Luke 10:40-42

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 away from her.”
Luke 10:40-42

I have recently picked up the book “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. Anyone else read this book? I am thoroughly enjoying it and have almost completed it. However, I would love to read it again, slower, and discuss it with others who are reading as well. Will you like to join me in a group book discussion? If anyone is interested, please send me a quick email and we can work out the details.

Back to the verse of the month...I admit it, I’m a Martha. Any other Martha’s in the group? Or are you a Mary? Don’t you think Jesus’ response could have been something like this, “Martha, don’t you care that your Lord and master is here and you are too busy to sit and listen?” Ouch! Sometimes as mothers we can get too wrapped up in our daily to do’s that we don’t have time for what really matters-our spiritual life, our husband, our children! Although I believe Martha was secure in Jesus’ love for her to make such a comment! Are you that secure? Mary knew what was important and took time for some much needed time with her Lord! When we spend time with our Lord, we will become renewed and refreshed empowering us with the energy we need to make it through the day and knock out our to do list!

Supporting verses:

don't you care
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:38-41

worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt. 6:25-34

one thing is needed
One thing I ask of the LORD , this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

More of Mary and Martha...
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. John 11:20

Is this role reversal or has Martha's faith increased?

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21-22

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. John 9:31

Jesus was more than Martha's friend, he was her Messiah. Martha knew this and was prepared for what came next.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” John 11:23-27

I would love to hear from you! Thanks for reading!

James 1:6

Have you ever had one of those days where you have the devil sitting on one shoulder telling you “you can’t do that!” or “who do you think you are?” or “what makes you think you ….” and then on the other shoulder is the angel saying “you can do this” or “you bring something different…” and fill your head with great ideas that really excite you! And then the devil starts talking again. Ok, maybe you haven’t, but you have seen it in cartoons or on tv sometime, right? Well, that happened to me earlier this week. This week we also bought new mattresses with our tax check. I was soo looking forward to going to bed and wouldn’t you know I was wide awake! Plus my 3 year old wasn’t ready for bed either, keeping me from falling asleep. As I laid there in bed trying to fall asleep and thinking about the conversation that happened earlier on my shoulders, “James” kept popping in my head. I wanted to get up and see what the book of James had to say about my struggle, but I didn’t want Kori to get up with me and not go to sleep. Anyway, the next morning, before the girls woke up, I had my quiet time and starting reading James. It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for!

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6

You see, a few weeks ago I was contemplating shutting down FaithfullyYours. I was wondering if it was worth it, for myself as well as my customers. After prayerful consideration, I felt led by God that I should not quit working on Faithfully Yours! But somehow this week, I started to question that and lost faith. Here I had asked God, received my answer, and then started doubting it! I can’t believe I had the audacity to doubt God! What was I thinking? Actually, I am surprised to be sharing this with you. But I am hoping, by sharing my story, it will “speak” to someone else and help in some way!

Before going on, I would like to share the verses leading up to and following this verse.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:7-8

Supporting verse:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Throughout scripture, the disciples doubted Jesus and their faith severly lacked. But what did Jesus say?

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26
and
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

So what should we do when we doubt?
Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don't be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 5:36
or
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Luke 17:5
and
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on 's power. 1Co 2:4,5

Please share your thoughts...