But more importantly, its been great getting to know Ruth... & Naomi... & Boaz... & JESUS...
They have shown Jesus in all the examples of all the characters of Ruth & its been so eye opening...
But yesteray - I read two sentences that just have been like a 2x4 to my head... it was crazy too because it was the study for the day & the words fit so perfectly to the lesson I was going to present to the youth later that night... I totally used it... I just want to share the words here too ... for two reasons - I want you to think about them as well & I want to keep this on my blog for me to always be able to go back & see these words - to be reminded....
This may be one of the most tragic ways for a Christian to spend her life: In the right place with all the right resources but without a willing heart.
I so desperately do not want to get to the end of my life to find I've missed having an eternal impact because I made all of life's decisions based solely on what made sense for me & what was for MY benefit... unwilling to yield myself to the Lord.
It was crazy because the lesson last night to the youth was on Anger - & being ANGRY about the things that God is angry about... & I especially thought of that last sentence & thought about getting to Heaven & God being like,
"You were angry about the dumbest things Rebecca Jo (Because God would call me Rebecca Jo - we're on a first name basis)... why couldnt you have yielded to me & been angry about the IMPORTANT things... oh, the eternal impact that would have had"....
And not just anger - but in love, caring, giving .... I want to make an eternal impact ... & not based on things that make sense to me or for my benefit...
Cant wait to see what Ruth has in store for me today....
I need to go back and reread Ruth. It's been a LONG time. Too much good stuff there. Much needed!!!
ReplyDeleteGirlfriend,
ReplyDeleteCan we talk? =) I had a COMPLETE pity party day yesterday, I mean COMPLETE!!! It was ridiculous!! I sat down last night to read my study for the day and couldn't even wrap my brain around it, so I just read a little bit and decided I would need to do it today to get what I needed to out of it, and I'm so glad I did.
I haven't done it yet, but getting ready to....now I am pumped!!! Thanks so much sharing this. Ruth has been full of powerful lessons for me as well. I'm ready to dig in...thanks friend.
Love you ~~ Dawn
That is so true Rebecca! I love your thoughts today & your study sounds incredible. I wrote a post yesterday about not being so self-centered but living a life where we can still hear God's still quiet voice to be his servants. (http://grettajohns.blogspot.com/2010/07/where-he-leads.html) Thanks for another encouraging post!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to check out Ruth!
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend and her family have passed this book around and love it too. I'll have to see if I can check it out. I see why it hit home. Great thoughts and lesson to keep in mind.
ReplyDelete