Play Nice. Love Unconditionally.

After I posted yesterday's thought I really wanted to expand.  Tall Cotton made a great point in his comment that love is doing what's for the good of the other person.  I think it's important to note that the other person may not agree at the time.  We are always told to play "nice" and be "nice".  I think there are times that you don't need to be nice.  Being loving and being nice are two different things.  Jesus wasn't always nice, but he always, always, showered his people with love.  Being nice has a connotation of saying the things the other person wants to hear or doing what they expect you to do.  Love is showing Christ to other people.  The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Think of Jesus in the temple turning the tables and clearing His Father's house of uncleanliness.  I'm thinking those people didn't think Jesus very nice.  I also don't think the Pharisees thought Him very nice to walk through the fields on Sabbath and eat the crops or contradicting almost every statement they made to Him.  Jesus was teaching the truth in love.  He was freeing them from sin; opening their lives up to be full.

There is an art to calling people out or challenging them to live more fully for Christ.  We must be humble and learn to take criticism ourselves.  We can't be rude or condescending.  Our words and actions must be full of grace and mercy.  We must love unconditionally.  Love is not accepting the sin in our lives, it's accepting each person as a precious child of God.

I may have over simplified, but I think I could write a book on love otherwise.  I would like to hear your thoughts and responses if you have any.  

Frozen. Steaming.

It is on days like this that I am incredibly thankful I live in Midland, TX.  When I looked at the weather today I was in shock because my phone said -6!  Then I realized it was displaying the current temperature of Cookeville.  Sorry Mom and Dad!  It's still pretty cold here this morning (23), but warming up to a crisp 50 by the afternoon.  For those of you eastward--stay close to the fire!

If you haven't seen the movie Frozen, you are missing out.  Disney outdid themselves.  The music is great, the story is creative, and it makes you feel all warm and cozy inside.  The first lyrical song you hear warns against a frozen heart.  It's beautiful and very well done.  Go and listen to it.

So what does a frozen heart look like?  There are many reasons for one to become icy.  There are trials and hardships, unhappy experiences, and lack of love.  When it all boils down to it, a frozen heart is one without love.  I think it's easier sometimes just to cut someone off from your love once they've hurt you.  At a larger scale it's simpler to generalize a whole group of people to be cold towards after certain experiences.  It's our human logic to protect ourselves from things we don't understand or we are afraid of.  I think God calls us to be a bit more vulnerable than that.

1 John 4:8 tells us that if we don't love then we don't even know God.  What does that say about us?  The make up of God is love.  We have a need to love and be loved because we are made in the image of God.  When love is lacking there is an ever-present evil.  (Evil being the absence of good, good being God.)  So what do we strive for?  What is it that we must show to each person day in and day out?  I believe Paul made it pretty clear in 1 Corinthians:

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV)

At different points in my life I have struggled with pretty much each one of those descriptions of love.  I would like to say I have them mastered today, but I don't.  I strive each day to practice and they say practice makes perfect.

In this cold weather our hearts should be steaming.  I want to be on fire!

Plant. Rebuild.

Back several years ago, when I was in college, I was having a rough day and decided to open my Bible at random and read whatever was in front of me.  The following is what I read:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released
    and prisoners will be freed.
 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
 To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
    repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
    though they have been deserted for many generations.
 Foreigners will be your servants.
    They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
    and tend your vineyards.
 You will be called priests of the Lord,
    ministers of our God.
You will feed on the treasures of the nations
    and boast in their riches.
 Instead of shame and dishonor,
    you will enjoy a double share of honor.
You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

 “For I, the Lord, love justice.
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.
 Their descendants will be recognized
    and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people
    the Lord has blessed.”

 I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
    For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
    and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
    or a bride with her jewels.
 The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
    Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
    with plants springing up everywhere." (Isaiah 61:1-11 NLT)

This chapter is special to me.  It reminds me everyday who I am and why I was created.  I am an Oak of righteousness.  I am here to continue planting acorns, rebuild The Lord's temple, and revive the glory of God on this earth that He created. There is so much joy and praise in these verses.  It gives me hope and renewal.  It also challenges me to see beyond myself.  I am not my own.  I am here to serve others and help them to see the gift we have in Christ.  In order to share that good news I first have to understand His love for me.  He will destroy my enemies, He will reward me for my suffering, He will bless me as long as I look to Him, serve Him, and love Him.  I want to share what I know because it is such an incredible gift.  The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me.

Ruth. Part 4.

I'm back in Texas! My best friend now has a new last name and the wedding was absolutely perfect. She was a most beautiful bride as well! 

We end our journey through Ruth with God's amazing gift to Ruth. Boaz meets with his brothers and ten of the elders in town. His brother says that he cannot take Ruth as his wife since she is a Moabitess. So he hands over his shoe to symbolize giving up his right as redeemer--great symbol, right? Then Boaz buys the land from Naomi and takes Ruth as his wife. And so continues the bloodline of Jesus. 

"Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ]." (Ruth 4:18-22 AMP)

What an amazing history! It illustrates perfectly the way God has a plan and in every situation there is a map that leads to Christ and our salvation. In the words of Hannibal Smith, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Ruth. Part 3.

Wow! What a brave and strong woman Ruth is. Chapter three brings us to the threshing floor where Boaz and other men measure out barley. Naomi has asked Ruth to lay at the feet of Boaz after he has fallen asleep in order to seek his blessing. So Ruth does as she's asked and puts her reputation on the line. Boaz sees her in the middle of the night and makes a promise to protect her as a next of kin AND sends her home with six measures of barley for Naomi.

What an act of faith and love! A reputation can follow you for a lifetime and in some cases beyond the grave. Ruth put everything on the line to lay at the feet of Boaz. If the other men had seen her it could have turned bad quickly. Do I have enough trust and faith to do the same thing? What am I willing to do in order to fulfill God's will in my life?

PS--This is the view outside my cabin in Idaho.

Ruth. Part Two.

Ruth and Naomi are now settled and searching for ways to provide their needs of survival. Elimelech had a relative named Boaz who was considered a kinsman redeemer--see Leviticus 25:47-49. He was wealthy and had the ability to save Ruth and Naomi from their despair and poverty--not becoming slaves. Ruth tells Naomi she is going to glean from his fields and attempt to win his favor. So she goes and follows the harvesters and picks up the scraps that they either miss or don't deem worthy of reaping. Boaz takes notice of her and shares bread and oil with her as with his own maidens. He also tells his harvesters to leave her alone and to purposefully drop the grains and such so Ruth can pick them up!

Here's the part that sticks out to me. Ruth asks him why she has found favor in his sight. And he answers:  

"And Boaz said to her, I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to a people unknown to you before. The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge!" (Ruth 2:11, 12 AMP)

He doesn't say, "I want to reward you for what you have so faithfully done." He says, "The Lord reward you for what you have done." It's not that he doesn't like her actions also, but he gives the glory and honor to God. His riches come from Him and Boaz uses it for His glory. 

There are so many aspects of this history that speak to me. Ruth is rewarded for her faith as I mentioned in the last post and will continue to be faithful as the history prevails.

Also there is the kinsman redeemer that is absolutely powerful because it illustrates a trait of Jesus the Christ. He is our redeemer. He is the one relative that can save us from slavery. We just have to go to Him and glean his fields. We just have to pick up his scraps...although He is presenting us with the best of His harvest. Am I picking up the little bits or am I feasting at His dinner table? 

Ruth. Part 1.

Good morning! Today started at a way-too-early 3:15AM. I am currently sitting in the airport at Minneapolis on the way to Jackson Hole for my best friend's wedding. It is a fiery -9 degrees outside and the ground has a nice white covering. Not that it was ever an option, but count me out for ever moving northward. 

While I was waiting for my flight out of Dallas I began reading the book of Ruth. I've always been fascinated with her story. It's a telling of loyalty, faith, and incredible love. She started out with nothing and ended with everything. Truly her reward for faith continues today as she is in the bloodline of Christ. 

Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, married a guy named Elimelech. He died and left her with two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Let's start with the meaning of these names...Mahlon is invalid and Chilion is pining. So really we're not off to a good start. These boys marry, one to Orpah and the other to Ruth. Neither of the women are of Israelite descent. Then...the boys die. This leaves Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth without any close male relatives. 

We get to my favorite part of chapter one. Naomi decides to return to her people, and The Lord. She tells Ruth and Orpah to return to the land of their mothers and to their gods. Orpah decides to do the easy thing and go home, and I assume to worshipping other gods. BUT Ruth decides to take the narrow road to a place she is unfamiliar with where she has absolutely nothing but her mother-in-law. She knows of this one God and is willing to move even further away from what she knows because of her love for Naomi and even the littlest bit of faith in God. 

And it is here that chapter one leaves off. As the book continues we see how Ruth's little bit of faith is used to move mountains.

"And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16 AMP)

--I also want to note the influence Naomi has on Ruth. There's something about her life that Ruth wants to follow. Even though Naomi is bitter, her faith must shine through because Ruth wants to follow this God of hers. Just a little bit of inspiration for how other people see followers of Christ from the outside. How are we showing God's love and faithfulness?