Luke 10:38-42
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 away from her."
Please take the time to read the broader context, especially Luke 10:25 - 11:13. As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
Here are some more questions for you:
- Do you think this story is a "corrective" to the Good Samaritan parable, which seems to emphasize works? Why or why not?
- How does the beginning of chapter 11 "fit" with the Martha/Mary story?
- How would you describe Martha?
- How would you describe Mary?
- Which of the two can you identify with?
- What do you think Jesus means when he says, "only one thing is needed?" What is it?
- What from this text does our congregation need to hear?
- How does passage fit with this statement? We are baptized believers participating in the life of God for the sake of others.
What else is on your mind this week?
45 comments:
Let’s pretend for a moment. You don’t know what the passage is for next week. You are unaware of the text and the title.
If someone came up to you tomorrow at work and asked, “What is the one thing you need in life?” what would you say?
The one thing I need is God to continue to walk, and to guide me through my walk of life (trials).
I was going to say peace, but then I read Gino's choice. I think this is where my peace comes from--knowing God walks with, in front of and behind me.
I think this is one of those questions that 99% of the people would be embarrassed to answer with 1005 honesty.
RR
I would love more time at home. I have all the things I need but time. Maybe though, if I had more time I would not spend it well so I think I have to say I have been given a blessing by knowing if I want to accomplish something I have to redeem the time and make the most of it. I guess I am and have been both a Mary and a Martha. I no longer become upset with anyone though who doesn't help me with what I might think is important. Each has their own life and focus and it is not up to me to judge action or inaction in others as long as they are seeking God. The better part is of course sitting at the feet of Jesus, whether that is in prayer, listening to His words or praising Him or in helping someone else in whatever way I can. I do need to see my family and friends in Heaven and that is my most urgent and pressing need to see them follow Jesus. God has blessed me with so much in my life and as I get older I see more clearly day by day His blessings. Have a wonderful day and week. Sherron
I like your answers/posts. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit this morning. I think I need assurance. I think I tend to try “martha” my way to it, but the blessed kind only comes through a “mary” approach. Be still, listen, and know. Why is that so hard to do for some of us?
People walk faster now. That’s what THIS article says. I walk fast; that’s the way I do life. Actually I much prefer to run than walk. Very Martha.
If you want to read the complete story that I used in my sermon yesterday, then click HERE. Warning: it is long, like 14 printed pages, but it does include video clips of the experiment. I wonder if Mary would have stopped to listen to the beautiful music. Something tells me that she would have, delighting in beauty that is but a reflection of God.
Hey Martha, you have a nice "Mary" in your backyard, how come we haven't heard anymore animals stories?
You are on to something there, Anon. I am turning my backyard into a Mary Preserve. It really is a place for me to be Mary (not in some sort of weird way, of course). This morning we had a big tom turkey in the backyard strutting his stuff, presumably looking for the ladies. (What a life - to be a turkey.) He entertained us all for about 15 minutes.
Your sermon was exceptionally good yesterday, and I actually caught most of it, displaced as I was (ashley didn't want to sit front and center). It really makes a big difference to me if I can't see expressions and hear every word. I also found my eyes roaming, things would catch my eye and I would naturally look. Want a good experience?...try front and center! I also find I feel wrapped in the Holy Spirit sitting up there, and heartfelt prayers and praise just seem to flow so well...I love it!
Annette
In class yesterday morning, Allen said something about having a problem committing the same sins that just seem to follow you around. It seems like you just can't get past them no matter how hard you try. I was wondering if any one has a story to share where they finally got past a "repeater"? One thing about repeaters is that it kinda keeps you humble. If you are busy praying and asking for forgiveness you don't have time to point fingers at anyone else, or feel puffed up about yourself.
Annette
Annette, my whole life has been a do-over, it seems. All I can tell you is that with experience and doing the right thing over and over (with the wrong things thrown in sometimes on a daily basis) that as long as you keep fighting Satan, God will win. Satan is strong but God is stronger. I wouldn't know where to begin--maybe with gossip, anger, bitterness, unforgivness, resentment. I fight it every day but God is winning. Some of those things I can honestly say are not a problem any more until Satan hears me say this and then he will present me with an opportunity to overcome again. Spending time alone with God gives me strength and courage to overcome and staying so busy with positive things like my gardening takes the focus off the negative as He presents Himself to me daily. I know you find solace there too. Have a great day. Sherron
I would say water. tw
Actually, tw, that’s a very good answer.
John 4:10-14
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
It is a beautiful morning! I love listening to the birds wake up with singing.
Ryan, why do you think people are afraid to answer truthfully?
Sorry Sherron, I appreciate you sticking your neck out there for me. God wins, God wins in the end. I guess its like Allen said, everyone has to fight the good fight everyday. Thats one reason why I want to simplify my life so I can stay more focused. I use the 'think about good things' a lot myself. Some times thoughts pop into your mind and you have to ask for forgiveness and then think about good things. There is so much to be thankful for, the old song 'count your blessings' will pop in my mind sometimes and I can hear and picture a little lady who played the piano at a church I went to when I was growing up. Mary Dixon was such a precious soul, isn't it amazing how people live on in our memories and touch us all of our lives?
Annette
PS I once told this lady how much I loved her banana pudding, from then on she brought it to every church function just for me. I'll shut up now, sorry Jay for using the s word I know how much you dislike it. Have a great day everyone.
Annette
There have been so many dear elderly people in my life who have been such a positive influence. I think of Pearl Blanton who was an elder's wife at the Jasonville church where I went as a teenager and her welcoming us young people to their farm and teaching us to sing 'Let the Lower Lights Be Burning' and feeding us strawberry shortcake and her husband Elmer taking us on a hayride. She was young at heart and very spunky. she is buried near my dad and mom along with her husband. My grandma was an old fashioned farm lady who wore feedsack dresses and long aprons and a homemade dust cap in the winter and a sunbonnet in the summer. She was a lady in every sense and so gentle but with a wee bit of a spunky attitude too. Mary Rutledge was an elder's wife across the road and I never knew a more humble person in my life. She too was a farm wife and a deacon's wife at our church. They took me to church when the weather was too bad for me to walk for a ride to Sunday school. My mother worked and whistled and did without necessities and was creative with her meager provisions and loved her children beyond understanding. Effie Inman brought me back to church after a long absence and there are just not enough words to describe the influence she had on me. My heart is full of love for them all. They taught me to drink from the living water at the well that is in the passage Allen just posted. I fell alseep in the swing watching the birds last night. Life is good. Sorry for being so longwinded today. Just overflowing with joy this morning. God bless you all. Sherron
Here's a possible reason for people not answering honestly:
I've grown up in the church. I know from experience (and this is only my experience, but I doubt it's unique)that if I tell my christian family what I need, my experience and need will be re-defined by them as worldly, selfish and/or immature. I will be told that if I pray more and live more in the word, these needs will become unimportant and I should quit dwelling on them. So, I tell God what my needs are and let Him decide. I tell christians the answer I am working on, and I keep working on it: that God walking with me--no Me remembering to walk with God--is what I really need.
One of my students from Oakland City wrote passionately about a similar thing to the previous post. She is a young woman struggling in a bad marriage and struggling to find a church community. She has doubts and a little bit of a messy life. She said she was tired of “churchy” answers about everything. “Just read and pray and everything will be ok.” She has real questions and wants real answers. SO how do you respond to all this? Is reading and praying, with a view of finding God, really the answer? If not, then what is?
I’m looking for some real answers here. I think the perception that the church can only give “churchy” answers to life’s most vexing issues is why many younger folks are leaving the church in order to find God. There is a lot at stake, I think.
Allen:
I think people are afraid to answer truthfully because the real answer is not the "right" answer. Kind of goes with your post about "churchy". We all want to answer that the one thing we need is God, Love, the church etc. That is what feel we need to say or are expected to say. If we are honest we might say some things like money, a good job, fame, food, or even a little closer to the "churchy" side we might say family and or friends. Maybe I am wrong but I think we are afraid to recognize and admit that we arent totally there yet. In other words, our walk is to get to be like Christ but 99% of us are not there. we still have a lot of temporal thoughts and needs, but we have almost been programmed to feel guilty about admitting that and especially to the other Christians.
RR
I agree a lot with what has been said. I have often thought we should put up a bulliten board or something so we can ask for help in what we need. There are probably so many people at church who know exactly what we need to do, for what we need, and how to go about doing it. There is nothing wrong with seeking wise counsel, in fact you should, but if no one is allowed to show or talk about or ask for help with their needs then no one knows and no one gets help.
I will use myself as an example....I have done many budgets for family and friends but for some reason I cannot do one that works for me, life has changed and I just can't seem to get it together.
Annette
Allen, I don't want to seem unsympathetic to your friend and her disdain for "churchy" answers. She's in a bad spot, and I do sympathize. But, if she wants answers, and wants to get close to God, there's no substitute for regular Bible study and prayer. I don't say this from a high-horse, I'm as lax as anybody. But, it's silly to say you want to know God, then blow off studying His greatest revelation of Himself, after Christ.
Donna
It may sound 'churchy' or out of touch but let me give you an example of yesterday. I am extremely tired from a busy weekend to the point of being almost sick. I had a busy day at work yesterday and in the afternoon near the end of the day I was caught up to the point of having a little breather. I keep tapes here to listen to and the one I picked up was one that Steve Gilstrap gave me for a previous Mother Daughter banquet to use as background music of the Hallal singers. As I listened to 'Lord Make Us Instruments Of Your Peace' and 'My Eyes Are Dry' and many others, the most restful, peaceful feeling came over me. I slept all night even though every muscle in my body aches right now (with the help of Tylenol PM) and I do have difficulty sleeping. If we invite Him in, He gladly comes and gives us comfort and peace. I did not grow up in a Christian home so this journey was not thrust upon me by loving parents who were believers. The desire was within me as I saw wonderful examples and some not so wonderful examples of Jesus living in others. His grace is sufficient. I have learned through the years to distinguish between true 'needs' and wants. There is nothing wrong with wanting something and I have those like everyone else because we are surrounded by advertizing everywhere we look and everything we listen to invites us to have this or that. Growing up with very little and being 'truly' hungry gets you down to the bare bones of life and you really do depend on God. I grew up in the 50's and from the 'bootstrap' mentality and have a hard time getting away from that and realizing God will take care of it. Friendship, family, and faith in God are truly all I desire in this life and classify as a need for me. I wish I knew how to help someone who is struggling for answers. All I can do is offer my friendship and a listening ear and do my very best to try and understand and encourage. I love you all. Sherron
I also think some of our church family could use food from time to time but are embarrassed to ask, me being one, I have no problem asking for others who need help but its very hard to ask for yourself.
PS: I have a cross stitch pattern that says, 'If you feel far away from God, guess who moved'. That sounds a little cold and mean but it is true. Like Donna, I agree, nothing replaces daily exposure to Christ through His word. Answers are there. He was hungry, He was thirsty, He was beaten and slandered, He was poor, He had no home or even a place to lay His head. He is our Savior who walked here with us and He understands, if noone else does. Our jobs as his servants are to be His hands and feet on this earth in all ways. Each with his own ability and talents are to be used for Him and takes the focus off ourselves. He gives us eyes to see needs, ears to hear suffering in a voice, hands to help, feet to do the work of a servant and hearts to encourage and befriend the friendless. If you want to be overwhelmed you can take on the burden of every need that comes before you and live in a state of guilt but He doesn't want us there. He gives us power to do what is needed. I know we can do more, He will provide opportunities daily where we work, at home and in our neighborhoods. He just wants us to open our eyes and listen with our hearts. There have been times we didn't know if we would financially survive the week but He always has seen us through. He sends blessings in surprising ways if we pay attention. Sorry to ramble on and I hope noone is offended. I do love you all. Sherron
Hey I'm broker than broke but I am happy with what I have. I have a car that runs (whenever it feels like). I have an apartment that is half furnish. I have a couple of dollars in my pocket and I am satisfy with it all because in reality, it all belongs to God so what he gives I am satisfy with it all. Now ask me what I want, I can tell you but these things are material items that I dont need but want. So I am being honest when I say that what I need is for God to continue to walk with me through my trials and to guide me.
I am getting confused here. Some are saying it is alright to ask for help (if I am hearing correctly) and others seem to be saying it isn't. I will use Gino as an example. He has said in previous posts the church family are do'ers, but yet he says here all he needs is to walk with God. Were the things done for Gino out of the blue or did he ask? Can someone clarify this?
Did anyone say that it was not alright to ask? I think people are expressing the fear of asking, which is probably rooted in the fear of rejection. It is risky, but should it be? Our church family helps a lot of people, and this includes our own. We don’t publicize it for several reasons I suppose. Sometimes people make their needs known but don’t ask. Other times people cry out for help. If I read the New Testament right we should be helping each other.
These passages scares the life out of some:
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. (Acts 2:44-5)
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:34,35)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9,10)
How does the development of true community affect this?
One other thing before I switch topics: Anon, if you need food, please let me know. We can take care of it discreetly.
Now back to the “churchy” language thing. I’ve been thinking about this a lot today. Is the problem the approach rather than the answer? The answer has to be to develop a relationship with Jesus, to sit at his feet, like Mary. Right? So how can we show people instead of tell them, or how can we show them as we tell them? I really want us to think/talk about this, because I see it becoming a significant issue.
I just re-read Ryan’s post and need to comment. I think he is right. People are afraid to admit that they don’t have it all together. Funny thing is, I don’t know of anyone that has it all together. How can we create an environment where more openness and honesty is present? How can we move past fellowship that is pleasant, casual, and formal?
One of the things that ALWAYS comes out my Oakland City classes is that students are pleasantly surprised (maybe not strong enough word) to find that you don’t have to be perfect to come to God or even to be his child. I always emphasize that God uses flawed people (“there are no other kind,” I say), giving examples of all the major players in the biblical narrative.
Here is the problem/tension I find in my role as church leader: how do you balance God’s desire for you to be holy as he is holy with the fact that we aren’t all that holy? And how do you keep people from having the perception that God only accepts and uses holy people? If we go too far one way, then people feel intimidated and unable to live up to what God wants. If you go the other way, however, I think you enter into “cheap grace” and “sloppy agape.” The Sermon on the Mount, like the 10 Commandments, is not exactly a list of suggested activities. It seems to me to be a life of holiness.
Help.
Allen:
Yes, you got my point.
God didn't use perfect people. Look at David, yet it seems that for some reason the idea of perfection has crept into religion and that is the benchmark. I really think it is a society thing though. This may be a stretch but the big buzz in the business world today is "lean". No longer is it acceptable to produce a quality product at a reasonable price and sell for a reasonable profit. the expectation is perfection. Zero defects, zero downtime, zero everything. Despite the success the Colts had last year, they still are held in second place when compared the '72 Dolphins. Everyday we are slammed with "perfection". This filters into our church and spiritual life as well. I am sure in your conseling you see this too. Christians come to you after struggling for months or years and they have not told anyone of the issue because of the fear of someone seeing them as less than perfection.
I also think that as humans we try to control too much and so many want to get everything in order and then go to God and say "look how much I have done" now accept me instead of going initially and saying "God, I need help, please take me as I am". Why do you think Billy Graham ends every service with "Just as I am"? He knows God wants us just as we are and he is trying to get that message across. God isnt expecting perfection now, he wants the open heart.
RR
I would add to open heart--broken heart. I think approach to holiness, or approach to meeting someone's needs is...well, actually I think that is why God sent his son. We needed a visual, living example: here, do it like this, in this order. If a person's need is food (or money/job to have food on a regular basis), then to tell them to go pray and everything will be okay without helping them to become physically secure (helping them to secure food, say)is just like giving a child a stone who asks for bread. Of course, quick and easy to see. But what about the needs in a "messy" life, as Allen described yesterday? How do you approach the woman at the end of her rope in a bad marriage? What I've witnessed is this: you can't get a divorce, pray and ask God for strength, He won't give you more than you can bear. If a person feels emotionally unsafe and exhausted and starved for human comfort, this answer feels like a brush off and a shaming session.It also implies that the person is not engaging in these steps: "you haven't done enough, you want too much." And she is not going to tell you what her true needs are if that is the first thing you say to her. So, yeah, approach. How about recognizing that we don't know everything that's going on and just listening like Sherron said? Just let her be messy...and then maybe find some ways to laugh with her begin to build a trusting relationship so she can share what she needs too, and You can share what you need to share with her. Pray with her--for her. Pray with her for her own peace, not one specific answer. I think we have to earn the right to intrude into someone's spiritual life. I think we have to model acceptance of the person and honesty about our own imperfections. I think we have to accept and BELIEVE that we do not have all the answers, that we are all going to God for the answers. It's hard not to want to control a person's actions and thoughts when you think you see them veering away from God's plan, but I think we really have to surrender any kind of ownership over the right answer. Pray for it, yes, encourage it, yes, push and insist on it, no. Let go and let God. Oft repeated, but true.
Your posts have been so good. The last one touched my heart. I remember when I was wandering around without God in my life between leaving home at 19 and the age of 27 that a very humble, kind lady who lived next door took me under her wing and led me back to Christ, her name was Effie Inman. She seldom ever shamed me (I did that to myself, I didn't need help, the guilt was real) but encouraged me and offered a hand of friendship and took me in as her own, our whole family was her family and she was ours. She only had two children, both died as infants but her heart was open to children and Brent and Jason thought of her as a grandmother and we all suffered when we lost her as we did for my own mother. She would listen, encourage and gently lead. She didn't pound the truth into my head, I had known the truth and left it. A deep bond formed and this happens when we open our hearts to others in a way that puts us all on the same plane, because we are. We are all sinners and we all face the same challenges daily in right living. We will never perfect it here, Christ will in Heaven. His grace is sufficient. The simplistic answers we often give such as study, pray and serve do put those on the outside off because it did me but when I finally turned my heart over to God and He gently allowed me to grow it was just that simple. I have to be careful that I do not put someone off who is seeking by not paying attention to their hearts and spouting off simple answers to complicated problems. Had it not been for kind people as I grew up, we would have had no clothes to wear because there was no money for that. I am so thankful to God for His servants here on earth who serve in so many ways, through a smile, a kind word, a card or letter, a hug, food, clothing for those who need it and those who minister to our souls in the church. We are so blessed with Allen and our leaders. My neighbor lady works with Allen at Bedford College Center and she told me Sunday evening what a good and humble influence he is on his students and he draws them to him with his open and loving nature. As I read the first chapter of Hebrews this morning on the swing under the bird tree and saw the beautiful sunrise I could feel His presence there. I hope all of you have a wonderful day. Love, Sherron
How to overcome the sin in your life and not have it follow you. in my book I am writing, there is a story dealing with overcoming sin and I am using my car as an example in my book. I know nothing about cars and if the person who sold me the car didnt tell me what kind of gas I needed to put in my car, I wouldnt have known that either. I have owned 2 cars in my life time. A 2002 Honda Civic and my 1984 Camaro. I had a little knowledge of the Civic since it came with instructions. My Camaro on the other hand didnt come with instructions so I'm not really knowledgable when it comes to my Camaro. A year ago, I accidently put the wrong gas in my Civic and I went to a auto shop and told them what I did. the guy at the shop informed me that everything was going to be alright just as long as I didnt keep putting the wrong gas into the car. Out of curiosity I had asked him, well if I do put the wrong gas in it, what would happen and he told me eventually your car will have some serious problems. Picture yourself as the Civic. You have the knowledge (instructions)(bible) of what kind of gas (fruit)you need in your tank (life) but instead you do not listen to the auto mechanic (God) and you keep putting the wrong kind of gas (sin) into your tank (life). Eventually you will have problem with your car (self) because you chose not to listen to the auto mechanic (God) who told you what you needed. Today I cannot make up excuses when I intentionally sin because the instruction book is right in front of my face. Instead of saying, I am trying, because if you look up the word try, the dictionary defines the word as to test the effect or result of. In tests there is no middle ground. You either pass or you fail and I refuse to fail anymore tests. It has always bothered me when I would hear someone use the word try when it comes to overcoming sin. now I fully understand why. Will you continue to put the wrong type of gas (sin) in your tank (self) or will you listen to the mechanic (God)? that is your choice. I know what choice I have made.
laughing, can I please answer for myself. First of all if we are not doing what God tells us to do, we are being disobedient. that is where the doer part comes in at. You can tell me to do something all day long and I can hear every word you said but if I do nothing you told me to do, then I'm just a hearer and not a doer. I cannot speak for anyone else but myself because what God does for me, and has done for me he may not do for someone else. I do not ask God for the things I want but for the things I need. I believe that with Him walking with me and guiding me, His blessing is satisfying enough for me. Looking back on life, I know what it is like to live rich. My foster parents in New York had plenty of money and I believe their blessings came from the Lord because they use their money to help others. I know what it is like to be poor, I know what it is like to be homeless, a drunk, ungodly, full of hate, bitterness and I know what it takes to be godly. I chose to be who I am because I got tired of my life going up and down like a yoyo. I want blessings and I believe the only way to have true blessing and peace, is by having God walk with me and guiding me through my walk of life. I know that I got off of course. Laughing. But God makes it clear that he wants us to ask especially during the rough times in our life.
Amazing timing. I found This Article: “Holy to the Core” in my inbox this afternoon. I really hope you will take the time to read it. (It’s not that long.) I wish I would have written it; I feel that I could have written it.
Here are some excerpts:
If we read the biblical understanding of holiness through the lens of our relationship to God, Jesus, as the unique revelation of God, becomes preeminent. Too often, our notions of holiness are lifted from the Old Testament without understanding them in light of God's self-revelation in Jesus. And those who have responded in faith to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ have been united with Christ. To be a Christian means far more than merely to believe in God—as if the Christian faith were reducible to a system of beliefs—it means to be united with Jesus in and through the Holy Spirit. "I have been crucified with Christ," says Paul, "and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Elsewhere, Paul tells us that our lives are "hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3) and that we have been "seated with [God] in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). Passages like these convey the mysterious, yet utterly real fact that, by virtue of our union with Jesus, we participate in the life of God: He dwells in us, and we dwell in him. As such, we can say that in Christ, God's holiness is our holiness. In Christ, we are already holy. Any and all subsequent notions of what it means to be holy must be predicated on this truth.
* * *
Still, as we maintain the priority of our union with God in Christ, we must also acknowledge that we are not yet holy. For our holy relationship with God in Christ requires of us—or better yet, enables in us—a response. "I urge you," says Paul, "to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1); and, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (Rom. 12:1); and finally, "Continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:12-13).
Such passages make clear that there is no place for cheap grace in the economy of God. Rather, the purpose of God's saving work in Christ is to free us to live out the holiness we already enjoy in him. The wonder and beauty of the gospel is that God deigns to manifest his love and goodness through creatures created in his image. By virtue of God's gracious initiative and through union with Christ, we participate in God's holiness in a way that transforms our lives and manifests God's grace: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Eph. 2:10).
He goes on to talk about the crucial nature of the church... Oh, just go read it. Thanks.
Thank you for your response Sherron. I appreciate so much your posts...they are beautifully written.
Allen, thank you for the article (even if you didn't write it) I can't explain why this is my response, but it is: The most...profound moment of understanding holiness I've had was the evening I realized and said out loud (to the window) I am a daughter of God. Relationship.
That’s awesome!
I have been away for awhile due to outside distractions. This morning was the first chance I have had to read the blog. The points about being open and honest about ourselves I find very true. It has taken me a long time to come to the realization that God uses flawed people. Growing up I always new that those in the Bible had flaws but always looked at it from the stand point that those were only flaws before they became followers of the word and after that they were perfect. So I always put myself against that standard. As I have stated in earlier post I am still going through a difficult time; and this is not the first time; but this is the first time that I have not only been totally honest with myself but with others and the path to recovery is seeming to be smoother than in the past. I believe it is all due to me finally being honest and admitting that what the facts are. I am flawed; and that God still loves me even with these flaws. As long as I continue to trust in him and a little help from my friends and family I will make it.
I heard this song from Casting Crowns yesterday. It is one of my all-time favorites and seems relevant to a lot of our discussion this week.
Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.
I am yours.
Whom shall I fear?Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours.
I am yours.
the song is VERY fitting. I thought of a couple of Casting Crowns songs as well: "Treat them Like Jesus" and "Does Anybody See Her"--I can't find the lyrics anywhere--I could sing them.....
I had a couple of thoughts on the reason church people often give "churchy" answers to stressful questions is the fact that they lack true empathy and understanding. That doesn't necessarily mean they are cruel and uncaring, but if you have not walked the road, you don't understand the depth of hurt and heartache experienced in the situation. I also think that hurting people who have needs that Christians can meet often are afraid to approach us because they don't see transparancy in Christians. They see the "perfect" little family , the nice cars, the good jobs, the great vacations, the new clothes.....and they think, "how could you understand how I feel". You can't. And often it seems that we don't really want to take the time to understand people's situations. If you don't know where the money is coming from to pay the rent or how you can get pay to take your child to the dentist, the heartache is so deep and you are so ashamed to admit to these "perfect" people that you really need help. If you have a child who says, "My teeth hurt", telling that person they simply need to seek a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and Bible study is absurd. When the crowd was hungry, Jesus did NOT send them away or tell them they needed to pray and study more, he met their physical need and created a path to their heart.
I often look around and wonder what heartache is setting next to me in church. I know what mine are, but no one else does. I just hurt alone and smile and say, "Hello". One of the Graham girls wrote a book entitled Heartache in Every Pew. I'd love to read it. I would also like to help mentor some of these brokenhearted people because I do know exactly how it feels.
Very insightful. I too know how it feels. You brought up some good points.
Annette
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