You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
Don’t you just love the first sentence, “Have you ever tried to do it all?” Of course we have! Of course we still do! It’s part of our culture. The women on television do it; the women in politics and big business do it. But, should we try to “do it all?”
If you were in Bethany, invited to Mary and Martha’s house, where would you be — alongside Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, or in the kitchen with Martha?
I know where I’d be — my mama taught me that when you go to someone’s house, you’d better see what needs to be done in the kitchen, and help the hostess before you even think of sitting down and visiting!
However, Mary wasn’t being lazy or impolite. Jesus doesn’t rebuke Mary in the story, and he isn’t harsh with Martha. Read Luke 10:40 – 42
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (ESV)
Have you ever been invited to dinner, and had a wonderful time, a great meal, but you never got to spend even a minute with the hostess? She served everyone, but barely sat down to eat (always something to check on, somewhere else to be). When the meal was over, she insisted on cleaning up and making coffee and serving dessert, rather than sitting down with her guests and enjoying the fellowship of her company.
Which was Jesus’ point to Martha – her serving, or her distractedness, anxiety and worry?
What does it mean that “Mary has chosen the better part?”
This statement on page 10 struck me. . .”He [Jesus] isn’t looking as much for workers as he is looking for sons and daughters — a people to pour his life into. . .”
Do you feel more like a “worker bee” in God’s family, or like a daughter, a beloved child?
What are your observations and challenges with the Matthew 11:28 – 30 passage?
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I remember, at a horribly manic Martha time in my life, reading this Scripture and literally tossing my Bible across the room (embarrassing, I know, but, come on, what’s the point if we aren’t real here!). I was so overwhelmed with responsibilities and burdens, and didn’t realize that most of them were self-imposed, with a desire to be “indispensible to everyone.”
Jesus’ invitation is to come. Come to Him with our schedules. Come to Him with our children, our marriage, our relationships. Come to Him with our hurts and our hearts. Come to Him for rest. Come to Him to receive a “yoke,” the responsibilities and opportunities that HE wants for us. Come for peace. Come to Him.
Spending time with Jesus is not just another “thing I have to do to make God like me.” It is a tremendous opportunity to spend time getting to know and love the God who saved me and loves me and calls me His precious child. This book is about the process of learning to “choose the better part.”
Can you identify one or two changes that you will make this week, to start on the journey to “choosing the better part?”
How’s the soaking in of Matthew 11:28 – 30 going? I don’t call it “memorizing” anymore, because too many people say they “can’t memorize.” However, anyone can write a verse on a 3×5 card or put it on the screen saver of their computer, and read it and think about it and pray through it throughout the day. You will be amazed at how much you will absorb when you “soak in” like this. Try it!
I sent this bit of encouragement to my son today; I’ve been meditating a bit, and allowing God to soothe my soul with the same encouragement. . .
“. . . Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV)
“. . . But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV)
How pervasive and subtle and crafty is the enemy in encouraging us to craft this god of self-reliance! In an effort to “feel good about ourselves,” to “love ourselves,” we so quickly go to an extreme and, in essence, remove God from the picture.
Now, being religious and knowing the “right” thing to say (who says we aren’t politically correct? should we more accurately term PC as “pharisaically correct?”) we usually won’t admit that we worship this false god. His counterpart is the god of self-loathing (you will most often find me wandering toward that altar. . .). Let’s face it; it’s all self-focus, self-obsession. It’s sin, and when the Holy Spirit identifies it, we must repent.
I can hear it now. . .”Bev, if this is the way you choose to encourage. . .” but please read on to see how this passage encouraged my soul, and how God lifted me up and helped me to keep walkin’ on. . .
I have no sufficiency in myself. When I “try so hard and it’s too hard and it’s too much. . .” it’s all true. The task is too big. People are broken. Lives are shattered. Souls are lost.
God is sufficient; my sufficiency is not mine, it’s God’s! He made me competent to share His message of love and forgiveness and healing and life. The God who created the world; the God who will never leave me nor forsake me; the God who saved my scrawny neck from the muddy pit; the God who can raise the dead; He made me competent — He chose me to carry His message! How can I concentrate on me, when it’s all Him?!
God is the One who does the saving, who lifts the veil from a person’s eyes so they can see the truth. God lifts the veil; not any profound words that I say; not any amount of standing on my head or being the best rescuer that ever was or being so indispensible that no one can breathe without my help –God lifts the veil! When I am obedient to Him, when I listen to Him and respond, when I share from what He has taught me – God may use that means to lift the veil — but God lifts the veil.
I’m being transformed. It’s a process. It doesn’t happen all at once. God’s transforming me, as I behold His glory. As I spend time with Him. As I listen to Him. As I desire Him more than His gifts, more than His benefits. As I desire Him.
Here’s freedom — it’s not all about me. It’s not my talents, my strengths, my gifts, my feelings about me. It’s all about God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Free to listen. Free to respond with a resounding ‘yes, Lord.’ Free to do what He’s called me to do because He has made me competent. Free to stop obsessing about what I can or cannot do; how worthy or unworthy I am; how useful or worthless I am. Free to walk with God. Free to be His child. Free. Free. Oh, thank You Father, I’m Free!
Something really good to remember . . .
Since my “voice rest” issue doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, a dear friend of mine inspired me to set up an avenue where we can read a book together and “discuss” it online, using this site. I’ve set up a category called “book club” (I know, so original) and you can either comment on this site, or email me at the address found at the top of the blog page.
So, here’s the first book:
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2000. ISBN: 1578562589
Be sure you get the copy that includes the 12-week companion Bible study.
We will discuss Chapter 1 during the week of January 28-Feb 1.
This should be fun!
“As he [Jesus] went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ” (Luke 11:53-12:2 ESV)
Beware. . .watch out . . . be careful. . .be on your guard. . .
I didn’t realize how infrequently the “bewares” are used in Scripture. These terms are reserved for a sincere warning against hypocrisy and following other gods; against self-righteousness and self-sufficiency; against divisiveness and “biting and devouring” one another. If these terms are used so infrequently, it seems logical that when the term is used, I should pay attention (not that I shouldn’t pay attention all the time, but you know what I mean . . .)
Pharisees. . .hypocrisy. . .we use those terms as synonyms. We read them, and, for the most part, dismiss the term as not applying to “us” but to “them.” We can begin to list people that fit into the “Pharisee” category, churches that fit, enemies that fit, family members, fellow employees, the neighbor, etc. However, rarely, unless you are an extremely self-examining (read self-obsessive) person, do we list ourselves in the Pharisee/hypocrite category. That’s “beating myself up;” “I’m saved by grace;” “I love everybody ‘in Christ’.”
But Jesus says “beware.” Let’s be honest. We all enjoy a level of hypocrisy. We all wear masks and try to make ourselves look better than we are. The flip side can also be true. Sometimes we try to make people think we are more messed up than we are, either for attention or to lower the expectations for change. It’s still a mask; it’s still hypocrisy.
Why is hypocrisy so damaging? If we all do it to some extent, why is it so important that Jesus says “beware?” Hypocrisy separates people into “us and them.” I find this especially true in the context of people who grew up in church vs. those who didn’t. I’m not saying there is not acceptance; in fact, the current proof for “we have arrived as a true New Testament church” is a diversity of people in attendance. If you’ve got tattoos, or multiple piercings, or have a dramatic story of abuse/addiction, even a prison record — come on in! Here is proof we are a “grace” church!
Then. . .the very subtle, subversive, sometimes even unaware attitudes. “You go to this small group; you will have more in common with these people.” “I just can’t relate with her; our backgrounds are too different.” “I want to attend a Bible study for ‘normal’ Christians; this Bible study is too elementary for me.” (personally that’s my favorite to get my blood boiling) What results is this pervasive feeling of shame and inadequacy; a fear of real honesty; a separation into ‘camps’ where a superficial safety can be maintained.
And, as a 21st century church, haven’t we fostered this to some extent? Now, don’t misunderstand me when I make this statement, for I LOVE these ministries and have been helped and have been an active participant and proponent. . . but, when we separate people into: Celebrate Recovery; DivorceCare; GriefCare; First Place; Wounded Heart; advanced Bible Study; (I think I’ve pretty much offended everyone across the board) don’t we promote a Pharisaical attitude of “when they graduate from this program then they can join the normal Christians?” Instead of a friend who is a “church girl” walking alongside her friend who has significant issues, she is “handed off” to attend a group that has more in common with her, or knows how to deal with her. What if the two women attended a group together? The “church girl” friend would benefit, and the “issues” friend would have a safe place and somone she knows by her side.
Ok, all you who are leadership in these “issues” groups are waving red flags and saying, “No, Bev; you can’t do that! It will destroy the safety of the group!” (Please remember, I’ve been a participant and leader in some of these groups, I’m waving the same red flags) Why does it have to be that way? This is what I’m so frustrated about!
The “church people who never messed up” (as opposed to the church people like me who messed up big time) need to remember that “we were dead in our transgressions and sins . . .in which we ALL walked in. . .” (Bev translation of Ephesians 2:1 ff) God is the only One who made us alive and saved us by grace. He was not obligated to save us just because we grew up in church and got Sunday School stars and filled up our Awana bars with charms and jewels. Every sin, from the emphatic “no” of a cute toddler, to the secret abortion or drug addiction or sexual promiscuity or lying or manipulation to get your own way, or cheating on a test, or rebelling against your parents’ authority, or speeding — every sin required the bloody gruesome death of Jesus on the cross to satisfy the wrath of God that we deserved (and yes, I need to say the wrath because how will we know how much God loves us unless we know what we have been saved from?)
In the same way, the “non-church” people need to remember that “. . .There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 ESV) and “. . .there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:11 ESV) (emphasis mine) Sometimes (no, oftentimes) the distance and “otherness” is self-imposed. Non-church person, person with “a past,” abused, addicted, broken, etc. — Christ says that we are all one, that in Him there is commonality. His grace is sufficient for all of us. You can relate with the “church people;” so what if you have to look up the Bible verses in the Table of Contents! So what if you have to go outside on breaks for a smoke break! So what if you ask a lot of questions! So what if . . .!
I’m certainly not saying I have all the answers to this frustration. However, I am asking God the “what can I do about it to make it better” question . . .
I can “beware” of any hypocrisy in my life, repent and walk away from it;
I can encourage my friends to join with me in having eyes open to see the lonely, the self-conscious, the person on the “outskirts” and invite them in;
I can pray that God would penetrate our hearts and souls with His Word, that we truly are all one in Christ, and we have more in common with each other than we have differences.
You know, if the first-Century church could make their differences work (and their differences were much more dramatic than ours), then what’s our problem? We have God’s Word, which contains God’s design for meshing our differences into one fantastic family. Think of it this way. . .we will be spending eternity together in heaven; wouldn’t it be great to start learning to get along now?
Can you imagine what our community would look like if we really did act as a family unit?
Something to think about. . .
For we are his [God's] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
It’s another moderately high pain day. Not as bad as it could be, but worse than I’d like it to be . . .but it does give me more time to think (because I’m lying under the covers with the electric mattress pad going and trying to get warm so my joints will behave).
I’ve still been doing a little bit of the struggling with the no more teaching thing . . .and the above Scripture came to my mind during my morning prayer time.
Imagine — I am God’s workmanship. God is making me fit for His work.
I was created for good works. God created me to do something; God has a design for me.
I was created “in Christ Jesus” because there is absolutely nothing that I can bring to God that is acceptable for His work. It’s all been corrupted by sin. Jesus lived a sinless life, died in my place, rose again from the dead, so that I could be a new creation. . .still amazes me, no matter how often I hear it.
God prepared what He wants me to do “beforehand,” which means my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and its effect on my vocal cord and my breathing difficulties did not cause God to scramble around with a “plan B.” This more quiet, more isolated time in my life; this ministering more one-on-one rather than in group settings; this using the written word more than the spoken word — all this is part of the good works God created me to do.
Why is it so difficult for me to simply trust the God who loves me and who made me and who knows my every move and ability and who also knows whose life He wants me to inject hope and help (accompanied by the availability of tissues and even maybe a kitty or a dog to hug)? Praise Him, I come back around to the “yes, Lord, You are right and this is the best for me. . .” but why don’t I just go there in the first place?
At least I “got there” sooner than in previous times. . .
He is such a gracious, patient Father.
