Chapter 1: Intro to Mary of Bethany

The famous (or infamous) narrative of Mary and Martha is the subject of this chapter. However Ms. James takes us deep into the culture of the period, where women were not encouraged to sit at the feet of the Rabbi and learn with the men. Here, in the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, all are welcome to hear and learn.

Martha was feeling the weight of her hostess duties not only to Jesus, but to His entourage. This may have been 70 or more individuals for whom she was preparing food. It was such an honor to host Rabbi Jesus and His disciples. It was also stressful. It doesn't matter how adept you are at catering to a crowd, a crowd can be intimidating to serve.

It is interesting to note, no other women are mentioned being in attendance, and it was not likely that the men would help serve. So, no wonder Martha was frustrated with Mary. It was easy to let her frustration accuse Mary of shirking her duties. I know. I've been there.

I have also been busy serving my family and been envious of the deep conversations going on in another room. It's hard to join in when it's time for something to come out of the oven or something is boiling on the stove and there are little kids around. I have to concentrate on the joy of serving at that moment and know that my turn for the deep conversations will come around.

The question "Would Jesus accept the notion that some women are 'Marys' and others are 'Marthas'?" and "Why or why not?" has a clear answer. At times we are called to be one or the other or both. At all times we are called to sit at His feet, gain knowledge of the one who made us, and put our hope and trust in Him. It is the better thing.

Summer Book Study - Introduction

Today our ladies' group introduced ourselves to our summer book study, reading When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference by Carolyn Custis James. This has been one of my favorite books for a good many years. Mrs. James covers deep subjects and causes us to think deeply about our own personal theology. Here are some topics she covers in this book, in depth. (Quotes are attributed to the author.)

• Theology, or knowing God, is for everyone. It is the "heart of life."
• Trusting God in the here and now during painful circumstances is a struggle.
• Theology is full of "everyday practical value." Deep thinking about God is always valuable.
• "Life's struggles are the shortest route to a deep appreciation of our need to know God better."
• Women don't have to divide themselves into the categories of "Thinkers" or Servers".
• "He [God] calls us to be a composite of the two women ["Mary and/or Martha"] who take time to know him better and whose theology informs and emboldens their ministry to others."

Next week we will discuss Chapter 1. Enjoy!

The Search for Significance

It has been quite overwhelming to me that out of the fifty or so women I see each week in the Made to Crave classes, the search for significance in some form or another is the number two reason why women are in this study. The need for praise, the tendency to control, to get angry or fearful, or the desire to be and look good are all indicators that we are looking for something we think we lack. If we look closely, we will see that the focus at these times is either ourselves or our reactions to someone or something else.

I was reminded sharply of my own need this past weekend. I have been sharing this story with my classes over the past week:

Last weekend my husband and I had some company over, and the young man and my husband knew quite a few people in common. Because of this, their conversation was rapid and quite exclusive.  A few times I interjected to add some pearl of wisdom. On at least four separate occasions my husband interrupted or corrected me. It stung. It hurt. Mostly it stung and hurt because we had talked about this very thing before…

My husband happens to be a very tall man, 6’3” to be exact. I only measure in at 5’1”. Most of the time when we are standing in a circle of friends talking, he can make just a minor pivot of 30 degrees or so and unintentionally cut me out of conversation. I have a great view of his elbow, and not much else. He can also be an intense conversationalist at times, which makes me rather rude if I stand there tapping on his elbow. It looks suspiciously like I just need to gain his attention, or that I’m ready to go home. Sometimes this makes me quite ready to go home.

The Lord and I have talked about this. What bothers me about being interrupted, cut off, or cut out? Obviously, I feel insignificant when that happens. Invisible. Even though I am aware that God knows even the number of hairs on my head…I feel invisible. When I feel invisible, it can become very easy to engage in actions that I feel no one would notice anyway… a sweet treat, a game (or ten) of Yahtzee on my Kindle when I should be studying, sitting too long in front of the television. . .who really cares about these things except me?

God does. He cares about my motives and what drives me to choose something that will comfort me or allow me to escape my current situation that doesn’t involve Him. I am thankful for that, and for a God who loves me far beyond what any earthly being could. I pray that I will learn to depend upon Him more and more as each day passes.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! [1 John 3:1]

Video: The Invisible Woman

Blessings

What do we do with our desires for things other than God when we feel God is not there for us? Is it our deepest hurts, our flesh, or is it the enemy who lies and tells us that God doesn’t love us or want what is best for us?

This world is so broken. I have many friends who have been through hell on earth and back again. Was God absent? Was He asleep? Didn’t He care?

Only God Himself can heal hearts. Only He can combat the lies that consume us. Satan is so treacherous, and he keeps us from being all that we were made to be. He diverts our attention to anything that will keep us from the Truth.

Once again, music rolls through my head, and the words to this song express the realities of these questions the best—although not better than His Holy Word. It’s just that sometimes we need a word from someone who has been through trials themselves to speak to us. Laura Story does that through her song “Blessings.” 

Laura’s husband has been through a lot. Here is an excerpt from an article on her from www.thefish959.com:

Shortly after inking the deal with INO Records in 2006, a trial entered Story’s life that would not only provide her with a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty. After one year of marriage, Story’s husband was hospitalized with a brain tumor.

“There was a time he was on a breathing machine and we weren’t sure he was going to make it. I spent my whole life singing, ‘’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,’ but until Jesus took me through something where my only option was to trust Him, I didn’t really know that sweetness,” reflects Story. While supporting her husband through surgery, radiation, complications, and intense physical therapy, Story composed new rubber-meets-the-road songs to reaffirm God’s presence in her darkest hours.
“It’s hard to understand why God would allow us to go through this, but I know He works all things together for good, and I feel my new album is reflecting that. Though He leads us through valleys, that’s when we get to trust Him and draw closer to Him all the more. Though I’ve doubted, His grasp has never released, never slipped. He’s remained completely faithful to me. He has proven that He really is my foundation and my hope.” 

Bless the Lord oh my soul, all that’s in me bless your name,

Forget not your power untold, not your glory or your fame

For you came to heal the broken, to redeem and make me whole, 

Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, oh my soul… 

Listen to this song here:

Laura Story, Blessings

If you have ever felt this defeat, and would like to encourage others, please leave a comment to this post. 

I love you all.