Faithful: Abigail

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

God, throughout the Bible, displays Himself as being faithful and worthy of our (yours and mine) trust.

In scripture, the Old Testament exactly, there is the story of a woman who is the personification of living out the life of faith: Abigail.

Now, those who know me personally, know that I have personal attachment to this name, as my only daughter was named after this wonderful woman in the Bible. The Mother's Day after I found out I was pregnant, the pastor of my church preached on Abigail, and I said if I ever had a daughter, I would name her Abigail. Not too many weeks later we found out that our baby was a girl, and so, she was named Abigail.

So why did I settle on this name? What is so great about Abigail that I felt it was the right name to name my daughter? We will get there, but lets first go over the background of Abigail, and her situation.

Abigail was a woman in Carmel, married to a man named Nabal, who was harsh and evil in his dealings.

Nabal had previous dealings with David (yes that David!) indirectly through Nabal's shepherds who had been with David's shepherds, and that interaction had been peaceful. When David heard that Nabal and his men were shearing their sheep, David had this to say:

1 Samuel 25:5-8

 "So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, visit Nabal and greet him in my name; 6 and thus you shall say, ‘Have a long life, peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7 Now I have heard that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us and we have not insulted them, nor have they missed anything all the days they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day. Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

The customs of the time and culture were that David and his men should have received favor, and even some provisions from Nabal. SHOULD have....

1 Samuel 25: 9-11

9 When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in David’s name; then they waited. 10 But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?” 

Nabal quickly was living up to his reputation. 

David did not take the disrespect well, and in haste was setting up to go to war. And at this point, this is where we get to see the beauty, intelligence and wonder that is Abigail, and the lessons we can learn from her. (verses 12-13)

Six Lessons from Abigail

1. Act quickly when necessary - don't be fearful
2. Be humble and kind; seek peace
3. God will fight for you
4. Be knowledgeable
5. Be aware of timing
6. Respect your husband

1. Act quickly when necessary - don't be fearful

Now, at this point war was coming to Nabal, and therefore Abigail, though neither knew it. But the servants who were around Nabal when he dismissed David's men heard, and one rushed to Abigail.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he scorned them. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not insulted, nor did we miss anything as long as we went about with them, while we were in the fields. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep. 17 Now therefore, know and consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.”

Now, in a moment I will address the swift action of Abigail. But first I want to address that the servant knew he could go to Abigail. She was approachable, and those in her husband's employ knew they could go to her, and if she could, she would do something.

Can people come to you? Do you have that type of reputation? Please ponder that.

With the warning given to her by her husband's servant, Abigail didn't loaf around. She recognized that immediate action was necessary. There are times of we must be decisive and not procrastinate, the solution is obvious and you must act. And there are times we should pray and fast. You must evaluate the situation you are in. Purchasing a house, I would suggest the prayer and fasting method. But when war is at your door, you must be swift.

18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread and two jugs of wine and five sheep already prepared and five measures of roasted grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 She said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

Abigail's swift action saved the life of the people in her household, herself, and even her husband (though he had no knowledge).

2. Be humble and kind; seek peace

This point goes against the modern culture we live in. Most women today, when confronted in this situation, would have come upon David and start yelling, making demands, being aggressive, yelling about his masculine toxicity, and how she is a "Boss Babe" and he will do as she said.

And if she had done that, Abigail and all those with her, and then those back home, would have likely been slaughtered. Abigail, wisely, defused the entire situation with humbleness, her own. Abigail was not at fault in the scenario, but she put herself in front of it, bowed down and asked for forgiveness on behalf of her husband (without bad mouthing him once!).

20 It came about as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them. 21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good. 22 May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave as much as one male of any who belong to him.”

23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the blame. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant. 25 Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

26 “Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be as Nabal. 27 Now let this gift which your maidservant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord. 28 Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil will not be found in you all your days. 29 Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 And when the Lord does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, 31 this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord having avenged himself. When the Lord deals well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”

And by bowing down before David, and seeking forgiveness on behalf of her household, her genuineness was a plea for peace between the two groups and God showed David that if he slaughtered the entire household it would be wrong, and many innocents would be killed.

Even doing all this, there was no guarantee for Abigail that David would accept her plea and offer a pardon. Still, she did what is right, and did not think of herself only. She showed her love and compassion for those in her household.

3. God will fight for you

Abigail was not alone when she came up to David. God was with her, as He is with us today. God gave Abigail a special favor that allowed her to make a favorable impression on King David.

32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, 33 and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

Not only did God come along side Abigail in her dealings with David, He was with her when she returned to her husband. Now, scripture does not say this, but it can be inferred that Nabal's harsh and evils ways probably were known to Abigail in her marriage. Upon returning home, Nabal was drunk, with many others. She wisely did not confront him while he was in this state.

36 Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything [af]at all until the morning light.37 But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.

Abigail faced the coming with with grace, humility, meekness, and kindness, and God gave her favor, and further protected her from the wrath of her evil husband.

4. Be knowledgeable

Back in verse 10, Nabal shows his arrogance and lack of knowledge of what is going on his society. 

10 But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? 

Abigail on the other hand was known for her intelligence.

3 (now the man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. And the woman was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings

Knowledge is power. 

Proverbs 9:10

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

When Abigail was made aware of the situation between Nabal and David, she didn't ask questions. Her actions imply she knew who David was, she recognized who he was, and used this knowledge in her dealings with him.

You can never know all of any one thing. Study, be knowledgeable, know what is going on around you, in your town, church, family, community. Pay attention. do not be an ostrich burying your head in the sand.

5. Be aware of timing

Timing can be key when you want to effectively communicate something. If someone is distracted, distraught, or drunk, probably best to not have vital, crucial conversations with them.

Abigail knew this, and applied this lesson when going to her husband. Upon obtaining peace with David, Abigail returned home to her husband having a feast like a king.

36 Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything [af]at all until the morning light. 37 But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.

He was drunk as a skunk, and he would not have retained anything she said to him. She waited until the next morning, once he sobered up. Then she told him all that had transpired.

Knowing when to speak and when to be silent, that is an invaluable skill that all need to acquire.

6. Respect your husband

Ephesians 5:33 "and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband."

Scripture commands women to respect their husbands. And there are ZERO clauses attached to that.

• you are not exempt if he is a drunk, rude, jobless, arrogant

We are to respect them, our husbands. Abigail lived this example out for us in her marriage to Nabal. His evil, wrath and arrogance almost cost the entire household, herself included, their lives at the hand of the man, that scripture described as the man after God's own heart.

1 Samuel 13:14

"...The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Acts 13:22

"...He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will."

When the servant came to Abigail of the report of how Nabal dismissed David's men, she did not bad-mouth him. Not once does scripture say she was smug, disrespectful, or snarky towards her husband. In fact, she offers him respect, as the head of the household, by giving a report to him of all that occurred, when he had the ability to understand (when he sobered up).

God's way, which Abigail demonstrated for us, goes against the teachings of the world. We need to be less "Boss Babe" and more like "Admirable Abigail." In the face of injustice, be kind, compassionate, and composed.

Abigail's attributes did not leave her desolate and a widow for long. God restored to her a husband. 

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back His servant from evil. The Lord has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.” 41 She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” 42 Then Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife.

Now, we do know that David had several wives, but we don't hear of him being harsh or mean to them. So it is safe to assume her marriage to David was much better than that of her marriage to Nabal.

Living a Faithful Life like Abigail

God works faithfully on behalf of those who choose to follow Him. Abigail is an example.

When trials and tribulations come, and they will, trust in God, show your faith in Him, and He will deliver you. He is always with us, close by, He sees our heart, and He is constantly working on our behalf. He has the entire picture, why we only see our little part. But our little part does matter to Him, remember that.

He will provide enough grace each day to get us through the trials we face.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

And so, why did we name our daughter Abigail? Well, in hopes that she would live up to the name. Beauty, intelligence. Abigail in the Bible lived a faithful life, cared for others, was humble, sweet in spirit, respectful. Those are beautiful attributes for any woman to have.

Count the Cost

If you have had a house project, or even a school project there are things you must do.

- make a plan

- evaluate the cost

- gather tools/resources

- execute your plan

 Many people though, skip step two. Which is why so many people do not complete projects because they have no idea to what they have really committed to.

But what does it mean to count the cost? When it comes to our faith, to following Jesus, He told us Himself:

Luke 14:25-34 (NIV) - The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

The parable of the seed reminds me of the 4 types of "Christians." I was raised, I was taught, that the parable of the seed is about all the earth, all the people of the earth. But after more study, instead of just accepting what I was taught, I realized that the parable is about the church, not the Church as in the Body of Christ. But when you look at a gathering of believers, usually in a "church" building - just because someone is there does not mean that they are truly following Jesus. Only 1 of the 4 (but do not think it is an even 25%) truly counted the cost and decided following JESUS was worth EVERYTHING.

What is the cost of following Jesus?

• You will be hated, mocked, and ignored.
• You could lose your home, your job, your family.
• You will be hunted.
• You will hate the things of the world.
• Your heart will hurt for the lost.
• The things that break God's heart will break yours.
• You will commit to knowing God's word, and obeying It.
• You will live with anticipation that His return is eminent. 
• You will hate your past but anticipate the future with Christ as your LORD.
• You will go/do where and what He says for you to do to spread the Gospel.

****At the end of this post find scriptures to back this up.****

How does this look in our lives? How does counting the cost and living for Christ look with your family, your work, your social media presence?

The past 18 months have been a whirlwind on a global level. Politics are divisive, more so than ever. The United States is divided and without God there will be no unification. Was this last election won fair and square, was there collusion, was the election stolen from the people. Only God knows, I am not sure we will know this side of heaven one way or the other.

Than there is the "V" - please note, I will not say the name of the "illness", nor will I say other "v" word associated with it (I will go with jab). I refuse to use either of those words so in order to not be censored at this time. And that is where I am going with my post.

I am of the belief that the "V" was man made, and purposely released by the Red Dragon country to destroy the USA, disrupt the good work that Donald Trump was doing ( I believe God was using him to move the world closer to the Rapture), and to push the globe into a population control scenario.

I believe the jab is not what we have been told. And many, many, many others are of the same mindset of me. Some are more vocal about it than others. But the fact is, the jab does not prevent you from getting the "V" nor does it prevent you from spreading it. So what is the point?

I know many who with in days, within weeks of getting the 2nd part they developed severe medical issues. Then there are the women who with healthy pregnancies miscarry for no reason. Or the women who are past menopause all of a sudden having cycles again. I do not judge anyone who received the jab, and I do not hold it against anyone who is holding out. We all have to do what we believe is right for us and for our families. 

My spirit is not well with what is going on in the world. This place is not my home, and what is going on is causing my heart to yearn for heaven even more. 

I saw the image to the side a few days ago and it stuck with me. Censorship is unchecked now. You speak out against the "V", the jab, the LGBTQ movement and "Pride" month, or against the current administration and you censored, put in FB jail, or your social media presence is erased. The party that calls the other side Nazi's for our beliefs is using all the tactics that Hitler put into place to rise to power. Ironical, to say the least. 

I don't want to be lukewarm. 

Revelation 3:14-22 New American Standard Bible

Message to Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

With those of like mindedness, I have spoken my thoughts on the "V", the jab, and all the crazy political upheaval. But not too much online. A "safe" post here or there, but nothing more. And I am convicted. I am afraid of what I would lose. And for that I am ashamed. Now is not the time to worry about what I will lose. Jesus is coming

Read that again.

JESUS IS COMING!!!

The last 18 months have conditioned people for the Great Tribulation and the Mark of the Beast system that will come after the Rapture. So many took the jab to "return" to normal, and that is what they will do during the 7 year time known as the Time of Jacob's Trouble. The stage is set. We must get people to Jesus. Because if you reject Him, you will pay a great cost.

Should you die prior to the Rapture...you will go to hell.

But, if you are here after the Rapture, you could become saved, and many will, but how sure of that are you? Why would you want to go through the pouring out of the Wrath of God on humanity? Plague, death, war, disease, famine - just to start.

I am going to share Jesus with people. I am going to share the articles about the healthy people dying immediately after receiving the jab. I am going to share the studies on the number of children who have such adverse reactions, on a jab that is not FDA approved but being pushed under Emergency use. I am going to share the information that the jab is to cause sterilization.

I will not be quiet, I will not be lukewarm.

But, I will not be pushy, I will not be yelling. I will do all this in love. People are confused right now. People are hurt. And Jesus loves everyone - He wants all to be saved. So many have lost so much - they don't need to be yelled out. They need compassion. 

John 13:35 - New American Standard Bible

35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

I have read God's word. I know how this all ends. And I see the signs He told would happen, in greater occurrence right prior to His return to call his Bride (that's us Church!) to Heaven to be with Him.

They can block me, they can put me in FB jail. That is fine. When you squelch truth, try to stomp it out - you give it a bigger platform. You cause more people to pay attention to it. And my God, His word does not return void.

Isaiah 55:11 New American Standard Bible

11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;

It will not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.

*** Scriptures on the cost of following Jesus****

Luke 9:23 ESV And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

Matthew 24:44 ESV Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Luke 14:33 ESV So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 8:18-22 ESV Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Luke 10:3 ESV Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Titus 3:5 ESV He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 20:35 ESV In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 10:38 ESV And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Luke 14:25-33 ESV Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ...

James 4:4 ESV You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Matthew 8:20 ESV And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

John 8:24 ESV I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Ruth 1:16 ESV But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ...

John 8:31-32 ESV So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:12 ESV Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Luke 16:13 ESV No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 9:57-62 ESV As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ...

Matthew 19:21 ESV Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Matthew 10:34-37 ESV “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Timothy 4:13 ESV Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Colossians 3:17 ESV And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Romans 8:1 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 24:36 ESV “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 10:37 ESV Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 8:18 ESV  Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

Matthew 6:24 ESV “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

2 Samuel 7:1-29 ESV Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ...

Joshua 24:15 ESV  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Romans 12:1-2 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 4:18-22 ESV While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Deuteronomy 6:1-25 ESV  “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ...

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

Philippians 3:20 ESV But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:25 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 5:2 ESV And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Acts 2:22 ESV “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know

John 3:17 ESV For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 14:26 ESV  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 9:60 ESV And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 4:19 ESV And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

Dream Small

Have you heard the song, Dream Small by Josh Wilson? I absolutely love it, add my pregnancy hormones and I sometimes cry when it comes on the radio. Dream Small Video

Here are the lyrics:

It's a momma singing songs about the Lord

It's a daddy spending family time the world said he cannot afford

These simple moments change the world

It's a pastor at a tiny little Church

Forty years of loving on the broken and the hurt

These simple moments change the world

Dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

Dream small

It's visiting the widow down the street

Or dancing on a Friday with your friend with special needs

These simple moments change the world

Of course, there's nothing wrong with bigger dreams

Just don't miss the minutes on your way, your bigger things, no

'Cause these simple moments change the world

So dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

So dream small

Keep loving, keep serving

Keep listening, keep learning

Keep praying, keep hoping

Keep seeking, keep searching

Out of these small things and watch them grow bigger

The God who does all things makes oceans... from rivers

So dream small

Don't bother like you've gotta do it all

Just let Jesus use you where you are

One day at a time

Live well

Loving God and others as yourself

Find little ways where only you can help

With His great love

A tiny rock can make a giant fall

Yeah, five loaves and two fish can feed them all

So dream small

Dream small

The first few times I heard the song, I just hummed along, but then I started to pay attention to the lyrics, and they hit home. For some time now I have struggled with am I doing enough, am I enough. Am I doing everything I need to do for the Kingdom. And my pregnancy probably has not helped. I have had plans to go back to school and finish my degree. I have struggled with the fact that I have yet to write a book and be "published." But then I took this song to heart. And started talking to God. Those things I struggled with were MY ambitions, MY dreams. Those are not bad things, but had I really considered God. Had I sought His will in my plans. Then yesterday, the following verse was referenced twice.

 



The first time I heard it was while I was driving to pick up my kids from their summer care. I listen to Pastor Nathan Cothen out of Beaumont, TX. He is head pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont. And Monday through Friday, 4-4:30 p.m. I am blessed to hear him preach on my radio, FM 100.7

His message yesterday was about our motives, "Are you living your life in an effort to be somebody, or in a way that desires to serve somebody?" And in the sermon he came to the scripture above, and it was like I hit a brick wall. It is so simple. We all have a part, and we need to be in God's word, in prayer, and in study to know what it is we need to be doing.

Last night was Wednesday night service, and normally our Associate Pastor Jon is the one who gives a message, but his father, our Lead Pastor, Dr. Redmond, gave the message. And he gave a phenomenal message out of the book of Acts.

Take a moment, and read Acts 3:1-12 (provided below in the NASB translation):

Healing the Lame Beggar
3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon
11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?
He titled his sermon, Do What You Can. And he shared a story about a few conversations he had with a gentleman who is active in the church, who serves. And the man he talked to you was very humble, and he stated he and his wife do what they can. And that is so impactful. If we all, with what resources we are stewards over, just do what we can - the impact would be magnified greatly.

And now I am not struggling like I was on if I am doing enough for the Kingdom. This is my ministry, this is my calling:

Be a mother.
Be a wife.
Be a daughter/in-love.
Be an assistant.
Be a blogger.

Those are my tasks from God. Do I need to finish my degree, no, my on the job experience has better trained me than any of the classes I have ever taken. If money and time allow, one day I will complete it. But doing so won't complete me. In regards to being "published," well, I am, here. I am self-published. And I still have ideas for a few books, and maybe that is where God will direct me one day. But right now, I need to focus on being obedient to Him with this blog, and writing when He tells me to do so. And raising three children, as the Bible instructs in Ephesians 6:4 (NASB) will take plenty of time, prayer, and dedication: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

And this really has hit home to my heart lately as my Connection Group has been doing a study on the book of 2 Corinthians. And having grown up in the church, I have always heard of the Apostle Paul, and always thought of him as Superstar going around that region and creating churches and winning souls. But the truth is, yes he was creating churches, sharing the gospel, and winning souls to the Kingdom, he was a very humble man. In fact, the church at Corinth was upset that Paul wasn't more of a Super Apostle.

And you know, all this brings me peace. I need to do what I can with the resources the LORD has given me. And if I do what I am supposed to, that is enough. There is beauty in realizing my mission field is my family, my connection group, my readers. And if I do what I can, that is what God wants.

Culture of Idols

Our pastor previously has encouraged everyone to have a few verses that they call life verses. We were to memorize these verses, and have been encouraged to read them daily. I accepted this challenge. And one of my verses is:

In 2002, the show American Idol came out, and everyone I knew was watching it. But I recoiled at the name. I am confident I was saved a few years prior, and while my faith wasn't the strongest, I was trying to grow closer to the LORD. And I feel in my heart that the Holy Spirit put that recoil in my heart, so I would not watch that show.

My first stepfather used to call my Hollywood. I always wore sunglasses in the house, played dress up, and yeah, it was my nickname. He even called me it, after a decade of not seeing him, when my brother graduated high school. And I thought it was a cool pet name. I remember growing up, actors/actresses were Hollywood Stars. But as I grew up, that went away. Then in 2002 the show came out.

And in the years since, I have come to realize why God gave the first commandment, and the second:

Exodus 20 (ESV) - The Ten Commandments

And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

I have come to learn that the order God gives His words matter, how He starts His words and ends them matters too. All of God's words matter, but He puts an emphasis on certain parts, because we as humans fail, need extra direction and guidance.

God want's to be first in our life.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

These 4 verses are so important, and more than relevant these days.  John warned us to keep from idols. He did so, because, our hearts are deceptive and we easily go astray. Now, in his time, idols, the false gods, were little tokens, statues, etc. Man made items that could not talk/walk/think. And here we are around 2,000 years later, and not much has changed. We might not have blatant altars and statues. But we are surrounded by idols. Food, television, computers, smart phones, shopping, hobbies.

We put all of these things before God on a daily basis. And I am no better than anyone else. When you do not make time to pray and read your Bible daily because you are too busy, well...what do you have time for? How many times did you browse Facebook? Did you clean up your emails? Did you get your 3 mile run in? What did you listen to while driving your kids to school and yourself to work?

This past week was the World Series of Baseball. And our hometown team, the Houston Astros played. I am not a sports chick. I will go to games, watch occasionally on t.v., but I honestly don't care for any of it. My life is not made better by it, or worse, it has no impact on my life. Normally. This past week though, my Facebook feed was packed with orange. Everyone excited for the games, emotions running high and low, people decked out in the colors. I let my kids dress up for school once or twice, there is no harm in minor participation. Honestly, I only stayed up the last night, and even fell asleep before the game ended. Houston won! And the frenzy only increased. HISD closed down on Friday (it appeared to be for the parade, so students could go, but it was because the school buses could not transverse due to the parade). Oh and the parade. Parts of the city closed down, thousands of people in attendance, kids taken out of school, families in line for hours for merchandise, news coverage wall-to-wall.

Life is tough. Houston not even 2 1/2 months ago was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Many people still have not recovered. This was a break and a relief. I an not against that. I have my luxuries, my little pleasures. And I pray that God would convict me if any of those started to consume my life. Because if they are consuming my life, they are coming before Him. It takes work to stay focused on God, and not let idols come before Him.

Now, lets go back to Hollywood and American Idol. I truly believe America is a land of idols, that we are putting everything before God. And God is starting to remove the scales from our eyes to see how destructive these idols WE make are to our lives. In the past week or so, it has come out that major producers and actors have abused power given to them to abuse, molest, and harm others. And horrific stories keep coming out about the different abuses. We, as society, have allowed these individuals to be paid ridiculous money,share their worldly opinions with all, and be an influence in our lives. And many of them apparently have been abused or been abusers. The appear to have everything: glitter, gold, friends, riches, glory. But it is all falling apart. And apparently this false world has existed for decades.

John was wise to end 1 John with his words, "Little children, keep yourself from idols." The offer no hope, no future, and pry our focus off of God. Who needs to be our first search, in all that we do. We need to focus on Him, put Him first in our lives. If we do that, He will work things out for us.

I recommend reading the Book of 1 John, it's theme is "-God is Love."

MARRIAGE: Protect it! Fight for it!

This past Tuesday night was a normal night for our household. The one exception is that the kids were super excited to be going to the zoo the next day. Getting 2 kids under the age of 5 to bed with thoughts of lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) in their heads is not an easily accomplished task.

But my husband in persevered and both kids went to bed. So the two of us did what I assume most couples do in America these days once the kids are in bed, we plopped on the couch, put a sitcom on, and somewhat mindlessly browsed Facebook on our phone.

A post by a lady stood out to me in my browsing. The summer study for my connection group at church is Lysa TerKeurst's "Finding I AM." So maybe because I am engrossed in her study every day, sharing tidbits on our connection group page, seeing that she posted something stood out. So I read her post.

And then I was in shock. My heart broke for Lysa. For those of you who want to read her own words, here is the link to her post:

 

Rejection, Heartache, and a Faithful God

Let me summarize:

Her husband of almost 25 years for about 2 years was unfaithful to her and developed a substance abuse issue. And after therapy, counseling, prayer, fasting she is filing for divorce. Her own words:

"When I first found out about Art’s infidelity 18 months ago, I made the decision not to divorce him. I had just finished fasting and praying for 28 days and really felt led by the Lord that I was to love Art in my reaction to this shocking news and trust God for every step moving forward. I was still committed to doing everything I could think of to make our story one of restoration, even in the face of the worst kind of betrayal imaginable. I prayed continually. I sought counsel from family and other wise friends. And Art and I even made repeated trips across the country together for intensive counseling especially designed for marriages in crisis. But sadly, though I have repeatedly forgiven and accepted him back, he has continued to abuse substances, be unfaithful, and refused to be truthful to me and our family.

I believe I have the capacity to love Art and to forgive him, but his steadfast refusal to end the infidelity has led me to make the hardest decision of my life. After much prayer and consultation with wise, biblically-minded people, I have decided that Art has abandoned our marriage. Yet, the Lord has been so faithful to help me at every step of this very painful journey and has now assured me I’ve done all I can do."

Do you understand why I was (and still somewhat am) in shock? Let's review Lysa's "resume" if you will:

• President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the New York Times best-selling author of Uninvited, The Best Yes, Unglued, Made to Crave, and 16 other books.
• Married 25 years
• Raised 5 children

Now lets go worldly - she is gorgeous, put together. She is the WHOLE package.
But she wasn't enough.

Lord help us, if a woman like her isn't enough - how can our own marriage survive? We are dis-shelved, stay at home moms, or assistants in offices. Our roots are showing (our ends need a trim too to be honest), toe nails need a pedicure, our clothes don't fit just right anymore (because we are too tired to go to the gym).

Most would say her husband didn't have a reason to cheat, but he was missing something. And it wasn't something Lysa could give him. He thought another woman could give him what he was missing. But she cannot and eventually he will realize that. That longing, that something that is missing - only Jesus can fill that need.

Proverbs 5 is a warning against adultery. Let's look at verses 15-20:

Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

God is warning us, the decision you made in your youth - honor it. If you married young, fight for your marriage years down the road. Keep the fires burning. The spouse of your youth, the one who was with you in the hard times, when you were dirt poor, had nothing, but that person stood by you - stand by them. Do not upgrade or trade up - which the world will tell you is fitting. Reject that teaching. Stay married, woo your spouse, fight for them.

At work we talked about Mrs. TerKeurst's situation. Several of us read the comments left by others in response to her sharing. Our world is breaking. People are devastated. Post after post, women were pouring out their hearts that they knew what she was going through. That they understand, they are in her shoes.

I read a commentary that summed the situation up nicely (for lack of any other word):

"Not ONE of us is immune to Satan’s plans for our marriage."

What Lysa TerKeurst’s Divorce Tells Us About Our Own Marriages

Marriage was the first institution created by God.
Before the church, the feasts, the celebrations in the tabernacle, God created Marriage. Marriage is important to God - it should be important to you and me.

Genesis 2: 18-25

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

God made man, and did not want him to be alone, that it wasn't good for him to be alone, so he made woman for him. To help him. We are designed to be coupled, to become one flesh, to serve the Lord together. And Satan is doing everything he can to destroy the institution of family. Satan thought he should be God, so he is about to destroy God. You and I know that in the end Satan loses, but until then he has a freedom to cause chaos. His (Satan) chaos should cause us to move toward the Father, to draw closer to God, to strive to live as Christ lived.

And right now - we need to fight for our marriages. If your friendships are not building up your marriage, get rid of the friendships. If your parents do not support/believe/encourage your spouse, spend less time with your parents. Show your children that your spouse comes before them - as God intended. Love your spouse, dance with them in the kitchen, kiss them before bed. If you are having troubles, seek help - counseling, see your pastor, do not go it alone. The world today is designed to alienate us from those around us - don't let it happen. Build up a community around you that is pro-marriage, pro-family. We must fight for our marriages. But know this - if you take on this challenge, you will meet obstacles.

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

My husband and I have resolved together that divorce is not an option for us. It is the legacy of my heritage, and I want my children and the generations after them to have a better foundation. But taking this stand, by resolving that we will not divorce - we have set ourselves up for attacks, struggles, and issues. And we have had them - financially being the #1 issue - which is one of the top reasons couples divorce. We want to be different, sanctified, set apart. To keep our marriage together, to not let it fall victim to the schemes of the enemy, we have had to work and invest in our marriage. We have attended seminars, we go on dates just the two of us, we spend time with other couples who share our values, we talk and assess how our marriage is doing. Daily we tell each other we love each other, we are affectionate as often as possible (1 Corinthians 7:5 - Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.), we surprise the other with tokens of appreciation. We tend to our marriage as you tend to a plant - it can only produce fruit if it is properly cared for.

I will end this with the marriage chapter of 1 Corinthians (Chapter 7: 1-16):

Principles for Marriage

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

MARRIAGE: Our 6th Anniversary & Ruth Chapter 4

This morning in church, Pastor Jon finished up a series out of the Book of Ruth, with a sermon titled "All's Well That Ends Well".

I love the Book of Ruth. It is proof that there can be good mother/daughter-in-law relationships. 

But even more so, it is picture of Christs love the church. Boaz represents Jesus - both from Bethlehem, both men of integrity, wealthy, and redeemers. Ruth is you and me. Our history is undesirable (Moab: Psalm 60:8(ESV) "Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”), and like Ruth we needed saving, we were lost, and ultimately redeemed.

Pastor Jon has been going over life applications from each chapter of Ruth. And today he diescussed the wedding chapter of Ruth. But before the wedding could happen, Boaz had to go before a closer kinsman redeemer, and give him an opportunity to take on the role. In the end, Boaz became the redeemer, married Ruth who in turn became the Great Grandmother to King David - and apart of the ancestry of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The application for the sermon today was this: to have a "happy ending" two things need to happen:

1. God has to do something.
2. I have to do something.

In every circumstance we can be reassured of two things when it comes to God, He is always watching, and He is working:

• in me (strengthening me, working on my heart)
•  1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
• In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

• developing my character
• for me
• thru me
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV) God of All Comfort
  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

When it comes to my part, I am called to:

• give God plenty of time 

• Ecclesiastes 3:11(ESV) He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

• make a personal commitment to Jesus

• Ruth 1:16 (ESV) But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

• make a public confession of faith

Nine individuals obeyed that last edict this morning during the second service. It was so lovely to see people make professions of faith. It felt fitting that Jon preached about the marriage of Ruth and Boaz on the 6th anniversary of him officiating the marriage of Brock and I.

June 4, 2010

The day I married a wonderful man. Who yesterday sent me away for some alone time. And upon my return, my house was quiet. He had arranged for my parents to keep the kids over night. Him and I went to dinner and enjoyed an evening - just the two of us. Talking and strengthening our marriage. I am a blessed woman.

LIFE: Terror and Tribulations

I remember the first few days after my daughter Abigail was born as a peaceful time. I took time off, and her and I basically stayed home. I didn't watch t.v. I spent time with her, we mastered nursing, we figured out sleeping. If I was awake, I made small meals, and tidied the house. It was a quiet and blissful time.

And finally one morning, I decided to reconnect with the rest of humanity and I turned on the news.
The date was December 14, 2012.

And the news headline was:

Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

After an hour or so of watching the news I shut the t.v. off and held my newborn daughter tight.

There are tragedies in this world that are hard to fathom. And throughout my growing up years numerous events rocked the world with a devastation that the anniversary of the events are celebrated even today. The one's though that seemed to shake everyone to a different level of devastation were the events that brought tragedy upon children.

April 19, 1995 - Oklahoma City Bombing 

- 168 people, including 19 young children, killed

 

September 11, 2001 - American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, of the World Trade Center complex; American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon 

-  2,996 people were killed and more than 6,000 others wounded, "The dead included 8 children: 5 on American 77 ranging in age from 3 to 11, 3 on United 175 ages 2, 3, and 4. The youngest victim was a 2 year-old child on Flight 175, the oldest an 82 year-old passenger on Flight 11. In the buildings, the youngest victim was 17 and the oldest was 79."

And on that December morning, reading that, "20 children between six and seven years old, as well as six adult staff members" had been shot and killed shook me to the core. Becoming a parent changes how you are affected. And anytime, since become a parent, that I hear of a child dying, no matter the circumstance, I am saddened.

Yesterday in the UK, at a concert a bomb went off, and the death toll has climbed to 22, with children among the dead. ISIS has claimed responsibility. The performer is a young woman who has fans that are children and teenagers. That is her target demographic. So, those who planted that bomb knew that children and teenagers would be in attendance.

It disgusts me that people have so little regard for life, and even more so, less regard for the life children. My faith, my God, tells me:
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3 (ESV)

And having faced the possibility of infertility, I cherish my children even more. And when I am away from them, I want to be with them. Just being in the same building with them gives me a peace; and when I hear that children have been killed, murdered for a theology that is warped and not living, my heart is hurt.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

¹⁰ fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 

John 16:33 (ESV)

³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I started writing this last week after the bombing in Manchester. But it has been hard to finish - children lost their lives. That is never easy to process. And then today, another bombing, at an ice cream shop.
"Baghdad blasts: Ice cream shop among attack targets, 31 killed" & "ISIS targets the young, then the old in twin Baghdad bombings"


My heart is still heavy. And while I am devastated at the loss of young life (any life) I know that in the end this all apart of His plan. That this world has to fall apart so His Kingdom may come. Hold your children tight, tell them you love them every chance you get, take a million pictures, record silly videos - print those and have those put on dvd. As bad as things are, we do know that things will get worse but we also know the ending of the story. God wins - and those of us that believe in His Son, have put our faith in His Son - we win with Him.

Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
Oklahoma-City-Bombing
Casualties_of_the_September_11_Attacks

September_11_Attacks_Fatalities

baghdad-blasts-ice-cream-shop-among-attack-targets-31-killed.html

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