Miss Molly the Manatee

Miss Molly the Manatee

I finally did something that I thought that I would never do, publish a children's book. I used Kindle Direct to create a children's eBook. 

The Book is "Molly the Manatee" it is a fun book for children to learn about a manatees. The story can even be sung to the tune of, "Miss Lucy had a Baby." 

I will find out in 72 hours when it should be available on Kindle. I was trying to offer it for free for teachers. However, the publishing process made me create a price. I am hoping to change the price to free as I learn the process. 

If you ever get to Florida,look Miss Molly up and she will love to swim with you! 

God's Grace

I was reading in 2 Corinthians 8 :1 - 7 about how we can have financial security when we build our trust in God and let him be our banker and not ourselves or rely on Him instead of our paycheck. Then I was thinking how in Philippians 4:19  that we know that Christ will supply all our needs because He has everything.

When I was reading  my Bible, I noticed  I've put out there beside,  Phil.4:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul writes and, he said "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I'd rather glory and my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me."

Wow! How many times have I heard people quote,"My grace is sufficient for thee: my strength is made perfect in weakness."  Paul continues and said that he will glory in his infirmities that the power of Christ my rest up on him.

How many times do we worry about our infirmities / problems?

So, I know that in my infirmities/ money problems... if I allow the Lord and His grace to supply my need then I can praise Him in all of his glory for what he has done for me.

That sounds like a much better plan than worrying and stressing over something that only He has the power to meet my needs...

You won't find Help on Facebook

I posted a doodle on Facebook. It is posted on this blog. I waited and waited, just to see how long it would take before someone responds.

It was over an hour. I wonder how many people go through their lives, reaching out for help, but, only to have friends and love ones stroll on by.

I hope that I never stroll by a hurting friend......tgl

Quick scarf and text messages

Today, was a crazy wet day. While I worked around my house, picking up stuff and putting things away, I found myself texting a friend and waiting for her reply.

That was when I looked around and saw some yarn and a pattern I picked up from wally world.  It was a one ball quick scarf. So, as I was waiting to reply. I started the scarf. It was quick and all I needed was yarn and my hands, no hooks or needles

The pattern called for unrolling the yarn and using the two ends together. Than using your hands form a slip knot and begin chaining. You continue to chain the yarn till about 6 inches are left. Than stop and weave in your ends.

This was so fast and easy. It would make great Christmas gifts that even a child could create.

Claiming of a Redeemer

In Ruth 3:1-6 we see Naomi play a matchmaker. I am sure that Ruth was not aware of the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer. This law was a way to keep the family line and the land in the family. This is  God's way of providing for the widow.

Naomi promises Ruth that she will take care of her. This meaning,"I am going to get you married." Naomi is going to play match maker. I am sure that Naomi has seen the evidence that Boaz likes Ruth. He has gone out of his way to provide extra barley for her and Naomi. Boaz has given Ruth protection as she works with his workers. This is not normal behavior for the land owner to give to the poor under the law of gleaning. 
 
Naomi tells Ruth to wash up, put on some perfume, dress nice and go find Boaz. Ok, my words are a little less more to the point than how Naomi tells Ruth. Naomi knows that the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer is for the widow to enforce. You see the widow was to go to the nearest kinsman and seek to be claimed by him. The kinsman can marry her as the law allows are refuse her. The widow if refused can go before the elders and take the kinsman's shoe off and spit in his face. This is showing the people that he will not honor her late husband. So, Ruth must go to Boaz to seek his redeeming of the nearest kinsman, just as we must go and seek Jesus as our redeemer.

The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer is a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us, over 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ redeemed us of our sins by shedding His sinless and perfect blood on Calvary. He made a way for our sins to be forgiven. We are like Ruth, we must go and claim our Redeemer.

Ruth was told to do four things:

• Wash
• Anoint
• Put on raiment
• Get down to the floor

God to tells us the same for things when it comes to our Kinsman Redeemer Jesus Christ:

• WASH: "Wash me from my iniquity" Ps. 26:6, we need to go to Jesus Christ and ask for our sins to be forgiven, so that we are washed from our sins. We have our sins forgiven by simply," believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31
• ANOINT: "But the anointing which ye have received of Him.." I John 2:27, after we are saved, God will give us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit is given to us so we can grow in Christ and follow Him.
• PUT ON RAIMENT: "Put on the whole armour of God..your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith...and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. 6:11-17. God gives us an armour to protect us as we live in this world.
• GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR: "Praying always" Eph. 6:18, we need to stay bowed down before God, praying always. Praying for forgiveness of sin, praise to God for what He has done for us, and is doing for us. Praying for each other. Prayer is how God meets our needs, we ask and seek of Him, He answers and provides.

Ruth in the verses obeys Naomi never questing her and asking why, Ruth just obeys. Are we obeying God in the same way. Do we obey Him with out questioning or asking why?

Jesus wants us to be like Ruth in these verses obedient to His word. If you haven't went to Jesus Christ and seek the redemption that He wants to give you. I pray that you will do it today. Just as Ruth will go to Boaz and seek the Kinsman Redeemer, you must call on Jesus Christ to redeem you.

They Remembered God Their Redeemer

In Ruth 2:18-23, we see Ruth returning from her first day of gleaning. Her arms are full of barley and Naomi waiting to hear how Ruth's day went.  Ruth gives Naomi her left overs from lunch as she tells her about the field she gleaned in. Naomi is excited to learn that it belongs to Boaz, a near kinsman. 

In the Jewish laws we learn about a kinsman redeemer. This law is found in Leviticus 25 and tells us of God's way of protecting the Jewish people and their land. It was a way to keep land in the family and even pay the debts owed by a family member. Here in the Book of Ruth, Naomi tells Ruth to obey and listen to what Boaz tells her, and stay close to Boaz workers. This would keep Ruth close to Boaz and his protection.

Naomi came home to Bethlehem and told the people to call her Mara. She felt bitter that the Lord had taken her family from her. That Lord was not with her. Here in these verses Naomi realizes that God is blessing her and is watching out for her. The Lord is meeting her needs and using a close kinsman.

Jesus is called our Redeemer, he paid our sin debt on Calvary.  Jesus paid the debt that we could not pay.  He loved us so much He came to earth to die on a cross shedding His blood that knew no sin, so we could have our sins forgiven.

Naomi and Ruth are in the care of God. He loves them and has not forsaken them in their time of need. God will provide the redemption they need just has He provided for our redemption through Jesus Christ.

"And they remembered that God was there rock,

and the high God their redeemer."

Psalm 75:35

Being Content

In Ruth 2:14-18, we find Ruth and Boaz talking in the field. We find a smitten Boaz. I believe that Boaz sees the beauty of Ruth's heart here. He knows that she is a precious jewel of the Lords. Boaz goes out of his way to make Ruth's work easy and peaceful.

In verse 14, Boaz tells Ruth to come and eat. This is not normal for a Hebrew man to talk to a woman, much less a stranger to the land. In the New Testament the woman at the well ask Jesus in John, Chapter 4, how should he ask her for drink for she was a woman of Samaria. These two stories paint a wonderful picture of love and acceptance. Boaz wants to meet Ruth's physical needs, Jesus wanted to meet the woman's spiritual needs.  Boaz will later paint the picture of Jesus as our Redeemer as he comes to redeem Ruth in the later chapters of Ruth.

Boaz offers Ruth bread and vinegar for lunch. He reaches and gives Ruth the food to eat, showing his affection for her. The Bible tells us she ate till she was sufficed and left. In verse 18 we read where she saved her left overs and gave them to Naomi. Ruth ate till she was sufficed. This statement stands out to me for many reasons. The first of course is she was not a glutton, the second she was content. Ruth had no idea where her food was coming from day to day. She had to glean for their barley. Ruth had to wonder would she glean enough for them to have plenty? Ruth could have ate more to be sure that she was full and not have to worry about supper.No,not Ruth she was content. I believe that Ruth was so trusting in the Lord that she was content and knew that He would take care of her and Naomi's needs.

"Be content with such as ye have: for He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) Ruth lived this verse, she was completely trusting in God. God was with Ruth, meeting her needs through Boaz.  In verses 15-17, Boaz instructs his workers to let her glean in the area that they are gleaning in, and let some "handfuls of purpose" fall for her. Boaz wanted to make sure that Ruth had plenty to take home to meet her needs.

At the end of the day the Lord blessed her with an ephah of barley, which is about 4 to 7 gallons. God was doing exceeding abundantly above all that Ruth asked of Him. (Eph. 3:20). Are you sufficed in the Lord, are you content with the things that the Lord has blessed you with? Trust in the Lord to meet your needs. He will be there for you, He promises never to leave us or forsake us.