Living with Purpose

Excellent reflection taken from:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/1424c15ea3415c31

by Jarrid Wilson

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 

It’s really easy to get caught up in the world's laser focus of money-making, getting popular, and the strive for successful living. 

But what if I told you God couldn't care less about those things?

 In fact, what if I told you that God isn’t focused on your “worldly success” at all, that is unless it is being used for the glorification of Jesus.

What a relief….

Think about it:

When it comes to the purpose of our being, do you think God is looking for us to join in on what the world has created? Nope, not at all. God wants us to be the difference in this world, and stand up for the purpose of His name (Romans 12:2). The last thing God wants is more people following the world’s shallow, dark, and vulturous ways.

Here’s My Point:

We were made to be more than puppets of the world. 

It’s time to start giving ourselves a little credit. We are a children of The King, and we were made to live for more than a paycheck and worldly acceptance.

 Don’t let the world fool you into thinking your life was meant to be lived for “its glory” rather than God’s.

Reflect: Jeremiah 1:5 notes that we were set apart from the beginning, and that we were destined for greatness.

Worldly success will never compare to purposeful living. 

And until your heart can wrap itself around this vital truth, your worth will never be fulfilled because you are seeking to fill it from a place that doesn’t have what you need. 

Way too many times have I seen men and women of all ages being let down by the world, only to get back up and try again.

 It’s time to break through the lies of the world, and seek purposeful living through the one who it is founded upon.

Stop seeking worth in a world that cannot offer what you truly need. Only Jesus can offer that.

Verses for Job Seekers - Part 2

Verses for Job Seekers - Part 1

Inspiring story of gifted son and dedicated dad

Amazing story of gifted son and committed Dad,,,who works the graveyard shift at UPS to serve his son.

5 Ways to Find Joy in a Job You Don't Love

Helpful truth if you find yourself in a job you don't love found at:

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2687328215255594243#editor/target=post;postID=5091696420356734527

JOSEPH RHEA|12:01 AM CT

Working a job you love is a wonderful thing. To be sure, all gardens this side of the Fall have thistles and weeds, but doing a job that fits you, that excites you, feels different. It fills you, gives you a sense you're doing what God meant you to do.

But what do you do when you get stuck in a job you don't love? When you're waiting for a better one to come along, feel called to stay in certain work, or aren't yet qualified for a job you think you might enjoy more? Is it possible to keep getting up day after day and actually have joy in your work?

Scripture promises that we can have joy through any work. Ecclesiastes 2:24 says work is a gift of God, and it is good to "find enjoyment in [it]"—the Hebrew literally reads, "make his soul see the good in [it]." Some jobs will make this joy easy for us; some won't. But God wills that we make our souls see the good in our work, whatever it may be. We may never become heel-clicking happy about our job, but it is possible for us to have robust joy in it.

Here are five ways to cultivate joy in less-than-ideal jobs:

1. Repent of "ideal jobolatry."

It's a gift to be doing work you truly love. But if we dream about our ideal job and start saying, "I will be truly happy when I'm doing ______," we elevate work to a functional savior and give it the place in our hearts reserved only for Christ. 

No job will make you happy in and of itself. Ecclesiastes, an ever-reliable bucket of ice water to the face, tells us, "What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. . . . This also is vanity" (2:22-3). Watch yourself for the beginnings of "ideal jobolatry" and turn from them, reminding yourself that joy depends entirely and only on Jesus Christ.

2. Fill yourself with Scripture and prayer daily.

Christians ought to be practicing these disciplines anyway, but believers in unpleasant work environments especially need this reminder. Every difficult environment is like a soul-desert—it dries us out, sapping life rather than giving it.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 tells us that the one who makes flesh his strength will have a soul like a parched shrub. By contrast, though she faces heat and drought, the one "whose trust is the Lord" plants her roots in a life-giving stream and does not wither. Psalm 1:1-3 uses a similar image specifically to describe our relationship to God's Word—feasting on God's Word enables us to bear arid spiritual climates. Meditating on Scripture—not just reading it, but thoughtfully and prayerfully digesting it into our souls—provides us with soul-nutrition that can help us through tough job situations.

Praying throughout the day connects us to God. Think back over your morning meditations. Remind yourself of the gospel with simple prayers like "Abba, Father/I belong to Thee" and "Jesus, Son of David/Have mercy on me, a sinner."

3. Invest in the tasks and the relationships of your work.

It's easy to be tempted to slack in a job you don't enjoy. But we're actually commanded to "work heartily" in everything we do, "knowing that from the Lord [we] will receive the inheritance as [our] reward" (Col. 3:23-4). And when we take ownership of a job and strive to do our best in it, we come to enjoy it more. See God as your true boss. Remind yourself that he is the one from whom you hope to be rewarded.

Investing in your work community can also cultivate joy. If you work with Christians, these relationships may come easily. If you work with mainly nonbelievers, give thanks for this natural way to minister to neighbors outside the church. And look for ways to invest redemptively in your work relationships. I've worked in offices where most of the water-cooler conversation involved complaining or gossip. Resist the temptation to remain silent and disengage. Challenge yourself to find ways to introduce loving or pleasant conversations into your workplace.

4. Contemplate the goodness of your job.

It's easy to think of the unpleasant aspects of a job we already dislike. Dwelling on them reinforces our dislike. But most jobs somehow harmonize with God's redemptive work in creation.

Does your work bring order out of chaos? Then you're in effect gardening, in line with the command to fill and subdue the earth. Does your job involve correcting errors? Then you're establishing justice, which is part of God's character. Even if your work doesn't resonate with your sense of calling, look for a way in which it does something good and connect that to the goodness of God. 

5. Remind yourself that your identity is in Christ, not your job.

We tend to define ourselves by our work. "What do you do?" is one of the first five questions we ask people we meet, and it chafes us to say something like, "I park cars." We must not esteem ourselves (and others) highly or lowly depending on how we perceive our jobs (and theirs).

Paul wrote to the Philippians, "For [Jesus'] sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him" (3:8-9). If your job feels beneath you, remind yourself that you belong to God through the sacrificial death of Jesus alone. You have infinite value to God because of Jesus. Find yourself in Christ alone, and you will find joy in any job circumstance.

Joseph Rhea recently completed his Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Allison, belong to Redeemer Community Church, and he is pursuing ministry work.

Who Wins The Race? A daily devotion for February 21st, 2013

A wonderful reminder when we wonder what God is doing in our lives found at:

http://www.raystedman.org/todays-devotion

Who Wins The Race? Daily Devotion for February 21 From the Writings of Ray Stedman From your friends at www.RayStedman.org

Read the Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Many of us have had experiences that confirm the truth of this verse. All our carefully laid plans have fallen apart; all our dreams that we had what it took to succeed in some particular area of life crumbled, and we could not understand why. We had to learn, as this text says, the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong. That is true, even in sports. In the early part of this century Jim Thorpe, the famous Native American athlete, won many gold medals at the Olympic games. He stood before the King of Sweden and was publicly acknowledged as the greatest athlete of his time. Yet all those medals and honors had to be given back when it was learned that as a boy he had played professional baseball for five dollars a season, which rendered him no longer an amateur. It is not always the strong, the mighty, the able, and the gifted that win in politics. We have seen candidates whom everybody thought a cinch to win public office defeated, unable to fulfill their dreams. The battle [is not always] to the strong, and this principle rings true even for the awards and prizes of the world. The Nobel Prize was given to a little woman in India, Mother Teresa, who ministered fully to the needs of the poor around her. Even in Hollywood the battle is not always won by those with the strength of typical movie glitz and glamour; in 1982, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to the movie Chariots of Fire, the story of Eric Liddell, a Christian Olympic runner who later became a missionary to China. The Searcher clearly tells us that natural gifts of speed, strength, and intellect are never enough to guarantee ultimate triumph. Other factors really make the difference. Time and chance happen to them all. What does he mean by that? We often say, You have to be the right person, at the right place, at the right time. In other words, there are elements of circumstance that have to fall together even before someone with great abilities can accomplish his or her goals. What the Searcher is saying, of course, is that life is not in our control. The illusion that the secular media presses upon us all the time is that we can handle our life by our choices.It's your life! You can live it the way you please. But the Searcher says it cannot be done that way. Time and chance happen to them all. Just when you think you have something under control, it can all fall apart. Disasters come when we least expect them: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare (Ecclesiastes 9:12). Everything can fall apart. Every one of us has had some experience of that. Lord, thank You for this reminder that I am not in control; that I do not control the outcome of events, but You do. Life Application: The sovereignty of God is an important attribute of God to realize and trust. Our own efforts will never trump God's sovereignty. Have we rested in that knowledge? Related Message: This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's messages. Please read "The Only Way to Go" or listen to Ray for more on this portion of scripture.

Devotions for February from Ecclesiastes << Previous Day Next Day >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the Daily Devotion by Email

Copyright © 2007 by Elaine Stedman — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman; compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to www.RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

A time for everything

I read the following this morning and found it encouraging to my soul from Ray Stedman's devotional post:

 No one is going to escape the hurts and sorrows of life is what he is saying (in Eccl 3: 1-8).  God chose them for us. In a fallen world it is right that there will be times of hurt, of sorrow and weeping...

...There is a time to search [for work, marriage, new friends] and a time to give up (Ecclesiastes 3:6). There comes a time in life when we should curtail certain friendships or change our jobs, for instance, and lose what we had in the past. It is proper and appropriate that these times should come.

...The problem, of course, is that it is not our plan for our life. If we were given the right to plan our lives we would have no unpleasantness at all. But that would ruin us. God knows that people who are protected from everything almost invariably end up being impossible to live with; they are selfish, cruel, vicious, shallow, and unprincipled. God sends these things in order that we might be taught. There is a time for everything, the Searcher says.

Father, thank You for all the experiences of life that You have planned for me, so that I might be conformed to the image of Your Son.

If the above resonates with you, you might want to read on to glean from Stedman's full post to see how he builds to the conclusion above from the book of Ecclesiastes found at:  www.RayStedman.org

>>>>Taken in its entirety:

Read the Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

We now have come to the third chapter, which describes the combination of opposites in our experience. Throughout this chapter the idea is propounded that there is an appropriate time for all of life's experiences.

There is an appropriate time for everything, the unpleasant as well as pleasant experiences. This is not merely a description of what happens in life; it is a description of what God sends. Many of us are familiar with the Four Spiritual Laws, the first of which is, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.That is the plan that is set forth here. All along, the Searcher is saying that God desires to bring joy into human experience. Many people think Ecclesiastes is a book of gloom and pessimism because of the findings based on the writer's limited view of those things under the sun, the visible things of life. But that is not the message of the book. God intends us to have joy, and His program to bring it about includes all these opposites.

If you look carefully, you will see that these eight opening verses gather around three major divisions that correspond, amazingly enough, to the divisions of our humanity: body, soul, and spirit.

The first four pairs deal with the body: a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Notice how this applies to the physical life. None of us asked to be born; it was something done to us, apart from us. None of us asks to die; it is something God determines. So this is the way we should view this list of opposites, as a list of what God thinks we ought to have. It begins by pairing birth and death as the boundaries of life under the sun.

Then the Searcher moves into the realm of the soul with its functions of thinking, feeling, and choosing—the social areas—and all the interrelationships of life that flow from that. Verse 4 tells us there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. All these things follow closely, and they are all appropriate. No one is going to escape the hurts and sorrows of life is what he is saying here. God chose them for us. In a fallen world it is right that there will be times of hurt, of sorrow and weeping. The last six of these opposites relate to the spirit, to the inner decisions, the deep commitments. There is a time to search [for work, marriage, new friends] and a time to give up (Ecclesiastes 3:6). There comes a time in life when we should curtail certain friendships or change our jobs, for instance, and lose what we had in the past. It is proper and appropriate that these times should come.

All of this is God's wonderful plan for your life. The problem, of course, is that it is not our plan for our life. If we were given the right to plan our lives we would have no unpleasantness at all. But that would ruin us. God knows that people who are protected from everything almost invariably end up being impossible to live with; they are selfish, cruel, vicious, shallow, and unprincipled. God sends these things in order that we might be taught. There is a time for everything, the Searcher says.

Father, thank You for all the experiences of life that You have planned for me, so that I might be conformed to the image of Your Son.

---

Life Application: Are we learning to see God's wise direction and providence in the contrasting experiences of our lives? If we were in charge would the result be wholeness & joy?

Move on!

Do you need help to move on?  Read on for inspiring insight on how to act by faith when things get hard taken from: 

http://msg1svc.net/servlet/Pv?c=703d6d6c6d26733d3734343631266d3d3133313026743d4826723d4e2664613d30

Move On!
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
01-14-2013

..."Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on." - Exodus 14:15

Moses had brought the whole nation of Israel, approximately 600,000, to a dead end in the desert. The only thing between Israel and Pharaoh's pursuing army was the Red Sea. This was after ten plagues God had inflicted on Pharaoh to motivate him to free the Israelites. Finally, Pharaoh had freed Moses and the people, and they left Egypt. They thought they were home free. "Freedom at last," they said. But God did a strange thing. He directed Moses to take a route that led to the Red Sea, instead of the northern route around the Red Sea. God explained that He didn't want them fighting the enemies they would have encountered on this route. But still, there was the issue of the Red Sea.

They finally arrived at the Red Sea, and the people were wondering where they would go from there. News hit the camp: Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was coming after them with his army. Panic set in. The defenseless Israelites cried out, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?...It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Ex. 14:11b-12)

God sometimes brings each of us to a "Red Sea" in our life. It may be a work problem that can't be solved. It may be a marriage that seems to be failing. It may be a debilitating disease. Whatever your Red Sea, God tells us one thing: "Keep moving." The Red Sea was before them, yet God was angered at Moses and told him to "Keep moving."

"But Lord, the Red Sea is before me." "Keep moving." When we live by sight, we act on what we see. God sets this stage in dramatic fashion. God is into the dramatic. There is no way out without God here. That is just the way He wants it. No one will get glory except God.

A friend once admonished me when I was in the midst of an extremely difficult time in my life, "You must not withdraw from being proactive in your faith just because of this trial that you are in. God's hand is on your life. There are too many who are depending on you to fulfill the purposes God has in your life. Keep moving! Keep investing yourself in others." I didn't feel like it. I was in too much pain. But I did it anyway. God met me at the point of my greatest need once I decided simply to be obedient. Getting past myself by investing myself in others helped heal the pain. There is great healing when we look past our own problems and seek to invest ourselves in others for the sake of Christ. This is when our own Red Seas become parted. We begin to walk to freedom. But we will never experience the miracle of the Red Sea in our lives if we don't first "Keep moving." 

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Positioning - Is your heart bent toward him?

Thought provoking post found at:

http://msg1svc.net/servlet/Pv?c=703d6d6c6d26733d3734343631266d3d3133313026743d4826723d4e2664613d30

Your Positioning
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
01-03-2013

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. - Proverbs 27:2

Many years of owning and operating an ad agency taught me that positioning was defined as a place or position that a product, service, or person held in the mind of the audience. We knew that often perception was reality for people, regardless of the truth. For years, I spent time and money seeking to position our company in the minds of our prospective clients. Although it would seem that is a natural and logical marketing function, I later discovered there is a dangerous flaw when we attempt to position ourselves by promoting our own attributes. I discovered that positioning is a by-product of who we are and what we do, not an end in itself.

King David was my first biblical lesson in coming to understand the difference. Here was a man who had committed adultery and murder, and failed many times in his family life. Yet, God describes David as a "man after God's own heart." Isn't that interesting? Why would God describe someone who had obviously failed in many areas as one who was after God's own heart? Throughout David's life, we find frequent descriptions made by God: "So David's fame spread throughout every land..." (1 Chron. 14:17). Although David did make many mistakes, his heart was soft toward God and sought to praise Him. David wrote the majority of the Psalms. God honored what was in David's heart, not his perfection. I believe that God's strategic placement of David was so that we may learn from and be drawn to the attribute of David that God primarily wanted him known for -- a heart bent toward Him. His positioning was a by-product of who he was, not an end in itself. In our business and personal life, our positioning among those who will know us should be a by-product of our life and service, not an end itself.

What is your "position" today among your peers? I once asked my Bible study group to ask others, "What do you think of when someone mentions my name?" This exercise can bring some interesting revelations. It might motivate us to make some changes, or it might confirm that God is doing a great work in you. 

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Sunday Recap: "STOP!" (Sabbath rest)

It is good to remember that one of the keys to managing time God's way is to uphold the spiritual practice of taking a sabbath rest.  It is a good thing to cease from our work in accordance with the natural rhythm God has built into the universe...a rhythm of work and rest. Sabbath is a way to bring our lives back in line with this God-created rhythm.

Read on for this helpful post found at:

http://claudekayler.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html

For the past several weeks we've been talking about how to manage TIME. One of the keys to managing time God's way is a spiritual practice called SABBATH.

Sabbath comes from a Hebrew word that means, "Stop!" Stop working. Stop worrying. Stop running around. Stop trying to prove yourself.  Just stop -- and rest.

I see 4 key aspects of Sabbath that correspond to the letters R-E-S-T: 

R - Rhythm: God has built natural rhythms into the universe. The sun rises, the sun sets. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. The moon orbits the earth, the earth orbits the sun. Summer turns to fall, fall turns to winter,  and so on. One of those rhythms is the rhythm of work and rest. Genesis tells us that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh: "And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested ..." (Genesis 2:3). Sabbath is a way to bring our lives back in line with this God-created rhythm.

E- Enjoy: One day a bunch of religious leaders were giving Jesus a hard time because his disciples didn't follow all the rules and regulations concerning the Sabbath. In reply, Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). This is such good news! God gave you the Sabbath to enjoy. Go outside and enjoy God's creation. Spend time with family and friends and enjoy God's gift of fellowship. Watch a funny movie and enjoy God's gift of laughter.

S- Set Apart: Exodus 20 says, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." The word holy means "set apart." Sabbath is time that's set apart to rest, reflect, and renew. I hope that can be Sunday for you, but if not--what day (or even two half-days) could you set apart as a time to STOP the normal routine of life and rest?

T- Trust: When we STOP and rest even though work is piling up around us, it's an act of trust. It's a demonstration of our faith that God can run the universe without us.

Are You Really Working For The Lord?

The below is excellent and taken in it's entirety from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com post on 04 Dec 2002.  

This article originally appeared on Christian Personal Finance. Used with permission.
There are so many things that are wrong with our culture. Some are overt, while others are quite subtle. One of those subtle problems is the attitude that is often displayed toward work. We are told to just “half do” our jobs, and to try to get away with as little as we can and still hold on to our jobs. It’s even become considered acceptable to pilfer “small” things from work and still be considered honest.
The Bible sets a much higher standard, though. In a world that teaches us to compartmentalize our lives, the Bible makes it clear that all of our life is to be lived to God’s glory.
That includes our work. In Colossians 3:23-24  Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
In context, Paul is writing about various earthly relationships, and these words are found in the midst of a discussion to slaves who are Christians. That small insight adds even greater depth to this passage. Some of us may have bosses who are mean, but few of us have leaders who could honestly be compared to slave-drivers (though we sometimes jokingly use that terminology).
But what does it mean to work “for the Lord?” How does that stand in contrast to the world in which we live? Consider these 5 important practices when working for the Lord:
1. Be totally honest.
Yes, totally honest! When you are turning in an expense report, Christians must be totally honest about what was personal and what was business-related. When we are in an interview, we are not to embellish the truth or lie about our past accomplishments and/or failures. When we make a mistake on the job, we must be honest enough to own up to our part of that mistake and live with the possible consequences. A Christian would not dare to “fudge” his time card, mileage, or research sources.
2. Find joy in your labors.
I am not saying that every day on the job is going to be a walk in the park. Work isn’t always fun! But as a teacher, banker, garbage man, preacher, or in any other position we can show Christ in our work – and joy will follow. Christians should find joy because they are living with purpose and have an opportunity to shine the light of Christ wherever they may be.
3. Build close relationships.
We need to work while on the job, but on breaks or trips we need to be people who are trying to build relationships with our coworkers, vendors and customers. Jesus was the greatest relationship-builder of all time, and He expects us to try to build into the lives of others. We should not mix social and business (unless such is allowed), but we can be the kindest, most honest, and most caring worker that our bosses, subordinates and customers have ever seen. That will cause them to want to get to know us – and hopefully Christ – better.
4. Serve others – even those below you.
Jesus worked very hard while He was here on the earth, but His primary work was serving. He made a difference because He put the needs of others first. A good worker is one who sees a problem and tries to be part of the solution. God has called His people to always be serving, and that includes on the job. Do not pass up an opportunity to do good to anyone (cf. Galatians 6:10).
5. Be a good steward of God’s resources.
Often, when we think about stewardship, we think only in terms of money. God has blessed us with other things, too, that He expects us to manage well. That includes our time and abilities, both of which are on display in our jobs. Working unto the Lord means that I am going to be a good steward of the time God has given me, redeeming it for His glory. It means that I am not going to waste the talents and abilities that God has given me, and with which I am blessed to earn a living for my family and myself.
Each of these five practices stand in stark contrast to the prevailing mood of our society toward work. May God’s people always work heartily, because we are working for the Lord!
Does your job make it difficult for you to work for the Lord? How are you doing shining His light in your workplace? Leave a comment and let us know!
Adam Faughn is the preacher for the Lebanon Road church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. He loves reading, writing, sports, podcasts, and spending time with his family.
Christian Personal Finance is a resource dedicated to building God's Kingdom and helping others through money.
Publication date: November 29, 2012

Shattered dreams

How do you respond when a dream is shattered?  What do you do to carry on?  Below are insights from Os Hillman on what Naomi did in response to her shattered dream when her life was going great and all of a sudden her husband and her two sons die and she and her two daughter-in- laws are found in the rubble of shattered dreams in the midst of a reality none of them anticipated would ever be the case.

Read on from "lessons learned" from the life of Naomi in the Bible to see how God can take understandable temptation to be bitter and live the rest of ones life in shattered dreams but instead toi see that turn 180 degrees to let God work through our honest feelings to see him who is the One who redeems even the most devastating experiences for his glory and our best good. 

>>>>Taken in its entirety from:
http://tgifmail.marketplaceleaders.org/servlet/Pv?c=703d6d6c6d26733d313534303733266d3d3539373926743d4826723d4e2664613d30267469643d30

Shattered Dreams
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
12-04-2012

"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." -Ruth 1:3-5

Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.

How did Naomi react to her situation? "...for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!" (Ruth 1:13) Ah, we see her true feelings about the situation. "How could a loving God let this happen?!" "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" (Ruth 1:20-21)

Mara means bitter. She knew where she was. She was bitter toward this so called God of love. "How can I possibly reconcile this?!" No life insurance. No widow's fund. "What is going to happen to me and my daughters?"

The Bible says the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. Naomi and Ruth move to a community where some of her relatives lived. Ruth goes out to work in the fields to put food on the table. She just so happens to work in the field of a wealthy farmer named Boaz. When Ruth tells her this the first ray of hope penetrates her bitter heart. Even she can recognize the hand of God.

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz. Then Naomi said to her daughter-in law, 'Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!'" (Ruth 2:19-20).

Hebrew custom was for the next in kin to care for the widow in the family. Boaz was to be this man. He would eventually marry Ruth. She would bare a son, Obed. He would be the father of Jesse, the father of David. Jesus would come from the same lineage.

Shattered dreams often lead to a world-impacting destiny. But getting there is often a process where we must work through honest feelings before we can see the God who redeems even the most devastating shattered dream.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Living Forward, Understanding Backward

Life is often lived leaning forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale...and to know he was in control all along.

Read on for a timely reminder of what it means to walk by faith not by sight taken from:

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TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
12-01-2012

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

When I was in my 20's, I participated in a wilderness-training course in a desert and mountain area. For our "final exam," we were blindfolded, placed in the back of a pickup truck, and taken to a remote area. We were dropped off and told to meet back at the camp in three days. We did not know where we were. We had to determine our location with our compasses. It was a frightening experience for four young people who had learned to navigate through the use of a compass only a few days earlier. With our food and water on our backs, we began our trek. It had just snowed that morning, so the way was difficult. We walked through valleys, canyons, snow-covered hills, and forests. In all, we walked more than 60 miles in three days. There were times when we did not think we could go another foot. Exhaustion and frostbitten feet were taking their toll. However, we finally made it to our base camp successfully, and to our surprise, we were the first ones among the other patrols to make it back.

At the conclusion of our journey, we were able to stand on top of a ridge, look behind us and see the beautiful terrain that we had just scaled. The pain of what we had just endured seemed to subside. We could not believe we had actually walked through those valleys and snowcapped hills. There was a sense of accomplishment.

Life is very much like this. It is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life as a result. When you begin to realize some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.

Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible to continue? Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, "Wow, look at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley." Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today.

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.