Archive for December, 2007

Homecoming

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Ruth 1:19 “So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” Ten years ago, I was still in my twenties. (Just barely.) In the last ten years, Mark and I have been [...]

It Gets Easier

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

Ruth 1:18 “When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” I love this little verse. Hidden within its words is the wisdom of the ages. Or at least the wisdom of the aged. Those of us who have lived a little, who have experienced some difficult things have [...]

I Pledge Allegiance . . .

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Ruth 1:16 – 17 “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. [...]

No Turning Back

Sunday, December 9th, 2007

Ruth 1:15 “Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” Poor Ruth. She was trying her best to do what she thought was right. She was clinging to Naomi, clinging to her decision to stay with her mother-in-law. And yet, Naomi was trying to persuade [...]

The Decision

Friday, December 7th, 2007

Ruth 1:14 “At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.” Here we are at the turning point. The crossroad. The place of decision. Naomi has urged her daughters-in-law to turn back. Orpah, broken hearted, kissed her mother-in-law good-by, and turned around. Ruth, on the other hand, clung [...]

The Solution

Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

Ruth 1:9b – 13 “Then she kissed them and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “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; [...]

The Mother-in-Law

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

Ruth 1:8 – 9 “Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me.  May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.’ Then [...]

Going Home

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

Ruth 1:6 – 7 “When she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that [...]

Legacy

Monday, December 3rd, 2007

Ruth 1:3 – 5 “Now Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” Oh, Eli. [...]