Prayers answered, but in God's Time

Ruth 4, 1 Chronicles 2:9 - 55, 4: 1-23, 1 Samuel 1: 1-9

Today was watching one woman's prayers being answered after a very long, difficult journey and another's in the midst of the pain.  Both women received the answer to their prayers, but not in their timing.  It was God's timing and that is the struggle so much of the time.  If we just knew the answer to our prayers, we think I would know how to continue from here.  Not so.  It is about the time during the struggle that you spend so much time with the Lord growing closer and closer to Him that is part of the reason for the struggle!

We find the end of the story of Ruth so touching.  Especially for me the words found in verse 14 ~ 

Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family!  Yes, indeed we should all praise the LORD for our Redeemer!

Definitely, the pain that Hannah felt even with her husband's encouraging words a pain only the LORD could ease.  The pain of the words of the other woman must have felt like a knife in Hannah's heart even encouraging words feel like a knife about something that only God is able to heal.  When we finally put our eyes on the LORD, He gives us hope in the future that He planned for our journey!  So today, whatever you face place your eyes on Jesus and feel His amazing love and comfort in your time of pain.  The love of Jesus is the healing balm that we all desire whatever our struggle might be...reach for your Redeemer!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Too wonderful!

Judges 11 - 14

Today, this verse from Judges 13:18 spoke to my heart ~

"Why do you ask my name?" the angel of the Lord replied, "It is too wonderful for you to understand."

Even a name of an angel is too much for us to grasp!  God is so wonderful we just cannot comprehend!  Doesn't that alone give you great comfort?  It does me!  To know that a name is that wonderful tells me that well, WOW to understanding even more, but I don't have to understand ~ because God does!  

Praise God!

Sweet Blessings,

Cry out!

Judge 9 - Judges 11:28

Today, will you admit with me that you get tired of the whining that continually goes on with the Israelites and us?  Oops, did you catch that us?

Over and over they do things according to Gods wishes for a few years and back to evil in the LORD's sight.  Today when I reached Judges 10:18 it grasp my attention, it broke my heart, but yet I don't know how the LORD didn't say a whole lot more!  These are the words spoken ~ "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen!  Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!"  and  they just continued to plead with God!

Don't you know that the LORD wants us to hear those same words?  What about all the things that we make gods before Him?  Yes anything you put before Him is wrong!  Whether we are wrapped up in material things, our jobs, even ministry and family, if they are in the wrong perspective its wrong!  Yet when we get ourselves all out of sorts, who do call out to?  Who do we go and cry out to?  I don't think it is the latest jewelry item or new car in the driveway or even the latest tropical wonderful tasting flavor of the day drink.  No, it is the LORD!  We realize just like the Israelites did in verse 8 they needed someone that God knew and most importantly they needed God!

Who are you crying out to this morning?  Let it be Our Savior.  He is waiting to comfort and love on you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Only if you go too!

Judges 3:31 - 6

Evil in the sight of the LORD...Evil in the sight of the LORD.  How many times do we read this in God's Word?  How many times do we do this daily?  Oops I didn't mean to get personal, but don't you know how much God loves you every time you read how terribly weak we all are?  Even after we have Jesus?

Today, a great warrior in our reading told Deborah that he would not go fight a battle without her after God told him to go.  We don't know if this is lack of courage or just him wanting a cheerleader, but really?  Most men would not have stated to Deborah come with me and I'll go.  Deborah was strong and filled with courage and knew that God was going to win the battle, so she went!  A time when women were definitely in the background this woman went to the battlefield.  Isn't it sad that Barak felt stronger with Deborah being there than knowing God was actually the one fighting the battle?  It wasn't Barak.  It wasn't Deborah.  It was God fighting and Barak had little faith in the Great I Am that he requested another human (woman at that) to go to the battle with him.

How often do we turn to another person as well rather than God?  Turn to God the true leader today!