SPEAKER_00: Good morning, and thank you for beginning your day with us.
SPEAKER_00: This past Sunday, we began a brand new series through the book of Nehemiah.
SPEAKER_00: Pastor Aaron walked us through the first two chapters to see how Nehemiah and also us are called to trust and obey God.
SPEAKER_00: The last point that Aaron made was that we need to see the provision given by God throughout this whole story.
SPEAKER_00: And it's so cool that he mentioned that because that's exactly what we've been talking about in student ministry as we've been walking through the story of Ruth.
SPEAKER_00: You see, Ruth had lost everything, she came back bitter, and it was hard for her to see all that God was doing.
SPEAKER_00: But then Ruth goes out and she's gleaning in the field that is taking up what's left behind after the harvest, which is even a part of God's law.
SPEAKER_00: You see that in Leviticus.
SPEAKER_00: But what you see is her come across the field of Boaz, who's a kinsman redeemer for her, and Boaz begins to look out for her and watch over her.
SPEAKER_00: She comes back to tell Naomi everything that had happened, and that's what I want to read to you this morning.
SPEAKER_00: Ruth chapter 2, starting in verse 20.
SPEAKER_00: And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead.
SPEAKER_00: Naomi also said to her, The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
SPEAKER_00: It is so cool to see Naomi go from angriness, bitterness, and frustration to blessing God, saying his kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead.
SPEAKER_00: What Naomi didn't understand at the time, and what I think that we often struggle to remember, at least I do, maybe I'm just talking to myself here, is that all I can see sometimes is the circumstance that I'm in.
SPEAKER_00: And I may not understand what God is doing, but God is orchestrating all things for his glory and our good.
SPEAKER_00: You see that in Ruth, you see that in Nehemiah, and I know that we see that in our lives today.
SPEAKER_00: So my encouragement to you this morning is to stop and look at God's provision in your life.
SPEAKER_00: No matter what your circumstance might be, look to see how God is providing in the midst of that circumstance.
SPEAKER_00: Because I promise, if you stop to look, you will see exactly what God is doing.
SPEAKER_00: Even if you don't always understand it.
SPEAKER_00: That's all that I have for you this morning.
SPEAKER_00: I hope that it was encouraging to you.
SPEAKER_00: May we strive to magnify Christ and to share the gospel in our homes, the Wimberley Valley, and beyond.