Let’s pretend that a poll is taken in the city or neighborhood in which you live.  The question asked each person who lives near you is, “What do you know of (place your name here)?”  What would the consensus be? 

She’s so…

• Sweet!
• Crabby!
• Unpredictable.
• Thoughtful.
• like Christ.
• negative!!!
• godly.

Whether we realize it or not, people really do know what we’re like, and they could probably sum it up in one word.  In the sweet story of Ruth, we remember that Ruth, her mother-in-law, and sister-in-law had all lost their husbands.  Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law drives her to return to Bethlehem to be near Naomi,  and to be enabled to worship Naomi’s God. 

As Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz, he addresses her and tells her what people knew of her.  In Ruth 3:11 Boaz says, “all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”  How did they know that?  Ruth hadn’t been in Bethlehem for very long.  Ruth 2 says,

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

1. They saw how she treated others.  Ruth was the “new kid on the job” when she came to glean in the field.  She put others before herself and acted in humility.  Do you treat others with respect and preference?  Do you humble yourself to be taught by others who have more experience than you?
2. They saw that we was a hard worker. She worked from morning until evening, “tarrying little in the house.”  She didn’t take long breaks.  She knew there was work to do, and she stayed after it in order to make the most of her day.  Are you thankful for the work you have to do, or do you complain about it?  I’m not just referring to your job outside of the home, but what about housework, laundry and meals?  Are your responsibilities taken care of with joy – or griping? If you do work outside the home, do you linger too long on break?  Do you come in late?  Do you take privileges you shouldn’t? 
3. They saw how she treated Naomi. There was love, tenderness, kindness, thoughtfulness, and humility. Hmmm, a good lesson for all of us who have a mother-in-law. We married her son. She gave us a precious gift! Are we thoughtful of her? When was the last time you suggested that your husband take his mom out for breakfast or lunch? She’d love to have him all to herself for a little while.Even if she lives out of town, encourage him to call and just talk with her. Do you remember her birthday, because your husband probably wouldn’t? If she’s up in years, do you care for her needs as much as possible? Perhaps just treating her the way you would want your daughter-in-law to treat you will help you respond to her with a special kind of love.

There are so many wonderful lessons in the book of Ruth, but stopping to think about our own reputation could change the way we spend today.  Take a moment and consider the way you treat others, your work ethic, and the way you treat your mother-in-law.  What improvements do you need to ask the Lord to help you make today?  May all in the city know that we are virtuous women.

Written with love,

This Sunday my church, Boones Creek Bible Church, will be celebrating its 55th anniversary.  To God be the glory, great things He hath done!  While I was in Nova Scotia last weekend, I learned in a much greater way how very blessed I am to have my church.  I’ve always loved it and been thankful for it, but I learned that not everyone has a church like mine.

My church has two full-time pastors on its staff.  We own our own building and are completely out of debt.  Our Sunday services begin with Sunday school for ages 2 on up, with a well-staffed nursery for the younger ones.  Following Sunday school, we meet for worship, where a pianist, organist, orchestra and choir will accompany us as we sing, and will also participate in special music.  My pastor/husband will preach in the main auditorium after the little ones are dismissed to children’s church where workers will teach them the Word of God on their level of understanding.  After a powerful message from the Word, we will be dismissed for the morning and look forward to returning that night where we’ll hear another message from the Word. Tuesday nights offer the opportunity to CARE for others by means of a visit, phone call or card.  Wednesday night we come together for a time of testimonies, songs, and encouragement from the Bible.  The children will work on their lessons in Frontline Clubs and be taught  “how to love and live the Bible.”  Some of our men will gather on Thursday night to play basketball in our gymnasium.  This is for fellowship, exercises and evangelism.  Once a month, the ladies meet for Bible study and fellowship.  Often the Sunday school classes meet during the week for fun and fellowship.  If a person took advantage of every service opportunity, in a month’s time they could have met at the church at least 20 times to hear the Word and grow!

Many of the ladies that attended the ladies’ retreat in Nova Scotia came from very small churches.  There are not enough people to support a pastor full-time.  Sometimes that means a church will go without a pastor for long periods of time, while they’re praying for a man that is willing to come.  I heard of one church that closed its doors during the summer months because there would only be 2 or 3 gathering during the vacation season – not enough people to merit them meeting.  These ladies were so hungry for fellowship and the teaching of God’s Word.  They are very aware what a treasure these things are and they came with hungry hearts to hear and receive everything they could during those 24 hours together.

Do we really love our church like that, as well as the opportunities we have to meet together?  How easy it is to make excuses and stay home, or to let things that aren’t of equal significance to hinder us from meeting in God’s house when we need to be there!  Often, good pastors get discouraged because their own people, people who are God’s children, do not avail themselves to the rich blessing of their own home church.

Last Sunday night after arriving home from Nova Scotia late that afternoon, I walked in Boones Creek Bible Church with a much deeper appreciation for that which God has blessed us.  As I stand in our Anniversary service this Sunday and we sing, “To God Be the Glory,” I will be thinking of those little churches in Canada that long just to have a pastor and fellowship around the Word.  As I thank God for my church, I will be praying for theirs.

What do you love about your church?  Are you availing yourself to its ministries and faithfully attending?  If not, ask God to help you see what a gift it is, and get back into it this weekend!

With love,