Here’s something many people miss about Boaz. He didn’t just randomly decide to be kind to a foreign widow. Matthew’s Gospel tells us what Ruth assumes you already know — Boaz was the son of Rahab. Yes, that Rahab from Jericho. He grew up in a home where grace had a name, where someone outside the covenant was brought in by mercy. So when Ruth shows up in his field, he doesn’t see a threat. He sees a story he’s heard before. His generosity wasn’t random. It was generational. He learned to care for the foreigner because once upon a time, his mother was the foreigner. And that challenges us too. Mercy was never meant to stop with us. It was meant to shape how we treat the next outsider God places in our field.
Naomi is one of the most honest people in Scripture. After losing her husband and her sons, she walks back into Bethlehem and says, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara.” Naomi means pleasant. Mara means bitter. She believed she had come back empty. But what she couldn’t see was that they arrived at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth was beside her. Boaz was in the field. Redemption was already moving. Naomi interpreted her life through loss, but God was preparing her for legacy. And maybe that’s comforting for us too. You can be honest about your grief. You can say this hurts. But bitterness does not get the final word.
Have you ever had to make a decision without knowing how it would turn out? That’s Ruth. When Naomi told her to go back to Moab, Ruth chose covenant instead of comfort. She left her homeland, her security, and her future prospects with no promise of provision and no idea there was a redeemer waiting in Bethlehem. We read the story knowing how it ends. She didn’t. She wasn’t walking toward Boaz. She was walking toward obedience. And that’s what faith often looks like — not clarity or certainty, just the next faithful step. Sometimes obedience comes first and understanding follows later.
There’s a small detail in Ruth that most of us miss. In chapter 2, Boaz prays that Ruth would find refuge under God’s “wings” — the Hebrew word is kanaph, which can also mean the corner of a garment. Then in chapter 3, Ruth asks Boaz to spread the corner of his garment over her. Same word. She’s asking him to live the very prayer he prayed. It’s language about protection, belonging, and redemption, and it reminds us that sometimes God answers our prayers by inviting us to step into them ourselves.
Book of Esther 4:14 – “And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (ESV)
Esther’s story begins quietly. She is young, far from home, living in a place where she has little power and even less control over her future. She does not choose the palace and she doesn't seek influence. She is simply faithful where she is planted and yet, when the moment comes, everything changes.
When a threat rises against God’s people through an evil man named Haman, Esther realizes that silence is no longer an option. Speaking could cost her everything but staying quiet would cost others their lives. Faith, in this moment, does not look like the comfort or safety she's come to experience inside her palace walls, now it looks like courage.
What makes Esther’s story so powerful is that just like we talked about last week in the book of Ruth, God never speaks himself in the book, and yet His presence is unmistakable. God is at work behind the scenes, through timing, relationships, and quiet obedience, placing Esther exactly where she needs to be before she ever knows why.
That is often how God works in our lives too.
We rarely see the full picture while we are living it. We make ordinary choices, show up faithfully, and wonder if any of it really matters. Then, suddenly, a moment comes when our voice, our presence, or our willingness becomes exactly what is needed.
This week, take a moment to reflect: – Where has God placed me right now, even if it feels ordinary or uncomfortable? – Is there a place where fear is tempting me to stay silent? – What might faithfulness look like if I trusted that God has already gone ahead of me?
You may not feel ready. Esther didn’t either. But readiness is not what God asks for, He asks for willingness. And sometimes, that willingness is exactly why you are here, right now, for such a time as this. … See MoreSee Less
Have you ever walked through a season where God felt quiet? Not absent. Just quiet.
The Book of Ruth is only four chapters long, and in the entire story God never speaks. No prophet. No angel. No miracle. And yet every detail moves with purpose — famine, faithfulness, redemption, and ultimately the lineage of King David.
Ruth reminds us that God does not have to be loud to be sovereign. Most of His work happens in ordinary obedience, small decisions, and faithful perseverance.
If heaven feels silent right now, don’t assume He is gone. He may be weaving something you cannot yet see.
Our newest ministry: Common Threads – a craft resource center where donated materials are shared, creativity is encouraged, and people of all ages gather to learn, make, and connect. Located in our "Perkins Building" (2-story white house next to church on Market Street). … See MoreSee Less
In Judges 4, the story of Deborah includes a character who barely speaks but shapes the entire chapter — Jabin, king of Canaan. What many people miss is that Hazor had already been conquered in Joshua 11. Israel had already seen victory there. So why is Jabin back? Because Israel never fully drove out the Canaanites. What was left unfinished eventually rose up again as oppression. This devotional explores the long shadow of partial obedience and the sobering truth that postponed obedience can shape future battles. Yet even in Israel’s compromise, God raised up deliverance. Partial obedience has consequences, but it does not cancel God’s mercy.
Have you ever felt God nudging you toward something that didn’t fit what others expected from you? In Judges 4, Scripture simply says, “Deborah was judging Israel at that time.” No explanation. No defense. Just the reality that God had called her to lead. In a culture where that wasn’t typical, Deborah didn’t shrink back or argue for her place. She listened. She led. And the people came to her. This devotional reminds us that God’s calling is not limited by cultural expectations. When He calls, He equips. The real question isn’t whether it makes sense to everyone else. The question is whether we trust the One who is calling.
Here’s something many people miss about Boaz. He didn’t just randomly decide to be kind to a foreign widow. Matthew’s Gospel tells us what Ruth assumes you already know — Boaz was the son of Rahab. Yes, that Rahab from Jericho. He grew up in a home where grace had a name, where someone outside the covenant was brought in by mercy. So when Ruth shows up in his field, he doesn’t see a threat. He sees a story he’s heard before. His generosity wasn’t random. It was generational. He learned to care for the foreigner because once upon a time, his mother was the foreigner. And that challenges us too. Mercy was never meant to stop with us. It was meant to shape how we treat the next outsider God places in our field.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #BookOfRuth #Boaz #Rahab #GenerationalFaith #BiblicalMercy #OldTestament … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Naomi is one of the most honest people in Scripture. After losing her husband and her sons, she walks back into Bethlehem and says, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara.” Naomi means pleasant. Mara means bitter. She believed she had come back empty. But what she couldn’t see was that they arrived at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth was beside her. Boaz was in the field. Redemption was already moving. Naomi interpreted her life through loss, but God was preparing her for legacy. And maybe that’s comforting for us too. You can be honest about your grief. You can say this hurts. But bitterness does not get the final word.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #BookOfRuth #Naomi #Redemption #HopeInHardSeasons #BiblicalEncouragement #FaithThroughLoss … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have you ever had to make a decision without knowing how it would turn out? That’s Ruth. When Naomi told her to go back to Moab, Ruth chose covenant instead of comfort. She left her homeland, her security, and her future prospects with no promise of provision and no idea there was a redeemer waiting in Bethlehem. We read the story knowing how it ends. She didn’t. She wasn’t walking toward Boaz. She was walking toward obedience. And that’s what faith often looks like — not clarity or certainty, just the next faithful step. Sometimes obedience comes first and understanding follows later.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #BookOfRuth #FaithJourney #Obedience #BiblicalEncouragement #TrustGod #ChristianLife … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
There’s a small detail in Ruth that most of us miss. In chapter 2, Boaz prays that Ruth would find refuge under God’s “wings” — the Hebrew word is kanaph, which can also mean the corner of a garment. Then in chapter 3, Ruth asks Boaz to spread the corner of his garment over her. Same word. She’s asking him to live the very prayer he prayed. It’s language about protection, belonging, and redemption, and it reminds us that sometimes God answers our prayers by inviting us to step into them ourselves.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #BookOfRuth #Kanaph #OldTestament #BiblicalInsight #FaithInAction … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Devotion for the Week: For Such a Time as This
Book of Esther 4:14 – “And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (ESV)
Esther’s story begins quietly. She is young, far from home, living in a place where she has little power and even less control over her future. She does not choose the palace and she doesn't seek influence. She is simply faithful where she is planted and yet, when the moment comes, everything changes.
When a threat rises against God’s people through an evil man named Haman, Esther realizes that silence is no longer an option. Speaking could cost her everything but staying quiet would cost others their lives. Faith, in this moment, does not look like the comfort or safety she's come to experience inside her palace walls, now it looks like courage.
What makes Esther’s story so powerful is that just like we talked about last week in the book of Ruth, God never speaks himself in the book, and yet His presence is unmistakable. God is at work behind the scenes, through timing, relationships, and quiet obedience, placing Esther exactly where she needs to be before she ever knows why.
That is often how God works in our lives too.
We rarely see the full picture while we are living it. We make ordinary choices, show up faithfully, and wonder if any of it really matters. Then, suddenly, a moment comes when our voice, our presence, or our willingness becomes exactly what is needed.
This week, take a moment to reflect:
– Where has God placed me right now, even if it feels ordinary or uncomfortable?
– Is there a place where fear is tempting me to stay silent?
– What might faithfulness look like if I trusted that God has already gone ahead of me?
You may not feel ready. Esther didn’t either. But readiness is not what God asks for, He asks for willingness. And sometimes, that willingness is exactly why you are here, right now, for such a time as this. … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have you ever walked through a season where God felt quiet? Not absent. Just quiet.
The Book of Ruth is only four chapters long, and in the entire story God never speaks. No prophet. No angel. No miracle. And yet every detail moves with purpose — famine, faithfulness, redemption, and ultimately the lineage of King David.
Ruth reminds us that God does not have to be loud to be sovereign. Most of His work happens in ordinary obedience, small decisions, and faithful perseverance.
If heaven feels silent right now, don’t assume He is gone. He may be weaving something you cannot yet see.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #BookOfRuth #WhenGodIsSilent #Faithfulness #BiblicalTruth #Providence #ChristianEncouragement … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our newest ministry: Common Threads – a craft resource center where donated materials are shared, creativity is encouraged, and people of all ages gather to learn, make, and connect. Located in our "Perkins Building" (2-story white house next to church on Market Street). … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
In Judges 4, the story of Deborah includes a character who barely speaks but shapes the entire chapter — Jabin, king of Canaan. What many people miss is that Hazor had already been conquered in Joshua 11. Israel had already seen victory there. So why is Jabin back? Because Israel never fully drove out the Canaanites. What was left unfinished eventually rose up again as oppression. This devotional explores the long shadow of partial obedience and the sobering truth that postponed obedience can shape future battles. Yet even in Israel’s compromise, God raised up deliverance. Partial obedience has consequences, but it does not cancel God’s mercy.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #Judges4 #Deborah #Joshua11 #BiblicalTheology #PartialObedience #TrustAndObey #ScriptureStudy #FaithReflection … See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have you ever felt God nudging you toward something that didn’t fit what others expected from you? In Judges 4, Scripture simply says, “Deborah was judging Israel at that time.” No explanation. No defense. Just the reality that God had called her to lead. In a culture where that wasn’t typical, Deborah didn’t shrink back or argue for her place. She listened. She led. And the people came to her. This devotional reminds us that God’s calling is not limited by cultural expectations. When He calls, He equips. The real question isn’t whether it makes sense to everyone else. The question is whether we trust the One who is calling.
#SnowHillMD #TheOrdinaryMethodist #Judges4 #Deborah #WomenInTheBible #CalledToLead #TrustGod #BiblicalEncouragement #FaithAndObedience #ScriptureReflection … See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook