~ Welcome ~
This is a place for widows to meet one another. A place to be encouraged, to learn about God's love for this special sisterhood. A place to grow in God's grace and love.
I have written and spoken about Naomi whose story is recorded in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament, many times. There are so many lessons we can learn from her life. The stories of these women were given to us by God to instruct and help us when our lives face difficulties too. Today I want to again look at some of the occurrences in the life of Naomi and then introduce you to an incredible widow who lives in India and trace the journeys of each as they traveled the long, hard road to wholeness and productivity.
First, let me refresh your memory of Naomi. She, along with her husband and two sons, went to Moab from Bethlehem in Judah because Judah was experiencing a severe famine and the economic picture looked brighter in the land of Moab. Things were fine for a while; then Naomi’s husband died and a few years later so did both of her sons. Naomi was cast into an abyss of great grief and despair. She was now a widow with no means of support in a foreign country. She heard that things were better in the land of Judah and she made the decision to make the seventy-mile trip back through some very rough and dangerous terrain. Only one of her widowed daughters-in-law made the trip with her. They doubtless endured hot dusty days, cold nights, and would have been easy prey for robbers who hid along the roadways, but God protected them and they arrived safely. Yet circumstances didn’t immediately improve for her. Widows without benefit of an adult son automatically became a member of the lowest rung of society in those days. She was a broken, poverty-stricken, bitter old woman with no hope in sight. What was she to do?
Before I finish Naomi’s story, let me introduce you to a woman by the name of Vimala from the nation of India. Vimala lived the life of a wife and mother until, at the age of 47, she became a widow. She was thrown out of her home by her in-laws who blamed her for their son’s death. Her daughter reluctantly agreed to give her shelter, but this didn’t include food or the necessary medications she needed for her diabetes. In exchange, Vimala had to help support her disabled daughter as well as her two grandchildren. It was at this juncture in her widowhood that she found herself in much the same situation as Naomi. She was uneducated and had no marketable work skills. What was she to do? In her lonely, terrified state of mind, she contemplated suicide as her only way out and these thoughts haunted her day in, day out.
Now, let’s revisit Naomi’s story. When she arrived back at her hometown the Scriptures describe her homecoming like this: When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. …The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” (Ruth 1:19b-21a) God is sovereign over all of life, but it is never His intent to make us bitter; He is always at work to make us better, more like Him.
Soon Naomi’s bitterness was replaced with hope, and God began to orchestrate changes in her life, first through her daughter-in-law, Ruth, and then through Boaz, a close relative of her deceased husband. After a series of God-orchestrated events, Ruth and Boaz married and economic security was restored to Naomi. Ultimately, joy and fullness reigned in her heart again through the birth of her grandson, Obed, who became an ancestor to Jesus our Messiah.
Vimala, too, was consumed with despair and saw suicide as her only way out. But, God had other plans. God has placed in India a ministry called the Kerusomen Gospel Ministries who, among other things, helps the widows with kindness and love. Anju, who was the director of
the women's ministry, was filled with compassion for Vimala who was an outcast for no other reason than being a widow. Sadly, that is the fate of thousands of India’s widows. They are shunned by a society steeped in superstition that believes they are bad luck. Vimala’s only way to survive would be to beg or turn to prostitution. God used Kerusomen’s The Well partners to replace thoughts of suicide with hope for her. They now give Vimala a monthly stipend for food and furnish her medical supplies. This guarantees that her daughter will not abandon her. Women from The Well visit her and this brings comfort and joy to her.
Here we have the story of two widows, separated by centuries of time, but united through the compassion of our loving heavenly Father. You, too, are somewhere on your own journey from the grief and despair of widowhood to wholeness and productivity.
There are no coincidences with God. With Him as your heavenly Father, you can rely on His promise in Jeremiah 29:11 that says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Commit your life into His care and trust Him to bring you safely through the dark times you may be experiencing.
"The God Who Sees" - The original video with Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullen's and the modern oratorio tell the stories of Hagar, Ruth, David, and Mary and the promises God made to them.
I don't own any rights to this video or song. It's for entertainment and worship video or songs only.
Dr. Josh Mulvihill in his book, Grand Parenting states that there are four categories of grandparents:
Encouraging Voice – Sees the positives and strives to bring out the potential in their grandchildren. Has a tendency to ask questions and listen.
Supportive Partner – Agreeable who reinforces their children’s parenting practices and philosophies without interfering.
Loving Friend – A companion whose focus is building a strong relationship with grandchildren and having fun together.
Disciple Maker – A mentor who intentionally attempts to pass faith in Christ to future generations. Seeks to live as a Christ-like example and share godly wisdom with grandchildren.
I don’t know which one of these categories you most strongly identify with. Regardless of how you interact with your grandchildren, there is one thing
I can guarantee you, you do have influence on them, whether good or bad. In fact, according to recent data, grandparents are second to parents in exercising influence on the child and this is carried over to the teen-age years when it is easy to think that peers would supplant both parents and grandparents. But, that is not the case. As widows, most of you are also grandmothers. As you have already learned, the hospital doesn’t send you home with a guidebook on being a good grandmother. So how do we get on with our grandmothering?
Paul, in speaking of Timothy’s faith says this: It was a “sincere faith which first dwelt in his grandmother, Lois,” (2 Timothy 1:5). Here was a godly woman who had invested her faith wisely, first in her daughter Eunice and then her grandson Timothy. But, that doesn’t give us any guidelines to follow to help us. It is the book of Titus in which Paul gives specific instructions to the older women. Now, that caught my attention as that means most of them were grandmothers. These are the three instructions he lays out:
Be reverent in behavior I usually think of reverence in relationship to prayer or worship. But here we’re told to be reverent in behavior. How we live, ladies, reveals how we worship. This kind of grandmother lives with an awe for all of God’s creation: the clouds, the stars, the various birds in the area, pointing them out to her grands and teaching them to pop that first juicy strawberry of the season into their mouths with gratefulness to God. The wildflower picked by that precious grand should be treated with respect and placed in a choice vase…never an old jar. And this grandmother loves to laugh, sing and have fun and join in games. She is sensitive to each family member, treating each with respect because she knows they’re a divine gift.
Teach what is good This grandmother is always looking for a teachable moment whether it’s riding in the car, standing at the sink, eating a pretend cookie or lying on the grass observing God’s big sky. It doesn’t take big chunks of time to pass on small fragments of God’s truths, wisdom and love. You also teach by the example you set: the television programs you watch, how you react to disappointment, the pretty table you set, the fun things you have to do at your house, your faithful reading of the Bible and attendance at church, to name a few.
Encourage to love My six-year-old grandson and I play a guessing game. Almost every time we’re together I say, “Next to mommie and daddy and God, who loves you the most? Or I might say after bringing him a small gift, “Why do you think I did that?” He’s wise to me now and will respond, “Because you love me.” I encourage him to love his parents when he sees that I do and when I compliment and encourage them. Giving my grand attention is a form of love, letting him tell me about his day, listening to his silly jokes, and even assisting with homework when appropriate.
That’s it. Just three ground rules in God’s guidebook for grandmothers. But I think you can see how important they are to our leaving a godly heritage for our grandchildren. We have a most important role in the life of our grands, and with God’s help they, like Timothy of old, will have a sincere faith in Christ.
Hi, my name is Valbjorn, I'm the one in the center and I am 6 years old. I am named after my Bestefar's dad. Behind me is my Bestefar and my Mormor. Mormor is the one who wrote the above message and her name is Shari Hervold.
Jesus Loves Me by Chris Tomlin
This video is "Jesus Loves Me" by Chris Tomlin. I don't own any rights for this song. It is for entertainment and worship purpose only.
A few decades ago there was a comedy act made up of two brothers, one of whom always accused the other of being their mother’s favorite. Were you ever accused of being your mother’s, father’s or even a teacher’s favorite? Exactly what does it mean to cull the favor of someone? Or more importantly, what does it mean to seek the favor of God? Is that a selfish thing to want and should we ask to get it?
The word favor means to be shown goodwill or kindness beyond that which is normally expected or even deserved. This is the favor that the Lord has given to every one of His children. None of us deserve any attention from God, but He favors us with His love, forgiveness, blessing upon blessing and, in that sense, we are each His favorite. Isaiah 66:2 states, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (That word tremble here means to be reverently responsive to His Word.) So, while God loves all of His creation, He shows special favor to those who acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the more we please God the more we will be favored by Him.
The first biblical character I think of when I think of God’s favor is Mary the mother of Jesus, although she certainly isn’t the first to be shown God’s favor in Scripture. But, as you recall the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” (Luke 1:28). The Message translation puts it this way, “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you.” That’s it in a nutshell: aswe display God’s beauty, we earn His favor. There were undoubtedly many young Jewish women who carried out the commandments and were faithful to their God. Yet, God saw something within the heart and character of Mary that reflected His own nature so she was highly favored by Him.
Moses, in Exodus 33:13b, prayed this prayer to God: “...let me know Your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in Your sight.” Before I go further, let me just caution you that God’s favor isn’t always evidenced by material or worldly goods. It will most likely be shown by spiritual blessings, although He certainly does take care of our earthly needs. Scripture tells us a sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground but he sees it and we are worth much more than a puny bird.
There is a story of a widow in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:1-7) that is such a good reminder to us of the favor of God to those who are living their lives to please God. One of Elisha’s prophets had died with some unpaid debts. As payment, the creditors were coming to take his widow’s two sons to become their slaves. You can well imagine the anguish of this woman. Not only were her precious boys being taken from her, but with them all her dignity and means of future support. She would be left a penniless, childless widow, which was a disgrace in those days. So, she went to Elisha, her husband’s overseer, and told him of her plight. He solicited her help, as well as those of her sons, in remedying the situation. She was to gather as many jugs as she could from her neighbors and then pour the very small amount of oil that she possessed into these jars. The oil just kept flowing until all the jars had been filled. (That, in itself, was a miracle.) Elisha then instructed her to sell the oil, pay the debts, and live on the leftover cash. Ladies, this woman displayed humility and reverence for the Word of God spoken through his prophet, Elisha, by doing exactly as he had instructed. Not only did she circumvent the loss of her boys, she was able to live debt free with cash to purchase the necessities of life. God’s favor, without a doubt, was on this godly, obedient, and humble widow.
Those who are favored of God have the assurance that God is with them and that nothing happens to them but that God has a good purpose for it (Romans 8:28). Rev. Jerry Vargo cautioned us to “Thank God for the brokenness and life lessons – they prepare you to handle the favor of God.” You come to recognize your vulnerabilities and receive his favor with a humble and grateful heart, rejecting all thoughts of pride.
Ladies, we should seek God’s favor, but we must understand that we don’t seek it as a means in itself for our own selfish goals. In Proverbs 3:1-2 God says this, “…take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well." Remember to thank God for each good doctor's report, a special sale on your favorite meat or other product, a special gift from a child or grandchild; there are many forms in which God's favor may take.
If we want His favor and the blessings that come with it, we must read and obey His word – all of it. Joseph Prince reminds us that “God’s favor is multiplied in your life when you simply believe that the favor of God that is on Christ is also on you because of what Jesus’ work at the cross has accomplished.”
Psalm 5:12 says, “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Finding favor with God means that we spend time in His Word, talking to him in prayer, and living to please Him. And you can be assured, precious widows, that His delight in you will be demonstrated in ways that will amaze you.
Have a God-blessed day as you live to please our Lord and Savior.
Message by Shari Hervold
The ABCs of Salvation. Can you find them?
A-DMIT you're a sinner.
B-ELIEVE God did something about your sin
through Jesus.
C-OMMIT to trusting Christ and Christ alone
for the forgiveness of sin.
D-O IT TODAY!
(ABC's By Tom Papadouplos)
"King of Kings" by Hillside Worship
This video is "King of Kings" by Hillside Worship, I don't own any rights for this song. It's for entertainment and worship purpose only.
The story of Naomi and Ruth is told in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. I encourage you to sit down and read all four chapters. I want to summarize just part of it for you today.
Houston pastor, Dr. Ralph West, states that Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, was a potter, making lovely pitchers and jugs for people. He, his wife and two sons were happily living in Bethlehem until a famine struck. No one buys lovely new jugs and pitchers in a famine, so their income became as dry as the parched earth which had stopped providing food for their table. Consequently, one day Elimelech told his wife and two sons that they were going to move east to Arabia. He would rather live in Arabia than die in Bethlehem so they settled in the region of Moab where Elimelech was able to make a living for the family again.
That is until he suddenly dies leaving Naomi in a foreign country with two sons. Her boys matured into young men of marriageable age and she tells them to take wives from the girls in Moab. So, Mahlon and Kilion marry Orpah and Ruth. Here we have two Jewish boys marrying
two Arab girls. Life went along pretty well for them…until both young men died. We’re not given any details about any of these three deaths. But what we do know is that now there are three widows living in a society where males were necessary or else poverty was a certain way of life. Life expectancy in those days was only 27 years, and Naomi has now dealt with its brevity 3 times.
Unfortunately, Naomi concluded that God was against her and she developed a root of bitterness in her spirit toward God. She actually believed that God had become hostile toward her. Soon thereafter she made the pragmatic decision to return to Bethlehem because she heard that the famine was over and she felt that she would be better off there. Plus she wouldn’t have three graves to remind her of her losses. So she and her daughters-in-law set out, most likely with a caravan of travelers, on a return trip. Early on the way, she implored Orpah and Ruth to return to Moab. She knew that life as foreign women would be difficult for them and in her state of poverty, she didn’t have much to offer them. Orpah returned, but Ruth would not be dissuaded from going with her.
You widows have endured suffering and grief. Regardless of how death and its resulting grief entered your life, you found yourself much like Naomi, totally grief stricken as well as angry at God. It is very common to rail against God when life goes awry, when death visits our families and life is turned topsy-turvy. The sad part of Naomi’s story at this point is that she saw no hope for joy to ever enter her life again. When our hearts are so full of grief coupled with anger at God, we open the door to hopelessness and we become enslaved to it. Naomi was there. Yet, God was sending an answer to Naomi’s despondency long before she recognized it.
When Ruth made clear that she would not return to her birth family, she didn’t just state that she would stay with Naomi, she declared her undying love and devotion, not just to Naomi, but also to her God. Ruth’s presence in her life was pivotal in giving Naomi a purpose for living, looking beyond her own grief, and finding freedom from the hopelessness to which she was enslaved.
Ladies, most likely there is a door to wholeness and freedom that is just awaiting your opening. It may come in the form of a family member who is trying to get you out again, or a friend who keeps calling for a luncheon date, perhaps a church family who is just waiting to welcome you back, or organizations like Friends Needing Friends who walk through your grief with you. What I implore you not to do is turn down these invitations just because you “don’t feel like it.” You may never feel like it if you never take the first step to opening new doors of opportunity. Grieving is natural and right, but allowing your grief to consume you is not healthy. I’m convinced that if Ruth had not insisted on coming back with Naomi, had not pledged her
love and devotion to her, Naomi would have gone back to Bethlehem and simply wrapped her cloak of grief and bitterness tighter around herself and died an early death, bereft of friends and hope. And God wants to do the same thing for you. Ultimately, it is God’s wholeness and the freedom that He offers that you need and I encourage you to pray the Psalmist’s prayer, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long, Psalm 25:5.
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