"Marty" - this movie about a man seeking love, won Best Picture and three other award from the Academy Awards. Ernest Borgnine, is Marty, pictured here with his on-screen Mother.Ruth 3:1-18 American Standard Version
1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do.
6 And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followest not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor. 15 And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Coincidences. Ruth married into the family of Naomi. Naomi takes a moabite with her to become an ancestor of Jesus the Lord. That was one fine moabite, but this is the family of God and if you look at the descriptions you find many different physical attributes. David was described as ruddy and handsome. God chose for Jesus to have a blended family.
And then you go many, many years ahead to Thomas Jefferson. A man people debate, rudely actually, if he was a Christian. Jefferson answered this for himself, Thomas Jefferson took a Bible and he began to read HIS Word looking for his heart to grow warm, looking to see what resonated in Thomas Jefferson for truth. Jefferson felt so strongly, he took the Word and began to assemble his warm heart parts, the ones Thomas Jefferson said, "The truth rings and eminates from these Words." Coincidence. John Adams eventually worked for years upon a project. His political career had been hurt by his former friend Thomas Jefferson. Adams began to work and work to restore a bridge of meaning and warmth again. And as John Adams died, he was a sinner. And John Adams, according to several eye witness accounts, cried out to the effect of this, "Thomas Jefferson lives!" Adams knew full well Thomas Jefferson had been ill. The coincidence - both men required a Savior to live. And had found that savior.
Who will we account worthy to say, I've done the works of Salvation? God says Salvation is a Gift only from Him. No one may boast of works done for Salvation.
And how very touching that the work of the heart, to repair a bridge of friendship, was honored by the Lord in John Adams' first glimpse of His Kingdom.
God does not give us works to create Salvation, but how pleased He is with those who preserve the way, the truth and the life in Him. These men established a freedom atheists have been unable to stamp upon and diminish. The Supreme Court has marble upon the walls proclaiming Old Testament ethics come from the Law given to us through Moses. Until fifty years ago, the Congress was used by a congregation as a Church on Sundays. These rights are given to us, in our Constitution. Visit the Memorial to Abraham Lincoln. Both speeches engraved into the walls tell us of Lincoln's spiritual life and considerations. My family and I visited this two days ago, tears were on our cheeks for the efforts Lincoln went to, living his convictions. Surely his photographs of his tenure, in the Office of the President of the United States, tell of his personal growth and his determination to heal the nation.
Lincoln also had a coincidence. Three days before Good Friday, April 14th 1865, Abraham Lincoln had a dream where he felt he left his bed, traveled down the hallways of the White House, to see a corpse. People were weeping everyone. Lincoln turned and asked, "Who has died in the White House?" The President has been assassinated, he was told. Would Abraham Lincoln be enough of a saint to die on Good Friday? Why should we act as his jury. This man made his life's work to say men are created equal. A union so fought for, should be preserved, and Abraham Lincoln prepared his efforts, in his last speech, to tell a weary nation - work on forgiveness.
Coincidences. How delicate is God's Hand. Let us each day place ourselves in His Hand, asking for the nation conceived in liberty and justice for all, should pray and engrave upon its walls - HE is our faith, our hope, our love. In HIM shall nations look to provide justice with mercy. Allowing us to walk humbly with HIM. He asks our country to provide one another with freedom. How shall we discern this freedom - give unto others what you would have them give to you.
Never forget the freedoms so many people have fought for in Arlington Cemetery - are not a politically correct freedom which assumes only the current politics and philosophies, - is the enduring bread Jesus gave us. See the crosses each would want upon their tomb. Always be one who is incouraged by wonders, acts of love, leaning upon HIS judgments not our own, and never fail to be generous, and gracious in honoring and encouraging others. We build our lives, our families, our nation in these truths and kindnesses. Let me, Father GOD, each day and put out my hands - who will be built up by me today? In the name of Jesus Christ, give me the opportunity to show Your Kingdom on earth is at hand. Amen.
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