Search Results for: advent

Finding the Word in Christmas: 3 Simple Ideas for Incorporating Scripture into Holiday Decorating

December 6, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 9 Comments

I’m a word-lover. All my life I’ve been captivated by words. One of my favorite verses in Scripture is John 1:1,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And then in John 1:14,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …

The Creator of all things using words is THE Word … and He, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. The Message says it this way, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”

And, that, my friends, is Christmas! God Incarnate became Word-Made-Flesh and entered the world. And He used words, as He had from the beginning, to speak truth and hope and promise into the darkness of this world.

It’s probably no surprise then, that words form a large part of my Christmas decorating plan. Words like hope and joy are repeated in many places throughout my home. In some places there are entire verses on display and in others, a simple word that points to the Word.

Here are three simple ways to add the Word to your Christmas decorating:

1. Pick a key word and repeat it. For us, that word would be hope. I have is spread throughout my house in all sorts of ways. There’s even a tree in my kitchen filled with ornaments that say, “Hope.” Each time I see that word, I am reminded that He is our hope!

2. Use an Advent calendar with Scripture. Dayspring has two beautiful tabletop advent devotionals this year. I have both of them on display in my home. As I change the calendar each day, I’m reminded of the beauty of God’s Word.

3. Choose a theme verse for your holiday season and prominently display it. This year has been filled with some major disappointments and very difficult family situations. And we’ve entered the holiday season with a little trepidation about how it will all play out. I chose a verse to display on the chalkboard in our family room that would remind us of God’s sovereignty in all things.

I’m sure there are countless other ways you have added Scripture and words to keep your holiday decor focused on Christ. We’d love for you to share some of your ideas with us in the comments!

{I’ve partnered with Dayspring this holiday season on my personal blog … and I have a great 50% code for this doormat. This is a great way to remind yourself and all who enter or leave your home of the good news and great joy of this season! The code is good through Saturday, December 8.}

Here I Raise My Ebenezer: Unless the Lord Builds the House

May 22, 2012 by Patti Brown 15 Comments

Blueberries — photo by Nadia Prigoda-Lee

It was the summer of 2000. My husband was traveling overseas and I was home alone with our three year old. Day and night it was just the two of us in our little suburban house, and I was getting stir crazy.

We needed a change of scene. Fresh air, an adventure. A quick internet search turned up a list of pick-your-own berry farms in the Austin area.

It was a long early morning drive far east of the city, but when we arrived at the blueberry farm I felt like I had come home. The towering pine trees reminded me of New England, of my roots. I picked and my boy ate a lot of blueberries that morning. It was a happy day.

But more than that, a yearning sprung up in me. I think it was the pines. I remember thinking “If we ever move out to the country, this is where I want to look. Out in these pines.”

The Adventure Begins

And in May 2003 we did just that. We had been talking for years about starting our own little homestead. One day my husband looked at me and said, “We could talk forever. Let’s just do it now.” Four weeks later our house was empty and on the market.

We looked all over that county with the beautiful pine trees. We finally found a lovely property perfect in every way. Except there was no house. But we wanted to live debt free, and had grand ideas of how we would find a way to shelter ourselves on that land without any debt. It was a little scary, but it felt right.

We made a bid and entered into a contract.

My parents were spending the summer away, so we arranged to move into their home and take care of it, while we quickly figured how we could live on our new property.

It wasn’t until all the papers were signed that it hit me. The property we were hoping to buy was on the very same road as the blueberry farm. The very same road.

But Where Will We Live?

Time passed, the land became ours. Still no house. My husband continued to travel every week… now I was alone with two young children. Working on the property was complicated by the fact that it was over an hour’s drive from my parents’ house.

More time passed. We threw around ideas. We considered building a cob house. A dugout. Buying a yurt. Converting a metal building. Constructing a barn with tiny living quarters. Buying an old house and moving it to the property. Nothing felt right.

My parents returned.

Time stopped passing and started dragging. I would pray “What are we doing wrong, Lord? Why isn’t anything happening?” I was discouraged. I couldn’t see a solution. But this verse kept coming to mind:

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1

I remember one time during prayer having an overwhelming sense that we weren’t ready. That there were things God still needed to do in us before we would be prepared to embark on the rigors of homesteading. But what?

A Reason for Waiting

What I didn’t guess was that there was work for us right there in my parents’ house. Ten months after we moved in, my dad went to a routine heart check up and was sent straight to the hospital. Within a day he had been scheduled for a quadruple bypass.

As if that wasn’t dramatic enough, my brother was getting married two weeks later, and there was a party for 85 people planned at my parents’ home the night before the wedding. International visitors were flying in and staying at the house. My mom was a wreck.

But because I had been living there, I knew exactly how to run her household, and my mother was able to focus on taking care of my father as he recovered. Even having our young children around was a help, as they cheered and distracted my dad. The party was a success, the wedding beautiful, and we passed the one year anniversary of living with my parents.

I wondered if we would be there for the rest of our lives.

God’s Creative Solution

Then one day, out of the blue, the people who lived on the property adjoining ours called my husband and asked him if we would like to buy their house. And land. And barns and fences and ponds, and WOW!

We said yes! And went from not knowing how to live on our land to having a ready-built house and multiple outbuildings. We even adopted their dog and cat.

A Happy Ending That Was Just The Beginning

After fifteen months of living with my parents we moved to our homestead. We have been here now for almost eight years. And I still sometimes walk out into the middle of a field and break into song with tears streaming down my face. Homesteading has been hard in many ways, but the most beautiful hard you can imagine.

God not only provided for us (and my parents) in a most creative way, but He also prepared us.

I couldn’t have dreamed up how the story of trying to move to our homestead would end, and I can’t begin to imagine what He yet has in store.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Bible Concordances: Study Tools for Word Lovers

March 28, 2012 by Patti Brown 9 Comments

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a conversation when a scripture comes to mind…

“That reminds me of a verse! The one about the things you should think about? How does that go… whatever is lovely, whatever is true, um….”

…but you can’t quite remember it? You need a concordance!

What is a concordance?

A concordance is essentially a bible index. You may even have a small concordance in the back of your bible.

Concordances are comprised of lists of scriptures organized by word. In a full concordance, you will find lists of English words, Hebrew words, and Greek words.

Many concordances eliminate small, frequently used words such as “an” and “the”. An exhaustive concordance includes even these common-use words.

Why should you use a concordance?

To find a scripture and its context. As long as you know a single word in a scripture, you can find the full scripture using a concordance.

To better understand the meaning of a verse when the word choice is confusing. When I find myself baffled by a word choice, I like to go to my concordance, look up the word, then find all the instances of the exact original word being used. Then I look up the Hebrew or Greek word in each of its other contexts to gain a fuller understanding of the original meaning.

To explore a particular word that has special importance to you. Word studies can illuminate a topic near to your heart. Words I have studied in the past include patience, tongue, and joy. For the last five years or so I have chosen a word or scripture in January to define the coming year. This year it was courage, and as you might guess, I’m in the midst of a word study on courage. I have made some surprising discoveries about what gives a believer courage thanks to my concordance!

How do you use a concordance?

If you are using a print version, first you will look up the English word that you are seeking. For example, if you wanted to learn more about joy in the bible, you would start here in a Strong’s Concordance:

Each word in the original language is assigned a number. In this part of the list of verses in which joy appears, there are three different original words: 8057, 2305 and 2304.

If you are just trying to find a scripture, you’ve arrived, but if you want to delve further into a word’s meaning, you’ll note the number then go look up the word numerically in the original language dictionary.

There are separate sections for Hebrew words (from the Old Testament) and Greek words (from the New Testament.) This may be confusing at first since each numerically ordered word list starts at the number 1. Be sure to turn to the correct list when you look up your word.

Here is Strong’s number 8057 simchah in the Hebrew/Chaldee dictionary:

For a deeper understanding of the meaning of the word, you can also use a bible dictionary. Some concordances include bible dictionaries with much more detailed definitions.

You may also find lists of people and places in your concordance, and even topical lists…

I have a great deal of affection for my massive [amazon_link id=”1418541699″ target=”_blank” ]Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance[/amazon_link], because it has warmed my lap through many a precious quiet time. But with the advent of digital technology, bible word searches have become easier than ever, both online and through bible software.

Which concordance should you use?

Concordances are associated with a specific English translation. So if you primarily use the ESV bible you will find it most fruitful to use an ESV concordance; a KJV concordance with a KJV bible; and so on.

Print concordances – [amazon_link id=”1418541699″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Strong’s[/amazon_link] is based on the KJV; it has now been made available for the [amazon_link id=”0310262844″ target=”_blank” ]NASB[/amazon_link] as well; for the ESV try the [amazon_link id=”1581343868″ target=”_blank” ]Crossway Comprehensive[/amazon_link], but note that it lacks the Greek and Hebrew words, so is primarily useful for locating scripture.
Online concordances – concordances.org, biblestudytools.com
Concordance software – concordances are often included as part of bible software packages like e-sword or Logos.

Have you ever used a concordance? Share your favorite resource in the comments!

Ten Verses for Trying Times

February 6, 2012 by Caroline 9 Comments

What do you do when you start feeling anxious, troubled, scared? Do you pray? Do you run to a spouse, a friend, a family member?

I wish I could say I always cry out to Him first. But I don’t.

I feel like it’s up to me to fix something, deal with trouble, solve a problem.

But it’s not.

God is always there.

How can I focus every bit of my heart – in every moment of life – on Him first, rather than on worry or “self-sufficiency.” How do I train my heart to seek His shelter rather than scrounge for my own?

A few ways helping me so far (and maybe able to help you?): Store up His Word in our hearts! Seek out verses to memorize, leading to quick recall when those trying times occur. Place His Word first in our hearts over and over and over again so we form a habit of going to Him first.

How can we find these guiding verses?

Pray first for God to open your heart to His leading and heighten your awareness of applicable verses for your situation.
Use a concordance (found in most study bibles) to find a topic (I searched for grief, trouble, fear, worry…) and read verses listed.
Use online bible study resourcesto search a specific topic.
Image from Microsoft Clip Art
Study one passage (a chapter, a book) for several days in a row, asking God to lead you to needed truths at the right times.

Ten Verses for Trying Times

Here are ten verses I’ve found helpful in getting through hard times:

Hebrews 12:7 – Hardships train us.
Psalm 27:13-14 – Wait for and trust in Him in all things.
Psalm 16:7-8 – God counsels.
Psalm 34:2-5 – God hears.
Psalm 34:18 – Brokenhearted? He remains near. (Our Run To Him reading for this week speaks on His redeeming us from troubles!)
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 – We need not hold on to grief for we have His hope and joy in the midst of grief.
Psalm 10:14 – God sees our troubles and helps.
John 16:19-24, 33 – Grief caused by this age will be wiped away in the age to come. (John 16:33 is one of my personal favorites.)
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – God comforts our troubles, and then we can share His comfort with others going through similar troubles.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – These troubles, no matter how severe they are, are nothing compared to the eternal glory coming. I have to remind myself of this perspective sometimes.

How does God share what you need through His Word?

Facing Your Fears {Believing Better}

December 20, 2011 by Do Not Depart 6 Comments

My physical therapist asked me to list any injuries I’ve suffered requiring medical treatment. When I finished and looked up, her mouth hung open in disbelief. “It’s amazing you’re still alive; you must’ve lived in constant fear!” I hate it when people see through me like that.

Photo Credit

Legitimately labeled “accident prone” as a child, my mishaps left behind scars on my body and fears in my mind. I wondered if the PT also saw evidence of my deeper scars and fears, left behind by things not treated with splints or stitches. Unseen injuries heal reluctantly, often leaving us believing the worst, leaving us limping through life in fear.

Believing lies of fear leaves us with one hand on a life preserver or patching holes in our protective walls. Fear-lies are like that, robbing us of opportunity and joy. Unlike the pain of broken bones or cuts, some of life’s most painful scars can be passed on, unless we believe better. Until we put to death lies that give birth to fear and believe what’s true, we need rehab of the heart and mind.

To believe something better than fear is to believe God’s promises. His truth has power over fear.

He holds my hand, so I’m not thrown down (Psalm 37:24).
He keeps me, without even sleeping, and won’t let my foot be moved (Psalm 121).
His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

The power of my God is better than my hazardous history on playgrounds and bikes and gyms and trails … and relationships and attempts and dreams. The truth is that He will not stop gripping my hand or let me be thrown down; He will hold me and steady me and keep watching over me. Believing that truth is better than believing the suggestions of the fear loving, reckless Enemy!

Truth sets me free from fear and gives me confidence. A man once believed better than the fears whispered to him as he approached the masses of India, believing he should “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” (William Carey)

For a gal with a long history of ER visits, it takes a lot to convince me that I’m secure. And when our hearts bear deep scars from life’s impact, it takes a lot to convince us that we’re secure. Do your scars keep you living in fear? In your church? In your friendships? With your family? In your marriage? In your career?

Our Keeper offers us healing to cover over each scar and give us confidence to carry into each new opportunity. Do you believe it? That’s so much better than fear.

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A guest post by:

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Julie Sanders is a Women’s Ministry leader who loves to share God’s word with women in her hometown and around the world in a way that shows truth applies to life. She keeps busy with her adventure loving Pastor-husband and two teenagers, and she tries not to be a helicopter mom, since she knows first-hand that accidents DO happen. Julie feels safe knowing God holds her hand and offers peace in every mishap of life. You can find her blogging at Come Have a Peace and on Twitter, and she’ll secretly like you more if you drink coffee.

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For the month of December we are sharing posts and quotes to help us escape the Cycle of Try Harder, through Believing Better.

Why did Jesus come?

November 28, 2011 by Kathy Howard 1 Comment

Every year at this time we begin counting the days until Christmas. Only 27 days left for shopping, cooking, and wrapping until the big day is here. Hopefully we also spend the days thinking about the reason for the celebration – the birth of Jesus.

Many churches and individual Christians observe the four-week season of Advent as a way to celebrate Christ’s birth. The word “advent” means a coming into view or arrival. For Christians, “Advent” specifically refers to the eager anticipation of the arrival of God’s long-awaited Messiah. Christian Advent officially began Sunday, November 27^th. Observers may pray, fast, and read Scripture while waiting for Jesus’ “coming,” celebrated on December 25^th.

With the busyness and commercialization of Christmas, Advent is a wonderful way to keep Christ in the forefront of our minds. However, we shouldn’t limit our reflection to the truth that Jesus came to earth; we should also remember why He came. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing for the next three weeks here at Scripture Dig.

Why did Jesus leave the glory of heaven to be born as a human in a stable in Bethlehem? Many times I’ve heard the statement, “Jesus came to die.” And that is true. But did you know that was only part of Jesus’ mission?

Jesus told us why He came. The Gospels record more than a dozen “I came” statements of Jesus. We will be exploring many of these over the next few weeks. Christmas took on a deeper and richer meaning for me after I first studied these statements of Christ several years ago. This year we want to share them with you. We pray God will use His Words to enrich your Christmas celebration and grow your understanding of Him.

What are some things you and your family do to help you stay focused on the true reason for the Christmas season?

Understanding What Matters Most

October 7, 2011 by Teri Lynne Underwood 6 Comments

Today we have very exciting news. Our sweet Stephanie’s Bible study on Ecclesiastes is available! We are incredibly proud of her and thrilled to share the details of this six-week study with our readers. {By the way, thank you for your encouraging response to our format change … we have the best readers ever!}

Understanding What Matters Most by Stephanie Shott

Do you sense the need to live for eternity but find yourself living like this life is all there is? Do you long to make your life count for more than a vapor but can’t seem to escape the dailies of each day?

Stephanie’s new Bible study on Ecclesiastes, Understanding What Matters Most, will help you sift through the gamut of life experiences and learn to make everyday decision based on what truly matters most.

Understanding What Matters Most will:

Help you define your life by what matters most
Bring clarity to your circumstances
Give you insight to make your eternity intentional

Join Stephanie on a six week adventure through this often avoided and misunderstood book of the Bible. Learn why she calls it a “Heavenly Sieve” and how you find significance to these days you are given under the sun.

Will you join us in congratulating our friend on her first published Bible study?

Steph, we are so proud of you! And thankful that you share your wisdom and insight with us here at Scripture Dig!

Purchase your copy of Understanding What Matters Most at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, or Books-A-Million.

Philippians :: Week 7 :: An Ordinary Guy

July 1, 2011 by Katie Orr 12 Comments

Today’s post is a guest post by Rusheika. I have loved getting to know Rusheika in the #HideHisWord stream, as we have been memorizing Philippians together. I appreciate her love for the Word of God. Enjoy!

Are you ever tempted to put certain people of the Bible on a pedestal and think that you could never be like them? You may think, “Well of course Paul can “give thanks continually”… he’s Paul, an apostle, he wrote half the New Testament…!” So God gives us another example to follow. Timothy, others focused, Christ- centered. You may say, “But he was mentored by Paul, a gifted man who had a praying mother. He has 2 books of the Bible named after him! He has a lot going for him.” God keeps going…Epaphroditus. “Epaphro WHO? Never heard of him…!”

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. Phil 2: 25, 29-30

This is the only book in the Bible that we read about Epaphroditus. There is nothing to suggest that he was anything more than an ordinary guy. Nothing that states that he held any office in the church, no other ministry was spoken of. We don’t know his back-story. BUT Paul calls him a brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier. A messenger. A minister. One who almost died doing the work of Christ!

What can we learn from this ordinary person doing extraordinary things? Paul considered him:

Brother

His name, loved by Aphrodite (the goddess of love and sexuality) suggests that he was Greek. He was probably a native of Philippi. Paul therefore was not referring to him as a relative or even a fellow Jew. He was esteeming him as a member of the body of Christ. In spite of their differences they were part of one family… the family of God. The same family WE are a part of when we accept Christ -no matter our nationality, our back-story, who the world says we are, we are in God’s family!

Fellow Worker

The Greek word is sunergos from sun meaning closely identified together, and ergos- to work. It is doubtful that Paul would have considered Epaphroditus a fellow worker if Epaphroditus wasn’t working whole-heartedly, if he was not fully committed to the work God had for him. He was working with Paul, side by side, in one spirit. Can the same be said of me? Am I labouring with my fellow brothers in unity, fully committed to the work of Christ?

Fellow Soldier

In whatever capacity Epaphroditus served with Paul, there was a battle. He was a fighter, a warrior; he almost gave his life for the cause of Christ. Do you see yourself as a soldier? We are in a battle, it gets hot, and it gets rough. Are you prepared to fight?

Messenger

He went on behalf of the Philippians carrying a gift for Paul. Philippians 4:18 gives us the sense that it was a generous gift. Epaphroditus was trustworthy. The church relied him to be their messenger, to represent them. Are you reliable? Can you be trusted? Do you represent your church well? Do you represent the body of Christ well?

Minister

He didn’t just make his delivery and leave. He was sent to minister to Paul’s needs. He left his own life, his comforts, to minister to someone under house arrest. The word in the Greek is leitourgos and it carries the sense of priestly service, or service given to others at one’s own expense. Epaphroditus was willing to minister to the needs of Paul even at the expense of his own life. His actions were sacrificial and he showed immense humility. As you minister to others are you concerned about what it costs you?

I have been challenged this week to be selfless in serving others, to fight hard and to be trustworthy in the roles God has given me.

What about you? How does Epaphroditus’ life challenge you?

Rusheika is married to Joseph and a homeschooling mom to three boys and one girl. She seeks to be intentional in her walk with Christ and encourage others to do the same. She shares her journey at Hide and Seek.

Thank you, Rusheika!

Who are you?

June 27, 2011 by ScriptureDig 3 Comments

This week I will be sharing some thoughts on the life of Jacob, based on a series of messages I gave at a youth retreat last fall. I pray that this will be encouraging and challenging for you, as it was for me!

: Image via Wikipedia

Did you ever read one of those “choose your own adventure” novels?

As you read along, you came to places in the story where you could decide if you wanted the story to unfold with plot A or plot B. Then you would come to another place where you could choose again. Each choice built on the one before to create a particular story.

Just like that “choose your own adventure” novel, your life is a series of defining questions, defining moments, and defining choices. At one point, we might seem to be in relatively the same place right as our peers, but as we go through our lives we will have particular moments that change and mark who we become. Some of these moments you will have control over, some you will not.

We will also all make defining choices. We will come to places in our lives where we must choose what is most important to us, who we are, if we will serve God or ourselves.

Underneath these defining moments and defining choices are some particular questions we must answer. Questions like, “What is the purpose of my life?” “What will I do with Jesus?” “Is God who the Bible says He is?” – the way we answer these questions will radically change the way the rest of our lives unfold.

This week we will be considering four questions that tie together into one big question – what’s your story? As you come to those places where you can choose plot line A or plot line B… what decisions have you already made? Which ones will you make next? Ultimately each of those things will define the story of your life.

To look at our own stories and consider what God might want to do in the next chapters of our lives, we will be considering together the life of Jacob.

Everyone’s story begins with a family, and this is true for Jacob, as well.

As I think about Jacob’s family, it makes me wonder if he felt lost in the shadow of those around him. His grandfather was the Abraham – Jacob grew up hearing stories of his grandfather leaving Ur, believing incredible promises that God had made to him, waiting for years and years for their beloved son Isaac to be born. Surely his father had told him stories about the day he hiked up Mount Moriah with his dad, finding that God had commanded that he be sacrificed on top of the mountain… and the dramatic way God stopped them and provided a ram in the thicket.

These were the stories that were told as the family sat around their fire in the evenings. We read the book of Genesis… but these were their lives. Their stories.

And then there was Esau. Jacob was already a twin brother, and he was the twin who didn’t really get along as well with his father. Esau was the “man’s man.” He was an outdoorsy hunter, while Jacob preferred to stay near Rebekah and help her around the campsite.

I wonder if Jacob felt forgotten, unimportant, lost in the shadows of those around him. I wonder, after growing up hearing amazing stories of what God had done for his father and grandfather, if their sin caused him to view them as fakes.

Sometimes we can feel lost in the shadow. We can begin to rebel and reject those around us, thinking that they are fake. We can start to want to give up, comparing ourselves to those around us, feeling that we are unimportant or less valued than others we interact with. We can also begin to coast by on the spiritual heritage we have been given, resting in their testimonies of walking with God rather than striking out on a journey of our own with Him.

The question is – “who are you?” Not what kind of heritage do you have, how much knowledge do you have, what church do you belong to… who are you? What choice will you make to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ – no matter how fake or how spiritually outstanding others might be?

At the end of your life, what will be your story?

To be continued tomorrow!

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match

March 22, 2011 by ScriptureDig 10 Comments

50th anniversary 063 — My girls & their guys

God has blessed both my daughters with godly young men to spend their lives with – and I love them both. However, before Jeremy and Justin came along, there were times I wanted to play matchmaker. Times when I thought Kelley or Sarah needed my help in finding the right husband! As always, God knew which men He had prepared for my two girls all along.

Every mother longs for their daughter to be well-cared for, protected, and loved. Naomi was no different. Although Ruth was technically Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Naomi considered her a daughter. In Ruth chapter 3, Naomi assumes a responsibility for Ruth that parents in that culture had concerning their daughters – securing her future by finding a good husband.

In Ruth 3:1, Naomi states her intention of finding a “place of rest” for Ruth.

The Hebrew word manowach, which is translated as “home” in the NIV, means “a place to settle down; a home.” For Jewish women, a “place of rest” specifically referred to the security they wanted to find with a loving husband. Naomi had one lofty purpose in sending Ruth on this nighttime mission – long-time provision for her daughter through marriage to a kinsman redeemer, an honorable man named “Boaz.” (For more about the role of the kinsman redeemer, check out yesterday’s post by Sandra.)

Naomi told Ruth to bathe, put on perfume, and dress. Then Naomi gave her specific instructions on how to approach Boaz and what to do, including “uncovering his feet and lying down” after he had gone to sleep near his pile of grain. There are some variations among biblical scholars on exactly how to understand the events that night. Unfamiliar customs of an ancient culture fill this secretive meeting.

The third chapter of Ruth is one of those Bible passages we must deal with carefully. Context and purpose are vital to understanding exactly what transpired on the threshing floor. (If you have time, read Ruth 3:1-18 now to get the story.) The following information and facts will guide us in coming to a conclusion about this encounter:

The character of those involved – Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz were all honorable people who feared Jehovah.
Intent – Naomi’s intentions were also honorable and long-term. A one-time, sexual encounter would not meet Ruth’s need.
Ruth’s dress – The word “dress” in 3:3 is simla. It normally refers to an outer garment that covered everything but the head. Poor people, like Ruth, also used this garment for a blanket, making this appropriate preparation for spending a cool night outside. Definitely not the dress of a woman with plans for seduction.
“Uncovering his feet” – this phrase has been used of seductive behavior, but not in all cases. Given the context and Naomi’s intentions, it seems more likely that Naomi’s plan was simply to gently wake Boaz when the temperature dropped in the night.
Ruth’s request – “Spread the corner of your garment over me,” was a Hebrew euphemistic idiom for marriage. The Hebrew literally translates “to spread one’s wing over.” (See Ruth 2:12.) Ruth asked Boaz to take her under his care, assume responsibility for her, and provide for her.
Boaz’ response – Boaz’ reaction speaks volumes. He obviously understood Ruth’s words and actions as a request for marriage. In fact, he considered her request a “kindness” and promised to act on it immediately.

Naomi sent Ruth on a dramatic and risky adventure. But as they say: drastic times call for drastic measures. Ruth was a poor, foreign widow in Israel. Without a husband to care for her, her future was bleak. Naomi lovingly longed to secure provision for her “daughter.” Boaz had not made any moves in that direction – possibly because Ruth had been in mourning. But now Ruth’s mourning was completed and Naomi did not want to waste any more time. Boaz needed to know that Ruth was available and willing to marry him.

Naomi selflessly focused on Ruth’s needs and took action. Who needs your action on their behalf today?

Scripture-Centered Traditions

December 14, 2010 by ScriptureDig 4 Comments

From Christmas trees to candy canes, stockings to Santa Claus, Christmas is a holiday fraught with tradition. While there are countless articles and blogs that explain the history of each tradition for this season, at Scripture Dig we want to share with you a few traditions and ideas that focus on the Word of God while sharing the beauty of the Word-become-Flesh.

Our desire here is to encourage you to dig into Scripture and use that as the foundation for every aspect of your life. And during this time of year, we want to continue to point you back to the Bible as you celebrate this most precious holiday … the birth of our Lord.

The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I remember the weekly lighting of the candles at my church growing up. There is something so beautiful about setting aside time to anticipate the Coming of the Christ. While the particular details of the Advent wreath vary in different church backgrounds, the foundation is the same. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, “Christ” candle which can be lit at Christmas.

The Scriptures read with each candle are as follows:

The Candle of Hope: Representing the hope and promise of the coming Lord, this candle reminds us of the hope we have in Christ and the promise of eternity with Him. Scripture associated with this candle includes Isaiah 11:1-10 and/or Isaiah 7:10-14, 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5 and/or Jeremiah 33:14-16.
The Candle of Preparation: Representing His light and our preparation, this candle affirms our own need to prepare for His coming. Scripture associated with this candle includes Psalm 25:1-10 and/or Psalm 27:1-7, 18-19 and/or Micah 5:2 and/or Matthew 2:1-12.
The Candle of Joy: This candle reminds us of the joyful news the angel brought for all man. Scripture associated with this candle includes 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and/or Romans 15:4-13 and/or Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
The Candle of Love: Representing the love of the Father, this candle reminds us of the great gift of God the Father and His love for us in sending His Son. Scripture associated with this candle includes Matthew 3:1-12 and/or Luke 21:25-36 and/or Luke 2:8-20.

Many traditions also include a fifth, center candle which is the Christ Candle. Representing the incarnation – the very meaning of this season – this candle reminds us of the Christ, the Spotless Lamb of God sent to pay for our own sin. Verses read with this candle include Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 100; Revelation 3:20-21.

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a depiction of the lineage of Christ through Jesse, the father of King David. This beautiful tradition walks us through the genealogy of Christ and helps us gain an understanding of how all of Scripture breathes His name … from Genesis through Revelation, it is Him – Logos, the Word-become-Flesh – who is the promise and the fulfillment of the promise all in one.

The beautiful, full-of-grace Ann Voskamp has created an incredible {and FREE!} devotion book and set of ornaments to be used for a Jesse Tree and I highly recommend that you read the devotions even if you choose not to create an actual Jesse Tree. Walking through Scripture in this manner is a powerful way to prepare your own heart for the wonder and beauty of THE Gift of Christmas.

The Gospel of Luke

Last year, my husband mentioned he was reading the Gospel of Luke throughout December. There are 24 chapters of this book and so he would finish on Christmas Eve. I joined him in that endeavor last year and have continued that practice again this year. Reading through the life of Christ as we move closer to the celebration of His birth has been a transforming experience for me. I cannot begin to explain the depth of meaning I found last year as I took Communion during our church’s Christmas Eve service having just read of Christ’s resurrection earlier that day.

I encourage you to make Scripture an integral part of your Christmas preparation and tradition … and would love to hear from you of other ways you have incorporated the Word into your celebration.

{Image from msormann via flickr}

Peace, Power, and Potential

June 3, 2010 by Julie 20 Comments

The older I get the more I learn nothing about my life has been a mistake. Growing up near our nation’s capital, friends’ lives revolved around congressional schedules and military assignments. My own family had been in Virginia over 300 years. God used the setting to show me how the history of who I am fits with who God wants me to become, knowing “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” Rom. 5:20. The stories of life reveal truth about God and about how people are searching for His peace. In a region of influence, I learned only Jesus provides lasting peace and real power, and those who know Him have potential to influence the world. My heart was shaped to touch others with His truth around the world. Teri Lynne’s vision for Scripture Dig sounded like an awesome way to do just that!

My husband and I have served in pastoral ministries focusing on discipleship, maturity, missions, and marriage. We were privileged to serve in cross cultural missions before the Lord brought us back to the US, where Jeff is now Pastor of Mobilization (Local/Global Missions), and I serve as Women’s Ministry Director. We love the reach this gives us to people here and around the world.

God has blessed us with two teenagers who keep us adventurous, thoughtful, and prayerful. They’ve been schooled in every manner; I now find myself homeschooling a middle schooler and volunteering as a PTA mom for a public high school student. I’ve loved every stage!

The teacher, mom, leader, traveler, and worshiper in me can’t help but use words to express how God’s truths are illustrated in everyday life to answer our questions. I try to resist the urge to rhyme and alliterate, but there’s admittedly a little Dr. Seuss in me from days teaching first grade & ESL. Much of my heart for women and marriages, in particular, is expressed at my blog www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com and in articles I write. I’d love to write a book someday, but it might sound a lot like Green Eggs and Ham. Still, I know there’s a “rhyme” and a reason for that, too, as God’s plan unfolds in my life.

Scripture Dig is exciting territory, a great place to discover God’s story of His peace, His power, and our potential for influence as ambassadors for His kingdom.

Sweeter than honey

June 1, 2010 by Kristi Stephens 12 Comments

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

As I have grown in my own walk with the Lord, discussed His Word with other believers, taught the Scriptures to women, and sought to introduce others to the great adventure of studying the Bible through my blog, I have become convinced that many believers in Jesus, if not most, are missing out on the beautiful gift of knowing God’s Word. Really knowing it. Searching through it as a treasure more valuable than gold, savoring it as a delicacy sweeter than honey, discovering that God uses His Word to give light to our eyes and revive our very souls.

When Teri Lynne and I began talking about Scripture Dig, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be part of this project! There are few things that thrill my heart like watching others get “hooked” on exploring and studying the Bible for themselves – seeing their eyes light up with understanding and a spark of excitement!

I am excited and humbled to be a writer for this site – I can’t wait to get to know you better and spend some time together in the pages of this living and active book that can change our lives forever. I hope you will join the journey – and I pray that you will discover that you are being revived, becoming wise, finding joy, seeing more clearly, and treasuring what has become sweeter than honey and more precious than gold.

He is good! His Word is rich and full! Let’s dig in together.

See you soon!

–Kristi Stephens