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“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” – Psalm 52:8

“Though the seasons change, your love remains.”  As the worship band repeated this refrain, God used these words to remind me how He had loved us from one season to the next. Not just in the good times, but through some really difficult seasons.  Through the fall… when our hopes and dreams fell like leaves from the trees and were blown away by the wind. His love remained. Through the winter…when prayers seemed to go unanswered, and the world felt cold and desolate. His love remained. In the spring…when the snow melted and beauty sprang from the ground.  His love remained. In the summer…when change was inevitable, and we were filled with apprehension. His love remained.

Slowly, these truths are penetrating my heart…the dreams that died and were blown away by the wind, were never God’s dreams for us. The time of seemingly unanswered prayers taught us to patiently rest in Him. Although we couldn’t see what God was doing, He was working behind the scenes. The blessings that bloomed in the spring, were planted by Him even before the cold winter began.  The plans He has for us, although sometimes scary and difficult, are always good. Good plans, wrapped in His love. His love remains.

When you find yourself in a difficult season, trust His love. When you can’t see what He is doing, trust that He is at work. For your good, and His glory. In every season, know that He loves you…He sees you…and, He has a plan for you. His love remains.

“Lord, help us to trust in your unfailing love in all good times and hard times. You are always at work behind the scenes. You promise never to leave us or forsake us.”

For His Glory,

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”   (Titus 2:14, KJV)

Naomi’s husband had died leaving her with two sons. The sons married but in time they died. Leaving the two wives, Ruth and Orpah behind. Their land had been devastated by a famine in Moab. Naomi had nothing left. Hearing that there was bread in Israel, she decided to go back home – to Bethlehem.

In that culture and time, women had no voice or value unless they were married. Naomi encouraged Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab and remarry. Orpah agreed but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi.

The story then follows the lives of two widows trying to rebuild their lives after a devastating season of brokenness. Naomi even tells her friends when she returns home to call her Mara because she felt so bitter about what life had taken from her.

Even though she was a widow herself, Ruth decides to go out and look for ways to bring in food for her and Naomi. In fact, it’s her kindness towards her mother-in-law that catches the eye of Boaz. He encourages her to glean only in his fields and advises his men to not bother her.

Ruth following Naomi’s guidance goes to the threshing floor and lays at Boaz’s feet. Some might think this was a provocative gesture. But she was saying to Boaz, “I respect you, I trust you, and I put my fate in your hands.”

According to the laws found in the Pentateuch, a kinsman-redeemer is a male relative who had the responsibility to act for a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need of vindication.

Boaz was willing to marry her and redeem her life but there was another male relative that was closer. He had to talk with that man first. He asked her to wait. The other male relative doesn’t want to redeem her, so Ruth and Boaz marry.  In time they have a child, Obed – making them the great-grandparents to King David. Boaz purchases back the land Naomi had to sell – redeeming her life as well.

Has life taken things from you that you want back but you don’t have a close relative to step in and help?

Dear friend we have a kinsman redeemer who can

• rescue us (Gen. 48:16, Exodus 6:6)
• avenge the wrongs done to us (Numbers 35:9-34)
• redeem what’s been taken from us (Lev. 25:47-55 & 27: 9-25)

Jesus can redeem it all. Filling our lives with hope in such a way that we find passion for living again.

We just need to lay it at his feet, like Ruth did.

“Father, we thank You for being our kinsman-redeemer. You know the wounds that break our hearts today. Help us to trust You and put our fate in Your hands.”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes    (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”   (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

 “What are you doing? Do you see what’s happening?”

Just some of the distressed pleas poured out of my heart to the Father, as I try to desperately understand His continued silence in one area of my life. I can see His hand moving in so many things I pray about, but this one burden remains. Taunting doubts try to creep in “He’s ignoring you.”

I recently had to drive my parents somewhere. We were on a two-lane highway and an oncoming truck veered over across the double lines. I saw the vehicle and started getting over onto the shoulder of the road to avoid a head on collision. My dad was in the passenger’s seat. He saw the truck and knew exactly what I was doing. But my mom was in the back seat. Her perspective was different. She couldn’t understand why I was driving off the road. A plethora of emotions ran through us all.

My dad was quick to defend me. Bringing attention to the fact that I was paying attention and responded as quickly as I did to avoid what could have been a fatal accident.

I’ve been driving for over thirty-five years and consider myself a good driver. However, once I had explained my actions to my mom it made me stop and ponder.

“Is that what I’m doing to the Holy Spirit? Am I being a back seat driver?”

I could see what was coming toward us as the driver. But in the back seat she couldn’t. I needed her to trust that I was watching out for her and to relax for the rest of the drive.

When we’re going through a painful season in life – our perspective – plays a huge role. Our feelings (our understanding) can’t be the driver.

If we’re allowing the Holy Spirit to have total control and “drive” the situation – that means we should trust that He sees everything. He sees the dangers all around us. He has a reason why He sometimes guides us to move this way or that. He puts the brakes on a situation when we’re wanting to mash the gas. He yields when our hearts cry out “please answer this prayer now.”

When my heart is heavy with unanswered prayers, I need to take that hurt and lay it at His feet daily – trusting that He sees what I do not. Otherwise, anxiety will overwhelm me into a frantic “back seat driver.”

God continually shows me a beautiful view from the backseat. I need only to sit back and enjoy it.

“Father teach us to trust that You see everything happening in our lives. Our perspective is different from Yours. You are not asleep at the wheel.”

 For His Glory,

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

Were any of you cheerleaders? I was. Just for one year—during my sophomore year in high school. I must say, it was really fun. Shouting rhyming cheers to choreographed moves during crisp, cool Friday night football games…starting chants courtside for the bleachers packed with basketball fans…pounding the mat to support the wrestlers as they grappled for victory. We kept an eye on the game, always yelling to encourage our team. And when there was a score, we’d go crazy—leaping into a herkie, spread eagle, or tuck jump—while we got the crowd to join together in a victory cheer.

That was a long time ago, and I don’t think about it much. But it all came back to me as I studied the first few chapters of Ephesians. You may be thinking, “Cheerleaders in the First Century Church?” Let me explain.

Since God created the angels, they have been around His thrown giving Him glory—glorifying God is one of their main purposes. They circle the Lord’s throne and proclaim His holiness (Isaiah 6:2-3). Angels know God’s sovereignty and power. They are in awe of His creation—they’ve seen it firsthand.

But angels are not omniscient or omnipresent—they only know what has happened and what is happening as they observe it. And although throughout history, as written in the Old Testament, the Lord prophesied about a coming Savior, His death, and His victory, you can just imagine the level of drama that unfolded in front of the angels on Calvary (I picture them howling in despair). But then, three days later, you can almost hear the roar of joy at the Resurrection. They no doubt shouted from every corner of heaven, “Victory! Victory!”

As Paul writes to the Ephesians and other First Century churches, he reveals to these new believers the mysteries of God. In other words, Truths that the OT prophets wrote about but couldn’t comprehend—not until Christ came, died, and ascended, sending the Holy Spirit for understanding (Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 15:51; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 3:16). And the Apostles made these Truths known to the early Christians (and to us). The cool thing is that the angels also came to an understanding of these mysteries right alongside the Church! (Can’t you just see them high-fiving and cheering with each profound Truth?)

And the most Amazing Truth of all, the Gospel of Grace—salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works or the law—was also unveiled to the angels in real time. No doubt, this was like your team winning the world (no, UNIVERSE) championship! The cheers, the jumps, the shouts and hugs! But there’s more (1 Peter 1:12)! The Bible also says that angels rejoice over each sinner who repents and surrenders to Jesus (Luke 15:7-10).

Think about that. When saved, each and every person has myriads of myriads of angels going ballistic—doing angel herkies, shouting, blowing trumpets, probably doing some serious gymnastic moves. An explosion of celebration because it’s the most important event of a person’s existence. So, if you haven’t yet experienced the life-altering transformation of salvation, why not make today the day…your cheer squad is watching intently, waiting to shout over you with unabashed joy.

“Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace, for reconciling us to Yourself through Christ—it is the Ultimate Victory.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life