Mason jars and Bible studies.
February 26, 2008 at 12:00 am (Christianity, men, personal, romance, school)
I have this favorite cup of mine. I got it at the dollar store, which is so often heavenly for me. It’s cheap at least. Anyway, so I got this cup. It’s a mason jar with a handle on it, and it says “County Fair Drinking Jar” or something lame like that. I love it. I drink all my drinks in it now. I think because it combines the best of drink world. It’s a glass, so it’s perfect for drinking cold liquids, but it also has the comfort of a mug in the handle! It really is my favorite. I was walking back to my dorm with it today and thinking about how I wish I had 5 of them. Someday I will. (This had nothing to do with below, but I just wanted to share.
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Today at Bible Study God really slapped me upside the face with some good truth. We’re going through the book of Ruth and Mrs. Jones was talking about how long it took before Boaz and Ruth got together–the Bible says that they went through the barley harvest, and then through the wheat harvest. During that time, Ruth was daily waking up and gleaning from morning to night, coming back home, making food for Naomi, and going to sleep. Every day that was her routine. We talked about how monotonous that must have been. And Mrs. Jones said, “It wouldn’t have been unexpected for Ruth to say ‘God, I’m tired of gleaning!’ or ‘God, another harvest?’. But we have no record of that. Ruth was diligent in daily doing her work. She didn’t give up.”
And it just struck me, because I tell God all the time “God, I’m tired of gleaning”. Well I don’t say it like that–of course I don’t glean. But I consistently tell God that I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of watching my friends go out on dates and do these things. I tell God I’m tired of living this life He has called me to, and I’d like a man now. I am never content to just live and wait for God. But if we look at Ruth’s life we see that God did have great plans for her, and He was able and WILLING to accomplish them for her. All she had to do was trust His timing.
It seems so easy, doesn’t it? It sounds altogether simple, really. But as Mrs. Jones says, “there’s that 4-letter cuss word again–wait!” It’s so hard. I think it’s in having to trust God that I really see my biggest area of sin. I don’t trust Him, in spite of His goodness and faithfulness to me. I place my faith on my feelings rather than my feelings on my faith. It’s in this area that I need complete grace. It isn’t easy. It’s really hard, because I’m a broken human being.
Good thing He is good, right? I’m going to sleep now, knowing that He has a Boaz out there for me…someday!
-Sarah
Bonnie said,
February 27, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Let me tell you - I have a man of my own, and being married to him is really dreamy. Espesh when I wake up from a sweet dream to his nostrils flaring in my face and this wretched honking noise coming from his mouth. You know you’ve arrived when you get to that stage in a relationship.
Seriously though, I was destined for old-maid-hood when I met him because I had never dated anybody before. Dating just wasn’t my scene.
And frankly, I thank God that it wasn’t, that He just let me bop along until one day He dropped my Boaz into my life. My Boaz was nothing that I imagined he would be, except for the whole “loyal, hard-working, committed Christian, wants-to-be-a-father-many-times-over part” - that he is. But the whole hot-rod-drag-car-loving, motorcycle-obsessed, skunk-killing-farts, can’t-watch-anything-but-the-Speed-Channel stuff…yeah, that was really out of left field. He’s pretty great though. We spend a lot of time at the dollar store too because there’s awesome cheap stuff galore in there. Ahh, the stuff of dreams, hangin with your sweetie at the dollar barn. Yours will come. 
Bonnie
2CJC Project Rocks!
http://2cjcproject.com/blog/2
Tracy said,
March 3, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Great post Sarah! I pray that you continue to pour your “whinings” before the Lord as you wait. The greatest part of the Ruth/Boaz story to me is not that she eventually got her man, but the incredible blessing that she is part of the lineage of Christ. It was her faith in God that led her to serve Naomi and it was that service that brought her to Boaz’s attention.
I read a devotional this morning about our call to be light. Light is silent. It does not have to make noise to be effective. When I am gleaning I often complain that nobody seems to notice just how hard I am gleaning. (And take it from me, at the age of 39 I feel like I have been in perpetual harvest!) Then God gently reminds me that it is His pleasure that I seek and none other. I feel His pride and love and am satisfied. Those periods of full contentment are lasting longer and longer as I grow.
So enjoy your mason jar mug! It too should one day have a mate.