FATHER, lead me day by day ever in Thine own sweet way;
Teach me to be pure and true, show me what I ought to do.
When in danger, make me brave; make me know that Thou canst save;
Keep me safe by Thy dear side; let me in Thy love abide.
When I'm tempted to do wrong, make me steadfast, wise, and strong;
And when all alone I stand, shield me with Thy mighty hand.
When my heart is full of glee, help me to remember Thee -
Happy most of all to know that my Father loves me so.
May I see the good and bright when they pass before my sight;
May I hear the heavenly voice when the pure and wise rejoice.
May I do the good I know, be Thy loving child below,
Then at last go home to Thee, evermore Thy child to be. AMEN
{J. Page Hopps, 1834}
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
MOVIES I WANT TO SEE:
The Good Shepherd - What else is coming out?
SOME OF MY FAVORITES:
The Nativity Story, It's A Wonderful Life, Over the Hedge, Pride & Prejudice, The Perfect Man, The Incredibles, Elf, Spider Man 2, Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie, Toy Story, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlee.
INSPIRING TRUE STORIES:
Take the Lead, Luther, A Man Called Peter, Therese, Finding Neverland, Cinderella Man, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Women, Walk the Line, Cross and the Switchblade, Glory Road, Remember the Titans, Music of the Heart...
Online BIBLE HERE!
Read it. It's supposed to be life transforming.
RUTH
"Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman."
Ruth 3:10-11
It's interesting that when Ruth left Moab, she thought she was forfeiting her best opportunity for marriage in order to be loyal to Naomi, but not so. When she reaches Bethlehem, God's providence leads her to Boaz - her "goel", or "near kinsman". According to Hebrew culture, it was the obligation of a family member to take a brother's widowed wife, and raise up a child to preserve his lineage.
Isn't it just like God to reward a person who puts commitment ahead of convenience - loyalty before license - who acts on devotion instead of emotion. God is prone to bless a person who forfeits a privilege to remain true to a principle.
The Law of the "kinsman redeemer", or "goel", factors into the book of Ruth. In ancient times when a parcel of land was lost it could be redeemed, or bought back, by the family. If the land belonged to a widowed wife, her nearest family member could redeem the parcel, just as long as he took her as his bride. The land and lady were a package deal.
This wicked world - the land we tread - once belonged to God. But when the Creator made man He gave us dominion over the earth. Of course, man sinned and forfeited that dominion and control over to Satan. In John 16:7, Jesus called Satan "the ruler of this world". But according to God's law, when a parcel of land is lost, there's always the possibility of redemption. It can be bought back.
But as illustrated in the story of Ruth, it has to be redeemed by a blood relative - a near kinsman. That's why Jesus was born of Mary. He joined the human race to become our near kinsman. As our relative He was in position to redeem a world that had been lost to sin and Satan. On the cross Jesus paid the redemption price.
The question though is why did He do it? Jesus is not only citizen of earth - He's Lord of the universe - He owns billions of planets just like ours. I'm sure if the only thing Jesus had to gain by going to the cross was just another planet, He would've spared Himself the trouble. No, Jesus, like Boaz, was not as interested in a piece of land as He was a particular lady. The land and lady were a package deal. Jesus redeemed the earth to marry the bride that came with it. And we are that lady. Jesus is our Boaz, and we are His Ruth - His Gentile bride.
Ruth is all about the romance of redemption.
Have you responded to the Lord's love for you? Have you surrendered to His will and way for your life?