Being a “Martha” Isn’t So Bad

      We all know the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible.  How everybody wants to be like Mary…the sister who sat at Jesus’ feet and hung onto every word and action.  Nobody wants to be a “Martha”.  But I have found that I relate better to Martha.  The one who seemed a little high strung and couldn’t let go of her responsibilities.  The one who works and sometimes gets frustrated and says or thinks, “must be nice to sit around but SOMEONE has to get things ready!”  (Hopefully I’m not the only one who thinks that at times! lol)   

      I can’t honestly say that if I knew Jesus was in town and coming to my house, that I wouldn’t be cleaning and cooking and trying to make things perfect.  Mary was more of a “feeler”.  She liked to listen and learn and feel Him.  Martha, on the other hand, was a doer.  She liked to make things happen.  So much so that she tried to boss Jesus around and make Him make Mary help.  (Now that’s when you KNOW you’re stressed and frustrated, when you start bossing Jesus around!  Lol) 

      Yes, Martha missed out on quality time listening and worshiping Him.  But I don’t blame her for spending time preparing things.  I think that evening Martha was probably the last one to eat because she was making sure everything was ready:  the tables, the food, the dishes, etc.  But maybe when all that was done, everyone had eaten and it came time for coffee, she relaxed and had her time with Him.  Time talking and worshiping. 

      Neither sister had more or less faith than the other.  If you recall it wasn’t Mary who ran to Jesus after Lazarus had died, it was Martha.  Mary was too heartbroken:  she was “feeling”.  Martha was heartbroken too, but she wanted something done about it:  she was being proactive.  She didn’t love Him any less than Mary did, she just showed it different. 

      I understand the point of the story was to remind us to put worship at the top of our priority list.  But I also understand Martha’s perception:  someone has to do it!  Just like Martha, there have been plenty of times when the Lord has had to gently remind me to relax and just feel Him.  But also, just like Martha, I love Him and every aspect of my life is open to Him.  So I’m okay with being a “Martha” right now!   

^“ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.”

John 11:20  NIV

When “Not Enough” is the Perfect Amount

         There are so many times when we get discouraged and feel like we are not enough.  Every relationship and situation in our lives requires a certain amount from us.  Whether it is your job, friendships, marriage, kids, it takes from you.  And when circumstances don’t turn out how we hoped or planned, we self evaluate and think, “it didn’t turn out right because I wasn’t enough.”

          I’m so glad that there is 1 relationship where “not enough” is perfect.  Don’t get me wrong, our relationship with the Lord still requires energy and effort, but when we fall short (and we always do!), He steps in and picks up our slack.  He makes us enough by giving us grace and strength.  

          Think of all the people we read about in the Bible…not many of them were “enough”.  Moses stuttered.  Rahab was a prostitute.  Jonah was a runner.  Esther was an orphan.  Jacob was a liar.  Abraham was old, really old.  And last but not least, Lazarus wasn’t even alive!  None of those things seem “enough” to me, but God never discarded them; He used their shortcomings.  He equipped them and empowered them to do His work.

          I’m so thankful that when I am having the “I’m not enough” pity party, He reminds me that sometimes not enough is the perfect amount to do great things for Him. 

“Our God…we have no power…but our eyes are on You…”

2 Chronicles 20:12  NIV

What’s in Your Wallet?...(and I don’t mean Capital One! )

         Mom and I went shopping and when we walked out of one store, the security beeper went off.  The saleslady came over and double checked to make sure a tag hadn’t been left on something and she couldn’t find anything.  (Mom even volunteered to let them search her purse, lol  J)  The lady shrugged it off and said it happens sometimes.  We walked out and beeped again, but this time kept going. 

          The next store we went in, no beeping.  The next one, we walked in, no beeping, didn’t buy anything, and walked out and beeping.  So we stopped again.  The saleslady in this store came over and was wondering what it could be because she obviously knew we didn’t take anything…we had only been in there for a couple minutes.  (again, Mom volunteered her purse, lol!)  We waved our shopping bags through the alarm and nothing.  We waved cell phones through and nothing.  By this point we were beginning to feel like shop-lifters.  We waved mom’s purse through and this time, lights and beeping.  We looked through her purse and the lady asked if she had anything new in there.  She did:  a wallet.  Inside that new wallet there was a tiny white security tag in one of the card slots.  We took it off, threw it away, and didn’t beep for the rest of the day. 

          Isn’t that how little sins are?  We’ve not done anything big, or downright disobeyed God, but something is there causing alarm.  Since it’s not obvious, we might have to search our hearts to find it.  It may be something little like a temper or not reading your Bible as much as He would like us to.  It might be not taking opportunities to witness or not testifying enough.  Whatever it is, we need to check ourselves.  We might not think it’s a big deal, but I don’t want to get Heaven’s gate and have the alarm go off.    

“…the little foxes, that spoil the vines…”

Song of Solomon 2:15  KJV

Back to School Prayers

      Going back to school…it’s the time that inevitably comes every year.  I’ve already started having the dreams of an uncontrollable class, not being prepared, etc.  lol 

        My very favorite part of each new year, though, is when I go to start getting my classroom ready.  It’s quiet, not very many people are around, and there’s a sense of calmness.  The first thing I do each year is arrange the 25 little desks and then spend the time going by each desk and praying for that child.  I don’t know if there will be a boy or girl sitting there.  I don’t know their names.  I don’t know their background academically, socially, or home lives.  Regardless of me not knowing them, the Lord has known since before time that our paths needed to cross: That there is something to be gained from our time together.  So I pray for them.   

        I pray that the Lord will open their minds in order to learn new things.  I pray that the Lord will ease their anxieties and fears.  I pray that they will have friends.  I pray that they will learn to do what’s right.  I pray that they will thrive throughout the year and make notable progress.  But I also pray that the Lord will open their hearts.  Open their hearts to see and feel Him working and moving in their lives.  Open their hearts to hear His voice and answer His calls.  Open their hearts to be a witness and light to others.  Open their hearts to be more like Him.

        I pray at my own desk.  I pray that the Lord will let me love them even in the times they are unlovable.  I pray that He will let me get to know each and every little soul and their families and see them for who they are:  Your beautiful creation, whom You are pleased with.  I pray for patience when correcting behavior, calming fears, and teaching new skills.  I pray that His love will shine through me so evident that they can’t help but notice.  I pray that He will show me why He intended my path to specifically cross every one of theirs and give me the strength and wisdom to help them on their journey.

        Sometimes those dreams *nightmares* J do come true and there are days that seem uncontrollable, but I know that my joy doesn’t come from having the perfect classroom: my joy comes from within, from Him.  So even on the days where I may want to pull my hair out, I can wear a genuine smile, have a genuine peace, and know that His name is going to triumph because I’ve dedicated my classroom to Him.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech…”

Titus 2:7-8  NIV

From Worshiper to Believer

     I have always been intrigued by Lydia from the Bible.  I don’t know why since there are so few verses about her, maybe because I just like the color purple??  Lol  Anyways, I’ve been reading the verses about her for a while, feeling like there was something the Lord was wanting me to get from her.  Lydia’s story goes like this:

“On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”

      The first part of her story that I find interesting is that the Bible refers to Lydia as a “worshiper”.  It doesn’t say Lydia was a Christian.  It doesn’t say that she loved God.  It doesn’t say that she lived for Christ.  It says she worshiped Him.  The dictionary definition of “worshiper” is a “formal or ceremonious rendering of honor”.  In other words, she went to church and went through the formalities…does that sound familiar?  Sometimes we go through the motions of singing the songs, following along in our Bibles, putting money in the plate:  we are worshipers and nothing else.

      But the next few verses are so inspiring.  It says that the Lord opened her heart to respond!  He touched her heart.  At first she simply went through the motions, but now, He had given her reason to “respond”.  Her response?  It tells us in the later verses…she became a “believer”.  The word “worshiper” in relation to Lydia is a noun.  It’s a person…it’s who she was.  The word “believer” is a verb.  It means to “have confidence or faith in the truth”.  Once the Lord opened her heart, she couldn’t be complacent anymore, she had to do something. 

        Verse 40 is probably my favorite part of Lydia’s story. 

“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them.  They they left." 

        I take this verse to mean that after her conversion from worshiper to believer, she wasn’t content with those little meetings at the river with the other women.  I take it to mean that she opened her home to ministry and that men and women who loved God were welcome to worship and praise Him there, together.

        So many times in my life I’ve been a worshiper.  I’ve done my duties as a Christian and nothing extra.  I’ve sang the songs, read the verses, said a mealtime prayer, but then became complacent.  I’m so thankful that He is always faithful to open and touch my heart.  He makes it my (and your) decision about how we respond, or even if we respond at all.  I want to be more like Lydia and let people see the believer in me.  

Verses from Acts 16:13 – 15, 40  NIV