notes

1. See http://thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons/detail/freedom -in-the-fight.

2. Ibid.

3. See http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/love-one-another-with -brotherly-affection.

4. Ibid.

5. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/baxter_mary/WitW /WitW29_Elizabeth.cfm?a=974041.

6. See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Luke.1.39-Luke.1.56.

7. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/baxter_mary/WitW /WitW29_Elizabeth.cfm?a=974041.

8. Ibid.

9. See https://twitter.com/bentgreene/status/523530237989371905.

10. See https://twitter.com/bethmoorelpm/status/52020120607000 5760.

11. See http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/03/here -is-when-each-generation-begins-and-ends-according-to-facts/359589.

12. See https://www.barna.org/barna-update/millennials/711-what -millennials-want-when-they-visit-church#.ViQ0shCrTVp.

13. Ibid.

14. See https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/722-five-factors-changing-women-s-relationship-with-churches#.ViQ1fhCrTVo.

15. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/baxter_mary/WitW /WitW29_Elizabeth.cfm?a=974045.

16. See http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/1_39-56.htm.

17. See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Luke.1.39-Luke.1.56.

18. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rth/Rth_1.cfm?a=23300.

19. Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1988), 117.

20. Ibid.

21. See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ruth.1.6-Ruth.1.18.

22. See http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0802.htm.

23. See http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/volume/bibephah.html.

24. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/baxter_mary/Wit W/WitW16_NaomiAndRuth2.cfm.

25. See http://www.hymnary.org/text/in_the_harvest_field_now _ripened.

26. The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013), Ruth 2:20 footnotes.

27. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Rth/Rth_003 .cfm?a=235001.

28. “Please Be Patient with Me” by Wilco.

29. See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ruth.3.14-Ruth.3.18.

30. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/Study Guide_Rth/Rth_4.cfm?a=23600.

31. See http://www.radical.net/files/uploads/LoveStory_TS4_Web.pdf.

32. The MacArthur Study Bible, 364.

33. See https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.4.1-Prov.4.13.

page247

My deepest thanks and so much gratitude to:

Lisa Jackson, Jennifer Lyell, Heather Nunn, the B&H Publishing team, Melanie Shankle, Heather Mays, Liz Shults, Shawn Brower, David Balik, Laura Thompson, Jean Castille, Perry Griffin, Bobby Wilkes, the BCA small group, and my Briarwood girls.

I'd also like to thank my GAP girls—Amelia, Ann Kelly, Emily, Genie, JuJu, Katherine, Kathryn, Mary Glynn, Molly, Rachel, and Shelly—as well as my forever friends and my unbelievably supportive family.

And most of all:

Alex—Your love for people makes me want to love people better. Having a front-row seat for your life is such a blast, and I get the biggest kick out of seeing the Lord shape and mold you into the young man He’s calling you to be. Also, you are hilarious. This is a huge plus in our family. And your laugh is my favorite sound on the planet.

David—You work so hard for us and take such good care of us. You are steady and strong and the best decision-maker I know. You support all this writing stuff unconditionally, and that is no small feat. Thank you for reading every word before anybody else. And thanks for laughing with me every single day.

I love y’all.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:1–4)

about the author

Sophie Hudson loves to laugh more than just about anything. She began writing her blog, BooMama.net, in November 2005, and much to her surprise, she’s stuck with it. Through her stories, Sophie hopes that women find encouragement, hope, and laughter in the everyday, joy-filled moments of life. A devoted fan of pajama pants, Sophie loves cheering like crazy at college football games and watching entire seasons of TV shows in record time. She lives with her husband and son in Birmingham, Alabama.

Connect with her in the following places:

Blog: BooMama.net

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Twitter: @boomama

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