enemies? Maybe your enemies comprise of those who do not think like you do. You see them as a threat. Matthew 5:44, But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Isn’t that an amazing scripture? It tells us to love our enemies first! Then pray for those who persecute us Difficult to do. I believe if we put this into practice, our enemies may become our friends. Really interceding for others, enemies or not, changes our hearts towards them. Love and hope springs up where fear and animosity once grew. I challenge you to pray for the person who irritates you the most. Ask the Lord to bless them, you will be changed.

None of these steps or tools are new or unique to me. Believers have been using them for generations. Praying in faith, trusting God’s Word, which tells us the prayers of the righteous avails much, is such a privilege. Ask Him to persecuted church? Christians that are in prison because of their faith? I have an internet friend who lives and ministers in India. She asked me to pray the other day because some of the local pastors were arrested for their faith. Then I discovered an American pastor friend (along with their team) was in a different part of India and was placed under house arrest for their faith as well. Gratefully, in both situations, these brave leaders were released. However, the local Indian pastors live under the constant threat of arrest, beatings or even having their homes torched.

My friends, it is time to grow in intercession. It is how we can partner with Him to increase the Kingdom.

Father, we are like the first disciples, needing you to teach us how to pray. Forgive us for our small vision and small faith prayers. I ask you to help us grow in this area for Your Kingdom’s sake. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Sickness

February 20, 2025 Martha Rodman1 Comment

The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of illness: You will sustain him on his sickbed. Isaiah 41:3. NKJV

No blog was written last week, because I came down with the flu. It wasn’t fun (and in fact, I am still recovering from it). Maybe it was my feverish brain, but I began to ponder, what is the “right” way to deal with sickness. Or is there a “right” way?

The first couple of days were quite rough. I managed to send a message to my Life Group team, letting them know we would not be meeting. It brought offers of help and prayer! I admit at this time, I was too ill to really deal with “ministry guilt”, that came later. My dear sister came to my rescue. She went to the store and brought meds and various quick nibbles. She filled all my straw cups (I had three by my bed) which made it easier to keep hydrated. Because this wonderful “Bug” came with throwing up the first day or so, I really couldn’t keep things down. It made me reluctant to try and eat anything.

By day 3 and 4, I started trying to expect to be over it. I tried to catch up on my devotional reading plan. I was grateful for the ability to listen to the Bible. My eyes were hurting too much to focus and read. Some of the ladies in our Life Group are dealing with difficult things. I wanted to pray magnificent prayers. I ended up trusting the Lord to intervene. I feebly mentioned their name before Him. “Father, I trust you with my friends”.

Somewhere in this journey, I remembered I was supposed to host and lead another meeting for our Senior Life Ministry Planning team. I was able to find my laptop and send out a cancellation notice. This consumed more energy than I expected, so back to bed. The ministry guilt started to raise its head. Push through, you could have worn a mask…what’s wrong with you? Living through some out balanced teaching of healing can really affect your soul at this stage. I had to remind myself, that Jesus is the Savior and Healer, not me. My energy level, brain focus ability and body simply would not let me do more than rest in His love. Trusting His grace.

The good news of God’s faithfulness was apparent, when I received a phone call from a hurting friend. God’s Spirit showed up and I was able to speak life, focus and help into the situation. I felt so wimpy at first. But as we talked, my care for the person helped me tap into His Presence with God’s Truth. I did take another nap after the phone call

Living alone and being sick is not for the faint of heart. My son, who I probably got this from, was a few days a head of me, so I monitored his progress via his wife. He has recovered. I’m on my way, just dealing mostly with fatigue and sinus congestion. I appreciate the texts and encouragement that people were praying for me. Somehow there is a balance between being remembered and overwhelming with questions about how you are feeling!

So once again, I’ve learned to rest, trust and enjoy Him, even when I don’t feel well. As a younger believer, I used to feel guilty and shame over sickness. I thought it was a sign of weakness, now I’ve learned better. If nothing else, it reminds me that I am made of flesh. It helps me understand the afflictions of other, and I’ve learned to give myself much more grace. My friends, let us be gracious to ourselves and each other. I’m asking the Lord about changes that should be made, but in the meantime, I choose to rest in His love, and going to take another nap!

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Father, I thank you for being faithful, even when I am not. You are with us on our sickbed and for that I am grateful. Please keep teaching us how to best display your glory, no matter what state we are in. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Faith and Application

February 6, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today—yes, you so you will trust in the Lord. Proverbs 22:17-19. NLT.

I have been having an ongoing conversation with the Lord. We have discussed why so many in their later season of life experience so many challenges. It seems the advertised “golden” years are not as golden as the commercials would like to portray! People hear about the joys of retirement with traveling, golfing, or cruising. However, many seniors face unexpected physical diagnoses. These diagnoses can limit their mobility and interactions. Last year I got to experience physical therapy for the first time because of a knee condition. Now both knees are complaining and I need to courage up to tackle a flight of stairs! These are fairly common complaints for those of us in our 70’s.

There is also the hovering concern or specter of dementia! Oh, I forgot a word or date. Could this be an early sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s? So what are we to do? Let fear ruin our lives? That definitely is not the answer! So I prayed and talked with the Lord about navigating these older years. I asked Him why things seem to be so hard. He shared a simple insight. He said it is time to apply all the lessons about Him we have already learned. Every lesson about His trustworthiness and His faithfulness, we are to put into practice. It is a time to lean ever more upon Him and what His Word has to say in every situation.

Often we can move through life with our heads full of knowledge about God and His ways. It is when we face challenges to actually apply what we know , is when we find out how much faith we truly have. Jesus told us that in this world we would suffer tribulations. James is very clear on this as well. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know when your faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1: 2-4. My senior friends, if your faith is being tested, it is a good thing. It is not easy, but He will work it out for your good. It will also benefit others. This is not just for senior friends, but for all of God’s children.

He also reminded me. These years are our last opportunity to show what it means to be a believer in Him. Whether or not we like it, people are watching you. Your family, friends and acquaintances really need us to model what it means to be a believer during trying times. When my sister was first diagnosed with lymphoma, God led me to Philippians 4:6-7. Very simple and familiar scriptures, but they became very real to me. Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I keep applying these lessons through her breast cancer journey and now her heart and kidney concerns. The don’t worry part is challenging, but I am getting better at it!

My friends, it is not God’s plan that we simply spout platitudes about His goodness, but we must believe it. When faced with the trials of our faith, we must know that 2 Peter 1:3 is true. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. There is no disqualifying circumstance to this verse. He has given us everything we need for living a godly life, the choice is “do we believe it?”. Oh my friends, the lessons you are learning today will benefit you greatly. They will help you, no matter what you face tomorrow. Many times it is the small things that help us endure. I remember singing (very croakedly) “this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it), during the first few weeks after my husband’s stroke. It came from deep within my spirit from the earlier lessons He taught me. This simple scripture helped me get through those tough days.

So no matter what season of life, learn to apply what you know. If you need more help in a matter, ask Him for it–or a good friend. Remember, He is our teacher. What a blessing it brings to Him, when we apply what we know!

Father, I thank you for teaching us how to apply Your Word to every circumstance we find ourselves in. I thank you we don’t have to worry about our future, because you are already in it. Prepare us for our future, but helping us learn to walk with you today. Help us truly “apply our heart to your instruction”. In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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Faith and Hope Less

January 30, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15: 13 NLT.

I had the chance to talk with another widow this week. Her husband and mother passed very close together about four years ago. She is a firm believer. She wasn’t questioning God’s goodness. Instead, she was seeking to learn how to walk through these sometimes paralyzing struggles that grief can often bring. Somehow during the conversation, someone used the word “hopeless.” As we talked, I thought about “hope less.” versus hopeless. Had my hope level dropped amid so many challenges?

Think about a thermometer. When we take temperatures for fevers, we want the numbers to go down. Can you see it now? A hope thermometer? Is your hope increasing or decreasing? I had to admit that in some areas my hope is less than it used to be. It was a reality check, but in a good way. Life hasn’t been easy for many lately. Those close to me have been dealing with very hard things. I talked with a lady yesterday at church. She had been a wonderful life group leader. She shared she had to step down, because her husband was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her mom had passed away from the same disease, so she knows sort of what lies ahead.

She told me, I still believe in our God who heals, and am trusting Him for our future. When life sends us these curves, it is hard. Many older saints are facing even more difficult trials than ever before. I asked the Lord about it, and He said, “it’s time to apply everything we’ve learned in the past”. It is not a time to give up and lose hope or heart. It is a time to lean even harder on Him and His character. This last season of our life gives us the opportunity to really live as an example of the believer. Not easy, but it must be doable!

I realized I had actually lost some hope (hope less). I began to pray and ask Him to help me. Proverbs 13:12, is very clear: hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. NLT. When things are “deferred” put off, delayed or even suspended we can become discouraged. Little children can fuss and fume over short delays, but as we mature we can endure it a bit better. There comes a time when we have to admit, “Lord, I think my heart is sick”. You may be trusting Him for healing, finances, a relationship fix etc. But it hasn’t happened yet. So what do we do? Grow sicker and sicker? No, my friend. We need to go back to the Lord. I wanted my husband to miraculously recover from his heart attack and stroke. When we began to see improvement, we were all so excited. But, after caring, trusting, praying and loving him, two and half years later he joined Jesus.

So now what? I admitted my heart was sick. I had many conversations with Him, sharing my feelings and disappointments. Some I wrote, some were simply heart felt prayers. I had learned enough about Him I did not stop until peace came. The scripture in Romans 15:13 tells us He is the God of ALL hope. So it makes sense to go back to the source and ask Him to restore your hope. Paul was praying for the Roman church, that the God, the source of hope, would fill them completely with joy and peace. He wanted them to experience the fullness of the Good News. This is God’s wish for us, that we will be filled completely with joy and peace. I admit, I am still working on that!

Hope can be a bit elusive at times, which is why we find this exhortation in Hebrews 10:23. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Isn’t this the crux of the matter? Do we believe He is trustworthy? When hope wanes, we often take our eyes off Him and onto the immensity of the situation. Our enemy wants us to blame God, get us to believe “if He really cared…” (you fill in the blank!) Paul told Timothy, This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of believers. 1 Timothy 4:10. I want to remind you and me today that He has already proven His loving care. Do whatever you have to do to focus on the Living Loving God, then your hope will rise.

Psalm 119:74 states: May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. If you lose hope, many around you will too. But if you stand strong in God’s Word, you will also strengthen those around you. Lately, when I turn on either my Alexa or Spotify worship, there are so many songs about warfare and struggles. It made me wonder if God is causing His artists to write and produce such songs. We must need them. I found my faith rising as I listened to these encouraging sounds. If you are not a musician like me, we can forget about adding it to our warfare weaponry. But when I do, it is so refreshing.

I want to remind us again that in this world we are going to have trials and tribulations. We can either become hope less, or grow in our hope.

Not just regular hope, but confident hope. Hope that makes us not ashamed or afraid. Do I feel disappointed in myself that my hope thermometer went down? Of course, I felt disappointed. However, I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit. He helped me get back on the right path. Remember Romans 5:4-6. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and dies for us sinners.

Father, I thank you for showing us that even though we may lose some hope, we don’t have to become hopeless. You teach us to not lose hope. We can hold on and not become hopeless. Help us to grow in Your hope, a hope that encourages us to trust You no matter our journey. You are the source of all Hope and we can depend on you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Confidence

January 16, 2025 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

9 Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9. NLT.

Our God is constantly amazing me. I am so awed by His character, His promises and His faithfulness that I can only sit quietly before Him. This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:16. NLT. So I would ask us to examine our confidence level? How confident are you in the Lord? I am not just talking about head confidence, but heart confidence. Where you actually expect Him to answer your prayer!

We are exhorted in Hebrews 4:16 to come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need. Can you just picture it? A bold soldier striding into the War Room, telling the commander-in-chief, we need help. This soldier has utmost confidence that the commander-in-chief has the needed supplies and weaponry to defeat the enemy. They trust their commander-in-chief to deploy whatever strategy is necessary to win the current battle. With no hesitation, he makes his plea. He then waits, trusting his commander-in-chief to answer. This is how our God wants us to enter His throne room. NO fear of interrupting or bothering the commander in chief, just confidence that He is able and willing to supply every need.

My friends, one characteristic of mature faith is confidence. Often people don’t pray because they don’t really have the faith to believe God is going to answer that prayer. James 4:2 tells us “you have not because you ask not”. If you do not expect Him to answer, why bother asking? When my children were younger, we did not have a lot of extra funds. My oldest was an astute young lady. She really didn’t ask for much or often. I think she just assumed we couldn’t afford it. As a parent, my heart hurt when I found out (when she was an adult!) that she wanted to take ballet lessons! We will never know if she would have gotten to have them or not, because she didn’t ask. I know people who have not asked for healing because they don’t want to bother the Lord. My friends, you are doing Him such a disservice!

Oh my friends, difficulties, trials and challenges arrive in everyone’s life. The blessing we have is that we don’t have to face them alone. Deuteronomy 7:7-9 is an amazing reminder of God’s motives and character. Moses gave this discourse of remembrance to the Israelite’s, to help them as they entered the Promised Land. The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping an oath he had sworn to your ancestors. His love and care for them was not based on what they were or could or could not do. It was based on His promise to love them and care for them. It is the same with us. We have been adopted into His family, as our Father, He cares for us. Does that give you confidence? Or do you struggle with understanding His Fatherhood? My friends, please ask Him to reveal to you what it truly means to have Him as your Father. Take the time to understand this. Don’t live beneath your privilege as His child.

If you are insecure about your relationship with Him, it shows you don’t know Him well enough as yet. Read one of the gospels. Watch how Jesus interrelates to his disciples and talks to His Dad. Read the letters from Paul and see how Paul prays and talks to the Father. We can pray those same types of prayers for ourselves and others!

When we boldly enter God’s throne room, we must do so with faith, but also respect. He is, after all, Lord of All. The respect and trust we give Him means we trust His answer. The answers may be a quick yes or a definite no. Sometimes, like natural parents, the answer might be to wait and see. In all cases, we need to trust Him. Don’t give up, keep on asking, seeking and as He promises you will find. Often, during the waiting times, if our eyes are open we can learn so much about Him and ourselves. Our desires may change. The initial toddler-like demands for a yes transform into a wiser acknowledgment. We realize, ‘I don’t really need that, thank you for the no.’

Confidence is really an inner trust and faith in Him and His ways that is born out of knowing Him. Knowing Him takes time and requires intention. The more we do it, the more confident in Him we become. That is always a good thing.

Father, I thank you for helping us grow in our confidence in You and Your ways. Show us areas were we rely too much on our own ways, and not your ways. Teach us to return to you and rest in Your ways, learning from You about You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.