Ok, now for Chapter 2!!
"His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. "
This is just such beautiful love poetry, but it also has meaning behind it. The second verse above is repeated over and over again in the SOS book by the Beloved to her court of young friends. And it's so true even today. So many people are in love with the idea of being in love. They settle, they rush things. But she says over and over "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." This is an important warning. It reminds me of my mother always telling me never to date anyone I knew I couldn't marry. The truth is that we can fall in love with the wrong person. And that only leads to heartache. But if we wait for the one that God has created for us, then our love is like this book...a celebration.
"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."
I LOVE this part. We already know from Chapter 1 that this woman has had a rough life at times. And here is her lover, her knight in shining armor, saying, "The winter is past, the rains are over and gone....come with me!" Can't you just envision his hand extended to her? Can't you feel the thrill of that touch as she places her hand in his...knowing all she's been through, all the work she's done to be whole again, and all the waiting for her perfect one. I think all women want security and adventure, and this man is offering her both with one hand!
"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom"
THIS VERSE IS IMPORTANT! I have thought a lot about this verse many times. There is a place later in this book that talks about the husband's job, and I really think that this one verse says a lot to wives about their job. He is telling the wife, "catch for US the LITTLE foxes that ruin vineyards."
I really think he's talking about the small, daily things that over time, ruin marriages. As I read this, I think it means that wives are to be discerning about the "little things" in our marriage, and we are to tend that vineyard and to keep Satan's little foxes from trying to destroy the harvest. What could those little foxes be? Petty arguments, harsh words, thoughtlessness, not resolving issues when they arise...anything that might seem small at the time, but can grow into a marriage killer. And the Bible labels this as the job of the wife!! That's a big responsibility, and I admit that I'm not always good at it. Lord, help me to catch those little foxes and protect what you've planted in our marriage.
Amen.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Song of Songs or Song of Solomon 1
**I LOVE this book. It's so romantic. This is seriously some of the most poetic and beautiful, and GRAPHIC love poetry there is. I love the fact that this book is in the Bible. It shows what love between a husband and wife should be like, and it shows that God created love, marriage, and sex in marriage, and that they are GOOD!
SOS 1
In the first chapter, so much happens. It is established that the Beloved and her Lover (King Solomon and his wife) are madly in love. I love it when she says that his "name is like perfume poured out."
Also, the woman tells her story. She's had a hard life. She's had to work hard, and she's been mistreated and abused by her own family. She evens says that she tended other vineyards, "my own vineyard I have neglected." I think that one statement is so powerful. It's so like women that when we go through hard things to put everyone else first, and to put ourselves on the back burner...neglect ourselves. But she is a woman who overcomes. She obviously repairs her vineyard, because later on, she talk about giving all of its choice fruits to her lover.
And lastly, I laugh out loud reading the last line spoken by the lover (husband). It says, "The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs." It cracks me up because if he's noticing the beams of their house...it means that they are just laying in bed together, enjoying the pillowtalk!
Commentary: I think that not only is this beautiful writing describing a real love story, but it's also so relevant. So many women today have been hurt in past relationships, and we have this crazy idea that it's romantic for another guy to have to pay the price for that pain and if he hangs around long enough and gets through our walls, he might get to really see us. Well, I just don't think that romantic or fair. Jesus came as our Lord and Savior so that we can be healed of emotional pains of the past when we give them to Him. Then, we can do what He planned and offer our vineyard (ourselves), whole and healed to the man that He prepared for us. Two people who make each other better, not two crutches trying to hold each other up.
Love is a powerful thing. God knows...He invented it, and He is LOVE! :)
SOS 1
In the first chapter, so much happens. It is established that the Beloved and her Lover (King Solomon and his wife) are madly in love. I love it when she says that his "name is like perfume poured out."
Also, the woman tells her story. She's had a hard life. She's had to work hard, and she's been mistreated and abused by her own family. She evens says that she tended other vineyards, "my own vineyard I have neglected." I think that one statement is so powerful. It's so like women that when we go through hard things to put everyone else first, and to put ourselves on the back burner...neglect ourselves. But she is a woman who overcomes. She obviously repairs her vineyard, because later on, she talk about giving all of its choice fruits to her lover.
And lastly, I laugh out loud reading the last line spoken by the lover (husband). It says, "The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs." It cracks me up because if he's noticing the beams of their house...it means that they are just laying in bed together, enjoying the pillowtalk!
Commentary: I think that not only is this beautiful writing describing a real love story, but it's also so relevant. So many women today have been hurt in past relationships, and we have this crazy idea that it's romantic for another guy to have to pay the price for that pain and if he hangs around long enough and gets through our walls, he might get to really see us. Well, I just don't think that romantic or fair. Jesus came as our Lord and Savior so that we can be healed of emotional pains of the past when we give them to Him. Then, we can do what He planned and offer our vineyard (ourselves), whole and healed to the man that He prepared for us. Two people who make each other better, not two crutches trying to hold each other up.
Love is a powerful thing. God knows...He invented it, and He is LOVE! :)
Sorry for the hiatus!
Hey. So sorry for the hiatus. Little computer access, illness, out of town, and just out and out distractions. But...i'm back and Lindsay and I are going to focus on one area of scripture, instead of three, which should make the blogging easier and more in depth. So, yeah!
Lindsay, what do you think about Song of Songs? Let's start back there.
Lindsay, what do you think about Song of Songs? Let's start back there.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
January 10th, 2009--Day 6
Just got back from OSL prayer meeting, and WOW! It was awesome. The Lord really showed up! Everyone got prayer, prophesy, and it was just incredible. I think I'm glowing.
1 Samuel 1 and 2: 1-11
The story of Hannah is beautiful. A woman who is barren, long for a child, and provoked by a rival wife. I think of Satan when I read about the rival wife. He's always therer provoking us, trying to keep us focused on what we don't have, or on what we're waiting for, instead of on God and seeking Him.
But Hannah goes to the temple and weeps and prays. She "pours out her heart to God." He hears her and remembers her. She has a son named Samuel, and when he is weaned, she dedicates him to the Lord.
I think it's so important to dedicate our children to God. I remember when both of our girls were born, Bart and I couldn't wait for the church service to do it...so we prayed a prayer of dedication for them as soon as they were born, and then also had them dedicated at church. Our whole family stood up at the altar and prayed as we dedicated our babies to the Lord. Those days mean so much to me. Just look at Samuel...he became a HUGE prophet!! He's the one who found King David!
Dedication in the dictionary means, "a ceremony marking the official opening or completion of something." That's perfect. With ourselves and with children it's both of those things. When we dedicate ourselves to God or our children to God, it is the opening of something NEW and by faith, the completion of that good work.
Lord, I dedicate myself and my family to you, anew today. Use us as you will, for your glory! Amen!
Psalm 5-6
"The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." ~Psalm 6:9
John 5
I want to say a quick word about John 5 because it's just so awesome! First of all, the beginning story is incredible. There was a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda where many crippled and lame people would lay around. They did this because once a day, an angel of God would stir the water of the pool, and the first one to jump in would be HEALED!! Isn't that incredible? I mean, these people lived with that knowledge as their reality.
Jesus walked by and saw a man who'd been paralyzed for 38 years! When Jesus saw him he asked him a really important question. He said, "Do you WANT to be WELL?" That might seem like a stupid question, but actually there are a lot of people who really don't want to be WELL...they just want to feel a little better. You know, those people who like self-pity and attention for their infirmity. Anyway, this man asked Jesus to help him get to the pool, but Jesus said, "Take up your mat and walk." And the man did! He was HEALED!
I heard this once...and i think it's fascinating, that Jesus only healed that one man at the pool. We know that there were MANY cripples and lame people laying around the pool. So, why not the others? Well, I once heard an amazing explanation for this. It's because the faith of the surrounding people was for ONE healing. They were used to ONE healing a day. They expected it. So, they had faith for one, but not more than one. And other places in the Bible describe Jesus not doing many miracles in certain places because of their lack of faith.
People, we've got to get on the FAITH-train. We've got to raise our expectations, and start believing BIG! Nothing is impossible with God! Yay!
1 Samuel 1 and 2: 1-11
The story of Hannah is beautiful. A woman who is barren, long for a child, and provoked by a rival wife. I think of Satan when I read about the rival wife. He's always therer provoking us, trying to keep us focused on what we don't have, or on what we're waiting for, instead of on God and seeking Him.
But Hannah goes to the temple and weeps and prays. She "pours out her heart to God." He hears her and remembers her. She has a son named Samuel, and when he is weaned, she dedicates him to the Lord.
I think it's so important to dedicate our children to God. I remember when both of our girls were born, Bart and I couldn't wait for the church service to do it...so we prayed a prayer of dedication for them as soon as they were born, and then also had them dedicated at church. Our whole family stood up at the altar and prayed as we dedicated our babies to the Lord. Those days mean so much to me. Just look at Samuel...he became a HUGE prophet!! He's the one who found King David!
Dedication in the dictionary means, "a ceremony marking the official opening or completion of something." That's perfect. With ourselves and with children it's both of those things. When we dedicate ourselves to God or our children to God, it is the opening of something NEW and by faith, the completion of that good work.
Lord, I dedicate myself and my family to you, anew today. Use us as you will, for your glory! Amen!
Psalm 5-6
"The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." ~Psalm 6:9
John 5
I want to say a quick word about John 5 because it's just so awesome! First of all, the beginning story is incredible. There was a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda where many crippled and lame people would lay around. They did this because once a day, an angel of God would stir the water of the pool, and the first one to jump in would be HEALED!! Isn't that incredible? I mean, these people lived with that knowledge as their reality.
Jesus walked by and saw a man who'd been paralyzed for 38 years! When Jesus saw him he asked him a really important question. He said, "Do you WANT to be WELL?" That might seem like a stupid question, but actually there are a lot of people who really don't want to be WELL...they just want to feel a little better. You know, those people who like self-pity and attention for their infirmity. Anyway, this man asked Jesus to help him get to the pool, but Jesus said, "Take up your mat and walk." And the man did! He was HEALED!
I heard this once...and i think it's fascinating, that Jesus only healed that one man at the pool. We know that there were MANY cripples and lame people laying around the pool. So, why not the others? Well, I once heard an amazing explanation for this. It's because the faith of the surrounding people was for ONE healing. They were used to ONE healing a day. They expected it. So, they had faith for one, but not more than one. And other places in the Bible describe Jesus not doing many miracles in certain places because of their lack of faith.
People, we've got to get on the FAITH-train. We've got to raise our expectations, and start believing BIG! Nothing is impossible with God! Yay!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
January 8th, 2009--Day 4
Personal note: I worked out again...feeling good! The step class was hard. It definitely had me calling on the higher power!! I could feel how much weight I've gained in that class. It was so much more difficult to make my body do the movements than it used to be. That's why I'm so glad that God is helping me get healthy again.
SO, back to...
Ruth 4
This is the beautiful, wonderful ending to the love story. Boaz checks with the man who has the first claim to Ruth as the kinsman redeemer, and after he gets him to say no, then Boaz marries Ruth and eventually they have a child.
It's a great ending for everyone...Ruth and Boaz are happy, Naomi gets a grandbaby and is happy again, and from their love and family line comes King David and Jesus Christ.
It's just amazing to me what God can do with one obedient person. Ruth was a Moabites. Hebrews weren't supposed to marry Moabites because they were pagans, but Ruth committed herself to the Lord and He brought incredible blessings into her life, and our lives (Jesus Christ) because of her decision.
Lord, help me to make those crucial RIGHT decisions at the right times. I want to live an epic life in you!
p.s. I read once that it was quite likely that when Jesus was a baby, laying in the manger in Bethlehem, that he was laid on some of the straw from Boaz's field. What a neat idea!
Psalm 4
I had a great day today, and the following verse really said it all:
"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
John 3
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Jesus says these words describing people who put their faith in Christ. John 3 talks a lot about the purpose of Christ coming...the necessity of his coming and the necessity of our believing in Him for salvation. I love the idea that because I am born again of the Spirit, I am like the wind (yes, a Dirty Dancing song IS going through my head right now). :) As described, it means that being born of Spirit makes us strong, powerful, refreshing, fragrant, unpredictable, and adventurous. I think that non-Christians, and even people called Christians, who never really let God CHANGE them, really miss out on the awesomeness of this life. God is as creative and non-boring as it gets!
Lord, let me be a mighty wind for you. Let me be strong, courageous, refreshing, and fragrant. And let my wind go where you send it. Let my love for you be like the winds of a hurricane!
SO, back to...
Ruth 4
This is the beautiful, wonderful ending to the love story. Boaz checks with the man who has the first claim to Ruth as the kinsman redeemer, and after he gets him to say no, then Boaz marries Ruth and eventually they have a child.
It's a great ending for everyone...Ruth and Boaz are happy, Naomi gets a grandbaby and is happy again, and from their love and family line comes King David and Jesus Christ.
It's just amazing to me what God can do with one obedient person. Ruth was a Moabites. Hebrews weren't supposed to marry Moabites because they were pagans, but Ruth committed herself to the Lord and He brought incredible blessings into her life, and our lives (Jesus Christ) because of her decision.
Lord, help me to make those crucial RIGHT decisions at the right times. I want to live an epic life in you!
p.s. I read once that it was quite likely that when Jesus was a baby, laying in the manger in Bethlehem, that he was laid on some of the straw from Boaz's field. What a neat idea!
Psalm 4
I had a great day today, and the following verse really said it all:
"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
John 3
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Jesus says these words describing people who put their faith in Christ. John 3 talks a lot about the purpose of Christ coming...the necessity of his coming and the necessity of our believing in Him for salvation. I love the idea that because I am born again of the Spirit, I am like the wind (yes, a Dirty Dancing song IS going through my head right now). :) As described, it means that being born of Spirit makes us strong, powerful, refreshing, fragrant, unpredictable, and adventurous. I think that non-Christians, and even people called Christians, who never really let God CHANGE them, really miss out on the awesomeness of this life. God is as creative and non-boring as it gets!
Lord, let me be a mighty wind for you. Let me be strong, courageous, refreshing, and fragrant. And let my wind go where you send it. Let my love for you be like the winds of a hurricane!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January 7th, 2009--Day 3
**On a side note, I worked out at the Y yesterday...loved it and am sore. God is helping me with exercise and eating, and I am proud to say that I am being obedient! My workout playlist is as follows (it's not that spiritual, but it helps me bike faster!)
Harder to Breathe-Maroon 5
Saving Me-Nickelback
Smooth Criminal-Alien Ant Farm
4 minutes-Madonna and J Timberlake
Watch Me Shine-Legally Blonde Soundtrack
Those are just a few...I'm about to add some Kirk Franklin, etc so i can work out and praise Him! If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!
Ruth 3
Have I mentioned that I LOVE this story. In Ruth 3, Naomi does some holy ghost scheming, and tells Ruth to go down to the threshing floor, and after Boaz is asleep to uncover his feet, and lay down below him. This is so funny to me. She knows cold feet will wake him up, and then he'll see Ruth, and get to talk to her privately. I love soap operas, so I'm giving some real props to Naomi here.
Boaz is so moved that Ruth really likes him and has done this, that he decides to become her kinsman redeemer and marry her, after checking with another man who has first dibs. And he goes and does this right away. He's so enthralled with her...he can't wait! This is romantic, people!
And I love that Ruth's life is absolutely turning around. She could've stayed in Moab and maybe she would've met some other man, but we know he wouldn't have been a godly man, because the moabites were pagans. Ruth was a pagan, until she made a decision to leave her old life and trust God. And God didn't take long to reward her with an EPIC love story. A love story that was written down for the ages, and eventually had a part in the birth of Jesus Christ. Love it, love it!
Psalm 3
I love how psalm 3 describes the Lord as "a shield around me" and "the lifter of my head." These things are so true of the Lord in my life.
Also love:
"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side"
Protection and rest, and freedom from fear...so my God!
John 2
At first in this reading, Jesus is at a wedding with his family and friends. He hasn't done any miracles yet. His first miracle is done at the wedding, turning water into wine (some Christians don't like this story so much, but he did it people!)
Anyway, what I love is that when his mother asks him to do it, he says, "My time has not come yet." But his mother is sure of his love and devotion to her, and she tells the servants to do whatever he tells them to do. And Jesus does it!
Get this: I love 2 things about this story...
1) We can ask God for things in prayer, and even if the timing is exactly right, if we persist, He can make it so.
2) His mother's words are soooo true! "Do WHATEVER He tells you!" I think if people, myself especially, could just get that...doing WHATEVER God tells me to do, our lives would be so much better!
Help me listen and obey, Lord!
**I think the theme of the day is listening and obeying. Ruth listened and obeyed Naomi (her godly influence), and the servants listened and obeyed Jesus. Doing this provides us with the blessings of Psalm 3...protection, rest, and freedom from fear. (Not to mention, crazy passionate love stories and sometimes good wine) It's in scripture, people! :)
Harder to Breathe-Maroon 5
Saving Me-Nickelback
Smooth Criminal-Alien Ant Farm
4 minutes-Madonna and J Timberlake
Watch Me Shine-Legally Blonde Soundtrack
Those are just a few...I'm about to add some Kirk Franklin, etc so i can work out and praise Him! If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!
Ruth 3
Have I mentioned that I LOVE this story. In Ruth 3, Naomi does some holy ghost scheming, and tells Ruth to go down to the threshing floor, and after Boaz is asleep to uncover his feet, and lay down below him. This is so funny to me. She knows cold feet will wake him up, and then he'll see Ruth, and get to talk to her privately. I love soap operas, so I'm giving some real props to Naomi here.
Boaz is so moved that Ruth really likes him and has done this, that he decides to become her kinsman redeemer and marry her, after checking with another man who has first dibs. And he goes and does this right away. He's so enthralled with her...he can't wait! This is romantic, people!
And I love that Ruth's life is absolutely turning around. She could've stayed in Moab and maybe she would've met some other man, but we know he wouldn't have been a godly man, because the moabites were pagans. Ruth was a pagan, until she made a decision to leave her old life and trust God. And God didn't take long to reward her with an EPIC love story. A love story that was written down for the ages, and eventually had a part in the birth of Jesus Christ. Love it, love it!
Psalm 3
I love how psalm 3 describes the Lord as "a shield around me" and "the lifter of my head." These things are so true of the Lord in my life.
Also love:
"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side"
Protection and rest, and freedom from fear...so my God!
John 2
At first in this reading, Jesus is at a wedding with his family and friends. He hasn't done any miracles yet. His first miracle is done at the wedding, turning water into wine (some Christians don't like this story so much, but he did it people!)
Anyway, what I love is that when his mother asks him to do it, he says, "My time has not come yet." But his mother is sure of his love and devotion to her, and she tells the servants to do whatever he tells them to do. And Jesus does it!
Get this: I love 2 things about this story...
1) We can ask God for things in prayer, and even if the timing is exactly right, if we persist, He can make it so.
2) His mother's words are soooo true! "Do WHATEVER He tells you!" I think if people, myself especially, could just get that...doing WHATEVER God tells me to do, our lives would be so much better!
Help me listen and obey, Lord!
**I think the theme of the day is listening and obeying. Ruth listened and obeyed Naomi (her godly influence), and the servants listened and obeyed Jesus. Doing this provides us with the blessings of Psalm 3...protection, rest, and freedom from fear. (Not to mention, crazy passionate love stories and sometimes good wine) It's in scripture, people! :)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
January 6, 2009--Day 2
Ruth 2
Now the story is getting good...Ruth has met Boaz (the resident hottie). :) He's a very godly man. We can see all his great qualities in their first meeting. He has heard about Ruth, and is instantly kind and compassionate towards her. Boaz is a respected man in the city. He has many fields and lots of workers. And he is also protective of Ruth...he instructs his workers not to harm her, embarass her, and even to help her. We later learn that he is also a kinsman redeemer.
The idea of the kinsman redeemer is one that I LOVE. It's like there is a line of people to redeem you out of a bad situation if trouble strikes. In Ruth's case, Boaz is in that line...more on that later.
The idea of the kinsman redeemer also makes me think of God. He is our kinsman redeemer too. When we are in the worst of situations, heartbroken, alone, and feeling out of place, God is right there waiting to redeem us out of that life...if we will put ourselves completely under his control.
I can just see God smiling down at Ruth while she is in a foreign land, all alone, working hard in a field...He knew all along that she was about to meet Boaz, the love of her life. I love knowing that even in my darkest and most uncertain times, God is not worried. He is in control and he is smiling, knowing the good things He has in store for me around the corner...maybe the next minute. What a good God!
Psalm 2
"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." ~Psalm 2:12
John 1: 35-51
Two things I love from this reading:
1. Jesus' first question to the disciples is "What do you want?"
Man, that's a big question. But I have to answer it if I am to go after anything in prayer. For the last two days, I've been eating very healthily and I've joined the YMCA. So, today in my prayer time I asked the Lord for supernatural help, faithfulness, endurance, and that I will be filled with the fruit of the Spirit: self-control.
That's what I want...that's what I'm praying for.
2. Comedy moment: When Nathaniel hears about Jesus, and that he is from Nazareth, he says, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" LOL! It might not be funny to anyone else...but I grew up in a town where I might ask the same question. Just nice to know where Jesus lived, and that God can use anyone from anywhere.
Well, going to the Y now...gonna be like Ruth and put myself under his control, and see what He will do with my body! ttyl!
Now the story is getting good...Ruth has met Boaz (the resident hottie). :) He's a very godly man. We can see all his great qualities in their first meeting. He has heard about Ruth, and is instantly kind and compassionate towards her. Boaz is a respected man in the city. He has many fields and lots of workers. And he is also protective of Ruth...he instructs his workers not to harm her, embarass her, and even to help her. We later learn that he is also a kinsman redeemer.
The idea of the kinsman redeemer is one that I LOVE. It's like there is a line of people to redeem you out of a bad situation if trouble strikes. In Ruth's case, Boaz is in that line...more on that later.
The idea of the kinsman redeemer also makes me think of God. He is our kinsman redeemer too. When we are in the worst of situations, heartbroken, alone, and feeling out of place, God is right there waiting to redeem us out of that life...if we will put ourselves completely under his control.
I can just see God smiling down at Ruth while she is in a foreign land, all alone, working hard in a field...He knew all along that she was about to meet Boaz, the love of her life. I love knowing that even in my darkest and most uncertain times, God is not worried. He is in control and he is smiling, knowing the good things He has in store for me around the corner...maybe the next minute. What a good God!
Psalm 2
"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." ~Psalm 2:12
John 1: 35-51
Two things I love from this reading:
1. Jesus' first question to the disciples is "What do you want?"
Man, that's a big question. But I have to answer it if I am to go after anything in prayer. For the last two days, I've been eating very healthily and I've joined the YMCA. So, today in my prayer time I asked the Lord for supernatural help, faithfulness, endurance, and that I will be filled with the fruit of the Spirit: self-control.
That's what I want...that's what I'm praying for.
2. Comedy moment: When Nathaniel hears about Jesus, and that he is from Nazareth, he says, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" LOL! It might not be funny to anyone else...but I grew up in a town where I might ask the same question. Just nice to know where Jesus lived, and that God can use anyone from anywhere.
Well, going to the Y now...gonna be like Ruth and put myself under his control, and see what He will do with my body! ttyl!
Monday, January 5, 2009
January 5th, 2009--Day 1
Ruth 1
I was only supposed to read the first chapter...haha! Ruth is an amazing book of the Bible, and only four chapters, so i read the whole thing. But I'll only blog about chapter one today!
This book is absolutely amazing...heartbreak, loyalty, family, romance, love, and a happy ending to boot! Not to mention, some of the most beautiful passages of romantic scripture:
"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." ~Ruth 1:16-17
That passage is often used in weddings, but it actually is spoken by the Moabite woman, Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi! Pretty incredible, huh? The book begins with Naomi. She has a husband and two sons, and they are living in Moab. They are Hebrews, believers in the one true God. Moab is a country in the Bible that always causes a lot of problems for the Israelites. Moabites are pagans...they have many gods. Naomi's sons marry Moabite women (which they technically aren't supposed to do.) One of those women is Ruth.
After several years, Naomi's husband and her sons all die. She is grief-stricken, and upon hearing about better financial situations in Bethlehem, she decides to move back there. At first both of her daughters-in-law go with her, but Naomi releases them to go back to their families. Only Ruth will not return home. She speaks the words quoted above and in an amazing display of love and loyalty, she goes with her mother-in-law.
Commentary: I LOVE this story. It's amazing to me that God can take dire, awful circumstances and use them for good. And not just their good...we know the story turns out well, but Ruth is an ancestor of Jesus. This pagan woman made a crucial choice after a very important relationship (her husband) was over. She was devastated, but she made a WISE decision not to go back to what she had been living in before, and to surround herself with Godly people, and to choose to serve the Lord. She positioned herself for success and happiness, and not only that, but destiny...
Every choice we make is important, and some are life-altering...in the case of Ruth...some are history-making! When we are in the most difficult of times, we can remember Ruth and know that as long as we make the choice in those times to worship the Lord, to obey Him, and to surround ourselves with his people, we will come out on top! His blessings are sure!
Psalm 1
Same theme...
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and nigh. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS." ~Psalm 1: 1-3
John 1: 1-34
I love John's gospel because it's the point of view of Jesus' best friend and it's so eloquently written!
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or of a husband's will, but born of God." ~John 1:12-13.
And finally, it struck me today when I was reading, that after John the Baptist had baptized Jesus, the Bible says, "Then John gave his testimony..."
Testimony is the word that struck me. A testimony is the story of how we first meet Jesus. It's not when we first heard about him, or learned about him...it's when we MEET him! John knew about Jesus long before (they were cousins), and he knew that he was preparing the way for Christ (he knew he was the messiah). But John's testimony is about when he actually met him for the first time and his whole life changed!
I love hearing people's testimonies. I love hearing about how they first encountered the Lord in a real and unmistakeable way...how it changed them. I know He changed me.
**I think the theme of today's reading for me was that "Decisions for the Lord=real and lasting Change for the Better."
G'night!
I was only supposed to read the first chapter...haha! Ruth is an amazing book of the Bible, and only four chapters, so i read the whole thing. But I'll only blog about chapter one today!
This book is absolutely amazing...heartbreak, loyalty, family, romance, love, and a happy ending to boot! Not to mention, some of the most beautiful passages of romantic scripture:
"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." ~Ruth 1:16-17
That passage is often used in weddings, but it actually is spoken by the Moabite woman, Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi! Pretty incredible, huh? The book begins with Naomi. She has a husband and two sons, and they are living in Moab. They are Hebrews, believers in the one true God. Moab is a country in the Bible that always causes a lot of problems for the Israelites. Moabites are pagans...they have many gods. Naomi's sons marry Moabite women (which they technically aren't supposed to do.) One of those women is Ruth.
After several years, Naomi's husband and her sons all die. She is grief-stricken, and upon hearing about better financial situations in Bethlehem, she decides to move back there. At first both of her daughters-in-law go with her, but Naomi releases them to go back to their families. Only Ruth will not return home. She speaks the words quoted above and in an amazing display of love and loyalty, she goes with her mother-in-law.
Commentary: I LOVE this story. It's amazing to me that God can take dire, awful circumstances and use them for good. And not just their good...we know the story turns out well, but Ruth is an ancestor of Jesus. This pagan woman made a crucial choice after a very important relationship (her husband) was over. She was devastated, but she made a WISE decision not to go back to what she had been living in before, and to surround herself with Godly people, and to choose to serve the Lord. She positioned herself for success and happiness, and not only that, but destiny...
Every choice we make is important, and some are life-altering...in the case of Ruth...some are history-making! When we are in the most difficult of times, we can remember Ruth and know that as long as we make the choice in those times to worship the Lord, to obey Him, and to surround ourselves with his people, we will come out on top! His blessings are sure!
Psalm 1
Same theme...
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and nigh. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS." ~Psalm 1: 1-3
John 1: 1-34
I love John's gospel because it's the point of view of Jesus' best friend and it's so eloquently written!
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or of a husband's will, but born of God." ~John 1:12-13.
And finally, it struck me today when I was reading, that after John the Baptist had baptized Jesus, the Bible says, "Then John gave his testimony..."
Testimony is the word that struck me. A testimony is the story of how we first meet Jesus. It's not when we first heard about him, or learned about him...it's when we MEET him! John knew about Jesus long before (they were cousins), and he knew that he was preparing the way for Christ (he knew he was the messiah). But John's testimony is about when he actually met him for the first time and his whole life changed!
I love hearing people's testimonies. I love hearing about how they first encountered the Lord in a real and unmistakeable way...how it changed them. I know He changed me.
**I think the theme of today's reading for me was that "Decisions for the Lord=real and lasting Change for the Better."
G'night!
Introduction
Hi Everyone!
I'm really excited about this blog! I started it as an accountability tool with my friend, Linsday. We are going to keep up with each other's quiet times daily via internet. But also, I've blogged my quiet times before and I love being able to look back and see what Christ is doing and has done in my life!
I guess you could call this an online journal of my Quiet Times with the Lord. For anyone who wants to follow along...I'm going to read out of three places in the Bible each day. I'm starting with Ruth, Psalms, and John. I'll be doing Psalms and Proverbs as a rotation, so that once I read through them, I start them again.
I'm always amazed at how the Lord uses scripture to speak to me in my life. I can't wait to see what He's got in store.
Blesssings!
I'm really excited about this blog! I started it as an accountability tool with my friend, Linsday. We are going to keep up with each other's quiet times daily via internet. But also, I've blogged my quiet times before and I love being able to look back and see what Christ is doing and has done in my life!
I guess you could call this an online journal of my Quiet Times with the Lord. For anyone who wants to follow along...I'm going to read out of three places in the Bible each day. I'm starting with Ruth, Psalms, and John. I'll be doing Psalms and Proverbs as a rotation, so that once I read through them, I start them again.
I'm always amazed at how the Lord uses scripture to speak to me in my life. I can't wait to see what He's got in store.
Blesssings!
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