...And She Waits

She loves Jesus. He's been a faithful friend through every trial. She's known many tears: ones from her own eyes and the ones she's wiped away for others. She's learned to look for the beauty in everything, even in the most dark and lonely places. A human's heart is a treasure, so she is careful to handle each one carefully. She smiles even when she feels like crying. She sings in desolate places as prayers are lifted to the heavens. She wonders if all the toiling and burdens are all that's left on her face. Is that all others see? She wants love just like all the rest, and she prays for married couples and wishes them blessings. She's hoping and longing for her turn too. She wipes her brow and she pushes through her fears, doubts, and tears...and she waits. ~ A Modern Day Ruth

God Bless Our Brothers in Christ

Deeper healing began to take place in my heart and life when I began to bless my brothers in Christ. I've seen so many women who were hurt or broken by a man become extremely bitter towards guys. This is wrong. That bitterness is poison that is developed from unforgiveness in your heart. I know the pains of the past make it so hard. You sometimes wish you could punish the man who hurt you and make him suffer. But Christ's love on the cross set the example when He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." I chose early on and asked God to help me to not become like those bitter angry women. I still had great fear of men, but I did not hate them. As time passed, He would lay on my heart to pray for certain brothers in Christ. This is so healing! I even got to the point where I could speak a blessing to someone if I knew they needed encouragement. Every time we choose to honor and bless our brother's in Christ, we are sowing seeds of love that will produce a harvest. It is an honor to love my brothers. It's an honor to bless them. It's an honor to pray for them and to show them that there are godly women out there. I have learned to not speak negative things about men. Our words are powerful. Sometimes we say things out of habit and we just don't realize it. Out of the abundance of the heart our mouth will speak. Ask God to show you if there's any unforgiveness or bitterness towards men because of your past hurts. He will gently wash it away when you surrender it to Him and you make the effort to bless your brothers in Christ. Men have been hurt too. They have been rejected, abused, cheated on, and broken from other women. Their hearts are healing too. Be the one who says an encouraging word or prays for him. I promise you that it works. ~ A Modern Day Ruth, Jenny Williams Copyright 2015

Ship Wrecked Heart

She's been sadder more days than happy and it's been a rough voyage on waters she never desired to sail in the first place. She felt her heart was ship wrecked and the waves of discouragement, struggle and hardship have been the waves thrashing her heart about. But she's clung to her anchor and held His hand in the midst of it all. She's found her safety on an island of His love. Her safe place has been underneath His wings. His light warms her up when she's cold from this disappointing world.
Written by Jenny Williams,
~ A Modern Day Ruth  Copyright 2015

I am More

I'm more than the pain I daily endure.
I'm more than the words I write.
I'm more than the brave smile I show.
I'm more than the dreams I dare to believe.
I'm more than my past that I've overcome. 
I'm more than the men who hurt me, used me and abandoned me.
I'm more than the scars that prove God healed me from.
I'm more than the trails of tears I have tenderly and openly cried.
I'm more than the humble circumstances I live in.
I'm more than the lessons and wisdom I've gleaned.
I'm more than the worship songs I sing.
I'm more than my curvy body and all my womanly parts.
I'm more than my hopes and prayers you see deep in my eyes.
I'm more than the words I dare to speak.
I'm more than my battles and victories I've won.
I'm more than my insecurities and fears.
I'm more than my silence and quietness.
I'm more than my passion and sensuality.
I'm more than my strengths, and even more so than my tenderness, frailties, and weaknesses.
I'm more than what you see.
I'm more than these walls around my heart.
I am God's Daughter...
I am more....

~ Jenny Williams, A Modern Day Ruth , Copyright 2015

She Laid it on the Altar

She laid her heart's desire on the altar. She poured out her tears and disappointments onto His feet.

She let go of her anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness. She lifted her shattered hopes and broken dreams up to Him. She gave her all to Him, and she trusted Him with her broken heart. She found herself rested and whole when she laid her rejected and abandoned self at the place of her safe haven. She was blind, but now she can see. She sees His love for her...so much more than any human heart could give her. She saw her value and great worth in His eyes. such love...Great Love!

She knew He died for her so that she may live...live in His glorious light. He gently touched her bruised and battered self esteem. He washed with His own tears the shards of glass...the unkind words that others had spoken against her. He washed them away. His words of love penetrated her soul, and she became whole. He held her quietly as she cried each tear of sorrow and pain. He stood with her in the lake of her tears, and he held her and kept her safe. His gaze caught her focus, and she found herself immersed in His love. He clothed her nakedness with His garment of grace. It warmed her soul. All her wretchedness was diminished in the great light of His love. She looked down and He pointed to the lake of tears she had cried: "Look..."He said, "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!" She saw her reflection on the water, and to her surprise, there was no trace of her torn, bloodied, and worn out garments. Her pain had become a great strength. Her ashes had become His beauty. Her darkness had become His illuminating light. she saw herself as He saw her. She smiled, and leaned in close to His chest. She knew everything was going to be alright. Her heart was home. ~ Jenny Williams, A Modern Day Ruth, Copyright 2015

She Became Whole

She laid her heart's desire on the altar. She poured out her tears and disappointments onto His feet.
She let go of her anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness. She lifted her shattered hopes and broken dreams up to Him. She gave her all to Him, and she trusted Him with her broken heart. She found herself rested and whole when she laid her rejected and abandoned self at the place of her safe haven. She was blind, but now she can see. She sees His love for her...so much more than... any human heart could give her. She saw her value and great worth in His eyes. such love...Great Love! She knew He died for her so that she may live...live in His glorious light. He gently touched her bruised and battered self esteem. He washed with His own tears the shards of glass...the unkind words that others had spoken against her. He washed them away. His words of love penetrated her soul, and she became whole. He held her quietly as she cried each tear of sorrow and pain. He stood with her in the lake of her tears, and he held her and kept her safe. His gaze caught her focus, and she found herself immersed in His love. He clothed her nakedness with His garment of grace. It warmed her soul. All her wretchedness was diminished in the great light of His love. She looked down and He pointed to the lake of tears she had cried: "Look..."He said, "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!" She saw her reflection on the water, and to her surprise, there was no trace of her torn, bloodied, and worn out garments. Her pain had become a great strength. Her ashes had become His beauty. Her darkness had become His illuminating light. she saw herself as He saw her. She smiled, and leaned in close to His chest. She knew everything was going to be alright. Her heart was home. ~ Jenny Williams, A Modern Day Ruth, Copyright 2015

From Pain to Blessings

I took a really hot bath to soothe my aching body. Sometimes I feel like I live there, but it has become a favorite place to spend time with Poppa God...singing out love songs and having conversations.

Did you know that you can take that place of pain and turn it into most precious intimate moments with your Heavenly Father? Your place of pain can be a setup for your biggest blessing. We don't always understand why we have to go through heartaches, trials, tears, and struggles, but His love is faithful to meet us there. He is with us. He does not leave us or forsake us. I think, for me, I have more compassion for those who have a broken heart or those who deal with sickness or debilitating pain.

I started this ministry in my most broken of times. My husband had left me to raise our kids on my own. He walked away from God and our marriage. Then, a year later, I was dating a guy who told me everything I longed to hear. A few months later he disappeared with no warning or explanation. I found out a week later he had left me for an old girlfriend. My heart was shattered to pieces. I remember the hours of crying and the tidal waves of emotion that felt impossible to survive. I imagined Him holding my hand, and I knew I had to ride those waves of pain...it was part of the process.

During that time, I remembered the scripture that says:

" When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2

His hands are not too short to reach down to the place of pain and heartache you are in.

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters." Psalms 18:16

Don't feel bad if you shed tears. It doesn't mean you are going backwards -it's part of the healing process. Let His love wrap you and hold you. Cling to Him and He will not let you drown. He is your life preserver. You will overcome this temporary season. You will overcome in Jesus' name. Your testimony is being developed into a love story. One of His love and redeeming grace. Your beauty will come from your ashes, Beloved. ~ Jenny Williams, A Modern Day Ruth, Copyright 2015