5 HABIT BIBLE STUDY WEEK 6

WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK: RUTH 4:1-22

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      DAY 1 HEBREWS 6:12

      DAY 2 PHILIPPIANS 3:12

      DAY 3 MATTHEW 6: 3-4

      DAY 4 2 TIMOTHY 4:7

Moving forward in faith is the root of Ruth’s story. Ruth first stepped in faith to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, then in faith she looked for work. That faith led her to Boaz. Ruth had faith in Naomi’s guidance and she is now having faith in Boaz as to getting the “redeemer” issue cleared up. Even though this situation of moving forward in faith, is waiting.

Sometimes, when our moving forward in faith, we are waiting, standing still. Nothing is happening. We are a people that like to see things in motion. When we have to “wait”, we can get tired and that lead us to the temptation to quit.

But what really causes us to be tired.  There are three areas in which we can get tired: 1) Physically, 2) Emotionally and 3) Spiritually.

So the first step to overcome this “I am tired” excuse is to determine what the source of our tiredness.

1. RULE OUT REASON

If we are physically tired, our bodies are trying to tell us something. To slow down, get more sleep or something is wrong with your health.

Try to keep yourself physically healthy and that included with annual physical exams if you have no medical reason for going to see a physician. Just get a checkup, especially if you have some, what you may call, minor signs or symptoms. And to those of us nurses, we have a tendency to not to address minor issues without physical health. You know I am right. I am not the only one.

Next step. Get some rest.

2. REST

Do you every get snappy? Getting upset about thinks that never really mattered to you before. Do you feel like you are just going through the motions of life?

Rest is incredibly important to your emotional health and it allows you to produce more and more effectively. Slow down. Take a break. Get “unplugged” from this world and life in the “now”. Turn off the phones, the TV and the computer. Enjoy reading a good book. Enjoy family and/or friends. 

Refueling doesn’t necessary mean taking a nap, or a “slobber nap” as bother calls it. Be around with Godly people is a great way of refueling, like a revival. And I don’t mean your visits to church on Sundays.

Before mother got so sick that I had to move in with her, I was an active part of our Emmaus community. We met once a month for a meal, singing, worshipping and communion. It always made me feel uplifted. I am so looking forward to getting to return to those “gathering” especially since I feel “emotionally tired”.

And our last step is take time for yourself.

3) TAKE A DAY FOR YOU

Being spiritually tired is the most threatening one for someone who is tempted to quit.

Get away from it all! Social Media, work, family and friends. Focus on YOU and reflect on the vision you have for your life.

When the demands of our lives, drive us to “passionless” steps, it’s time to do something. To pull back. To rewind. When we get caught up with the demands of life, we want to quit every time because we have forgotten who we are and what drives our passion.

Learning to move forward in faith is going to require some energy and effort on our part. Faith is not about determination. When we have faith, especially with God’s promises, usually there is a process.

We ask God to move our mountains, but sometime, well most of the time, God wants us to go around that mountain one more time. Like Joshua did with the city of Jericho. We may not understand, we may think is it senseless or even have doubt. BUT, with faith you need to have some “footwork” too. That means, you NEVER stop taking steps to help our faith grow.

We just need to remember “One mountain at a time, one lap at a time, “one day at a time”, no matter how many laps/days it takes, just keep taking the next step.

Let get in the Word:

When we started the book of Ruth, it began with three funerals, but now it closes with a wedding/marriage. There was a great deal of weeping in the first chapter as well, but there is overflowing joy in the last chapter. Psalms 30:5 says “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy something in the morning”. Words to give us hope when we go through trials and tribulations.

Kinsman-Redeemer. The purpose of the kinsman-redeemer was to preserve the name and protect the property of families in Israel. God owned the land and didn’t want it exploited by rich people who would take advantage of the poor and widows. This law which can be found in Lev. 25:23-34 and Deut. 25:5-10, made sure that a deceased man’s family name did not die with him and that his property was not sold outside the tribe or clan. Unfortunately this did not always happen.

Not everyone could perform the duties of a kinsman redeemer. To begin with, he had to be a near relative/kinsman. (Lev 25:25). This was Boaz obstacle. There was another that more closely related. Then the kinsman-redeemer also had to be able to pay the redemption price. Fortunately Boaz was a wealthy man and able to do so. Then the other thing was that the kinsman-redeemer had to be willing to redeem. They may have the money but not the motivation.  He we see that the man that was the closer relative was afraid it would jeopardize his present family’s inheritance.

The city gate was the place where the official courts did their judicial business in the presence of elders.  The other kinsman wanted the land, but he didn’t want Ruth as part of the deal. So he backed out. Boaz was more that glad to accept the position of kinsman-redeemer. He took the risk of God’s calling, accepted it in faith and his name in written down in Scripture and with honor.  John 2:17 “He who does the will of God abides forever”.

Now this shoe thing is kind of strange. The custom of taking off the show relates to the divine commandment to walk on land and take possession. (Gen. 13:17, Deut. 11:24, Josh. 1:3)

Many scholars state that Boaz the picture of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is OUR Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus came to earth in a human body to become RELATED to us. He needed to do that before He could REDEEM us. He paid the REDEMPTION price for us.

Like Boaz, Jesus wasn’t concerned about jeopardizing His own inheritance; instead He made us a part of His inheritance (Eph. 1:11, 18). Like Boaz, Jesus made is plan privately, but paid the price publicly. And like Boaz, Jesus did what He did because of His love for His bride.

What wonderful changes came into Ruth’s life because she trusted Boaz and let him work on her behalf? Can we do the same without Kinsman-Redeemer?

After their marriage, God blessed them with a child that would be a source of blessing to many.

He would be a blessing to Naomi. He would bring blessing to Bethlehem. He would bring blessing to Israel in King David. He would bring blessing to the whole world in the Messiah.

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

     How are you going to keep moving forward in faith?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

     What was the ultimate result of Ruth’s obedience?

I – INTO THE PROMISE

     Which of the Quit Quitting verses did you identify with the most this week?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

     We looked at so many different ways of moving forward in faith., is God asking you to sit still or make movement right now? Write down what this looks like for you.

5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK #5

WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK: RUTH 3:1-18

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      DAY 1 LUKE 6:38

      DAY 2 PROVERBS 4:23

      DAY 3 PROVERBS 23:19

      DAY 4 MARK 12:31

      DAY 5 HEBREW 12:2

In our study this week, we read about Emotional Generosity. What is it? Let’s look at the definition of generosity first. According to Dictionary.com, generosity means: freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.

Many times our happiness is challenged by the people we encounter each day, It could be someone on the phones, a teller at the bank, someone driving, a co-worker, spouse, friend or anyone else you may encounter. These encounters are often negatively draining our positive emotions. However, we cannot avoid them, but we can keep our own happiness and reduce the negative emotions that come from these encounters, if we respond with Emotional Generosity.

What is your default reaction when something negative happens to you? How do you react when you are offended? Mistreated? Life goes bad?

Emotional Generosity is the quality of being kind, welcoming and understanding of others, even with all of their flaws, mistakes, quirks, and imperfections without being judgmental. In other words, “cut them some slack”. Give them the benefit of the doubt. They are still accountable for their actions, but you will give them Emotional Generosity.

This is about you taking ownership of your own emotions and reactions, to feel more peace. However emotional generosity is one of the HARDEST forms of kindness to give.

When we offer emotional generosity to others, we create an atmosphere for God to do something powerful IN us and THROUGH us.

We may not WANT to give others what we need. We may often give others what we think they deserve. Snappy comeback. A nasty look. A unforgiving heart. Then is becomes really easy to GIVE UP. QUIT.

When we give others what we need, we are sowing good seed.

So how can we do this you ask? Here are 4 steps that will help with showing emotional generosity.

1) Each day, ask whose life can I bless today? Pray for God to let you be a blessing to someone. It could be from a kind gesture, a smile, a gentle touch or even withholding your tongue .

2) See people in their innocence instead of their guilt. If people say or do something that hurts you, acknowledge that it may not have been intentional. The pain is still there, but the negativity around it is gone.

3) Be willing to consider they might be right. For example when arguing with others, about she said, he said, they said, etc…say the words “ I am willing to consider that you might be right”. This will take the intensity down to a calmer level.

4)  Cut YOURSELF some slack. Stop being your own worst critic. Accept that we ALL make mistakes and NO ONE is perfect.

ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY GENEROUS? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Does seeing other people happy remind you how unhappy you are?

Do you see people who are pursing the same goals as you as competition?

When you have an idea, do you keep it to yourself?

If someone else is praised for something you do too, do you feel resentful?

Do you feel discontent when others experience the same successes in life you have?

Did you feel unhappy the last time you heard someone get something you wanted?

Do you find it difficult to give others compliments?

Emotional generosity is something we all have to learn and the more we experience being emotionally generous to others, the more we will desire it.

Let get in the Word:

Ever since Boaz came into Ruth’s life, Naomi has been a different person. She is no longer bitter or concern for herself. We see here that she is concerned about Ruth and Ruth’s future. It’s when we serve others that we ourselves receive the greatest joy and satisfaction.

Naomi knew that Boaz would be at his threshing floor that night, guarding his grain that had recently been harvested. Naomi told Ruth to wash, put in perfume and her best clothing. She was actually telling Ruth to act like a bride preparing for her wedding. Then she learned how to present herself to Boaz.

Ruth’s preparation and presentation is like when we come before the mercy seat of Christ. We wash ourselves from our sins, the perfume is like anointing oil that speaks of the presence and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Salvation is pictured as a change of clothes in Luke 15:22. And being at the feet is when we come to the foot of The Cross.

If Ruth had decided to not lie at Boaz’s feet and done something of her own, Boaz would have been confused and the entire plan would have failed. Isn’t that what we do sometimes? We alter the way that God wants us to do things.

To spread one’s mantle over a person meant to claim that person for yourself. And that is what Ruth was asking Boaz to do. However, Boaz had to handle one little complication. There was another kinsman-redeemer that was a closer relation with Naomi than Boaz. Boaz didn’t want to give Ruth false hope so he explained and told her he would “handle it”.

Naomi and Ruth believed that Boaz would accomplish what he said he would do, they waited patiently. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it”.

Waiting is difficult. But God tells us in His Word to “Sit still” (Ruth 3:18 NJKV), “Stand still” (Exodus 14:13 NJKV) and “Be still” (Psalm 46:10 NJKV).

Our human nature get nervous and wants to help God out and when we try, we only make matters worse.

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

     Moving forward, how will you choose to be emotionally generous? Who will challenge you the most as your live emotionally generous?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

     Why was Boaz at the threshing floor? What was the purpose of Ruth’s visit?

I – INTO THE PROMISE

     Which of the Quit Quitting verses challenged you the most this week? Why?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

     That person whose name you wrote down above, go ahead and plan out a way you are going to be emotionally generous with him/her this week. Write down what his/her reaction was.

5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 4

WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK: RUTH 2:15-23

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      DAY 1 JAMES 4:8

      DAY 2 ISAIAH 43:19

      DAY 3 PSALM 103:12

      DAY 4 EPHESIANS 5:15

      DAY 5 JAMES 4:14

What does this mean?

To live a life of surrender and humility. Learning to stay open to the movement of God is hard. It requires a deeper sense of trust and belief in Him thank we may naturally have. Learning to stay open to His movement is one of the hardest lessons we will have to learn. But when we do, we will be close to Him and able to fulfill the assignments He has given us.

Learning to stay open to the movement of God is sometimes a very humbling place. We don’t always get it just right. Sometimes we may even feel foolish. However, remember Habit 2#? We have to follow through despite how we feel. When we make a mistake we may think it’s over or it’s ruined. But that is not true in God’s world

So what makes us put God’s movement on hold?

What are your excuses? Have you ever used the excuse “ I didn’t know”? or “There is not enough time”? I think time is the #1 reason why we quit. We have so many activities that steal our time like : social media, the computer, children’s activities, work, etc. What’s stealing your time?

We may come up with excuses when we don’t see what God is going in and through our situation. Sometimes we have to ask others what they see.

Let's get in the Word:

Remember when we left Naomi, she was bitter. She was a woman that was angry and shaking her fist at God. But then, something changed. Her heart changed drastically. Sometimes when our hearts take a sudden shift, we can be left feeling remorseful or bad about how we reacted toward God.

But one of the most powerful things about God is the grace He offers us through forgiveness.

Here we see Naomi’s bitterness is slowly leaving her and she is able to trust God again. This is what happens when we stay open to God’s movement in our lives.

After a long day out in the wheat field, Ruth comes home filled with excitement. Naomi was curious and wanted to know the details of her day. After hearing the details, Naomi heart changes. She speaks blessing from the Lord upon Boaz.

No longer is Naomi a bitter quitter. No longer is she shaking her fist at God. She has opened her fist to receive.

If your fist are closed toward the presence of God, you will often miss: the opportunity for God to bless you, the chance for God to use you, and the ability of God to expand your faith and trust in Him.

Naomi had felt bitter, but her faith in God was still alive and she praised God for Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. In her sorrow, she still trusted God and acknowledged His goodness.

We may feel bitter about a situation, but we must never despair. Today is always a new opportunity for experiencing God’s care.

God doesn’t meet us at perfection. He meets us where we are in our process towards receiving His promise.

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

     Why is it important in your own life to constantly remind yourself of what God has done for you? Which of the habits so far are you finding you need the most? How is God asking you to stay open to His movement right now?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

     How does the change in Naomi inspire you to keep trying and waiting on God’s movement in your life?

I – INTO THE PROMISE

     Which of the Quit Quitting verses challenged you the most this week? Why?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

     This week we looked at excuses that could keep us from experiencing the fulfillment of following all the way through. Write down what a typical day looks like for you. Fine a space in your day when you can set aside five minutes to rule out any excuses that could keep you from following through.

5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK 3

Who has never got up and thought “ I don’t want to go to work today?”

Right! I knew it wasn’t just me. Life is, unfortunately, not 100% filled with moments of doing thing we love.

I remember a time when a dear classmate/childhood friend had Leukemia. Every Saturday, I drove to Emory in Atlanta to be with her most of the day. One Saturday I took my mother. After we had our visit and we got in the elevator to go, mother started to cry and asked how I could do that every week. By the Grace of God is my only answer cause when someone goes through a bone marrow transplant, the next few months is hard on one’s appearance and body. I didn’t have to do it, I would have rather not have gone through that with her, but I have cherish memories of that time.

And now, I am doing the same with my mother. Which brings us to our second habit:

THIS WEEK’S READING: RUTH 2:4-13

As you can see in our assigned reading we are going to reread some verse from last week and talk about the need to put our feelings aside.

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      PSALM 3:3

      ZECHARIAH 4:10

      1 PETER 5:6

      PROVERBS 25:8

      MATTHEW 11:28

Remember that when Naomi arrived back to Bethlehem, she was bitter. She had lost hope. When we don’t feel hope, we have to find hope.

Ruth did just that. Ruth made her home in a foreign land. Instead of depending on her mother-in-law, Naomi, she took the initiative to look for some work to help provide for them both. She wasn’t afraid admitting her need or working hard to supply it. When Ruth went out to the fields, God provided for her.

If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this; He may be waiting for you to take the first step to demonstrate just how important your need it.

As I mentioned last week, gleaning was generally for the poor; widows, orphans and foreigners. READ Leviticus 19:9-10.  The widows and poor would come behind the gatherers and pick up any leftover grains left on the edges of the fields.

This job was menial and tiring and even perhaps degrading, but Ruth did it faithfully. She put her feelings aside to do the task that was needed.

What is your attitude when the take you have been given is not up to your true potential? The task at hand may be all you can do, it may be the work God wants you to do or it may be a test of your character that can open up new doors of opportunity. And may I add, opportunities that we could NEVER imagine.

People say they don’t want anyone’s “left-overs”, but there are times when we just have to get behind people to pick up their leftovers.

Leftovers can be of many different things. Maybe someone is dropping some Joy by you today. Maybe some faith, some strength, some love, some peace, some hope. PICK IT UP!!! TAKE IT!!! RECEIVE IT!!! There are people everywhere dropping leftovers all around us. We just have to choose the right leftovers and “glean it”. STAY AWAY from those negative leftovers.

Now Ruth did this work the best she could. She caught the eye of Boaz. Maybe it was first by her looks, but then he noticed her working ethics. Then when he summons her, Ruth humbled herself to him.

 Favor follows those who follow through despite how they feel. Honor follows those who allow humility to shape them, and for those who do not give up, they will see the faithfulness of God.

Don’t let feelings dictate your days. Chose to follow through despite how you feel. The limitations of your assignments are within the strength of God. Hang on to that hope, the confidence that faith will give you the strength to push through every hard and trying circumstances

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

When have your feelings convinced you to quit? What burden(s) do you feel like you truly cannot give to God?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

Write a summary of Ruth’s story so far. What part of her story have you enjoyed the most.

I – INTO THE PROMISE

. Which of the Quit Quitting Verse spoke to you the most this week and why?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

Do you tend to pay attention more to the commands of your brain or the feelings of your heart? Finding a balance for both is important. Write down one practical step you can take in order to keep both in check.

5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK 2

Well, I don’t know about ya’ll, but last week’s Iesson gave me a new insight to this story. Different things I really never did notice.

We saw that Ruth “endured”, Orpah “escaped” and Ruth “enlisted” . This enlistment is our first habit.

So what is refinement? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it is “the act or process of removing unwanted substances from something : the act or process of making something pure”

I don’t know about you but I have a lot of “unwanted “ substances that need to be removed.

THIS WEEK’S READING: RUTH 1:19-2:12

Last week we left Naomi feeling bitter and wanting her daughters-in-law to go back to their home and not return with her to Bethlehem. Oprah finally decided to return but Ruth pledged her devotion to Naomi. This was Ruth’s accepting the assignment of refinement. She is not sure what to expect but she accepts it and trust this new God.

 So these women are traveling together back to Bethlehem where now there is no famine.  Not only did Ruth commit herself to Ruth but she has committed herself to the living God.  Think about what those conversations were like. Did Naomi instruct Ruth more about her God and His Laws or do you think she remained angry with the Lord.

When they got to Bethlehem the city was excited about their arrival. But Ruth continued her bitterness when she said “ Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara” . She had left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons and come home without them. She had gone to Moab possessing the necessities of life, but now she had returned home having nothing.

Sometime we don’t see what we have to be grateful for when we go through trials and tribulations.  Naomi thought her life had ended, but her trials were really a new beginning. She had lost faith and hope. When we are going through something that feels hard and not going like we think, it’s hard to see the good and know it won’t last forever.  However, something powerful happens when we allow others to see how God is shaping and developing us. Many times people realize they are not alone.

What other things should Naomi be thankful for?

At the time they arrive at Bethlehem it was harvest time. A time when the community expressed joy and praise to God for His goodness. It was spring, a time of new life and new beginning. That is exactly what Naomi and Ruth was about to experience. Harvest was a sign of better things to come.

Although Naomi was bitter against God, Ruth was willing for God to have His way in her life, so God began His gracious works with Ruth. 

Ruth knew that she needed to do something in order for them to survive. So she asked Naomi’s permission to glean in the fields so they would have food to eat.  This was a step of faith. The gleaning was left for the poor to get. That was what God had commanded.

Now this is where God intervenes. So Ruth goes out to look for a field to glean, so being a stranger she didn’t know who owned what field. So she found a place and started to glean. This field belonged to Boaz, who was a man of standing in the community.

Boaz was concerned about his workers and wanted them to enjoy the blessings of the Lord, so he went out to greet them. Then Ruth caught his eye. Was this love at first sight? So he inquired about her and when she heard that she was with Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem, he went to her. He told her to glean only his fields and to follow the other women that were harvesting.  Then Ruth humbled herself to him, asking why he being so kind. Boaz told her that he had heard of the good things she had done for her mother-in-law and all that she had been through.

When I read this, I got the feeling that she was probably gleaning what had already been gleaned. And Boaz was now giving her first shot at the gleaning.

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      ROMANS 8:18

      2 CORINTHIANS 4:17

      EPHESIANS 4:31

      2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9

      JAMES 1:2-4

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

What are your assignments of refinement right now? How is God trying to improve your character? Are there any areas where you’re resisting this process?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

Who was the new character introduced this week? What harvest season was going on when Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem?

I – INTO THE PROMISE

. Which of the Quit Quitting Verse spoke to you the most this week and why?

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

Think of an area in your life where you have resisted refinement. It could be with your health, your dreams, your job, or a relationship. Write down a few possible areas in which God could be taking you through a season of refinement.

5 HABITS BIBLE STUDY WEEK 1

Woo Hoo! It’s time to start our new Bible Study on Ruth. Ready to learn 5 habits from a Woman that doesn’t quit? Hope this past week you have prepared yourself for this study through prayer.

This study is designed for 6 weeks, each divided into 5 days of reading and activity. Some of you will do it daily and others all in one day. Either way is right as long as your spend time in the Word, reflections on how it applies or can apply to your life and prayer.

Each day had a “QUIT QUITING VERSE”. Write them to your heart. Post-it notes on your mirrors, In your car, at work are wonderful ways to help.

There is also the Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q- Questions we need to ask and answer.

U- Understanding the Word. Summarizing the readings, characters and words during the week of the story of Ruth. 

I – Into the Promise. There is a promise in every story in Scripture and Ruth is filled with promises of hope.

T- Turn something around. This is another time of reflections to where we need to action and change.

WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK: RUTH 1:1-18

QUIT QUITTING VERSES:

      DAY 1 ROMANS 5:3-4

      DAY 2 ROMAN 8:13

      DAY 3 1 PETER 5:8

      DAY 4 PSALM 34:18

      DAY 5 HEBREWS 10:23

Let get in the Word:

The story of Ruth takes place during the period of the rule of the judges, when the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Hmmmm kinda like this day and time.

Due to a famine, Elimelech decided to take his family to Moab, a country known to be Israel’s enemy and where they worshipped pagan gods. Do you see the first “QUIT” here? The situation was getting hard and instead of asking God what to do and trust God, Elimelech did what “he thought was right in his eyes.”

Famine was often evidence of God’s discipline because His people had sinned against Him. Lev 26:18-20; Deut. 28:15

When trouble comes to our lives we can do one of three things: ENDURE, ESCAPE, or ENLIST. If we only endure our trials, the trials become our master and we have a tendency to become hard and bitter. IF we try to escapes our trials, then we will probably miss the purpose God wants to achieve in our lives. But if we enlist our trial, they become our servant instead of our master and work for us and God will work all things together for our good and His glory. Romans 8:28.

No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, the safest and best place is in the will of God.  Elimelech walked by sight and not by faith. To walk by faith is claiming the promises of God and obeying the Word of God, in spite of what we see, how we feel or what may happen.

Elimelech traveled about 50 miles into pagan (enemy) territory. Bad decision. His sons married the women of Moab. Jews were forbidden to marry Gentile women, especially those from Ammon and Moab. They left Judah to escape from starving to death, yet death followed them to Moab.

We now have 3 widowed women. Naomi heard that the famine had ended “back home” So she decided to return. Luke 15:17 says. there’s always bread enough and to spare when you are in the Father’s will. How sad it is when people only hear of God’s blessings but never experience it, because they are not in the place where God can bless them.

There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. They were taken advantage of or ignored. They were almost always poverty stricken. God’s law however, provided for the widow’s nearest relative to the deceased husband should be the one that cared for the widow.

Naomi’s decision to return to Bethlehem was right but her motives was still about food and furthermore, she didn’t want her daughter-in-laws to go with her. She tried to influence them to return to their land and their false god.

Why do you think she didn’t want them to return with her? Could it be that the women would be living proof that Naomi and her husband had allowed their two sons to marry women from outside the Jewish nation?

Then Naomi blames herself for the sorrow and pain the three women had experienced. Do you think she had been walking with Lord? Sounds almost like a guilty conscious of something she had done that was displeasing to God.

Orpah decided to return to her homeland. QUIT. But Ruth refused to turn around. She had come to know and trust the God of Israel and she wanted to be with His people and dwell in His land.

Ruth confessed her love for her mother-in-law and her desire to stay with her even unto death. Then she confessed her faith in the true and living God and her decision to worship Him.

She was willing to forsake her father and mother in order to cleave to Naomi and the God of her people. Ruth was determined.

Q.U.I.T strategy.

Q – QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND ANSWER

     From the assigned reading, Ruth 1:1-18, what are some questions you would like to have answered?

U – UNDERSTANDING THE WORD

     List all 6 characters in this story that we have read this week.

      Lisa at least 4 life-altering events that we saw happening.

I – INTO THE PROMISE

     You studied 5 Quit Quitting Verses this week. Which of these verses did you need the most this week. Write out how it can help you step into God’s promises for your life.

T – TURN SOMETHING AROUND

     Which of these areas did you feel challenged by God this week.:

            Moving too quickly when I don’t see God working

            Leaving because things get hard

            The need to cling tighter to God.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL LEARN OUR FIRST HABIT

A WOMAN WHO DOESN'T QUIT -PRELUDE

           ONE WEEK TO GO!!!

Are you ready to learn not only more about the Bible, but to learn 5 habits to not “QUIT”, from a women who doesn’t quit? I am!!!

If we are honest with ourselves, we all have “QUIT” on something. Sometimes our goal is to “quit”, something that is generally not good for us, physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. And we quit on trying to quit.

I googled the internet on things to quit, some I could picked if I were on the Family Feud, but then some caused be to stop and ponder.  Let me names some obvious ones:

o  Snacking non-stop even when not hungry

o  Spending too much time on the couch watching TV

o  Overspending

o  Smoking

o  Drinking alcohol

Now some not so obvious:

o  Making excuse, doubting yourself, judging others, letting the past define you, being ungrateful

o  Feeling sorry for yourself, being idle, jealous of others, holding grudges, lying, blaming others

o  Letting your past define you, playing the victim, worrying, trying to make everything perfect,

o  Putting your needs on the back burner, trying to compete against others, saying “yes” all the time, thinking money creates value, worrying what others think of you.

It is OK to QUIT, but it is never OK to GIVE UP!

Just start again another day or time, refreshed and renewed. Even God’s mercies are new every day.

Even Scarlett O’Hara had that attitude. You know at the end of Gone With The Wind when Rhett left Scarlett by saying those famous words “Frankly Scarlett, I don’t give……..”

She had finally realized that she loved Rhett instead of Ashley. She had turned her love away from Rhett time after time and he finally had enough. But she said “Tomorrow’s another day”.

God’s Word is full of new beginnings. So we have hope for anything and all things that we quit on. We just start again, tomorrow.

WHY DO WE QUIT?

Maybe because it takes too long to see the final results. Or maybe we were not committed 100% in the task.

In our study we will be evaluating our own personal strengths that make us want to quit. We will cultivate new habits to help us progress toward our goals and reading scriptures will help develop the perseverance that we need.

So in preparation of next week, list the things that you have quitted and would really want to say “Tomorrow’s another day”. Write down the reason that you quit each task.

There is a new task I want everyone to do, can you guess what it is? That’s right complete this Bible study. I will be praying for you all so that the enemy will not interfere with the few moments it takes each week to do the study and I am praying that we all will have insight from this study that will touch us personally.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK