unfailing love

‘Love never Fails …’ I Corinthians 13:8

It is Sunday – the last day of February

It is also the last day of our month-long focus on love

We have talked about what love is and what it is not

We have had some practical examples of love in action

We have challenged thoughts & opinions regarding love

And while there may be differing points of view, one thing is certain: we all know that love never, ever fails

Love is not always easy but it is always worth it

We discussed yesterday how we are made in the image of God, in the image of love

Understand that it is actually inhuman to be unloving

Yes, there is pain and sorrow in this fallen world where we all reside,

However, there are wonderfully joyous moments as well

Love can be full of uncertain moments and risks

Love involves the mind, will & emotions – it impacts the body, soul & spirit

The heart is vulnerable and subject to injury

And it may feel, and actually be, safer to avoid love altogether  –

It is safer, but much less interesting

It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all ...

I agree wholeheartedly

If we forever live in fear of being hurt and if we, as a result, refrain from giving or receiving love –we injure our own selves most severely

The venture into love is always worth the risk if for no other reason than to better know God and self

Love is a wonderful and awe-inspiring thing!

I have never regretted loving another human being – irrespective of the outcome

So today – let us live generously and love courageously

Love will never fail!

 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘Love never fails [it never fades or ends]’

I Corinthians 13:8AMP

image of love

‘So God created mankind in His own image …’ Genesis 1:27

It is the weekend – Saturday is finally here

Two days remaining in our love journey – including today

The time has flown by but I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together

Yesterday was a bit heavy – but very much necessary

It is also necessary to remember that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world

The God who is love saw fit to craft us in His own image – we are made in the image of love

 

We are beautifully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:4)

We have been created in the very image of God, in the image of love

‘We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the LORD and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…’ II Corinthians 3:18

We look at the glory of the LORD – at the glory of love personified – and we are transformed

We are Christ’s love letter – ambassadors of His love in the earth

‘You are a letter of Christ … written not with ink but by the Spirit  of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.’ II Corinthians 3:3

 

Never underestimate the power of love

Never discount the impact of your life, walking in love with God and others

You are special in the eyes of God

And you have the ability to shine a little of His love in the lives of those you meet

You have your marching orders … go forth in love

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘This is My commandment, that you love one another even as I have loved you’

John 15:12

not love

‘My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God …’ I John 4:1_MSG

We have spent almost an entire month dedicated to love

We have talked extensively about what love is and what it looks like

However, I would be remiss if I did not dedicate at least one day to caution –

Cautions concerning love

It should be easy to see from our discussion the behaviors and attitudes run contrary to love

Yet we can often be blinded by the light and fail to recognize what is not love

Understand that even ‘the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light’ [II Corinthians 11:14]

Yet ‘we are not ignorant of the devices of the enemy’ [II Corinthians 2:11]

Impatient, unkind, envious, boastful, arrogant, rude – not love

Selfish, manipulative, irritable and resentful – not love

Rejoicing in wrongdoing and inventing ways to be evil – certainly not love

Lying, abandoning, accusing and destroying – not love

It should be obvious that these things are not love

But sometimes the packaging causes confusion – often times, it is the package bearer

‘Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people … rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself.’ II Timothy 3:1-9MSG

Therefore, ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’ I Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded but do not be fearful

Remember that Jesus said that, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.’ John 10:10

But also bear in mind that He, Jesus came ‘that we might have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10)

Keep in the forefront of your mind that He has defeated the works of the enemy. ‘For this purpose was the Son of God made manifest.’ I John 3:8

Never forget that, ‘The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him.’ II Chronicles 16:9

And for the people who choose to partner with the enemy?

Love them – just as Christ commanded

It is easier said than it is to walk out in everyday application, I know

Yet the command remains, ‘Love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.’ Matthew 5:44TPT

Understand that ‘the LORD is not slow in keeping His promise as some consider slowness. Instead, He is patient … not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance.’ II Peter 3:9

He will deal with them in His own time – trust me

But more importantly, trust Him

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.’

Galatians 6:7AMP

love undeniable

‘If I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.’ I Corinthians 13:2

I pray and trust you slept well last night

I did – and wanted to get this post up before I am up and out of the door

We are in the homestretch of our love month – undeniably near the end

Yet true love is undeniable and unending

 

I was watching a series on Netflix last night … and into this morning

And in this Korean drama, the lead character ends up getting shot

Not very romantic, right?

It is not romantic – but the reason he took the bullet is truly romantic

He jumped in the way of a gun that was pointed at the leading lady

He almost died as a result of his injuries

Yet, there was something interesting about his actions; his actions were not consistent with his words –

Up until that point (and following that incident), he kept denying that he had feelings for her – vehemently denying any feelings for her

Yet, the thing about love is that love is undeniable – the heart betrays the mind

Now, I know it was just a movie

But there are people who go to such extremes – in their love and their protection of those they love.  We have a living example in the sacrifice Jesus made for us:

‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13

I said it in one of our other posts that love will make you do some things

‘Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ James 2:15-17

Now we know faith is a strong thing

However, we also know from Scripture that love is even greater than faith

So, where is the profit in a man who claims to have ‘love’ if there is no corresponding action?

Whether you are proclaiming love or denying it, your actions will always be ‘the tell’

Couples could tell you of undeniable declarations of love evidenced by actions

Parents can certainly tell of and show their undeniable love for their children

The point is  that love, true love, is undeniable

It speaks even when it wishes to remain silent

It moves when it desires to be uninvolved and removed

 

Today –

As we think about undeniable love, let us exam ourselves

What are we proving about love?

It matters even more than what we are saying about love – and it is undeniable

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘‘Love must be sincere …’ Romans 12:9 NIV

‘Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it’ Romans 12:9 MSG

pause

‘To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven’ Ecclesiastes 3:1

It is late in the day for a post – I know

However, it was unseasonably warm today in Virginia Beach – just shy of seventy degrees

Spring does not begin for another month – but you would not have known it today

          And it called for a moment of enjoyment

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and pause

Slow down long enough to smell the roses [like the ones above by my bedside] –

Completely cliché but who cares!

Take the drive and roll the window down or drive topless (in a convertible with a shirt on, of course) ... the point is to enjoy the breeze

Eat the cupcake, laugh with your loved ones, kick your feet up, breathe deeply and relax

There is a time for every purpose under heaven –

But sometimes you just have to pause and enjoy the lovely moments life hands you

Believe it or not – this is still 100% in line with our them of love this month

 

I have a reminder which pops up on my phone every evening at 10PM

Yes, sometimes you have to schedule in time to remember & time to pause

Tonight – remember you are loved

 

Have a Blessed Evening & Sweet Dreams!

 

‘‘The LORD cares for those He loves even as they rest.’ Psalm 127:2

seasons of love

‘Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial …’ 

James 1:12

We are almost to the end of February – five short days to go

Can you believe it?

We are still continuing our journey with the topic of love – in this season of love

Yes – I have tagged the entire month of February as the season of love

Truthfully, though, love does not have a season

Love knows no limits and is not restricted by dates on a calendar

It has been difficult to write about love every day –

Especially difficult while experiencing challenges in my own marriage

How many of you know that it is not always sunshine and bliss?

And miscommunications can intensify whatever else is going on at the moment

He and I – we speak in different languages sometimes

He says ‘I love you’ and shows it – but not always in the manner I desire

So I get frustrated – and He remains patient and kind

It takes work to make a marriage work –  loyalty, patience, respect, humor, kindness, mercy, grace, persistence, sacrifice, understanding, compassion ...

Yet all are grounded in love; these attributes, they all have their foundation in love

And what is rooted in love, it will blossom in every season

It's been over thirty years –

He still know me better than I know Him and better than I know myself

Seasons change but His love for me remains steadfast and unmovable

You cannot ask for a better life companion than that

In every season, for any and every reason, He loves me ... amazing!

 

Today –

May the LORD bless your relationships,

Whether it is with Himself, with your spouse,, a friend or family

May He help you to see with His eyes and love with His heart

May His love for you and your love for others abound in every season

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘‘For  your Maker is your husband - the LORD Almighty is His name ...’

Isaiah 54:5

I Just Love You ...

‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of His hands’ Psalm 19:1

 

This was view last night as I drove to visit my niece – absolutely breathtaking!

The heavens declare the glory of the LORD

It is true – the skies proclaim, ‘There is no one like God!’

And my awe-struck response, ‘I just love You!’

 

There is nothing and no one like the LORD

He is the Master Artist, designing one-of a kind creations daily

In an instant, that stunning sight was gone, the canvas transformed to darkness

Yet, in that moment I heard Him speak, ‘I love you … you, I just love you!’ 

‘He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.’ Zephaniah 3:17

It reminded of a song I listen to from UpperRoom simply titled ‘I just love you’

He sings over us and we receive and respond in kind –

Each time I see the works of His hands it feels like a special gift from heaven –

a cardinal, a flower, a sunrise, a sunset, trees stretching toward the skies

He never ceases to amaze me

I was feeling … well, I was feeling some sort of way last night

I cannot fully describe what it was

But, He knew exactly what I needed, precisely when I needed it

I am thankful for and humbled by His love

 

Today –

May the blessings of the LORD surround you

May you be gifted with tangible glimpses of His presence

May His love be a beacon of light and source of comfort and joy

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘‘I will sing unto the LORD …’

Psalm 104:33

love the light

‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ Isaiah 9:2

 Another dawn has broken, another week begun

Grace and mercy of the Father and the Light, His Holy Son

‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12

Jesus is the Light of the World

As we begin another week, let us focus our attention on and Love the Light who is Jesus 

Everything we need is found in Jesus –

Relationship, shelter, protection and strength

Wisdom, encouragement, comfort, favor & hope

Renewal, regeneration, purpose and honor

Peace, prosperity, beauty & joy

As we look to the LORD who is Love, we find completeness

As we love the Light who is Jesus, confusion and darkness is dispelled

 

May the blessings of the LORD abound in your life in every area

May the Love & Light of the LORD shine in your hearts and homes

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘‘I lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help! My help cometh from the LORD…’

Psalm 121:1

love life

‘Do not love the world or the things in the world’

How do you love life without loving the things of this world?

You understand and recognize that every day is a gift –

It is bestowed upon us by the One True & Living God

It is easy to get distracted with the things of the world because we have to dwell within the systems and structures of this world

Yet our joy is found in the love of God and in loving the life He has given us

‘I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.’ John 10:10

Jesus desired that we would have a wonderful life – an abundantly rich life

Yet so often we waste the days, taking for granted the precious moments we have been gifted

It is not say that everything in life is ideal –

We do not love life because everything is perfect

We do not love life because we have everything we desire

We simply love life because God saw fit to breathe life into us – to share another day with us, here, in the earth ... until that glorious day when He calls us home to spend eternity with Him forever

There is a saying that rather than count the days, we should make the days count

I agree wholeheartedly and would add that we should count the blessings in those days

I hope you had a blessed day today – 

And I pray that you took some time to really love the life God has given you

 

Have a Blessed Evening!

 

‘‘Keep yourselves in the love of God …’

Jude 1:21

love loves

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” I Corinthians 13:4-8

 

Happy Friday!

I trust and pray all is well with you –

And that you are taking time to love – Love God, Love People, Love You

Yesterday we talked about love looks and how love looks with love

With a heart of grace, mercy and compassion

Yet we must understand that love not only looks with love – love loves

Love is not a concept or notion – Love is actively engaged in the process of loving

Loving God, Loving Others, Loving Self

We noted in our post a few days ago that ‘love will make you do some things’

If your love does not prompt you to action – you must question whether it is truly love

When we visited the Book of Ruth, we saw love in action in the lives of each character

The love Ruth had for Naomi moved her to move away from family, friends and country

The love Naomi had for her daughter-in-law prompted her to help her

The feelings Boaz had for Ruth were evidenced by what he was willing to do for her

'God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16

It was the love of the LORD which inspired the action of giving

‘… Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us …’ Ephesians 5:2

It was the love of Christ that was the catalyst of His sacrifice

Anyone who does not act in love … does not love

‘Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.’ I John 4:8

what is your love saying? what is your love doing?

Is your love moving you to love?

I love you is one of the easiest things to say

I love you is much more difficult, but much more meaningful to show

‘by this will they know you are My disciples – if you have love one for another’ John 13:35

It is by the love we show one another – not the words we say to one another

What you do will often scream so much louder than what you say

Is your love serving as a springboard for acts of love?

If your love is not prompting you to action – you must question whether it is truly love

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘ let everything you do be done in love’

I Corinthians 16:14

love looks

We have made it past the midpoint and we are sliding into the homestretch,

                Looking toward the weekend with loving thoughts of rest

And we are still talking about love

Again – we could look at love every February and never run out of material

Today we will be taking one last glance at the book of Ruth for ... love looks

I could not leave the book of Ruth without talking a bit more about Boaz

He is an interesting gentleman – not everyone’s pick, but interesting

Perhaps he was wealthy but 'not quite wealthy enough'

Perhaps he was not that handsome – there is no way to tell

But we do know he was older than Ruth and that he was still single

I don't know if Boaz was looking for love, waiting for love or if he was perfectly content

It is possible he might have been shunned because his mom was a former prostitute

                People will judge you by your associations and your past all the time

I cannot say with certainty that was the reason he was still single

But I am confident his past played a role in his treatment of Ruth

Boaz noticed something unique about Ruth – 

'All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character' Ruth 3:11

He likely saw some of the same qualities that he viewed growing up:

Courage, boldness & zeal – characteristics held by his mom, Rahab

Yes, his mom was Rahab, the famed harlot from the book of Joshua [Joshua 2:1, Mt. 1:5]

She was the Rahab who helped the spies when Israel got ready to lay siege to Jericho

She was a foreigner who helped God’s people and then came to live among them – just like Ruth

 

Your earliest reflections of love often shape your look of love

Yet, it does not matter the reasons which shaped Boaz’s response,

What matters is that he was able to look with love and with a heart of compassion

– on a foreigner in a strange land

He was able to look past her past and the fact that she was a poor widow

He was able to respond with kindness – to the kindness extended to him

‘The LORD bless you [Boaz replied] … this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now … don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask …’ Ruth 3:10-11

Boaz understood ‘love looks with love’

And it is alright  that Boaz might not have been everyone’s favorite

Because all that matters is that he became Ruth’s favorite when he looked on her with love

 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘ Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.’

II Corinthians 1:3-4

it's not over

Good Afternoon Friends, Family, Foes … Everyone

Yes, I am greeting everyone this afternoon

Remember I said in our post 'choose to love',

‘Not everyone who comes to check on you is checking to see that you are doing well’?

But, if they take the time to check – you should at least be cordial

Why? Because we love all people and we trust the Holy Spirit to move – with all people

Now, that is not directly my topic this morning – but it is still all about love

And this morning, I want us all to understand something: 

No matter what it looks like, no matter how it feels, irrespective of how long the storm has been raging, despite your weariness – it’s not over

 

We have spent a great deal of time talking about Naomi

However, I would like to shift gears and talk about Ruth – the namesake of our Bible book

Now, we already know how Ruth’s story ended

But it would have been really easy, at any point along the way, for her to believe it was over

Therefore, I would like to focus on how Ruth’s story evolved and the role that love played

Ruth faced loss similar to Naomi – they both lost husbands

But where Naomi turned to bitterness – Ruth focused on living in love

She loved Naomi enough to leave parents, friends, country and everything familiar

She loved her future enough to refuse to be stuck in the past

Sounds extreme but, as we’ve noted previously, love will make you do some things

Now, we know from yesterday that Ruth ended up with a new love story

She ends up catching the eye of a local bachelor named Boaz

But what was it that Boaz found attractive about Ruth?

In a culture where widows were seen as misfortuned, what would make him take a chance?

It was her faithful and sacrificing nature … it was her love

“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. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:11-12

Ruth’s name means ‘compassionate friend’ and that is exactly who she was

Her reputation of being a loving friend went before her and spoke on her behalf

Boaz had been told of what a friend she had been to Naomi

It had reached his attention all the things she did in love for her mother-in-law

He had been made aware of her selfless nature

Selflessness is attractive – selflessness not selfishness

And Boaz quickly took notice

You will recall his name means ‘swiftness’,

Emphasizing how quickly a situation can change when you walk in love

Even when you think it is over, the LORD can turn things around with a swiftness

It’s not over

Love will position you to keep believing when it seems all is lost

Love can pave the way for you to begin again

Love refuses to let you stagnate, remaining frozen in the past

Love will propel you forward –

Love lets you know that it’s not over

It creates new beginnings for you – just like it did for Ruth

And aren’t we all glad that she did not stop walking and living in love?

After all, she ended up becoming Jesus’ great-great grandma by over forty generations

So today – whatever you are facing, 'Keep going! It’s not over!'

‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the mind the things God has prepared for those who love Him.’ I Corinthians 2:9

You never know what God has in store for you …

 Have a Blessed Day!

‘ I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’

Jeremiah 29:11

not about you

What a lovely morning it is today in Virginia Beach!  

No – not really

It is dark and damp outside … and I believe I actually heard thunder last night

No worries though … we have other things to focus upon

And, what is the topic this morning? Here’s a hint: not you

I am not being mean, honestly I am not

The topic, of course, is LOVE but we will be focusing especially about the fact that

          love ... it is not about you (or me) 

 

Yesterday we spent a great deal of time in the book of Ruth

It is one of the shorter books in the Bible – only four chapters

Yet, it actually focuses on love at several different levels

We will be talking about Ruth tomorrow and today we will be finishing our focus on Naomi

However –

 In order to finish Naomi’s story … I have to give away the ending of Ruth’s story

There has been tremendous loss –

And now these two ladies, linked by tragedy, have journeyed back to Naomi’s home town

Naomi and Ruth have returned but are not in the best position socially or financially

Remember, both are widows returning from a country where they experienced hard times

‘When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.’ Ruth 1:6

Three set out but only two returned

And understand, there was nothing for Ruth to gain in returning with and helping Naomi

We shared a few days ago that love is ‘other-focused’

Well that is the exact type of love that Ruth demonstrated

She followed out of loyalty and out of a love that understood – it is not about you

And even when they got back, Ruth’s love was still ‘other-focused’

She decides to go work in the fields in order to get resources for the both of them

And Naomi stops being bitter long enough – to help her

Real love, the type demonstrated by Ruth, it is contagious

And now Naomi is focused on loving others more than being consumed with her pain

Perhaps, in all her grumbling, Naomi finally realized that she was not truly empty-handed

She realized that, even in the times of hurt and loss, God’s blessings are still present

She had a daughter-in-law who loved her enough to leave her parents, friends and country

So now Naomi is caught up in this ‘not just about me’ kind of love

Understanding the people and the customs, Naomi helps Ruth,

She gives her pointers on how to navigate relationships – and boy did it work!

Ruth ends ups catching the eye of a kind (and wealthy) bachelor named Boaz  and both she and Naomi are richly blessed because of it

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. [And] When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. [Then] The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.” Ruth 4:13-16

 When you focus on love – instead of on pain, anger and bitterness,

something wonderful happens …

The LORD will turn your situation around

The LORD cares about what we care about & 

           'He will perfect that which concerns [us]’ Psalm 138:8

You will not have to worry about how to get blessed;

the LORD will cause blessings to chase you down

When you no longer fret and realize that everything is not about you,

God will make it His business to make it all about you

 

Have a Blessed Day!

choose to love

Good Evening –

I pray your Monday went well and that your week is off to a good start

I also hope that your Valentine’s Day was, well, lovely

Me, I thoroughly enjoyed my day

But how many of you know that not every day is Valentine’s Day?

It is easy to love those who love you – and to love life when life is loving you

But what do you do when it seems like everything is going wrong?

You choose to love anyway …

As promised, we will be continuing our focus on love through the remainder of February

And today we will be re-visiting the story of Naomi

We started her story in our post the saddest valentines

And, you will recall that Naomi had been hit hard by some of life’s challenges

She had lost her husband and two sons while living in a foreign land …

So she finds herself returning to her hometown – with one daughter-in-law,

                Ruth, the daughter-in-law who refused to leave her side

Yet, when she reaches her village she tells the ladies:

“Don’t call me Naomi [which means pleasant], she told them. “Call me Mara [which means bitter], because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me?” Ruth 1:20-21

Hurt will hurt you – so much so that it will be all you can see at times

I understand why Naomi felt as she did

She experienced tremendous loss,

And it is likely not all the women who came to greet her were happy to see her

After a long journey, I am certain she was dusty, tired and looking worn out

“… the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” I Ruth 1:19

There is absolutely no way to be certain of their intentions

Some – I am sure – were very happy to see her once again after so many years

However – knowing the nature of people – some likely used it as an opportunity to mock

‘Could this be the same Naomi who left here so blessed and full of hope – returning to the people she left behind, disheveled and alone, without husband, sons or wealth?’

You know how people can be sometimes

Not everyone who comes to check on you is checking to see that you are doing well

But their intentions or perspective didn’t really matter,

Naomi already had enough on her mind all on her own

Her faith was weather-beaten from the storms of life she had experienced and she was feeling bitter

One online source defines bitterness as being angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment

It is hard enough to go through difficulties – especially if you feel like you deserved better

But we must all understand – no one deserves anything

Further, the rain falls on the just and the unjust

The LORD God Almighty …

‘He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous’ Matthew 5:45

This is a first-hand testimony from Jesus

In fact, in the verse immediately preceding that verse He says,

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthew 5:44

 

God is Love –

The LORD is well able to handle your enemies;

You focus on handling your heart

And this is what the LORD will do – when you choose to love anyway,

‘He will make your enemies your footstool’ Psalm 110:1

‘He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.’

Psalm 37:6

The 2021 Modern Day Translation of Psalm 37:6?

He will give your enemies a front row seat to the blessing show

Now – that is not why we choose to love anyway, but it is one of the side effects

Naomi’s story has a happy ending!

We will talk about it some more tomorrow …

 

Have a Blessed Evening!

‘ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies … my cup runneth over’

Psalm 23:5