He Will Give You Everything You Need~

TGIF Greetings :)

 

Relationships have been front and center for almost two weeks in the DEVOs, and today we tie up some loose strings.

 

Have you wondered why Boaz spoke so graciously to Ruth in the first place? Why he touched her heart with her words? Why he blessed her and Naomi with provision and protection?

 

Ruth 2:11 "Boaz replied, 'I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.'”

 

Ruth's reputation preceded her. Boaz knew she was worth getting to know. It is true that there are those who are not necessarily after a long-term relationship and could care less about a young woman's character. But this works in our favor.

 

If we conduct ourselves in a respectable way we will attract those who are respectable. The riff raff will stay away because they know that, first and foremost, we are taking refuge under the God of Israel's wings.

 

This is a powerful principle: SEEK GOD FIRST--TRUST HIM WITH YOUR FUTURE--HOLD ONTO YOUR CHARACTER AND MORALITY--AND THE RIGHT GUY OR GAL WILL NOTICE.

 

It is so romantic to me that a guy would say to a young woman that I have heard about you--you have been so kind in your life that I ask God to bless you for it.

 

Those words might be a little dated for 2013. But you know what I mean. Boaz approached Ruth for the right reasons. And it made him want to share everything he owned with her to make her happy.

 

Back in 1982 I worked at Sedano's Pharmacy. There was a regular customer who would come in once a week during my shift and make small talk. He was cute, and everything was fine at first. He did indeed ask me out. When he found out I couldn't date without a chaperon, he said, "Can't you meet me somewhere?" Uh, no.

 

Don't think I didn't think that having a chaperon was ridiculous, because it was. But honestly, if this guy could not respect my family's way of doing things, how would he ever respect me?

 

Ask Jorge and he will tell you that once he and I started dating I welcomed my mom's overbearing rules.

 

For example:

(1) If you see Jorge on Friday, there's no need to see him on Saturday and vice-versa.

(2) You must be home by midnight, and your brother is going with you every where you go. (I was 20 years old! Most kids don't even start getting ready to go out until 11PM nowadays).

(3) You may see him every Sunday--at church.

(4) He may visit once during the week and stay for an hour or less. I have things to do and can not sit there and babysit you.

 

It was rough, to say the least, but I welcomed these suffocating and unreasonable rules to see just how much Jorge was willing to put up with. He did not flinch--not once--the entire 18 months we dated before we were married. Not even when we arrived 10 minutes late one Saturday night--from youth group no less--and my mom punished me for one entire month. No Jorge for one month! I thought I would die! But I didn't, and neither did he. And, most importantly, I knew that I knew that I knew that Jorge was the guy for me.

 

There are ways in which a young man can touch our heart that does not require words; there are ways in which a young woman acts that draws the attention from the right guy. And vice-versa. And everything starts to fall into place when we, like Ruth, decide to make the One True God our God.

 

Matthew 6:33 "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need (including a blessed relationship)."

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We have been so blessed by the story of Ruth. It truly is a beautiful love story between two people who knew how to treat one another and respect the elders in their lives. The consequences of their behavior inspires us today. We all want to true love in our lives and the first step is to take refuge under Your wings. Cover us with your guidance and protection as we make relationship decisions. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

A few more points to ponder...~

TGIF :)

 

 

 We already know that Ruth showed devotion to Naomi not knowing what the future would hold. Even Naomi tells her, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters..."

 

In other words, Ruth had very little to gain by staying with Naomi.

 

Yet God was about to bless Ruth beyond her wildest dreams because of her faithfulness. First principle of the day: God blesses those who are faithful in their relationships.

 

A love story will soon unfold between Ruth and Boaz, and Naomi plays a significant role by helping Ruth navigate the tricky waters of the dating game. Second principle of the day: Older women and men sometimes really do know best. We have been there/done that, and as a result of our own life experiences we can help all you beautiful guys and gals avoid some of the pitfalls of relationships.

 

Naomi had expressed her desire for Ruth, which was, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?" Naomi was talking specifically about marriage, and chapter three in the book of Ruth is all about Naomi mentoring Ruth with good advice that would lead to marriage.

 

I love what Naomi says in this verse. A marriage to the right person leads to your well-being and provides security. It provides financial, sexual, relational, emotional, physical, and yes, even spiritual security. Given what's at stake we should all be seriously praying right now for our kids or even for those of us who are single to marry the right person. Yes, God can send a Boaz or a Ruth for us, and the book of Ruth exists to give us hope. But we have to do our part, which is the third principle of the day: Be willing to follow the advice of wiser people. What good is it to listen and then not follow through? For all you young'uns living at home, if mom or dad does not like the person you are dating, ask yourself, "Why?"

 

I will be the first to admit that the dynamic of the family has changed--so much so that not all of us have a mom or dad in our lives to guide us along. Please keep in mind that Naomi was Ruth's mother-in-law. It was not your standard husband, wife, two kids and a dog unit. Our Lord is telling us that the traditional definition of family is not the only source for our guidance. Amen to that! What is important is having a mutually loving and respectful relationship period, and I have seen that among friends, church family, next-door-neighbors, grandparents/grandkids, and even colleagues.

 

Next week we will still be on this topic as we see the fruit of Naomi and Ruth's relationship, which is principle of the day number four: A good and trusting relationship with a wise person is a great resource when considering dating and marriage.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Relationships can be a blessing if we follow the great guidelines You provide for dating and marriage. Help open our eyes to Your wisdom so we make good decisions. We all want security and well-being for ourselves and our children. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

...Your God Will Be My God~

Greetings:)




Late last year I added a new title to my other ones of wife, mom, sister, friend, Auntie...MOTHER-IN-LAW!!!



We poor mothers-in-law get such a bad rap, but I assure you that some of us are precious. And since we are talking about relationships, it is important to take a moment to examine the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic.



Going back to Ruth, we learn right at the beginning of the book that her husband and her father-in-law--Naomi's husband--have both died, and that there is a famine in the land. Ruth, who was from Moab, a land known for idol worship, had every right to return to her own family, but she tells Naomi in 1:16-17, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!"



The first time I recall hearing that scripture was at a wedding, and it is a beautiful passage for newlyweds. But I was kind of shocked to learn that it was said by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.



It is possible, dear ones, to have deep love and respect for your in-laws. Not only is it possible, but it is recommended. (More on that later). The point is that we in-laws--present and future--have a unique opportunity to conduct ourselves in such a way that our childrens' siginificant others will show steadfast devotion to us.



What on earth did Naomi do that Ruth was so determined to follow after her? To forget the idols of her homeland for the true God of Israel? The answer might surprise you.



PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Your Word shows us that love is far reaching and should positively impact all of our relationships. It is nice to know that deep devotion can exist among in-laws. If there are any rifts right now in our ranks between in-laws, bring healing and peace. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Give Her Special Treatment~

A glorious Tuesday greeting to all; I hope you all enjoyed a nice day off yesterday:)

 

Let's continue with our look at relationships.

 

Ruth 2:15-18

"When she got up to go back to work, Boaz ordered his servants: 'Let her glean where there’s still plenty of grain on the ground—make it easy for her. Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment.'”

"Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. When she threshed out what she had gathered, she ended up with nearly a full sack of barley! She gathered up her gleanings, went back to town, and showed her mother-in-law the results of her day’s work; she also gave her the leftovers from her lunch."

 

Beautiful principle of the day: A good and generous man improves the life of the woman he is with AND her family. That's right. It's not just about you. It's also about the in-laws and the parents and the siblings, even the grandparents.

 

Naomi was so impressed with the bounty that Ruth brought home that she exclaims in verse 19. "God bless whoever it was who took such good care of you!”

 

I can assure you that I was not always so eager to bless those who dated my children. Quite the opposite, in fact. There were certain seasons in life where it took a Herculean effort to keep my mouth shut. I knew that if I said what I was really thinking I would alienate my child. Man, that was hard. But it's ok. God invites us to pour out our complaint to Him, so I did--often--daily--to be exact.

 

Start telling your children now that whoever they are going to date needs to be worthy of the blessings that you as a parent are willing to give. A good relationship brings unity--not division. The right relationship shows respect for everyone in the family. The behavior that a young man or young woman displays better have you and me saying exactly what Naomi said: GOD BLESS WHOEVER IT IS THAT IS TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF YOU!"

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We raise our voice with the good Naomi to let You know that we desire to bless those who date our kids or even those whom we are dating. You provide some clear guidelines in Your Word; help us not to settle. We all want special treatment, and we want our relationships blessed. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Acres of Hope~

Good morning :)

 

Before we proceed with the topic of relationships, let's take a closer look at what God desires to do for each and everyone of who has ever been hurt, or is currently struggling in a relationship, or is feeling like a happy and healthy relationship is never going to happen.

 

There is one IN-YOUR-FACE verse that I trust will rev our engines.

 

Hosea 2:15..."I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope."

 

Have you ever taken a trip down Heartbreak Valley? Have you ever been mistreated? Have you ever been made to feel less than? Have you ever wondered if and when you will enjoy a mutually satisfying, mutually respectful, mutually faithful, and mutually loving relationship?

 

The entire book of Hosea has to do with God patiently courting us as we have done most or all of the above to Him. We have ignored Him, blamed Him when things go wrong, only gone to Him when there's a crisis, and yes, even looked for satisfaction in temporal things when only He can give peace that runs like a river.

 

The good news is that He completely and thoroughly understands relationships--inside and out. It was all His idea in the first place. Which is why Hosea is such a powerful love story. The same God Who pursues us and understands what it takes to have an amazing relationship--Who knows our weaknesses and tendencies--is the same one Who desires to apply these principles and power for our human relationships as well.

 

He knows that Heartbreak Valley exists--that it's a well-traveled destination filled with regrets, guilt, and sorrow. But Heartbreak Valley turns into Acres of Hope when we turn to Him. Acres with an "s", instead of a singular depressing valley. AMEN! It begins with prayer, as you all faith-filled creatures know, but let us not underscore the importance of Biblical principles. God has a way of doing things that will take you straight out of that valley into your hope-filled acreage. His way works.

 

We've already looked at how a young man must act and speak in a way that touches a woman's heart, and how he must protect her reputation. We have also seen the wisdom behind women who affirm, not nag, their men. And there is more to come. But let's conclude today's DEVO with a special prayer--especially for our young, unmarried children. There is so much misinformation out there. Let's be a line of defense between them and all that junk by (1) praying for them, (2) learning God's relationship principles, and (3) setting the right example by following these principles ourselves.

 

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You know best when it comes to our love lives. We all have young people in our lives that we love, and we have so many concerns because we want them to avoid the harsh consequences that can come when we do not choose wisely. Make our children receptive to doing things Your way, and give us the wisdom and patience we need to properly instruct them. And for those of us who are desperate for a change, we are asking You today to do Your thing. You are the One Who turns heartbreak into hope. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

You've Touched My Heart~

Good morning :)

 

Yesterday a few of you wrote back to express how you wished you would have known that a man who protects a woman's reputation is a good thing!

 

Even though it sounds like common sense, the truth is that sometimes our girls do not know what exactly to look for in a man, and sometimes our boys have all the best intentions but they were never properly taught or modeled the right behavior.

 

That's where we come in.

 

For those of us who have kids, we can teach them, and for those of us who are looking to date and marry, we can be on the lookout for these beautiful qualities.

 

I myself was very blessed after reading the story of Mary and Joseph because I realized that God chose an excellent man to be Christ's earthly father. We all want the same thing for our children and for ourselves.

 

But there is one book in the Bible that has always been the source of most of the relationship advice I have given my kids--the book of Ruth.

 

Ruth 2:8-13

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!”

 

The backstory is that Ruth is a widowed foreigner traveling with her mother-in-law back to Israel. She and her mother-in-law are practically destitute. And then she meets a man named Boaz.

 

Principal number one: The words a young man speaks must be filled with grace and his actions must be kind. He must touch a girl's heart--NOT ANYTHING ELSE! Other versons of the Bible say that you have comforted me, reassured me, put me at ease, and encouraged me.

 

It is the epitome of romance.

 

If the young man you are dating is not filling your heart with grace and kindness, RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!! If he is trying to connect somewhere else besides your heart--you know what to do.

 

I once counseled a precious young lady who couldn't quite figure out what was bothering her about her boyfriend. It turns out that he had a subtle way of undermining her self-esteem by making comments like, "You are so beautiful, but you would look prettier with bangs." "I love you just the way you are, but that blouse makes you look a little pudgy." He once went so far as to suggest a nose job. Lord, have mercy! He would always give a compliment before a criticism. It was so damaging to her, and continuing to be with him would have been a mistake. Eventually she was able to see that he wasn't kind or gracious,and he certainly didn't touch her heart. There was nothing comforting, reassuring, or encouraging about his words. He did not put her at ease--he put her ill at ease. Bottom line: He hurt her heart, and she broke it off.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You for including me like Joseph and Boaz in the Bible. It provides an excellent model of what men act like and what women should look for. Help us and our kids be strong in this area because who we choose to be in a relationship with is the most important decision we will ever make. Thank You that our number one relationship is with Christ and the He guides us. In Jesus' name, AMEN~