For many people, bitterness is a comfortable place to life. Teh have had a ow grade seething anger that has accompanied them as long as they can remember. They struggle with every circumstance that comes into their lives, because they always believe that they are somehow shortchanged in blessings. We often have a way of manipulating the circumstances to see only that we somehow have been short-changed in what they have been given. Sweet faith takes God at His Word, in the book of Ruth chapter 2 Ruth demonstrates that sweet faith. She begins by trusting the principle outlined in Deuteronomy 24:19 and asks for permission to follow the truths of the Word of God. Gleaning was an Old Testament provision given by the LORD for the poor and disenfranchised. She trusts the biblical principle of gleaning because she decides that the God of Israel is the only God, and He is the one whose wings are the best place of refuge. We see the providence of God working through her trust as she happens upon the field of Boaz and he provides a safe place for her to harvest, and even makes it possible for her to gather more … READ MORE

What my Mother Taught me:

– ON RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, “you better pray the stain will come out of the carpet.”

– ON LOGIC: From her decisive words, “Because I said so, that is why!”

– ON FORESIGHT: Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

– ON IRONY: “Keep laughing, and I’ll giv3 you something to cry about.”

– ON STAMINA: “You’ll sit there til all that asparagus is finished.”

– ON WEATHER: “It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.”

– ON THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

– ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: “Stop acting like your father!”

– ON ENVY: “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who would gladly eat this food!”

God was so wise in giving us mom’s, they are the first person who influences how we will develop and grow. And they will continue to influence us throughout out lives. My mom died about 17 years ago, and I still hear her words ringing in my ears. I do hope that you were able to reach out … READ MORE

When things get difficult for us today we often struggle with two basic lines of thought. One is that, God is not in sovereign, and the second is that God is not Good. In the first chapter of the book of Ruth, Nomi takes her shot at the goodness of God, but saying that “the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me!” Notice that she does not say “against us” (remember both of her daughters-in-law have lost husbands and are currently barren also). It is through this statement that we can clearly see the flaws in Naomi’s core beliefs about the character of God. She believes that God is sovereign, but she does not believe in his goodness. God is not her king in any practical sense, because in her mind he is not qualified to be king. The climax of Naomi’s unbelief is on full display in Ruth 1:15, consider the words of Naomi after Ruth refuses to leave. “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after our sister-in-law). Naomi is saying believe what you want, because the God of Israel has nothing to offer you, because He is not … READ MORE