The Book of Ruth

Hello,

I have been reading the Bible Daily since January 1, 2006. That first year I read it cover to cover. Since then I have selected different books to read. Generally I tend to alternate between the Old and New Testaments. One that I come back to repeatedly is the Book of Ruth. It is only four chapters, but it is also the one that speaks to me most.

Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi. When the widow Naomi loses both of her sons she tells both of her daughters-in-law to go back to their families. Ruth stays with her. They go back to Bethlehem and Ruth goes to work in the Harvest Fields to provide for them. The fields belong to Boaz. Boaz hears of her loyalty to Naomi and is kind to her. Boaz is a relative of Naomi’s and obliged to marry Ruth. So Naomi sends her to sleep at his feet. Boaz blesses her and marries her.

Ruth’s life is not her own. It is spent serving others.

I identify with Ruth so much. My life has taken me all over. God has had plans for me. My life belongs to Him.  I have lived all over the East Coast.  I have not always known what my role was or who I was sent to help until much later. Sometimes it was a friend or family that needed me. Sometimes it was someone that I didn’t even know until I moved.

It’s an Awesome feeling to know that God uses me to do His work. Now I am back where I wanted to be for so long. I am flourishing in my Bible Studies and Fellowship. I can only imagine what God is preparing me for and how He will Bless me.

*****

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.

-Ruth 1:16 

Helping those less fortunate

Hello,

I love being back in Charlotte, but something is really bothering me. Literally every single day I drive past several homeless people. I am not driving uptown. I am on random intersections all around. Sometimes I see the same people.  Tonight I saw a woman with her small daughter on the corner with a sign. I had a lump in my throat.

I have started keeping a dollar in my console and a bottle of water for just an occasion. Tonight I had already given them to a young man that I have seen repeatedly and I just couldn’t drive by without giving him something.

Money is tight for me right now. Unbelievably tight, but I am incredibly fortunate. I have a roof over my head. I have friends and family that are willing to help me.  I thank God every day for that every day.  That dollar can do more for him than me.

This week my phone had to reset to factory default. I lost everything. It was upsetting, but it was just a phone. It was a hassle to set everything up again. It was horrifying to lose so many pictures. Luckily I post all of the good ones as soon as I take them and I’m pretty good about downloading them to my computer. I really just lost random ones and ones that other people sent me. It sucked, but it was just a phone. A dear friend’s house caught on fire recently. Her family of 6 is living in a Residence Inn until February. They lost everything in their attic (including winter clothes) and other things.  Sadly I know too many people that would be flipping out and complaining about their phone for days. It would be all I would hear about.  It was hard for me to dwell on that when others are dealing with so much more.

I feel sick whenever I pass someone less fortunate and can’t help them.

*****

Luke 3:11 

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”