The Dwelling Richly Podcast

Bitter, Blessed, or Both?

Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Days 9 & 10

Naomi has yet to acknowledge what God has actually done. Her husband abandoned God and God’s people, her sons married pagans, and she is now returning widowed and childless – but...She. Is. Returning! Instead of wanting to be called “bitter” why not be called “God is providing for me in spite of myself because I have this wonderful daughter-in-law and I’m home in the place where God can surely bless me because I’m willing to repent and serve Him.” Ok, maybe that’s kind of long, I admit, but I’m sure there’s a Hebrew word that she could have chosen! But no. Naomi’s heart is still far from God. She is home in body only – not in heart. What about you? Is it possible that in some way you may be heading back to a Moab in your life? Or are you embracing Bethlehem where God’s promises lie? Is your life being defined by a willingness to totally and completely cling to God and His ways even if you honestly have no idea what is on the road ahead? Or are you defined by your loss and grief and your need for the familiar ways from your past? Take a moment as we close today to seek the Father in this. Ask Him to search your heart and reveal to you any tendency you may have to deny Him and avoid the road ahead He may have for you. I’m praying today that you and I will become women defined by our desire to dwell in the house of the Lord and feast on His bread of life…no matter the cost. Chapter one concludes with words of “emptiness”, “affliction”, “misfortune” and “bitterness.” Not a very happy scene. And yet, we see God moving, hearts turning, and hope is around the corner. What ever you’re going through in your life today, I pray that you’ll never forget that God is at work. God is moving in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. Trust him in that today. Pray that God would continue to work in your heart to help you keep your eyes on Him and grow as a woman who is truly faithful and fearless.
The Dwelling Richly community Bible study meets at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
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M Y C H U R C H:
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Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Day 8 Ruth 1:1-18

Someone once said to me. “I can’t stand Christians. They’re so fake. They say one thing and do another.” The reality is – that’s true. Identifying myself as a follower of Christ – a Christian – isn’t a statement about myself and my worthiness as much as it is a statement about God and His. Christians are not unique in their hypocrisy. All faiths have their hypocrites. Judaism is no exception. Case and point: Naomi. She was actually a weak and hypocritical example of her faith. She was hardly a testimony of faithfulness much less a missionary for her Jewish faith in allowing her sons to marry Moabites or in urging her now widowed daughters-in-law to stay in a pagan land or in her lack of faith in YHVH to provide for her upon her return. Perhaps, however, in the decade that Ruth lived with Naomi she heard Naomi recite the Shema? The Shema is the daily Scripture recited by observant Jews. She may not have been living by faith at this moment, but she likely kept up some ceremonial activities. Reciting the Shema was probably a prayer she said every morning and evening and probably one that Ruth heard. Perhaps she observed the feasts as ordained by God? Perhaps she had the outward signs of faith even though when her life is marked with tragedy, she shows a lack of depth. I hope this is a reminder for each of us that in spite of our lack of faith, the world is still seeking and God still will be found. We don’t have to be a perfect testimony to point people to Jesus! Never forget this….and don’t let Satan speak otherwise to you. Naomi was imperfect, and yet God used her. Wait for it…we’ll get there.
You can attend the Dwelling Richly community Bible study at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
F O L L O W:
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Share any prayer requests in the comment section below!
M Y C H U R C H:
http://lamiradachurch.com/
B I B L E: Bible App: https://www.bible.com/app

Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Day 7 Ruth 1:1-16

Naomi is clearly out. Of. Hope. Devastated by the losses she’s suffered, she has not kept her eyes on the God of the Promise. While she hears about what the I Am has done for the land she is not trusting what He could do in her life.I have shared in our previous studies of my own lack of hope that used to define my life. In a broken marriage to an abusive alcoholic husband, infertile, and lonely, I had all but lost hope for me on a personal level in my own life. I knew of hope – God’s hope – in the big picture, but for me personally, in the smallness of my little life, I was on the edge of despair...I will say this for Naomi, at least she’s on the right road.The journey from Moab to Judah was about 60 miles – a two, maybe three-day journey. At least she was heading in the right direction albeit for wrong motives. Naomi is about to embark on a road that will take her from the land and experiences of despair to a land that will ultimately bring complete restoration. But she stillneeds an encounter and little does she know, but she’s trying to let go of the very person who will be an instrument of restoration in her life. 
You can attend the Dwelling Richly community Bible study at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
F O L L O W:
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Facebook
Share any prayer requests in the comment section below!
M Y C H U R C H:
http://lamiradachurch.com/
B I B L E: Bible App: https://www.bible.com/app

Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Day 6 Ruth 1:1-6

Naomi has been through a famine, the death of her husband and father to her sons and now, without sons, she has no prospects for a family to continue. Hard enough in our culture today for a woman to suffer such losses, but in Naomi’s day she was done. Completely emptied of all that could fill her life with promise and blessing, by man’s standards it’s over for her.The consequences of Elimelech’s unbelief are severe.Naomi is left with three graves...two daughters-in-law...and no way to provide for herself or these Moabite women.And yet...we know that God indeed will provide,and His provision will be a most tender and gracious kind. Close your time in prayer, trusting that in spite of how hard your circumstances may be, you will trust the God who Provides
You can attend the Dwelling Richly community Bible study at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
F O L L O W:
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Share any prayer requests in the comment section below!
M Y C H U R C H:
http://lamiradachurch.com/
B I B L E: Bible App: https://www.bible.com/app
 

Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Day 5 Background

From the opening two verses of the book of Ruth the entire story is set, but you’ll miss the drama if you miss the background. Famine…husband leaves to find food for his family…travels to another country.
He’s just looking out for his family, right? Let's study and see
You can attend the Dwelling Richly community Bible study at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
F O L L O W:
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YouTube
Facebook
Share any prayer requests in the comment section below!
M Y C H U R C H:
http://lamiradachurch.com/
B I B L E: Bible App: https://www.bible.com/app
 

Faithful & Fearless: Lesson 1/Day 4 Ruth 1:1-4

There are only two books in the Bible that are named for women: Ruth and Esther. The story of Ruth’s life is one of the most touching reminders of God's grace in the entire Bible.
 If I told you that my relative kept her child in a closet and only let him see the light of day through a small opening in a locked window, that she fed him scraps of food, and never let him speak above a whisper, you would be horrified. But if I told you that my relative was a Jew living in 1934 during the reign of Hitler and she was hiding to save her child and herself from concentration camps, you’d shift your thoughts. You’d understand the context of their situation. Reading an entire book of the Bible, especially a narrative like Ruth, is so important to really grasping what is going on and understanding the times surrounding a person’s story will give you a greater insight.
 Let’s begin with that kind of openness to understanding Ruth’s story. We’ll need to go back a bit to grasp what’s going on…
You can attend the Dwelling Richly community Bible study at La Mirada Christian Church every other week: Mondays, 6:30pm or Tuesdays, 9:30am, February 4-April 30, 2019
Register online http://www.LMCCWomen.Eventbrite.com
When you share, use our hashtags: #LMCCWomen #DwellingRichlyBibleStudy
DOWNLOAD THE STUDY: https://www.lamiradachurch.com/women
F O L L O W:
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
Share any prayer requests in the comment section below!
M Y C H U R C H:
http://lamiradachurch.com/
B I B L E: Bible App: https://www.bible.com/app

Fearless

No really, Fearless. Are you?

Living with Strength and Joy

For those who want to have healthy relationship boundaries, balance in commitments, and live with greater joy and focus, this is the workshop for you :-)

Living with Strength and Joy

For those who want to have healthy relationship boundaries, balance in commitments, and live with greater joy and focus, this is the workshop for you :-)