The Other One

Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” Ruth 1:14-15

Many people shut down when yelled at. That considered, why do we often try to strong-arm people into salvation?

I have sat through more than my fair share of fire and brimstone sermons. I have heard preachers (and other Christians) use all sorts of tactics trying to convince people of their sin: insults, shouting, guilt-trips… How often does this bring about true repentance? Less than we may think. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit and the Word that draws a person to the Savior. (Jonathan Edwards never yelled, but whispered his sermons.) Pretty simple. Continue reading “The Other One” →

Even When I’ve Blown It

Ruth 1:7 “So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” Ruth 1:7

The media has perpetuated a bad stereotype of mothers-in-law for years. The relationship between Ruth and Naomi flies in the face of all that.

Before I ever met my husband, I was scared to death of ever having a mother-in-law. Shows, such as Everybody Loves Raymond certainly didn’t help. What I did get, I didn’t expect. Not only did I acquire a mother-in-law, I got a friend. I have been so blessed in that department. While I know that isn’t true for everyone else, I got a good one. Continue reading “Even When I’ve Blown It” →

Bitter Blessing

She had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited his people in giving them food. Ruth 1:6b

The topic I hear the most about from other Christians is how to hear from God. Just walk into any Christian bookstore and there is book after book and Bible studies galore. Some of the answers God has for us are simple and available at our very fingertips. James 4:17 says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Continue reading “Bitter Blessing” →

The Beginning of the Story

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.  Ruth 1:1

Ruth 1:1 begins with a man who moves his family from Bethlehem in Judah to Moab during a famine. This first verse is loaded. The first famine that we see recorded in in Genesis during the time of Abraham. Eventually, famines were prophesied ahead of time so that wise people could prepare. Famines were an instrument that God used for His purpose. It does not say why in this passage, except in the last verse of Judges that, “the people did what was right in their own eyes.” Continue reading “The Beginning of the Story” →

Fix Your Eyes!

Just as Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus, so can we. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by situations, we will find ourselves in trouble.  Matthew 14:30

Peter began to sink as he looked at the waves around him. He could only walk on water if he kept his eyes on Jesus, the very author of that miracle. But it doesn’t have to be something terrifying that gets us distracted. I’ve been experiencing a time of spiritual testing. I have been distracted by many small mosquito-like circumstances. They’ve been biting at my arms and legs, irritating my spiritual skin. Continue reading “Fix Your Eyes!” →

PUTTING IT TO DEATH

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds with we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

That day when Jesus died, it was more than His body that was being put to death. It was even more than sin. He took on our identity so that we could acquire a new one. Jesus made us co-heirs with Himself. No longer are we children of wrath. If we fall into the arms of Jesus, then we are children of God. No longer are we condemned, prisoners destined for an eternity in Hell. We are free men (and women) who are destined for eternity in Heaven. No longer are we the same. We are a peculiar people, chosen to receive a marvelous inheritance as the adopted siblings redeemed by Jesus. Continue reading “Putting It To Death” →