The Truth about Ruth

                                   

Ruth 1:16 “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Reading the story of Ruth has always been an inspiration. Naomi is devastated, Ruth's decision to tie herself into the hopeless situation of Naomi and her life changing decision to jump from the frying pan into the fire is incomprehensible by today's standard. She faced complete devastation yet became an inspiration for us when we face hard and terrible tragedy or circumstances.

Joy Burgess puts it so well when she says -

"When life brings devastation, it’s not easy to hope. It’s hard to have faith. But when things are the most difficult, that’s when we need faith and hope the most. In the moments where life feels like it’s crushing you, start with a little faith. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And looking at the book of Ruth, we can see that even when we can’t see beyond our pain to his plan, we can have hope that our story isn’t over – better days are coming.

It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Her commitment to journey on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act, and a stunning example of the love of Christ – the same Christ who would be of her bloodline years later.

No matter your past, you still have a purpose. Your past is not your final destination when you make a choice in faith, when we put our trust in God. While our confidence may be wavering, God’s promises are not."

                                                      Joy Burgess in 7 Powerful Lessons we can Learn from Ruth.

Unlike today's influencers Ruth was not setting a trend. Ruth had no idea that millions of people would read her story and it would motivate many men and women across the world.

Broken Spirit

Jonah 2: 7
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple".

"The loss of a loved one causes deep sorrow; we feel anguish at the thought of separation from the ones we love".

This grief, no matter of how long ago, never really goes but get heightened on special occasions and most of all at Christmas. Memories can cause a lot of pain.

"Grief piles so high upon our hearts; we feel suffocated and broken. Then we remember our God and His unconditional love; we feel His presence and recall His promise of eternal life. Although it's difficult to be separated today, we know we will be reunited. God never breaks His promises, and our faith brings us hope for a new day".

Ms. Francis Taylor

Today we have shared this video which was shared by a reader of this blog. We further share it for all those broken-hearted people who may take some comfort.

Outside Looking inside.

I'm on the outside looking inside,

                                         What do I see?

                                         Much confusion, disillusion,

                                         Deep inside me.

There is a very powerful devotional called God Calling, https://www.twolisteners.org/, and we recommend you may get it as well. Its supposed to be Jesus speaking to 2 ladies, seemingly getting overwhelmed with life, as many of us are maybe. We suggest you may get it as well. Today's posting is quoted from this book - Devotional of November 28.

"To work from large interests, and a desire for great activities and world movements, to the inner circle life with me, is really the wrong way. That is why, so often, through all these activities and interests, a soul finds me, I have to begin our friendship by cutting away ties that bind it to the outer and wider circle. When it has gained strength and learned its lesson in the inner circle, it can then widen its life, working this time from within out, taking then, to each contact, to each friendship, the inner circle influence.

And this is to be your way of life.

This is the way of the spirit. Man so often misunderstands this".

We have quoted this as it makes a lot of sense. We are influenced by the world around us, trying to guide our hearts in line with Gods word. Whereas maybe it should be the other way round. Letting Gods word into our soul which will guide us as we navigate the external world. 

This, of course is open to opinion and we would love our readers to think about this and share your thought with us as well.

Unseen Anguish !

Genesis 42 : 21 ESV
Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

This is a very popular story about Joseph and his brothers. So popular and familiar that, in fact, that we sometimes overlook the small nuances which is the case in this verse.

Nowhere in Joseph's story is it written about what he went through. What he felt. But in this verse, it talks about the anguish he felt as he was left in that pit to die. He was distressed and anguished to his very soul. Such a strong emotion that his soul itself was distressed.

Or so he thought. If only he knew Gods plan, he would have happily gone into the pit on his own, singing merrily.

Isn't it much like a lot of situations we face in life? We don't know the outcome, so we are distressed and anguished. In that anguished moment we envision the worst outcomes, like probably Joseph did. Or we may have been the cause of such anguish, like Joseph's brothers, and walked away without a thought. Or there maybe someone who is anguished by life itself and we walk away, without a second thought.

Today, let us pause to think of all the times we may have been in either situation, and, take corrective action. If we have been anguished, remember the time and remember the outcome, forgive the person and thank God who brought us through. Forgiveness is sweet.

And if we have been the perpetrators, ask for forgiveness from the Almighty and take steps of repentance. In case we are neither, and someone we know is in distress, let us not ignore them.

When we are in distress and anguished, let's focus on the one who helps us fly above the storm like the eagle, using the force of the storm itself.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

It is not Thanksgiving!

                              

No, it's not the last Thursday of November. That is a tradition reserved for Americans. 

Since its the season we call it out today, though it could be any day in the year to stop to think of His greatness - from the universal to the personal, and all that we have been blessed with. Think life; think Covid; think tsunami; yet we are blessed to be here. 

Thanksgiving is a tradition. Let's make it a habit!

Creation, by itself, fills one with awe when you stop to think how it could have been made. Imagine this: the earth hangs in the air, with no support, rotates so that each part of it gets the sun and the moon by turns. We praise Him for this creation that we enjoy day on day, night by night, every second.

Think about ourselves. Truly He knew us much before we were born. He brought us into a family or friends who brought us to Him. We thank God for their presence in our lives. Think about the moments of great danger we did not even know yet protected. 

He gave us handpicked life partners for continuity when our parents ceased to live. He gave us the fellowship of believers, past and present, who helped us in our journey. When we didn't connect to the right partner, He gave us access to a fellowship. When we did not appreciate them or use them, He gave us a reason to; every morning - when we woke up, we gained consciousness. He gave us each day- to live and bless. 

He used family and friends, dead and alive, to take care of us when we needed it most. He circled us with a hedge of His protection throughout our lives. He took us away from danger even when we may not even be aware.

While we may be going through tough times, we keep going in His grace and strength. We are still protected by His hedge. After all we live in this world and will face challenges of this world. But we live in hope, because all these people brought us to Him who gave us this hope. 

Let us praise Him and thank Him for His love and all these people who shared His love with us.

Crowd Sourced Missionaries

The world is full of people in need of something. Even the richest have needs, as do the poorest. Everyone has some need or the other.

As we are called upon to support one another, how do we fill in the needs of all the people around us? Financial, emotional, education, jobs, medical, loneliness, and the list goes on. No one single person can help fulfill all this.

Or can they?

We know of a lady who tries to do just that and has developed a very unique operating model. When she comes to know of someone in need, she first listens, ascertains it is genuine to the best of her ability, and then circulates that need to her circle of friends and acquaintances. People come together, contribute what they can, and she then channelizes it to the person who needed it. She does not amass on a large scale and then distribute. She addresses each need separately - be it a wedding of a poor person, or medical needs or education, clothes, food and so on. 

In short, she has created an informal support group where people come together to help address some need, of someone. They are crowd sourced missionaries, with one mission: helping people.

These missionaries do not realize it, but this is their mission. Individually, they do not profess great Biblical knowledge, nor are philanthropists, nor have any extra money. Together they are a strong force for good, driven by simply concern for others. 

The point here is that we can all do it, if we train ourselves to be empathetic and sensitive, to other's needs. 

Potentially, we are all angels, though some of us may not know it yet! So, lets pick up our socks and find out someone's need. Let us not wait for someone to ask. 

Prophecies: Part II - Continuing Pastor Rajiv's Message

 

My Horrorscope

 

Or horoscope?

Such is man's desire to know his or her future that we resort to the stars, who tell us when and what will happen. Especially when we are facing tough times, we are extremely keen to know when it will end. We pray about it, we remember Gods promises and when it does not happen, we are tempted to resort to the stars.

Many also read their horoscopes for fun, entertainment or just to pass time at an airport. Or so they think: If there is some strong prediction, one does not forget it and, consciously or subconsciously, starts linking events to it. Whether we like it or not, want it or not, it does have an effect on us. 

At such times we need to remind ourselves two things - Gods ways are not our ways, and our time is not His time. We need to wait on Him, for His ways.

As regards our horoscopes, in Isaiah 47, we see that God condemned those who did use astrology in this way. Verse 12 first condemns the magicians, and then verses 13-14 goes say the following: “Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds".

I not only take that as a warning but a threat as well. It definitely conveys God's displeasure. Now, if the creator of our future is displeased, what happens to our future? 

Why is Prophesy Important: Pastor Rajiv's Weekly Message

 

This is Part I of the complete message where Pastor Rajiv gives the history and reasons behind the prophesying. 

Instant Gratification

We live in a world where time is in short supply. People need instant delivery to their wants and desires. Fast food, instant shopping, instant messaging, instant food, everything needs to be off the shelf and quick. Slow cookers are special and even hone cooked food is a luxury! 

LIFE is short on time and short on patience.

The fourth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is translated as “longsuffering,” or in modern vernacular, “patience.” This concept has become completely foreign to our modern culture. But is it part of our Christian ethos? We are not saying we should not use "instant services". What we are saying is that we should not let it become our character. Why? For an answer we will draw from a spiritual website named Life, Hope and Truth where a writer named Tom shares his thoughts. He says -

"Patience is a part of God’s nature and character, and something He wants us to be developing as well....

David wrote about the need to “wait on the LORD” numerous times in the Psalms.

It seems he saw that need in himself, because God doesn’t always work as quickly as he (or we) would like! It often requires patience to wait until we see what He is going to do!

Are you and I patient enough? Probably not—so how can we learn to grow in patience? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Seek to have more empathy.

When we become impatient with people, it can be helpful to try to put ourselves in their shoes. The ability to think outside of ourselves and our immediate needs or wants—to consider what the people around us are facing—is important.

It helps us understand them a little better, and perhaps give them the benefit of the doubt. It helps us be a bit more patient with them.

2. Consider God’s level of patience with us.

This is kind of scary to consider, but how patient has God been with you and me?

How many times have we failed to grow, learn and overcome as we should have?

How many times have we come to Him asking for repentance and forgiveness—and He has willingly, lovingly and patiently granted our requests?

3. Look for the lessons in trials.

Remembering that God is always in charge, and there is always something to learn from our trials makes them easier to deal with. And it helps us grow in patience".

Joyce Meyer, a Christian author and speaker writes -

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait—it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”

The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a study on delayed gratification in 1972 led by psychologist Walter Mischel, a professor at Stanford University In this study, a child was offered a choice between one small but immediate reward, or two small rewards if they waited for a period of time. During this time, the researcher left the child in a room with a single marshmallow for about 15 minutes and then returned. If they did not eat the marshmallow, the reward was either another marshmallow or pretzel stick, depending on the child's preference. In follow-up studies, the researchers found that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes.