Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ruth 3

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

3
1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home[a] for you, where you will be well provided for.
2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor.
3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

This sounds very odd to me!

Matthew Henry introduces this chapter this way:

We found it very easy, in the former chapter, to applaud the decency of Ruth’s behaviour, and to show what good use we may make of the account given us of it; but in this chapter we shall have much ado to vindicate it from the imputation of indecency, and to save it from having an ill use made of it; but the goodness of those times was such as saved what is recorded here from being ill done, and yet the badness of these times is such as that it will not justify any now in doing the like.

This didn’t really help me – so I went to a Torah Class Website, to see what they have to say about Ruth and Boaz on the Threshing room floor!

This article is VERY interesting, coming from the Hebrew point of view – and once the author gets to the threshing room floor instructions, this is what he says:

But then the instruction gets a little dicey; Na’omi tells Ruth to uncover his feet and lie down with him. Now I’m sure most of you have an image of seduction in your minds about now, and you might be right (although it was not to the extent that some have claimed). Here’s the thing; the Bible can get very sensual and sexual at times. Sex was just an everyday part of life, and while modesty was called for in God’s people, they were also around farm animals all the time and every child was familiar from an early age of the natural reproductive process. And certain flirtations between men and women were open and common in Biblical days that today would be seen as crude and objectionable. I’ll explain where I’m going with this later.

Ruth 3:5-15 – Ruth says yes, does what her Mother in law prescribes, is greeted by Boaz, and blessed.

That article from Torah Class really explains a lot of the icky thinking…and puts things into perspective.

Chapters 1 and 2 have led up to Ruth and Boaz being very Godly people.
Sexual sin would compromise the whole kinsman redeemer prospect.
Harlots were stoned(remember the thoughts about Mary, the mother of Jesus?)
If there had been seduction and harlotry, Ruth would have been unmarriable.
Something else was going on.
I’m so glad that I found this other site…The commentary by Matthew Henry and the Torah Class really helped me out here!

16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her
17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

The Torah Class continues with 3, and concludes with 4.

Courting obviously involves flirtatious interaction between male and female as one attempts to attract the other: but hopefully it unfolds more in the way that the God who created man and woman intended as opposed to something that is significantly less than appropriate, especially for those who honor YHWH as Lord of all. Thus we examined and discarded a somewhat new interpretation of the middle-of-the-night events taking place on the threshing floor between Ruth and Boaz. And this new interpretation is that Ruth sneaked in and exposed Boaz as a somewhat usual and customary indication of her interest in marriage. Not only does this rather strained attempt to find something provocative in this passage of Ruth not fit a straightforward, intellectually honest and plain translation of the Hebrew narrative, but it also tosses aside the context and motif of the entire story that is based on two exceptionally righteous, modest, faithful followers of the God of Israel: Ruth and Boaz.

This lesson 7 goes on to explain more about the Levirate Marriage, and the go-el, and how this is so important.

A moabitess – an outsider – a pagan – that lives in darkness.
By her marriage, she becomes aware of a light – the light of the God of Israel.
She leaves the darkness and pays the price to move into the light.
Because of this, she and her house are redeemed!

As a mother that has children that are not walking with the Lord as they were taught, this is a great story of encouragement to me.
As one that was born in sin, and needed a savior, this reminds me that I need to turn from darkness and cling to the LIGHT!

I ask that the Lord Jesus continues to spread the corner of His garment over me – and I pray that I will continue to lie at HIS feet – in total submission, awaiting HIM to give me instructions.

I hope that you enjoy the two commentaries. I have!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

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Christmas Carols Considerations – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The first Christmas Carol I’m considering is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen sung by a traditional choir.

Wikipedia contains the history of this song.

The first recorded version is found in Three New Christmas Carols, dated c. 1760.

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ, our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s powers when we were gone astray

Glad tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Glad tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel this blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary did nothing take in scorn

Chorus

From God our Heavenly Father a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name

Chorus

“Fear not then, said the angel, let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might”

Chorus

The Shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding, In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,This blessed babe to find.

Chorus

But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereas this infant lay,
They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray.

Chorus

Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy

There is so much amazing theology in this Carol!
LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY!
FEAR NOT
COMFORT AND JOY!
The humility of the manger.
The messengers of God – Angels speaking to the unloved.

In the midst of life, there are so many things that come up that would cause one to dismay or fear!
In the midst of the storms, we need comfort and joy.
God came down to OUR level to give us these gifts.

I, for one, and very thankful that He did!

Now, here are a few upbeat versions! Enjoy!
Merry Christmas!

Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2017 My One Word – #MyDays Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

This was part of last years word – Prepare.

And I’ve written how I realized how unprepared I really am!
the thing is, what is the point of preparation?
Just to be prepared in the face of fear? crisis? trauma? sickness?

This verse has hit me in the last months of 2016 – the point of preparation is
THAT I MAY GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM!

I think I’ll be focusing on schedules – so as not to WASTE time.
I think I’ll be focusing on hiding the word in my heart – so that I don’t sin against the Lord!
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
I think I’ll be focusing on organization to be more efficient in my efforts.
I think I’ll be focusing on choices…choosing wisely!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Christmas Carol Considerations – For Unto Us a Child Is Born – Messiah

For unto Us a Child is Born from Handel’s Messiah

For unto us a Child is born (Handel's Messiah) from Jeffrey Stivers on Vimeo.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

Jesus IS our Christmas GIFT!
For me – that is all that needs to be said! I love this song, I loved singing it in choir, and I love listening to it!

~~~~~

Advent Devotions
Thank you to Christmas Carol Lyrics for providing the lyrics for these Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ruth 2

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook.

Ruth 2

2
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

“AS IT TURNED OUT”…there is no indication that Naomi told her to go find Boaz’s field, in fact, the opposite! She didn’t!
Another GOD timing, GOD orchestration! It was the time of the harvest – EVERYONE was harvesting!

Boaz seems to be a different type of boss…greeting his harvesters, and even noticing when someone new is in the picture! “Who’s that?”

6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”

This tells Boaz that Ruth is a hard worker…
In addition, while Ruth and Naomi don’t know which field this is, Boaz knows who Naomi is, Boaz knows who Ruth is, and Boaz knows his responsibility to his clan!

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me.
9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

Boaz shows his character here. He gives Ruth advice for her protection. He makes sure that his men will not touch her, and he makes provision for her thirst!

Ruth is surprised – recognizing that this is special treatment – and asks why?

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.
12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Ruth had humbled herself to be attached to Naomi. Boaz speaks a blessing upon her, because her kindnesses have spoken much about HER character! He also admits to HIS faith in God, based upon his comments here!

Ruth knows that she is nothing more than a beggar, at least, that is what she thinks. She knows that she is not even one of his servants! She realizes that something more than just kindness has been bestowed upon her.

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

The Bible verse about casting your bread upon the water and it will come back – or planting a seed and it will bring forth a harvest – this is the example of those principles. Ruth had planted into the life of Naomi. I think that Naomi planted into the life of Ruth! Either way, Ruth is getting blessed for her humble acts of kindness! Again, Boaz shows his character, by caring for someone that does not know that she is family yet! In the same way that Jesus fed the people on the hillside, she had all she wanted, and there was some left over.

15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

Is this exceedingly, abundantly, above what she could ask or think?

17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.
18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

We don’t see it until here, but that leftover grain? Ruth saved it for Naomi! Ruth was devoted to caring for Naomi!
Naomi realizes that this is not just some ordinary gleaning – something is going on. So she asks Ruth – who’s field? Ruth says, oh, some man named Boaz.

20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”

I can see Naomi jumping up, and shouting! I’m not sure that Ruth knew what was going on, but, somehow she understood that this was a good thing!

Finally, things start to look up for Naomi!
All because of the love of an undesirable!
Ruth was a Moabitess – the Israelites were not to intermarry!
Moabites were not the best friends to the Israelites – though they were not the worst, either.

Where did Moab come from:
Wikipedea says:

According to the biblical account, Moab and Ammon were born to Lot and Lot’s elder and younger daughters, respectively, in the aftermath of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible refers to both the Moabites and Ammonites as Lot’s sons, born of incest with his daughters Genesis 19:37-38

These are NOT the folks a good Hebrew Mom would want her sons to marry! Boaz’s comments about Ruth point out that she had decided to take refuge under the Wings of the God of Israel. Apparently, HE understood the principles of forgiveness from the Old Testament – rather than the harsh mean God that many refer to!

Timing – IN HIS TIME!

As I am writing this, Jim and I are moving our bedroom around. When we purchased the house, we did not have a lot of money to buy furniture. We went to various thrift stores, and bought pieces that ‘looked’ like what we’d like. Because we were not able to be choosy, we didn’t really measure and plan.

Curtains purchased in one place matched the sofas purchased in another place, and the fabric I’d fallen in love with at JoAnn’s.
We bought a bed and a dresser set at one store – they did not totally match, but, they were similar enough that we were pleased. We put the bed on one wall, and the dresser on the other. In addition, we had purchased end tables several years earlier for our apartment in Lakeland! At that time, there was NO plan to buy a house!

We wanted to move the bed to another wall, in order to create more flow. The issue was that dresser. It was 6 feet long, and fit on ONE wall. We did not want to block the path into the closet.

In order to put the bed on the other wall, with the nightstands, it was not going to be centered, because of that dresser. There was NO other place to put this dresser….unless….

The bed frame, side to side, was seven feet. In fact, the six foot dresser fits perfectly between the thick legs of the footboard of the bedframe! There is even room for a comfy chair – like the one I’ve been wanting in my bedroom FOR YEARS! And, everything is lined up! It’s as if we’d planned it!

No judgement – we just moved the dresser!

We didn’t. God did. We put the furnishing of the house in God’s hands. He gave to us exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think! If we had tried to plan this, we couldn’t have, because we would never have planned THIS arrangement.

Naomi and Ruth did not plan what field to go into – God sent Ruth.
Ruth did not plan on Boaz providing for her – but God knew Boaz’s heart.
When we trust in God, when we take refuge under the wings of the God of Israel, the God of Creation, the Lord of Life – HE will provide, and give us peace.

For additional study –
Alistair Begg’s series God of the Ordinary

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Christmas Carol Considerations – What Child is This? Mary did you Know?

I have chosen TWO carols for this devotion – because I believe they go hand in hand!
There is a lot of music on this blog!

What Child is This?

https://youtu.be/u0tn-VdgU_k

1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.[Chorus]

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.[Chorus]
Baptist Hymnal, (2008)

https://youtu.be/u0tn-VdgU_k

And, here is the answer – in Mary Did you know?
Did Mary know what was going to happen to her baby boy?

Mark Lowry wrote this song. I’ve included a recent version at the end.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? ( Matthew 14:22-23)

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?(Acts 4:12)

Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? (Rev 21:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man? (John 9)

Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will calm the storm with His hand?(Mark 4:39)

Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kiss the face of God? (John 10)

Mary did you know.. Mary did you know

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb. (Matthew 11:5)

Mary did you know

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.

Mary did you know

These are two of my favorite Christmas Carols.
Why? well, one is that my first name is Mary…and, two, I have always wondered what Mary thought about from the day she was met by the angel, to the day she watched her son give his life for the world.

Mary – the first person to know that Jesus was coming! What a relationship she must have had with her heavenly Father. I want to be like Mary. And I want to be like Jesus.
These songs just evoke the majesty of this whole event. I hope you are blessed by this as well!

~~~~~

Advent Devotions
Thank you to Christmas Carol Lyrics and Hymnary for providing the lyrics and research for these Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ruth 1

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook.

Ruth 1

First is the background for the Story of Ruth!

Ruth 1:1-2
1 In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

Famine.
With two sons.
And no hope.
This was not supposed to be a permanent decision! “For a while”.
But the plans did not happen as they had planned!

3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

How many mothers plan for their husband to die before them, much less, leave them with TWO sons?

4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

TEN years – this is such a drop in a bucket in a life. Yet, so much happened so fast in Naomi’s life! Famine, Husband dies, two sons die – and in the middle of this, her sons marry outside of the faith! Nothing is looking right for Naomi!

6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

About now, I’d be thinking – “Now what if I’d stayed in Bethlehem in the first place??? Would Elimelek still be here? What about my two sons? Would I have righteous daughters-in-law?”
I would be scared to take the road back to the land of Judah, but, I’d be scared not to! I’d be thinking I need to start all over, and maybe I can find some family that will help me out. There’s laws in Israel that take care of widows!

The thing is, she had TWO daughters-in-law!

“Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

These girls had been her daughters for about 10 years. They shared grief. They apparently did not provide children for her sons, but, they loved her. And she loved them enough to want to set them free, free to their own homes, with their own families, with their own faith. Free to have a new life.

Orpah said ok, but Ruth said NO WAY!

Ruth’s Song!

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.
Where you go I will go, and
where you stay I will stay.
Your people will be my people and
your God my God.
17 Where you die I will die, and
there I will be buried.
May the Lord deal with me,
be it ever so severely,
if even death separates you and me.”
18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Why was Ruth so determined? Did she not have a home to go back to? Or had she seen the faith of Namoi, and decided to hook her wagon to Naomi’s God? This verse has been used in marriage ceremonies for generations, and yet, it is the statement of a young woman for her MOTHER-IN-LAW! One that may not have approved of her in the beginning. One that had nothing to offer her, and yet, Ruth devoted herself to the care of her mother-in-law. This is beautiful. This was my standard for my relationship with MY mother-in-law, though things didn’t work out as I’d hoped. This is a beautiful example of Love…selfless love(and I don’t mean that I was an example!). This should be our example, our goal, for our relationship with our mother-in-law. Or, just to be like Ruth!

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

Depression takes on many forms. Grief can lead to depression, and grief upon grief upon grief is hard to overcome. In addition to her husband and sons, she had also lost a daughter, even though she’d given her the freedom to go. She returned to Bethlehem with nothing to show for leaving. The famine in her heart was far greater than the famine that was in the land when they left.

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Famine – is it WRONG to go somewhere else during a famine?
Abraham when to Egypt – to escape a famine.
Joseph called his family to come to Egypt during a famine.
Is it wrong to try to get away from trials? We are promised a way of escape. (1 Cor 10:13)

Why are there famines?
In several instances, famine is a judgement.
Even in Judgement – famine is utilized by God to MOVE people!

Psalm 33:18-22
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19To deliver their soul from deathAnd to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

Psalm 37:18-19
The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will be forever. 19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the daysof famine they will have abundance.

In this case, whether Ebimielech was lacking in faith, scared, or actually heard from the Lord to go to Moab – this choice laid into motion a Moabitess as a the grandmother of King David, and an ancestor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11 says

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And
Jeremiah 29:12 says:

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

It would seem that in my life, sometimes God allows famines to move me to my knees!
He has a plan for me.

But I need to get on board,
call upon HIM,
come to HIM,
pray to HIM –
humble myself….

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time

James 4:7-10
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Naomi is humbled.
Naomi has cried out to God.
Naomi has returned to the place of her birth, and the place of the birth of her faith.
God will lift her up!

Here is what I hear about my responsibility if I am in a famine:

James 1:2-8
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

If I truly believe what this book talks about, I believe that God has a plan, and that HE will orchestrate whatever needs to be done in order to help me make the proper choices for HIS good will in MY life.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2016 end of year thoughts

I am thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for bringing me through this year.

The beginning of the year was not as bad as the beginning of 2015.

I spent from the end of March to the beginning of June in Youngstown, Ohio, to help our daughter with the birth of her third son.

I stayed in an apartment – and that enabled me to watch the other two boys.

with the help of my co-gramma, Kate Gibson, I planned and executed two parties – a Baby Shower, and a third birthday!
My BFF Susan Stephens came to help with the Shower:

Theodore Montgomery Gibson was born April 6, three days after the shower!

Oliver’s third Birthday was a success – with many cousins from around Ohio!

Sad part – my cat Purrl got outside on a wet, rainy day, and was killed.

Much of the time in Ohio was spent with the Gibson family, enjoying the boys, and of course, our daughter.
I missed the birthday party for Aubrey Jo, because i was sick. I did get to buy some dance outfits for her! And she did come to Oliver’s birthday, as did Brayden and Wyatt!

ADD FAMILY PHOTO

Sad Part – just as everyone was coming for Mother’s day, Gabriel started having ear issues, and was having difficulty standing up. We took him to a veternary ER. Within days, he could no longer hear – which seemed to be from the medicine.

Mother’s day – almost the whole family was together. Rachel flew in, Stephen came up with his son, Brayden, and we had a great time. It’s been a long time since i’ve had this much of a wonderful Mother’s day!

sad part – Meranda’s grandmother was on the last leg of her trip into eternity, therefore Meranda and Aubrey and Wyatt spent her last mother’s day with her. a week later, gramma was gone.

Gabriel was having difficuties understanding commands – which meant that he was in a questionable position as my service dog.

We came home, and Jim had planned a west coast trip in connection with RedHat Summit in San Francisco. We did a lighthouse tour from San Fran up to Seattle.
We could not take Gabriel – and we found an amazing lady to board him!
The really awesome gift was getting to see our daughter Anna in San Francisco!

In August, we found out that Jim’s PSA was rising rediculously fast – the cancer was back.
In September, we talked to the surgeon. And, I realized that Gabriel needed to be retired, and that I needed to travel with Jim to aide in the stress reduction of his travel. Therefore, I gave Gabriel up.
In October, we had a biopsy done. Gleason score of 7
In November, we were on a waiting list for the set up to repeat the HIFU procedure.Set up just before Thanksgiving.
In December, we had several procedures to handle Jim’s situation.
The end of the year – we traveled to Seattle to spend Christmas time with our daughter, Anna, and to relax for the end of the year.

My word for this year was Prepare – and I wrote several blogs about that word.
Moving to Ohio for three months really brought home the need for preparation.
Hearing that the cancer was back, and more aggressive – that really screamed the need to be prepared for anything.

i have been leaning on Psalm 23 these last few months. Things have been happening so fast, that I have not finished my devotions on Psalm 23!

That and the focus upon the trials of the original Christmas story. I have added painting to my trips with Jim in order to reduce my stress.

I sewed little bags for the ornaments – breaking out my sewing machine for the first time in years! actually, since the movers lost mine when they brought us down from Ohio to Texas in 2010!

Money has been tight, because the medical procedure is NOT covered by insurance, and we are still paying off the loan for the last procedure (Feb 2015). God has shown himself our shepherd – we shall not want! Jim’s job provided enough travel that most of our visit to Anna for Christmas is paid for by points! And, the things that we do here have been gifts from Anna! It’s been amazing to just rest, and let Anna take control! She has such good taste!

I have no idea what 2017 has in store.
A new president – which may enter in the events to allow Jesus Christ to return, and usher in the new Kingdom! If not – we still know that this world is not our home, we are just passing through.

Because of all the uncertainty, my focus for next year, that I don’t seem to get away from, is to number my days.

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I know I am supposed to finish the devotions on Psalm 23, I know I’m supposed to start up the Itty Bitty Bible Study again, and I know that I’m supposed to be painting.

I will be by Jim’s side as he fights this enemy.

I will try to live my life with Matthew 5, 6, & 7; 1 corinthians 13, and Galatians 5 as my examples.
I will try to remember to put on my armor – Ephesians 6, and to trust that the battle is the Lords – Psalm 91.

More than anything, this year, I want to live in the grace and mercy of the Father – so that the negative self doubt and self talk no longer keep me a spiritual invalid. I want to embody:
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me

~~~~~

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Christmas Carol Considerations – Angels we have heard on High

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing ore the fields

“Angels We Have Heard on High” is a Christmas carol of French origin. The song commemorates the story of the birth of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Luke, in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child.

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The Angels came – to declare the birth of the Son of God.
This verse also refers to the mountains in reply…Jesus said that if he silenced his followers, that even the rocks would cry out! Luke 19:40

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be?
Which inspire your heavenly songs?
Gloria

There is new information of which I was made aware this year – the shepherds around Bethlehem were of the house of Levi. They were of the priestly lineage. No matter what, they understood that there was a coming KING from God, and that this angelic message was telling them that today was the day!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria

Bethlehem – the city of David.
Knees bowing…Phillipians 2:10; Romans 14:11; Psalm 95:6

See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior’s birth.
Gloria

The King of Creation – lying in a manger
The Omnipotent God – dependent upon a mother and father
The Omniscient God – encased in frail humanity
The Eternal God – wrapped in finite human flesh
The Owner of all – being birthed in the humblest of places that his parents didn’t own.

Do we hear the angels today?
Do we rejoice that the King has come?
Do we bend our Knee to the King of Kings, no matter how He presents himself to us?
Let us sing the Praises of Our King!

~~~~

Advent Devotions
Thank you to Christmas Carol Lyrics for providing the lyrics for these Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

The Wildberry Patch

Be Engrafted into the VINE to produce Eternal Fruit