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Read Ruth 1:19-22 (ESV) So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was...

Read Ruth 1:11-14 (ESV) But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may...

Read Ruth 1:6-10 (ESV) Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of...

Read Ruth 1:1-5 (ESV) In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn...

Read Ruth 1:15-18 (ESV) And [Naomi] said, “See, your sister-in-law, has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your...

Published 4/17/20 Read 1 Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." Reflect What do you suppose it means to fear the Lord? And why are there so many Scriptures that instruct us to fear God, not man? The Bible tells us that (1) to fear God is the beginning of wisdom, (2) the fear of the Lord leads to life, and (3) the Lord delights in those who fear Him. Why is this important? The Lord wan

Published 4/16/20 Read 1 John 4:4-6 "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." Reflect What qualities are we to demonstrate in our lives? How did God d

Published 4/15/20 Read Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' " Reflect In what ways is the Lord's Prayer a perfect prayer? What do you learn from these special words? What is Jesus t

Published 4/14/20 Read Psalm 13:3-6 "Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me." Reflect Honest communication with God is a great way to process what is going on in our lives. Have you notice

Published 4/13/20 Read Psalm 13:1-2 "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?" Reflect How do you feel about the fact that David is secure enough in his friendship with the Lord to be completely honest with his feelings? Are you able to be this authentic too? Why is it important to pour out everything that'

Published 4/10/20 Read Mark 15:33-34 "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' " Reflect In what ways do you want Jesus to heal you? Do you believe that He can do it? (Explain.) What kinds of "internal junk" is weighing you down? (Be honest.) What steps can you take right now to grow

Published 4/9/20 Read 1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." Reflect How should we react when hard times hit? How should we pray? Do you trust that God will see you through the challenges? Why is it important to get a perspective from a trusted friend, as well? When an otherwise peaceful life suddenly collides with a painfu

Published 4/8/20 Read Psalm 22:14-21 "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet-- I can count all my bones--they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cas

Published 4/7/20 Read Psalm 22:1-2 (NLT) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Reflect Why is it important to keep praying even when we don't sense God in our lives? In what ways can our emotions deceive us? What can help us to be patient? In Psalm 22, David felt as if he had gotten a raw deal from God, and he wanted so

Published 4/6/20 Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked." Reflect What keeps you from praying boldly? Do you believe that God cares abou

Published 4/3/20 Text in Context: Read John 14:15-31 Reflect : How are we to show love for God? Why do you think Jesus repeated this four times? How did Jesus set this example? What's the difference between the peace that Jesus gives compared to the peace the world offers? Respond: What's your first response to trials and problems? What does this reveal about your trust? How can you show faith in Jesus' promise? Prayer: Father, thank you for promising to provide me peace.

Published 4/2/20 Read Psalm 23:1-3 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Reflect What other benefits does God provide in these verses? How does the image of God in these verses contrast with other popular images of God? You're in your car. Suddenly, your pulse is racing, your breath is coming in gasps--you feel like yo

Published 4/1/20 Read Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Reflect What problems in your life are you trying to solve on your own? What has God told you about that through this lesson? Have you ever experienced the freedom that comes from giving your difficultie

Published 3/31/20 Read Hebrews 11:16 "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." Reflect Read through Hebrews 11 and think about these questions: How is faith defined in this chapter? What does hope have to do with it? What stories told in this chapter have you heard before? Does this chapter shed any additional light on why those men and women did what they di

Published 3/30/20 Read Hebrews 1:1-4 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, h

Published 3/27/20 By Nat Crawford Read Psalm 18:1-3 I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." Reflect What does it mean that God is our rock? King David knew who he could count on when he couldn't count on his family, his king, or any other earthly thing.

Published 3/26/20 Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 " So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in

Published 3/25/20 Read Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." Reflect What is faith? Is it the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen? Is it the evidence of things we cannot yet see? The writer of Hebre

Published 3/24/20 Read Luke 21:29-33 "And he told them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.'" Reflect How can I overcome the