(From Galya) Ruth

The story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz is beautiful. Naomi, who temporarily had lost security in life, was loving and kind to her daughters-in-law. Ruth had developed a heart for the Lord and had faith to stay with Naomi and go in a foreign land: to serve the God of Israel. Ruth had a noble character. Finally, Boaz was compassionate to Ruth, a foreigner woman, just as God had told the Israelites to do.

At the end all three of them are blessed for their faith. Naomi gets a family to take care of her in her old age. Ruth gets a gracious husband, and Boaz gets a wife of a noble character. Aside from the current troubles the nation of Israel is in, it's great to see how God lovingly works in the life of each person and especially how He reveals His faithfulness to those who persevere in their faith.

There is a great song the lyrics of which are based on the story of Naomi and Ruth. It focuses on the moment when one woman kisses her mother-in-law then leaves her, but the other woman stays with her mother-in-law, in faith. We make the same type of choice every time we might feel that we are standing at a crossroad in our faith: to leave or stay and believe.

a kiss
a kiss is a clue to the heart
a window that lets light impart
or hides you away in the dark
the dark can consume and it will
your will an enemy still
and it will be forever until

you kiss and tell
me what you’re thinking
kiss and tell me what you believe
are you brave enough
have faith enough to stay...

truth
truth is the one thing we trust
worthy of all that we must
give up to gain to matter what
what if the road’s not paved with ease
what if storms are all you see
will you kiss and leave
or stay and still believe
don’t trade your inheritance
for a moments worth of pleasure
it only adds to emptiness
a world of worthless treasure
(sang by Crystal Lewis)