HSBC Coffeebreak Devotional

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
Ruth 1:16

Mother-in-law.

Those three words send chills up the spine. Still, many of us long to be a good mother-in-law. I find myself searching for things that define a good mother-in-law. What does she do? What doesn't she do? What really, bottom line, is the goal of a wise mother-in-law?

Naomi must have been a good one. Ruth apparently thought so. The verse we read about Ruth telling her mother-in-law that she didn't want to leave her... that she would go wherever her mother-in-law went, and would live where she lived, and make Naomi's God, Ruth's God... Wow! It flies in the face of typical views of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships. When I read the first chapter in the book of Ruth and search for what it was that Naomi did that made her so likable, so worthy in Ruth's eyes, I can't help but notice the compassion in verses eight and nine. Naomi herself had just lost a husband and two sons. She had to have been overwhelmed with grief. Still, she reached out and looked out for the best interests of her two daughters-in-law. She said, "'Go, return each to her mother's house; the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.' Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept." Naomi didn't expect any favors from her daughter-in-laws. She, instead, looked to their best interests. She was kind to them, she showed true compassion for them, she thanked them for being good to her sons, and she gave advice that in Naomi's eyes, would have benefited her daughters-in-law the most.

So... what does a good mother-in-law do? God has taught me that she learns to look out for what is best for those that marry into the family. What doesn't she do? Expect favors in return. I suppose that advice could be given to any relationship. Friendships, spouses, relatives... It's an unselfish attitude, one that looks for the best for others and denies self.

My new role of mother-in-law is one I approach with apprehension. I'm scared. I want to do a good job. I want to pattern my new role like the one Naomi offers, and seek the best interests of my new family members. God has my best interests in mind, and wants me to do the same for others..

Even if looking out for others means working hard to change the traditional view of a MOTHER-IN-LAW!

Written by
Melody Foster

HSBC Coffeebreak Devotional

"And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:20

College was an interesting season in my life, full of new experiences, adventures and ideas. It was exciting, yet it was also difficult as I struggled with what to do with my life and how to live out my faith. Often, it seemed, God was a silent partner in my struggles. I so badly wanted Him to show up visibly in my life to give me direction on decisions I had to make or encouragement in my sometimes very weak faith. During those years, I struggled with wondering if God was really there and, if He was, why was He so silent and invisible? I yearned to have tangible reassurance of His presence and His guiding hand in my life. I often wished I could get a letter in the mail from Him in which He would expound on His love and acceptance of me, and then would give me explicit details concerning what actions I should take for my future.

One summer night, sitting on the steps of the house I was renting as I attended summer school, I again poured out my heart to my God, begging Him for some communication that I could hear and recognize as being conclusively from Him. I remember looking up at the dark, cloudless sky. The breeze was warm and gentle, lifting my hair and playing gently with the nearby leaves. There were bright stars out surrounding a beautiful, full moon. The sky was so clear that I could make out the dark patches on the moon.

Suddenly, a cloud just larger than the moon covered the moon completely. Surprised, I looked around and wondered where the cloud had come from. Seconds ago, the sky had been completely clear. I heard a gentle voice speak to me, saying, "Chris, is the moon still there?" I froze for a moment. The gentle voice nudged my thoughts again, "Chris, is the moon still there?" I whispered, "Of course, it is, Lord." Then His voice reassured me that He was always there, like the moon, even if events, my own doubts, or His quiet obscured my ability to sense His presence. I sat quiet in the realization of the nearness of His presence, no matter if I could tangibly sense it or not.

The memory of that experience has come back to me often throughout my life. My faith in His presence and love for me is exercised when my knowledge of His presence and love for me is not something I can experience in a tangible sense. This reality has comforted and reassured me in uncertain times.

Written by
Chris Bushnell

HSBC Coffeebreak Devotional

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Following the birth of my second child, I felt like I dropped off the planet. Functioning seemed all I could manage between meeting the needs of my 19 month old and my newborn. I began feeling guilty that I wasn't serving anywhere. I enjoy serving, but I just had no idea how to fit it in! All I did was sleep, cook, change diapers, nurse, etc. So what did I do? My Type A personality developed a system.

Taking into consideration my available time, I decided that one act of service that I could do was write encouraging notes to people. I enjoy writing and so I determined to write one encouraging card a week. It felt really good to still be contributing something to the kingdom!

I loved looking out for women who needed a card. I prayed about who to send them to -and then, one week, I came up short. I had no one in mind! What was I to do? I prayed and got nothing ... what was going wrong with my system? It was a few weeks before I felt God calling me to write a card ... only this time there were two women on my heart. I remember thinking, "Which one do I send this week, and which one needs to wait until next week?" As I prayed about this, I know God was shaking His head at me ... why couldn't I send two out this week?

In that moment, I had this realization: God didn't need my "system." He doesn't follow a system. God wanted me to simply listen to Him and respond when He needed me – maybe once a week, maybe once a year, maybe a small task, maybe something bigger. I realized that although I thought I had started my system because I missed serving, I now know I started my system out of fear. Fear that if I didn't start serving, He would ask me to do something I couldn't handle right then ... something that would send me over the edge as I adjusted to life with two children.

I think that fear really pained God. He is my Heavenly Father ... He loves me more than anyone – why would I think that He didn't know my situation and wasn't aware of my limitations – He created them! God gently reminded me that I can trust Him with the details of my day to day life and circumstances. If I choose to listen to Him as I go about my daily living, I will hear Him speak to me. He will ask me to serve, but I have to trust that when He does, He will provide the time, the energy, the resources – and that He will never ask me to over commit. He has my life in perfect balance. It is me who struggles to rest in that beautiful balance.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to always have an ear toward hearing You speak to me each day. Help me learn that You know where I am at in my life at this moment ... and that You will only call me to do what You know I can accomplish in Your power. Help me to be willing to trust that Your power can allow me to serve... as you ask.

Written by
Holly Hauskins