WHERE IS MY SECURITY???

This week's ladies are Naomi and Ruth....mostly Ruth! Naomi and her family had moved to Moab during years of famine and that is where her sons married their wives. They both married Maobite women. The Moabites worshipped idols and many of the Isaraelites married Moabites, thus many of them also began to stray away from God and worship strange Gods. Apparently Naomi and her family never strayed away from God, however. Shortly after moving to Moab, Naomi's husband died and ten years later, both of her sons also died. In the culture of that day, women would face terrific hardships unless other family members stepped in to provide and protect them. Naomi, therefore decided to return to her homeland of Bethlehem and encouraged her daughter in law's to return to their own homes where they also could find some security. One daughter in law did return to her home but Ruth said she would follow Naomi and stay with her....even til death. Why??? Even though she knew she would be a servant in her new land of Bethlehem, she loved Ruth and had grown to love and trust Ruth's God. She trusted God to provide for her and Naomi. Ruth's servant's heart is easily seen in the scriptures! Not only her service to Naomi, but her hard work in Boaz's fields brought her to his attention. It is obvious that God intervened here and was providing for Ruth and Naomi. Boaz offered his protection and provision to both ladies and made certain that they we taken care of. Ruth was thankful for the provision and protection of God through Boaz. Boaz spoke of Ruth seeking refuge in the Lord....much like that of a young bird who seeks refuge under the wings of it's mother. So....once again we see a woman who has a tremendous faith in God. She has left home, family and all that was familiar to her to follow Naomi and trust her God to provide and give her refuge. To make a long story short, Boaz and Ruth eventually married and God blessed them with a son, Obed. Obed, was the grandfather of King David. So....yet another "average" lady of faith who is in the geneology of Christ and used by God in a mighty way! It is obvious that Ruth sought God during a very difficult time in her life to provide for her. Where do we seek our refuge in difficult times?? In a bank account?? In a job or career?? In our intellect or abilities and talents?? In our social position?? In our material possessions?? There are sooooo many false roads we take each day to seek protection and security and NOT a ONE of them provides for us like God!!!! When are we EVER going to learn this?? Again we are so much like the idiotic Israelites who continually sought other Gods and other means to find security and happiness, only to find it NEVER happened without God!!!! Not only did Ruth find security when she turned to God, She also found a significance she had never known before. She found a husband, bore a son, and found herself in the geneolgy of Christ. In the Book of Ruth that bears her name, we have a record of her faithfulness, and trust, thus Ruth's ministry continues on today! What an awesome testimony! It seems Ruth is most commonly known for her love and willingness to stay by Naomi's side in trying times.....but the real testimony here is her faithfulness and servant heart! Leaving all that FELT secure and trusting God to provide...NO MATTER WHAT SHE FACED!! Have a blessed week and trust God to fill your cup!!! :)

Christian Sisters :)

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>> BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
>> By Maya Angelou ( I love this Lady! ) :)
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>> 'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
>> That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
>> I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
>> I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
>> I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
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>> When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
>> I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
>> My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
>> I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
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>> When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
>> I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!
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Are we a buzzard, bat or bumblebee??

A friend of mine sent this to me today and I just smiled and thought this kinda goes along with the story of Deborah.....we need only look up and BELIEVE!!!!!
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top..

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem! Just look up.

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

God's toughest battle is often me!!!

The woman of the week is Deborah, a wise, compassionate judge that helped Israel out of of a desperate period with the guidance of God. The Israelites were apparently a very stubborn people! With all that God did for them, all the miracles he revealed to them sometimes on a daily basis, they continued to turn their backs on him. When things were going well they began to worship other Gods and do there own thing. They continued this cycle for years! They would cry out to God in difficult times and he would deliver them once again only to watch them turn away from him, time and time again. We look at this and wonder how can one nation be SOOOOO stupid and stubborn.....yet we live our lives much the same way. When things are going so well in our lives we often forget about God and instead worship our cars, our jobs, our homes, our sports, or our money. But let a huge adversity come into our lives, first we play the blame game, then the control game and try to fix it ourselves and then, when ALL else fails, we cry out to God!! In the days before Deborah, Israel had once again turned away from God. In the midst of these days they were completely controlled by the Canaanites and the area they lived in was dangerous. They were a truly defenseless nation in the midst of a dangerous land. It was a desperate time for them and once again they cried out to God to save them. God used a faithful, compassionate woman by the name of Deborah. She was a Prophet and Judge in Israel. She loved and advised the people of Israel prior to this time and when the Israelites called out to God for help, he used Deborah to save the nation from the desperate times they were in. With the faith that Deborah and Barak, the leader of the army had, and God's continual mercy and love, the Canaanite army was quickly defeated. Peace was once again restored to the nation of Israel. This is the way God works in our lives as well. When our adversities are absolutely out of our control and all seems hopeless, this is when his strength is made perfect. What is evident in this story is that God used a woman, not a mighty warrior, but a woman to show what he can do even in the most difficult and desperate of times. What a woman of faith! Even against unsurmountable odds, Deborah believed in God's instruction and told Barack what he must do. Barack also was a man of faith, because he knew that if Deborah was there and God spoke through her, all would be OK, regardless of the odds. God's toughest battle was not against the Canaanites or other nations that dominated the nation of Israel. His toughest battle was with the stubborn nation of Israel who time after time wandered away from him. When are we, like Israel, ever going to learn that a lasting peace, can only be found in God!?? One of the messages of the book of Judges is this....." VICTORY is not found when I overcome sin, or the devil, or the world. True, LASTING Victory is found ONLY when I AM OVERCOME by God!" It is obvious the Israelites did not seem to hold onto that LASTING victory. How well are we doing with it?? Have we truly ever allowed God to OVERCOME us? Do we have a faith and belief like Deborah and Barak? Do we believe in a mighty God that can use us as he did them? Would we have taken on an army of Canaanites without one single weapon? Do we truly believe God can work through us to do ANYTHING????? Food for thought this week! :)

A lesson learned from a prostitute

Today's woman of the week is a harlot or prostitute as we would call her today. Her name is Rahab and her story is just another that reveals the grace and love of a mighty God. After the Israelites left Egypt, God promised them the city of Jericho. Jericho was a protected city with VERY thick protective walls. Joshua sent spies into the city to check it out and they encoutered Rahab at the Inn she helped run. Rehab was an innkeeper and a prostitute. When the king of Jericho heard the Israelites had sent spies into his city he warned Rahab and all the citiizens to turn them in if found. Rahab had heard of the mighty God of Israel and all the miracles he had performed to free the Israelites from Egypt and she began to fear this God and believe he was the one true God. She therefore helped the spies, hid them, acutally lied to protect them and then told them where to hide until the king's army would stop looking for them. In return for her help, she asked for them to spare her life and that of her family when they returned to take the city. The spies agreed and when they did return and God miraculously knocked down the walls of the city and turned the city of Jericho over to the Israelites, Rahab and her family were the only survivors. Her faith and belief saved herself and her family. Rahab then lived with the Israelites, after a time, and married. In Rehab's story we see the beautiful reality that no life is beyond the reach of God's saving grace, and we are reminded that it is NEVER too late to believe, repent, and enjoy a life with God. In Rahab we see a heart that was transformed by grace into a model of faith. Rahab received and saved the spies not because of who they were but because of the God they served.....it was this mighty God she had grown to believe in. At this point in her life Rehab began a relationship with God and because of her belief and her trusting heart....good things began to happen in her life. God supernaturally protected her and her family from the judgement of the city of Jericho. He provided a new people, a new husband and a new life for her. Even though she had a "stained past," God gave her a glorious heritage as an ancestor of Jesus! A tiny seed of faith was planted in Rahab's heart and she responded in belief and allowed the seed to grow. If she had not allowed this "Seed" to grow and flourish and acted on her belief....she would have parished with the rest of the city of Jericho. How many times do we look back at our pasts and wonder how could God forgive me for this or that? How many times do we allow the guilt or shame of the past to hold us back from allowing a seed of faith to grow within us? How many talents or abilities are not being used for God's glory because we are still clinging to past "muck" that covers up the "diamond" God wants us to be? So...today if any of us have any doubts about who we are or what we can do....think about Rehab and the Apostle Paul. A prostitute and one who murdered Christians.....yet God used them mightily and I believe he can do the same with you and I! Have a blessed week and let some seed grow this week! :)

Lesson from Miriam!

This week's woman of the week was Miriam. We first see Miriam playing the caretaker of her younger brother Moses and placing him in the water. She then watches over him and ensures that someone finds him. When Pharoah's daughter finally finds him, Miriam then approaches her and gets his own Mother to nurse him. This child she protected grew up to write the first five books of the Bible and led the Israelites out of Egypt. For most of us this is all we have really heard about Miriam....but there is more to this story. After years of being away from Moses while he grew up, Aaron, Miriam and Moses were again reunited when God led the Israelites out of Egypt. All three played roles as leaders as the Israelites escaped and wandered in the wilderness. In a society dominated by men, Miriam obviously developed into a woman in the limelight. It was apparent how the women followed Miriam and the respect they had for her. She was called a prophetess. Yet....She and Aaron both began to resent Moses and the greater leadership role God gave him. This resentment led to Miriam being punished and struck with leprosy for a week and then God healed her. This story indicates how God deals with leaders rather strongly who loose their focus and manifest self over others and HIM. The nation of Israel waited while Miriam was outcast from them for a week and were happy when she returned. Years later when Mariam died the nation mourned her death for 30 days. This shows how much the people respected Miriam who is probably the first woman in he Bible we read of being such a leader. As others before her....she is portrayed in all her human frailty, yet was a beloved figure in the history of Israel. She was remembered more in honor than in shame. So....should we be like Miriam and be bitter and jealous of the leaders we have over us? Or should we support and pray for them? Scripture tells us that we are subject to them and that we should pray and give thanksgiving for all those in authority. How good are we at doing this? Instead of praying for them and trusting God, do we spend MORE time cutting them down and speaking bitterly about them. Maybe we should learn from Mariam and spend more time on our knees in prayer for our leaders and less time using our tongues in all the wrong ways! How much more could be accomplished if we REALLY believed in a mighty God that listens to our prayers!!!

How do the courageous handle adversity?

Times are tough right now for many. The economy is really frighteing many people. Many have lost their jobs already and are loosing homes and families. On top of all this there are the everyday issues that we all deal with. Many have severe health issues, sick children, chronic pains, and the list could go on and on. So....how do we survive all these adversities in our lives and maintain our sanity in the process. How do we face the storms of life when faced with them? Many are simply defeated by difficult times. But there are some that actually enlarge their capapcity to handle problems. They not only survive the adversity but actually grow through it! What makes the difference in these two individuals? There are a few differences seen according to the author of the "To Walk on the Water......" . #1) The resilient people continually seek to reassert some command and control over their destiny rather than seeing themselves as passive victims. #2) Resilient people have a larger than usual capacity for what might be called a moral courage for refusing to betray their values. #3) Resilient people find purpose and meaning in their suffering.

Sarah....a little faith, late in life!

This week's woman of the week is Sarah, Abraham's wife. She was 89 years old when she laughed at God when he had told Abraham she would have a son. Years before she had tried to "FIX" the problem of not being able to have children by having her servant, Hagar, have Abraham's child. We later read where Sarah's plan to "fix the problem" did not work out very well for anyone involved. We also find that on two different occasions Sarah went along with Abraham's lies to protect Abraham, even though the lies placed Sarah in danger. Apparently there were several times in Sarah and Abraham's lives when they did not have much faith in God's protection or his promises. They lied because they did not trust God to protect them. Sarah laughed when God promised them a child. Like us...they tried to "fix" their problems themselves and not wait on God's plan and timing in all this. At the age of 90, God had the last laugh however and Sarah did indeed have a son. I think back on how many times I have taken problems in my life and tried to "FIX" them. I have found myself not talking to God first or not waiting on God's timing if he were to intervene. I feel like I need it fixed NOW!!! I look back often and see how much I botched it by trying to fix it myself!! Then there are times, like them that I may not tell the truth or all the truth because I am trying to protect myself or another. God knows about the lies and knows how many times I do not trust him to do what he says he will do! Abraham and Sarah are just yet another example of the imperfect humans that we are. Later in life, Abraham's faith was tested again with the sacrifice of Isaac and this time he trusted God. So....we see in this that Abraham and Sarah's life and mistakes lead to a greater faith and spiritual growth in their lives. Our Christain life is not accomplished by never making a mistake, it is accomplished only by coming back to God when we do make mistakes. God never gives up on us....he carried out his promises to Abraham and Sarah even though they were not perfect! He will do the same for me. None of us are perfect.....we are just forgiven. What a blessing this is! :)