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Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.Your people will be my people and your God my God (Ruth 1:16). There's an old song whose lyrics go: Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble. And if I stay, it will be double. For those familiar with this earworm and now have it stuck in your head, you're welcome. But for those unfamiliar ...
Keep ReadingBut Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me,be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." When Naomi realizedthat Ruth was determined to go with he...
Keep ReadingNaomi: "Return home, my daughters[-in-law]. Why would you come with me?"Ruth: "Don't urge me to leave youwhere you go I will go" (Ruth 1:11,16). Mother-in-law. Cue the eye roll, guffaws, and knowing nod of the head. Sure, mothers-in-law can make family dynamics messy when they offer "meaningful" advice on your parenting skills or pot roast, or they resent you "taking away...
Keep ReadingWhen Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her (Ruth 1: 18). Yesterday we looked at Naomi and the bitterness that engulfed her following multiple losses and tragedies. While the Book of Ruth is definitely about Ruth, it is also the story of how God works in Naomi's life to heal her deep bitterness. And the role that choosing to "be fam...
Keep ReadingRuth 1 and 4 When it comes to our families, at times the beauty might blind us to the mess; at other times, the mess keeps us from appreciating and receiving the beauty. As we continue looking at Your Beautiful, Messy Family, we come this week into another of the Bible's many "family dramas," the Book of Ruth. And "messy" is far from a strong enough word for what happens...
Keep ReadingThen he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3: 34-35). My sister is an amazing teacher. She's dedicated to her students' education, but it's a challenging job, and often it gets a little crazy. I recently sent her a little plaque she put on her desk ...
Keep ReadingThen Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is ...
Keep ReadingWhen the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him, "They have no more wine" ...His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:3,5). "Here, let me do that for you." "Let me talk to your teacher for you." "I can pay that bill for you." "Text me when you get there." Aww, the helicopter parent. It's natural to help, even hover over our babies and toddlers...
Keep ReadingMark 3:20-34 (please take a few moments to read this passage now) Our second mother-and-son passage for this week is in Mark 3. Jesus' mother and brothers have become concerned that Jesus has gone more than a bit overboard. Mark is straightforward: His family says, "He is out of his mind." It's a tense scene: Jesus is being mobbed by eager listeners, and is at the same ...
Keep ReadingJohn 2:1-12 (please take a few moments to read this passage now) This week, as we continue looking at Your Messy, Beautiful Family, we'll be listening to two stories of Jesus with his mother (and Happy Mother's Day ahead to all our moms, grandmoms, spiritual mothers and all Important Women!). With two passages for this week, we'll do a Part One today on John 2 and a Par...
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