Hidden Rules

Have you noticed that any place where you spend a lot of time - work, marriage, church - there are hidden rules that take a while to learn?  With the beginning of school for many, I've been thinking about Emerald Park first opening.  I miss the staff, students, parents, culture. 

When we were preparing for the opening of the school, we had a workshop with part of the focus on hidden rules that we'd be carrying from previous schools.  Our wise principal and Connie, the workshop leader, had us rate characteristics that were important to each of us.  WE purposely set up the culture that we wanted.  It was a great experience that taught me a lot.

But, what about Ruth?  Did this brave, compassionate, hard working lady know this?  She was thrown into a new culture that she had only experienced a small piece of during her short marriage.  Naomi walked this journey with her, giving her insight as to their cultures' rules.  She told her about the expectations while harvesting barley.  Thankfully, she was given information as to what was expected.

When we experience new circumstances to our journey, whether it be a new job, a new home, a new school, a marriage, there are hidden rules that each of us need to learn.  We may have "a Naomi" in this new step or we may have to learn them through our observations, but we need to be aware of the expectations and adjust. 

One part to make the transition run smoothly is to remember that we also have hidden rules that are brought to the table.  So, what did Ruth bring to the table?  I'll have to think about that further.

Want vs Best

Tears in my eyes because I physically couldn't make it to church.  A young wife crying because her husband walked out.  A childless couple going through another disappointing month.  Friendships getting strained due to different stages in life.  And yet, Lord, all have been praying to You.  Why?  Are You listening?  Are You answering?  What are You doing in these situations?

Father, I don't question having cancer, metastasizing into both lungs, or reactions to drugs.  But, I really wanted to go to church today.  We talked before I went to sleep.  Every time I woke up in the night, we talked about me going to church today.  We talked about stopping satan from touching my body so that I couldn't go.  We talked...

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 42:8 NLT

When I stop, think about why my eyes are tearing, and realize that it is just one day, it is easy to go to the Lord again.  He reminds me in His Word that He is listening and loves me.  My disappointment is very little when looking at what others are going through today.  I wanted...He said, "No".  He is the King of my life and so I turn to Him, not understanding the "why" but trusting His kingship and wisdom.

The Lord says,

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 32:8

Naomi and Ruth

What a blessing Ruth was!  When Naomi decided to return to her native country, her daughters-in-law started out with her.  Then this wise woman explained to them that they needed to go back to Moab with their families.  That way they would have the possibility of marriage.  Orpah listened and did what Naomi asked.  Ruth continued with Naomi and stated:

“Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.

Wherever you go, I will go;

wherever you live, I will live.

Your people will be my people,

and your God will be my God.

Wherever you die, I will die,

and there I will be buried.

May the Lord punish me severely

if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

Ruth 1:16 - 17

What devotion Ruth had to her deceased husband's mother.  She had become more than a mother-in-law; Naomi was her friend and Ruth was a loyal friend.  She gave up her family, the possibility of marrying again, her god, and even the possibility of becoming a mother.  Wow!  She was willing to give up her past for her aging mother-in-law.  This loving, brave lady must have known that she would have to take care of Naomi in the years to come.

I can relate to this part of the lives of these two courageous ladies.  In my life at the present, I am Naomi and my loving brother, sister-in-law, niece, and family are represented by Ruth.  We have no idea what is ahead in our new journey but we do know that I will not be this healthy forever.  (Every time I have seen my new oncologist I ask her about my life expectancy.  No one knows - except our loving Lord - but as more information comes in from my tests, I still ask.)  

Knowing that my living with them was going to require more responsibilities for each of them, they still asked me to move in here.  They prayed and knew that this was their new journey as well.  What a blessing they are!  God's gift to me.  Knowing that Naomi was growing older and would require more assistance with each year, Ruth was willing to step up and accept this new journey into a strange country.  

  Wherever you go...weaker, in pain, nauseous,

We will go...

Wherever you live...memory issues, childlike,

We will live...

Each of us is asked by God to give, to change situations, to grow.  What Ruth already had learned was that God, the living, loving Lord, would be with them.  Let's live in that reality together.  

Naomi or Mara?

Is the glass half empty?  Can God be trusted to protect you?  Is there light at the end of the tunnel?  Does God love us even when painful circumstances come into our lives?

Naomi left Israel due to a famine.  While living in a foreign land her two sons married.  Her husband died.  Then her two sons died.  The famine ended and she returned to Israel.  One daughter-in-law, Ruth, left her country to travel with Naomi.  What could this lady remember or have learned?  What can we learn from her?  Remember, we see the complete story while she only saw what was happening at the time. 

When her friends heard that she had returned, they greeted their friend by calling her by name, "Naomi".  She told them to call her "Mara for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.  I went away full but the Lord has brought me home empty."  (Ruth 1:20 - 21)  I can see her anger or bitterness.  I can see the negative circumstances.  I can see her pain.  But, I can also see that she is still aware that God is present in her life.  This mother-in-law goes on to help Ruth get food and eventually a husband.  She gets angry, is aware of the true and living God, and continues to be a responsible, loving mother to her daughter-in-law.

Because of the written word, the Bible, we have promises and a better understanding of God's love.  From this passage we can see that when we get angry, bitter, or frustrated with God, He is still with us.  He will still love us and bless us.  When we complain, He still wraps His loving arms around us to comfort and strengthen us.  Wow!  He loves us unconditionally.  He loves me unconditionally. 

I wanted to go to church today.  I wanted to feel stronger.  I wanted...but instead, the Lord stayed with me, surrounded me, and loved me.  What could be better?  Nothing!  My glass is half full!

In His Hands

God is our refuge and strength,

Always ready to help in times of need.

Psalm 46:1

Back to reality: medical issues. It is often frustrating to think you can do something and then stand up and know that there is no energy for that task. This can happen even when we don't have cancer. Do you ever pray, "Lord, I want to be able to ..."? And then it doesn't happen. Why? I don't know but I do know that at that point I need to rethink the day and go a different direction.

I'm learning that His help is sometimes a change in my attitude or expectations.  If I listen to my body, do what I need (drink water, take meds, etc), and look to Him, I can "roll with the punches".  We've often talked about His plan vs our plan, but not usually when referring to one day.  For me, this is the day to rethink what it is going to include.  I've never found grumbling or complaining to help me with energy so I'll look to Him. 

Standing Straight thru Trials

While driving back from my week in Oregon, there were slopes with trees that were standing straight. Even tho' the ground was sloping, they grew straight up to the sky. It made me realize the lessons or examples in nature that God put there for us.

When the ground is sloping, tipping, or feels uneven, we still need to look up toward our loving Lord for our strength. When we look to Him for our water and light, we can grow straight no matter what the ground - circumstance - is doing.

See how much He loves us? He "talks" while we are riding in car, sitting on the deck looking at the scenery, or walking down the road. It is personal! He knows us, loves us, and is with us through everything. That's peace.

He is Faithful

My health may fail,

and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

He is mine forever.

Have you ever had circumstances happen to you that didn't seem "fair"?  How did God fit into what was happening to you?  Is God in one box and your life's circumstances in another?  Or is your life separated into two planes:  spiritual - physical?

Remember Job?  God allowed satan to test him but did not cause it.  HE allowed it and then was right there watching and later offering hope and strength and the outcome.  For some reason, my mind does not go to "why is this happening to me" but rather, "can God be seen in this situation".  When I look for Him, He is always there.  The loving part is that He walks with me, comforts me, guides me, brings people into my life to walk with me, and gives me strength.  He is always faithful...I love Him so very much!

But as for me,

how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about

the wonderful things you do.

Ps 73:26 - 28  NLT