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Abide in Bethlehem

/ Ginger Davenport / Leave a comment

Ruth Chapter 2:

You’ve received the diagnosis, put to rest your loved one, come to grips with reality. The suffering you’re enduring is not going away. Day by day passes and you pray for comfort or a resolution of your anguish. Relief seems far away as you wait for God to move.

So, what do you do in the waiting? I can imagine Ruth and Naomi in their suffering. They have placed their faith in God and returned to Bethlehem, all the while wondering how God will move. How would He heal their brokenness? How would they manage as they waited for God?

First, Naomi and Ruth did not become paralyzed with fear, but moved in faith. According to the Levitical law if a woman was widowed and had not had children, the nearest male relative was to marry her to maintain the family name (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Naomi knew of a kinsman of the clan of her husband Elimelech who could fulfill this law by marrying Ruth, one who could be a kinsman redeemer. Ruth, understanding this, told Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” (Chapter 2:2). Ruth stepped out in faith, believing that God would provide, and He did. “So, she set out to come to the part of the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.” (Chapter 2:3). God’s providence led her to the field of a kinsman redeemer.

Second, Ruth did not give up on God, but held on with perseverance. She gleaned in the field of Boaz from early morning until Boaz took notice (Chapter 2:7). The scripture does not say exactly how long she gleaned, but the response of the reapers seems to indicate that she had worked for quite a while with only a short rest (Chapter 2:7).  The truth is that sometimes the wait is long. Romans 5:3 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Ruth did not give up on God.

So, what does the story of Ruth teach us about God? As the story unfolds, the providence of God, his provision and his love are evident. His character is revealed in the details.

First, in our physical and spiritual brokenness, the Lord sees us in our suffering, and he does not turn away. It was no accident that God led Ruth to the field of Boaz and that Boaz noticed her (Chapter 2:5). Boaz saw Ruth, even in her shame and suffering, and God sees us.

Second, in our physical and spiritual brokenness, the Lord shelters us under his wing. Boaz tells Ruth, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Chapter 2:12)

Third, in our physical and spiritual brokenness, the Lord serves us at his table. Chapter 2:14 says, “And at mealtime, Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” As illustrated in the 23rd Psalm, we are welcome and invited guests at the Lord’s table. He fills our cups until they are overflowing.

The truth is the Lord looks down on us when we are spiritually fractured with compassion and grace. When we place our hand in His, accept his grace and step out in obedience we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our suffering. His providence will sustain us as he showers us with kindness, mercy, goodness, and self-less loyalty.  The greatest lesson we learn from Ruth is that God, our kinsman redeemer, has sent himself in the form of His Son to save us from our sin.

Are you struggling to see God in the waiting? Abide in Bethlehem. Jesus is in the details. He sees you, shelters you and provides for you.  Are you physically hurting? Abide in Bethlehem. Jesus will weep with you. Are you struggling with shame and sin? Abide in Bethlehem. Jesus sees you and wants to redeem you.

Winter Doldrums and National Homemade Soup Day

/ Ginger Davenport / Leave a comment

Grey clouds loom over a dark, dreary land. The trees, barren and shivering in the cold anxiously await the arrival of spring. Maybe where you live snow has piled up in the driveway and frigid wind presses against the house.  Christmas and New Years are long gone and attempts to keep New Year’s resolutions are fading. Winter is in full swing.

Personally, finding inspiration for writing at the beginning of February is difficult. Everything is well…grey. Thinking back over my life, I don’t have many memories of February other than receiving gifts on Valentine’s Day. School was back in session, and we counted down the days until Spring Break. Hum-drum days, ritualistic, scheduled, routine, melancholy.

As an adult, I have learned to appreciate a good routine. Some call it a rhythm. There is something to be said about the predictable. We can anticipate the day-by-day activities that keep us moving, keep us sane. For me, my job as a NICU speech-language pathologist is anything but routine. Each day is different. It comes with both the expected and the unexpected. I think that’s one reason I love my quiet morning routine of waking early to read my Bible, drink coffee and pray. It grounds me before heading off to the chaos of my day.

But for many, the depths of winter can bring depression and sadness. The sun hides behind the clouds. Time ticks on in melodic rhythm, moving at snail’s pace as they long for the warmth of happier times and the joy that is spring.

So how do we combat the doldrums of winter?

Establish rhythms that bring you joy. Rebekah Lyons shows you how in her book Rhythms of Renewal. Rebekah talks about the rhythms rest, restore, connect, create. Check out her book and website here:

https://rebekahlyons.com/.

Here’s how I plan on implementing these rhythms…

1) Filling my house with flowers and candles. Bringing beauty into my home brings me joy and reminds me of the bountiful blessings God has given us.

2) Continuing to connect with my people. Movie night, game night, date night. I plan on finding ways to continue to connect with my people on a regular basis.

3) SOUP! There’s nothing like walking into a house on a cold, dreary day to a pot of soup that has been cooking in the crock-pot all day. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup—you can leave out the chicken and add more beans for a yummy plant-based version!

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a82077/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup—I like to substitute Italian sausage or deer sausage for a slightly different taste, but the original is good too!

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11374/hamburger-soup/

4) Finally, good books! I love curling up with a good book, especially when it’s cold outside. Some of the books currently on my reading list include:

Live by Sadie Robertson

A Surrendered Life by Rebekah Lyons

At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

Whatever you are doing to get through the mundane days of winter, I hope you will find joy and peace! Happy February!

Look to Bethlehem

/ Ginger Davenport / Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruth Chapter 1

The loss of a job, an unforeseen diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, threats and rumors of war, division and hatred, a pandemic. There are times when chaos, loss and pain seem out of control. Our lives spin as we attempt to hang on through the daily grind, while all the while we crumble on the inside.

Have you ever had those moments? When external circumstances drive you to your knees in tears? In my short adult life I have had those crying in the shower, questioning God moments.  Haven’t we all? The truth is all around us there is brokenness, both big and small. Some face hairline cracks, smaller more insignificant moments of vulnerability, while others face large schisms that threaten to break them right in half.

Ruth and Naomi were familiar with brokenness. Naomi, a Jew, had lived in the land of Moab with her husband, Elimelech. Then one day tragedy struck. Elimelech died. Naomi was left a widow with two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, who had both married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. I can only imagine the pain Naomi must have felt at the loss of her husband. But this was not the only tragedy for Naomi. After living for 10 years in the country of Moab with her sons and daughters-in-law, Mahlon and Chilion also died.

Three widows now found themselves all alone and without a male provider. In their culture this was the height of tragedy. They were homeless and without protection or someone to provide for their basic needs.  They found themselves physically alone, spiritually devastated in a land of sinners, and without hope of salvation.

I can imagine each one of them falling to their knees. Shattered. Shaking. Dizzy. Would they allow their faith to be shaken? No.

You see, Naomi knew something that she had obviously passed on to her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi chose to cling to faith and hope. She would return to Bethlehem, the land of bread and promise, with expectation in a God bigger than her spiritual and physical challenges. Even in believing that “the Lord had dealt bitterly with her,” (Ruth 1:20) she believed in the hope of finding a kinsmen redeemer. Ruth also held onto this hope. Despite having been told by her mother-in-law to stay in Moab, Ruth vowed to follow Naomi to Bethlehem.

Ruth said, “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16 ESV)

Together Ruth and Naomi would look to Bethlehem for hope.

And so, in our physical brokenness we are reminded of our spiritual brokenness. We are all but sinners in a desolate land, lost and in need of a redeemer.  Like Naomi and Ruth, we can grasp for hope and look to Bethlehem. No matter the outcome of our physical circumstances we can place our faith in Jesus, a baby, who would grow up to become a king, a friend, and ultimately Savior.

Are you feeling physically broken? Look to Bethlehem. Jesus is Healer (Matthew 9:35). Are you mentally worn? Look to Bethlehem. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Are you spiritually broken? Look to Bethlehem. Jesus is Redeemer.

Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Happy New Year!

/ Ginger Davenport / Leave a comment

New Year’s Day. Pajamas, football, board games and jigsaw puzzles. Personally, I have always enjoyed New Year’s Day. It’s a day to lounge around with your family and do absolutely nothing other than eat your favorite “good luck” inducing foods. It’s a day to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

My favorite New Year’s Day memories involved my paternal grandparents. Most of the time it was cold outside, and Grandpa would light a fire in the fireplace. Then he would pop up a big batch of popcorn in his air popper and slather it in butter and salt. Delicious! Then Grandma would get out the card table and we would sit in front of the fire and play Uno or Skip-Bo while a football game rumbled in the background.

Other favorite memories include being home with my parents enjoying a lazy day in our pajamas or sweats. Mom would make our favorite New Year’s Day breakfast, Eggs A’La Goldenrod. “What is that?” you ask. Its cream gravy mixed with hard boiled eggs and served over toast or biscuits. Sound weird? Maybe. But I think its delicious! I can’t say it brought us good luck, but it did always bring smiles.

Traditional foods eaten for good luck on New Year’s Day include black-eyed-peas, buttered bread, grapes, greens, pork, cornbread, long noodles, lentils and fish. Depending on the culture, you’ll find these foods served at tables across the world. But do they really bring us good luck?

Perhaps it is not luck that they bring, but a sense of belonging and community. For my grandparents, serving black-eye-peas at a New Year’s Eve party brought their loved ones together around a table of thankfulness. Hands grasped, and heads bowed, we thanked the Creator for bringing us safely through another year. We shared in partaking of the bounty God had given us, resolute in our love for one another.

In a world of increasing isolation, communion around a table has become increasingly less common. The thing is, the Lord provided bountiful blessings for us in His garden. He has provided for every one of our needs. And so, in these moments of tradition, may we look at each person around our table and remember, that it’s not luck that we need, it’s blessings. The blessing of giving. The blessing of opening our table and serving those around us.

May your New Year bring you many opportunities to open your heart and your table to those you love and to those in need. May the New Year bring you blessings beyond your wildest dreams. And may we always be mindful of the blessings right before us.

“They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.”     Jeremiah 31:12