Ruth 1:21  
“I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty.”
I am reminded today of Naomi in the book of Ruth, and her life. This woman had everything she needed. A God who loved her and blessed her abundantly, a husband, two sons, and even two daughters-in-law. Naomi lost everything by leaving Bethlehem, but God didn’t stop using her there. Even though at first Naomi blamed the grieving of losing her husband and two sons on the Lord, “the almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” I found myself relating more to this statement than any other in the chapter. Just like Naomi I find myself blaming God for the things that went wrong, but it was not God who had dealt bitterly with her; but she was reaping the fruit of the sin of disobedience. Naomi was but gleaning in the fields of a far country, away from the presence of God. God was not responsible for her misfortune, but He was responsible for voice that brought her back home. It was the grace of God that was responsible for the blessing that was to come to her now that she had listened to the voice and returned- “so Naomi returned…”(Ruth 1:19). Just like Naomi, I can find myself blinded by circumstances, feeling chained to people or things which are bringing me away to the fields in which God has not designed for me, that fallen nature and people have formed. Just like Naomi, having lost many loved ones and feeling as though God has given up on me or lost track of me in the mist of all His children, that is just the devil talking and taking ahold of her life at that time and my own in the times I feel as though those thoughts are true. Jesus never stops. He is always talking to us, its just a matter of us wanting to hear Him or not. “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” I can say that, many of the times I have been brought to my knees with tears running down my face have been after I have wandered off to far, or I have given up holding on to the chains of this world and all the baggage that comes with it. I fight it as long as possible, but I can just see and feel the love that over comes me when I give it all to Christ. He never asked us to carry or hold on to the things of this world but to give it all to Him and do it every day. He knows our weaknesses, our strengths even our biggest fears. He wants to deliver you and me, but our hearts and stubbornness gets in the way of all His grace and love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IBS- Matthew 8: 9-10 “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he does it. When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” I have read this chapter and have heard it said out loud in church for many years but never really looked to it in depth. For the first time I saw it in the shoes of the centurion- which thanks to Talia I know what that is. I started getting overwhelmed just reading these two verses but then started from verse 5-13. This mans pride stood out to me, I feel as though this man is luke warm with God. Where he knows of Him and all of Gods good works but also is wanting to be a “god” in the life of others. What’s hard for this man is he doesn’t want to let go of what he knows and go into something so unknown and trust someone again. ...
Read more
IBS- 1 John 4:4 “ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” I am His and He is mine. I have to remind myself that God is infinitely stronger than Satan. And in the end God will win- He always does. The Lord is always ready. When times come around and I fall short, He is there, He is never not going to be there, ready and armed for anything. Knowing how far and how deep God will really go is never a question. Many times, I fail, still His mercy remains. It confirms it right here that we (His children) are “from God” comforting right? It is to me for sure. Its exciting! The one that lives in me is the One who concord death. When I stop and really think about this verse and all that it means to me, it takes me back to the feet of Jesus, to the place where I have to come to a place of total brokenness to receive all that He has for me. God has overcome it all, yet I question Him in how He is go...
Read more
LUKE 21:19 “ By your patience posses your souls.” The first thing God impressed on my heart was James 1:4 “Let patience have its perfect work.” Patience is something I personally struggle with greatly; you guys are learning more and more about me- how I have major pride issues- walls higher than I ever wanted- and a great lack of patience. But in all of this I have God- God working in me constantly- God opening my eyes to so many new things especially in His word- and God breaking down walls in areas I didn’t even know were built up so high. Before even reading or even knowing what our IBS was God had already opened my eyes to working in me patience and Luke 21:19 was one of the verses He opened my eyes too that I have never seen or read and understood before. Thinking about this verse and then asking God to really help me understand it was interesting this time- interesting but good. I was very overwhelmed with people back in NY and just the things happening around me on a daily...
Read more