My blog

Category: Weekly Verse

  • A model daughter-in-law

     But Ruth said:

    “Entreat me not to leave you,
    Or to turn back from following after you;
    For wherever you go, I will go;
    And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
    Your people shall be my people,
    And your God, my God.  Ruth 1:16 NKJV

    This verse was the response to her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had lost not only her husband but also her only two sons.  Naomi wanted her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab, the country of their birth.  But she, Naomi would travel to her hometown of Bethlehem.  In those days a childless widow was among the lowest and most disadvantaged. They had no support you and had to live on the generosity of strangers. Thus, Naomi was desperate and had to leave but didn’t want Ruth or Orpah to come with her as they had family in Moab.

    But Ruth’s dedication to remain with Naomi was the noble and loving commitment of a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law.  Something we lack today.  Naomi’s life and love of God made an indelible impression on Ruth.   Naomi had lost her husband, her two sons…her entire family and yet she continued to honor God.  Her character was impeccable.  She trusted God to take care of her.

    Ruth saw Naomi’s lifestyle and love for God but never gave up her gods.  But when Naomi made the declared she would return to Bethlehem, that’s when Ruth left everything behind. Her gods.  Her family. And took Naomi’s God, the one true God as her God.  And stayed with Naomi for the rest of her life.

    Her story is one that is beautiful.  She honored her mother-in-law and God had mercy on her and gave her another husband.

    The website women of noble character had these ten tips for being a better daughter-in-law:

    • Speak to her and about her with kindness and above all don’t complain about her to your husband.
    • Make an effort to listen to her advice – even if you don’t agree with it or take it.
    • Allow her to spoil your children as long as it’s within reason.
    • Don’t make comparisons of your parents and your in-laws either to yourself or to your husband.
    • Offer help when you can.
    • Cultivate a relationship with her by treating her as you would a girlfriend by calling or inviting her to do things with you.
    • Don’t take advantage of her good nature and expect a built-in babysitter all the time. she may not mind but don’t overdo it.
    • Don’t say negative things about your in-laws to your husband.
    • Make plans for the holidays ahead of time with your in-laws to avoid any hurt feelings.
    • Thank your in-laws for the way they raised your husband.

    How have you cultivated a relationship with your mother-in-law?

     

     

  • God is with you!

    No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Josh 1:5 NKJV

    Joshua 1:5 is another of those Bible verses that is a promise of God. Even through trials, no one can come against you and that He will always be with you.

    To make the verse more personal, substitute “God” or “Jesus” for “I” and your name or “me” for “you” making it a personal verse to memorize and repeat when in a trial.

    For example, my life’s verse could read: “Jesus will be with me. Jesus will not leave me nor forsake me.” Or it could read: “God will be with me. God will not leave Seralynn or forsake her. And while the latter is in the third person, it’s personal and becomes a prayer. And bonus…the prayer is scriptural and praying God’s word back to Him. There’s immense comfort in it. Comfort that surpasses all understanding.

    Even in my darkest hours and there were many over the years, I always knew God was with me. And I know He’ll be with me until I breathe my last breath.

    Do you know God is with you and will be with you until your last breath?

  • Just Do It!

     Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ Deut 1:21

    This verse is definitely a life verse when considering career choices or stepping out in Faith. That was me when I wrote inspirational romances. I felt ill-equipped to write. I needed instruction on how to write and how to use the language to its fullest potential. But, God gave me a vision, and I have stepped out and worked many hours to learn the craft and I’m still learning and I will continue to learn every time my fingers hit the keyboard.

    I faced discouragement from fellow writers who critiqued my work, from instructors who made it clear it was difficult to get an agent in this day and age let alone find a publisher willing to take on a new author. But the reason for writing was so strong none of those naysayers would keep me from my purpose for writing.

     

    What “land” are you trying to possess and what are your fears?

     

     

  • Gideon’s Victory

    So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he [Gideon] sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.   Judges 7:8 NKJV

    It seemed fitting on this Memorial Day to use a verse from scripture that details how God worked wondrously through his servant Gideon, a military leader, judge, and prophet.

    As a military leader, he knew battle strategy but as a judge and prophet would he trust God to do what God had promised or would he do what he thought was in the best interest of Israel?

     God made him an authoritative figure but Gideon leaned more on his own understanding of war and took 32,000 men to the Midianites to prepare for battle.  But God told him there were too many men! Gideon then sent 22,000 men back to Israel, leaving 10,000 men to conquer the Midianites. It was still too many men for God to show His glory.  Only 300 men remained to conquer the Midianites.  Against all odds and man’s battle plans, God gave Gideon the direction to overcome their foes who were in far greater numbers than Gideon’s men.

    Today’s Bible story shows us if we have God’s ear, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.  What battle are you waging today?  Is it physical, mental, emotional, financial?  He has the answer.  Seek Him and His answer.

     

     

  • Aaronic Blessing

    “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you. And give you peace. Num 6:24-26 NKJV

    In my younger days, my pastor would sing this blessing at the end of each service. It comforted me. I did not know it was an actual blessing from the Bible. In fact, it is the Aaronic Blessing and one which I have heard both in English and in Hebrew.

    This blessing will always have the power to comfort me and I hope it comforts you today.

    Through the years, different verses have been a blessing what verses are your favorites or have been a blessing to you?

     

     

  • The Blood

    Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’ Lev 17:12 NKJV

    As ghoulish as it sounds, there’s blood in the Bible.  The children of Israel painted blood on the lintel and the door frames to keep the angel of death from striking the firstborn son when God called the children of Israel out of Egypt.

    Blood is a big part of the Christian faith because it was by His blood…the blood of Jesus Christ that God forgives us our sins. I often wondered why eating blood from under-cooked meat seemed abhorrent. Now I know. 

    This verse is from the Old Testament where God is giving the children of Israel standards to live by. In those days it was sinful to eat the blood of an animal. Blood is sacred. And it’s life-giving. Without blood, we die. It’s that simple.

    Blood types were unknown to ancient Israel but we know about them today. Maybe you’ve donated blood in a blood drive on in times of crisis.  I remember donating blood on 9-11.  I was the last person they would accept for a donation.  It was almost midnight by the time they could take my blood and I was happy to do it.  We all have the potential to save someone with our life-giving blood. Donate today!   

    And there may have been a practical reason for God to give His children this command. He knew something about animals’ blood they didn’t. The animals in those days may have had diseases unknown to the Israelites. Today, the same is true but for a very different reason.  Conglomerate farms keep animals penned in crowded environments and fed less than healthy diets. If the meat is organic, bought from a small single-owned farmer, then a person is ahead of the game but it’s expensive. 

    When I see a verse like this, I want to apply it to today’s living and I can. How about you?

  • Speech Impediment

    Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exo 4:10 NKJV

    This verse spoke to my heart because I too am not eloquent when speaking from a podium or the like. I need time to ponder my words becoming more and more careful of my speech the older I get. It’s the reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth. To listen better and then speak.

    But in Moses’ case, he had a speech impediment and the task God had given him seemed impossible to do. And yet, God knew Moses would succeed because God orchestrated the situation and Moses’ steps. I find comfort because Moses had failings. He killed an Egyptian which thrust him out of the society that had been his life and yet, God had a plan despite his human condition.

    The movie “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston doesn’t depict Moses as having had the speech impediment but the actor portrayed Moses’ humbleness well. While the movie follows the book of Exodus, there is poetic license and scenes which are not Biblical. It might be fun to watch the movie and follow along in the Bible to see where the movie is in error. If for no other reason than to prove what is the truth and what isn’t.

  • Rainbows!

    I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. Gen 9:13 NKJV

    Rainbows are a sign of God’s promise to never again flood the earth. They remind us of His faithfulness and one of my favorite things. I always look for them on a rainy and sunny day and ask God to show me His rainbow. I look for it and there it is. Then I thank Him for His revelation and promise.

    I’ve had the privilege of seeing double rainbows on more occasions than I can count. Sometimes they are beautiful and bright with defined colors and sometimes they are pastel and watery. It doesn’t matter which, I’m always amazed at God’s faithfulness.

    Years ago I worked in a large firm in California. I remember looking out the window of that four-story building where a rainbow splashed against the sky.  A few young girls sat at their desks and we discussed rainbows and their significance.  The astonished look on their faces told me they didn’t know rainbows were biblical, or that they were God’s promise to us.

    What are your recollections of rainbows?