I am just going to say… this Ruth bible study is so awesome! It is such a blessing. I just realized after I am re-writing my comment for the third time… the first I wrote last week didn’t submit… we’ll see if this one does. Satan at work on those…hmmm. BUT… the first week of study was so truly touching. I love the last sentence about walking and crying forward. This is where I am at this point in life and the tears I have shed have been tears of question, tears of “did I hear God wrong?”, “what are we doing?” We have bought a house an hour and a half away (foreign land) to get closer to family, it’s a 1922 house that is being renovated, we are selling our home in familiar land in a housing market that is just horrible right now. We have a roller coaster ride of emotions and we are truly following everything we have recieved as God’s path for us. It is a test of faith, I know. The life we will have at the end of this craziness will be His life for us. This bible study has shown me the way to follow God’s lead and remember to have trust and faith in Him. He is carrying us on this journey and even through the tears, stress, fears, challenges that we face each day with our “transition” that we must move forward. We are all in different seasons and reading each of the responses above allows me to feel that we are all in the same boat just different circumstances and whether we have tears of joy, fear, loneliness, we are crying together as we move forward. Blessings to each of you.

Christine, Thanks earlier for all the kind words. I am almost back on track to finish the study. Thanks again. I will not LET SATAN get the best of me.

Blessing,

Susan

Ok, I know that I already replied to this but didn’t see it showing up, so if this is the second comment that you see like this, forgive me!

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;indeed I have a beautiful inheritance. Psalm 16:6

Thank you for agreeing to take this journey into the book of Ruth with me. I know that it is no coincidence that God led us to this study. I am so thankful to Him for it. I love growing in God, but how much better is it to grow in Him with your best friend.

Love you!

I am so very happy that you agreed to begin this journey with me! I know that it was no coincidence that I was led to this study! I believe that God has a plan for our lives: The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. Psalm 16:6
We were meant to take this journey together! And I am so glad that we are!
Love you BFF!

There is so much in this Bible study. I’m so completely awestruck at how God shows me something to apply in my life each day of the study! Praise God!! I’ve never been in a Bible study like this one, and now that I have, WOW!! I have read the book of Ruth before, because Ruth was my grandmother’s name. However, I NEVER EVER got as much out of it as I have now! I just want to say thank you for sharing this Bible study, and I hope there are plenty more like these to come! Can’t wait until the next day…(it’s hard not to read ahead) :O)

this is exactly what i have been looking for,i am however a little behind in the studies but plan to burn a little lamp oil this evening catching up,ruths life sounds so interesting,i was admittedted into the hospitol on the 22nd and spent 3 days in icu on a ventilater praise the lord for bringing me through it and thanyou so much christine i wont disapoint you this is my second bible study the first one was through my church i found it so addicting i wanted more but there wasnt one available yet and then i foun bible cafe this is just awesome God Bless you and thankyou christine and everyone that put this together

At this point, I think mostly of Naomi. She followed her husband to a foreign land and now has lost him and her two sons to go back home. She must have felt lonely and probably would enjoy the company of her daughter-in-laws. However, her pride caused her to encourage them to go back. What a strong, determined character Ruth is to recognize Naomi’s position and insist on staying with her. Amazing that she used Naomi’s beleif to keep Naomi from insisting by saying “…may the Lord deal with me…” And those words would prove to come true. It rolls off the tongue of many to say, “I sware to God”. I pray I will be evermindful of the power of the tongue!

I loved the concept of “hesed”… When Kelly asked us to descibe it in the margin in your own words, I wrote, “loving someone else completely, showing them respect, and doing good things for them because it is what they need, not what you need.” Seems like in today’s world, it is easy to get wrapped up in what we need as individuals, and not concentrate on what others need. Sadly, this happens in even the closest relationships. Thank God that we have that covenant relationship with Him, that His love reaches to us even in our lowest places! I was also touched by the last lesson, on how our words can impact others. I especially liked the emphasis made on having humble speech, even when being assertive… definitey something I need to work on!

I really liked that quote, too… it is so much easier sometimes to just quit… but we can’t run from ourself =)

Thanks, Christine, I’m going to give that a try. I’m always fresher in the morning.