Study on the book of Ruth

[miepie]

Hey ladies,

From this day on, there will be a Biblestudy here about the book of Ruth.
Our sweet sister Kayte will be so kind to give it to us. I have read parts of the study and it is really great! I look forward to your input here!
But..... before we begin this study, let us pray about this....

Dear Heavenly Father,
We are planning to study Your Word here
especially the book of Ruth
I ask You to send Your Holy Spirit
so we can study it the way You want us to
I ask You to guide our sister Kayte
so she can lead us in this
make this study one to glorify You Father
to make us understand the way You meant it
encourage and inspire us to do this Father
guide us through this the way only You can do
let Your Holy Spirit help Kayte to do this the right way
bless her, and all that join in this study
in Yah Shua's Name
Amen.

Love you all,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[kayte]

THE ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION
A Study in the Book of Ruth

My God is King
Ruth (part 1)

Ruth 1:1
Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

Sometimes when hard things come into our lives we feel like we're going to be swallowed whole. We become fearful and our trust in the Lord seems to evaporate. Our natural instinct is to begin searching diligently for a way of escape.

No one enjoys hard, knee-bending times. Have you ever heard someone cry out, "My life is so easy right now! Why is God neglecting me? Why does He refuse to bless me with difficulties?" I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. Or does it?

James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It's a wonderful promise--a wonderful hope. And yet when the trials come we want nothing more than to shake ourselves free of the difficulty.

Elimelech was a man that sought to escape. Elimelech, which means 'My God is King’, married Naomi which means'pleasure’. They had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Mahlon means 'sick' and Chilion means 'pining away’. Great names to pick for your kid’s huh?

Take a close look here. ‘My God is King’ seeks and marries ‘pleasure’. The result is ‘sickness and death’. It's a picture of the Fall! Adam knew God, walked in the garden with Him, spoke intimately with Him… and yet Adam sought his own pleasure and ate of the fruit. The result was sickness and death.

The man who knows 'My God is King' (Elimelech) has sought pleasure in Moab among the enemies of God. He has looked for comfort and ease among those that fought Israel and worshipped false gods, instead of remaining with the rest of his family and friends and trusting the Lord through the famine.

Was the famine so severe that Elimelech feared for the survival of his wife and sons? Probably not. There is no indication that large numbers of people fled to greener pastures, just this "certain man”.

Did Elimelech justify his decision to his neighbors? To God? Did he stand up and vehemently say, "It's fine for you to stay, but I can't put my children at risk!" as he pointed across the yard at the sickly, frail, pining away, pitiful boys? (Keep in mind here that the boys might have been sickly or they might have been two quite healthy, rambunctious kids with weird names.)

The truth of the matter may have rested more in Elimelech having a distaste for anything... distasteful. "Time to go on a strict budget” doesn't sound appealing to any of us.

Somehow, many people get the idea that when you become a Christian, part of the package deal is that God will fix everything you don't like.

"He loves me and wants what's best for me after all! And I, having been around the block a few times, can certainly tell the difference between what's good for me and what's not! God wants me to be happy!" Oh... careful, careful.

Isaiah 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Job confesses his lack of understanding in Job 42:1-3.

“ I know that You can do everything.
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from
You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel
without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what
I did not understand, Things too wonderful for
me, which I did not know.”

Perhaps Elimelech convinced himself that what he was doing was okay. He was still going to trust God... just... from over there.

And it wasn't like he was going to get friendly with the Moabites or anything! Oh no. He'd just eat their bread and join his family in marriage with them. (Which, by the way, was forbidden! Nehemiah 13:23-27 Deuteronomy 23:3-6)

But God...
Don’t you love that phrase?
But God took this mess of a man seeking his own way, touched the hearts of those that were left and wrought beauty beyond compare. Yes--those that were left. Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion died.
Died. Dead. Kaput.
Buried in a foreign land.
And there stood three widows. And God.
If things are hard for you right now, turn your eyes upon Jesus. No matter where the famine strikes you, in finances, relationships, or emotions, trust Him. Do not seek a plan of escape outside of Him.

If you, like Elimelech, have already devised the answer to your own prayers, repent and return. He loves you with an everlasting love. Be assured, My God is King and in Him alone is pleasure fulfilled.

1 Peter 5:10-11
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen
#

Study Questions

1) What is your reaction to ‘famine’ in your life? Find three verses that will help you face adversity when it comes.
Memorize these verses… hide them in your heart.

2) Make a list of the things you seek in order of importance to you. What does the list tell you about yourself?

3) Have you ever found yourself justifying a decision that you’ve made? Do you find you defend yourself? Never, rarely, sometimes, often or all the time? Ask the Lord to help you examine yourself in this.

4) When others’ sins wreak havoc in your life, what is your response? How does your response affect your relationship with the person that harmed you, and with God? What is the effect on your own heart?

5) Is there an area in your life where you are struggling? Are you seeking the Lord or working out your own means of escape?
Compare yourself with Elimelech.

[Faithful1]

Excellent study Kayte! I will get right to those study questions, get into some prayer time, and get back here with some thoughts.


It is amazing how sometimes you feel like you are trucking along just fine, then out of the blue, something (like a study on Ruth) brings you back around and reminds you to reevaluate your situation! Praise God for that! Now I have to pray that he gives me the strength I need to make the necessary changes!

[Hearing Gods Voice]

Okay, I admit I am clueless here. :confused

How are we to go about this online study? I have never done one before and was wondering how it works.

Do we share our answers to the questions or what? Please help me understand. I really want to be part of this study,

Signed.. Confused (LOL I am always in a confused state.. lol)

[kayte]

I don't have much of a clue either HGV!
The questions are totally optional.. of course, the study is optional too! They're really for our own personal reflection. They can be used to get a conversation going.. this is just a real open thing.

I'm aware that there are several different ways to look into everything in the book of Ruth.. just so everyone knows that I'm not stuck on this particular view. :) I'm sure we could start over and come up with a whole new study! But.. this is the track I was on, so this is what we get...

I think it'd be great if we could share anything that stands out to us in particular. Self reflection and self application is the only way to study IMO. Just studying for the sake of head knowledge falls way short.

I hope that made sense. We've had a very, very long day. My son was in an accident at work today.. he fell on his head. He was transported to the hospital to be checked out and was released a few hours later. This mom is still shaking. :( He's not feeling so great either. We'd appreciate your prayers.

[DeniLee]

THE ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION
A Study in the Book of Ruth

My God is King
Ruth (part 1)

Sometimes when hard things come into our lives we feel like we're going to be swallowed whole. We become fearful and our trust in the Lord seems to evaporate. Our natural instinct is to begin searching diligently for a way of escape.

This is soooo "me" right now when it comes to my job situation. I have been praying and praying and the job stress is getting worse and worse. Last night I was crying to my husband, "I can't take it much longer". I have been "looking for my own way out".

But I have a question, shouldn't we "look" for doors to be opened? I somehow don't think God wants us to sit and wait for good things to happen. Or should we? I haven't jumped into anything, that is why I am stuck in this job, every opportunity that comes by, which are few and far between, I pray about. And the doors just don't open or they do open and it is just not something I feel comfortable with like working for a less than honest man. The way I look at it, if God wants me to do something, then He will open the doors. But even if a door opens, I still pray about it, to see whether it is truly where God wants me.

But I have another problem, I sometimes think I am too complacent, stuck in my "comfort zone", and I wonder if the opportunities that I did pass up are just because I am too settled where I am at despite the problems, which have only really arisen in the last 6 months or so.


I find my frustration rising with each passing day. And it is affecting me in all aspects of my life. I have been praying about that, because I don't want my job issues to affect my home life, and I don't want to walk around feeling like this all the time. Because let's face it, it is hard as humans to find "joy" in a difficult situation, it is hard to Praise God when we are struggling with something.

So how do we "know" when God wants us to make a change? How do we know if something is right or not? I always felt that God would make a way for me if something I was pursuing was what He wanted me to do. Am I correct in this? Am I not trusting enough? Does He want me to stay where I am and "bite my tongue", which is getting harder and harder to do? Am I being tested?

I feel like just saying, "I quit" and just walking out, then I come home from work, and I have my husband saying, we need the money, we need the money, we need the money. I feel hammered at by both ends. Stuck in the middle. I want to do what is pleasing to my husband and yet I want to run from this place(work). I want to do what is pleasing to God, but I can't see what He wants me to do.

This study really touched home with me, and I guess I just need to pray and reflect on it. God, I am sure, will give me the answers, I am just being impatient.

Kayte, I am praying for your son.:hug:

[Momof5]

Kayte - I am praying for your son as well :hug: And for mom! Thank you for this study. I have been going through some serious personal reflection this week.

Our church is having a revival this week and we have an anointed preacher of God's Word and the Word cut me to my heart. I was trying to find my own way out of situations instead of relying completely on God and submitting totally to Him. The refining process can be painful!

This study confirmed what I am learning this week. It is so awesome that God's Word does not return void.

[Cilla]

So how do we "know" when God wants us to make a change? How do we know if something is right or not? I always felt that God would make a way for me if something I was pursuing was what He wanted me to do. Am I correct in this?

Yes, you are correct my friend. Try to get into the habit of listening for that still small Voice so He is just a split second in front of you always. Before you walk, before you talk. Just hold back for that fraction of time. If you are unsure of where your footsteps are taking you just hold back and listen. If you are a little unsure what to answer just listen in your mind. As you read through the gospels you notice that Jesus never rushed anywhere. His steps were unhurried and deliberate. He was always focused on the Father. When Jairus was impatient for the Lord to rush, Jesus was helping a woman. But He still arrived to help out Jairus, and the end result was more miraculous than it would have been if He had hurried. I guess you are being tested a little and you are learning all kinds of lessons whereby you can help others. You are notching up experience and patience. God cannot be hurried. His timing is perfect. Let Him carry you. :hug:

Great work, kayte.

[dancedwithdolphin]

I have always liked the story of Ruth.

I have learned to be thankful in all things. I look back over my life and see lots of learning experiences. Some were not pleasant, but in the not pleasant I always looked to God for my answers. I would not change any part of my life. It has made me who I am today, and has caused me to grow in my faith. God has taught me so many valuable things through my life, and he continues to use my life as a parable to teach me from.

Learn to be an example in all that you do. Not every place that you work is wonderful. Nor is it probably the place you long to be. But if we remember to do our work for Jesus and not man, than this is what the world will see. Go in with a joy that they cant explain, treat everyone with love, let Gods praise be on your lips. Do your job as if you were working for Jesus. Go the extra mile, help those who need help. (If we remember who our real employer is it wont matter to us where we are placed. Just do the best that you can do in Jesus name.)

You wont always be loved for this, or treated with dignity and respect. In fact the opposite will happen. You will be walked on, used, despised, ridiculed and mocked, hated--but then there are some who will see who is in you and respond to the call. All of these things happened to Jesus and we are to expect the same. We are showing them how they are to be. We are a reminder, and it bothers them. It is like heaping hot coals upon their heads. When really all we are doing is out of love, and a desire to serve our master.

Sorry to sound like rambling. I have been through these waters, it is not an easy road, in fact less traveled. But it is a rewarding road.

Things learned from Ruth: honor, respect, and love. Willingness to serve. To do whatever God askes of her, even if it might be scary.

[kayte]

Great statement Cilla. What an encouragement.

DeniLee, my heart aches for you. I do have to agree that you are being tested. Tested as in 'refined'.
In my relationship with God, over and over.. when a difficult situation arises and my frustration, anger, fear, etc. come up... while I've been busy praying for God to remove or alter the situation, He was more concerned about changing ME! imagine that! :eek:

Does that mean you shouldn't be actively looking for another job? No.. it just means let Him work in you and through you while you are there.
Working for dishonest people is so so difficult. But.. Jesus did chose to work with Judas. He consistantly taught Judas and showed by example how we are to live, but He never sent Judas away. (sure don't mean that to be an 'ouch'.. that's just something He's shown me for me.. whether it applies here or not, I don't know. :hug: )

Momof5, I love it when He confirms things to us! I feel so badly for those that believe God is far away and un-involved in our lives!

I'm praying for each of you and thank you so much for praying for us.

Sidetrack
My son is doing alright this morning. Headache, hurting jaw and ear. (He landed on the right side of his head on a cement floor.) Apparently a co-worker thought it would be fun to put my son in a choke-hold :B .. well.. he was squeezing so tightly that my son couldn't breathe and when he was let go, he passed out and fell, hitting his head really hard.
He was unconcious for a time (I'm not sure how long yet), we don't know if it was from passing out or from hitting his head. He had a little blood in his ear, so they decided he needed to go to the ER. It appears the blood was from little cuts on his ear.. not from inside.
He was terribly confused when he came out of it.. says he didn't know who he was or what had happened. (Watch mom panic!)
They did a cat-scan and everything looked fine... so they sent him home. (Thank You so much Father!)
I slept (HA) on the floor in his room and am a little worse for wear today. lol But we had an uneventful night and I'm overwhelmingly greatful. Thank you again for your prayers. :hug: :kiss: :hug:
End of sidetrack

If this post makes no sense.. just remember I haven't slept in awhile! :lol:

[Hearing Gods Voice]

I am glad that your son is okay this morning. I am just reading up on everyones post.


I have wanted to changes churches for several years now but God has been holding me back. I want to be disobediant and leave!!! :B :B But, I know that I can't. Every time I get ready to leave, God uses someone to draw me back.

I know that I can't be like Judah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab because God is calling me to be here. URGH! Anyway, I have to trust that God is ordering my steps and I have to simply WAIT. I don't want to wait, but I am.

On another famous sidetrack, I was at a job where I wanted to leave so I prayed and prayed and prayer for God to release me. My son prayed in August that he would be able to go to VBS this summer. By September, God released me from my job and I would out of there. Of course the ironic thing is our church isn't having VBS this year. :eek: Hang in there, DeniLee God will release us soon.

[DeniLee]

God is Amazing. Last night and this morning I was so depressed, and since I suffer from periodic bouts of depression to begin with, I was fearful that I was going back into despair. So yes, I prayed for God to rescue me, not from my job, but from the spirits of depression, despondency and frustration.

I took my daughter to school this morning, picked up a newspaper, went home and glanced through the want ads, and the same old stuff....

Except one job, one job I know I can do. Proofreader. Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

So I thought, hmmm, perfect hours, all day shift, no weekends. I prayed. Then finally got the gumption up to call.

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW TOMORROW!!!!!!:pp :pp

When I changed my prayers and stopped praying for release from the job, and instead prayed for release from the spirits that were plaguing my soul, I found an answer. I am now praying that this is the job God wants me to have.


So I am leaning on God now, instead of trying to seek my own way of escape.

Kayte, I am so happy that your son is ok, I continue to pray for him.

And all my other sisters, thank you for your prayers, May God Bless each and everyone of you!!

[kayte]

DeniLee! That is wonderful!
I'll be praying for your interview. Let us know how it goes. :)
:hug: Thanks again for praying for my son and thanks for continuing!

[kayte]

4) When others’ sins wreak havoc in your life, what is your response? How does your response affect your relationship with the person that harmed you, and with God? What is the effect on your own heart?

I was just reading through and this one caught my eye. Thinking of the young man that injured my son.
I'm angry at what happened. He didn't intentionally hurt him.. he was 'just playing'. But he's also twice as strong as my son and is pretty much a bully. He's 21, but has the playground mentality of jr.high bully.

I think it would be easy to let my anger turn to sin. :mad: It would be easy to let this kid have it.. instead of letting him know that we forgive him.. and WHY we forgive him.. and Who offers a greater forgiveness than ours.

I'm determined not to let that happen. :pray:

I've suffered some major fallout from others sins over the years... I know it is very difficult to walk the road of forgiveness. I think the main thing that really broke me was once, when I was really struggling with forgiving.. the Lord whispered to my heart and asked me if I wanted that person to go to hell for what they had done to me. That really stopped me in my tracks. He singled out just that one sin against me.. as though that person would go for that alone. Can I say I gasped at the thought! :eek:

For me, it threw a whole new light on forgiveness. It was setting them free from my condemnation.. and it set me free from bitterness, anger, resentment. It gave me peace.. I truly want each of those persons to know God and to find forgiveness in Him. I can pray from a stand of complete mercy, grace and love for each one now. (lest you think I'm talking 'fluffy' easy to forgive sins, I'll share a bit. I'm talking about a drunk driver taking my birth parents lives, rapist and some major betrayal of friends.)
What others meant for evil, God meant for good. And He is faithful and just... and always, always good. :pp

[DeniLee]

4) When others’ sins wreak havoc in your life, what is your response? How does your response affect your relationship with the person that harmed you, and with God? What is the effect on your own heart?


When I ponder this question, I think of my whole past and how other people's sins have affected me. For a long long time, I carried deep bitterness in my heart, my heart was hardened against man and God. The longer I carried unforgiveness and bitterness in my heart, the harder I became. I blamed everyone else for what was wrong in my life, past abusers, my exhusband, even my present husband. I was unable to place blame on myself. I was great at blame displacement. I allowed other's sins against me and all my hurts to turn me into someone who I did not like very much. I became quite self destructive and yet at the same time, self motivated. I didn't want to live, I turned my face from God, I was unhappy, unwell, and not whole. I felt justified in my own sins, I felt justified in my actions, even if they hurt someone else. I lost myself, hiding my true self under layers and layers of a protective wall, that I found when it came right down to it, was only veneer, and couldn't really protect me after all.

As all things do, my own actions culminated in my whole life falling apart. My body was sickly and wasting away at 98 lbs, my soul however was in worse shape. I was a physical and mental mess, emotionally unstable, depressed, and suicidal. When I was totally broken, I sought help from the only One who could save me. Jesus. And there He was, holding His arms out to me, offering me forgiveness and comfort.

Now I view things so differently since I have been restored.

I am learning to forgive others, even if they do not seek forgiveness. Forgiveness is for me, not them. I am learning not to respond sinfully, even when someone has a harsh word for me. I am learning to submit to God and others. I am learning to have a spirit of servitude.

Yes, I am learning, still. Alot of these areas have been a huge struggle for me, and I know I am a slow work in progress. Because, after all, God isn't done with me yet!!

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

[Debra R]

I just woke up, time for my pain pills :(. It will be wonderful when I can sleep through the night again. Anyway as I was reading DeniLee's post I thought of this song and had to go search the net until I found it :). I do want to say I am so proud of you DeniLee :hug:. I am also thankful for all of our sisters on this board and the new ones our Lord has drawn here. And I am thankful that He drew me here also. All of you are such an encouragement. Our God is an awesome God. (pain pills starting to work going back to bed now.)

Many blessings to you all :hug:.
In Christ's love,
Debra

Here's the song...

He's Still Working On Me

Chorus:
He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me



Repeat Chorus

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part
But I'll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands

Repeat Chorus



In the mirror of His word
Reflections that I see
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the potter; I'm the clay
Repeat Chorus (x2)

(Ending)
He's still working on
He's still working on
He's still working on me.

Scriptural Reference:
"Yet, O Lord , you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

[kayte]

Thank you Debra.
I'm so sorry you aren't sleeping well and are having to take pain killers. I'm out of the loop and don't know what's happening.. didn't realise you needed prayer, but I will sure join the others that are praying for you, now that I know!

I'm glad to have found this message board also. You're all so kind. And I'm finding it very refreshing and real. So many of you have the gift of edifying others. It's great to see it in action here. :)

I'd like to know how you all want to proceed with the study. One a week? Two a week?... three?
A new thread for each one (there are 11 in the Ruth series.) Or continue them all in the same thread? (seems like that might get a little confusing to me.) :eek:

[Momof5]

Hi Debra :hug: & prayer!

Kayte - for me, personally, twice a week. That would give time to study, digest, meditate & pray, apply it and comment.

[Hearing Gods Voice]

Kayte.. No more than twice a week. I am still pondering the first lesson.

Debra - Boy did you bring back memories with that song. I don't have alot of good childhood memories but this is one of them. So let me bore everyone.. (Everyone flees the room knocking over chairs.)

It was VBS and I was about tenish. A visitor's daughter got up and sung this song as part of the children's song portion. The song never left my heart. I still sing this song and I never knew there was a third verse until today. Like I said, there aren't many good memories, but this is one I cherish. Thanks for the happy memory reflection today. :hug:

[Debra R]

Thank you Debra.
I'm so sorry you aren't sleeping well and are having to take pain killers. I'm out of the loop and don't know what's happening.. didn't realise you needed prayer, but I will sure join the others that are praying for you, now that I know!
Thank you all for your prayers :hug:.
Three weeks ago today I had two level lumbar spinal fusion.
I had a degenerative disc that was almost gone and a bulging disc. They replaced them with what is called a cage, a metal basket packed with bone graft in between the vertebrae using screws and a metal rod to keep my spine straight. My back where they did the surgery hasn’t bothered me much it is my right leg from my knee down to my ankle and foot. They did say I may have to take pain pills for about a month. And it takes about three months for the fusion to become solid. I see the doctor next wednesday so I'll find out if things are going as they should be.

Thought I would answer some of the study questions :).

Study Questions

1) What is your reaction to ‘famine’ in your life? Find three verses that will help you face adversity when it comes.
Memorize these verses… hide them in your heart.

I have been through much adversity, I could write a book.
These scriptures have always helped me.
This was the main one, proverbs 3:5-6
1 Peter 5:10
Isaiah 41:9-10

The Lord has taught me to trust Him, has never failed me.
Now there were times I didn’t think He knew what He was doing :confused or things didn’t turn out the way I thought they should or I wanted them to but His way was always best and He knows what is best for me. And the main thing is I trust in His love for me.


2) Make a list of the things you seek in order of importance to you. What does the list tell you about yourself?

The most important thing to me is to know our Lord Jesus more. To become closer with Him everyday and be able to share His love with others. That is what I seek after and He does take care of the rest, He has always provided for me.

3) Have you ever found yourself justifying a decision that you’ve made? Do you find you defend yourself? Never, rarely, sometimes, often or all the time? Ask the Lord to help you examine yourself in this.

I had made so many mistakes and wrong choices in my life I go through much, much prayer before I do anything.

4) When others’ sins wreak havoc in your life, what is your response? How does your response affect your relationship with the person that harmed you, and with God? What is the effect on your own heart?

For most of my life I had let the sins others committed against me ruin my life. I had been molested as a child, been in two abusive marriages.
When I turned to the Lord He began the change in me enabling me to forgive, giving me a new life. He changed my whole life. Our Lord has given me so much more patience than I used to have. The way some people act, you know when they are rude or have a mean attitude doesn’t bother me as it used to. Our Lord has given me a forgiving heart, making it easier to accept others as they are and pray for them and even love them because our Lord loves them. And the times I start to feel upset or hurt I just pray and He helps me.

5) Is there an area in your life where you are struggling? Are you seeking the Lord or working out your own means of escape?

Well, mainly I guess my surgery. Of course I know Our Lord is healing me, but at times I feel impatient. I want to be free of pain and go and do. Today is three weeks since my surgery, and I am getting so bored. And I cant really do anything, take pain pills, sleep awhile get up awhile take more pain pills and so on.
I am healing and I trust our Lord. So I am waiting and resting in Him.

God bless you all.
In Christ's love,
Debra

[kayte]

This was just what I needed to read this morning Debra. Thank you so much for sharing your answers. Yet again.. I'm the one encouraged. :hug:

I love Jesus so much and like you, the first and most important thing to me, is to know Him better and love Him more than I did yesterday. I want to see His face and I want to see Him smile.
I think sometimes we tend to seek His hand instead of His face.

Sometimes I can feel like my world is hanging by wet toilet paper.. ;) but after all these years, I know He loves me and it is well with my soul.
When I'm distraught.. He's not.
When I want to be demanding instead of growing in trust and patience.. He won't be bullied. That is comforting when it comes right down to it. (Not fun, but comforting. :lol: )

Well.. I have so much more to say.. but the plumber will be here in a few minutes to take care of all our pipes that blew apart a few days ago. Can't wait to actually have water again!
So thank the pumber for saving you from a long and rambling post. hehehe

[Faithful1]

Thank you all for your prayers :hug:.
Three weeks ago today I had two level lumbar spinal fusion.
I had a degenerative disc that was almost gone and a bulging disc. They replaced them with what is called a cage, a metal basket packed with bone graft in between the vertebrae using screws and a metal rod to keep my spine straight. My back where they did the surgery hasn’t bothered me much it is my right leg from my knee down to my ankle and foot. They did say I may have to take pain pills for about a month. And it takes about three months for the fusion to become solid. I see the doctor next wednesday so I'll find out if things are going as they should be.
Debra - I hope your recovery is going well. I am familiar with your surgery, my husbands twin just had a similar surgery about a year ago. He had a ruptured disc and 3 bulging discs in his neck. He had migrane's 24/7 for about 6 months before the surgery. He to had to have the fusion as well as the titanium cage placed in his neck. I will be praying for your speedy recovery.



On a side note- twice a week is good for me also. That will give me time to really study, ponder, and respond. :)

[kayte]

Twice a week it is. We'll shoot for every Monday and Thursday. Thanks! :)

I'll go ahead and start each one in a new thread so we can keep going back to past studies as we desire.. if we desire. lol

[miepie]

So how do we "know" when God wants us to make a change? How do we know if something is right or not?
Hi ladies!
Sorry to come barging in like this.... but I really wanna react to this....

Before I became bedridden I was always busy doing things..... in my own way I never had time to stand still and listen..... When I became bedridden (6 years ago now) I suddenly did have the time to do that...... I started to develop a very close relationship with God in those days..... when you are alone in the house, laying on your bed, He is the only one around you can turn to...... I have grown fast towards Him in the beginning, making me very close to Him as I am today.
I know that if God wants me to make a change, He will tell me so. In signs, in words, in dreams..... let me give you an example.
As some of you may know I was in an abusive marriage for almost 9 years. Not physically but mentally abusive. I didn't think I had the right to exist anymore and I was planning my own euthanasia. Then someone suggested that I should be anointed to make an end to those plans.... and I did.... although it is not a common thing to do in my church, the minister agreed to it anyway..... and with that anointment I promised God to honour His Wishes and stay alive for as long as He wanted me to.... in spite of all the pain and disability..... A few months later I came to know Chal here..... and something started to grow between the two of us.... which made me feel very guilty.... after all I was still married...... my family said to me that was the opportunity to get out and into a marriage where I would be loved the way I was supposed to..... I didn't know if they were right.... so I started to pray about it....
One night God gave me a dream... I was in this labyrinth... with 3 exits and me in the middle.... I couldn't decide which way to go so I fell on my knees to pray and asked God for His Help. Then He explained to me: if you go to the right you are in the path with your current husband... that is not the way I want you to go... you have suffered enough...... if you go to the left you will find all your friends and family that love you. I know it is tempting to go the way you know, but I want you to learn and that is why I want you to take the exit in front of you. I protested cause that exit was a dark one without any light. I said to God that I was scared and I couldn't take that one..... but He told me it would be dark only in the beginning, slowly the light would fall in and that I had no reason to be afraid cause He was right there with me.
So I slowly walked into that exit and it was dark and scary, but I felt safe cause God was right there with me..... it became lighter on the way and at the end of the exit I saw Chal...... so that made clear to me what I should do......
Then I remember I went to see a lawyer to get out of my abusive marriage (by the way my exhusband is not Christian.... offending God every chance he gets.....) and I had a hard time going into her office..... then again I heard God's voice talking to me saying: Remember the dark part? It will become lighter, I promise....
so I went on with the divorce..... it took a lot of me.... but right now I am almost in the full light and it will only be a matter of time before Chal will be here and we can live our life worshipping God.......

What I am trying to say with this example is, that if you listen very carefully, if you pray and live your life in service of God, putting Him before everything else in your life, you will hear His Voice...... and you will know what to do.....

Love you,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[DeniLee]

Thank you, I guess I have a hard time "listening" to the words of God. I have heard Him speak to me, I posted it here once before when I was attempting suicide. He told me then, "Be still, and know that I am God."

I guess I didn't learn that lesson good enough, you would think that I would have given the situation at the time.

I think we all have a tendency to give things to God, and then snatch them back so we can "worry" on them some more. It is often hard to give things to God and let Him deal with them. We trust ourselves better than we do God. When we shouldn't because we often fail ourselves, where God never fails us, and always knows what is best for us. We "think" we know what is best, when in actually we have no clue.

[miepie]

Yeah I know what you mean......
This morning I seemed to amaze Chal to tears when he asked me something.
I am in deep pains due to some stupid thing the doctor did 10 days ago, and I have to call my familydoctor tomorrow so she can do something about it hopefully.... and Chal asked me what I wanted to pray for to happen tomorrow.... either a medicinecure, or sending me back to the hospital...... and then I said to him, let's pray that whatever God wants to happen tomorrow, will happen, and that I will accept whatever He wants me to do......
Although I feel good about doing this, it is just a pity I cannot do this all the time.... Far too many times I wanna do what I think is best, instead of relying on Him...... only to find out that I have been wrong.....

Love you,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[kayte]

Hi ladies!
Sorry to come barging in like this.... but I really wanna react to this....


Mieke! Barging in??? We're so glad to have you join us! :hug:

[miepie]

Mieke! Barging in??? We're so glad to have you join us! :hug:
Thanks...... feeling real bad due to the pain right now..... can't stop crying..... just needed this hug real badly.....

Love you lots,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[Momof5]

Mieke, I don't have a lot of words.....but :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[dancedwithdolphin]

Here's a gentle hug for you MiePie :hug:

I have seen pain many times through my eyes. I hate the tormenting pain, and long for the day when pain is abolished.

We are overcomers and conquerers in Christ Jesus. His strength will be your strength. May God bless you, and hold you in his arms. We love you and pray that the Lord removes the pain from your body. :hug:

[DeniLee]

Yeah I know what you mean......
This morning I seemed to amaze Chal to tears when he asked me something.
I am in deep pains due to some stupid thing the doctor did 10 days ago, and I have to call my familydoctor tomorrow so she can do something about it hopefully.... and Chal asked me what I wanted to pray for to happen tomorrow.... either a medicinecure, or sending me back to the hospital...... and then I said to him, let's pray that whatever God wants to happen tomorrow, will happen, and that I will accept whatever He wants me to do......
Although I feel good about doing this, it is just a pity I cannot do this all the time.... Far too many times I wanna do what I think is best, instead of relying on Him...... only to find out that I have been wrong.....

Love you,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:
Well, you know you are always in my prayers.:hug:

Maybe some day we will both learn to rely on God all the time instead of ourselves. Why do we do that? We just end up making a mess of things. :B

God bless you, my sister!!:hug: :kiss:

[miepie]

Thanks very much for the hugs..... makes me feel a little better....
Thank you too Denilee.... you are soooooooooo right..... I guess we are learning to listen to God more and more...... so maybe one day......

Today I hear from the doctor what they will do about these excruciating pains.... hopefully they can help me...... anyway... whatever happens I know God is right there with me.... that's a big consolation.....

God bless you too my sister! :saint:
Love you all,
Mieke :kiss: :hug: :kiss:

[Ta-An]

An excellent discussion on the book of Ruth http://www.ariel.org/ffruit.html