(G)Leaning on Grace

I am still studying the book of Ruth.  Today I was reading a sermon by Charles Spurgeon.  He made a very interesting point about the 'gleaning' that Ruth did and how that could be applied to the spiritual life of a Christian.  Ruth gleaned for food.  She spent her days stooped over picking up what was left behind by the work crews harvesting grain in the fields.  She worked hard and only took short rests to  refresh herself.  Working from sun up to sun down, she never stopped until her arms and hands were loaded to capacity.  She was not afraid of the hard work and she did not shun her duties.  She did not expect a  hand-out and did not expect her job to be easy.   As a Christian, do we expect our 'gleaning' of the fields to be easy because God will bless our efforts to increase the Kingdom?  I think sometimes we do.  When something does not come easy, or if it requires a bit of effort, than we automatically think ...

I was reading a commentary last night on the Book of Ruth.  I have been drawn to this small but very meaningful, 4 chapter story of a stranger, an outcast who decides to follow a God she really did not know.  Ruth was a child of Moab and grew up worshipping idols.  She met a man named Mahlon and married him and was introduced to the God of Israel. There are not many details given about their relationship, but I believe, just as the commentator who wrote the account I was reading, that it is safe to surmise some things.   Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, must have been a great role model.  She must have taught and treated Ruth very well for even after her husband and his brother and father had died, Ruth was still willing to go with Naomi back to Judah.  A foreign land where she would expect to be treated as an outsider, an outcast.  But instead, since she embraced this new God and the ways of his people, she was rewarded for her faith.  She was re...

I think we all got a bit Spring-sick last week when the thermometer was tipping 60 degrees. Or at least, I know I was. But we are back to the way things are meant to be, cold, frosty, crisp. At my house the sun is shining across the top of the trees, so that gives me hope for a decent day. So, you may be wondering, why talk about the weather? We are all friends and surely there is something more important to talk about. There most likely is, but as I sit in the dining room, drinking my cup of protein-laced decaf, I am surrounded by windows. Since the sun is already up and I am not looking into a black abyss, which is how I feel when its dark and dreary outside, my mood is lifted by sunshine. It is a proven fact that our mood and demeanor is affected by sunlight, or lack there of. More people are depressed and inactive in the winter months, not just because it is cold, but because they do not get enough natural light. Considering that, I have to wonder why God designed the earth, the un...

I pray each of you had a wonderful night's sleep last night.  I have had better, but not because of worry or stress, I got a new pillow!  My chiropractor recommended a contour pillow to help the problem with my neck and although it doesn't seem that hard to to the touch, it is that hard to sleep on it.  I realize that it will take a few nights for me to adjust but do you ever wonder why it is that you would want to do something that takes 'adjusting to' instead of what is comfortable from the get go?   In all honesty, I never really thought about it much.  In today's society we all look for instant gratification.  We all want it NOW!  We want our food now, we want our clothes now, we want what we want and we want it now.  No waiting, no learning, no adjusting.  If it is not exactly as it should be from the beginning we get grumpy and dissatisfied.    I have learned that with God not everything comes quickly or when I wou...

It's cold, very very cold outside this morning, and on days like this I just want to stay cuddled up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of cappuccino and read a good book.  Alas, my fortune does not lead me in that direction, but to enter into the bitter cold and travel the few miles to work.   When thinking about the cold, and how lonely and empty it feels, I thought about the times when I feel far away from God.  When I haven't spent time with Him and I haven't talked to Him.  The same desolation fills my soul during those times that is almost overwhelming on quiet, bitterly cold morning like today.  Nothing is moving. No birds are singing. And the warmth of God's spirit seems far far away.   But not today.  I feel His presence with me and despite the frigid temperatures and a light dusting of the white stuff, there are little birds singing outside my window. I am not alone, not because I hear the birds, but because I have spent the morning s...

Wow, another day that God has graced me with.  It's still dark outside this morning as I type this, so I can't see what He has created for me to enjoy.  But, I hear one of his most amazing creations outside in the tree singing.  A bird or two is singing the day into beginning.  I hear a couple of different calls and tones out there, so I know they are there even though I can't see them.  Much like God, I don't see him bodily, but that doesn't make him any less there.   Listen for God's voice today as you go through your day.  He will speak to you if you have ears to listen and an open heart readied by faith.  Take your concerns to him, take your praises to him and most of all remember to thank him regardless of your circumstance.  He is right there beside you, every step you take.  Take hold of his hand, and know that you can do anything through Christ who gives you strength.

This morning I am looking out the dining room windows at the pouring rain. Who would have thought we would have a real live, lightning and thunder laden storm in January. I don't know about you but I generally associate thunder storms with Spring and Summer. You all know how I feel about these type of storms, especially the lightning! This morning however, I am not so much alarmed by it as I am humbled and reminded of how awesome God really is. The storms come and go, and we lowly humans, have no real control over them. All we can do is find shelter from them, try to plan and prepare accordingly and be obedient when given instructions on how to remain safe. The power and force of the physical storms are a spectacle to behold and deserve our utmost respect. The choices we make in how to respond during a storm could ultimately impact the rest of our lives. The storms of life, the situations, circumstances and challenges that sometimes overwhelm us are no different. Most of th...