Ruth Chapters 3 & 4

This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. Read one of our novels – sweet comforting soothing stories for parched souls. All books are Christian-themed and they are perfect for Bible study and church groups! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post! For those listening – the link is at the end of this blog post!

For chapters 3 and 4 a few things come to mind.

Ruth made herself ready for Boaz, similar to what women do today, when they go out on a date. In modern times, when women are preparing for a date, they put on their best clothes, spray on some good smelling perfume…they might even wear extra makeup. This just shows that times change, but people don’t. When Ruth laid at Boaz’s feet, the action is so sexy and humble! In Biblical times a woman would lie at a man’s feet to seek protection. In Ruth’s case, this protection included marriage.

Boaz wants Ruth to become his wife – but he must do what is legally proper for those times. He does the necessary legal act so that he can become Ruth’s husband in a way that’s pleasing to the Lord.

Ruth is blessed with a child! Naomi is thrilled for the addition to their family!

Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Chapter 3 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”

14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.

16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”

Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

Chapter 4

Boaz Marries Ruth

4 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Naomi Gains a Son

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The Genealogy of David

18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron,

19 Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,[d]

21 Salmon the father of Boaz,

Boaz the father of Obed,

22 Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. Read one of our novels – sweet comforting soothing stories for parched souls. All books are Christian-themed and they are perfect for Bible study and church groups! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post! For those listening – the link is at the end of this blog post!

BOOKS!

Ruth Chapter 2

The Blacksmith’s Bride & Holidays 11-11-2024 Newsletter

Divine Desserts Publishing, LLC

Plants!

I hope all of you have a fantastic week!

The weather has been inconsistent lately – which often happens in autumn. It’s been cold, and then it gets warm. My basil plants are still alive, but are slowly dying. My peppermint will usually stay alive until Christmas. Here’s a couple of pics. The first is my marigolds and the other is of some late tomatoes that recently sprouted.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is coming up. What do you have planned for the holiday?

The Blacksmith’s Bride – Preorder

The Blacksmith’s Bride, the third book in my historical Romance Bride Series, is up for preorder on Amazon. I will provide more information about this novel later. I’m so excited to be working on a new story!

Butterscotch Bliss

I hope to have Butterscotch Bliss, a Christmas novella, available within the next few weeks! A download link will be included in one of my newsletters.

Speaking of Christmas – books make fantastic gifts! The books are gift-wrapped and include extra goodies! Consider gifting some to a friend or loved one!

Don’t forget to download one of my novels for some cool autumn reading!

I hope your week will be fantastic! Let me know if anything exciting happens! I’d love to hear about it!

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. If you enjoy warm, comfortable, feel-good reads then check out our amazing titles!

Do you have siblings? If you do, are you close to them?

This book was such a treat to read! It’s about three half sisters (different mothers, same father) who spend summers together with their paternal grandmother. Their father is deceased and the story shows how each sister had to go through a unique struggle – partially stemming from their irresponsible alcoholic father. Carson is the main character and she loves swimming and surfing. When she has an accident, she becomes acquainted with a dolphin, and then the story takes on unique twists and turns after that.

She meets Blake, and they share a special bond and love for the ocean. However, their bond proves tenuous as they discover secrets and new information about sea creatures.

I highly recommend this book if you want a nice, comforting read.

So, do you have siblings? If you do, are you close to them?

This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. If you enjoy warm, comfortable, feel-good reads then check out our amazing titles!

The Blacksmith’s Bride – 11-4-2024 Newsletter

Vote!

I hope all of you have a fantastic week!

As already mentioned last week – remember to vote! Tomorrow is Election Day!

Halloween!

We only had one trick-or-treater this year. Most of the houses on my street had their lights off. Did you have any trick-or-treaters?

Here’s a little treat for you! My little grandniece with her friend from church on Halloween!

Autumn!

I’ve been enjoying the beautiful fall weather during my daily walks. Here’s a pic of a beautiful tree in our neighborhood. I love seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves this time of the year.

The Blacksmith’s Bride – Preorder

The Blacksmith’s Bride, the third book in my historical Romance Bride Series, is up for preorder on Amazon. I will provide more information about this novel later. I’m so excited to be working on a new story!

Butterscotch Bliss

I hope to have Butterscotch Bliss available within the next few weeks!

Don’t forget to download one of my novels for some cool autumn reading!

I hope your week will be fantastic! Let me know if anything exciting happens! I’d love to hear about it!

The Bakery Romance Series

Loving Luke Raspberry Kisses Shades of Chocolate Sweet Dreams

Sugar and Spice Southern Comfort Sweet Delights Cinnamon Kisses

The Candy Beach Series

Caramel Kisses Chocolate Dreams Milk Chocolate Kisses Bittersweet Dreams Coffee and Kisses Rocky Road Dreams

The Romance Bride Series

The Baker’s Bride The Doctor’s Bride

Signed Paperbacks

Christmas Book Bundle – $50 + postage

The Bakery Romance Series – $95 + postage 

The Candy Beach Series – $70 + postage

Ruth – Chapter 1

#Ruth #BookofRuth #SundayBrunch #blogpost #podcast #OldTestament #Bible #SundaySchool

Ruth – Chapter 1

Welcome to this episode of Sunday Brunch. The Sunday Brunch blog posts are warm and inviting, encouraging discussion about the Bible.  

This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you like stories about faith and Christianity then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today and tell your friends by sharing this blog post! The purchase link for Loving Luke is at the end.

Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”

Ruth 1

New International Version

Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons

1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. [Poor Naomi! I can’t even imagine how painful that must have been – losing both of her sons and her husband! I’m assuming Orpah and Ruth did not have any children. I wonder about this – why were there no offspring. I assume it was the Lord’s will. The text mentions a great famine in Bethlehem which caused them to move to Moab. I also wonder why both of their husbands died.]

6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” [Did older people NOT get married during these times? Naomi said that she’s too old to have another husband. She may have been speaking from the viewpoint of being too old to have children.]

14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. [This is such a moving, emotional speech. It brings tears to my eyes. Ruth’s and Naomi’s relationship has progress from being in-laws to true mother and daughter. I think about the relationship between daughter-in-law to mother-in-law. A lot of the time when people talk about their mother-in-law it doesn’t appear that the relationship is so close and stable as Ruth’s and Naomi’s. I believe it might be difficult to forge a bond so strong with a mother-in-law since she’d not raised the daughter-in-law. Do you have any friends or family members who have a relationship with their mother in law that mimics Ruth and Naomi’s? If you do, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment.]

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” [When I read these two verses, I’m reminded of Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. His life had drastically changed – he’d persecuted and killed Christians, was blinded, and then became a minister for Jesus Christ. Since Saul changed his name to Paul, that’s why I’m mentioning him.]

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

So, if you know of someone who has mother-in-law, daughter-in-law relationship that mimics Ruth and Naomi, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment!

This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you like stories about faith and Christianity then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today and tell your friends by sharing this blog post! The purchase link for Loving Luke is at the end. Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”

LOVING LUKE PURCHASE LINK

Still Missing the Beach!

#romance #beachread #beachreads #newsletter #ceceliadowdy #romancenovel #romancenovels #cleanandwholesome #Christian #inspirational
We’ve been back for a week and I still miss the beach! I wish we’d stayed for two weeks instead of one!
Here’s a pic of the living room of our beach rented condo. The place felt like home. I loved walking outside straight to the beach each morning!
Perhaps we can retire here someday!
Condo – Beach Rental – Living Room
I recently read the sweetest book – The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden! Have you ever wondered about how your life would have been like if you’d made a different decision? Imagine if someone had asked you to get married and you said no – do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if you’d said yes?


Well, this sweet story delves into that very question! Plus, the book had lots of food – and candy – and pie! Give my podcast a listen! If you’ve read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, I’d love to know what you thought about it!


This novel is going to be made into a Hallmark movie.

I Listened!

Many of you have pinged me, wanting to know when/if I would be able to accept credit card payments via my website. I’ve finally updated my site and made the appropriate changes.

Candy Beach Series – $50 for entire set
Bakery Romance Series – $75 for entire set
Payment can be made with credit card.
Email me if you have any questions!

Candy Beach

Speaking of beaches, be sure to check out The Candy Beach Series for a cool, emotional, delicious and pleasant read during your beach vacation!



Candy Beach & Bakery Romance Paperbacks!




As mentioned previously, I’m having a sale on the paperbacks – and it’s now been extended to both of my series! The Candy Beach Series – $50 for the entire 6-book series & The Bakery Romance Series – $75 for the entire 8-book series – must be ordered directly from me – price includes domestic US postage. This deal is cheaper than Amazon’s price. I take payment via credit card, check, or money order. Ping me if you’d like to pay with an alternate method!


Spread the word about my books! Social media is a writer’s best friend!

Rocky Road Dreams









I hope you have a fantastic week! Let me know if you have any fun plans for the summer!



    

ALL titles are available as autographed paperbacks!
The Bakery Romance Series
Loving Luke
Raspberry Kisses
Shades of Chocolate
Sweet Dreams
Sugar and Spice
Southern Comfort
Sweet Delights
Cinnamon Kisses
The Candy Beach Series
Caramel Kisses
Coffee and Kisses
Chocolate Dreams
Rocky Road Dreams
Milk Chocolate Kisses
Bittersweet Dreams



Historical Standalone Titles
The Underground Railroad Brides Collection
A Teacher’s Heart

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today by clicking on the link at the end! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post!

Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”

Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if – in the past – when you were facing a big decision – if you’d decided differently – what would your life be like today?

Heaven help me, this story was amazing! The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is about Lolly, a young woman who is dissatisfied with her life. She wonders how her life would have been if she’d made different choices. One of her biggest regrets is that things didn’t work out with Rory Shaw, her childhood crush. Rory was her neighbor and her friend. Her eccentric aunt gives her a gift – 3 magical lemon drops. When you eat one before bed, think about one of the big decisions in your life – what if you’d decided differently? The lemon drop will allow you to spend one day in your “present” life in an alternate-type universe. This “alternate universe” would show how your life would have been like, if you’d made a different decision.

Lolly is full of hopes and dreams – so for three nights – she’s given the chance to see how her lost dreams would have played out if she’d embraced her decisions and pursued her desires.

What I loved most about this book was that it seemed so realistic. I believe most of us wonder – what would have happened if? Do you have certain dreams that you’ve always wanted to pursue?

Lolly is dedicated to her family. Her dedication is over the top, and it really affects her life. The family diner means so much to her and she knows how much her father wants their establishment to be a success. She gets up early every morning to bake six lemon meringue pies – using her mom’s secret recipe. The pies are served in their diner – a favorite for many of their customers.

Another reason I enjoyed this story was that it mentioned food – a lot! I love foodie-themed stories. So, if you’ve enjoyed the novels that I’ve written, then you’ll love this book!

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie teaches us that sometimes it’s okay to pursue your dreams – although placing the needs of others before your own is noble – it’s not always the right decision.

By the way, I noticed that The Magic of Lemond Drop Pie will be made into a Hallmark movie. The premise sounds like it might be a nice fit for Hallmark Movies and Mysteries!

So, have you ever wondered what your life would have been like when you were facing a big decision – if you’d decided differently – what would your life be like today? Do you regret NOT following your hopes and dreams? Have you thought about pursuing some of your hopes and desires now?

This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today by clicking on the link at the end! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post!

Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”

LOVING LUKE

The Classics

I’ve been thinking about reading some of the classics.

This is a list of books that I acquired from Artificial Intelligence.

The list didn’t include full canons, such as those from Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe.

Which of these have you read?

Would you recommend any of these?

Are there any books on this list that you haven’t read – but wished that you had?

I’ve placed an asterisk beside the titles that I’ve read.

Ancient Classics

  1. The Epic of Gilgamesh
  2. The Iliad by Homer
  3. The Odyssey by Homer
  4. The Aeneid by Virgil
  5. Metamorphoses by Ovid
  6. The Republic by Plato

Classical Literature

  1. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
  2. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Renaissance to Enlightenment

  1. Paradise Lost by John Milton
  2. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
  3. Candide by Voltaire

19th Century

  1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  2. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
  3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë *
  4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë *
  5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
  6. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
  7. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
  8. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
  9. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert *
  10. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo *
  11. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
  12. Middlemarch by George Eliot

Early 20th Century

  1. Ulysses by James Joyce
  2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald *
  3. 1984 by George Orwell
  4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  5. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
  6. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Mid to Late 20th Century

  1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
  2. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
  3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
  4. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
  5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  6. Beloved by Toni Morrison *
  7. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  8. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Non-English Classics

  1. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Japan)
  2. Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (China)
  3. One Thousand and One Nights (Middle Eastern collection)
  4. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)
  5. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Russia)

Modern Classics

  1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
  2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  3. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

This list includes works from various cultures and periods, representing a broad spectrum of the human experience through literature.