GENESIS
By Shirley Vaughn-Hammond
Excerpted from her book Glory! Glory! Pieces of God's Story

Oh, God!  God of majesty, power, and purpose abounding
Because of Him and Him alone, all of life began
Suddenly He created the world so splendid and so new
As a significant part of His glorious and divine plan

 God crowned His creation with male and female
In His own image He masterfully created the pair
Then they became one flesh in holy union
With the Garden of Eden provided for them to share

 The Garden of Eden was Adam’s designated charge
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was taboo
But when Eve was tempted by Satan and Adam consented
They chose to disobey God, causing sin to ensue

Sin swaggered right in and staked its claim on man
As Satan spread out his wares and became a wrecking-ball
The innocence of all creation was sorely shattered
The world was doomed and took an irreversible fall  

Fellowship with God was severely splintered and frayed
As evil raised its tainted, pernicious and deceptive head
Adam and Eve were banished forever from the Garden
And then Cain murdered Abel as iniquity continued to spread

Earth was no longer the paradise God had intended
As the human race exploded, expanded, and grew
God allowed humanity to change its sinful ways
But only Noah and his family were faithful and true

Seeing the great corruption of man on earth
Caused God’s heart to break with grief and pain
So except for Noah who praised and obeyed Him
God destroyed the earth with a great flood of rain

Thereafter, God reassured Noah with a solemn promise
Never again shall the earth be destroyed by nature’s tear
The rainbow shall be a sign of God’s faithfulness to His Word
And the seasons shall come and go year after year…

Ruth
By Shirley Vaughn-Hammond
Excerpted from her book Glory! Glory! Pieces of God's Story

During the period of the judges, the story of Ruth takes place
Those were dark and evil days of crisis, of despair and disgrace.
But even amidst such wicked times, there were those who didn't stray
Who kept the LORD in their hearts and let Him use them His way

In the time of the exodus from Egypt, the Moabites had strongly resisted
And wouldn't let the Israelites pass through their land as they had insisted.
So the Moabites weren't allowed to worship at the tabernacle - no way, not ever
And to marry a Canaanite was an unthinkable act for them to even endeavor.

But it happened one day in Moab that Naomi's dear husband died
Her two sons married Oprah and Ruth and within ten years had also expired
Then Ruth gave up the likelihood of having children and security.
In order to care for Naomi, the Israelite, and save her from beggary.

Ruth belonged to a race that Israel had many times disregarded and despised.
But because of her faith she was blessed by God and by Him was recognized.
When Ruth's mother-in-law advised her to go back to her own people to dwell
Ruth informed Naomi she'd follow her anywhere and accept her God as well.

So Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth, the Moabite, close by her side.
And when Boaz heard she'd stood by Naomi after her husband died
And how she had left her motherland behind to come to a foreign nation
He let her glean grain in his field, showing her much consideration.

Since Naomi had no more sons, the law during that time provided
That her closest relative was allowed to marry Ruth if he so decided.
When the closest relative backed down, Boaz purchased her son's land
And took Ruth as his wife, after she'd followed Naomi's plan.

Out of Naomi's and Ruth's tragedies, God truly blessed them without end
For throughout tough times and uncertainty, the trusted Him again and again.
Although Ruth was unaware of the bigger purpose for her existence on earth
She became a part of God's design and lineage to the Messiah's promised birth.

Read the book of Ruth and know that God has a purpose for your life today
Which will reach beyond your lifetime - by choices you make, by how you obey.
Your noblest blessing may not be acquiring money, marriage or information
Try love and respect - and drawing family and others to an invitation to salvation.

Read Ruth and wipe away your tear.
Read Ruth and let distress disappear.

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