The Mourner

  
Hello Friendly People,
   This is a story about a woman (Naomi) who's life was filled with great loss. She mourned the loss of not only her husband but her sons as well, her possessions and protection too. She was also in a foreign country and with two widowed daughter-in-laws to worry about. I marvel at the brave steps she takes in believing her God. Naomi looked at loss and adversity with vigor and strength. With this kind of faith she most certainly would rise again. She was eager to be back in the land of her God, where possibility was still alive. Her daughter-in-law Ruth chooses devotion and follows Naomi to her home land. This story is a must read when your faith is being challenged. God restores her and gives her faithful love from her daughter-in-law and a protective, honorable son-in-law. God filled her loss with love and honor as He will do for anyone who sees Him as their source and refuge.

Matthew 5:4
V4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The story ends with Ruth 4:14
V14 Then the women said to Naomi, " Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
V15 May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
V16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
V17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

   I think maybe this scripture was ringing in her ears when she hit the wall of devastation.

Isaiah 43:18-19.
V18 Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder the things of the past.
V19 Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the dessert.

   This is a story about choosing life or death, the hand of God and trust it; or move into self pity and die destitute. She chose to stay faithful in prosperity and in destitute, which paved the way for her steadfastness to bear it's fruit later.

    There is an old Greek story told by Mr. Spurgeon, about a soldier under Antigonus, one of Alexander's famous generals, who had a painful disease which was likely to bring him soon to the grave. This soldier was always first in the charge, and was the bravest of the brave. His pain prompted him to fight that he might forget it, and he was not afraid of death, for he knew he had not long to live. Antigonus greatly admired the valor of this soldier, and he had his malady cured by an eminent physician. From that moment his valor was gone. He sought ease and safety; for, he said," I now have something to live for - health, home, family, etc.

   I have called Joseph (pictured below), "Obed" when he has needed great devotion and perseverance. He knows to always finish strong because the last thing you do is what people remember. It doesn't matter how much you've done previous, it's how you finish. Our flesh will always scream for relief, but God is always faithful to give us true courage and true strength. God has always helped Joe and Amanda, his wife, to finish strong even under great heartache and persecution. Keep their family in your prayers as they make many life decisions. I'll end with the words I heard from Joseph.

                                                            Never give up, Never give in.