Breakfast For Your Soul

Monday, November 15, 2010

  Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?” And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi.  She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.” Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”  Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.” “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers.  May the L ord , the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

[Ruth 2:5-12]  

“CALLED OUT!”

Whew!  This biblical account really feeds my romantic soul!  I see two broken women who had lost everything, return to a city in the process of rebuilding.  They had to start over, and all they had was each other.  Naomi was an elderly lady and no doubt did what she could, but in those days there was not much she could have done.  It was expected that younger family members take care of their elders.  Ruth was a stranger from a despised nation, but she was hard-working and virtuous and probably young and beautiful.  No surprise that Boaz -the boss- would be attracted to her.  However, I wonder how the other “maids” felt about her.  The ones who had worked in the fields for Boaz for years.  The ones who probably wore their ‘best’ work gear and most attractive head wraps hoping to get his attention.  No mention is made of how Boaz looked, but we can glean from the text that he was God-fearing, generous, humble, caring, gracious and honorable.  A real gentleman.  I’m sure women all over town were in LOVE with Boaz.  All of a sudden, here comes this little thing from Moab, and Boaz is falling all over himself to protect and provide for her.  I know they had to be thinking, “What’s up with this!  It’s not fair.  If he were going to be interested in a ‘field-girl’… why could it not have been me! She’s not even under our covenant!”  Of course they had to be nice to her because they did not want to displease Boaz.  But people being people, I’m sure some were not exactly happy with this blooming relationship.  I’m reminded of this story because for a lot of us, this is happening- or will happen shortly.  We will be “called out”.  For some it will be on the job… promoted over people who have been there longer.  For others it will be in relationship with a person that  will have people shaking their heads and saying, “how in the world did she get HIM!”.  Still for others it may be a car, house of some other material item, that they should not have been able to afford, yet the Lord made a way.. or gave it to them. How to handle the other “maids”.  One way is to be kind and compassionate.. remember, to “be a peace at much as it lies within you”.  Have compassion, because we know the pain of seemingly being “overlooked”.  Be a good and wise steward of the blessing.  There may be things in their life, preventing them from receiving their hearts desire.  Could it be that you are in their life as an object lesson on what they should do?  Yesterday, my Bishop preached on another group of “called out” ones.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo.. also known as “The Three Hebrew Boys”.  The only reason they were, accused and thrown into the fiery furnace was because somebody was jealous of their positions in the kingdom. Jealousy is a terrible beast that can lead to murder.  When we sense that someone is overtaken in its grip, we must pray… for them and everyone in their path.  Part of our job description as “Christians” is to be faithful witnesses of our God.  Sharing what Christ has given to us so freely.  Praying that they realize that God is no “respecter of persons”.  He is not “playing favorites”.  Their day is coming if they remain faithful.  Timing is crucial.  Fruit out of season is nasty, and so is a “blessing”.  We all need to be built up within ourselves to handle what God is preparing for us.  Remember He knows us so much better than we will ever know ourselves.  Also, as Bishop Hughes said yesterday, the blessing may not come in the form that we think it should.  It may look different than what we expected.  We’ve all been “called out”.. question is.. how are  we responding to the call? 

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Jesus also told them other parables. He said,  “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’   “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

(Matthew 22:1-14)

  “The Table is Set”

[Ephesians 6:10-18]

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

 
And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
[Romans 4:21]

Good Morning Beloved,

In Romans 4:21 we are told of Abraham and Sarah.  They were promised a child, even in their old age.  Sarah had been unable to conceive.  She was called ‘barren’.  Another passage calls her womb ‘dead’.  Only God has the power to resurrect the dead.  Can you imagine the looks they received, and the conversations that were going on about them.  God changed their names to reflect the divine destiny He had for them.  Abram (“high, exalted father”), became Abraham (“father of a multitude”) and Sarai (“my Princess) became Sarah (“Princess”).  Hello?!  They had no children at all!  Their names seem to reflect their shift from a local power base to a global one. Multiplied millions today claim to be the ‘seed (or engrafted seed) of Abraham’.  Abraham is the common denominator of the three dominant faiths – Christian, Jew, Muslim…. the only person all three can agree on.  Abraham was called the “friend of God”.  He believed God and God really liked that.  His belief was credited to him as ‘righteousness’.  Abraham was persuaded, he steadfastly believed, that what God said would surely come to pass.  It did not come overnight, and it did not come without opposition, and a tinge of uncertainty.  After all, he did impregnate Sarah’s maid-servant, Hagar (at Sarah’s request).  It was her attempt to maybe “help God out”.  She believed that Abraham would have a son, just as God promised, but she told Abraham that maybe God meant for him to have the child by someone else.  She was wrong.  God blessed Ishmael, but Isaac was the child God had in mind all along.  The child that would come through her and her husband.  Out of Isaac would come, Jacob and Esau. Out of Jacob would come 12 sons, including Judah, the line Jesus, the Messiah was born into.  Abraham and Sarah, however, created drama that is still playing out today… Isaac and Ishmael are still feuding over who the ‘true son’ really is.  On top of that, Abraham re-married after Sarah died and had more sons.  The core of the entire middle east struggle is not oil or money, it is son-ship.  It is known and accepted that God gave the land to the son of Abraham… The problem is according to birth order it is Ishmael, but according to promise, it is Isaac.  Wait on the Lord.  How much suffering could have been avoided if they would have only waited.  Their story is a good object lesson for us.  What is going on in our lives that God is telling us to wait.  Be patient.  Not yet.  Hold on.  Soon.  In our society we hate waiting, but sometimes our best blessing is around the corner, and we settle for less because of impatience.  Thankfully, since our God is The Creator… He can take our mess and turn it into our greatest message.  That being said, now more than ever we need to heed God’s Word, listen attentively to the checks He places in our heart, and learn all we can relating to what we are about to embark upon.  I’m learning that ‘suddenly’ blessing only appear to happen suddenly.  I love Tyler Perry.  His success only seems ‘sudden’ to those who had never heard of him before.  He has been traveling with stage plays for years.  I know because I’ve seen them all.  Do not despise humble beginnings.  Everyone has to start somewhere.  As we are faithful to what we are given, the Bible declares that “in due time and in due season, we shall reap if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).  Being ‘fully persuaded’ in power of your God will result in greatness in the end.

…. ummmmp… that’s Good News right there!

U Blessed,

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

The idea of a farmer who is afraid to part with his seed and plant it in the ground is absurd. We as Christians should not be afraid to part with our seed, be it our money, time, effort, etc., for we know we will reap a harvest many times what we planted.

Cartoonist’s Comment:

In John 16:33, Jesus says: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Trouble may be mowing down everything around us, but in Jesus, we can stand and not be cut down.

*************

Regina,

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

 FAVOR

 

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

 

 

What a beautiful morning!  FAVOR!  Thanks for that Ma!  That is so true.  No matter what is happening, hold on to this truth.  This goes right along with “All things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose“.  All creation, the animals, the birds, the fish, the trees, the flowers…. everything is waiting for us to be in our ordained place. The position Adam had before the fall. The chickens crying out, “c’mon God how long must we suffer, because of the sins of sons and daughters of Adam!“.  Earth’s order was thrown into complete chaos when, it’s earthly king and Queen, Adam and Eve, were dethroned.  Jesus is called the Last Adam, and He has restored what was lost…. we haven’t fully come into the revelation of what that really means and what His Blood purchased.  One day we will, and that is the day that everything is waiting for.  It is coming… really, really soon.  Until then, stay close to the heart of God, protect your spirit, love without reservation, work your assignment, love, teach, and cultivate the children…. occupy… stop putting stuff off (I’m talking to me right there).  God will supply the need….

 

… and that is Good News right there!

 

U Blessed,

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

 

Cartoonist’s Comment:

Here’s to all of the people who work behind the scenes in the church, doing those jobs that may go unnoticed. Your work is just as important to keep the church moving forward.

Mike Waters

mike@joyfultoons.com

www.joyfultoons.com

www.cafepress/joyfultoonsshop.com 

 

 

Monday, May 12, 2008

Good Morning Beloved,

I know it’s Monday…. but I gotta break out praisin’ Morris!  Help us on this rainy day!  LOL!… I hope your weekend was as blessed as mine.  I have been favored with the most beautiful, loving and gracious people in my life.  I am so grateful.  This morning I had an unusual thought.  “Big Brother is watching”.  That is so true.  I wonder what changes we would make in our lives if we realized that more often.  Remember Romans 8:29, “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.”  Psalm 46:1 tells us that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  The bible also tells us to “Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”; so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)  Sounds to me like our God is near.  Closer than our next breath… now that’s close.  Question… what is He seeing?  Also, where are we taking Him?  Ouch!…. well, be encouraged and remember “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17)… The more of God’s Word we “hear”, the stronger we will become.  “Old things” will start to “pass away” and all things will “become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  We are being transformed into a glorious creation… a crown jewel amongst the King’s treasures …. priceless.

For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (“Daddy”). The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

God has a purpose and a plan for each of us, and in Christ, He has already given all that we need to fulfill that plan.