Stirred by the Spirit

Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

The living God is a trinity--the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Samson was stirred by the Holy Spirit. Do you know who the Holy Spirit is? Like Samson, are you stirred by Him?

The Holy Spirit is God Himself. He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and Son.

What are some of the roles of the Holy Spirit? He is a counselor who, if you ask, can guide and teach you. (John 14:16) Do you have a friend who needs comfort and you're unsure about what to say to her? Are you unsure about your next step in your relationships and career? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to guide you in decision-making?

He is also the Spirit of holiness who empowers you to live a holy life.(Romans 1:4) Have you ever tried to quit smoking? Have you tried to be patient in traffic and long lines? It's impossible to live a holy life on your own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers you to do this.

Do you want to be stirred by the Spirit? More about this in tomorrow's entry.

All of You

Judges 13:19 (NASB) So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the LORD, and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on.

Manoah's wife was barren but God came through and promised them a child. God also guided the couple and and gave them specific instructions: she should avoid wine and never shave her son's hair.

What was the couple's instinctive reaction to God's presence? They worshiped God by offering a sacrifice.

How about you? How do you worship God? What do you offer up to Him?

Paul urges us in Romans 12:1 to view ourselves from the perspective of God's mercy. Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Therefore, we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

God doesn't want us to sacrifice a goat, a lamb or a turtle dove in this day and age. He wants you. All of you. He wants to be Lord of your mind, your heart, your body. He wants you to glorify Him with your words and actions. How is this possible? It's only possible when you know how much He loves you, how much He's done for you.

Today, offer yourself, all of you, your mind, your heart and your body to the living God.

Photo by: Bourne Bedweey (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12358218@N05/1299905340/)

Destiny Carved

^{Judges 13:5} (NASB) "For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

Did you ever wonder why you were born and grew up in a specific city and time? Ever wonder why God gave you specific talents? Did you ever wonder why God put certain people in your life?

In this passage we learn that God carved out a specific destiny for Samson. God is a God of detail. Samson's destiny was meant to glorify Him and bless others.

How about you? Do you know what God wants you to specifically do to glorify Him? Are you blessing others?

Today, choose to glorify God in all that you to do. You may be the only Jesus that others will meet. You may be the only person who can reconcile others to Him.

Photo: "World Map-1689 No. 1" by Caveman 92223 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28402283@N07/3185534518/)

Manoah's Prayer

^{Judges 13:8-9(NASB)} Then Manoah entreated the LORD and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom You have sent come to us again that he may teach us what to do for the boy who is to be born." God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she was sitting in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her.

Has God blessed you with much? Has He blessed you with a godly husband? Children? A thriving business? A growing ministry?

Are you unsure about how to handle these successes and blessings? Like Manoah, God wants you pray and ask for guidance. He will listen. He will send you His word and wise counsel.

Today, pray and hold on to God's promise: He will lead the blind in ways they have not known, and guide them along unfamiliar paths. He will turn darkness into light and make the rough places smooth. (Isaiah 42:16)

Photo: Encadre by Frederic della Faille (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33432224@N00/2285253737/)

The Promise of Samson

^{Judges 13:3} Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He makes promises to His people, and when He releases His word, it will not go back to Him empty, but will accomplish His desire and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

Has God made a promise to you? Is the promise in line with His Word? Are you getting impatient?

Today, acknowledge your present situation, but choose to have faith in God's promises. The grass will wither, the flowers will fall, but the word of God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Ring Ring

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Ring ring. God is calling you today. Are you picking up the phone or hanging up?

God calls you according to His purpose in three ways.

First, He calls you into a relationship with Him. He is your Father, your savior, your perfect lover. The one who empowers you. Pleasing God is not just about following the rules. It's about having a personal relationship with Him, a heart that seeks and desires to please Him. Do you have a personal relationship with God? Are you spending time with Him and enjoying His company?

Second, God calls you to lead others and help them grow in their relationship with Him. When you're passionate about God, you can't help but tell others about Him, so they'll be able to share the joy that you're experiencing. Are you encouraging others to have and build a relationship with God?

Third, He calls you to glorify Him in specific ways. This may involve choosing a specific partner in marriage or a specific career path. Or God may be calling you to do a specific action to help someone in need or He may be calling you to change a destructive habit.

How is God calling you today? Are you taking action? Say "yes!" to God's call today.

This brings us to the end of our Romans 8:28 meditation. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. "

Tomorrow we're off to study the life of Samson: lessons from his life and their practical application. Read Judges 13-16 to get a head start!

The Perfect Lover

Psalm 52:8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

Can't stop chewing on Romans 8:28. Now on part six. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Have you ever been in love?

I'll call him B. I dated him a couple of years ago. He was more quirky than handsome, tall and stooped with icy blue eyes. He chattered incessantly about his travels to India, Peru and his inner world, which was like a maze to me. We argued over which was the better network--CNN or BBC? We visited museums and photo galleries and he said He started falling in love with me when I analyzed the blurry background of a majestic Sagada woman's black and white photo. She was perched on a log and defiant in her stare back at us as we laughed and clinked our wine glasses.

B pursued me. He constantly texted, called and made dates to see me. I always felt his desire for me. It was the night before he returned to the East Coast that he confessed his feelings. He discussed his plans to return to Manila and I promised I would wait for him.

During that period, I savored the wait. I loved waiting for B to text and call. I stayed up late to accomodate the time zone difference. I always smiled and my heart beat fast when I talked to him. I couldn't stop chattering about him to my friends. I was looking forward to him finding a job and returning to Manila. My heart's desire was to spend as much time as possible with him. We constantly made plans to travel to many places and do fun things.

God pursued me incessantly too. My heart and life were so faraway from Him but He made a way for me to know, without a doubt, His heart's desire, His unfailing love for me, His passion for me to be in a relationship with Him. (More about this in a future entry.)

God is the perfect lover. Loved ones will eventually be separated by break-ups, divorce and death. But God will always be there. He will never leave us.

My relationship with B didn't weather the distance. But my relationship with God did.

God loved me first and pursued me. Now I am so in love with Him. I look forward to talking to Him everyday. I can't wait to listen and meditate on His word. I'm always amazed at how He reveals Himself to me through people and nature. I can't help but tell all my friends about Him. I can't help but tell the world :-) I'm just so excited and passionate about my relationship with Him. I can't contain it.

That's how I love God. How about you?

Nails

Psalm 27:13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Still chewing on and savoring the sweetness of Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

My landlord descended the stairs of his apartment. Standing on his dining table were two pieces of rubber slippers with nails pierced through them. Seated behind these props was me, his high maintenance tenant.

"I want to know to know who deliberately pierced my tires." I held back my angry tears and my finger, now a dagger, pointed to the nails. "I want the person who did this to know that I filed a police report. The next time this happens I will file a case against them."

My landlord walked around the table and ogled upright nails. "Please call the guard," he said to his assistant. I sat, waited and mulled over the word "good".

For good. God's perspective of "good" is different from mine. I equate "good" with comfort and situations going my way. God's perspective is something I don't always understand. He is not after my comfort. He is after my character and how this impacts others.

I've lived in my apartment for three and a half years and compared to the idyllic life of the suburbs I grew up in, I'm speaking fire trees, gentle winds, wide roads, and Gothic mansions, the discomforts of the crowded urban life I currently reside in, and I'm speaking pedicabs, the homeless pushing wheelbarrows, and thieves on the lookout side-view mirrors, feel like hard gritty nails pounding into the core of who I am. These nails are pounding on my ego, my patience, my sense of order, my world view, my sense of safety, my comfort. These nails are shattering the comforts I held on to and now I'm clinging to Christ, and Christ alone.

I've visited my landlords around twenty times these past years. I asked them to fix the trash system, clean up our drainage, ensure we have water 24 hours a day, hire a guard to minimize robberies, be vigilant about peeping toms and now look out for neighbors who scratch cars and flatten tires.

Now our trash is confined to an unobtrusive area. My sink doesn't overflow. There's running water twenty four hours a day. We have two guards and no robberies. The peeping tom was caught and my windows painted. It was a hassle to file these complaints. It took anger and time and marching into my landlord's home, while I figured out how to frame my complaints in a constructive manner. But God always turned these negative situations into something "good", not just for me, but for all my neighbors.

God is also after my character. In the past three years and half years, I've been humbled to the point where I know I'm nothing without God. My identity is not tied to my earthly family and the material comforts they provide. There's a silver cord that attaches who I am at my core to my Heavenly Father. I know how much He loves me. I know that He molds me through circumstances to increase my faith, be more persevering, and grow into a Christ-like leader. He plants His seed of peace, which surpasses all understanding. This is His definition of "good".

As I write about nails, I can't help but remember Christ. He is the King of all Kings. Yet He chose to live a humble earthly life as a carpenter and he chose to die a vicious death--crucifixion by being nailed to a cross, each hammer blow a consequence of our sins. His disciples couldn't understand how that could be "good". Yet Jesus chose to die for the greater good of all--the forgiveness of your sins so you can now enjoy and celebrate a personal relationship with the One who loves you the most, God.

Photo by Bitzcelt (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92661859@N00/2802290580/)

Vulcanized

^{Colossians 1:17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

*If you're new to this blog and wondering why I'm jumping into the middle of this powerful verse, please peruse the last four entries so you can follow this Romans 8:28 meditation.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

The mechanic carried my vulcanized tires back and in the rain, drenched from head to toe, he proceeded to bolt them back.

"Thank you," I called out through an open window. "I can't believe you're working in the rain!"

"That's life," he replied as he tightened the bolts. "Gotta make a living."

My tires were vulcanized and ready to run. At the same time, the leaks in my spirit, the holes that allowed negative thoughts and anxieties to seep in, were closed. I was tight with God again, with my eyes on my situation's reality, but my mind and heart sealed with the ultimate truth--God's living word. I was ready to run.

I paid the mechanic and drove off to report the incident to the police and my landlord. While I waited for my landlord to arrive, I continued to meditate on Romans 8:28.

To work together. Work together means that God will equip and send you people so everything will work out in your situation. How did things work together for me when my tires were deliberately pierced? First, my dad gave me good advice. He reminded me that comprehensive insurance offered free towing. Second, the mechanic fixed my tires for a minimal fee and in turn, I was able to bless him with half a day's wages. Third, a good friend asked me to consult someone from my community. That man showed me where the police station was and managed my expectations in filing a police report. Fourth, the guards in my building are now more vigilant, not just to protect my car, but to protect other people's property as well. This is a short list of how things worked together in my situation. There were many more blessings that arose.

My faith also increased. By faith, I know that God will continue making all things work together by increasing my finances, getting me out of the hood and blessing me with my own family in His perfect time.

How has God worked together for your good?

"Driving" by Charlie Gentle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16682940@N00/253976155/)

Demolition Man

Psalm 77:12 (NIV) I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

Have you ever seen a building being demolished? The demolition man stomps on the gas pedal, pushes his crane forward, swings his wrecking ball back and grimaces as his wrecking balls crashes into a building, blasting windows and walls and memories. As spectators, we are in awe or pain as we witness years of memories and hard work pile into the building's foundation, now a trash can for rubble.

Sometimes we are like the demolition man. We dwell on ourselves, rather than on God's Word. We meditate on our thoughts, our worries, our feelings, our bodies, our circumstances, our opinions and ideas. But as human beings, we are imperfect so when we meditate on the wrecking ball of our imperfect thoughts, feelings and perceptions, we end up like the rubble--dissatisfied, depressed, deprived, sick and angry.

In contrast, God is perfect. His thoughts, His word, His actions and His ways are perfect. They are uplifting. Like a tow truck, they can literally lift us out of depression, poverty, worry, cancer, greed, self-destruction, anger and addiction. Where do you find His Word? In the bible, his personal love letter to us.

Do you find yourself constantly dwelling on your thoughts, feelings and circumstances? How are you feeling? Today, I encourage you to be still and meditate on God's word and his power in your life.

Taking a break from Romans 8:28 today. More on vulcanizing in the rain tomorrow ;-p

Photo: "Wrecking Ball Drops" by Editor B (http://www.flickr.com/photos/editor/148825841/)

Across the Vulcanizing Shop

^{Far from done on my Romans 8:28 rumination. If you're new to this blog and wondering why I'm jumping into the middle of this healing verse, please peruse the last two entries.}

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

The tow truck drivers led me and my car to a street lined with shanties. The tropical rain continued to pour as he parked across the makeshift homes.

"Is this where my tires my tires will be vulcanized?" I expected a glossy car service center, where I could plop onto a dry leather couch and read Inquirer or Mega.

"Yes, Ma'am."

God had other plans. I stood in the rain, crouched under my raincoat hood, shivering, rubbing away the street grease from my sandals. I looked across the street at the uneven boards nailed in the shape of a shoe box. I didn't see any chairs.

The tow truck men gently pulled my car down from their truck. They invited the zombie-like-me to sit inside my leaning-tower-of-Pisa car and the mechanic proceeded to detach my tires and vulcanize in the rain.

I wiped my car's interior with an old rag, sat, surrendered, and ruminated.

All things. All things means all aspects of my life--my health, my relationships, my finances, my work, my ministry. As I choose faith and obedience in this circumstance, by faith I believe that God will cause this situation and my life to work out.

But "all things" doesn't end with myself. The world doesn't revolve around me. (So suck it up. I say that to myself in the fondest of tones ;-p) My life experiences, actions and words have an impact on others. They have an impact on my family and friends. They have an impact on you. "All things" includes you. As I choose to listen to God's word and savor its uplifting effect, as I passionately share these healing words with you, I hope you're being uplifted. I hope your spirit soars. I hope you're taking part in all things working together for your good so you can pass God's word on and uplift others as well.

How have your words and actions made an impact on others?

More on vulcanizing in the rain tomorrow.

Photo by hradcanska (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65946892@N00/3517932088)

Tow Truck

Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

What do you do when you're in a hopeless situation?

Two days ago, I discovered that my car tires were deliberately punctured. I drove with deflating tires to a gas station and spiraled down the slippery slope of self-pity as I pondered on the work-like-a-dog-and-pay-your-bills trap. I was feeling hopeless, deflated, helpless. This didn't get me anywhere. So I called emergency assistance and waited for a tow truck.

As I sat still in my car, I remembered Romans 8:28 and tried my best to chew on God's word until it seeped into the cells of my mind and heart.

God causes. God is sovereign. Nothing causes Him--not human need nor want nor prayers. God is not a myth we invented to explain scientific phenomena. We don't cause God. He causes.

God caused light with His word. He caused water. He caused the ground. He caused vegetation. He caused you and me, not the other way around. He caused you to be a new creation when you accepted Christ as your Lord and savior.

If God can cause the earth and universe, then He can definitely cause my tires to be fixed. He can cause safety in my neighborhood. He can cause things to work out in my life.

The tow truck arrived. I wiped my tears and exited my car, which now tilted heavily to the right. I tilted my head and gazed in amazement as the men proceeded to lift my car. They placed trays with wheels under my deflated wheels and attached my car to a pulley on the truck. Two metal ramps slid down and the men pulled my car up to the truck's back.

My tires were on its way to getting vulcanized. My thoughts and spirit were slowly rising. God sent me His tow truck--Romans 8:28.

Has God ever sent you a tow truck? How?

Can't get enough of this tow truck. Romans 8:28 part three tomorrow ;-)

Photo: "5300rod" by Sean 94112 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10597538@N00/3357193760/)

Flat Tires

^{Romans 8:28} (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Are you going through a trial right now? Do you feel hopeless?

I live in a rough neighborhood. My apartment's been robbed. My car scratched from headlight to taillight, and a lurking voyeur was caught last month by a government official's mistress.

I've taken all of these in stride, but today I cracked. As I reversed my car from the driveway, I didn't notice two nails, pierced and standing on ripped rubber slippers. They punctured my two right tires.

I drove with my deflating tires to the nearest gas station, parked, and through the dense tropical rain, stared as the air seeped out of them, my wet toes squeezing against each other as I avoided muddy puddles on the street and decided on my next course of action. My ego was deflated, my spirit down, and my bangs pasted on my forehead as I blinked away my tears and acid rain.

I was trapped in the gas station, where the employees don't know how to help me. I was stuck, crying, feeling violated and bullied and unsure about my next step.

I work like a dog. I work when I have the flu. But my salary, which pays for rent and a car, can't afford an apartment out of this neighborhood. I felt alone and trapped in a cycle of working, paying, working, paying. No sign of financial growth, a.k.a. a way out of the hood.

I reentered my car and waited for a tow truck. And I remembered Romans 8:28. Let me repeat this powerful verse again--And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

"And we know". God reminded me that it doesn't matter what my circumstance is. I know Him. I know His promises. I decide by faith to believe His word. We know is a decision, an act of faith.

It's good to acknowledge the realities of your trying situation. But do you know God? Do you know His promises to you? Will you act out of fear or faith?

More on Romans 8:28 tomorrow.

Photo by I, Timmy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74998608@N00/1333823258/)

An Eternal Gift

^{Romans 6:23} (NASB) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What was the best gift you've ever received? How did you react?

The best gift I received was a car from my parents. I was nineteen and couldn't afford it. I asked my father if I could use his car and he gave it to me because he loved me, trusted me and wanted me to have an easy way from school to home.

Your Heavenly Father also loves you and is gifting you with eternal life. It's free and He is lavishing it upon you because He loves you, trusts you and wants to fill you with joy.

What does eternal life mean? Synonyms for life--breath, enthusiasm, vivacity, elan vital. Eternal life doesn't start after our physical death, it starts now and never ends! God promises us a life lived awake and full of joy! How can you not grab this gift?

Where do we find this life? In Christ Jesus our Lord. Christ is another word for Son of God, Savior, Redeemer. Lord means master and ruler. By faith, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ? Do you believe that He died for your sins to redeem you from a life of sin that leads to death? By faith, are you willing to put Jesus first and allow Him to be your Lord? Jesus gives hope.

What are you choosing today? A life of sin that leads to death? Or God's free gift to you--eternal life?

If you choose to receive God's free gift of eternal life today, please say this prayer--

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that the separation between us is because of my sin. I confess that I have sinned and have fallen short of Your glory. I thank you that You sent Your son, Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin. I believe that He died on the cross for me. I believe that you raised Him from the dead. I am sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive and cleanse me. I want to turn away from everything the bible calls sin and receive You as my Lord, Master and Savior. Help me to love, serve and obey You for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Photo by DG Jones (http://www.flickr.com/photos/46258685@N00/2570495037/)

The Wages of Sin

^{Romans 6: 23 (NASB)} For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you worked hard for something? What was your reward?

The word "wages" implies working for something to earn a salary, a reward. Sin is a life lived away from God's presence, an existence of non-relationship with Him. When we don't have a relationship with God, we're in a state of sin. We sow seeds of sin, which means our minds, hearts and actions can't help but sow lies, emptiness, pain, anger,depression, anxiety even when we have the best intentions. And no matter how much we work to manage the lies, the emptiness, the anxieties, no matter how hard we work to get out of this state, we can't. For the wages of sin is death. Spiritual death. Emptiness. Hopelessness.

But God's word doesn't end in hopelessness. Want to know more about this hope? Reread Romans 6:23 and check out tomorrow's blog entry.

Photo: "Dead Cities" by Mugley (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91256982@N00/2592160631/)

Are You Like Ruth?

Proverbs 20:27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.
We've reached the end on our study on Ruth, a life worth celebrating and emulating!

1. Are you willing to go out of your comfort zone for the Lord?
   
2. In the midst of trials, do you keep your eyes fixed on Him?
3. Do you plant seeds of faith?
4. Are you humble? Generous? Obedient to God?
   

Photo by JacobEnos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10574125@N04/2703340400/)

Are You Like Boaz?

God's word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path. (Psalm 119:105) We've been doing a character study of Boaz for the past two weeks. Are you like him in some ways?

1. Do you put God above your worldly desires?
2. Do you see other people through God's eyes?
3. Do you recognize the Christ-like?
   
4. Are you able to bless others through your talents, position and wealth?
   
5. Are you a leader, protector and provider?
   
6. Do you submit to authority and follow the law of your land?
   

Photo by Artwerk (http://www.flickr.com/photos/86452432@N00/400862500/)

Generational Blessings

Ruth 4:¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. ¹⁷ The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

It's a biblical principle--If you love God and keep His commandments, He will bless you and show His love to a thousand generations. God's favor won't stop with your immediate family. It will flow to a thousand generations after.

Ruth and Boaz completely obeyed our Heavenly Father. Their son was the great grandfather of David who was a direct descendant of Jesus. Imagine that! Ruthand Boaz, part of the Messiah's bloodline! The impact of their righteous decisions continues to bless us today.

Do you want your descendants to be blessed? How will you open the door to generational blessings? What impact will your life make on future generations?

Photo: "Four Generations" by Hammer 51012 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7365168@N03/3109642267/)

The Blessing of Children

Ruth 4:¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3) It's challenging to view children as God's gifts when you feed in the middle of the night, change diapers or ride a tantrum's wave. But why not focus on the positives? Your child's smile. The way he calls your name and holds your hand. The way she pulls on your sleeve when she can't figure out her homework.

Has God entrusted you with His children in your home? Or do you work with children as an educator, psychologist or doctor? It may sometimes feel like all we do is give, teach and help children. Did you ever stop and think about how they give, teach and help you?

Today, thank the Lord for endowing you with children. Value them and take your stewardship to heart.

Photo: "Mingalaba" by Tranuf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63726798@N00/375294089/)

The Blessing of Marriage

Ruth 4:¹³ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

The light at the end of the tunnel. After Ruth's hardships, God blessed her with a husband who was a leader, protector and provider. God also blessed Boaz with a wife who was humble, generous and eager to please him.

Do you feel called to marriage? Do you view marriage as a blessing? Are you able to celebrate the positive qualities of your spouse?

Photo: "Endless Love" by milzero.com (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22288108@N00/2408535634/)

Speak Blessing

^{Ruth 4:11} Then the elders and all those at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.

People spoke blessings into Ruth and Boaz's lives during their wedding. They said--Ruth will help build Israel, have status and be known. Everything they said came to pass. Their descendants include King David and Jesus. We all know Ruth and continue to be inspired by her story, written 3000 years ago.

Remember that reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise bring healing. Are you speaking blessing into other people's lives? Are you speaking joy, prosperity and healing?

Follow the Law

Ruth 3:¹² Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. ¹³ Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.

Boaz took a liking to Ruth, but he couldn't marry her. The laws of their community dictated Ruth's next beau--the closest relative of her late husband. If the next of kin decided not to redeem Ruth, then Boaz could marry her.

Boaz decided to follow the laws of his community in spite of his strong feelings for Ruth. His submission to authority lengthened his patience. He put God above his own worldly desires.

Is your heart burning for someone or something today? It may be burning for a loved one, a chance to adopt a child, put up a business or purchase your dream home. It may feel right but are you honoring the law? Today, be patient and honor God by following the law. Remember that the blessing of the Lord brings wealth and He adds no trouble to it.

Photo: "Courtroom One Gavel" by Joe Gratz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63126465@N00/117048243/)