Benefits to Building Margin

Last Tuesday I began sharing some info I had received about building margin (breathing room) into our lives. I'm back today with a devotional that was written by Rick Warren on this topic. Number 3 and 4 and the ones that really got me.... when I have no margin in my life my relationships suffer and I'm very likely to walk away from the exact things God wants for me to be doing.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Here are four immediate benefits you'll receive by building margin into your life:

1. Peace of mind. When you're not always hurrying and worrying, you have time to think, time to relax, time to enjoy life. We had a bird come into the building one evening before service. He started singing, and it was just like we'd been given an invitation: "Just relax. Everybody except those sitting directly under the bird, relax."

2. Better health. Unrelenting stress harms our bodies. We all know that, yet we let it continue day after day after day. Many times we only build margin in our lives after the heart attack almost happens or does happen, or the blood pressure skyrockets. Why do we wait until our health plummets before we make this decision? Why not realize that we need to build some margin into our lives now? The truth is your body needs downtime in order to heal. Race cars make pit stops occassionally in order to get repaired. You can't fix anything going 200 miles an hour. Yet, we try to repair ourselves while we're still racing through life. Margin builds in time for better health.

3. Stronger relationships. Lack of margin is one big reason for the collapse of the American family today. When we don't make relationships a priority and make time for each other, our relationships suffer. Relationships take time; and margin provides the time to sit and talk, to listen and enjoy one another, and to provide the comfort we each need.

4. Usefulness in Ministry. When you're overloaded by activity, you can only think of yourself. You're in survival mode, just trying to make it through another day. But being available to God for his use makes all the difference in the world.

When you have margin in your life and God taps you on the shoulder, saying, "I'd like you to do this for me," your first response isn't joy. You first response is, "Oh, no! Another thing to do! Sorry, God - I'd like to do that, but I'm just too busy."

We end up resenting the great opportunities God bring into our lives. But when you have margin, you're available for God to use.

You don't have to be on overload. You don't have to live in survival mode. Begin today to build a buffer around your schedule. Then enjoy the benefits of margin and see what God does next!

Can God Use our Sin for Good?

As I have read and studied the book of Ruth over the last few months I have been amazed at all God has shown me. Much of it I have already shared with you, but there is still more that I have not yet shared. I'm going to take the next few Mondays to share a bit more of what God has shown me as I've spent time in this great story in the Bible.


"All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. May your family become like the family of Perez -- whom Tamar bore to Judah -- through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman." Ruth 4:11


Rachel and Leah were sisters who both married their cousin Jacob. As we look at their story, we see a rivalry between these two that went on for a number of years. Jacob had always planned to only marry Rachel, but was tricked at the time of the wedding by their father and actually married Leah instead. Their father then promised to allow Jacob to also marry Rachel which then led to both sisters being married to the same man (I'm definitely sharing the short version here -- the fully story can be found in the book of Genesis beginning around chapter 29).

Leah knew that Rachel was the sister that Jacob really loved. But, while Rachel struggled with infertility, Leah bore many children. With these two issues in front of them always, they were constantly competing for Jacob's attentions. Rachel feared her inability to conceive would cause Jacob to turn away from her and Leah feared Jacob would turn from her since it was Rachel that he truly loved. Rachel came up with a plot for her to give her maid to Jacob as his third wife to obtain more children of her own. Leah thought if she continued to give children to Jacob that would secure her of Jacob's attentions. So, when Leah could no more have children, she gave her maid to Jacob as his fourth wife to bear additional children. The total of all these children was thirteen - one daughter and twelve sons.

Tamar is also mentioned in the scripture above. Her story can be found in Genesis 38. Tamar was married to Er, the eldest son of Judah. God killed Er because he was wicked leaving Tamar widowed. As was the custom at the time, Judah asked his other son Onan to sleep with Tamar to provide a child that would be the offspring of Er. Onan found a way around this which led to his killing, as well. What we see happening later in the story after Judah's wife died is Judah looking for a prostitute and being presented with one that he later learned was Tamar. He then later learned that their one time together had impregnated Tamar with his children, twin sons that were born several months later.

In both of these stories we see pain and deception, greed and hatred. Yet, God used them in great ways in fulfilling his ultimate plan. One of Rachel's sons was Joseph who was sold into slavery by his older brothers, a story that shows us how even though we may have incredibly difficult times in our lives, God still leads us to great things. The sons of Rachel, Leah, and their maids went on to be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Tamar bore a son that was in the lineage of Jesus.

And, as we see in these scriptures in Ruth, none of these women are remembered for their wrongdoings. Rachel and Leah were remembered for being the founding mothers of a great nation. Tamar for being the mother of Perez, the twin son that was in the lineage of King David and Jesus.

God takes our weaknesses and our misguided efforts and turns them to good. He takes them and uses them to fulfill His purposes. While it doesn't make our actions "OK", it does say so much about the mighty God we serve! None of us are perfect and we all have fallen short, but what a mighty witness we can be if we turn those shortcomings over to God and allow Him to work in and thru them!

As I think and pray on all of this I am left wondering what wrongs I have done that I can give to God to use for good? How can I take something that is definitely a shortcoming on my part, learn from it, and then help others struggling with the exact same thing?

Lord, please show me your ways. Show me where I have failed You and where I can use that failure to be a light in the world for You." Amen.

Friday Facts - Fun with Words #4

Hi, everyone.... Happy Friday!!

I'm back this week with another fun post about words. Words we see in the Bible, but might not know what they mean. So, here are the words for this week.....

Caul

"And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul [that is] above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, and burn [them] upon the altar." Exodus 29:13

What is this? This would be the membrane that covers the upper part of the liver.


Harsha

"The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha..." Nehemiah 7:54

The meaning of this word? A worker or enchanter.


Satyr

"But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there." Isaiah 13:21

What does this word mean? In Greek mythology this is a creature composed of a man and a goat and is supposed to inhabit wild and desolate regions. When used in this scripture in Isaiah the meaning is that the place referenced shall become a desolate waste.


I hope you enjoyed a little fun with words today. And, if you're up to it, go ahead and see if you can use any of them in a sentence. I'll come back next Friday with my attempt to use them in a sentence.

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Wow... I cannot believe it is already time for Thankful Thursday! Where has this week gone?! :)

I must start out by saying that I really missed you all last week while I took a bloggy break to spend some time with my family during Spring Break. I missed sitting down and sharing with you in my posts and I certainly missed participating in Thankful Thursday.

However, we had an absolutely wonderful time together as a family! And, that is where I am starting my "thankfulness" with today. It was such a much needed time for all us -- and on so many different levels. Time together as a family, time away from work for my husband and I, time away from the daily routines of getting up for school and work, making lunches, laundry, etc., time to just sit back and relax and soak up the sun and wonderful outdoors that Lord has given us. We spent the week in San Antonio and took in Sea World (a BIG family favorite for us!), the zoo, the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and a great Wildlife Park.

We are also praising God this week for the blessings he has shown to my sister Carrie and her family. As I've shared in the past, they are preparing to leave later this year for the mission field. They will be serving in the Czech Republic. Well, one of the final big hurdles they had was to sell their house. They have had it on the market for quite some time now and were really beginning to wonder when they would have this step completed. There also was concern around what the final selling price would have to be, as well. I am here to tell you that last week God showed up in a big way with this whole thing.... they were able to sell their house and received their full asking price! To hear the whole story of how it all came about it just amazing... there is no doubt in any of our minds that God orchestrated it all.

There's been some good things happening around here for all of us and we thank you, Lord, for each and everyone of them!


For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Lynn at "Spiritually Unequal Marriage"!

Finding Margin in our Busy Lives

We have a great women's ministry program at our church. One of the events is a monthly gathering where we meet, have a bite to eat together and discuss a particular topic. This last month's topic was about finding ways to be more efficient in our lives and to make the most of our time.

We walked away with a ton of ideas and all kinds of resources. One handout we were given was on finding margin in our lives. Or, in other words, finding breathing room. I know for me this has been a big area of focus the last few months. And, since everyone I know seems to be just as busy as we are, if not more, I thought I would share some of it here with you.

I'd like to start out today by sharing a statement on finding margin. This really made me stop and think. It was written by Dr. Richard Swenson, MD:

"The conditions of modern day living devour margin. If you're homeless we direct you to a shelter. If you're penniless we offer you food stamps. If you're breathless we connect you to oxygen. But if you're marginless we give you one more thing to do. Marginless is being 30 minutes late to the doctor's office because you were 20 minutes late getting out of the hairdresser because you were 10 minutes late dropping the children off at school because the car ran out of gas two blocks from a gas station and you forgot your purse. That's marginless.

"Margin, on the other hand, is having breath at the top of the staircase, money at the end of the month, and sanity left over at the end of adolescence. Margin is grandma taking the baby for the afternoon. Margin is having a friend help carry the burden.

"Marginless is not having time to finish the book you're reading on stress. Margin is having the time to read it twice. Marginless is our culture. Margin is counter-culture, having some space in your life and schedule. Marginless is the disease of our decade and margin is the cure."

I've got a few other good things to share that I got from this last meeting. I'll take the next couple of Tuesdays to post of them. Hope they are as helpful and meaningful to you as they have been to me!

Have a great day!

God's Plan is Bigger - Ruth 4:13-22

So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The Lord enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. The village women said to Naomi, "May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel! He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!" Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver. The neighbor women named him, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse - David's father! These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. Ruth 4:13-22


Can you think of a better ending to this beautiful story of Ruth and Naomi? As I read this I think of nothing but praises to God. Is this not the perfect example of God taking care of us thru trials and tribulations? Does it not show us that while we may hurt and find life difficult that He is still with us all the while painting a much bigger picture than what we may realize at the time?

First, let's look specifically to Naomi and the part she has in this story. When we begin reading the book of Ruth, Naomi has just lost her husband and both of her sons. She is living in a city that is not home and the only family close are her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. When Naomi and Ruth move back to Bethlehem she asks her family and friends to call her 'Mara'. Mara means bitter. Naomi felt bitter after what she had recently experienced.

Now, let's jump ahead to the end of the book of Ruth. Naomi has been given a grandson to carry on the family name. She is his caregiver and she feels blessed. Her life has come full circle from pain and sorrow found in grief to the joy and wonder of new life. The Lord has taken her grief and replaced it with joy.

Let's now take a step back to look at the how God took their grief and made it into a great and marvelous plan that affected more than just Ruth and Naomi. Both Ruth and Naomi experienced pain found in grieving the loss of a loved one. They both lived among people they didn't know for a time and had to find a way to support themselves without their husbands. Life was difficult for awhile. I'm sure they wondered many times what God's plan was for them and why He allowed their husbands to die. But, if they hadn't experienced the loss of their husbands would they have returned to Bethlehem? Would Ruth have met Boaz? Would Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed? A son that would father Jesse, the father of King David?

Neither Ruth nor Naomi lived to know David or know of his reign as King of Israel, but can you imagine how they would've felt if they knew where their story led? I am just in complete amazement when I look at how all of this story came together over years and years. It gives me a great assurance that, while I may have some incredibly difficult times in my life, God's plan is bigger and deeper and wider than my pain and that there is a purpose and a reason to it all.

Oh, how I thank God today for this assurance that He gives to us. An assurance that He is always there working out "the big picture" and taking both the good and the bad and working them for His good and perfect plan.

Ultimate Blog Party 2009 - WELCOME!

Hi! My name is Melanie and welcome to my bloggy home, "The Fruits of the Spirit"! I am thrilled that you stopped by as you are paryting with the "Ultimate Blog Party 2009" being hosted by "5 Minutes for Mom".

I am a wife, mommy, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. I have a great hubby and two terrific kiddos along with an extended family that is the best. And, after that description, if you think I might be just a wee bit prejudice then you would be ablsolutely correct. :)

I've been married to my sweet hubby for almost 13 years and we have two children. Our lives are filled with many activities with/for our kids, church activities, friends and our jobs. I enjoy reading, some crafts, a good meal with friends, just hanging with my kids, quiet time together with my hubby, and "just being at home". I work full-time outside our home, he owns his own business, and together we have started a new business, Beads-N-Style.

"The Fruits of the Spirit" is where I share my experiences as I seek to grow stronger in my relationship with the Lord. Each week I post from the book of the Bible I am currently studying -- right now I am almost complete with my study of the book of Ruth. Also, I usually join in on a meme or two during the week -- Word-Filled Wednesdays, Thankful Thursdays, and At the Well. Other posts include my 'Friday Facts' posts that contain facts about the Bible and/or people and places in the Bible, and then posts on random topics that come from my own daily life experiences.

Last month I celebrated my first blogoversary. When I joined last year's "Ultimate Blog Party" I think I had only been blogging for about 3 weeks. WOW -- have I learned alot about this bloggy world since that time! And, what a great experience it has been. It's been such a privilege to get to know so many women thru this medium and be able to share a very small part of their lives -- to be able to encourage, support and pray for each one.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit and that you'll come back soon! Have a great time with the "Ultimate Blog Party of 2009"!!

Signing Off for a Few Days

Just a couple of things to quickly share --


* This next week is Spring Break around these parts, so I will be very scarce for a few days. I'm not planning on posting any, however, you will probably see me around here and there visiting. I am planning to get caught up on some of my blog reading, but that will be it for me until the end of next week.

* I will be returning on Friday evening, March 20 as I plan to join in on "The Ultimate Blog Party 2009" that is being hosted by "5 Minutes for Mom". I participated last year as a very new blogger and thought it was great fun. However, I'm looking forward to it a little more this year as I am a little more familiar with this world of blogging. If you're not already planning to participate, go ahead and jump in now. There is lots of fun to be had and, as an added benefit, some prizes to be given away! :)

Friday Facts - Feasts in the Bible

As we saw in last weeks 'Friday Facts' the Bible records a number of famines. However, there were also a number of feasts recorded in the Bible. Check these out.....

* Samson's wedding feast (Judges 14:10-18)

* The feast Solomon held at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:65)

* The feast held by Belshazzar at which God wrote his judgment on the palace wall (Daniel 5).

* The story of the father's feast for his returning runaway son (Luke 15:23)

* The marriage feast that will be held by God in his future kingdom (Revelation 19:9)

* The account of the gruesome feast for the birds recorded in the book of Revelation (Revelation 19:17-18)


May you all have many feasts in your future! Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

"Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?" Psalm 25:4-5
The Message Translation


Don't you just love how God shows us the way, how He directs our thoughts in the direction they should go, how He is right there with us along the way? I sure do!

The last few weeks have been busy, busy around these parts. School activities with the kids, Cub Scouts, busy work schedules, activities at church, and then there's that new business we're trying to get off the ground. It's enough to make a girl exhausted some days and lately it has all just seemed to hit at once.

After going through a few weeks of this endless stream of activities and watching my 'to do' list continue to grow instead of shrinking, I just got downright overwhelmed over the weekend. I sat down with my husband Sunday afternoon and just had to talk it out. I told him I just didn't know how we were going to get thru the next few weeks. As usual, I felt better after we talked about it for awhile, but I wasn't really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And, quite frankly, all I could think of what how great it would be when we did get to the end of the tunnel.

I did spend some time in prayer that afternoon just asking God to help me see all the good and let go of the overwhelming feelings. I asked Him to show me what was most important so that I would focus on that and not all the other things on my list that were less important and could wait.

Later that evening a neighbor stopped by. She is in the midst of a painful and difficult divorce and just needed a friend. She was here for about an hour... just sharing the difficulties of her weekend, her concern for her teenage children, and just sharing her heart and her feelings. (As a sidenote, if you should feel led, please pray for this family... they are so special and they will get thru all of this, but they are hurting now and need our prayers!) After she left, I first said a quick prayer for them and then instantly realized that I had been given a whole new perspective on my feelings. I was overwhelmed with life in general, buth my marriage hadn't fallen apart and my children's heart weren't aching because Mommy and Daddy were no longer together.

Move forward to Tuesday morning of this week and, while I was feeling better, I drove into work knowing and I had a mountain of work that needed to be done. I'll be on vacation next week and there is much that I need to accomplish before leaving the office on Friday of this week. I walked in the door of the office only to discover that our site computer network was down. This meant no work getting done for me as 98% of my job requires the use of my computer and with the need to have the network available to access necessary software applications, etc. This word was soon followed by the news that it would be down for 3-4 hours. Oh, my! BUT, very quickly I realized I had the ability to drive home and connect remotely to my company's main network in California via the internet connection at my house. After making a quick phone call to my manager in Wisconsin I was out the door and soon home and working. Plus, I was able to get much more accomplished than I ever would have in the office since it was quiet at home with no stream of co-workers in and out of my office. YEA!

Then, finally this morning... I was catching up on reading some of my favorite blogs and ran across a post speaking of some of the same feelings of being overwhelmed that I had been experiencing. She spoke of how she had suddenly realized this week that she wasn't giving glory to God with her feelings. Her thoughts stopped me dead in my tracks. She shared how we need to accept these moments in our lives and be thankful for them as these are the moments that God gives to us. Yes, they are busy and they are crazy sometimes, but each moment is a gift from God that should never be wasted away wishing for future moments of quietness. As long as we turn to God and know that He is right beside us all the way then we are good.

Through each of these happenings this weeks God showed me the gift He has given to me... even if it is BUSY and CRAZY right now. He is with me and He is showing me His ways by showing me how fortunate I am and by blessing me with unexpected moments of time to catch up a little bit. I am so thankful for all that God has shown me this week and I just pray that I will take it with me in the days to come.

Thank you, dear Lord, for showing me YOUR WAYS! Amen.

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Lynn at "Spiritually Unequal Marriage"!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

The first semester of my senior year in college I had to take an Economics course that knocked me flat on my back. And, when I say it knocked me flat on my back, what I'm really saying is that I flunked that class. Yep, big 'ole fat "F".

I came home for the Christmas holidays knowing that is probably the grade I would receive. It was quickly confirmed when grades came in the mail a week or so later. To say I was upset is putting it mildly. For starters, the thought of having to take that class a second time just was not something that I wanted to do (it was required to graduate in the spring). However, even more than that I felt that I had failed. I moped around for DAYS! I was down on myself and convinced that I had failed my parents, my family, and I suppose, even God, by failing this class.

At the time, my mother was the pianist at our church. Oftentimes, she would leave for church ahead of us to practice any special music she had planned for the service.

On this particular Sunday following when I received my semester grades, she was going up early before the Sunday evening services. I don't remember why now, but I went with her. The song she was playing that evening for the offertory was "His Eye Is On the Sparrow".

I remember kind of pacing around the sanctuary as she practiced and I awaited the beginning of the service. Not really listening to what she was doing... just walking (and, truth be told, probably moping and pouting). At one point, Mom stopped playing and asked me to stop, sit down and listen to what she was playing. She asked me to listen to the words of the song. She played this beautiful song and sang the words as she played.

Of course, from the very first line in the song she grabbed my attention. "Why should I be discouraged?" Yes, indeed. So, I failed a course in collge? Why should I let that discourage me when I have God? Why, why, why? Yes, it seemed monumental that I failed this class since college was my life at the time and I was so close to graduation. But, I had an opportunity to turn it over to God and allow Him to guide me and be with me as I took the class a 2nd time.

What a wonderful reminder my mother gave me that evening. If God is watching over even a sparrow, then He is watching over me. He knows when I am disappointed and feel as if I have failed, but He cares and He loves me thru it all. There is no need to let life's discouragements affect us so strongly when we know we have God on our side.

Yes, I have had many discouragements in life since that day and I know for a fact that I will have many more. But, ever since that day sitting at church listening to Mom play this beautiful song, I always think of this during those times of discouragement.

"His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches over me."

I am always assured that God is with me. After all, He never promised that life on this earth would be easy, but He did promise that He would be with us through it all.

Integrity and Taking Risks - Ruth 4:1-12

Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said, "Come here and sit down, 'John Doe'!" So he came and sat down. Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, "Sit down here!" So they sat down. Then Boaz said to the guardian, "Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you." He replied, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property." The guardian said, "Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it." (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Isarel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) So the guardian said to Boaz, "You may acquire it," and he removed his sandal. Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today." All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom build up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. May your family become like the family of Perez -- whom Tamar bore to Judah -- through the descendants the Lord gives you by this young woman." Ruth 4:1-12


Last week we left Ruth wondering what was going to happen. She had, for all practical purposes, stepped out on a limb and proposed to Boaz. She had taken a leap of faith because of her love for Naomi and her faith in God. However, what we find happens is that Boaz says that, while he is willing, he must first go to a man that is a closer relative than he... a man that has first rights to marry Ruth. A man that Ruth has never even met.

I think this is where we really see what a Godly man that Boaz is in ALL his dealings. We have already seen how he has cared for Ruth and Naomi as Ruth has worked in his fields. But, here we see it for not just Ruth and Naomi but also in how he is with other people.

We do, first, see how kind he is to Ruth as she has made this proposal. He shares his willingness to accept her proposal. But, he shows great integrity and kindness towards others in that he also says that first he must go to this other man, this person that is a closer family member than himself. And, because he knows that Ruth is waiting he moves quickly. He knew that Ruth and Naomi would be anxious so he did not keep them waiting any longer than necessary. As soon as morning came he started out to make the necessary contact with this other man.

Since there were no computers or courthouses during this time, many transactions were done in the presence of witnesses. Because of the number of people that would always be there, the city gates were where many business type transactions took place. The elders of the city would gather at the gates to conduct business. So, this is where Boaz went. At that city gates he could discuss with this family member and have present all the city elders as witnesses.

Here is where we see how kind Boaz is in his dealings with others. He is respectful of this man's position in the family and respectful of his "rights" that come with being in this position. He approaches the man kindly and offers him the "rights" to the land and to marrying Ruth. He willingly will accept whatever the outcome. I wonder if Boaz was a bit nervous at this point as to how this would play out? Do you think maybe he was worried that this man would want to marry Ruth? The Bible doesn't tell us any of this, but I can't help but wonder how Boaz felt at this point.

Another point that struck me as I read thru this passage was the risk that Boaz was willing to take.. actually some might view it as two risks. One, he was willing to risk losing the right to marry Ruth by going to the closer relative. He knew there was a chance that this relative might want to marry Ruth. And, two, some might feel that being willing to marry Ruth in the first place was a risk. He really didn't know her well, she was from a foriegn country and until recently had worshipped a foreign idol.

This also brings me to look at the relative that Boaz approached and look at what he wasn't willing to risk. If he married Ruth he stated that he would lose his own inheritance. But, as we look forward in scriptures, we find out what lay ahead for Ruth. She fell into the direct lineage of David and of Jesus. Look what this man gave up when he decided to take the "safe" option and not risk his own inheritance!

In closing, I'd like to share some of the questions I have asked myself as I have studied these passages....

* When I know someone is relying on me and awaiting an answer, do I move quickly?

* Do I keep my promises as Boaz kept his promises to Ruth and Naomi that he would do the honorable thing?

* Am I willing to take risks for God?

* Am I willing to risk only the "small things" or am I willing to risk it all for God and His calling on my life?

God of This City

Friday Facts - Famines in the Bible

We're going to take a little change in direction this week with Friday Facts. However, I love the "new words facts" so that will be back in the future. I just thought it would be fun to scatter them around a bit.

So, this week I thought we would look at famines in the Bible. Currently, I am studying (and posting) the book of Ruth. At the beginning of this book we find that Naomi and her family initially moved to Moab due to a famine in their hometown of Bethlehem.

But, this particular famine is not the only one we read about in the Bible. Here are some others.....

* A famine caused Jacob's sons to go to Egypt to buy grain. It is there there they re-unite with their brother Joseph. (Genesis 41:56-42:6)

* Elijah the prophet told of the message he received from God that rain would be withheld from Israel because of the sin's of the people. A famine was the result of the long period of time without rain. (1 Kings 17)

* Famine came to the city of Jerusalem when the Babylonians beseiged the city. (2 Kings 25:1-3)

* During the time of the New Testament, there was a famine in Palestine as had been predicted by the prophet Agabus. (Acts 11:28)

* In the book of Revelation we find "famine" pictured as one of the four horsemen that stalks the earth just before the return of Jesus. (Revelation 6:5-8)


Now that you are armed with info regarding famine in the Bible.. go out and enjoy your weekend! I know... you just couldn't have moved forward without all that info, could you now? :)

Seriously, though, may you all have a great weekend spending time with family and friends and full of many blessings from God!

Thankful Thursday

"Worthy, we stand
Saved by His hand
Great is Your name
In all the earth
Worthy alone
Christ on the throne
Your kingdom will reign forever
You are the Lord, Most High"


Several days ago I was driving home from work after a long and mentally tiring day. You know those days, nothing HUGE goes wrong, but it's a lot of little things. And things that are out of your control, but yet, effect you in some way. For me, it was certain persons that tend to be difficult to get along with, some office politics, rules that always seem to change about the time I finally get used to the old ones, and a cold/sinus thing that I just can't seem to fight off.

So, anyway, I was driving home after a day of all of this.... tired and wondering to myself why it seemed that this ALWAYS happened (and, in reality, days like this are usually few and far between for me, but on this day it just SEEMED like it was a regular occurence). I wondered if my life would ALWAYS be filled with these types of things? I wondered if this was just what life was meant to be and did I just need to "get over it and get used to it"? But, oh, how that thought made me weary. And, weary was a good word to use for how I felt overall. Weary from the day and these types of issues.

As I pondered these thoughts the song "You Are Lord" written by Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie Smith began playing on the CD in my car. As it came to the words "Your kingdom will reign forever" I almost immediately felt a joy overcome me and a thankfulness that God's kingdom does reign over all that is on this earth.... all those things that were bothering me from my day.

I thought about how God never promised that life on this earth would be easy, but what He did promise was that He would ALWAYS be with us. And, then, following this thought came the one the that just smacked me in the head.... my ALWAYS isn't on this earth and full of the minute day to day things that make me weary. My ALWAYS is in God. My ALWAYS IS God. A home with Him in heaven is my ETERNITY. It dawned on me that someday when I am home with Him that all of this stuff I'm so weary of today will be just a blip on the radar. That thought just kind of put it all in perspective for me, you know?

So, today I am ever so thankful that God's kingdom will reign forever, that He is my ALWAYS, my ETERNITY. I am thankful that with Him is where my true home is found and the struggles we have on this earth are just a small part of the journey that will lead us to our home in heaven one day.


For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Lynn at "Spiritually Unequal Marriage"!

On-Line Bible Games

My kids love to play computer games, but I find that I must be diligent in keeping track of where they play those games. I watch like a hawk and have worked hard to make sure they understand, as best they can at their ages, why it is important to be careful about where they go and what they do when online.

Because of this, I was thrilled when I found this site. It's full of games that are safe and that teach kids about the Bible. There aren't a lot of cool graphics like can be found in many of the newer online games, but it's safe and it teaches something far better than so many of the other games out there.

There's a wide variety of games that cover age ranges from around 5 yrs to probably around 10 years of age.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Waiting - Ruth 3:12-18

Now, yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, fine, let him do so. But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, to marry you. Sleep here until morniing." So she slept beside him until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. Boaz thought, "No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor." Then he said, "Hold out the shawl you are wearing and grip it tightly." As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he went into town, and she returned to her mother-in-law. When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did things turn out for you, my daughter?" Ruth told her about all the man had done for her. She said, "He gave me these sixgty pounds of barley, for he said to me, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed." Then Naomi said, "Stay put, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today." Ruth 3:12-18


Several years ago I was at a point where I knew God was leading me volunteer for something new in our church. However, for quite some time, I didn't know what it was. I could feel God working in me and providing me with a willing heart, but I just couldn't figure out where He wanted me to be.

After several months of seeking, I received a letter in the mail one day from the Children's Sunday School Director at our church. The letter had actually gone out to many people in our church, but as I began to read I felt like it had been mailed only to me. Our children's Sunday School department was in dire need of Sunday School teachers. I had, actually, known for awhile that they were in need of teachers, but did not know how strong the need really was and had never even considered teaching. That is, until the moment I read that letter. It as like God was speaking the words of that letter directly to me.

The following day I called Chris, our wonderful Children's Sunday School director. She was not in her office at the church that day. At the time I thought nothing of it as I knew she was not there but a couple of days during the week and just figured I had called on one of the days she was not there. I left a message on her voicemail assuming I would hear back from her soon.

However, after about a week and a half I had heard nothing. At first I thought this was rather odd as I knew Chris to be the type of person that would always follow up on phone messages. Especially when there was such a need for teachers. Then, I began to worry that maybe I had heard God wrong. Maybe teaching wasn't where He wanted me. Maybe I had mis-heard. Maybe I still had no idea of the direction in which God was leading. Then, Satan really began to cause me to doubt by placing thoughts in my head such as, "Maybe Chris doesn't want you to be a teacher. Maybe she doesn't think you are good enough."

While the situations are completely different, I would imagine that Ruth felt a bit like I did when Boaz told her that there was someone else that was a closer relative. Someone else to be asked to marry Ruth. Can you even imagine? Ruth took a big step to go to Boaz and ask him to marry her. I would guess she felt like she was WAY out of her comfort zone. But, because of her faith and because of her love for Noami, she steps out and goes to Boaz.

Then, once she does so, she finds out that while Boaz is willing they must first check with someone else. They need to ask another relative if he would be willing to marry her. Someone she doesn't know. Someone she has never met. And, she must wait for the answer. She must sleep thru the night and then go back home to Naomi the next day and just wait.

Do you think that maybe Ruth questioned whether she had heard God correctly? Maybe Boaz wasn't the one as she and Naomi had thought? Would God really have her marry someone she did not know? Would God really direct her to Boaz only to then lead her to someone completely different? Maybe Boaz didn't want to marry her and was trying to get "off the hook"?

When Ruth goes back to Naomi and shares the story with her, Noami tells her to "stay put". She probably didn't say these words meaning, "Don't leave the house" or "Don't do anything". Her meaning was probably more along the lines of "Don't waver", "Trust God", "Remain steady until God shows the answer".

That is where I struggle so much. As I shared above, I let the doubts and the insecurities set in and take control over my thoughts. But, when I calm down and "stay put" it always works out. In the particular story I began sharing above, that is exactly how it played out. On the way to church almost 2 weeks later, I was sharing with my husband some of my feelings. He strongly encouraged me to just check with Chris that morning. And, why I didn't think of that before is beyond me. I certainly could have picked up the phone anytime during those two weeks and checked with her. And, I saw her every Sunday morning as she was always out and about in the hallways of the children's Sunday School classrooms. I always passed her and talked as we were dropping our children off each week.

So, on that morning when I saw her I just asked if she had gotten the message I had left for her several weeks before. She said she had not. And, then when I explained why I had called she expressed such excitement. (Yea... I really need to quit allowing Satan to work with my insecurities!)

I have now been teaching in a children's Sunday School class for almost two years and absolutely love it. Each child is so very special and I have the opportunity to assist in laying down their foundation in the Lord. And, best of all? I have absolutely no doubts that this is where the Lord wanted me all along!

As we later discovered, Chris' office phone had been working poorly for quite some time and sometime prior to me leaving that message had stopped notifying her when she had a message. Something so simple as a malfunctioning phone led me down the road of doubt and insecurity. God's power and love is so strong, but I almost let that bad phone keep me from doing what I knew was God's will for my life.

I am learning (slowly, but I am learning) that when I am patient and wait for God that He always shows up. He and I don't always work on the same time schedule and I must always remember and commit to working within His timeframe and not mine. Will you join me in praying for God to help us always wait and always trust Him?

You Never Let Go