Boaz

Lesson From Ruth

9:00 AM

 Ruth's story can be found in the book named after her. I hope you'll take the time to read the entire four chapters this week and be blessed!


Hi Girls!

When I began contemplating what lesson I should write on from Naomi and Ruth's story, the Lord reminded me of Ruth's words that He used to teach me a very important lesson, and He wants me to share it with you today.

Thirty years ago, on my 15th wedding anniversary I was quite taken by the fact that we had been very happily married fifteen years already! People don't usually do anything special for just fifteen years, but I thought it was worth celebrating and I found this special poem on marriage written by a wife to her husband that I especially loved, and had it matted and framed to give to John on our anniversary. On the back of the frame I hand wrote the words from Ruth, 

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to parts us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Only John and I could see these words on the back of the frame, but they truly meant more to both of us than the poem, and we hung the frame in our bedroom. 

Fast-forward seven years...

John had been asked by the owner of the company he worked for to move the company to a more central location of the country. We had no idea at the time where that would be, but John agreed to take on this monumental task. 

Monumental is the largest word I could come up with from my vocabulary, but trust me when I say it doesn't begin to describe all that we were facing at the time. The children were graduating from high school and college and transitioning to their next chapters and so were we. For the first time in my life the stress was so severe that it began to have an impact on my health.

Each week John and I would end our work week by going out to have a quiet dinner together to talk over all the events going on in our lives. By then John had narrowed it down to three major cities to move the company to and I clearly had my heart set on one in particular and John knew it! 

One night he sat me down at our weekly dinner out and broke the news that we would not be moving there because they weren't able to find a building large enough to meet their needs, though he had tried his very best. To which I instantly replied, 

"That's it! I'm not going." 

(Did I ever tell you that I have this tendency to be a brat at times?) I didn't stomp my foot, for after all I was already sitting down, but I did give John a look that completely knocked all the wind out of his sails. 

The look on his face at that moment still haunts me today. He was so crushed. He knew the stress had become almost debilitating and he hated that he was the cause. We had always been best buddies and what he most needed at the moment was my understanding and support. 

We both decided at that moment to change the subject, and neither of us brought the subject up again for the rest of the evening. 

That night, at exactly 2am, The Lord woke me up. 

He and I had already made an agreement long ago that if He ever had anything He needed to tell me, but I hadn't been listening during the day while I was awake, He was free to wake me in the middle of the night and have my complete attention then. And I can highly recommend you make the same agreement with Him as well, for it's been some of our most precious moments together. 

I quickly rose, grabbed my Bible, and went out to our favorite spot in the living room and The Lord got straight to the point with a question. "Did you mean those words you committed to John back on your 15th anniversary?" 

I knew exactly what words He was talking about, but I needed to turn to Ruth 1: 16-17 to refresh my mind to exactly what they said, 

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to parts us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Hmm...

Lessons I've learned from Ruth's words and story: 

- Doing What is Right often Requires Sacrifices.

It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Her commitment to go on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act. 

- Our Faith Must Rest in God Alone and Not in Others.

I believe Ruth could go with Naomi not because of her faith in Naomi to provide for her, for Naomi admitted she had nothing to offer her. Ruth clearly trusted the one thing Naomi had left and might have forgotten; she belonged to God. 

- Make a Commitment/Covenant and Make it Stick!

God takes our commitments/ promises/ covenants (whichever you wish to call it) very seriously. He has never gone back on His word and expects us not to either. However, if you can recall a commitment you once made and failed to keep, confess it and seek His mercy and grace to right it. 

- God uses Our Commitments to Build our Character and Our Story.

Ruth went above and beyond her calling in the way she honored and respected Naomi, and in doing so became known in the city as a “virtuous woman.”  Everything that she did showed her character, and because of that character, she was honored by God. 

- God Honors our Commitments/Covenants

Ruth did what she did with God's help, and so can we. He promises us that the power we need to do far more than we can even dream of rest within us. (Ephesians 3:20-21) BUT, He will not only provide the abilities to keep our commitments He will use them to write our story for future generations. 

There's so much more I could add and I hope you'll add your own thoughts on Ruth as well, but I do want to leave you with this:

When John woke that next morning I wrapped my arms around him, looked into his eyes and shared that I had been reminded the night before of the commitment I made not only when we married, but again on our 15th wedding anniversary and that from that moment on, no matter how hard it could become, he had my full support and help because I trusted God to bless our days ahead. 

And He has!

Blessings, 

sue

2 Timothy 1

Commitment: Gaurding What Has Been Entrusted To Us (2 Timothy 1)

12:30 PM




Paul had such a fond relationship with young Timothy. Timothy had been raised by a faith based family and Paul wanted Timothy to value that faith based heritage and realize that it was something he needed to cherish and protect.  We, as Christians, have made a commitment of faith and what applied to Timothy, applies to us also. 

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (6-7)
We have been given a “gift” and that gift comes from God. Our duty is to “fan the flame”. In other words, don’t let our spiritual power be dormant inside of us while we passively go about our daily lives. We need to exercise and utilize that power by yielding to God’s Spirit. It will be evident in our love for others, our love for God and our Spirit guided self-control. Others should be able to see the Spirit of God at work in our lives. 

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” (1:8)
This part of our Christian commitment may not be a popular one. No one wants to suffer under any circumstances. But notice that this suffering has a very high purpose:it is “ for the gospel” and notice that we are not expected to endure trials on our own.  We share collectively as part of the body of Christ and because we know that it is a matter of eternal purpose and that we are provided help to do so. We are provided “ the power of God ” should we need to endure hardship for His sake. He will always empower us to do His Will. 

Paul tells Timothy that God has entrusted each believer with His own special purposes and plans. Paul trusts that God will provide whatever is required for His purposes and His Will to be carried out. 
“...But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (12-14)

Each of us is called to be a committed Christian and together we form the unified body of Christ. We may have our share of trials and hardships in living out that commitment but we are never alone and God provides us the resources we need. We are all stewards of our resources: our time, our possessions, our words, our actions, our talents, our possessions, etc. In all that we have, we can honor God. Each of has been gifted with His Holy Spirit. May we be faithful to the end to keep what He has entrusted to us. 


Actions

Till Death Us Do Part {Galatians 6:1-10}

11:00 PM



Monday September 9


Today’s Reading-Galatians 6:1-10)

This week’s topic of commitment is personally very fitting since tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty five years; a quarter of a century; a long time to be married. And in that time we’ve experienced our share of feast and famine, joys and heartaches, and love and loss. Yet no matter what life throws at us, our love and commitment to each other remains strong and unshakable.

French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “Commitment is an act, not a word.” I like that. When I think of commitment as a verb instead of a noun, it helps me to remember the important difference between determination and commitment. In my marriage my husband and I can be determined with our minds and hearts to be loyal and dedicated to each other, but is it our actions which show where our commitment truly lies.

Any successful relationship, whether it be with a spouse, a friend, a family member, or even with the Lord Himself, requires true commitment. In Galatians 6, the Apostle Paul shows us practical steps we can take to turn our words of commitment into actions of proof. 

“Bear one another’s burdens”- Just as Jesus carries our load, (Matt. 11:28-29) being committed means our shoulders should be the first ones offered to those struggling, hurting, or in need of help. 

“Each one must examine his own work”- Instead of being quick to judge or condemn, being committed means examining our own actions and remembering that we all fall short of God’s glory. (Matt. 6:23)

“Let us not lose heart in doing good”- When tough times come, being committed means continuing to do what is right; continuing to sow seeds of love and goodness knowing that God promises what we give will be given back to us. (Luke 6:38)

We’ve all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words”.  And when it comes to commitment, no truer words were spoken. So tomorrow as my husband and I reflect on our years together and celebrate our commitment to each other, we will also celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ whose perfect example of commitment inspires us everyday. 



Commitment

Scripture Saturday ~ Deuteronomy 10:12 ~ Commitment ~ True Worship!

12:00 AM

Saturday, September 7, 2019



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

 This coming week's memory verse is Deuteronomy 10:12...

 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…(NIV)

 One of my favorite people in the bible is Ruth. When I think about Ruth I can’t help but be amazed, and incredibly thankful for her attitude and obedience. Ruth left her family and their gods and sought the protection of the God of Israel, the one true God. And I am sure being married to Boaz, she strengthened into a Godly woman, and an amazing worshipper!  And like Ruth, we must look at ourselves and leave behind those things that keep us from worshipping the one true God. Is there an attitude or an activity that doesn’t honor God in our lives? Are there possessions that take God’s place? Is there a sin in our lives that block Him from our sight? Is God calling you to leave your home and go to a new place - making you step out of your comfort zone? Worshipping Him involves sacrifice…but remember, He “gives His riches to all who ask for them” (Romans 10:12) 
Think about those things (activities, possessions, attitudes ) that God is calling you to leave behind today.  Obey God. If any is not worthy to present to Him then put them away.



Commitment

Words By Roxanna ~ Commit-Trust-Shine

8:57 AM

While God’s heart is most definitely for our sanctification and holiness, his perspective is far different than what I just described. You see, God knows that sanctification doesn’t come about through our efforts. I can in no way sanctify myself because in and of myself I have no holiness. The truth God has for us today is simply this: sanctification comes about by true relationship with our heavenly Father alone. Holiness is the direct result of openly and continually encountering the nature of a perfect, loving, and available God.
If we are going to experience the fruit of righteousness, we must learn to trust God in his plan for our sanctification. We must learn to trust that in encountering him we will experience freedom from our sin and healing for the wounds that drive us to the things of the world.

Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” When we trust God to bring about our righteousness by simply committing our way to him and trusting in him, we engage in a process of sanctification founded on encounters with his loving grace.
Sanctification is not meant to be this heady process of turmoil and striving that we so often experience. While it may be difficult, it is designed to be filled with the continually forgiving and loving heart of our good Father. It is designed to be based on experiencing Jesus that we might become more like him.
Spend time today seeking the heart of your heavenly Father. Commit your ways to him and trust in him. Ask him to reveal his heart for your righteousness. Ask him to guide you into a process of sanctification marked by his grace, love, and nearness. Stop seeing the process of sanctification as a never-ending timeline and instead center it wholly around relationship with your heavenly Father. May you experience righteousness and holiness today as you encounter the perfect nature of Jesus. May your day be marked by peace as you commit your spiritual development to the hands of the Potter. And may you be transformed into the image of Jesus as you engage in the process of sanctification based on relationship with a good, near God.

2 Chronicles

God helps those who help themselves – truth or lie? {2 Chronicles 14:1 - 16:14}

12:30 AM


April 10, 2018


Now that I’ve gotten your attention, I bet some of you are wondering if this is a scripture verse or not.  I won’t keep you hanging for too long.  This is in fact a quote from Benjamin Franklin.  He used it in his Poor Richard's Almanack (1736) and it has been widely quoted.   The English political theorist Algernon Sidney originated the phrase.

You’ve probably heard the story about the man who placed his trust in the Lord when a flood was coming.  He said that he would trust God, and God would send a divine miracle to save him.  The neighbors offered a ride.  The river rose.  Someone in a canoe came by.  The river rose higher.  A police motorboat came by.  The river rose even higher.  By now the man was on his rooftop.  A helicopter with a rope ladder came by, but still the man refused, saying God would save him.  Shortly afterwards, the man got swept away by the flood waters and he drowned.  When he arrived in heaven, he asked God why he hadn’t saved him.  And God said, I sent you a warning.  I sent you a car.  I sent you a canoe.  I sent you a motorboat.  I sent you a helicopter.  What more were you looking for?

Benjamin Franklin actually gleaned this from Aesop’s fables – Hercules and the Waggoner.  In the story the waggoner’s heavy load becomes bogged down in the mud.  In despair, the waggoner cries out to Hercules for help.  Hercules replies, “Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.  The gods help them that help themselves.”  Isn't it interesting that Greek mythology has made its way into what believers think is in the pages of scripture?  

However, this is not of the Bible. Scripture is clear that in our original, sinful state we cannot seek God on our own (Romans 3:10-18). God chose us before we accepted Him (Romans 8:29-30), and once saved, we are secure in that salvation forever (John 10:27-29). There is no part of salvation that we can initiate or work toward. When it comes to salvation, we cannot help ourselves.

For the saved, however, the proverb has a little more merit. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 admonished that the church should not give aid to those who can work but refuse to. In John 21:6, Jesus promised the disciples a great harvest of fish—once they threw the net into the water.

A better version of the proverb would be "God blesses those who obey." The original proverb infers that God will help those engaged in good, beneficial things—and obviously getting a cart pulled out of the mud applies. But God does not promise His followers an easy life. In fact, He promises hardship (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). The blessing Jesus promises in return is the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit will not take away every struggle, but He will lead us to truth (John 16:13), seal us as God's (Ephesians 1:13-14), gift us with the ability to help others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7), and give us wisdom when faced with persecution (Mark 13:11).

"God helps those who help themselves" seems true for the simple reason that things tend to get done more if we get down and do them. Our obedience to God produces fruit. The more modern version of this proverb in American Christian culture is "It's easier to steer a moving car," meaning, God can lead us more easily if we just start working for Him and stop talking about it... Our salvation and God's love are not dependent on our works. However, God has prepared good works for us (Ephesians 2:10) and does bless our obedience to Him. 

Just a month ago, we read “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?  Obedience is far better than sacrifice.  Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams.”  1 Samuel 15:22

God is the helper of the helpless.  I have recently had the pleasure of looking back on my own life and realized that I was a hot mess when I ran with the world.  When my eyes were finally opened to the truth of Jesus, that God had provided the “help” that I needed because I was condemned as a result of my sin.  But then I began to wallow in sorrow over my past and how my loved ones were living.  But listen ladies - We just celebrated Easter – the risen Lord! 

Image result for 2 chronicles 16:9


I shared this with a couple of people already because it really ministered to me.  I hope you enjoy it as well.

For the last three years the crowds had been following Jesus.
The words He spoke had changed their lives. His explanations of God made them long to know Him. His continual pointing to the kingdom of heaven gave them hope that He would somehow free them from the bondage and oppression they suffered under.
HOW MUCH HAD CHANGED IN ONE WEEK.
Their HOPE had turned to hopelessness… their faith to fear.
Jesus the one they’d looked to for life had His drained from him on a Roman cross.
And though most of his followers had fled in fear for their lives, a few brave ones claimed his lifeless and broken body and buried it in a borrowed grave.
● It’s cruel to have been given hope and then have it ripped away.
It was in this environment of pain and sadness that the events recorded in John 20:1-30 takes place. Can you imagine the sorrow the followers of Jesus felt as they went to the tomb that first Easter morning?
SORROW’S EYES COLORED EVERYTHING THEY SAW.
The same can be true for us when we are going through difficult times. We often forget what God has promised
● The view at the foot of the cross was fresh in their memories.
It was unimaginably horrific to see. They had placed their hopes in Jesus and their Hope had died with Him! The Light… snuffed out with His death!
“Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying”.
● Even as Mary talked to the angels she could not really see what was happening since despair and grief colored her perception of the events
● SORROW’S EYES MISS A LOT! ● Facts don’t matter when one is blinded by despair!
(As the story unfolds in John 20:13-18 Jesus himself speaks to Mary)
“Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.”
● At first, ‘sorrow’s eyes’ had blinded Mary; though her eyes functioned she did not see who was right in front of her. But the moment she heard the Master’s voice her eyes were opened and she saw with “Resurrection Eyes”!
● Without ‘Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPELESSNESS
● But with “Resurrection Eyes’ we see HOPE
● Anything is possible when you look with “Resurrection eyes”
● Everything looks different standing in front of the risen Christ.
● Your Life begins to make sense at the mouth of the empty tomb!
● Because Jesus conquered the grave the HOPELESS have HOPE!
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 declares “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Mary left the tomb very different from how she came!
I CHALLENGE YOU TO PUT ASIDE YOUR EYES OF SORROW AND BEGIN TO SEE YOUR LIFE THROUGH ‘RESURRECTION EYES.’
https://vimeo.com/263574834