1: the quality or state of being not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission
Ruth 4:11-22
In this final passage of the book of Ruth, Ruth herself is only mentioned by name once. There is a lot of attention paid to Naomi and God redeeming her circumstances through Ruth's child. As a part of recounting this redemption, Ruth is referred to as being "better than seven sons," but the focus of the passage is definitely not on her. It made me wonder what we would each name the book of Ruth if we were to read it with no title. I'm not sure she's the character that would stand out the most to me if I were reading an untitled accounting of her story.
This is because Ruth does a great job of making her story about other people. Her decision to come to Bethlehem is about Naomi. Her faithfulness in gleaning wheat and barley is about providing for Naomi. Even her approach to Boaz about marriage is directed by Naomi and when the citizens of Bethlehem praise the birth of her child by saying, "Naomi has a son," it is not recorded that Ruth objected in the least.
Given that Ruth isn't the boldest character in the book, why is the book called Ruth? I think it's because God wanted us to look more closely at her and if the book were named for something or someone else, we might miss her. This struck me as a profoundly important point: Am I content to let my story be about other people? Am I living my life to serve others and provide for others? Am I looking so hard and so closely at Christ that those around me can see him reflected in my eyes?
Ruth doesn't call attention to herself. She makes godly choices, is faithful, kind and obedient. I'm fairly certain I would not be described in the same way by those who know (and even love) me. It's a high bar that is set in this story. True humility is not easy, even though humble people often make it look so. I think humility is so antithetical to our human nature that one must pursue it continually in order to approach it.
I've been thinking about what my take away for Ruth will be. How will I remember what I've learned from this book? Ruth didn't follow convention, she worked diligently, she walked a path that seemed doubtful and she did it all with humility. Like Ruth, I know the epilogue to my story. Ruth is remembered as the grandmother of David and is named in the lineage of Christ. I'm in that lineage too, as a daughter of God. Who knows what the prologue to Ruth's story was? She almost certainly grew up in a pagan home and she certainly sinned in some way not recounted in this book. I can take comfort in the fact that the prologue to my story doesn't make the epilogue any less true.
Showing posts with label ruth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ruth. Show all posts
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
PEACE
1: a state of tranquillity or quiet
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
I wrote a few weeks ago about the financial challenges facing Rejoice Ministries, where I work. I talked then about the need to put my trust in God to provide for us when we couldn't see how He would do it. While the first few weeks after that were challenging for me and filled with self-doubt, self-recriminations and some anxiety, in the intervening weeks God has given me an amazing peace about my work at Rejoice.
A few weeks ago, our pastor referenced the verse in Philippians that says that God will give us a peace that passes understanding. I whispered to my husband that God had truly done that for me with Rejoice and he replied, "Yes, you are calmer about it than I am." When I say peace, I don't mean "a state of tranquility or quiet," the first definition for peace in Merriam Webster. Tranquility and quiet are hard to come by in a home with three children ages 8, 7 and 4. Even when we have moments of quiet while they are all reading or playing, I am rarely what I would describe as tranquil because there is always something that needs to be done.
What God has given me during this time of walking in faith is "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions." I continue to work diligently for Rejoice. I continue to believe in what we do to plant God's seeds in the lives of the children who dance here. But I don't berate mentally myself for each grant rejection letter we receive. I don't question my very worth when I hear a grant was not awarded to us.
As I wrote a few days ago, one of my take-aways from Ruth this week is that we, like Boaz, should be living to lift of the name of the deceased. I could not be peaceful about my work were it not for the sacrifice Christ made to be cut off from the land of the living. Without His work on the cross, my worth would be found in my work, my home, my children. Instead, my worth is found in Him and nothing I encounter on this earth can change that.
At a busy time of the year, I am eternally grateful to be experiencing God's peace in a meaningful and lasting way. I took this job because I thought it would stretch me, both in my skills and my faith. That has been more true than I ever imagined and I can't wait to see God slowly reveal more of His plans for me and for Rejoice.
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
I wrote a few weeks ago about the financial challenges facing Rejoice Ministries, where I work. I talked then about the need to put my trust in God to provide for us when we couldn't see how He would do it. While the first few weeks after that were challenging for me and filled with self-doubt, self-recriminations and some anxiety, in the intervening weeks God has given me an amazing peace about my work at Rejoice.
A few weeks ago, our pastor referenced the verse in Philippians that says that God will give us a peace that passes understanding. I whispered to my husband that God had truly done that for me with Rejoice and he replied, "Yes, you are calmer about it than I am." When I say peace, I don't mean "a state of tranquility or quiet," the first definition for peace in Merriam Webster. Tranquility and quiet are hard to come by in a home with three children ages 8, 7 and 4. Even when we have moments of quiet while they are all reading or playing, I am rarely what I would describe as tranquil because there is always something that needs to be done.
What God has given me during this time of walking in faith is "freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions." I continue to work diligently for Rejoice. I continue to believe in what we do to plant God's seeds in the lives of the children who dance here. But I don't berate mentally myself for each grant rejection letter we receive. I don't question my very worth when I hear a grant was not awarded to us.
As I wrote a few days ago, one of my take-aways from Ruth this week is that we, like Boaz, should be living to lift of the name of the deceased. I could not be peaceful about my work were it not for the sacrifice Christ made to be cut off from the land of the living. Without His work on the cross, my worth would be found in my work, my home, my children. Instead, my worth is found in Him and nothing I encounter on this earth can change that.
At a busy time of the year, I am eternally grateful to be experiencing God's peace in a meaningful and lasting way. I took this job because I thought it would stretch me, both in my skills and my faith. That has been more true than I ever imagined and I can't wait to see God slowly reveal more of His plans for me and for Rejoice.
Monday, December 1, 2008
REPUTATION
1 a: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general b: recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability (has the reputation of being clever)
2: a place in public esteem or regard : good name (trying to protect his reputation)
Ruth 4:1-10
Throughout the book of Ruth, Boaz is set up as a character who foreshadows Christ for the reader. After all, he redeems Ruth, as Christ redeems us. Yet as I read my passage in Ruth for this week, I am struck by a completely different angle. This week's passage leaves me believing that we should be more like Boaz. Instead of foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice for us, Boaz shows us how we should honor that sacrifice.
Chapter 4 of Ruth is the final one, so the story is drawing to a close. Ruth has come from a foreign land against her mother-in-law's urging, worked diligently in Boaz's fields and asked Boaz to marry her. We see Boaz act on Ruth's invitation to marriage in this passage and the reason that he gives for marrying her is, in part, to protect the name and reputation of her dead husband. This is remarkable on several levels.
First of all, this is a man Ruth presumably loved. Boaz is not jealous of this previous love of Ruth's, but honors it instead. This shows not only his confidence in her feelings for him, but a compassion for all that Ruth has been through. She loved Mahlon enough to leave her homeland and journey with his mother to Bethlehem. Boaz sees this and gives respect instead of condemnation. Where am I lacking the confidence to respect the choices and sacriothers have made?
Secondly, Boaz is not concerned with his own name or reputation, but with preserving another's. He marries Ruth so that Mahlon's name will live on. Isaiah 53 says that Christ was "cut off from the land of the living" and Boaz says he is marrying Ruth so that "the name of the deceased will not be cut off." Christ was willing to be cut off from the land of the living so that we could have an eternal inheritance. If Boaz is willing to raise up a dead relative's name and reputation, how much more should I be willing to raise up Christ's name?
Finally, Boaz does all of this in the presence of witnesses. It's interesting to note in the above definitions for reputation that every definition involves the judgement or regard of others. Boaz doesn't raise up the name of Mahlon privately with Ruth. He does so publicly, in front of the elders of the town. If he did it privately, it wouldn't have the same impact. Similarly, if we as Christians only raise up Christ's name in private, how does that further His reputation? Don't we need to acknowledge publicly all that he did and does for us?
How am I putting my own reputation before that of Christ? How can I be more focused on living and acting to preserve His good name and not my own?
2: a place in public esteem or regard : good name (trying to protect his reputation)
Ruth 4:1-10
Throughout the book of Ruth, Boaz is set up as a character who foreshadows Christ for the reader. After all, he redeems Ruth, as Christ redeems us. Yet as I read my passage in Ruth for this week, I am struck by a completely different angle. This week's passage leaves me believing that we should be more like Boaz. Instead of foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice for us, Boaz shows us how we should honor that sacrifice.
Chapter 4 of Ruth is the final one, so the story is drawing to a close. Ruth has come from a foreign land against her mother-in-law's urging, worked diligently in Boaz's fields and asked Boaz to marry her. We see Boaz act on Ruth's invitation to marriage in this passage and the reason that he gives for marrying her is, in part, to protect the name and reputation of her dead husband. This is remarkable on several levels.
First of all, this is a man Ruth presumably loved. Boaz is not jealous of this previous love of Ruth's, but honors it instead. This shows not only his confidence in her feelings for him, but a compassion for all that Ruth has been through. She loved Mahlon enough to leave her homeland and journey with his mother to Bethlehem. Boaz sees this and gives respect instead of condemnation. Where am I lacking the confidence to respect the choices and sacriothers have made?
Secondly, Boaz is not concerned with his own name or reputation, but with preserving another's. He marries Ruth so that Mahlon's name will live on. Isaiah 53 says that Christ was "cut off from the land of the living" and Boaz says he is marrying Ruth so that "the name of the deceased will not be cut off." Christ was willing to be cut off from the land of the living so that we could have an eternal inheritance. If Boaz is willing to raise up a dead relative's name and reputation, how much more should I be willing to raise up Christ's name?
Finally, Boaz does all of this in the presence of witnesses. It's interesting to note in the above definitions for reputation that every definition involves the judgement or regard of others. Boaz doesn't raise up the name of Mahlon privately with Ruth. He does so publicly, in front of the elders of the town. If he did it privately, it wouldn't have the same impact. Similarly, if we as Christians only raise up Christ's name in private, how does that further His reputation? Don't we need to acknowledge publicly all that he did and does for us?
How am I putting my own reputation before that of Christ? How can I be more focused on living and acting to preserve His good name and not my own?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
SECURITY, REST, HOME
SECURITY:
1: the quality or state of being secure: as a: freedom from danger : safety b: freedom from fear or anxiety
REST:
4: peace of mind or spirit
HOME:
1 a: one's place of residence : domicile b: house
3 a: a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment ; also : the focus of one's domestic attention <home is where the heart is> b: habitat
Ruth 3:1-9
Ruth and Naomi have been through a lot: they've each lost a husband, traveled together across many miles and survived by gleaning left-over grain. At this point in their story, Naomi suggests a completely new thing: rest, security, a home. The Hebrew word actually used is manowach, which is translated in various versions of the Bible as security, rest or home. Any translation is imperfect because not all words have an exact correlation in another language. When I come across a word that is translated in three different ways, I think the way to get the best definition for myself is to look at all of them together.
Ruth was in need of rest, security and a home. Physically, she had been working very hard over the last seven weeks to glean enough grain to feed herself and Naomi. For the poor, then as now, rest was in short supply. A day of rest meant a day without food. Ruth had been blessed to find herself in the fields of a generous and honorable man, so perhaps she had managed to observe Sabbath during the barley harvest. Regardless, rest must have been an appealing concept, as was security.
Security was in short supply for a widow in Ruth's time and Ruth was especially lacking in this since she was a foreigner in Israel. She willingly left her own family to stay with and support her mother-in-law, Naomi. Even the reasons outlined above that led her to long for rest show the lack of security in her life. Ruth had been blessed to find favor in Boaz's field, but even that favor could not ensure the continued security of food.
We are told that Ruth lived with Naomi during the barley harvest, so while she technically had a "place of residence," it may not have been "a familiar or usual setting" or a "congenial environment."
What Naomi is pointing Ruth to is a home of her own, a place of true rest and lasting security. Naomi proposes that Ruth find manowach by marrying Boaz, a relative of Naomi's and owner of the field Ruth has been gleaning in. Naomi instructs Ruth in how to approach Boaz and Ruth obeys without question. While we don't see it in this passage, Naomi's instructions work. Ruth not only weds Boaz, but gives birth to the grandfather of David, a man after God's own heart.
In thinking about how to apply the lessons from this passage of Ruth to my own life, I have thought a lot about what I think manowach truly is. Where in my life do I find security, rest and a home? How do I define these three things and where do they meet, since manowach encompasses them all? At the start of the week, I spent a lot of time thinking about my home and whether it is a peaceful place where my children not only make their home, but feel at home. I want them to feel rested and secure here.
That led me to think about what security really is. I've decided one personal definition of security is to be truly known and loved anyway. This is why our ultimate security is with God, why we can find our rest in Him and why our home is not of this earth. I want to know my children for who they are, love them as they are and see them with God's eyes. One of my prayers is that God would extend that desire so that I would seek to truly know others (friends, family, neighbors) and love them as God does. The only way I will ever be able to do this is by resting in the security of the truth that God knows me even better than I know myself and loves me anyway.
1: the quality or state of being secure: as a: freedom from danger : safety b: freedom from fear or anxiety
REST:
4: peace of mind or spirit
HOME:
1 a: one's place of residence : domicile b: house
3 a: a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment ; also : the focus of one's domestic attention <home is where the heart is> b: habitat
Ruth 3:1-9
Ruth and Naomi have been through a lot: they've each lost a husband, traveled together across many miles and survived by gleaning left-over grain. At this point in their story, Naomi suggests a completely new thing: rest, security, a home. The Hebrew word actually used is manowach, which is translated in various versions of the Bible as security, rest or home. Any translation is imperfect because not all words have an exact correlation in another language. When I come across a word that is translated in three different ways, I think the way to get the best definition for myself is to look at all of them together.
Ruth was in need of rest, security and a home. Physically, she had been working very hard over the last seven weeks to glean enough grain to feed herself and Naomi. For the poor, then as now, rest was in short supply. A day of rest meant a day without food. Ruth had been blessed to find herself in the fields of a generous and honorable man, so perhaps she had managed to observe Sabbath during the barley harvest. Regardless, rest must have been an appealing concept, as was security.
Security was in short supply for a widow in Ruth's time and Ruth was especially lacking in this since she was a foreigner in Israel. She willingly left her own family to stay with and support her mother-in-law, Naomi. Even the reasons outlined above that led her to long for rest show the lack of security in her life. Ruth had been blessed to find favor in Boaz's field, but even that favor could not ensure the continued security of food.
We are told that Ruth lived with Naomi during the barley harvest, so while she technically had a "place of residence," it may not have been "a familiar or usual setting" or a "congenial environment."
What Naomi is pointing Ruth to is a home of her own, a place of true rest and lasting security. Naomi proposes that Ruth find manowach by marrying Boaz, a relative of Naomi's and owner of the field Ruth has been gleaning in. Naomi instructs Ruth in how to approach Boaz and Ruth obeys without question. While we don't see it in this passage, Naomi's instructions work. Ruth not only weds Boaz, but gives birth to the grandfather of David, a man after God's own heart.
In thinking about how to apply the lessons from this passage of Ruth to my own life, I have thought a lot about what I think manowach truly is. Where in my life do I find security, rest and a home? How do I define these three things and where do they meet, since manowach encompasses them all? At the start of the week, I spent a lot of time thinking about my home and whether it is a peaceful place where my children not only make their home, but feel at home. I want them to feel rested and secure here.
That led me to think about what security really is. I've decided one personal definition of security is to be truly known and loved anyway. This is why our ultimate security is with God, why we can find our rest in Him and why our home is not of this earth. I want to know my children for who they are, love them as they are and see them with God's eyes. One of my prayers is that God would extend that desire so that I would seek to truly know others (friends, family, neighbors) and love them as God does. The only way I will ever be able to do this is by resting in the security of the truth that God knows me even better than I know myself and loves me anyway.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
DIRECTION
4: the line or course on which something is moving or is aimed to move or along which something is pointing or facing
6 a: a channel or direct course of thought or action b: tendency , trend c: a guiding, governing, or motivating purpose
RUTH 2:17-23
I have been doing inductive Bible studies for three years and it has been a pathway for spiritual growth. I've not only learned a lot about God, but about myself as well. I didn't realize how important words were to me until I started spending a good deal of time studying God's Word.
As a part of inductive Bible study, I usually start pretty early in the week by looking up the Hebrew for the text we are studying and seeing what words stand out to me. For the first time that I can recall, this technique failed me this week.
The passage did contain some interesting words, but for the most part I had explored those words earlier in the book of Ruth. Normally, a good word leads me to other verses with the same word. That obviously didn't work this week, since I didn't have a word to use as my diving board into the passage. After failing to find a good word or a good cross reference, I finally happened upon an expositional sermon that examined the passage verse by verse.
In that sermon, the author pointed out that Ruth abides in Boaz's field for the entire barley harvest. Ruth didn't hop around from field to field looking for the best circumstances. When God led her to a field where the owner protected her, fed her and provided abundantly for her, she stayed put. Now, it may seem obvious that the thing to do when handed all of these blessings is to stay put. But how often in your own life do you receive a blessing, only to look for the next one? How often do you put in a hard day's work and just keep on working without seeking lasting reward? The gleaning Ruth was doing wasn't easy work. She spent all day bending over, picking up grain from the ground and then beating the grain to get the edible portion. She did this because it was the way God provided for her.
My picture to illustrate the lesson I learned from this week's passage was a series of traffic signs: A Yield Sign, A Stop Sign and A Traffic Light. I wrote below each that we are to yield to God's will, stop where he sends us and go full out at the work he places before us. I'm not sure which of these is hardest. Sometimes it feels pretty easy to yield to God's will. I believe I am currently in my job at Rejoice because I followed God's traffic signs to it. That part wasn't really all that hard. I love Rejoice. I believe God is using it to do great things in the lives of the children who dance there, including my own daughters. I believe God has a plan for this ministry and that he wants to see us dance before him with joy as these students do. I have seen that Rejoice is God's ministry, so it was easy to yield to God's direction to work there.
Right now, what's hard is stopping where God has me and staying there. I feel responsible for our budget shortfall. As Development Manager, I believe I should have been able to somehow prevent this. I should have found more time, more energy and better words to solicit funds for us. One of my first reactions upon hearing about our financial situation was that perhaps I should resign. My salary, small though it is, does have an impact on our budget. It might be better for the ministry as a whole if I were to just go to another "field" instead of stopping where God has me and continuing to go full out at my work.
I think this doubt about God's direction for my life stems from a lack of belief on my part. Specifically, a lack of belief that God can and will use me to do his work. I have for so long believed that I am incapable of producing worthy work that when faced with a challenge like this, I instantly begin self-recriminations regarding my worth, my skills and ultimately, my value. Interestingly enough, I've taken some solace and instruction from a song that my daughters danced to at Rejoice this summer. It says in part, "If you are who you say you are, then I am who you say." If I am going to believe that God is who he says he is, then I must also believe that I am who he says I am... and right now that includes Development Manager at Rejoice.
6 a: a channel or direct course of thought or action b: tendency , trend c: a guiding, governing, or motivating purpose
RUTH 2:17-23
I have been doing inductive Bible studies for three years and it has been a pathway for spiritual growth. I've not only learned a lot about God, but about myself as well. I didn't realize how important words were to me until I started spending a good deal of time studying God's Word.
As a part of inductive Bible study, I usually start pretty early in the week by looking up the Hebrew for the text we are studying and seeing what words stand out to me. For the first time that I can recall, this technique failed me this week.
The passage did contain some interesting words, but for the most part I had explored those words earlier in the book of Ruth. Normally, a good word leads me to other verses with the same word. That obviously didn't work this week, since I didn't have a word to use as my diving board into the passage. After failing to find a good word or a good cross reference, I finally happened upon an expositional sermon that examined the passage verse by verse.
In that sermon, the author pointed out that Ruth abides in Boaz's field for the entire barley harvest. Ruth didn't hop around from field to field looking for the best circumstances. When God led her to a field where the owner protected her, fed her and provided abundantly for her, she stayed put. Now, it may seem obvious that the thing to do when handed all of these blessings is to stay put. But how often in your own life do you receive a blessing, only to look for the next one? How often do you put in a hard day's work and just keep on working without seeking lasting reward? The gleaning Ruth was doing wasn't easy work. She spent all day bending over, picking up grain from the ground and then beating the grain to get the edible portion. She did this because it was the way God provided for her.
My picture to illustrate the lesson I learned from this week's passage was a series of traffic signs: A Yield Sign, A Stop Sign and A Traffic Light. I wrote below each that we are to yield to God's will, stop where he sends us and go full out at the work he places before us. I'm not sure which of these is hardest. Sometimes it feels pretty easy to yield to God's will. I believe I am currently in my job at Rejoice because I followed God's traffic signs to it. That part wasn't really all that hard. I love Rejoice. I believe God is using it to do great things in the lives of the children who dance there, including my own daughters. I believe God has a plan for this ministry and that he wants to see us dance before him with joy as these students do. I have seen that Rejoice is God's ministry, so it was easy to yield to God's direction to work there.
Right now, what's hard is stopping where God has me and staying there. I feel responsible for our budget shortfall. As Development Manager, I believe I should have been able to somehow prevent this. I should have found more time, more energy and better words to solicit funds for us. One of my first reactions upon hearing about our financial situation was that perhaps I should resign. My salary, small though it is, does have an impact on our budget. It might be better for the ministry as a whole if I were to just go to another "field" instead of stopping where God has me and continuing to go full out at my work.
I think this doubt about God's direction for my life stems from a lack of belief on my part. Specifically, a lack of belief that God can and will use me to do his work. I have for so long believed that I am incapable of producing worthy work that when faced with a challenge like this, I instantly begin self-recriminations regarding my worth, my skills and ultimately, my value. Interestingly enough, I've taken some solace and instruction from a song that my daughters danced to at Rejoice this summer. It says in part, "If you are who you say you are, then I am who you say." If I am going to believe that God is who he says he is, then I must also believe that I am who he says I am... and right now that includes Development Manager at Rejoice.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
SATIATED
satisfied (as a need or desire) fully or to excess
RUTH 2:8-17
There's a scene in the book of Ruth where Boaz calls Ruth over to join him for lunch. They've met not long before this as she gleaned in his fields and he shares his meal with her. Boaz gives Ruth a portion of what he is eating. Most importantly, Boaz gives Ruth enough food that she ate until she was "satisfied" and had some left over. One definition for the Hebrew word used here (saba) is satiate. I prefer satiate to satisfy because of the fullness and excess implicit and explicit in the word satiate.
This made me think about where in life I am satisfied and where I am satiated. Am I spiritually satisfied or satiated? Am I settling for just enough or filling my soul to excess with God's goodness, mercy and love? Even more convicting, am I satisfying myself with earthly fare or holding out for the truly good stuff? It's hard to deny the satisfaction I get from reading a well-written novel, but that should not be what satiates my soul.
If I'm satiated with the things of God, what am I doing with the excess? What Ruth does with her excess is share it. So I think I'm called to not only seek my satisfaction and satiation from God and His Word, but to share the excess with others. What does this mean practically? That's a bit harder, but I think for a start it means remembering God's patience with me when I err over and over again and offering grace to others who injure, insult or merely annoy me. It also means forgiving whether it's sought or not, loving those who are less than lovable and setting aside my own self-interests much more often than I currently do.
But first, I need to satiate my soul. There's no denying that I currently feel calm in the midst of storms at work and that is from filling my soul with God's Word.
RUTH 2:8-17
There's a scene in the book of Ruth where Boaz calls Ruth over to join him for lunch. They've met not long before this as she gleaned in his fields and he shares his meal with her. Boaz gives Ruth a portion of what he is eating. Most importantly, Boaz gives Ruth enough food that she ate until she was "satisfied" and had some left over. One definition for the Hebrew word used here (saba) is satiate. I prefer satiate to satisfy because of the fullness and excess implicit and explicit in the word satiate.
This made me think about where in life I am satisfied and where I am satiated. Am I spiritually satisfied or satiated? Am I settling for just enough or filling my soul to excess with God's goodness, mercy and love? Even more convicting, am I satisfying myself with earthly fare or holding out for the truly good stuff? It's hard to deny the satisfaction I get from reading a well-written novel, but that should not be what satiates my soul.
If I'm satiated with the things of God, what am I doing with the excess? What Ruth does with her excess is share it. So I think I'm called to not only seek my satisfaction and satiation from God and His Word, but to share the excess with others. What does this mean practically? That's a bit harder, but I think for a start it means remembering God's patience with me when I err over and over again and offering grace to others who injure, insult or merely annoy me. It also means forgiving whether it's sought or not, loving those who are less than lovable and setting aside my own self-interests much more often than I currently do.
But first, I need to satiate my soul. There's no denying that I currently feel calm in the midst of storms at work and that is from filling my soul with God's Word.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
FAVOR
1 a (1): friendly regard shown toward another especially by a superior (2): approving consideration or attention : approbation b: partiality c archaic : leniency d archaic : permission e: popularity
3 a: gracious kindness ; also : an act of such kindness Ruth 2:1-7
I've been thinking this week about whose favor I am seeking. It's been largely prompted by the passage in the book of Ruth where Ruth tells Naomi that she is going to glean behind "anyone in whose eyes I find favor." In the King James Version, "favor" is translated "grace," so that made me curious about how I think about favor. In this context, Ruth is really just looking for someone who will look favorably upon her and allow her to glean behind them.
It's funny how God will take a nugget of thought and lead you down the path he wants you to take. By the end of the week, He had made clear to me that I have a family member who is very critical and I am constantly on edge and on guard around this person. I am guarded around The Critic because I don't want to provide fuel for criticism of me after we've been together. What I want is "friendly regard," "approving consideration" and maybe even a bit of "gracious kindness." That's not terribly likely to happen since The Critic is very critical of most everything in life. More importantly, that's not whose favor I need to seek.
Paul says in Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God ? Or am I striving to please men ? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." I certainly spend too much of my time trying to please men and that caught me up short as I thought about seeking favor and how I should correctly approach that. How do I seek God's favor through my relationship with The Critic? I think the answer to that comes from my study of I Peter earlier this year.
Peter instructs us to love each other "fervently." In the Greek, the word "fervent" carries with it a connotation of "stretched out." In sharp contrast to that, the best description of my recent interactions with The Critic have been guarded, the very opposite of being stretched out and therefore vulnerable. In examining how I could seek God's favor, not man's, in my relationship with The Critic, I think I must be willing to be fervent. The Critic's criticisms and generally negative view of life are not ultimately about me. The best approach that I believe I can take is to be willing to be myself, even if that means I am exposed to harsh words, subtle criticisms and slights.
One of the great things about seeking God's favor is that His favor will not falter. Even were I able to remain guarded in my interactions with The Critic and blunt the criticisms of me and my family for a time, I would never be able to maintain The Critic's favor. The favor of any man is fleeting because we are easily satisfied, easily distracted creatures. If I will instead focus on pursuing the continued favor of God and on using His favor to bless others, the favor of men will gradually fade into the background.
Peter instructs us to love each other "fervently." In the Greek, the word "fervent" carries with it a connotation of "stretched out." In sharp contrast to that, the best description of my recent interactions with The Critic have been guarded, the very opposite of being stretched out and therefore vulnerable. In examining how I could seek God's favor, not man's, in my relationship with The Critic, I think I must be willing to be fervent. The Critic's criticisms and generally negative view of life are not ultimately about me. The best approach that I believe I can take is to be willing to be myself, even if that means I am exposed to harsh words, subtle criticisms and slights.
One of the great things about seeking God's favor is that His favor will not falter. Even were I able to remain guarded in my interactions with The Critic and blunt the criticisms of me and my family for a time, I would never be able to maintain The Critic's favor. The favor of any man is fleeting because we are easily satisfied, easily distracted creatures. If I will instead focus on pursuing the continued favor of God and on using His favor to bless others, the favor of men will gradually fade into the background.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
COURAGE
noun
Ruth 1:16-22
My Bible study group is studying the book of Ruth this fall. We always start a study with a book chart, which requires reading the book through multiple times to get a good feel for the overall book and seeing the book as a whole. I'll admit that after spending time on this book, I was not left with a favorable impression of Ruth. The night that we shared our book charts, someone in the group said she wished she were more like Ruth. I wrote down "Do I want to be more like Ruth?" that night.
The main thing I didn't like about Ruth was that she seemed to just obey Naomi without question. Now, unquestioning obedience is supposed to have a prominent place in the Christian faith, it's just not something that comes easily to me. I essentially saw Ruth as weak because she obeyed Naomi's instruction to put herself at Boaz's mercy. What I didn't really see until this week was that Ruth put herself at God's mercy long before meeting Boaz.
For a large portion of Chapter 1, Naomi urges Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, to return to their homeland instead of continuing on with her. After two speeches from Naomi, Orpah relents and goes home. Naomi gives it one more go with Ruth, but Ruth replies with a passionate speech of loyalty to Naomi that you may have heard as part of a wedding (where you go, I will go...). The text says that after this speech, Naomi sees Ruth was 'determined.' The Hebrew for this word can also be translated as 'courageous.' Ruth was certain and steadfast in her decision to accompany Naomi. So steadfast, in fact, that Naomi quits trying to persuade her and ignores her for the rest of the journey.
Seeing Ruth as courageous changed my perspective on her. She did not take the easy road. Ruth went as a foreigner to a land where she was not only leaving her family behind, but her customs, her home and her gods. Ruth had clearly thought all of this through because she did not waver when Naomi tried multiple times to get her to return to Moab. She was courageous and determined.
Seeing Ruth's determination to do what was right in God's eyes rather than taking the known path made me think about my own fears in going where God sends me, staying where He puts me and doing the work He gives me. It feels somewhat courageous to write this. Writing is a creative outlet, but it's intimidating to put my thoughts, emotions and fears into words, especially written words.
As an avid reader, I know there are many great writers in the world. What can my small contribution possibly be worth? For right now, I'm trying to focus on listening to the command to write and not on the relative value of what I am writing. If the only value this writing brings is that I have a forum for creating something, that will have to be enough.
: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
Ruth 1:16-22
My Bible study group is studying the book of Ruth this fall. We always start a study with a book chart, which requires reading the book through multiple times to get a good feel for the overall book and seeing the book as a whole. I'll admit that after spending time on this book, I was not left with a favorable impression of Ruth. The night that we shared our book charts, someone in the group said she wished she were more like Ruth. I wrote down "Do I want to be more like Ruth?" that night.
The main thing I didn't like about Ruth was that she seemed to just obey Naomi without question. Now, unquestioning obedience is supposed to have a prominent place in the Christian faith, it's just not something that comes easily to me. I essentially saw Ruth as weak because she obeyed Naomi's instruction to put herself at Boaz's mercy. What I didn't really see until this week was that Ruth put herself at God's mercy long before meeting Boaz.
For a large portion of Chapter 1, Naomi urges Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, to return to their homeland instead of continuing on with her. After two speeches from Naomi, Orpah relents and goes home. Naomi gives it one more go with Ruth, but Ruth replies with a passionate speech of loyalty to Naomi that you may have heard as part of a wedding (where you go, I will go...). The text says that after this speech, Naomi sees Ruth was 'determined.' The Hebrew for this word can also be translated as 'courageous.' Ruth was certain and steadfast in her decision to accompany Naomi. So steadfast, in fact, that Naomi quits trying to persuade her and ignores her for the rest of the journey.
Seeing Ruth as courageous changed my perspective on her. She did not take the easy road. Ruth went as a foreigner to a land where she was not only leaving her family behind, but her customs, her home and her gods. Ruth had clearly thought all of this through because she did not waver when Naomi tried multiple times to get her to return to Moab. She was courageous and determined.
Seeing Ruth's determination to do what was right in God's eyes rather than taking the known path made me think about my own fears in going where God sends me, staying where He puts me and doing the work He gives me. It feels somewhat courageous to write this. Writing is a creative outlet, but it's intimidating to put my thoughts, emotions and fears into words, especially written words.
As an avid reader, I know there are many great writers in the world. What can my small contribution possibly be worth? For right now, I'm trying to focus on listening to the command to write and not on the relative value of what I am writing. If the only value this writing brings is that I have a forum for creating something, that will have to be enough.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
TOO
1: besides , also too
2 a: to an excessive degree : excessively <too large a house for us> b: to such a degree as to be regrettabletoo far> c: very too interested>
3: so 2d <“I didn't do it.” “You did too.”>
Ruth 1:11-15
For my Bible study this week in Ruth, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to return to their homes. As part of her encouragement to them to return, she essentially says, "I'm too old to remarry and produce any more sons for you to marry. Go back to your own family." One book that I read talked about how Naomi was clearly being rhetorical in talking about remarrying and giving birth to more sons for Ruth and Orpah to marry. The point she was making was that she couldn't provide for Ruth and Orpah like she wanted to.
The verse where Naomi says she is "too old" took me, via a cross reference, to Genesis where both Abraham and Sarah separately say they are "too old" when God tells them He will make their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Sarah even laughs behind the angels backs. Where am I laughing behind God's back? There are definitely days when I feel "too old." Too old to parent three fabulously energetic daughters. Too old to pursue new passions in life. Too old to try new things (writing, running, teaching). But if Sarah got pregnant and gave birth in her 90s, who am I to say I am too old to do something, especially if it is something God wants me to do?
After confronting myself with this difficult question, I started thinking about the word "too." Naomi's assertion that she is "too old" is bound up in her ability to care and provide for family and this bring me to another conclusion: Naomi thought this problem was too big for God. Well, maybe she didn't exactly think the problem was too big for God, but she thought the problem was too big for God to use HER to help solve it. How could He use a widow with virtually no family as a tool in the life of two recently widowed foreigners?
Where am I quick to decide God can't use me? Where am I bound up in my own vision of myself and unwilling to be the tool God wants me to be? Does it matter if I feel incapable of doing the task set before me if I am truly called to complete that task? Some days I feel like a lot of the opportunities that stand before me are things outside of my comfort zone. Yet I feel a persistent pull to do things I never would have imagined trying. I am afraid to keep trying. I am afraid I will fail - fail to meet my own expectations, fail to fulfill a commitment, fail to live up to what someone else thinks I should do or be.
But while I am afraid to fail, I am more afraid to not try. I am afraid that if I don't do the jobs God gives me, he will stop giving me jobs. He'll stop pursuing me as a tool for His kingdom and let me languish at some rest-stop on the way to where He really wants me to be. So, I'll keep writing, because it's the most persistent and consistent pull that I feel.
2 a: to an excessive degree : excessively <too large a house for us> b: to such a degree as to be regrettable
3: so 2d <“I didn't do it.” “You did too.”>
Ruth 1:11-15
For my Bible study this week in Ruth, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to return to their homes. As part of her encouragement to them to return, she essentially says, "I'm too old to remarry and produce any more sons for you to marry. Go back to your own family." One book that I read talked about how Naomi was clearly being rhetorical in talking about remarrying and giving birth to more sons for Ruth and Orpah to marry. The point she was making was that she couldn't provide for Ruth and Orpah like she wanted to.
The verse where Naomi says she is "too old" took me, via a cross reference, to Genesis where both Abraham and Sarah separately say they are "too old" when God tells them He will make their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Sarah even laughs behind the angels backs. Where am I laughing behind God's back? There are definitely days when I feel "too old." Too old to parent three fabulously energetic daughters. Too old to pursue new passions in life. Too old to try new things (writing, running, teaching). But if Sarah got pregnant and gave birth in her 90s, who am I to say I am too old to do something, especially if it is something God wants me to do?
After confronting myself with this difficult question, I started thinking about the word "too." Naomi's assertion that she is "too old" is bound up in her ability to care and provide for family and this bring me to another conclusion: Naomi thought this problem was too big for God. Well, maybe she didn't exactly think the problem was too big for God, but she thought the problem was too big for God to use HER to help solve it. How could He use a widow with virtually no family as a tool in the life of two recently widowed foreigners?
Where am I quick to decide God can't use me? Where am I bound up in my own vision of myself and unwilling to be the tool God wants me to be? Does it matter if I feel incapable of doing the task set before me if I am truly called to complete that task? Some days I feel like a lot of the opportunities that stand before me are things outside of my comfort zone. Yet I feel a persistent pull to do things I never would have imagined trying. I am afraid to keep trying. I am afraid I will fail - fail to meet my own expectations, fail to fulfill a commitment, fail to live up to what someone else thinks I should do or be.
But while I am afraid to fail, I am more afraid to not try. I am afraid that if I don't do the jobs God gives me, he will stop giving me jobs. He'll stop pursuing me as a tool for His kingdom and let me languish at some rest-stop on the way to where He really wants me to be. So, I'll keep writing, because it's the most persistent and consistent pull that I feel.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
RETURNING
intransitive verb
1 a: to go back or come back again <return home> b: to go back in thought, practice, or condition : revert
2: to pass back to an earlier possessor
3: reply , retort
transitive verb
1 a: to give (as an official account) to a superior bBritish : to elect (a candidate) as attested by official report or returns c: to bring back (as a writ or verdict) to an office or tribunal
2 a: to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place b: to restore to a former or to a normal state
3 a: to send back : visit —usually used with on or upon bobsolete : retort
4: to bring in (as profit) : yield
5 a: to give or perform in return : repay <return a compliment> ; also : to respond to in kind <returned his calls> b: to give back to the owner c: reflect <return an echo>
6: to cause (as a wall) to continue in a different direction (as at a right angle)
7: to lead (a specified suit or specified card of a suit) in response to a partner's earlier lead
8 a: to hit back (a ball or shuttlecock) b: to run with (a football) after a change of possession (as by a punt or a fumble)
Ruth 1:1-10
Where is home for you? Are you returning to where you were, who you were, before God made you a citizen of His kingdom? Or are you returning to where God wants you and who he envisioned you being when he created you?
Even though Ruth had never been to the homeland of her mother-in-law, Naomi, she asks to return there with her. We'll probably never know exactly why. Many scholars have theories as to why Ruth wanted to return with Naomi rather than go back to her mother's home, as Naomi tells her to do. Any number of these theories could be right - or wrong.
My own (uneducated) theory is that God had started to change Ruth during the time of her marriage to one of his people. Ruth saw who she had been and got a glimpse of who God was changing her to be. She probably also saw that even though Naomi was bitter and felt wronged by God, she stilled called out to him, she still returned to his people and she still called upon him to bless her daughters-in-law. Even in the midst of her suffering, Naomi believed in her God and his power.
No matter where we call home now - a one-story ranch, a two-story contemporary or an arts and crafts bungalow - we should remember that we are not permanent residents. We are sojourners here and should be returning to a homeland that our hearts cry out for, not returning to this world, which is bereft of eternal hope.
1 a: to go back or come back again <return home> b: to go back in thought, practice, or condition : revert
2: to pass back to an earlier possessor
3: reply , retort
transitive verb
1 a: to give (as an official account) to a superior bBritish : to elect (a candidate) as attested by official report or returns c: to bring back (as a writ or verdict) to an office or tribunal
2 a: to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place b: to restore to a former or to a normal state
3 a: to send back : visit —usually used with on or upon bobsolete : retort
4: to bring in (as profit) : yield
5 a: to give or perform in return : repay <return a compliment> ; also : to respond to in kind <returned his calls> b: to give back to the owner c: reflect <return an echo>
6: to cause (as a wall) to continue in a different direction (as at a right angle)
7: to lead (a specified suit or specified card of a suit) in response to a partner's earlier lead
8 a: to hit back (a ball or shuttlecock) b: to run with (a football) after a change of possession (as by a punt or a fumble)
Ruth 1:1-10
Even though Ruth had never been to the homeland of her mother-in-law, Naomi, she asks to return there with her. We'll probably never know exactly why. Many scholars have theories as to why Ruth wanted to return with Naomi rather than go back to her mother's home, as Naomi tells her to do. Any number of these theories could be right - or wrong.
My own (uneducated) theory is that God had started to change Ruth during the time of her marriage to one of his people. Ruth saw who she had been and got a glimpse of who God was changing her to be. She probably also saw that even though Naomi was bitter and felt wronged by God, she stilled called out to him, she still returned to his people and she still called upon him to bless her daughters-in-law. Even in the midst of her suffering, Naomi believed in her God and his power.
No matter where we call home now - a one-story ranch, a two-story contemporary or an arts and crafts bungalow - we should remember that we are not permanent residents. We are sojourners here and should be returning to a homeland that our hearts cry out for, not returning to this world, which is bereft of eternal hope.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
DUTY
1: conduct due to parents and superiors : respect
2 a: obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1): assigned service or business (2): active military service (3): a period of being on duty
3 a: a moral or legal obligation b: the force of moral obligation
4: tax ; especially : a tax on imports
5 a: work 1a b (1): the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions (2): functional application : useduty out of the trip> (3): use as a substitute duty for the thing — Edward Sapir>
Tonight I was asked my favorite movie. It was not a tough decision to name Roman Holiday. It has many assets: Audrey Hepburn is beautiful, silly and generally wonderful, the setting is Rome (!) and the pacing of the plot is wonderful. But the main thing I love about Roman Holiday is the scene where Hepburn (a princess) has returned from her "holiday" with Cary Grant and is lectured by her governess about her duty to her country. Audrey pulls herself up and tells the woman that she is never to lecture her about her duty. The governess doesn't know, but the young princess would never have returned were it not for duty. I love that Roman Holiday ends with Audrey Hepburn's character doing what is right - and not running away with a man she just met, even if she did fall in love with him. It's not a trademarked Hollywood Happy Ending, but it is so much better than the two of them riding off into the sunset.
Thinking about my favorite movie and favorite scene within the movie made me think about what duty is and what its implications are for self and others. What are my responsibilities and obligations to myself? As a mother of three young children who are all involved in after-school activities, I am often the last person I think of. I know this is not wise. I know I risk burn-out or worse by not taking better care of my physical, emotional and spiritual needs, but I've been stretched thin recently to make the necessary adjustments to our back-to-school and back to after-school activities schedules. It's been hard to get up at 5:30 a.m. to run, but I know deep down that's exactly what I should do.
What are the "obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from my position" as a wife? Am I giving my husband enough of my time, attention and energy? Am I encouraging him in his gifts, caring for him and loving him well? He has been so helpful in making sure B & K are at their soccer practices and games, and has helped with not only shuttling children, but cooking dinner and other household duties. Am I honoring that with a thankful heart or taking it for granted?
What are the "obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from my position" as a mother? Yes, I make sure my daughters are fed, dressed and at their respective activities. Am I loving them through all of it? I am, but do they know it? Am I finding moments to share my heart with them or am I too tired to do that?
At my Bible Study tonight, someone said she wants to be more like Ruth. I'm not sure whether I want to be more like Ruth - she follows her cranky mother-in-law to another country, obeys her without question and puts herself out on a limb by going to a man in the middle of the night to offer herself for marriage. She does these things with a quiet confidence (that part I would like) and without complaint (I could use some of that), but blind obedience and ready compliance do not come easy to me. Who I know I want to be like is Audrey Hepburn's character from Roman Holiday. I want to see my duties to myself and others and embrace them. I want to be bold in knowing that I'm doing the best I can.
2 a: obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1): assigned service or business (2): active military service (3): a period of being on duty
3 a: a moral or legal obligation b: the force of moral obligation
4: tax ; especially : a tax on imports
5 a: work 1a b (1): the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions (2): functional application : use
Tonight I was asked my favorite movie. It was not a tough decision to name Roman Holiday. It has many assets: Audrey Hepburn is beautiful, silly and generally wonderful, the setting is Rome (!) and the pacing of the plot is wonderful. But the main thing I love about Roman Holiday is the scene where Hepburn (a princess) has returned from her "holiday" with Cary Grant and is lectured by her governess about her duty to her country. Audrey pulls herself up and tells the woman that she is never to lecture her about her duty. The governess doesn't know, but the young princess would never have returned were it not for duty. I love that Roman Holiday ends with Audrey Hepburn's character doing what is right - and not running away with a man she just met, even if she did fall in love with him. It's not a trademarked Hollywood Happy Ending, but it is so much better than the two of them riding off into the sunset.
Thinking about my favorite movie and favorite scene within the movie made me think about what duty is and what its implications are for self and others. What are my responsibilities and obligations to myself? As a mother of three young children who are all involved in after-school activities, I am often the last person I think of. I know this is not wise. I know I risk burn-out or worse by not taking better care of my physical, emotional and spiritual needs, but I've been stretched thin recently to make the necessary adjustments to our back-to-school and back to after-school activities schedules. It's been hard to get up at 5:30 a.m. to run, but I know deep down that's exactly what I should do.
What are the
What are the "obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from my position" as a mother? Yes, I make sure my daughters are fed, dressed and at their respective activities. Am I loving them through all of it? I am, but do they know it? Am I finding moments to share my heart with them or am I too tired to do that?
At my Bible Study tonight, someone said she wants to be more like Ruth. I'm not sure whether I want to be more like Ruth - she follows her cranky mother-in-law to another country, obeys her without question and puts herself out on a limb by going to a man in the middle of the night to offer herself for marriage. She does these things with a quiet confidence (that part I would like) and without complaint (I could use some of that), but blind obedience and ready compliance do not come easy to me. Who I know I want to be like is Audrey Hepburn's character from Roman Holiday. I want to see my duties to myself and others and embrace them. I want to be bold in knowing that I'm doing the best I can.
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