About This Blog

Oh! Hello there! Welcome to my blog!

My name is Sarah. I'm a history student and, as will be evident from reading this blog, history is my favourite subject. I love to read, listen, watch, and write about it!

At Beacons of the Past I hope you will find plenty of interesting posts (rather sporadically posted, though - depending on free time available to me) on various topics, containing numerous gems to be gleaned, appreciated, and treasured. Some will be Spiritual devotionals or meditations, particularly on the person of Christ, His character and work, (some of my favourite spiritual topics) and many others will be related in one way or another to history. 


The Suffering Church is another topic that is important to me. Many Christians around the world are suffering for their faith and it is important to always remember them and pray for them. I'll be posting some prayer alerts every now then on this. Please join me in this as well.  

The title  of this blog sort of captures the essence what I desire this blog to be. While the discovery and the study of history, His story, often could be seen as an uncovering of gems from the dark mine of the past, (as my old blog title 'Gems of Faith in History' conveyed) more and more I feel that it is more than that. 


Those familiar with the movie Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, may recall the moment of the lighting of the beacons of Amon Din. A moment when Pippin, at the instruction of Gandalf, lights the first beacon of the chief city of Gondor, Minas Tireth, as a signal for help to their allies from Rohan. There were seven beacons set across the mountains linking Gondor with Rohan (a fast way of communication). On each peak were watchmen, who would light the beacon when they saw the one closest to them lit. There is an amazing feeling of joy, hope, and inspiration when those beacons are lit...yes, 'hope is kindled!'. 

In this scene I also see a special view for us of the past. Many who came before us were watchmen (men and women) who lit beacons of Godliness, faith and hope. The light they carried we now see. Now it is for us to light our beacons for those around us who are lost and continue this relay, and light the way for the future. This light is His light working in His people. 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' (Matthew 5:16) 

Thus, the title: 'Beacons of the Past'; and the subtitle: 'Illuminating the Present, Guiding the Future' was inspired. 

My basic aim of showing that history is really His Story; that He is Sovereign over all nations, peoples, and individuals in every time in history; and that everything happens under His control and permission according to His perfect wisdom for His glory, the advancement of His Kingdom and the good of His people; has not changed. 

Our greatest comfort in an uncertain world is to know that our Heavenly Father is also the Sovereign Lord over all creation. It gives me personally great joy and comfort when I see His hand at work, or when I see glimpses of His plan in History. History is not just about the past. It is about the present and about the future, because 'Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever' (Hebrews 13:8). What God did in the past, He will do today, and will do tomorrow. This constancy gives me great strength and HOPE. Yes, it is the beacon of light in this dark world. 

I will try to keep up the 'Hall of Faith Series' as time allows. They are bios of some of those watchmen and women who carry the light and light the beacons. But I will also be sharing on different topics and subjects as well. Some will be related directly with history, others will be fun or inspirational, and others devotional. 

I hope that in this blog I'll be able to help you, the reader, to see more of God's hand in history, working in ordinary people's lives to do great things for Him that influence and, at times, even change the very course of history. I pray you'll give Him your life and do a mighty work in you. So, join me on this relay and journey of discovery and learning and may the Lord be glorified in this blog.

I'd really love to hear from my readers. It gives me great encouragement and inspiration. So, please, I'd really be blessed if you'd share your thoughts and ideas with me in the comments area and whenever I can I will try to answer them. 

God Bless,