My Journey Journal

While reading through Ruth I was struck by several things about Ruth’s story and a parallel between her and her best-known great grandson, King David.

 

 

 

 

Physical Beauty

Firstly, Ruth was not noted for her beauty.  That’s not to say she was homely but when Ruth asked Boaz why she’d found favor with him he answered that it was “All that you have done for your mother-in-law ….”  Read more... (1335 words, 3 images, estimated 5:20 mins reading time)

Joy, peace and patience.

 

 

In a recent small group session we discussed ways we can see how David fit into God’s greater plan, including some of David’s Psalms.  King David is credited with over 70 psalms, almost half of the psalms in the Bible.  In one of his first, Psalm 59, David tucks a clause in that struck me.

 

O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.
Psalm 59:9 ESV

   Read more... (1442 words, 1 image, estimated 5:46 mins reading time)

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26 – 27 ESV

 

 

Our church is studying what it means to be members of the church.  Recent lessons are on unity within the church and building one another up.  As I read the passage above I was struck by Paul’s command five verses later:

 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:31 ESV  Read more... (1081 words, 3 images, estimated 4:19 mins reading time)

Often those of us that follow Jesus can find it emotionally challenging to let go of the shame of our sins.

 

 

It is valid to experience shame that accompanies our guilt before the only holy God when we are in our sinfulness for He is perfect and we aren’t.  The sense of shame that accompanies our recognition of how we’re sinful, however, isn’t God’s ultimate goal.  Our recognizing Him, coming into a right relationship with Him on His terms then worshiping, glorifying and enjoying Him is.  Once we’re forgiven based on the blood sacrifice of Jesus, He sees us through His grace as perfectly sinless; the shame should lead to repentance and then freedom and a deep sense of value as we realize the living God loves us but often we get hung up on what demons, our messed up human brains and our fellow humans tell us.  Read more... (804 words, 2 images, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,
and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin:
The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law,
but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.
2 Chronicles 15:1-4 ESV  Read more... (431 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)