I am refreshed and rejuvenated after spending time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word, and also seeking the wisdom of those in authority over me and our ministry. My boss at the radio station and his board have lovingly and graciously entrusted Naomi’s Table to me, and they are encouraging me to press forward with our original vision and purpose as we prepare to launch in two weeks.
Yes, we’ve had some conflict, and we are bound to have plenty more. But Christ redeems all of it! “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
(Romans 5:1-5)
To re-clarify, here is what we offer our ladies at the Table:
- A safe haven where many spiritual daughters (Ruths) can glean the wisdom from many spiritual moms (Naomis), so that these dear ones will grow in their faith and become spiritual moms themselves.
- A warm and inviting place where both Truth and Grace are abundant. You’ll never get truth without love, nor will you get love without truth
- Most importantly, a place where we together learn to know our God through His Word. His Word is Holy Spirit breathed and true. (2 Timothy 3:16)
That’s it. When all of these elements come together, we glorify God.
Safe Boundaries
In any ministry, there are boundaries of safety to guide our steps. We define these by both what we are, and what we are not.
All “Ruths” who love Jesus and desire to learn at Naomi’s Table are welcome. Most of us are on different journeys in our Christian faith, and are learning to look to the Lord’s sufficiency. We need spiritual “moms” to invite us to the Word of God for nourishment.
All “Naomi’s” are called in Titus 2: 3-5 to “be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” If that’s you, we need you! You are a shepherd and a spiritual mom who knows that eventually, your “Ruths” can become Naomis under your care.
Opinions and feelings can be shared, but Scriptural Truth refines them. (And wouldn’t you know, most of the time Scripture turns out to contradict some of the things we come up with. God’s truth always wins!)
Challenging another sister is something we’ve all struggled with in written form, so be patient with one another and understand that it is difficult to express our nuanced, heartfelt words on a computer screen. We are not to be harsh or condemning, but seasoning our words with gentleness and self control. We know we’ll often blow it, but let’s err on the side of Grace, without compromising truth.
We can’t forgive sins – that’s not our job. But forgiving each other’s mistakes and offenses is what Jesus commands us to do. He grants the gift of repentance to those who cry out to Him in sin – in His timing, and not ours. Let us make room for Him, as He alone reconciles sin.
Before we speak or share, we need to pray. And we need to pray for one another. As His daughters, we have the privilege to take all conversations before the throne of God. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Being teachable is the attitude we ask of all Ruths and all Naomis. We must understand that not one of us has a 100 percent correct interpretation of every Scripture, so we rely on the Holy Spirit. We also humbly ask one another to sharpen us.
That is all for now. Thank you for your prayers and kind encouragement. You are a blessing to me!
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