Ruth Chapter One Review!

We had a wonderful few meetings in this particular chapter. A brief summary of what we discussed. Noami was full of the blessings of God. Then slowly her family began to die off, leaving her feeling empty, less than, out of God's favor. She was accurate in assessing that Lord had taken away (husband & son's). But, not so in the fact that she thought He left her alone. She had these two daughter in laws who were willing to stay with her. After Noami purposed to push the provision of the Lord away, one left but the other stayed. Ruth chose to stay with Noami. I have to imagine that Ruth saw God in Noami despite Noami's present circumstance.

Let's break here and talk about the application. How many times have you felt like Noami? Feeling like the Lord has left you, like He has been unfair in His dealings with you. I can hear some of the practical applications now..."Why does my husband have to go to Iraq AGAIN, and the guy that lives next door has never been?!?", or "Why did my child have to be born with this disease?", "Why doesn't my husband love me?", "Why can't I have children?", "why do I have so many children?", the list could go on and on. Here is what we often fail to see when we feel like Noami...God has a plan. That plan is greater than you or I could ever imagine.

For Noami, God gave RUTH! Ruth said to Noami (her mother in law mind you)"Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." God gave Ruth to Noami as a spark of hope, implying that He is with her. Ruth's statement to Noami showed great devotion. How many of us would devote ourselves to someone who had NOTHING to offer? Noami thought she had NOTHING to offer but we will see she had a wealth to offer Ruth.

SO if you are presently in despair about your situation. Remember that God gave Ruth to Noami. But bigger than that. God gave you Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our provision in the midst of despair and He will carry to His desired end.This is His redemptive plan. When you find yourself bitter at God for this or that...look to Jesus Christ, "your Ruth" and Bless the Lord. As you can see in this text Noami missed it. She was silent and allowed Ruth to join her but she did not see how that was the Lords provision for her own life.

Peace Be Still!

If you have never heard of Madea I am not sure where you have been. Here is a 3 minute clip of a stage play by Tyler Perry called Peace Be Still! I just love it and want to share it with you! Enjoy...feel free the leave a comment.

The Heart of My Son!

Angie's Page http://www.homemakerchronicles.com/blog/


I am so thankful to be able to share this homemaker moment. I had the opportunity to hear the heart of my son. He was accused of physically hurting another child. As soon as my child's name was mentioned in relation to hurting another child Dad when off! I have found myself doing the exact same thing on other occasions. Mainly because we don't expect our children (son in particular) to respond in seemingly harsh ways.

Long story short, after all was said and done I went in to talk to our son. I simply told him to tell me what happened. He really did not get a chance to do that before. So reluctantly he did. After explaining I understood why it happened. Then I said what else is going on. He slowly poured his heart out. I am so thankful! It was wonderful to actually listen to his heart and understand where he is. We need to make more room for times like these.

As parents we are often "the mouth" and seldom "the ear". I would encourage all to listen to the heart of your child. To actually close your mouth and open your ear. You may hear Christ speak in your ear through the mouth of your child!

THE BOOK OF RUTH...Redemption through the scriptures

At the mobile home park (Berean Christian Ministry or the church under the pine trees). I am currently doing a bible study on the book of Ruth. Throughout the year I will be taking the ladies through studies that show God's redeeming grace. So Ruth is where we have begun. We are currently in Chapter 2 but I will start with chapter one for you. You are more than welcome to read the verses below and leave a comment on how this particular text is encouraging or any insights. Mark Driscoll has done a sermon series called redeeming Ruth. I will attach that series as well. I like to use all my senses when studying and understanding scripture. Day one I will post the scripture alone, and the sermon series by Mark Driscoll. The next day I will share my thoughts and insight concerning that particular text. Then we will move to the next chapter or set of verses. Sound okay to you? It does to me. Let's have internet bible study!:)

Ruth 1
Naomi Widowed
1In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi
6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. 7So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!" Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10And they said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." 11But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." 14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15And she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Naomi and Ruth Return
19So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, "Is this Naomi?" 20She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?"
22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

HOMEMAKER MOMENTS

IT'S FRIDAY!

Homemaker Moments DAY!

It is odd but this week I have not felt wise or homemakery (might not be a word). I would imagine there was something said or done to build up my home...but nothing that just pops out at me. So i will attempt to share with you a few things that i hope you will find encouraging and homemaker ish!

I will follow Angie's lead and share a story about my son. Yesterday was a normal day but when I make dinner if my kids don't have a specific task they will crowd me in the kitchen and sneak samples of the food I'm cooking...they learned that horrible behavior from their DADDY! Anyway the girls were working as a team on homework so they could finish playing dolls (that were all over the living room floor) and Nicollus was just hanging. So I thought what a wonderful time to have him join me in making dinner. We made a awesome salad with all kinds of vegetables. He would cut a few things and I would cut something else. He really enjoyed making dinner and it was simple. Some cut up chicken with lettuce, veggies and of course strawberries with balsamic vinegar GREAT! Dinner was wonderful and all the compliments when to Nicollus and I. We were a great team.



Okay I can remember one more thing. We are striving to make our home fragranced with a sweet aroma of praise and worship unto God. What that means is we take every opportunity to speak of Christ and how in our everyday lives we see the work of GOD!

Okay so Tuesday night Phil said let just do some singing tonight with the kids. He asked me to find a scripture to read and so I did.

Well during singing time, it was awesome our kids were singing with joy and excitement, but here is the funny part. One of the kids were snuggled under my arm but the other two were hanging upside down, clapping, jumping it looked like a circus. They were casually enjoying the singing to the Lord. I took great delight in that. We have taught our children to be free and express their hearts to the Living God! So that was awesome.


So that was my couple of homemakers moments this week!

Exhortation, Encouragement, & Prayer

Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Just a timely note of encouragement for me and you! Enjoy this meal!

HOW IS THE DIET?

I ask that question based on the last post "His Word is Manna". A diet is basically an eating regime. Whether you are conscience of your diet or not, you are on a diet. It is simply the way you eat. So, I ask how is your diet? I also encourage you to ask me how is mine!

Lets dig deeper! I mentioned that this diet was based on the "His Word is Manna" post. The diet I am speaking of is our intake of God's Word a spiritual diet. For the most part Americans will find time to eat. We eat on the go, we gather in homes to eat, we invite people over to eat, we meet at restaurants to eat, we go to parks to eat, we hang out and eat....we eat eat eat eat eat! HUMMMMMMMM, let's compare our natural diet with our spiritual diet. Can anyone say OUCH!

How can we intake more of what we actually need? We need Christ! We need His word to refresh our souls! We need to understand His grace and mercy! We need to love Him! We need to worship Him! But like the children of Israel we find ourselves searching for more and more manna and then complain that we are tired of it. If you are tired of manna then seek the LORD! Even if manna is enough in your mind, seek the Lord because at the end of the day manna is but a shadow of what is most needed in our lives!

If you need to change your spiritual diet...NOW IS THE TIME! Fill yourself with His word. Try a breakfast of Psalms, a snack of Genesis, a Lunch of Ephesians, a snack of Proverbs, a dinner of Romans, and a final snack of Psalms. You know it is good for your metabolism to eat every two to three hours! Keep that in mind as you think about changing your spiritual diet!

His Word is Manna!

Deuteronomy 8:2-4 (New King James Version)
2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.


This is huge people! I was reading in Matthew 4 the temptation of Jesus. Here is the scripture.


Matthew 4:1-4 (New King James Version)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Okay so here is the huge part. God gave the children of Israel manna for forty years! That manna was the Lords provision for their natural food, but was designed to propel them towards Himself. The children of Israel were tired of eating manna. Imagine forty years of the same food??? However that was purposeful! I believe God was showing them there is more, and that more is found in ME, in my Words, in the truth of Who I AM! They did not look to Him, they went to murmuring and complaining. God became angry with them for this. Again and again God is saying look to me. Jesus of course got it! When satan came to Him with the foolishness of food, Jesus spoke to who and what truly sustains life and that is the living WORD OF GOD, Jesus Christ Himself!

How many times does the Lord provide physically for us, and even more to show us our need for Him. But we use it for a murmuring tool. His purpose is for us to look to HIM!

Here is my encouragement to us all...
Manna will never be enough. Manna points us to the Living Breathing Active God! Therein is LIFE!

HOMEMAKER MOMENT!

My Homemaker Moment! I love what Angie is doing on her blog to encourage women to examine their life and see how the Lord is using us as wives and mothers in a huge way for His Glory. What an awesome and exciting adventure. So I have chosen to take the ride. Every Friday we are encouraged to post something that took place during that week that was a fulfillment of our God given roles as wife, mother, woman, and or believer! So here are my few stories, I couldn’t just do one! 

The first was on Monday night. A few women gathered at my home for pray (specifically for our husbands (Wifes in Touch)). During the prayer time Phil (my husband) was home hanging out and entertaining our children. After the prayer time the women come out to find Phil making bracelets for the girls. It was a wonderful site, mostly because my husband is NOT a big fan of the artsy craftsy world. So that night at bed time as I tucked in the girls, “I asked them what they thought about daddy making those bracelets?” I saw both of the girls eyes light up, “It was really cool that dad would make bracelets because he doesn’t really do that kind of stuff!” So no beans about it we all understand how amazing it was for dad to do that. Here was the fulfilling of the role. I shared with the girls about their Heavenly Father. “It was wonderful, cool, and amazing to see dad make those bracelets for you because he loves you and cares for you. But did you know that your Heavenly Father is a million times more wonderful, cool and amazing then dad. The love of your Heavenly Father is greater than all the love dad could ever think or imagine. That love, is the coolest love ever and none can compare!” They were so excited and truly grasped the concept of a love greater than the amazing natural dad…God the Father! SO how was my role fulfilled? In Titus 2:4 love their children, 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, though whom are all things and through whom we exist, Deut. 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. That was my opportunity to bring Glory to Christ and teaching my daughters the truth that dad will fail as much as he loves you, Your Heavenly Father is better! It also releases Phil from unreasonable expectations from our daughters.

The second was Tuesday night. I was able to give something to my husband that he truly delights in and doesn’t come very often. This was role fulfilling because God’s word teaches us to love our husbands again Titus 2:4 love their husband.
The third was on Tuesday as well. I was scheduled to teach a women’s bible study but my husband was going to be running late. If you don’t already know we next door to my parents. Phil and I had planned for his late schedule by having the kids go next door until he arrived. However one of my girls was really struggling with me leaving and wanting me to wait until dad came home. So I weighed it out and chose to stay home because it was more loving and more impactful for me to stay home then to teach women who know the bible more about it. Phil came home in enough time and I was still able to teach and my daughter saw love in action.

Additional Blog

Hello People,

I have added an additional blog to share my doula journey. This site is only for women! So brothers I love ya but....this is only for the ladies. Just click on the title.

Remembering to Pray!

Just a reminder to pray. Women pray for your husband! I have posted this before but it was on my heart once again. The gathering of women praying for their husbands has truly been a blessing. It has kept me mindful to be in a state of pray for my husband, and instead of tearing down my home I am building it up in prayer! I encourage you to do the same. Pray alone and with others it is good for us all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICHELLE

Happy 7th Birthday Nichelle! I praise God that He has given us such a wonderful child in you. May His grace continue to abound in your life and may you grow into a blessed wife and mother!

I love you...

Mom

Idols!

I was stirred to write this post after reading see the unseen (Cary's blog) about the idols in Nepal. He is a dear brother in Christ to both my husband and I, currently on a mission trip in Nepal. He is blogging to keep those at home posted on the current activity. Check out his blog if you can. Anyway after only reading his title...So Many Idols, I instantly thought of how easy it is to see idols in the culture of another and not so easy to see idolatry in our own. America America God shed His grace on thee...while I worship everything but You!

After reading his post I like Cary and the others there would have thought man if only they could see Christ and that He is enough! Praying that they would not continue to suppress the truth and exchange the Glory of the Creator for the created things.

I take this time to write a letter to encourage believers to examine our practice of worship. We were created to worship so it is easy for us to worship but not easy to see what we are worshipping. We must be deliberate in our worship. I heard it said best by a brother of mine..."worship is doing what you were created to do". That stood out to me because of its truth. For instance if I created a remote control car to flip on its top and back again, then drive away. All who saw that would be amazed and wonder who made that. When I say I did people will praise me for my wonderful creation. So it is with God. He is worshipped as Creator when creation does what He designed it to do. Another instance, when a husbands loves his wife and is willing to die for her. God is worshipped! When a wife is a help to her husband God is worshipped! So friend I say all that to say worship is not a song. Or more specifically a slow song and praise a fast song. It is simply the way we live. Our everyday life should be worship...why because we are doing what we were created to do. Thought of the day!

Redemption Story

The Lord is really showing me how He redeems! So this is another of those post that if you read you must respond! I simply seek to be encouraged and bring Glory to Christ by reading your story.

What story in scripture (OT &/or NT) speaks loudest to you about the redemptive work of Christ?

How are you amazed by God's plan of redemption for you?

How are you walking in this redemption and sharing or showing Christ to others?

Excited to hear from you! Share your story that Christ may be Glorified!

REDEMPTION!

While visiting my in laws, Phil and I stumbled across a television program. Older Black women were discussing sex, STD's, and purity with pre-teens and teens. One of the young teens asked a very thought provoking question. She said, " What do you say to a girl who has already been sexually active and feels like what is the point in stopping? She can't start over again." In traditional television style, they went to commercial break.

Then Phil asked me, "What would I say?". At first I was stumped. Then I remembered my own life. I was raped at 12, then sexually active with two different people over the course of three years. The answer was the reason I stopped. CHRIST REDEMPTIVE POWER! Christ redeemed me and set me free from the bondage of sin. So He can do likewise in the life of any person. I remember referring to myself as the born again virgin. The gripping power of sin is NO MATCH for the REDEMPTIVE BLOOD OF THE LAMB! I would say that in eternity past God knew their condition and was willing that Christ would step into human history and be crushed of the Father that all whom He would call would be redeemed. Sins of the past are just that...past, behold all things are made new. In Christ you are new! As a result my theme for this year is redemption. God has, does, and will redeem His children.

Take comfort in these verses: Isaiah 44:21-24 and Galatians 3:13-14. I would post the actual verses but I rather encourage you to seek them yourself. Let the Lord minister to your heart about how He is shown as REDEEMER!

NOW IS THE TIME...IT'S 2009

Happy New Year to each one of you! With every passing year most of us take time for introspection and reflection. As I sat and thought about this past year, my heart was overjoyed and sorrowful. There were many great days, many times the Lord showed Himself, many days I was graced with godly wisdom and insight, many days of joy with family, many blessings in friends that proved to be true. In 2008 there were lots of transitions. The ones I am most grateful for, I was unable to accomplish alone. For instance the growing desire to seek the Lord in prayer. Prayer for my husband, children, and neighbor from all locations. I believe my heart has changed toward human kind in general. I am more loving and gentle with people, increasingly bold, and confident in Christ ability to work through me. Again, none of this could have been accomplished without the grace of God in Christ Jesus worked out by the Holy Spirit. So there is a summary of the joy.

Here is the summary of the sorrow. While dramatic and even drastic changes have taken place for the glory of God, some areas have remained unchanged and even worse. I wondered how could these things be? How is it possible in one breath to grow so much and then in another not move at all or even be worse? Through my introspection and reflection I found that I lacked focus and faith in those areas. I don't mean name it and claim it, or speak and it will be so. I simply mean not believing that the Lord would do this or that in me.

You know when you have a goal, your eye is on the prize. Of course along the way there will be pitfalls but when you are fixed on the goal the pitfalls serve as building blocks. However, when you lack focus and faith, pitfalls are huge holes that cause one to look back. I have said this many times in 2008...the Children of Israel complained and wanted to go back to Egypt because it was easier to trust and have faith in what they could see versus trusting the God whom they could not. Many of us have condemning attitudes about the Israelites but given similar situations we would do and often actually repeat the same actions.

Okay back to the main point..I am sorrowful over my lack of faith in some areas throughout the 2008 year. That lack has me looking back and saying " I'm am in the same place in this area...oh, and even worse in that area". The truth is, I have learned to seek the Lord and know full well that He always hears the cries of His children. Now whether or not He answers in my time is another topic all together. The Lord's delay can not be the pitfall that deters me. The Lord's delay should however be the building block that drive me, and in due time His answer will be my delight.

So the title Now is the time...it's 2009 comes from a cool rhyme, but ultimately from the thought that now is the time to trust the Lord like I have not before. Now is the time to believe what seems impossible, now is the time to walk fruitful in Christ, now is the time to believe that dreams deferred can be realities in Christ. Don't to let pitfalls, or delays lead back to Egypt but let them lead to Christ. So for me it is time to pursue Christ and see Him manifest awesome things in this vessel of clay.

I would encourage you to seek the Lord and ask Him to show you, you. Are you longing for Egypt and lacking faith in Him?