God decides who will enter Canaan

Deuteronomy 1:34-40

How does it make you feel, when you discover that some people, even your closest friends, don’t trust your words? In moments when you’re most sincere, no matter what you say to convince some, your credibility isn’t strong enough to sway their acceptance toward what you speak as truth. Unlike the boy who cried wolf so much, until people literally ignored him, there will be times in our lives when our words will fall on deaf ears, even when those words are intended to save someone’s life. Situations like these make me ANGRY 😡😡😡, because I have a heart of compassion for literally everyone, and when my words are ignored, it makes me feel as if I’m unappreciated, or disrespected in a sense. I don’t claim to know everything, but I do have a portion of godly wisdom that guides my thoughts and actions, of which I willingly share with others, so as to help them avoid snares and traps set by the enemy.

If we get a bit worked up when people ignore us, imagine how God feels when His chosen people refuse to obey His commands. Of all the people God delivered from Egyptian oppression, only two of the original multitude were allowed to enter the land of promise. That’s shocking, because over 2 million people left Egypt, and crossed the Red Sea. So, why were only two men of all those people granted access to Canaan, and not the others (the children who had no knowledge between good and evil during that time were allowed in as well)? The short answer is, because of their disobedience, and unbelief. When we disobey God, we miss out on a lot of great blessings He intended for us to have. God told the people the land was theirs, and all they had to do was go and take it. Unfortunately, Caleb and Joshua were the lone two with enough sense to know that with God, they already had the victory. Sadly, Moses, along with majority of those he led, were not allowed to enter into Canaan (The reason God was angry with Moses was because he smote the rock two times, instead of speaking to it, as God commanded him to. Numbers 20:8-13).

Obeying God’s commands may not make us popular with the world, but the rewards for simple obedience to His will, far outweigh anything this world has to offer. In the same way Joshua and Caleb witnessed many get rejected from entering the Promised Land, there is coming a day when those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be denied access into eternal glory. What a sad day, when all those who choose to live their “best lives now”, and refuse to plan for a more secure eternity, will hear God say, “depart from me”. Build your hope on things that hold eternal relevance, and trust God in all things, because walking the path of your own wisdom will only cause you to miss an opportunity to receive all the promises God has in store for you.

Walk in love,

Ell

The Lord responds to complaints

Exodus 16:9-12

“…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:8). If God knows what we need, then why doesn’t He just give them to us, without having to ask Him for them? God is all-knowing, and well aware of the needs of His people, but the purpose behind us making requests is to first ensure that what we desire is what He wants us to have, and to never get to the point where we feel we can live independently from His wisdom. We pray to God, and make requests because God is the source of our supply. Whether it be a natural need, or spiritual one, God provides for all of us, whether we choose to admit it, or not. Think for moment, if God moved His hand from the earth, and caused everything to cease, except for people, how would we live, without God keeping things in motion? Could we eat, if the plants and animals suddenly disappeared? How could we build and construct things if there were no more trees to cut down for wood? God made everything while considering the future. We can barely see beyond the tip of our nose (without the help of glasses or contacts), yet God knows the end, from the beginning, so it’s always wise to seek first His wisdom, when making requests. Even when we get frustrated, and begin to murmur and complain that God may have forgotten to assist us, these are the moments when He’s stretching our faith, to see whether we’ll trust Him when we seemingly don’t have enough.

In our text, the children of Israel murmured and complained that they would be better off dead in the wilderness, and had life better when they were captives in Egypt. It doesn’t take much to cause people to complain, no matter how much good you do for them. God had performed many miracles for Israel, including delivering them out of Egypt, yet they quickly forgot about the past miracles, and were yearning for new ones. In an effort to appease their requests, God planned to provide daily miracles, so that they would know, He is the Lord their God.

God doesn’t want anyone to suffer, instead to consider Him in all things. This world is getting worse by the second, and our dependence on God’s wisdom is vital to our physical, mental, and spiritual health. There will be moments when we’ll become frustrated, and complain, but as long as we keep our focus on fulfilling God’s will, He will always answer our prayers. Be thankful for what you have, and for all God has done for you thus far in your life. Never get to the point where you become ungrateful, because God daily loads us with benefits. We simply have to stop, and look at all the amazing things He’s already done in our lives.

Walk in love,

Ell

God answers Hannah’s prayer

1 Samuel 1:9-20

When a person truly understands the nature of God, only then will they be able to discern between the things they should pray for, as opposed to what they should avoid. I said that based on Hannah’s heartfelt prayer, after fulfilling her vow to the Lord. She desired something that should have come naturally to her, but was kept from producing children, because God had revelation, and a miracle planted in her suffering. In her delight, and great appreciation for God’s blessing, Hannah revealed the issues of her heart toward God. Not only did she pray, but in her speaking, God’s Spirit inspired her to also prophesy.

In her own words, she said, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:1-10). From these words, it’s evident that Hannah knew God, and placed His will above all else. It’s because of her faith in His power, and patience during suffering, that God blessed her above measure, and prospered the seed of her womb even the more. It’s one thing when God blesses us in ways we can hardly imagine, but it’s even better when He does amazing things through our children as well.

Before you kneel down to pray, first understand “Who” it is you’re praying to. God created EVERYTHING, and has been sustaining His creation since the beginning of time, until now. Trust that He knows all things, and wishes only that His children seek to fulfill His will, over their own. Just as a good parent knows what’s best for their child, and sets them up to live a prosperous life, God wants us to do exceedingly, and abundantly in our lives, but we must willing, and obedient to His Word, His will, and His way.

Walk in love,

Ell

Remember Lot’s wife

Luke 17:22, 26-37

Have you ever forgiven someone more than once, but for the same thing? How does it make you feel when the person you love, constantly hurts you, but your love for them extends beyond your pain, and you willingly forgive them for every mistake? It’s unfair how we’re treated, at times, by those we were commanded to love, but the power of love is so potent, until it gives one the ability to forgive, and forget.

Have you ever considered how many times you’ve hurt God, by constantly falling short of His glory, yet He continues to forgive you? For God so loved the world, He gave us Christ. There’s no greater gift one can receive, than the gift of salvation. Since the beginning of time, until now, the world has become more and more wicked, but God is still in the forgiving business. It matters not how many times we slip or mess up, God’s love never runs out, and is available to cover our mountain of mistakes. I’ve made countless mistakes in life, some of which were even repetitive, but God forgave me of them all, after I confessed, then turned away from those unfruitful activities.

God is truly merciful, and His grace is sufficient, but the day is coming when His love will close up shop, and relocate to a new, and better territory. The end-time prophecies are nearing their completion, and Christ is soon to return to the earth, so it’s time for us to prepare ourselves to soon leave this troubled, and sin-sick world. I know some people dislike discussing the revelations of Scripture, because it tends to frighten them, but the end of this heaven and earth is inevitable, and the only way to see God in peace is, to ensure that you’re engrafted into the body of Christ.

History is soon to repeat itself, just like during the time of Noah, when God sent a great flood to destroy all the wicked people who refused to turn their hearts to Him, and in the time of Lot, when God destroyed the irreparable Sodom and Gomorrah, after he and his family (except his wife) had fled safely away from those wicked lands. Similar to these historic events, Christ will return and destroy multitudes, leaving some to go into the Millennium. My mind often wonders, what was so important that Lot’s wife couldn’t let go of, to receive her salvation. Her simple command was to run, and don’t look back, but there must have been something in her heart that wasn’t godly, that she couldn’t release. Such a sad position to be in, thinking that your wife, your heart, your rib is in sync with your walk with God, but turns out she was keeping secrets that caused her to miss her deliverance.

Is there anything on this earth, worth you missing eternity with God? It hurts to know that there are people who will look back when Christ comes, and will miss their deliverance. Just like the rich ruler who found it rather difficult to give up his wealth to follow after Christ, many in the last days will become so in love with their material possessions, that they’ll miss the opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior. Many have yet to taste, and see how good the Lord is, so they are left believing that their possessions hold more value than Christ’s salvation. On the contrary, being rich in Jesus is worth more than silver and gold, and is the only way to truly live a life that’s purposeful and meaningful on this earth.

If you stop and think for a moment, you’ll notice the subtle, yet effective strategy of satan in this time. He allows distractions, including politics, wars and rumors of wars, and the like, to keep our attention long enough to distract us from focusing on preparing ourselves to meet God. Even our careers are set up to keep us overwhelmed to the point we can’t wait to take a vacation, and relax. The devil is very cunning, and knows what it takes to get us off guard, but we must be cunning as well, yet humble; recognizing that time is nearing its end, and we will all face God for ourselves. What will He say when you finally see Him face to face? Will you hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord”, or will God’s final words to you be, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”? The choice is up to you. Either choose Christ and accept His free gift of salvation, or hold fast to the things of this world, and suffer the consequences that come with it.

Walk in love,

Ell

We will serve the Lord

Joshua 24:14-18

If you had the option to start life over, and choose between two lives; one where you’re given all the things you could ever desire, including money, fame, wealth, health, and success, but that life ends in eternal damnation, or the life that guarantees suffering, pain, and persecution, with occasional moments of joy, but that life ends in eternal glory, provision, and peace; which would you choose? Men today are following the example of those in the past, who believed they’d benefit more by following strange and perverted gods, over the God of all creation. While it seems, at times, that following the God of Heaven causes us to suffer and experience moments of pain and shame more often than blessings, while living according to worldly standards offer more appeal, God’s love is pure and He offers a better end, while satan only holds us back, long enough for us to miss Heaven in the end.

In this life, there are only two religions; one that is aligned with godliness, and the other that’s anti-God, and supports sin and ungodliness. There are many names associated with man-made religions today, but at the heart of what religion really is, centers around whether one believes in God, or not. According to James 1:27, godly religion is defined as this, “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. In other words, we are to be selfless, and humble, while caring for the needs of others in our daily living.

In the beginning, Able offered to God of the firstlings of his flock, and the Lord had respect unto Able and his offering, because of his faith, and the right kind of sacrifice. On the other hand, Cain offered a sacrifice that God disapproved of, and had no respect for, because he gave to Him a cheap and selfish offering. In my opinion, this is where the two religions originated, one where God was honored and reverence, and the other where self was exalted and promoted over God.

Our text discusses the time when Joshua presented to the people of God the opportunity to make a final decision on who they would ultimately serve; God, or satan. He reminded the people of the time when those before them submitted to serving other gods, in contrast to how God blessed Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses for being obedient to His will. God protected their forefathers from evil, yet they willingly chose to go after those same evil entities after being delivered from them. What a shame. As Joshua stood before the people, he made it plain that whether they chose to live for God or not, he and his house would undoubtedly serve the Lord. He realized that the only way to serve God was through fear, sincerity, and truth, which aids in the putting away of the false gods which the people’s forefathers once served in the past.

The people gathered before Joshua made six confessions in response to his demand. They mentioned, “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God” (vs. 16-18).

God will never force a man to serve Him, because He created us with the free moral agency to choose according to our desires. Whether we choose to live for God, or not, is up to us. But one must remember, whatever choice you make, the consequences are the product of your own doing.

Walk in love,

Ell

Boaz buys Naomi’s property

Ruth 4:13-17

Naomi’s life began with wealth, health, and prosperity, but things quickly changed after experiencing a famine, and the loss of her husband and two sons. Although she blamed God for her pain and misery, His love never left her, as she experienced a joyful ending to a seemingly tragic beginning.

After leaving Moab, and returning to her homeland where God had allowed the famine to pass, and the grounds to bring forth herbs again, Naomi’s main concern had shifted from grieving from her losses, to making life better for her daughter-in-law, Ruth. After being informally introduced to her distant relative, Boaz, Ruth had become the talk of the town, as the daughter-in-law of Naomi who gained the favor of the wealthy Boaz. I’m not well-versed in ancient duties and traditions, but I read that it was lawful for the kinsman of the deceased to perform “kinsmen redemption”. This took place when a Hebrew was forced to sell his inheritance, because of poverty, and the nearest relative was to redeem it for him. In Ruth’s case, someone was to act as a kinsman redeemer of her deceased husband, who failed to bring forth a son. He was also obligated to marry the widow as well. If he refused to take possession of the property, he was under no obligation to marry the widow. Naomi’s relatives must have forgotten that they were to perform such duties, so she devised a plan that would get their attention. To make a long story short, her plan worked, and triggered the good-hearted Boaz into seeking a way to redeem the land, and honor of Naomi.

Although Boaz had his hopes set on redeeming the land of the late Elimelech, and his sons Chilion and Mahlon, he was required to follow protocol, and give the initial opportunity to the relative who was closest in relation to Naomi. After realizing that the kinsman redemption duties required that the man marry, and bring forth children from the widow, the first redeemer pleaded that he could not redeem under those circumstances. Boaz then assumed the role of taking Ruth as his wife, and buying back the land that was once owned by Naomi’s husband.

What makes this story more interesting is, Boaz and Ruth brought forth a son, who was appropriately named, Obed, which means, serving, and suggested that his life would render service and devotion to his grandmother. Can you imagine how elated Naomi must have been, to finally see her first grand child? What a fitting ending to a troubled beginning. She may have suffered for a season, but God blessed Naomi with a respected, and royal heritage.

Walk in love,

Ell

Husbands and wives, joint heirs

1 Peter 3:1-9

Christians are commanded by God to submit themselves to every ordinance of man, as well as to every person who has any authority in government, who cooperate in efforts to promote righteousness, over lawlessness. This is important, because there are some who are under the impression that they are not to abide by laws and rules set by men who are ungodly. On the contrary, God supports justice, because human government is of His own doing, and if any man or woman seeks to do that which is right, we are to support them, just as His people did in ancient times. In addition, our cooperation also puts to silence those who shun Christianity, and proves that believers aren’t as haughty as they are falsely accused to be.

Following the previous example, servants are commanded to be subject to their masters; showing respect to those who are good, and to those who are hard to please. It’s difficult, at times, to submit to bosses who are stubborn, pig-headed, arrogant, disgusting, displeasing, high-minded, haughty, disrespectful, discourteous, rude, impolite, uncivil, ill-mannered, ungracious, irreverent, inconsiderate, insolent, impudent, impertinent, cheeky, flippant, insubordinate, churlish, contemptuous, disdainful, derisive, scornful, disparaging, insulting, and abusive (did I miss anything lol). We earn God’s acceptance as heirs to His kingdom, and joint-heirs with Christ, when we uphold His righteous standard in the midst of our suffering and injustice, because persecution and hard times come as a package deal when we submit our lives to God.

Submission is not limited to governments, authorities, and bosses, but it extends even into our homes. According to Scripture (and contrary to societal belief), wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands. I can hear all the wives murmuring, “I ain’t nobody’s slave”, lol. Well, the Bible’s definition of submission does not involve one being used, abused, nor taken advantage of. Instead, submitting as God commands is the greatest sign of true commitment. Women have to first separate the idea of slavery, from the word submit, in order to understand how in-depth their role is, as a wife. Wives are to be “discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). Wives are to understand, and reverence their husbands as the head, just as Christ is the head of the church. The problem some women face in marriage is, they get hooked on the “new age” equality teachings, that alter their understanding of what God expects from them. Yes, the husband and wife are one in body, soul, mind, and spirit, but there’s an order in the family that has been ignored for ages, that has caused all kinds of issues between married couples.

Another issue plaguing women submitting is, the need to focus more on their outward appearance, hoping that their looks will keep their husband’s interest high. While looks play a part in any relationship, it shouldn’t be the focal point. Women of old adorned themselves with the Word of God; making sure that their inward man was right in the eyes of God, so that they would be properly positioned to assist their husbands as God saw fit. The Bible mentions that obtaining a meek and quiet spirit holds more value than anything a woman could do to enhance her physical appearance, so rather than spend unnecessary funds on expensive clothes, makeup, and jewelry, the wife should spend more time keeping her heart pure, and right with God.

To the wife who’s joined to an unbelieving husband, her obedience in all things is based upon him loving his wife, as Christ loves the church. In other words, if she’s ordered to do something outside of the will of God, then she’s not obligated to follow that order. Is this grounds for a divorce? According to the text, no, because even though the unsaved husband refuses to hear preaching of the gospel, he will be exposed to the chaste behavior of his born-again wife. For this reason, it’s vital that the believing wife strive to conduct herself in charity and chastity, showing reverence to the husband, in hopes that he would be won over by her godly example.

Submissive wives are beautiful in the eyes of God, and essential to the success and wellbeing of their husbands. Never feel that you are of lesser value based on your role as a wife, because when God made you from the man’s rib, He constructed the perfect creature, capable of doing amazing things!

Walk in love,

Ell

Sustain marital love and fidelity

1 Corinthians 7:1-11

People all over the world are stressed and depressed, because they feel that in their singleness, there’s no hope, or true happiness in life. Many feel that good living is a by-product of being joined in union with a spouse, but I’ve learned that being single is actually a blessing from the Lord. One reason I believe this way is, those who are unmarried can focus all their time on caring for the things of God, without being distracted by the things required by a husband or wife. Marriage is work, and demands extensive time, effort, patience, and a list of necessary things to keep it in good standing. Fortunately for single people, the weight of marriage is nonexistent, and all their attention can be directed toward God’s business, unhindered.

Although my feelings toward singleness attribute to a more focused approach to godliness, being married can present a couple that has the potential to wreak havoc to the forces of darkness. Marriage is the single-most beautiful institution ever established by God. When a man and woman become one, their union amplifies everything embodied into their very being. A perfect example of how powerful a married couple becomes when compared to being single is illustrated in the Dragon Ball anime series. Goku is the main character who has an undying passion for training, to become one of the greatest fighters ever. His unending desire to test his strength against the world’s strongest opponents is unmatched by anyone, and even though he may lose at times, his loses only strengthen his passion to work harder to prepare himself to win the next fight. On his own, Goku has become a force to be reckoned with, but when Goku merges with his counterpart Vegeta, their powers are elevated exponentially! The fused powers of each fighter far outweighs the strength of each fighter when standing alone, and this proves that when the two are united as one, their abilities supercede what they could produce from their own efforts. The longer Goku and Vegeta remain in fusion, the stronger they will be, but when the fusion reaches its time limit, they revert back to their original powers.

Marriage is work, and requires a lot to keep it going, but as long as the two partners remain joined together as one, the things God can do through them far outweigh what they could do if they were separated. While it’s true, those who are married care for the things of God, and things that are of the world, how they may please each other, mastering both elements can prove to yield some amazing results! God can use us whether we’re married or single, but the Bible clearly helps us understand, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Getting married, and staying married is crucial in today’s society. We live in a world where marriage is shunned for single living and fornication. Paul teaches that it’s good for a man not to touch a woman, and avoid premarital sexual relations, but if perhaps a man lacks the self-control over his sexual passions and appetites, then it’s better for him to marry. The reason for marriage is more than sex, and should be centered on fulfilling the will of God with your partner, and best friend, but to maintain a healthy and lasting marriage, husbands and wives must respect each other, in reference to sexual needs. Husbands have no power over their own bodies, nor do wives have power over theirs, but they both belong to each other, and neither has the authority to refuse what the other needs or demands in their relationship (within reason, of course). The best way to avoid threats of separation or divorce in marriage is for each partner to love and treat each other they same way they desire to be treated. Times are different now than they were back in the day, and people are being raised and taught different definitions of love. For this reason, it’s essential for the man and woman to study a person’s thoughts and beliefs on what love is, then assess whether or not it’s aligned with what the Bible teaches. Unhealthy marriages can be avoided, if only people would be patient, and ask the right questions before committing to each other.

To all the single people, my advice is opposite of the apostle Paul, as I wish that all were married, and living in the love of God, and of a spouse. To those who desire to be married, be sure and gain a strong understanding of what marriage is, according to Scripture, and measure your life with what the Word requires, before making a commitment to someone else. To those who are married, stay strong, and keep God first in your relationship. There will be seasons when it’ll be tough to balance caring for your spouse, as well as caring for the things of God, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, you’ll be led and strengthened to make the right choices in all your tough situations. “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6).

Walk in love,

Ell

Status of divorced women in Israel

Deuteronomy 24:1-4

Ancient laws and rules were implemented for the children of Israel to follow, in order to keep a sense of peace and uniformity amongst the people as a whole, and that they remain pure in the eyes of a holy God. Although those laws were tied specifically to the people during olden times, some may still be applicable to society today. I expounded a bit on the laws concerning divorce and remarriage the people of God were to abide by in the past, and in this lesson, I’ll add a few more details in reference to this topic, as food for thought.

A man who took a woman to be his wife had the option to write a bill of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house, if he found some uncleanness in her. This was typically in reference to him finding out she was impure before they got married. Some women apparently claimed to be virgins, but were proven to be false claims after they married. It was God’s intention that when a man and woman marry, they remain together forever. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case in a number of situations. The woman who was put out of the man’s home, was then free to be another man’s wife. Even if the second husband loses favor in the woman, he too can issue the same bill of divorce. If perhaps the second husband dies, the woman would not be allowed to go back to her first husband, as she would be considered defiled.

Marriage was never intended to be a simple walk in the park, rather an opportunity for a man and woman to unite, becoming one flesh, while fulfilling the will of God as one heart, one mind, one soul, and one spirit. God hates divorce, because it proves that what He instituted, wasn’t worth fighting for. The pain of a failing marriage cuts deep in human lives, and the hearts of men, women, and children are broken when divorce occurs. The impact of a divorce can even go on for many years, especially when children are involved. When promises and covenants are broken, entire communities feel the effects. This is part of what God hates about divorce.

I strongly believe that every marriage can work, and withstand the times, but only if pursued with godly intentions, and between people who have a desire to live according to God’s Word. Couples break up for many reasons, including lack of commitment, infidelity, conflict/arguing, money, unrealistic expectations, and many more, but all can be overcome with patience, love, and effective communication. God instituted marriage, so why don’t more people turn to Him for advice, rather than waste time and money on men and women who typically give their own biased opinions, without Scripture background? When problems occur in marriage, I don’t recommend we write bills of divorce, but that we come together in prayer, bringing the issue before God, while remaining calm as He guides us in His Word where to find strength and advice for the problems we face. Many problems between couples can be avoided simply by listening to one another, and being nice. It’s amazing what a simple smile and hug can do to appease a hot situation. The devil wants relationships to fail, and he tries extremely hard to make this happen, but God can give us what we need to make marriage worth experiencing.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22). “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband”
(Ephesians 5:25-33).

Walk in love,

Ell

A mother-daughter covenant

Ruth 1:6-11, 14-18

The importance of good examples is necessary to ensure that those who follow behind us will have a better chance of avoiding unnecessary problems and situations in their own lives. Parents strive to raise their children in ways that will set them up to be respected, as they grow and mature in life. Fathers teach their sons how to be men, and develop the necessary work ethics required to be effective in their future roles. Mothers show their daughters what it takes to maintain the home, as well as groom them to one day be a good wife to their husband, and mother to their children. We are all products of what we gleaned from the examples of those who came before us, and whether we gravitated toward the good, or the bad, the way our lives are set today is based on who’s example we elected to follow after.

The life of Ruth was greatly increased, because she decided that following after Naomi, and her God, was better than returning to the pagan life she was once associated with. I’m certain the way Ruth and her sister-in-law lived prior to being found and married by the sons of Naomi seemed senseless and unprofitable up to this point in their lives, because when they were advised to return home to their past, they both wept and refused, because they found that following Naomi’s example was far better than what they had left. After refusing to leave Naomi’s side, Ruth cemented her covenant with those famous words she spoke in verses 16 and 17.

Who’s example did you follow, that caused your life to turn out the way it did? We’re your parents or grandparents an influential part of your development as a man or woman, or were you heavily influenced by others who either encouraged you to grow in the grace of God, or exposed you to things contrary to holiness at an early age. No matter what she faced in life, Naomi made certain to stay true to God, and protect those under her care. We should do the same in our lives as well, and make certain that those who are under our wings are properly cared for, respected, and encouraged to do their best in this life, so that they’ll store up great rewards in the next.

Walk in love,

Ell