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23 June 2013

The Wedding of Ruth & Boaz

I am going to quote a little from Francine Rivers’ book A Lineage of Grace because it is so beautiful [and not described in the Bible]:

“Ruth and Boaz were pressed along again as the women joined the men in the procession back through the dark streets of Bethlehem. Some of the men carried torches. The women played tambourines, beat small hand drums, clinked finger cymbals, shook tingling bells, and sang with the men.

When Boaz entered his house, he raised his mantle and held it over Ruth as he drew her up onto the dais beneath the canopy…He walked her in a full circle several times for all the witnesses to see that she had his covering of marriage. When he stopped, Ruth didn’t hesitate. She drew off her veil and draped it over his shoulder according to custom.”

After reading this bit in the book, I knew that’s exactly what I would want my wedding to be. You see, in today’s time we take for granted that we have to get married in a church with a preacher before us. In the days before Jesus, and quite possibly in His time as well, it was more symbolic to wear finery and the man cover the wife in marriage as read above. The main event was and probably still is the wedding feast (reception as we know it today). By the simplicity of walking his bride in several full circles, covering her with his mantle and she covering him with her veil, they are proclaimed married!

Reading this passage, I saw the ceremony take place. It was exciting to read and I’ll bet all the more to witness!

We have seemingly finished with Ruth in our Bible Study and will be moving into the story of Bathsheba. Ironically, the series during worship service is on King David. Going to learn so much more over the next few weeks for sure! I do love Old Testament writings.

18 June 2013

Seek and find

I have been reading different devotionals lately either on Facebook or elsewhere and it seems that most are saying the same thing: seek God. I have to admit that I am lazy about reading the Word. Life gets in the way, or at least it appears that way. In reality, it’s my baby faith that is keeping me from ritually routinely seeking God. This is something that I promised myself I would work on this year.

I read this great devotional this evening by Suzie Eller of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I won’t give anything away, but I do encourage you to check out this website and maybe sign up to receive the daily devotionals. I have found many to be inspiring and uplifting.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV)

13 June 2013

The Happiness Trap

I have been reading this book as part of my Continuum of Care plan since the beginning of the year. It’s been helpful and insightful so far. I won’t bore you with the details, but I just read something in Chapter 6, p 59 that I wanted to share:

Serenity Challenge

Develop the courage to solve those problems that can be solved, the serenity to accept those problems that can’t be solved, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Yes, it’s based on the well-known Serenity Prayer. But I thought it fitting as I continue to learn how to live with instead of struggle against my thoughts.happiness

09 June 2013

Ruth

The past couple weeks have been spent on Ruth in Bible Study. I am finding it difficult to finish the novella as I am deeply identifying with Naomi, Ruth and Orpah right now. Naomi and her daughters-in-law all lost their husbands. A little background is needed to better understand…

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. ~ Ruth 1:1-5

RuthRuth, a Moabite woman, longed to learn more about the God of her husband’s family. In my personal life, I have been longing to hear from God. I am learning to trust in Him and His plan for my life more than ever before. To trust someone, anyone, is an extremely difficult thing for me as I lost trust many years ago in mankind.

I have read the Book of Ruth in the Bible several times in recent months and a handful more over my entire life. I love the strength, courage, and faith she shows in all aspects of her life. I love how she perseveres in the worst of times and encourages her mother-in-law to continue on as well. I have been told by a few people since my father’s passing how inspired they are by the strength I have held. What they don’t know is that I have cried myself to sleep many nights and while it’s less and less, the hurt of his loss is deep.

After the loss of her husband and sons, Naomi decided she ruth2wanted to return to her homeland: Bethlehem. Ruth went with her; Orpah went back to Moab. These two women were bound to one another for a lifetime not just through marriage and death, but to sense of duty and kinship. Ruth went on to remarry and had child(ren) who were ancestors to Jesus Christ.

I can only hope to live half the life Ruth led in her time.