Category: SPIRITUAL GROWTH

LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTEST IN THE DARK

God offers to help us to trust in our darkest times.

Psalm 23:4 reminds us that Jesus’ light shines the brightest in the darkest times.  Let me tell you of a time when Jesus’ brightness lit up a dreaded day in my life. 

THIS ISN’T MY HOME

It was a drive to East Stroudsburg University to empty the apartment bedroom of my son, Ryan, after his death of leukemia.  Pulling into the driveway, I was quickly caught off guard. I clearly heard Ryan’s voice say, “Mom, this isn’t my home.” I took a deep breath and walked inside. Dread filled the air like the smell of an old musty blanket taken out of storage.  Ry’s bedroom was untouched with accumulated dust commemorating Ry’s absence. 

My mind quickly switched from a grieving mom to a mom on a mission to box items as quickly as possible.  Ry’s voice again resonated in my heart, “This is not my home.” 

HOW ALONE I FELT

As the last boxes were placed in my pick-up truck, I went to turn the key in the ignition, but something made me stop. God was telling me to go back inside just in case I forgot one last piece of Ryan.  As I ascended the old creaky staircase, I thought how alone I felt.

Is this how Mary felt, knowing her son was going to die on a cross. What crossed her mind when she saw her son struggling to carry his own cross to his execution? 

THE SILVER GLIMMER SPARKLING

I opened the door to Ryan’s room.  It was empty.  But wait, wait…what was that?  A lone ray of sunlight peeked through the dusty blind. I saw a silver glimmer sparkling in what felt like Ry’s empty tomb.  A silver necklace hung from the closet doorknob.  “How could I have missed that?”  Yet here it was…a sign…a sign from God…a silver necklace with a cross engraved into it dangling from Ryan’s closet doorknob. 

HIS KINGDOM IS NOT HERE

In the book of John, John uses Jesus’ trial and crucifixion to teach about Jesus’ power.  Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Jesus doesn’t give a direct answer to Pilate.  Jesus replies that his kingdom is “not from here.” (John 18:36).

NO MORE DEATH

What is His kingdom like? It is unimaginable. The world’s power and authority, money, or status have no standing in this kingdom.  Christ’s kingdom comes from heaven, not earth, and it is far more splendorous. Can you imagine a place where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4)? This verse is a promise of restoration that the old world will pass, and the new world holds the promise that our eternal home will be free from pain, suffering, anxiety, and fear.

The silver glimmer of the cross necklace… a reminder that this world is not our home.  God offers to help us to trust in our darkest times.  May our eyes be opened to the mysterious ways God reveals His promises to us.  God, help us to see the silver glimmers shining brightly in this dark world.

Click to listen to the powerful story of Andy & Jamie Stewart    

FAITH THAT SHINES

It is possible to live consistently for God

In Genesis38:1-26 & 39:1-20 we read the stories of two brothers. Brother Judah is a spiritual train wreck. He hatches the plot to sell his despised younger brother Joseph into slavery. Afterward, he tells his father, “What a tragedy, Joseph was eaten by a wild animal.” It takes a lot of energy to keep up the brazen lie, so Judah decides to move for a change of scenery. He relocates into heathen territory, takes an unbelieving wife, has three evil sons and then betrays his own daughter-in-law. In other words, Judah has had all the opportunities and advantages, but never chooses God. His faith is non-existent.

JOSEPH’S NEW LIFE

Brother Joseph, the newly enslaved teen, makes quite different decisions. Existing as an Egyptian slave, he no longer has any contact with his family and must learn a new language, culture and the skills to make life work. This is beyond hard. Why didn’t Joseph, Jacob’s beloved son, just spit in the face of God and say, “If this is what you have planned for me, I want nothing to do with it.” Yet 17-year-old Joseph remains faithful to God even when his life appears to come apart. Joseph consistently trusts God.

THE SAME IN PRIVATE AS IN PUBLIC

James Montgomery Boice wrote about Joseph, “He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the one-hundred-and-ten-year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public. He was a truly great man.” Joseph shows the triumph of faith.

THE BROTHERS RAN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

God equipped Joseph with talents way before the trip to Egypt. One of these was the gift of administration. Potiphar, the head of Pharaoh’s personal security force, owns Joseph and thoroughly trusts him. However, there is the infamous fly in the ointment. Potiphar’s wife begins a campaign of sexually harassing Joseph. After all, Joseph is noted in scripture for his good looks. And yet Joseph never takes advantage of the situation. When Potiphar’s wife plots to use Joseph for sex, Joseph literally runs the other way. His chosen path is quite different from brother Judah who consistently runs toward sin.

SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD

Joseph’s story is the triumph of faith, regardless of the cost. Obedience is expensive. Joseph begins the entire Egyptian experience with no rights and ends up in prison. If Joseph could have had a life verse (and if the New Testament had been written at that point) it would be, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Which brother do you choose to pattern your life after? Are you Judah, who lives in freedom but carries a long history of ungodly choices? Or are you Joseph, who chooses to be a faithful servant to God, regardless of what position he has in society? Despite the price of obedience, faithful Joseph shines as a light to heathen Egypt. Are you also shining consistently as a light, regardless of the price of obedience to God?

Click to listen to the story of Virginia Prodan

THAT WEIGHTY WEEK

God continually points me to my Pink Notebook. That is my treasure house in which I write memory verses. It is my powerhouse.

It was a jam-packed week. God allowed me to participate in multiple conversations with women making milestone decisions. Caring for delightful individuals can feel weighty. I don’t want to get ahead of God and neither do I want to fall behind. As I pray about these conversations and seek God’s direction, God continually points me to my Pink Notebook. That is my treasure house in which I write memory verses. In about 1,000 years I may actually remember some of them (I definitely do not have a photographic memory).

From my recliner, I opened the treasure book and there it is, the portion I needed that hard week. I had handwritten: 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4:10-11)

I thought this through. God is not asking me if I feel comfortable in all those conversations from the marathon week. Also, He is not shooting off fireworks to celebrate what a lovely person I am (the angels laugh about that one!). What God commands is that I use whatever gifts He has given to serve others as a “faithful steward.”

What’s a faithful steward? “Once we’re called and placed into the body of Jesus Christ, the stewardship that is required of us is not a result of our own power or abilities. The strength, inspiration and growth in the management of our lives must come from God through the Holy Spirit in us; otherwise, our labor is in vain and the growth in stewardship is self-righteous, human growth.” Notice that? “Not a result of our own power or abilities.”

Hmm….so what God actually asks of me is to meditate on His Word, pray a great deal, and be open to challenging conversations. He provides, and He promises to continue to provide. It can be scary. I know my many limitations. But God is sufficient.

What challenging/uncomfortable ministry is God calling you into? Do you have your own Pink Notebook that is prompting you through the process? Go ahead. After all, the goal is, “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Click to listen to an interview regarding a jump into the unknown with Heather Rice Minus

GOD AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

I distinctly remember that four-hour encounter with Comcast (my customer service nemesis!!!).

Everyone has triggers that can set them off.  For me, it is inept customer service. Of course, I immediately assume I am right. At the same time, I can be rude and forget that the person on the other end of the line is also an individual with their own life story. It is even more challenging to be sympathetic when the customer service person reads scripted answers over the phone that do not help the problem.

God help the poor person who is not adept at all at customer service, and they get me on the line.  I forget the other individual who also needs kindness.  I deserve a flunking grade for many conversations. Consider this, I am allowing a conversation with a stranger to set me off.

That’s when God brings me face to face with my pride.  I pray and ask forgiveness. God in His goodness then runs me through the course again. I distinctly remember that four-hour encounter with Comcast (my customer service nemesis!!!).

The good thing is that I sometimes learn from my previous disasters.  In the last Comcast experience, the first conversation went well.  The second was much more challenging.  The third one was better.  Did the situation with the mal-functioning equipment get readily resolved?  No!!!!  However, I didn’t lose any brain cells or my temper over the matter. Neither did I share with them venom from my mouth and heart. God can give victory, if I just shut my mouth.

Rule of thumb for me is to breathe!!!  Let God enter the encounter. Good verse to ponder:  It is a person’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. (Proverbs 20:3). So, in these days of trigger finger tempers, are you behaving honorably? Am I? Only by letting God control the situation and being quick to obey Him (rather than myself) can we find victory. Who knows who will be on the phone next!

Read this excellent piece about the power of words  

JOSEPH’S ENTRY INTO GOD’S MASTER CLASS

What loss haunts your soul? Are you allowing it to be used by God?

Imagine the 17-year-old version of you. Not an adult, but not a child anymore; maybe not the “sharpest knife in the drawer”. This is the story of Joseph in Genesis 37:1-11. Add his family dynamics. He resides in a household with 4 moms (2 regular moms and 2 concubines) and 12 older brothers from the “unfavored” moms. Dad makes Joe the favorite son. Things arrive at a tipping point. Father Jacob gives Joseph a beautiful coat, a gift of the greatest honor. Talk about dysfunctional. Imagine the conversation around that Thanksgiving table.

THE TWO DREAMS

During this, God interjects Himself. God gives Joseph 2 dreams. (Please remember Joseph is only age 17.) Without thinking of the consequences, Joe blurts out both dreams to his bros. Right away the siblings recognize the significance of the dreams: at some point Joseph is going to reign over them. The bros ravenously feast on jealousy and hatred. Joe has a bullseye on his back.

WHAT GOD DOES NOT GIVE JOSEPH

Notice what insight God does not give Joseph: what the 2 dreams are going personally cost Joseph. God does not share the fact that the bros will sell Joe into slavery and fake his death. God only imparts to Joseph the prophecies. Faith in the eternal God is going to have to carry 17-year-old Joseph through years of tremendous isolation, suffering, and injustice. Are you disappointed with the conditions you are living under? Where are the “better” plans you imagined God having for you?

A PAINFUL EDUCATION

Joseph at age 17 enters God’s master class of leadership. This education involves a great deal of pain. Armed with the promises of God, and at the mercy of the machinations of his brothers, Joseph crosses the threshold into his nightmare years. Suffering is all part of God’s plan for Joe’s master class in leadership. These are part of God’s “better” plans. God maintains control despite the dark seasons.

MY MASTER CLASS IN PRAYER

I have been battling an inflammation of my sciatic nerve. The pain escalates in the middle of the night as I lay in bed. In the midst, I have discovered this is an opportunity to begin praying for others. I can’t sleep, so God has another agenda for me. It’s been a master class in prayer. God is in control when the pain shouts its loudest. God’s school often involves great pain.

GOD’S NIGHT SCHOOL

What loss haunts your soul? Are you allowing it to be used by God? Hope for Joseph was around the corner, but he had to learn to navigate through darkness while maintaining hope. Do you allow your pain to shape you into a more loving person? Are you holding on to hope during the darkness and maturing for the good? Are you attending God’s night school?

This is Joseph’s gift to the world = maintaining hope through darkness. Do you maintain a positive attitude amid our chaotic world? Who are you choosing to hope in during your “master class” from God?

Click to here for the amazing testimony of Päivi Räsänen – one who stands tall in the darkness

TETHERED TO GOD – WOLVES AT THE DOOR

If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will come alongside of you before the Throne of God. That composes a portion of the beautiful picture of being tethered to God.

At the beginning of WWII, King Edward of England was forced to abdicate the throne. The public reason being his refusal to give up the love of his life (she was not queenly material). There was a greater reason Edward could not remain on the throne. England was fighting for its existence as a free country. However, Edward greatly admired Hitler and made visits to Nazi Germany.  Like the false teachers in Jude, Edward “found fault, followed after his own lusts, and always spoke arrogantly.” If he had remained on the throne, the outcome of England from WWII would have been disastrous. Edward was tethered to Hitler.

GRUMBLING FALSE TEACHERS

Jude addresses influential false teachers who are dangerous. Described as “grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage” (Jude 1:16). Charles Spurgeon observed: “Nothing ever satisfies them. They are discontented even with the gospel. The bread of heaven must be cut into three pieces, and served on dainty napkins, or else they cannot eat it; and very soon their soul hates even this light bread. They pick holes in every preacher’s coat; and if the great High Priest himself were here, they would find fault with the color of the stones of his breastplate.”  These teachers are not tethered to Christ.

GOD’S GAME PLAN

What does a believer do when in danger of being influenced by such influencers? God provides a game plan. We are not to get lost in the craziness. God promises to take care of the situation. Stay tethered to God.

HOW TO PRAY

I once had pneumonia. The only way I could breathe was by sitting up, which is terrifying. My life depended on following the doctor’s instructions implicitly. Our spiritual lives depend on implicitly following the mandates in Jude 1:17-25. The first instruction is prayer. Don’t say, “I don’t know how to pray.” God already gives an answer for that excuse. “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26). If you are willing, the Holy Spirit will come alongside of you before the Throne of God. That composes a portion of the beautiful picture of being tethered to God.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE LED ASTRAY

But what are we to do about those influenced by those wolves, the false teachers? By being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can know when we should comfort and when we should rebuke. Never are we commanded to hate them or to be unconcerned for their salvation. The key is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and our own vulnerability to be led astray. We can choose Who we are tethered to.

CONNECTED TO GOD

David Guzik writes: “In mountain climbing, the beginning hiker attaches himself to the expert so that if he loses his footing he won’t stumble and fall to his death. In the same manner, if we keep connected with God, we cannot fall. He keeps us safe.” Tightly tethered to God means rigorously continuing to pray, vigorously reading and meditating on His Word, and choosing obedience to God, regardless of the consequences.

FINDING SOLACE AND PEACE

A tethered person finds solace and peace in Jude’s doxology: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Remain tethered to God!

For further inspiration, listen to the testimony of Megan Donahue  

WHAT DOES GOD DO WITH BROKEN TREES?

Yes, I am that splintered and broken tree.

Once upon a time, I stood straight; filled with pride. I thought I could bear the force of life’s storms. With all our years of pastoral experience, how bad could it be? Then came the year of multiple typhoons. In a blink of an eye, came the sudden loss of career, savings, home, our church family, and friendships.

THE MIGHTY HAD FALLEN

My base weakened during that horrific season. The soil supporting my roots was filled with sand. I snapped. Uprooted from the earth, that one last mighty gust of circumstances toppled me over with a mighty crash.  And so, I lay broken, humiliated, and confused. All who passed by saw how the mighty had fallen. My dreams had plummeted to the ground.

Yes, I am that splintered and broken tree.

THAT BROKEN WORTHLESS BRANCH

What does the Father do with broken trees? All that remained of me was a branch broken from a worthless, wild wilderness tree. Certainly I am worthy of the burn pile. Yet He tenderly offers to graft me into Himself. He permanently attaches me to the eternal tree of life.

STAYING FRESH AND GREEN

I read the words of David in Psalm 92:12-15:The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.”

THE CHOICE

Old age pursues me, but I choose to still produce fruit and flourish no matter what tornadoes are headed my way. The storms threaten to twist, break and uproot me again. I choose to trust and tether my roots tightly to the Hand of God and to His Word. Never again do I want to be that barren tree filled with pride and worthless. I am grafted into Himself.

No matter what age or stage of life you are in, have you tethered your roots tightly to Jesus Christ? Lots of storms loom on the horizon.  You can bear fruit, even in the darkness.

Click for further info on being grafted into God

Click for further info on Jesus being the Vine

MINIMALIST LIVING

Over 200 items have either left my home. This led me to reflect on behaviors in my life, what I cling to, “just in case.”

Oh yes, I am doing the Minimalist 30 Day Purge with a friend. I got rid of one thing on the first day of the month. Two things on August 2nd. Three things on August 3rd. So forth and so on. The rules are explained: “Anything goes! Collectables, decorations, kitchenware, electronics, furniture, bedding, clothes, towels, tools. Whether you donate, sell, or trash your excess, every material possession must be out of your house—and out of your life—by midnight each day.

THE CHALLENGE OF “THE PURGE”

“It’s an easy game at first. Anyone can purge a few items, right? But it grows considerably more challenging by week two, when you’re forced to jettison more than a dozen items per day. And it keeps getting more difficult as the month progresses.” (Look up the Minimalists for further instructions)

Today I drove to the drop-off at the local Reuzit Shop and the volunteer who was handling donations looked at me with horror when I explained my plan. Not sure if the horror was from him having to take continued donations from me or horror if he ever had to do it in his own life.

OVER 200 ITEMS HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE

I’m now on day 17. Okay, I’m an over-achiever, had some extra time, and now have worked ahead to day 21. So that means that over 200 items have either left my home or are waiting to make an exit. Some items have been small, such as the pens that no longer work, but then some have been larger, as in that lawn chair which has gathered dust in the storage locker.

WHAT I CLING TO “JUST IN CASE”

It’s amazing when given a great challenge, one can let go of items. I guess I needed a good excuse. This led me to reflect on behaviors in my life. The things I have clung to, “just in case.” Under the excuse of wanting to defend myself, I have clung to anger. Under the premise of desiring to have the last word, I have clung to sarcasm. God wants to empower me to purge the way I do life.

LETTING GO OF BEHAVIORS

In the words of the Apostle Paul: “You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

THE TRUCKLOAD OF “DON’TS”

“What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.

DON’T BREAK GOD’S HEART

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:20-32)

EACH WORD IS A GIFT

Hmm…. I think God is telling me to get rid of much more than physical items in my home. I can not do this on my own strength. My new mantra has to be “Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.” Amen!

And now for Day 22…..

WHAT DOES UNITY REALLY MEAN?

Have you ever been through a church break-up? Resentment and unforgiveness ruled supreme and you couldn’t even seem to sense Jesus’ presence anymore. And the pain was overwhelming.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” Ahh! Easier said than done. (Psalm 133:1-3)

“Have you ever been through a church break-up? For years you met together on Sundays, wore out each other’s carpet, cooked meals for those who were sick, told one another how much you loved each other and how much Jesus loves us.  And then you found you disagreed on something vital, and everything started to crumble. Suddenly, arguments became the order of the day. Finally the congregation split in two. Those you considered your best friends didn’t want to speak to you anymore.  Resentment and unforgiveness ruled supreme and you couldn’t even seem to sense Jesus’ presence anymore. And the pain was overwhelming.” (quoted from “In Defense of the Gospel”)

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

What is the church? A club? An organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity? My father faithfully attended both the Lions Club and church. As a child, I did not see much difference between the two. Thankfully, Jesus knows the difference. Jesus considers His Body, the church, so significant that one of His final prayers is for the future church: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:20-21) How the Lions Club interacted within itself did not make anyone believe God had sent Christ. It was just a club. Church, as designed by Christ, is to be marked by unity.

CHURCH IS NOT A CLUB

Christ’s concept of unity is a miracle, utterly unique from anything offered by our world. Without the magnificent work of the Holy Spirit actively empowering how believers interact with other believers, we miss the target by a mile. We become only an organization, a club.

IN UNITY, DISAGREEMENT IS POSSIBLE

In biblical unity, believers can disagree. Remember the sharp disagreement between Barnabas and Paul over the issue of John Mark recorded in Acts 15:36-39? John Mark previously deserted Paul and Barnabas on a missionary trip.  Barnabas wants to give the young man a second chance. Barnabas and Paul come to a compromise: Barnabas leaves on a missions trip with John Mark and Paul departs on his journey accompanied by Silas. The plus is that they ended up making two productive trips instead of the sole one previously planned. Furthermore, notice Paul’s attitude. He continues to praise Barnabas (I Cor. 9:3-6) and at the end of his life, Paul thinks so highly of John Mark that he requests a visit from him (II Tim. 4:11).  Barnabas and Paul disagreed, but they never slammed the door on their relationship. They maintained unity even though they had disagreed.

LIVING IN UNITY LEAVES A MARK ON THE WORLD

To live in unity with believers matters to Christ! Tristan Wax observes, “In the end, the goal isn’t papering over differences and finding surface-level agreement. Church unity matters because (1) our unity is connected to the unity of God himself (and thus our disunity is a scandalous affront to the gospel), (2) the world sees a reflection of God’s inner life in our fellowship when we participate in his divine love, and (3) it’s the means by which we withstand the pressures of the world that rage against God’s truth.”

Does your unity with fellow believers mirror God’s glory or do you just consider church a club? Are you ready to obey and to “withstand the pressures of the world that rage against God’s truth”? With the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, living in unity with believers is our deepest reflection of God’s glory.

Click to read further: Christian Unity Is Deeper than ‘Getting Along’

TRANSFORMED FROM MARTHA TO MARY

All through the Martha years, I go to church, pray often, meet with a small group to discuss Christian values, and even teach Sunday school. I’m so tired.

Until five years ago, picture me a modern day “Martha”. I busy myself in the kitchen distracted by preparations; always cleaning, preparing, cooking, and organizing. My do-it-all mentality gets on my husband’s nerves as I tend to the needs of our three children. I begin my day by looking at the calendar, making a to-do-list, starting two loads of laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and unloading the dishwasher all before breakfast. All through the Martha years, I go to church, pray often, meet with a small group to discuss Christian values, and even teach Sunday school.

I PUSHED THAT VOICE ASIDE

Yet, I didn’t fully grasp the one thing that was necessary.  I heard a faint voice saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.”  I pushed that voice aside for many years until one day I chose to listen.

BUSY MARTHA

Are you also a “Martha”? In the Bible, Martha busies herself cooking a meal for her guests, including Jesus. During the preparations, she becomes upset because her sister Mary should be helping her. Instead, sister Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning from Him.

Martha harbors resentment and goes to Jesus. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus replies to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

THE INVITATION TO COMPANIONSHIP

Jesus’ openly invites not only to Martha, but all of us. He asks us to worship first before we work. Joanna Weaver, author of “Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World” states, “In obedience to his invitation, we find the key to our longings, the secret to living beyond the daily pressures that would otherwise tear us apart. For as we learn what it means to choose the Better Part of intimacy with Christ, we begin to be changed.”

Weaver explains that our world may celebrate our accomplishments, but our God desires our companionship. Martha’s hurriedness in the kitchen made her lose sight of the intimacy of the living room. Opening her home did not mean she opened her heart. We do not need to prove our love to Jesus. When we serve Jesus, don’t miss the opportunity to know Jesus and how much he loves us. 

MY SURRENDER

Then, my son Ryan was diagnosed with leukemia. At that point, five years ago, I completely understood the magnitude of what I was missing in my life.  In August 2019, I fully surrendered myself to God and my new name became “Mary”. Mary, the sister of Martha, who worshipped at the feet of Jesus and humbly learned what is most important in life.

The morning before Ryan died, I watched my son’s chest rise and fall with labored breathing. His head had not left his pillow for days as his depleted energy made any movement difficult. My Mary heart waited for Jesus to come and take the suffering away for my dear son.  At that moment, I witnessed the transforming power of God as Ryan sat straight up in bed with a force not of this world. His hands stretched outright ready to greet his heavenly Father. The gasp heard from his voice made me think that he was seeing the glory that was to be his shortly.

My itinerary for my life ahead is not mine to decide. I seek to humbly and sacrificially serve instead of allowing my achievements and to-do-list to take priority. By giving my life to God and submitting to His plan, my worries are cast aside. 1 Peter 5:7 states, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  Do you also need to be renamed “Mary”?