Besides being a classic love story, what we read about Ruth in the Bible is an uplifting reminder that where we were born and the bad things that happen to us in the past are no indicators of what God can do with us in the present and future. Ruth was from a family line considered cursed. (The Moabites were descendents of the incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters, see Genesis 19:36-37.) Then she became a widow at an early age and had no children through which to secure an inheritance. But none of that mattered to God. What mattered to God was her heart, which was sold out to Him. After all was said and done, Ruth caught the attention of the most eligible bachelor in town, he fell in love with her and married her, and she became the great-grandmother of King David, directly in the line, which led to our Savior!

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Stay committed to following God. No matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, a heart sold out to Him is what matters. Don’t worry. Be at peace. Life will work out. Worship God today for having divine foresight that sees past the awful present and is able to carry you into an awesome future.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

In Judges, chapter 6, the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon to tell him he is the next judge chosen to deliver Israel, this time from the oppression of the Midianites. Not understanding why he, the least in a small family, would be chosen, Gideon asked the Lord for some reassurance. First, the Lord consumes food with fire, then He allows dew to fall on the fleece only the first time, and then on the ground and not on the fleece the second time (see verses 21 and 36-40). I was a little puzzled by this, not by the signs themselves, but by Jesus’ reaction in the New Testament when He was asked by the Pharisees to show a sign. His reaction then was, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!” Matthew 12:39 (NIV)

Why was it wicked for the Pharisees to ask for a sign but okay for Gideon? I think the answer lies in the heart of the one asking the question. You see, the Pharisees were asking for a sign in order to believe; Gideon was asking because of his belief. Gideon’s heart beat for God and he wanted to be sure he was moving in obedience. Our loving heavenly Father has no problem reassuring us that we are really hearing from Him, but woe to those of us who know we hear and still do not move and obey. The Pharisees simply wanted to see some magic; their hearts were twisted to only hate Him no matter what they saw. Gideon was poised to obey. What do we do with the voice of God when we hear it? Worship God today for being the One who reassures.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

 Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Whenever I fly, I take work with me. I’m writing this piece on a flight and I have two speaking engagements coming up in five days for which to prepare. The gate attendant told me the flight would not be full, so I was hoping against hope to get a seat beside an empty seat so I could use both trays for my work.

Well, the attendant was right, but I had no seat luck. My husband and I choose mid-plane, aisle seats across from each other and waited for people behind us in the aisle to pass us to choose their spots. Two young women chose the window and middle seats next to me and my husband ended up beside an empty middle seat. The man in the row behind him even ended up alone so he immediately stretched out to almost lie down. To magnify my misery, the gentleman in the seat in front of me reclined his seat as far as it would go, leaving me with even less room. Everyone was sleeping or reading; no one was working except me. No one needed all the room nor the trays but me. Arrrgh!

My atmosphere was being challenged. I needed extra room, my shoulders and wrists were hurting from being cramped into this tight typing position, and others had gotten the seats with the room they didn’t even need. I wanted to cry and was getting a headache. I was frustrated and frankly ticked off. Three and a half prime working hours stretched before me. How was I supposed to think spiritual thoughts and write spiritual things under such conditions?

Once airborne at the proper altitude, I laboriously got my carry-on situated, inserted the earpieces for my iPod® into my ears, and clicked “shuffle” to listen to a variety of my favorite gospel music. As I placed my laptop on my tiny little tray, the song I’ve chosen as my ministry theme song started.

• “Lord, You are extremely, You’re extremely good.
• Lord, You are extremely, You’re extremely good.
• No matter what I’m going through,
• I just cast my cares on You,
• ‘Cause Lord You are extremely, You’re extremely good.”

As the song played, I pulled up the devotion on my computer I hadn’t had time to read that morning. Oswald Chambers wrote, “The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to look after, and it is the one thing that is being continually assailed.^[1]

God’s goodness, casting cares, not the work, but the atmosphere. Hmmm.

Colossians 3:15-16 sprang to mind. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (NKJ). Peace in my heart, thankfulness, and the rich indwelling of the Word are all things that are mine by allowance not bestowal. I have to “let the peace of God rule,” “be thankful,” and “let the word of Christ dwell richly.” God makes these available, but I have to “let” or allow them to be a part of my reality. So I begin to deliberately cast my frustration about my tiny, cramped space onto God’s very ample shoulders. I begin to let God’s peace-atmosphere bubble help me chill out in order to get some of this work done.

I know I’m not alone. Some days nothing goes right, your best laid plans are upset, and you feel frustrated, mistreated, and generally ticked off. Since there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it anyway, begin to worship God for being the peace-giver and then watch as peace takes over. I got this devotion written, didn’t I?

P.S. The iPod® just ran out of juice!

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

^[1] Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

In 1966, the musical group known as The Temptations recorded a catchy love song entitled “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Topping the Billboard R & B Chart for eight consecutive weeks, David Ruffin led the song, crooning with the group about a wife or girlfriend who wanted to leave for some reason. The lyrics reveal that they will plead, cry, and even sleep on her doorstep all night long, whatever it takes to keep her from walking away. “Please don’t leave me,” they sing because they “ain’t too proud to beg.”

Although the tables are turned a little bit in the book of Joel, God is pleading the same thing to His people. However, God is not the source of the problem; we are. We’re the ones who have neglected to realize what we have in Him. Still, it is God who is pleading, “Please don’t leave me.” Joel 2:11-12 says, “The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? ‘Now, therefore,’ says the LORD, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning’” (NKJ).

God knows what’s coming, and He wants us close to Him. Only by being in His arms of safety can we be assured of having everything we could ever need.

So today, perhaps you have moved a bit away from the Lord in some areas of your life, or maybe you find yourself feeling quite distant from Him. Either way, simply turn and run back. He’s waiting with open arms. The prophet goes on in verse 13 to invite you by saying, “So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.”

God wants you to be His even if you’re thinking of walking out and leaving Him behind. Worship God today for being the pleader who ain’t too proud to beg for your return.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

James, our Lord’s brother, knew all about Jesus both as his natural relative and as the Savior. The unique perspective James gives in his epistle shows Jesus’ ways to be quite practical. When speaking of prayer, James says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:14-16 (NKJ).

Simply put, James tells us that when we’re sick, we ought to go to God in prayer and we ought to take others with us. Once we ask in the name of the Lord, the Lord will move on behalf of the one needing help. How encouraging and how practical!

Over and over again while traveling around with Jesus, James saw this played out. People were sick; they went to Jesus. Some were so sick that they couldn’t get to Jesus on their own, so their parents or friends either took them or sought Jesus out on their behalf. No matter what the illness—physical, spiritual, or mental—the result was the same; taking the problem to Jesus meant He made a difference in the life of the sick person.

Are you hurting? Go to Jesus with the problem and take some friends along. Do you know people who are hurting? Take them to Jesus or go to Him on their behalf. Don’t give up. Be encouraged with the knowledge that your prayers as one of God’s righteous ones are extremely effective. In other words, God is listening. He hears. He touches. He heals. Worship God today as Healer of the Sick.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Second Corinthians 5:17, a very familiar verse to many Christians, says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” We normally see this as a verse discussing the point of our salvation or baptism. We read it to say, “When we come to Christ, we are made new.” But look again. This verse is not only speaking about some point in our past. It says, “If anyone is in Christ.” In other words, as we live in Christ, we are new, present tense. In the same manner in which mercies are new every morning, we too are new moment by moment, as we live in Christ.

Jesus, the God man, lives outside of time; we live in it. What He caused to happen in eternity past, we experience along the timeline of our life span. The original Creator of all things (see John 1:3),Jesushas neither lost that creative ability, nor has He stopped using it. So, when Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “all things have become new,” we must realize that this is speaking of the creative ability of Jesus, the One who originally created everything in the first place.

So when we can’t see our way out of an impossible situation; find our way out of a toxic relationship; or fight our way out of misplaced, entrenched beliefs; we can turn our “dark formless void” (see Genesis 1:2) over to the Creator/Re-creator. Knowing His power, ability, and willingness to help us, how incredibly ridiculous of us to believe even for a second that Jesus cannot still make all things new. As long as the outcome remains consistent with His character, it’s just plain silly to talk about any situation that God can’t completely transform. Worship God today as the transformer.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Consider some scenarios about conversations with my toddlers:

• If they would ask me to let them play with a buzz saw, I would obviously say, “No.” No explanation would be necessary; they wouldn’t understand it anyway. My negative response would just have to be sufficient because of my authority and what I know about the tragic outcome of granting their request.
• If they asked to drive the car, I’d say, “Not yet.” My more mature knowledge would answer in that way because I know one day they will have grown into the ability to drive and I will then be able to let them do so.
• If they were to ask me to drive near Disneyland so they could look at it, I may say, “Hold on, I have something better,” and then actually purchase tickets and take them in to enjoy the Happiest Place on Earth all day.
• If they were to ask me for more vegetables and less sweets, I would eagerly and quickly give them exactly what they asked for. Why? Because they would be asking for something that was in accordance with my will for them.

Our prayers are never ignored, nor do they go unanswered. When it comes to prayer, we have a tendency to forget that “no,” “not yet,” and “hold on for something better,” are also answers. 1 John 5:14-15 is pretty clear, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (NKJ). God fulfills for us those things we ask in accordance with His will for us. When we ask for stuff He doesn’t want for us, He says, “No.” At other times, He has to let us grow, or He has something better in mind.

Prayer is more about getting into God’s head than about convincing God that He should do what’s in our hearts. He already knows what we think and what we want, but He’s ultimately concerned with what we need. When we pray, let’s be about the business of finding out what God wants for us in every situation of life. Once we know His outlook on a subject, our prayer-confidence meter will soar. Not only will we be patient with God and His timing, we’ll spend much less time asking for what we want, and much more time asking for what He wants for us. And God’s answers are always right. Worship God today for being the prayer-answerer regardless of what answer He gives.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Ezra the prophet enjoyed the favor of the Persian King Artaxerxes. The king had placed satraps and governors over Jerusalem, but he wrote a letter to them stating that he was allowing Ezra to lead a delegation back to the city to rebuild the temple. He realized he needed to show some respect to the powerful God of the Israelites because he said, “Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” (Ezra 7:23, NKJ) Not only did Artaxerxes give his permission, but he also provided supplies and money from his own treasuries to finance the project.

Ezra realized that the favor of this foreign king had come his way thanks to “the good hand of God” Ezra 7:9 and 8:18. He also realized that his deportment was a witness to this king. After all the riches were accumulated, Ezra and his group had to get it all to Jerusalem, but it would be a treacherous journey because of the possibility of ambushes along the roads. Ezra faced a dilemma.

• Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23

Ezra had done all this big talking to the king about how great his God was. He had so convinced the king that the man had put his own money toward a project that would honor the God he didn’t even serve. For Ezra to then turn around and request protection would be a boldfaced denial of all he had claimed God could do.

If we say our God is a powerful protector, we had better be about the business of leaning on Him when we are threatened. It is a witness to the world when we live out what we claim. Our dependence upon Him gives God the opportunity to show Himself strong. Worship God today for being our protector.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

#HeartForTheWord

When I’m teaching my English students about crafting conclusions to their compositions, I tell them a poignant statement I once read: Any writer can stop writing; great writers finish. Then I turn their attention to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as the quintessential example. That book doesn’t only start with the amazing opening line “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…,” but it also concludes with a marvelous closing line: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the original great Finisher. In his greeting to the believers in the church at Philippi, Paul tells those folks that he is “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6 (NKJ). The Greek word for “complete” in this verse is “epiteleo (ep-ee-tel-eh’-o)” which means “to fulfill further, execute, terminate, and accomplish.” Paul was encouraging those believers and is encouraging us today to hang in there because God intends to finish in their lives that which He has started.

When we get to a place where it seems God is no longer using us, or we have somehow blown our effectiveness in the Kingdom, we must hearken back to a time when we were on fire in our zeal. We were certain of what God wanted us to do. God doesn’t change so neither has His call on our lives. Jesus is able to bring to fruition that which He began in us.

Keep working. Second Chronicles 15:7 says, “Be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” God’s great first line in our lives was affecting our salvation through His Son; Jesus now has no intention of stopping His writing of our story until He drafts our amazing closing line. Worship God today for being the great Finisher.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

People usually use the phrase “get the hell out” in a derogatory manner. They are most often shouting it to someone whose company they no long desire. However today, believe it or not, I discovered a new use of the phrase from the words of the writer of the 86^th division of the Psalms. The Psalmist says, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Yourname. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol” Psalm 86:11-13 (NKJ).

You see, the Psalmist realizes there is at least one huge benefit attached to living for God. Once he knows God’s ways, he determines to live by them. Once his heart is linked to God’s heart, he will respect God’s name by his obedience to God’s word. All of that results in praise, with the ultimate realization being that he notices that he has gotten the hell out of his future.

We too get the hell out of our future when we allow God to teach us His ways, walk in His truth, and unite our hearts to fear Him. We too will praise God with all our hearts and glorify His name every day of our lives. Worship God today; He’s praiseworthy because of His merciful action of delivering us from the depths of hell.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)