Relationships, Day 1 and 2

Relationships, Day 1 and Day 2

Relationships is not easily defined in one sentence. I am guessing we all have a good idea of what it means. Let's look at a few thoughts on how we process the meaning and what God says about it.

Romans 12:9-10
Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

I am going to be the first one to admit that I need help when it comes to relationships. This is an area of my life that I have put entirely too much thought and planning into and God has either had another plan or I have been to distracted to even hear him speak life into my relationships.

In the book "God is in the Small Stuff", the authors compare relationships to gardening, which I actually understand. Relationships are seasonal. Planting one is going to take a lot of time. This is where common interests are found. Then there is the growing stage. This takes a lot of nurturing, where you go beyond common interests and begin to appreciate each other's differences. This discovery can only be made by the time spent with each other. Interesting how this world is all about the here and now, the speed of things. One thing remains true though, there are no fast relationships that last. I heard that there are actually gatherings where people get together to find a date and they take 5 minutes to see if they connect and then move on to the next table until they find someone they might like. I am sorry, but what are people thinking. Most of those relationships in my life that I cherish and adore are the ones where the first 5 minutes didn't exactly reveal their inner selves. One of my very best friends and I joke about how we really didn't like each other at first, it was through our husbands relationships that we became friends. That friend later held my hand while I delivered my daughter, Hayden. Then there is the harvest. This is when the friendship proves to be a source of strength and encouragement to you.

We all want meaningful relationships. We desire this characteristic that God has placed in us. Fellowship, trust, loyalty. Something that goes beyond shallow courtesy, all the way to "do anything for each other".

This is possible, it will take time, your time. That is where I suffer the most. How do we all juggle the time we have for our families, spouses, friends, clubs, church, Whatever you are involved in.

The answer is NOT that simple. But I think I have a few suggestions that may help.

Form relationships within your schedule. If your children are into sports, make relationships with the other parents. If you find yourself taking care of small children during the day, join a Mother's Of Preschoolers (MOPS) group. If you like to read, join a book club. Just don't let your life be full of YOU.

I love how we are asked to take delight in honoring each other. That is the best definition that I have heard so far.

Dear Lord,
I know there is so much that can be taught on relationships, one week devotional is not going to do the job. I just ask, Lord, that you come near to us and show us where we are lacking in this area so that we can be full of delight in honoring each other. There is more to relationships, so give me the right words to teach this subject this week. Amen.

Rizpah

Day 1

Rizpah:"A hot stone or coal"

Rizpah was Saul's concubine. Mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth. Though a woman with few rights and little power, she displayed great courage and loyalty after the death of her sons. Her only sons were executed and their bodies dishonored because of their father's crime.

Rizpah's Joy: The bodies of her sons were finally given an honorable burial.

2 Samuel 21:1-14
The Gibeonites Avenged
1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."
2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD's inheritance?"

4 The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death."
"What do you want me to do for you?" David asked.

5 They answered the king, "As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord 's chosen one."
So the king said, "I will give them to you."

7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, [a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

Day 2

Rizpah's story is one of God's pictures that reveals only a tiny glimpse of the power we have to make change around us. Imagine her sorrow. She did not loose only one son but two. A mother torn with grief, lays besides the bodies of her dead boys. Still protecting them from the elements and predators that sought to destroy their remains. It may have been months that passed, as she grieved her lose and hoped for the proper burial of her sons.

Rizpah is a story of perseverance. She was patient, but allowed herself to grieve. King David had to take notice and took action. Her courage and loyalty touched his heart.

Rizpah made the people look at the cost of sin. She had few rights and little power. Rizpah gave meaning to her son's deaths and helped a nation deal with the sins of its leader. Her story is tragic but in her strength she may have spared other mothers in Israel similar grief, if only for a while.

Heavenly Father, Courage is not often a word I associate with being a mother. Today Lord, show me the ways in which I can stand up for my children or children within my reach. Help me learn to not only "mother" them but show them how amazing they are. Give me the strength and courage to protect the children from the predators of this world and give You the glory in their lives. May we be an example to those around us. May the scope of your love not only reach inside our family but to those we can touch around us.

Day 3

2 Samuel 21:10
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.

Have you ever undertaken a task that, had you know what was required, would have seemed beyond your ability or strength? What kept you going? What was the result?

2 Samuel 21:11-14
When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

When have you had to have some outside circumstance stimulate you to do what was right? What was the outcome? What would have happened had you done nothing?

How is God's love for you like Rizpah's love for her children?

Day 4

Rizpah: consistency, tenacity, faithfulness, courageous, loving

The list of amazing descriptions of this women could go on for a very long while. Because of these beautiful characteristics in Rizpah, King David noticed and did something. You too were given a list of amazing descriptions by your Creator. Can you make a list of just a few. How will you allow God to use these parts of you to start change?

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight. ~2 Samuel 22:25

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. ~Psalm 37:28

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:21-23

Day 5

Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night. ~2 Samuel 21:10~

Praise God for giving mothers the power to love their children so fiercely.

Give Thanks for the way other women have stood by you in times of difficulty.

Confess any tendency to back off rather than confront important moral issues with love and courage.

Ask God to stretch your love beyond your own family circle so that it becomes a force that shapes the world around you.

Lift your Heart: We cannot save all the motherless children, but we can reach out one at a time. Pray about whether you could become a big sister to a young girl in need. Go out of your way to make a neglected child feel welcome in your home. Speak out against the forces in our culture that devalue human life. Lend your voices to hose that clamor for peace in our world. Do what you can where you can. Let your love be fierce and strong. Don't back off.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the amazing women that have show me protecting, persistent love. I know your own love better because of the way she loved me. Help me to become a spiritual mother to those you bring into my life.

Ruth

Day 1

I am so excited to be back in the word, not that I haven't read the last two weeks, but I love to study and learn new things. This week I am particularily excited because I kind of attach myself to the story of Ruth, more about that later, here is her story.

Ruth

Her name means Friendship.

How cool is that? A name that describes the very core of a woman. Women long for friendship, they seek it and at times they challenge it. It is one word with a thousand emotions.

Her character is generous, loving and strong. She is serene, able to take unusual risks and deal actively with the consequences.

Her sorrow was losing her husband, homeland, and family.

Her joy was to discover firsthand the generous, loyal, and loving nature of God, as he provided her with a husband, a son, and a home to call her own.

Key Scriptures. Click here to read Ruth 2 - 4

Matthew 1:5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

I am so excited I get to do this devotional on Ruth. She was one of the first women in the Bible that I ever learned about. As a new Christian, her story gave me hope and as a more experienced Christian, her story continues to show me that God is in every circumstance, He wants to orchestrate our lives so that we experience His love and mercy, so we have hope in the midst of any storm. Praise God.

Day 2

Kinsman - Redeemer-
Had Ruth and Naomi gone their own ways, Boaz would have never met nor married Ruth. She was a gem to him. He didn’t realize the rich blessing from God. Their son, Obed became the father of Jesse and grandfather of David. They became the great-grandparents of King David. They are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus of Nazereth, who is, after all, our own great Kinsman - Redeemer. We have been united to Him, healing our sorrows, giving us a future full of hope.

Gleaning -An act of gathering leftovers that harvesters leave behind. It provided enough food for Naomi and herself. It was law that the leftovers be left available to the poor and aliens. Ruth fit both categories as a Moabite and no one to support her. (Leviticus 19:9; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19 - 22)This was a “welfare system” set up by Moses. It wasn’t a handout, because the poor still had to work for it. They would have to compete with the other poor and alien that were gleaning behind the harvesters, which made it hard to survive at times. Boaz ordered that the harvesters leave behind grain as Ruth followed, going above and beyond the Law. Because of his character, he became a “friend” to Ruth. Together, they became ancestors of Christ.

Praise God that he is in the small stuff, preparing an abundance of blessings in our future.

Day 3

Ruth 2

1. What is Ruth known for? What reputation goes with her to the field?
2. Describe this what this day’s work must have been like for Ruth.

Ruth 3

1. When Boaz was sleeping at the threshing floor instead of at home, was Ruth’s behavior immoral? What was she asking Boaz by her behavior?

Ruth 4

1. Who do you think was happiest at this wedding? Ruth? Boaz? Naomi? Why? The Wedding takes place in verse 13.
2. What does the outcome of this story tell you about God’s Providence, his divine guidance?
3. How have you experienced God’s Providence and his divine direction in your life?
4. After all of Ruth’s sorrows, what is her situation now?
5. Naomi’s restored joy is described, but nothing is said of Ruth’s. In your own words, describe what sort of joy Ruth must have been experiencing.
6. Think about a time in your life when your joy was restored.

Day 4

Her legacy of Prayer
Ruth 4:14 - 15

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”

Reflect on Ruth 3 -4
Praise God for providing for those that have no one to provide for them.

Offer thanks for the way God has used other women, your mother or mother - in - law, your sisters or daughters, to provide for you.

Confess any tendency to compete with other women

Ask God to help you appriciate your own mother and mother - in - law and to give you a vision for the power of two women, linked by love and faith.

Day 5

Lift your Heart.

It is easy to assume the important women in our lives know how much we cherish them. But Mother’s Day cards and friendship cards, nice as they are to get and give, don’t always do the trick. We also need to verbalize our love sincerely and regularly. Don’t wait until Mother’s Day to treat those important women to tea or a leisurely lunch. Tell them how much they mean to you and how much you care about them. Be specific and make sure to make a mental note of all the good qualities that person possesses. You could make a book for that person decorate it with colorful stickers and stencils, record all the wonderful qualities and package it with scented soap, bath salts and candles, give it as a keepsake for her to treasure and use as a resource when she may need a self-esteem booster.

Father, I thank you for the women who have played such an important role in my life. Please bless each one in a special way today and help me find ways to express to them my love and gratitude.