Ruth 1: 19-21 (Good News Translation)
They went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived, the whole town became excited, and the women there exclaimed, “Is this really Naomi?”
“Don't call me Naomi,” she answered; “call me Marah, because Almighty God has made my life bitter. When I left here, I had plenty, but the Lord has brought me back without a thing. Why call me Naomi when the Lord Almighty has condemned me and sent me trouble?”
Naomi returns to home, with bitterness in her heart.
Suffering is her mantra inspite of a brand new start.
"It is all God's fault," she utters, "the Almighty is to blame!"
She cries with blindness caused by suffering and shame.
Eyes that cannot see the gift of faithfulness and love,
Of Ruth who walks beside her, along with God above.
Who in our world today is hurting and in pain?
Who fails to recognize God due to suffering and strain?
Who can we serve as Ruth, To love and walk beside?
Who needs a hand to hold so eyes can open wide
To God's abundant blessings, grace and constant truth?
Everyone needs the love; Everyone needs a Ruth.
d365.org GO! (Song by Peter Scholte)
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may someday be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Friday, November 9 Following God
Ruth 1: 16-17 (The Message)
But Ruth said, 'Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God - not death itself is going to come between us!'
What kind of role model was NaomiTo bring Ruth to such a declaration?
The bonds between them were tight.
What love must have been shared!
Ruth has lost much, yet is leaving more
To follow in love, faith, loyalty.
She goes knowing the love of Naomi's God
Will sustain them.
She goes wanting that love to be part of her.
The power of God's love!
The power of God!
Are we willing to follow as Ruth?
Wherever you lead, Lord,
Will we go?
Thursday, November 8 Love Trumps!
Ruth 1: 8-9 (Good News Translation)
Ruth said to them, “Go back home and stay with your mothers. May the Lord be as good to you as you have been to me and to those who have died. And may the Lord make it possible for each of you to marry again and have a home.”
So Naomi kissed them good-bye. But they started crying...
Custom says my daughter-in-laws are bound to me.
Go home to your families and start anew.
Love trumps law.
Love trumps custom.
My fields are filled with ripened wheat
My neighbor's larder is empty.
Cut the harvest on Sunday and share.
Love trumps law.
Love trumps custom.
This man is unclean, filled with disease
To touch breaks the laws of purity.
Heal with tenderness and compassion.
Love trumps law.
Love trumps custom.
Lovers of the law are blinded
To the narrowness of their perspective;
Law-men having trouble being God-men.
Love trumps law.
Love trumps custom.
Add all the laws together
Hundreds and thousands of don'ts.
It equals one: LOVE.
Love trumps law.
Love trumps custom.
Go in LOVE.
Ruth 1:3-5 (Good News Translation)
Elimelech died, and Naomi was left alone with her two sons, who married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. About ten years later Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left all alone, without husband or sons.
If this were the 'rest of the story', Ruth reads as a cold, objective book - without love or emotion. Somewhat like our reaction to the evening news -
a disaster here, another there, lives disrupted, people hurting. Ho-hum.
But add LOVE and the stories change! They become personal, we are able to insert compassion into the tale. As the book of Ruth continues, we learn the depth of the love Ruth has for Naomi; the story becomes legend in the annals of faithfulness.
When we listen to the media share the events of Hurricane Sandy on the east coast, news of mass murder in Africa, or another bombing in Iraq, until we insert the magic of LOVE into the stories, we are left untouched. I live on the west coast - the weather is beautiful, my town is safe, no harm here! But the people affected by tragedy have stories of love interwoven into their lives; suddenly, their stories can become personal in remembering this. Compassion is built on the foundation of love for all. Such love Ruth had for Naomi, such love we must have for others (near and far), such love God has for us.
I heard there was a storm,
A big one.
People are homeless,
broken, and in despair.
Their lives are in upheaval.
The weather is great in Oregon!
Indian summer!
The children are living in shelters,
Lonely, cold, missing school.
Families are torn apart,
Hopeless and homeless.
I have children, too.
I would do anything for them.
Compassion makes the shelter children our own.
Love makes the difference.
And suddenly our response alters.
The storm is here,
What can we do to help?
Tuesday, November 6
Mark 12: 32-34 (The Message)
The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!” When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.” After that, no one else dared ask a question.
We ask questions,but care not about answers.
We ask to confuse
or catch our leader in their response
to make them look bad.
We ask, but not in love.
The scribe listened.
He REALLY listened to our Lord's response.
He heard the wisdom in Jesus' words.
He heard the love:
Love beyond sacrifice.
Love beyond the LAW.
Love beyond 'things'.
Love puts us on the brink of the Kingdom.
Love allows us to see the face of God,
As we love God
and love each other.
Monday, November 5
Mark 12:28b-31 (The Message)
“Which is most important of all the commandments?”
Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”
Here Jesus wraps the Ten Commandments into two: Love God. Love each other. The scribes are busy trying to catch Jesus into a misunderstanding of The LAW. Instead Jesus simplifies to a point where we cannot miss his intent: LOVE!
What caught my attention in this well-known verse today was Peterson's choice of words. We are used to hearing, "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." We have heard the phrase so often we skip over the words to just love God.
Loving God actively is a command that can change us, but it also gives us the power to achieve the second command of loving each other.
Sunday, November 4
d365.org PAUSE! (Estelene Boratenski)
The stories of our very best human selves are the stories of our love for one another — the stories where laws and social norms are trumped by hearts that love and people who follow their hearts and act on that love.
Consider now how love can help us be our best selves.
Psalm 146:1-4 (Good News Translation)
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, my soul!
I will sing to my God all my life.
Don't put your trust in human leaders;
no human being can save you.
When they die, they return to the dust;
on that day all their plans come to an end.
I am surrounded by community.
People who love and care for me.
Friends and neighbors.
I trust them. I love them back.
We tend one another.
But...we are human.
We sometimes betray that trust,
We feel left out, let down.
In those moments,
We sing your praise.
Your presence is always constant.
You will never fail us,
Even in the darkest corners of life.
And that presence allows us
To continue to love
The community around us.
O God, you are eternal.
May our praise reign!
Give thanks to God!
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