Ruth 3:5 “She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’”

I confess when I read this section of the story the instructions that Naomi gives to Ruth make no sense to me at all.  I wonder if they made more sense to Ruth or if she was as confused as I am.  The thing is she didn't think about it for a second.  Naomi gave her instructions and this was her response.  How often do I receive instructions from God and my response is more along the lines of “Are you sure?  I don’t think I can do that...”  The immediate agreement to follow directions regardless of understanding is a sign of trust.  Ruth trusted Naomi with her life.  Do I trust the Lord with mine?  I say I do and I know I want to but there is still a part of me that holds back from giving him carte blanche with my life.  Why?  He created me; He loves me faithfully and abundantly.  He wants only what is best for me and because He is all knowing and all powerful He knows much better than I do what is best.  It is time to lay down my pride and self-desires again and lean fully on the desires of the Lord.  He speaks and I will strive to listen and obey remembering this story in Ruth.

Lord,

Forgive me for questioning, hesitating and not truly trusting in you.  Please write this verse on my heart so when I begin to wane in trust and obedience again this will pull me back into your loving arms quickly.  Help me set aside my worries and concerns and lay my heart and life fully in your hands.  I ask this all through Jesus, Lord of all.  Amen.

Ruth 2:5 “Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’”

On the surface it is not clear why Boaz might be asking about Ruth.  Here is this foreigner gleaning from his fields, is he concerned that a foreigner is in his fields?  Or does he find her intriguing and wants to know where she comes from in order to find her again?  Is he asking to make sure this young woman has someone to take care of her?  We are not told his intentions but we do know He is a man of God.  He greets his workers with a blessing and has the best interest of Ruth in mind as he takes her under his wing.  It is nice to belong to someone; we are blessed to have family and friends that we belong to.  As cold weather comes more often I pray for those who do not belong to anyone.  They live in shelters or under bridges.  They are ostracized by their blood relatives and feel alone.  As God’s children we are called to love each other.  Instead of cringing at the people on the exits of highways maybe I should ask myself who they belong to.  Would a simple act of love, a gift of food or money help them feel love?  Let the words of Boaz encourage us to open our eyes and see, then care for those who do not belong yet.

Lord,

We all belong to you but we do not all know it or acknowledge it.  Help us to see each person we come across today as a child of yours, help us remember they belong to you just as we belong to you.  In that realization move us to care for others so they will feel your love for them.  Amen. 

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.”

Hold fast to the traditions... we are coming into a season filled with traditions that are handed down from generation to generation.  Thanksgiving has been a tradition since the beginning of our nation when the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sat at table together sharing what they had to eat.  We still gather at table with family and friends sharing in the bounty and the fellowship we have.  Christmas is steeped in tradition much older and even deeper.  Why do we hold fast to traditions?  We keep them because they mean something to us.  We don’t cook a turkey and invite people over if there is no value in it for us.  We don’t decorate a tree and exchange gifts with loved ones if it means nothing to us.  It is the feelings that the traditions bring to us that keep us strong in them.  This is what Paul is encouraging these believers in.  They were taught that God loves them, Jesus came to teach and redeem them, the Spirit guides them and Christ will come again.  We still hold fast to these traditions today, praise be to God!

Lord,

Thank you for teachers and letters that have passed down these treasured traditions from generation to generation. As we continue on guide our words to share these traditions with others and spread the message until you come in all glory.  Let these words give us hope in you.  Amen.

Ruth 1:21 “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the Lord has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

Looking from the outside in I could tell Naomi that the Lord did not bring calamity on her and that her life is actually filled with blessings even in the hardships she experienced.  How different is our perspective when we are the ones suffering so deeply though?  She lost her husband and both sons and is left with only her daughter-in-law Ruth to accompany her back to her home of Bethlehem.  She is a widow with nothing; she is truly empty.  What things or people do we grasp onto in order to feel fulfilled?  We have full pantries and full garages and maybe even a full bank account and we rest easy, right?  Still, even then there is a nagging feeling of want.  We experience deep struggles and feel empty regardless of what our possessions are.  It is only when we release all these things and become empty that we can receive the full blessings of the Lord.  I do not wish for anyone to experience what Naomi did but I do wish for us to see the blessings she received in the midst of her suffering.  She was not alone.  Ruth gave her something to live for and God was faithful to them both.

Lord,

In plenty or in want what we really need is you and your love.  Help us see and know this.  Empty our hearts of stuff so that we can receive you in fullness and truth.  Thank you for the blessings you give us, help us to see them clearly.  Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 “for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.”

Yesterday evening my son and I walked over to the neighbor’s house to retrieve one of his toys he had left.  When we went out the front door a sliver of the moon and the bright glow of Venus were there to greet us.  The stars were all beginning to pop out and reveal their light in the darkening sky.  This is how I see us, the children of light.  We may be surrounded by darkness but we are not of the darkness.  We may be in the night but we are not of the night.  Just as the stars, the moon and the planets glow all of the time so does our light, it is just more noticed in the darkness.  There will be a day when darkness is banished forever and the light will prevail over it completely.  Until then we are beacons of light, we shine our light, the light of Love as a comfort, as a guide, as a testimony to our God.  Today the forecast is for sun in the morning and some clouds to roll in later.  I hope the sun will remind us all of the eternal light and love of God and that the clouds will remind us that the light and love of God always shines, even if we cannot clearly see it. Let us shine on with Him!

Lord,

Thank you for the heavens that are so beautiful to gaze at.  Thank you for the sunshine and the azure sky during the day and for the bright points of light that come from the stars at night.  Let them remind us of the light you have placed in us so we can shine on for you just as stars in the night.  Amen.

Ruth 1:1 “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons.”

Thus a new journey begins... I am certain Naomi and Elimelech never saw what was going to unfold when they started this leg of their journey.  They were simply trying to find a place where they could survive the famine.  Who knew that things would get worse before they got better?  As I review the story of Ruth in my head I remember the struggles that Naomi experienced in the land of Moab but even in her struggles and terrible times she was never alone.  She had Ruth who became her companion through thick and through thin.  When I step back and think about the journeys I have been on both physical and spiritual I can see many blessings I received through them.  Even when I think I took a wrong turn or must have heard wrong because things couldn't possibly go this badly, God has redeemed the road and blessings have been poured out.  I do not know where my road leads but I take courage in the story of Ruth.  I continue on knowing that the Lord guides my steps and He will lead me home.

Lord,

As we embark on our journeys for today, I lift our steps into your hands.  Guide us, lead us and open our eyes to see you in every moment.  Just as you cared for Naomi and Ruth I know you care for us.  Thank you, Lord.  Amen.

Ephesians 5:20 “giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As we approach the national day of Thanksgiving I know several people to write about being thankful each day this month on their Facebook pages.  I have seen thanks for warm houses and shelter on these c old nights and thanks for love of family and friends.  There has been thanks given for health and healing as well.  I am thankful for songs and music, the laughter of children and warmth of their hugs.  I am thankful for my family and the love we share with each other.  I could go on and on about the blessings I am thankful for.  Where I struggle is in the phrase “at all times and for everything”.  When my day is filled with strife and my heart is heavy it is difficult to give thanks but this is what Paul says we are to do.  When tears of despair or the pain of illness overtakes us we are to give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  When I look back at past trials I am able to be thankful but I confess, when I am in the midst of it all, there is room to grow in this for me.  This morning I lift a prayer to the Lord for those who struggle with giving thanks.

Lord,

I thank you for all you give to us; you are gracious beyond understanding.  Please lift the hearts and heads of your children who suffer.  Help them feel your love and peace filling them so they are able to give thanks to you wherever they are and whatever they go through.  I come and ask all these things through Christ, our Lord.   Amen.