Namesake Week 5 Day 4: Grace and Truth

Today's Scripture: John 8:10-11, and John 1-14


After Jesus stood up and and diffused the crowd by making the women's accusers look into their own hearts, He could have simply stopped there. But as the women stood before him waiting on a verdict, wanting to know what this man / leader had to say about her actions, she knew that she was guilty of the crime. Jesus responded with grace "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." Jesus forgave her, set her free from her past, and set her on a new path of change. Jesus' whole ministry in a nut shell is a fine balance of offering grace and giving people the truth.

Jesus wants more for our lives, but we have to take responsibility for thoughts, actions, desires and temptations. We will always be given forgiveness, but that doesn't mean that we can continue on in our sin and make the same mistakes over and over. God sent Jesus to the world to save His people from sin. Because of His love for us He wants to protect us from the damage sin causes in our lives.

There are two main topics that I really wanted to talk about in this chapter Conviction and Condemnation. Many many Christians (especially those who are new to Christianity) struggle with differentiating between the two.

Conviction: An internal voice of God gently calling us to a better life accessible through change.

Condemnation: An internal voice (a combination of the voices of others, our selves, and the devil) that breaks up down, strips away our worth and condemns us to fail over and over.

There are two versus that can really help us during these times of conflict where we might be struggling with conviction vs. condemnation.

John 3:17

Romans 8:1

Jesus offers us the freedom from condemnation, a change to break free of rut and have a new future. It's up to us to take the offer and through God receive the knowledge and help to move toward that future!

10 Years Together and You Still Get To Me

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary. Its hard to believe that it was only 10 years ago that we got married! We are going away for the weekend and staying in a beautiful suite in Reno, NV. I cannot wait to get there.

I will finish up the Namesake Study at the beginning of next week and post some other fun stuff to.

See Y'all later!

Namesake Week 5 Day 3: Casting the First Stone

Today's Scripture: John 8:7, Matthew 7:1-5, and John 8:31-36

When the unnamed women was at her lowest and most vulnerable time it was followers of God who wounded her most. In their efforts to uphold God's laws they forgot to remember not to hurt God's children in the process. Many people who are suffering and struggling with sin fear the judgement and harsh reactions they might find in church. Christians and other religious groups aren't always the most gracious. I have shared how these were my exact feelings after I become pregnant as a teen. I feared the judgement of my church family and so turned away from them and God for many years.
We as sinners and as followers of God have to remember that grace is God shows his children and so we need to show this to each others.

When Jesus told his followers that "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone." God was the only one in the crowd that was free of sin and he wasn't picking up or throwing stones. He didn't condemn the women He showed her patience and compassion.

When was the last time you found yourself judging others and what did you judge?

I find myself judging people's intentions before taking the time to learn or ask the person. I also strongly judge the way that others spend money or handle finances when I am just as guilty of spending or shopping.

We judge other's actions more because they are visible while our sins are hidden away in our hearts.
The story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14 is a great example of judging others. When we take the time to look within ourselves it teaches us how to look within the heart of God and compassion and grace. It also shows us where we need to make improvements. When we take the time to do this it not helps us but allows us to forgive others. If we stop judging and start offering grace it will help us change the way we view ourselves and others.

Namesake Week 5 Day 2: Writing in the Sand

Today's Scripture: John 8:6-11, Jeremiah 31:31-34

When we look at what Jesus was doing when the Women Caught in Adultery was brought before Him for judgement, we see that Jesus was bent down writing something in the dirt. I have heard this story before and the bible does not say what Jesus was writing but we know it was words. One of the ideas (the one I love the best) is that Jesus was writing the women's name. The men that brought the women forward was just a pawn to the undoing of Jesus, so if Jesus had written her name the men would have had a very hard time continuing to see her as an object. By writing her name Jesus was saying this women is more than her sin, more than her mistakes, She has a name.

One of the other ideas that I like is that Jesus was writing a message of love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. A message that would have brought comfort to the women who's fate lied in Jesus' hands. The message must have been important for there is only one other time that Jesus (through God) wrote something and that was the 10 commandments. God wants a relationship with us that is made of love not obligation to obey a set of rules. God writes this desire to be obeyed on our hearts and wants our desires to match His desires.

One aspect of this story is the bible never questions the women's guilt, but she is as guilty of breaking God's laws as the men who accused her. If you are free of sin cast the 1st stone. The men who brought her to trial had to then look into their own hearts and one by one walked away. God longs to write His love on our hearts and wants our obedience to be willing.

Jesus,

Help me to fall in love with you. Please help my actions to flow out of my heart and have this love be reflected in my outward obedience. Come and write Your words on my heart. Show me how to desire what you desire and how best to follow your will.

Amen

Namesake Week 5 Day 1: Unnamed, But Not Unknown

 This image was found @ dreaminsoul.com

Today's Scripture: John 8:2-6, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Matthews 9:20-22, Mark 9:17-24, Psalm 139:13-14, 2 Timothy 3:16

From an early age we are taught to say "Hi my name is _____" when we want to meet someone. And we as adults would never ask personal intimate questions of someone without first making introductions and knowing someones name. Yet in the bible there are many important stories of people unnamed.

These unnamed people are more often than not given title that described their situation or a nickname based on their actions. The story that we are booking at in this chapter is that of an unnamed women who is "named" based on a moment of mistake, she is known as "The Women Caught in Adultery". Can you imagine if someone went through your passed and instead of using your name labeled you based on some bad action? None of us wants to dwell on the mistakes of our past, so it would be damaging to be constantly reminded of some bad choice by others judging you and labeling you like the scarlet letter.

Read the story of "The Women Caught in Adultery" in John 8:2-6.  A group of men brought the women before Jesus and they thought there were only two options (for they did not know that Jesus was unlike any other man) to stone her which would take power away from Rome or to pardon her which would do against the laws of Moses potentially losing respect from his followers. The men that brought this women before the temple were not concerned with her as a person, but wanted to set a trap for Jesus to discredit him and potentially get him killed. This damaged women must have been used to men using her for their own purpose, not knowing her heart, her hurts or even her name.

As she stood before "this man" Jesus he held her fate and life in his hands, this man who she could find the love she was missing and the healing that she needed. This man was her creator and "could love her more than anyone ever could". One thing is for sure her life was never the same!

Why are these stories of people who's names are never revealed in the bible? Namesake lists 4 reasons.

1. They are to show that every life no matter how small has great significance to God. 

Psalm 139:13-14

2. Their struggles and triumphs are shared so that we may learn from them. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

3. To remind us that God is the main character in our stories and it's His name that should be lifted up not ours.

Psalm 8:1-4

4. These stories may have been written without names so that we can insert our own name in the blank. 

2 Timothy 3:16

This unnamed women may have been unknown to most and still remains unnamed to us, but Jesus knew her and loved her. I sometimes feel unnoticed, insignificant. I wonder what it is that others see and love about me. What do I mean to others? I have to remind myself that God knows my heart, every dream, stumble, and joy. 

"Before I were born He saw me. Before anyone spoke my name, He knew me. According to Him, I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Namesake - The Last Week

I must confess that Namesake has been a difficult study for me. But I have learned a lot about my views of God and how to strengthen my relationship with Him. I'm on the look out for a new study, if you have any suggestions please let me know. Otherwise I will post which study might be next in the coming days! I hope you follow along for the last few days of this study!

Namesake Week 5 Day 5 - Revelation - Pray in My Name

Today's Scripture: Jon 14:5-14, 1 John 5:13-15, Luke 6:46, Matthew 20:28, John 15:9-12

How do you imagine God when you pray? A kind loving man, an angry judgmental person looking down on your every move?

I imagine a soft, loving father figure who is always there for me with with kind words and open arms ready to welcome me in. For me God has to be an approachable person, that I can talk to and confide in. One of the main things that I struggle with remembering is does God understand what I'm going through? Jesus was a man and experienced all there is in life just like us, fear, frustration, love, weakness, etc. God has expectations for me, but He also has compassion and understanding towards my struggles.

In the bible we learn that even the disciples had a hard time focusing in their picture of God. (Understanding who God is and what He wants for / from us is one of the biggest concepts that the human can try to grasp - that's were FAITH has to step in.) Learning who God is takes more than reading a few devotionals, it can take a lifetime of walking with God and searching to know Him.

In John 14:13-14 - Jesus promised that He will provide anything we request if we ask it in His name. Have you ever prayed and prayed and not heard an answer? Or wondered if there is a right way / right prayer that would ensure your needs / wants be met? I always pray for patience and for God to change me for the better. I pray morning and night for patience with my daughters and my husband! By praying "in God's name" doesn't mean that we always instantaneously get what we want, we need to look at what motivates our prayer.

In 1 John 5:13-15 we are old that during our prayers God hears and if it pleases God we will receive what we need. We need to pray that God shape us and change the deepest parts of our hearts! We need to pray that we reflect the character and love of God here on earth.

Lord,

Please guide me as a parent. Provide me with the knowledge and patience to be better and give my family a better me. I pray for understanding, forgiveness and a change to be more gentle. A better mom and wife will help to shape the hearts of my family. Help me bring them to you!

In Jesus' name I pray

         ~Amen

Namesake Week 5 Day 3: Disappointing God

Today's Scripture: Luke 22:31-34, Luke 22:54-62

A few years ago a co-worker of mine told me "You can't hold others to the expectations that you hold yourself too." After all these years that advise still stays with me, I remind myself of it whenever I feel disappointed by the actions of others. I think that some people (some Christians even) wonder what is the positive in living in this post-Eden imperfect world? Jessica LaGrone's response is "we get to see how God deals with disappointment" Just live a parent, when God feels disappointment with us its because we are making bad choices and He only wants the best for us. The best thing about God and a lesson that we should all learn is even when deeply disappointment God response with GRACE. God will reach out to us again, and again, and again.

Here are some examples of God's grace:

Ephesians 2:8-9

Hebrews 4:16

Romans 5:1-2

"When we act in disappointing ways, God is not surprised. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He is ready to respond with Grace. He also knows that failure is like a sieve that can strengthen us. " Jessica LaGrone

I have a really hard time with expectations and disappointment as a mom and wife! God must deal with this as well, being our Holy Father, but he shows us unconditional love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. These qualities are the ones that I strive for everyday. To show my children that when we are disappointed we can still be gentle and not lash out or recoil, we need to extend understanding and love. We have a choice just like God has a choice to reject us or to work on us.

Namesake Week 5 Day 2 - Change

Today's Scripture: Matthew 16: 13-20 and 16:21-23, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Blogging is essentially an online digital journal, typing or physically writing out our successes and struggles can bring solutions to light. I don't need to go back and read my oldest posts to know that I deal with the same struggles and temptations today as years ago, three steps forward and sometimes 10 back. (The same thing I deal with medically).

Life is all about ups and downs. Everyone deals with it, even Peter. I'm sure he was struggling with leaving his whole life behind to follow Jesus, that his life was shaken when Jesus changed his name and he would be the "foundation" of Jesus' church. His journal would also speak of his willingness and resistance to change - a spiritual yo-yo. When we read the gospels of Peter (and Simon Peter) we will see Peter is at his highest followed by his deepest lows.

In Matthew 16:21 we read about how Jesus told the disciples of the tests He would soon have to go through and how these tests will be necessary to prove God's love and power. Peter loved Jesus so much that when he heard this he asked Jesus if there was any way he would not sacrifice himself and instead lead His people. Jesus called Peter "Satan" (in Hebrew Satan means to obstruct or oppose). When Peter voiced his concern and questioned God's plan through Jesus he was obstructing Jesus' path. He went from the high of being renamed and being the rock to the low of Jesus telling him he was like Satan.

Most of us, especially in today's world we don't like to wait. We want to change and do it immediately, but God normally works through us to change that can take a lifetime. When we give our lives over to God we have to remember that just with most things in life "it takes work". We cannot expect that once we reach out to God we won't struggle or temptations will instantly fade away. "Even as we walk with God we will sometimes fall down" Jessica LaGrone. We have to remember that the process is just as important as the end result. And thank God for his patience, grace and love!

In the Act on it section I made a graph of my journey with God.

Namesake Week 5 Day 1: From Mess to Ministry

Today's Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18, Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16, Acts 1:13-14

I have shared that I was raised in a Christian home, but after I became pregnant with my oldest that I turned away from my faith. The year before a found my faith again my best friend was always trying to get me to go to bible study with her, I declined every time. I felt that I didn't know enough, my biblical knowledge was nil. I didn't want to go into a room with other women and show how little I knew about the bible, to be judged by others on how little I knew. When I stopped ignoring God speaking to my heart and really listened the first thing I did was go out and find a bible study. I picked up What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lisa Terkeurst and it really helped me start to rebuild my relationship with God. I was and still am extremely imperfect, the same is true when we meet Simon Peter in Matthew 16. Simon Peter was kind of a mess, why would Jesus chose him as a follower and a leader? When Jesus asked the disciples what they knew of Him, Simon Peter didn't think if his answer was right or wrong. Simon Peter simply answered what he felt in his heart to be true. Jesus doesn't care if we have extensive biblical knowledge He only cares about what we believe in our hearts, and if we chose Him.

This chapter asks "Who do you say that I am?" My answer - You are a great leader and teacher. You are like a stone dropped into water that has created thousands of ripples that will be made for hundreds of years. You are my savior, my father, my friend and example.

Simon was completely open, honest and personal in his response, he acknowledged that Jesus was the one person that was making changes in his life and changing the whole world. Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter, the rock. Jesus build the church's foundation on the rock, on Simon Peter. Jesus knew that Simon Peter was a work in progress, but I think He chose a person that he could change and help grow into the position He needed him to be. "...he was great building material, not a finished product." (speaking of Simon Peter). Jesus' pull to us has everything to do with loving us as we are, not loving the person that we have build ourselves to be. He can change us break us down and build us up for the better.

My favorite quote from this chapter reads,

Happy Fall Yall

Finally fall has come to Northern California. 

So much has happened since my last post...

After painting for four days and getting all new carpet,

We finally got all moved into our new house,

both girls started school (Shay as a freshman and Cloe in preschool),

Shay decided to run away from home for 24 hours,

and my MS has been kicking my butt.

Its been a crazy 2 months thats for sure!

Today my house smells like the stew that's in the crock pot and its overcast from the rain last night. 

It finally feels like fall, my favorite season.

Since its so late in the week I will finish the last two chapters of the Namesake study next week.

Here are a few photos from the past couple weeks.

Namesake Week 5 and 6 Postponed Till After The Move

Well moving day is quickly approaching and I have soooo much to do to get ready, so I have postponed the final 2 chapters of namesake till after we move. Moving is one of the worst things. Between choosing paint colors, packing, training the dog and going on a weekend trip to see my parents things are going to get very busy. Not to mention all the things that I have to get done during and after the move.

I normally do really good with moves, but with my back issues and now the MS I find moving really hard. I want to help and I can't so I have to turn over control to others. Tell people where to put things and unload as I can. Plus try and keep Cloe busy and out of the way. Whewww I'm tired just thinking about it all.

Currently I'm on the hunt for meals to make ahead and eat during the move, so we aren't eating out for three days. I will post some meal recipes that I find tomorrow or Friday.

Namesake Week 4 Day 4: Beasts of Burden

Today's Scripture: Isaiah 46:1-9, Isaiah 46:1-2, and Exodus 20:2-6

Versus related to what Idol worship teaches us: Psalm 115:4-8, Romans 1:21-23, I Corinthians 10:21, and Matthew 4:8-10

The question behind the book of Daniel which we looked at yesterday, is What do you worship?

wor·ship

ˈwərSHəp

noun

1. 1.

   the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.

   "the worship of God"

2. synonyms:

   reverence, veneration, adoration, glorification, glory, exaltation

Worship can be done during church service and its a wonderful thing, but there is more to worship than just that. Worship is about finding something that is our reason for living a purposeful life. In order to find out what our life purpose is and honestly worship we must prioritize our life. Whatever is the center of our life is what we worship. 

Here is my life center:

People have a hard time worshiping an invisible God, that is when Idols are normally made. There are many cultures that make idols, physical statues or figures that represent the gods that they pray to. When the figure or statue is made it then has to be carried around, and that is when it starts to become a burden. God insists that we worship him and only him, not because of self-interest by because he wants the best for him children. "God loves us so much that He wants us to orient our lives to worship the only thing that can unburden us, Him!" - Namesake

When we turn away from God and go to other things for help, we are deceiving ourselves and separately us from God.

"When we remind ourselves again that He is the source of our comfort and strength, the giver of every good and perfect gift, the choice to worship Him with our whole lives flower naturally. He is the one choice as object of our affection who will give more love than He could ever receive."

Namesake Week 4 Day 3: Worship

Today's Scripture: Daniel 6:1-16, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 95:6, James 4:8, Philippians 2:9-11 and Revelation 5:11-14

Have you ever gone to church and left feeling low? Every time I leave church I feel renewed and lighter, I can breath easier and feel ready for anything that come during the week. Its amazing how when we (Christians) come together as a community our hearts are transformed. "Worship shifts our focus outside ourselves and reminds us that there is a greater reality beyond the struggles we face." -Namesake

In the story of Daniel, his worship took away from the reality that he was a prisoner in a foreign land, but back to Jerusalem where he worshiped as a boy (back to a better time and place). When the King decreed to pray except to him Daniel was conflicted between praying to His God and His truth or praying a false God. So he went back to him room and prayed a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God. He continued to pray 3 times per day as always, he gave God thanks. Daniel was faithful in worship and prayer to God, even though he faced being thrown into the lion's den.

Daniel made a habit out of worshiping the lord. If we make a habit out of praying and worshiping the lord in the same place daily it will help us look beyond our moods, problems, and reality, ground us and make our hearts glad. The daily practice of prayer and worship will help keep our faith strong through good times and struggles. The act of worship is as important to our faith as breathing is to our bodies.

Not only is it important to pray and worship quietly and alone, but its important to join a community of like minded Christians and worship together. This community or family of Christians is a very important part of the Christian life. Its a reminder that we are never alone, we have a building full of brothers and sisters of faith. A reminder that we are not alone, and a place were we can turn to help us through our hard times. Knowing that we are not alone helps us stay spiritually alive.

Worship Keeps Our Faith Alive

Namesake Week 4 Day 2: Strangers in a Strange Land

Today's Scripture: Daniel 3:8-30, Exodus 20:4-6, Exodus 20:1-17, and Philippians 2:14-16

Today's study really focuses on staying true to yourself, your beliefs and Gods word. We have all faced peer pressure as teens when outside influences are bearing down on us and we have the conflict of standing up for what we know to be the right thing or going along with the crowd. This pressure from outside influences is often felt throughout our lives and was definitely felt by Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Daniel and the three other men were taken from Jerusalem to a strange place with a strange culture. The Babylonians made sure to make all the people taken from Jerusalem feel comfortable and at home, to convert them to the language, culture and religion of Babylon. The men's faith was tested the very first night when the king ordered that the men eat the food and drink the wine that was sacrificed to the golden idol, which the men knew God. The young men withstood this temptation and asked that the guard to serve them only vegetables and water as a test for 10 days after the test was over and the guard saw that they looked better than the other men (who had drank and eaten the sacrificial food and wine) the guard decided that the vegetarian meal would continue.

The next test of the men's faith came when the king built a ninety foot high golden idol and expected everyone to bow down to worship this idol. But the three men stood tall and while a see of people bowed down to this idol they stayed standing.This is exactly what God wants, He wants us to standout in a way that shows other that we follow His word. He wants us to act in these ways so that others can clearly see and take notice that our actions that are inspired by God. When the King demanded they bow down or be thrown into the blazing fire, the men refused and said their God will protect them from the fire as a reward for their loyalty and even if they did burn they would not bow down except to their own God.

The King ordered the men bound and thrown into the fire, but what did they see? Four men walking around in the fire unharmed, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah and a fourth that "looks like a son of gods." God stayed right by the young men's side and went with them through the punishment. God will always be by our side through thick and thin, good times and bad ones. When we stand for God we will never stand alone.

The king then ordered that anyone who did not worship the God of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah they would be killed, for no other God can save in this way. We should always stand up for God even when the whole world is bowing down to something else.

Namesake Week 4 Daniel Day 1: True to Our Roots

Today's Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 11:18-21, Ephesians 6:4, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17

This chapter really could not have come at a better time. My husband and I have been struggling with our 14 year old daughter for the past 2 years. Her rebellious attitude, lack of respect, and getting into trouble has gotten worse and worse. This year (2014) has really been full of trials, anger, disappointment, and struggle. We feel like we are failing as parents! Did we not teach our oldest the things she needed to know / the things that we expect of her, when she was little, is it too late?

In this chapter we meet Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - four boys who were taught from birth about their culture, beliefs, and their parents expectations of them. Even their names had such meaning that later they could fall back on the meaning for guidance.

Daniel: God is my Judge
Hananiah: Yahweh (God) is Gracious
Mishael: Who is like God?
Azariah: Yahweh (God) has helped

Each time that the boys hear their names they also hear the message that their names mean. As our children grow we share (teach) them about their family, their culture, their beliefs and responsibilities. Every time we sit down with our children or our children sit down with someone else they are learning and observing.

Here are some versus that talk about parenting children who will love God.

 Proverbs 22:6
 Deuteronomy 11:18-21
 Ephesians 6:4
 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I feel that I have done a great disservice to my oldest daughter. I had her 1 month before my 15th birthday, I was not ready to be a mom and I think that caused some of the issues we are having today. I was a child raising a child, I didn't know the things that she needed to learn - to be respectful, have great manners, love God, stay focused on school and stay away from people that are going to get you in trouble. I was learning these things myself, I didn't know that she was missing things along the way. She was influenced more from the outside world than from inside our home, how do I get all that back and get her back on track?

Please God give Chad and I your knowledge and patience to help Shay succeed and help us parent with more love, as you have loved us, and with less anger and frustration. Help Shay to take responsibility for her part and the things that she has done, stop blaming us for her bad choices. Help us please to be better parents and raise great girls who do great in life and love you.

Amen 

Namesake Week 3 Day 5: Revelation Kinsman-Redeemer

Today's Scripture: Ruth 2:19-20

In our society we start teaching our girls really young that they are princesses and need to wait for the hansom prince that will come and save them. Every Disney princess movie follows that plot, but where are the stories and movie about The One, God who is the ultimate savior. I never restricted either of my girls from watching princess movies or dreaming about romance that will come one day...BUT I am sharing more these days about how God is always there, he has our back and will always be there to save us from things threatening us.

Scripture that shows us where we need to place our hope: Isaiah 40:31 and Jeremiah 17:7-8

Friendships are also something that I'm trying to get my daughters (especially my oldest) to value. My oldest (a freshman in high school this year) is extremely boy crazy, she puts everything else including her school work and girlfriends on-hold for boys. I hate this, I know its normal but I really want her to get involved in school and get good grades and make strong friendships with girls in her class.

I want my girls to be independent and have bunches of close friendships, and trust in the lord. To rely on God to lead the way and help them. Ruth is a great example of a women working hard when she needs to, her close friendship with Naomi is a meaningful blessing to her life, a women not afraid to make her own fairy-tale. The story of Ruth should be a story that we tell our girls at night instead of sleeping beauty.

When Ruth set out in the fields to work she only had one thing in mind, providing for herself and Naomi. She didn't wait for a man on a white horse to come to her aid, she went out and worked hard. When Noami heard that Ruth and Boaz (the land owner) had met she told Ruth that Boaz could be a kinsman-redeemer based on Levirate law.


Kinsman-Redeemer: A man who would help out a family member in distress by "redeeming" them...responsible to redeem a relative who had fallen on hard times and needed rescue. And when a widow is involved this man can take the window as his wife.

Examples and definition of kinsman-redeemer Leviticus 25:25, Leviticus 25:47-49, and
Deuteronomy 25:5-10

A true gentleman would marry the widow of his closest male relative and give the shared inheritance with the children. Kinsman-redeemers are valued members of the family and also definitely instruments of God. God is the ultimate Kindsman-Redeemer, our rescuer and savior. Boaz is not the prince in Ruth's story, its God who works behind the scenes to be the real Kinsmand-Redeemer.

So lets kick Rapunzel out of the way and make room for the story of Ruth and truth that God is the only rescuer / hero we need!

Namesake Week 3 Day 4: Undercover God

Today's Scriptures: Ruth 3:1-18. Ruth 4:1-17, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 and Romans 8:28

In these final scenes of Naomi and Ruth's story we start to see both a change in Naomi and the undercover workings of God (working behind the scenes).

There are many examples in the bible of God's miracles (the big ones) parting of the red sea, Noah and the flood, the burning bush, but there are also many stories of how God worked in the background arranging a few small things that drastically changed the outcome. Do you ever feel like John did in John 20:24-31

"Unless I see...I will not believe."

Sometimes I pray to God and ask for little signs to show me my path, or if I'm on the right path. But I don't thing there has been a time where I have prayed for something miraculous to happen as proof that God is there, I just believe! Believing is seeing as in Luke 24:30-32.

When things start to fall into place people often think of fate or coincidence, but in most cases its the intentions of God working undercover to make things work out for you. When Naomi realized that God was working on her behalf it was a turning point, her bitterness and anger melted away and was replaced with excitement and hope. "We need both God's powerful action in our lives and our own initiative, joining with Him to work for good. He is at work for our good and He wants us to join Him." Namesake.

"We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and 

are called according to His purpose for them."

 - Romans 8:28

The incredible and happy ending for Ruth and also Naomi is Boaz ends up marrying Ruth and starts the lineage towards King David through the birth of Ruth and Boaz son Obed. God used Ruth and Naomi's circumstance and through His amazing plans accomplished something that no one could have imagined. Without Ruth being will to work along side God, and Naomi changing her attitude I don't thing the ending would have gone this way.

"God is at work in and around us all the time. 

We simply need to learn to see." 

~ Jessica LaGrone

Examples of God working undercover:

 John 20:13-17
 Luke 24:30-32
 Matthew 24:31-40
 Hebrews 13:2

Namesake Week 3 Day 3: Love in Action

Today's Scripture: Ruth 2:1-23, and Philippians 2:3-4

In this section of Ruth we are looking at the 2nd act of Naomi's story. When Ruth and Noami arrived in Bethlehem both women were dealing with loss. Naomi had become bitter and angry with God, which is a normal stage of grief. But at some point we have to move through the stages of grief and move on. As Naomi stayed in her grief Ruth began to change and move forward.

Ruth refused to stay wallowing in grief, her and Naomi's situation was serious and since they didn't have a male family member Ruth offered to go out and glean the fields - to gather the left overs the harvesters left behind. Ruth felt a calling to step outside her comfort zone and her own sad situation and go out into the fields.

Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." Philippians 2:3-4

When we are struggling or hurting we should try to reach out and help someone else. It's a hard idea to think about helping or caring for someone else when we are in need ourselves. When we are seen reaching out and helping other's we might inspire someone to do the same. This is what Ruth did and "her goodness and hard work were noticed and rewarded."

When Boaz (the owner of the field) learned of Ruth her took notice of her hard work and determination. He had heard of how she had taken care of Naomi and never left her, Boaz decided to look after her and help her succeed. 

Ruth helped Naomi = Ruth gleaning in the fields = 

Boaz appreciating Ruth's work and care of Naomi = 

Boaz helping and protecting Ruth =

Naomi seeing Boaz helping Ruth and takes step to help Ruth later on

A circle of people helping people helping people, selfless acts of integrity, kindness and service.

Namesake Week 2 Day 2: Covenant Friendship

Today's Scripture: Ruth 1:15-18, 1 Samuel 18:1-4, and Proverbs 18:24

Do you have that one friend that you can call and she will immediately know its you on the line just from you saying "Hey its me."? Or someone that you can call day or night, that will drop everything and come help you? God sends people into our lives, relationships that sustain us in the highest and lowest points in our lives. These relationships show us what unconditional love is, God loves us through other people. Angie (my best friend) and I share a phrase about each other that came from Angie's grandpa "we are each other's Person". Meaning we are that one person to each other that is hard to find, a friendship so strong that it can last distance and time apart and start back up like we never left off. A God given friend!

We see this type of relationship in the bible as well. When Naomi is sending her daughters-in-law back to their home lands and Ruth says no I will stay with you and go where you go.
Ruth 1:16-18 "Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

This pledge that Ruth made to Naomi is the start of a covenant friendship. Both women are dealing with the death of their husbands and having to leave their home, but they can find love and support in each other. At the center of this covenant bond is God, God is at the center and His strength will carry through.
"God often provides us with strength in a very real and physical way by providing us with each other for support. The spiritual is made real in the tangible, loving support of the people of God in our lives." - Namesake 

Everyone starts out in life with a family that we grow up in. Then later in life we marry, have our own kids, etc, this is our family of destination. Then there is another type of family, covenant friends that can sometimes become closer than blood family. The later is the type of relationship that is forming between Naomi and Ruth.

Another example of this type of bod between people of no blood relation can be found in 1 Samuel 18:1-4.