My study on Ruth....

I have been doing a study on the book of Ruth for the past few days.... I have done it before, but never in depth with commentaries or anything. I am finding it very interesting, and very rewarding! And even though I'm sure both genders can get something out of the book of Ruth, this post is def. from a girls prospective (mine..lol...), so you girls will probably find it more interesting! ;)
The thing that stuck out probably the most, was that in chapter 3 verse 11, Boaz tells Ruth that "all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman". I mean she was a new comer, and she did nothing to draw attention to herself, and yet because of her attitude on life and her kind spirit, all the city knew that she was a great Godly woman! What a testimony!!! When Ruth and Naomi first came back, Naomi wanted to be called Mara (bitterness..) That was her testimony, and Ruth had lost her Husband as well, but she was not bitter. Another thing that i found kinda interesting is that even though Naomi said she was bitter, she still believed that it was God that allowed those things to happen in her life... she said "the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me" She was still acknowledging the sovereignty of God in her life, and she knew she must deal with it. These past few days I've been asking myself, am i the kind of woman that people look at and say "wow there is a virtuous woman"? Or, am I just like the rest? Another reason why this has been on my mind is because I've been reading a book by Elizabeth George called "Beautiful in God's eyes". the book was saying that God's standard of beauty is not our standard of beauty.. God is in a category by himself and so is his standard of beauty! But it also said don't ever be discouraged or feel overwhelmed by God's standard for beauty because He gives us, day by day, a lifetime to reach it! The Proverbs 31 woman was virtuous as well, and her price is far above rubies... Elizabeth George was saying that just as gems increase in value as time passes, we who are God's beautiful woman-his jewels-should too!!!! So what an encouragement to know that God does not expect me to be the perfect kind of woman as soon as i get saved, but He expects us to work at it, and over time, we will become the woman that he wants us to be! One of the neatest things was that King Lemuel's Mother fully expected him to find this kind of woman, we know that to be this kind of woman is attainable.. some people have this view of the Proverbs 31 woman as a fantasy, of a goal that could never be reached, but Ruth obtained it! And we can too!!!! Also, remember that "you are what you get". So if you want to get a good Godly guy someday, remember that you must be the right kind of girl! ( if there are any guys still reading at this point i think you can change things around and make your own applications.. ;) Anyways, I'll be praying for all of you out there to become the right kinda of woman/man that God wants you to be! Never lose sight of the goal!
Love in Christ,
Rachel