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.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
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!
Monday, January 26, 2009
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.
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.
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