You’ve probably read this story before…

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42 NLT

I have always been intrigued by this story because I’m a Martha. I feel helpless and unimportant if I’m not busy doing, going, serving.  I would have complained as Martha did. In fact, I’m almost certain I have.  I identify with her and always felt  sympathy for her when Jesus sets her straight. 

In this story, Mary’s got it right.  She’s sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Spending time and soaking in whatever she can from being in His presence.  Letting  the little things go and concentrating on Christ. 

Jesus, make this Martha…a Mary. Teach me to sit at your feet and be focused on the one thing that is worthy of my concern. 

Any other Marthas out there?    Join me in becoming a Mary.

-Insights from my life….just another pastor’s wife.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  Genesis 3:7

Read Genesis 3.  Adam and Eve sinned and hid as do we.

Something happened in that garden that has changed who were are. We hide. We’re ashamed of who we are and what we’ve done, so we grab whatever is most convenient and hide behind it.

The solution to our fig leaves is volunerability.

I hid behind several things, and they have been slowly stripped away…

I had a job..then my husband and I felt God calling us to a new ministry.

I had a house…gone with the move.

I had a ministry full of people I loved…and I think they loved me too.  Back to the beginning we go.

I had a car…it wouldn’t pass inspection in PA …so we decided to sell it…then it broke again. junk.

I had a dog…she  became paralyzed in her back end.  Now God and I had a conversation about that one. I  know I can be a slow learner, but my dog too.  That seemed  a bit too far.  We still have her and love her, but she’s not the same.

Everything that I could rely on was being removed.  Until  it  was me, my husband, and my Jesus.

Finally, I found that all I ever needed was there all along after the fig leaves were  pulled back.

I was volunerable before the Lord.

-Insights from the Life of Just Another Pastor’s Wife.

Faith    

Hebrew 11: 1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Believe.   Trust.   Don’t be Anxious.   Pray.   Have Faith.

Sounds easy.  Seems easy.

It’s not easy.      

I have faith.  I believe in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, and I’ve never even seen him. Think about that.

Faith is a crazy idea.  In nothing else do I put my trust without testing the waters, observing, and feeling it out.  With God, things are different.  My spirit is willing, but my flesh is so frail.  My spirit says “Jump….He’s got you.”  My flesh says….”You’re Crazy! Hold tight to what you have.”

I get consumed by what I see.  It’s easier to follow what’s laid out in front of me. I have monetary needs, parental advice,  “pastoral”  advice, friends’ advice, personal ambition….all of which is tangible and sound, yet anchored in the visible, safe and logical.

I want faith. Real faith. I want to be available to God with confidence and assurance. I want to believe without sight.

 -Insights from the life of just another pastor’s wife.