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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Martha, Martha, Martha

This week I have found myself worried about a great many things. Just to name a few; How can I make up for my failings as a parent now that my children are adults? Will we be stuck in this limbo land forever? Will you really do those things you promised? Will I be the kind of grandparent that my mom is to my children? Will I be able to survive a serious trial? Will I ever be healed? Do you love me? Why?

In answer to my worries the Lord gently spoke to my heart through various means. No, He didn't give me answers to all my questions but He did bring a teaching into my life that brought some much needed perspective and He renewed my hope with His neverending supply of enduring mercy.

The last week has been kind of rough. Everyday except one, I awoke to being consumed by a migraine. So last night was Wednesday and we usually would go to church but we decided to stay home and just watch a "His Channel" streaming video instead. We chose Bob McCoy and I am sure it was coincidence that his teaching covered worrying and some real life perspective. Funny how someone can speak a God inspired teaching and impact so many lives and we all think it just a coincidence that it speaks so directly to our individual heart. God is funny like that. He even talked about how we don't want to be inconvenienced by having to go church again because it's crowded or we don't feel good but every minute 5,000 children die because they don't have enough clean drinking water. We in America have it so good we don't even have a clue what true struggling is. He is right. I wouldn't have died to go to church, I would have been slightly inconvenienced. Yes, I had a migraine, but the point was not about just going to church. Church is for the building up of the body of Christ, so that we might be better equipped to reach the lost, to bring the lost in, to encourage others, but we have made it our Christian duty to attend church just to prove we are Christians. I fear we have forgotten what it is really about.

He also asked the question of "do we just worry about stuff or do we take our worry to the Lord?" I like to think I take my worry to the Lord, but I don't usually tell Him I am worried. Many of us have heard the Mary, Martha story but last night when my usual Bible reading was covering the story and it really hit home.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42 NIV

My prayer is that I would choose what is better, and I am thankful that it will not be taken away from me.

Lord, help me to sit at your feet and not worry about the things of this world. Help me to choose what is better when I find myself worried about a great many things. Help me to be a Mary in a Martha world.