Life can almost taste bitter at times, and there’s no way around explaining why. In a continuation of the world’s longest running drama, the camera pans to a family in today’s chapter who have discovered first-hand a recipe for bitterness…
READ RUTH 1 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
There are certain people in life who are continually pleasant. Naomi, in today’s chapter, seems to have been a pleasant child because her name means “pleasant”. [v20] But Naomi also came from a people group who knew that it’s “from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come”[a], and unfortunately for her, Naomi lived to see the day when life tasted bitter in her mouth. [v21]
Unlike Naomi, who lost two sons and her husband, we only lost our son. Even still, this was certainly a recipe for bitterness. In the course of time, however, we found two things to be true. First, that Father God isn’t at all phased by His Children being depressed, angry, and grieving, if we are real with Him over real issues.[b] The second thing comes from the first: that He is omnipresent – He is 100% right there with us on our journey all the time – just as any good parent would be. Naomi had Ruth, who had committed to journey life with her, and I have my husband and girls. More than that though, Naomi and Ruth had a relationship with the Creator God [v16-17], and He was with them in every step, unfolding their story with them through the storm…
Read More? …CLICK on “15 May – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Finding it hard to speak directly with the One who allows both good and evil to exist? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[c]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord! I’ll praise the Lord, the God of Heaven and Earth, in song! [Judges 5:3]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: Pray for the people of Equatorial Guinea[d]
Your Country: Campus Ministries
Yourself: The Lord’s Leading in Your Life
Your concerns for today
Let Your hand, O God, rest on the Man at Your right hand, the Son of Man that You’ve raised up for Yourself. Then we’ll not turn away from You; revive us, and we’ll call on Your Name…Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry for mercy. [Psalm 80:17-18; 86:6]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
You’re slow to anger, Father God; abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet You don’t leave the guilty unpunished…In accordance with Your great love, forgive my sin, just as You’ve pardoned Your people from the time they left Egypt until now. [Numbers 14:18-19]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
Thank-you that, through You and Your Word, I’ll know the truth, Lord God my Maker, and the truth will set me free. [John 8:32]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[e] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: An Assured Future
Each one should use whatever gift you’ve been given to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace as it comes in its various forms. [1 Peter 4:10]
[a] Lamentations 3:38
[b] Psalm 10 and Malachi 3:14-15
[c] Matthew 6:5-15
[d] http://www.operationworld.org/node/170
[e] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31