Mary vs. Martha

Intention: 

1. an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
2. the end or object intended; purpose.

Question>
What would happen if we became More Intentional in our Relationships (i.e. with God/Spouse/Kids/Ministry/Business)?

Intentional is a word that has been burning in my heart for the past two weeks.  I have a confession to make...I must admit to you that being a wife, a mother, a pastor, and an entrepreneur has seemingly pulled me away from my very own relationship with God.  I (just like you) have a lot on my plate, and I can't help but feel like the last few weeks of my life have been wandering aimlessly by.  

Why am I feeling this way you might ask?  I have come to the realization that I have become more devoted to service than to Jesus Christ Himself.  In other words, I am quick to serve others (via my family, ministry, or business) in the name of The Lord...but when was the last time I just stopped to worship God simply for who He is?  

Luke 10:38-42 (The Message) 

Mary and Martha

38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me?
 Tell her to lend me a hand.”

41-42 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it
—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Jesus described Mary's actions as "Essential" and "The Main Course" in verse 42.  Let me ask you, What good is hosting a Dinner Party (doing all the work that comes along with that) and not having the main course?  On the other hand, what good is it for us to have The Main Course and nothing else...nobody to serve it to?  We can all learn something from these two sisters. 
I must admit, it pained me at first to realize that I have subtly become Martha instead of the Mary I once was.  At one point in my journey, I didn't have as many responsibilities and all I did was sit at the feet of Jesus (just like Mary).  But now I find myself on the other end of the spectrum, I have become so focused on serving others. Neither one of these are bad things or sin, however I just can not be so focused on serving that I lose sight of the one that I serve. The answer, my friend, is that dreaded word 'Balance'.  There is a time to sit and there is a time to serve.  Neither one of these women were wrong in what they were doing or their motive for doing it.  

I (personally) can not ONLY SIT, nor can I ONLY SERVE. So it is a must that I find the proper balance between the two. Now that I am a wife and a mother of four in ministry with my own business, I have to make time for God.  If I don't make time for God, then how else am I going to be everything that I need to be?  I don't ever want my service to become all about me.  How else can I serve?

I have to become more Intentional in my relationship to Christ, then He will take care of the rest.  You may be the same or you may need to become more Intentional to serving others.  Where ever you are:
 I pray that the Holy Spirit would blow on the embers of our heart for Christ and that God revives our vibrancy for Him once again.  Set our hearts ablaze for You, Oh God, and don't allow us to become complacent either in worship or service to you again.  Open our eyes to see things from Your perspective, and help us to find the proper balance that is vital for us to continue to serve/worship You in Jesus' Name - Amen!         

Pigs in Pearls

For the past few weeks, I have been hearing the Lord say, "Do Not throw your pearls to pigs"
Which comes directly from Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces"

Most people know that pearls are made from oysters.  I decided to look at this process further today.
First of all, pearls take a long time to form...it is a long and uncomfortable process which originates from an irritation or a cut in the oysters mantle (or protective layer).  The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl.  

I find it very 'interesting' that the word mantle is used to describe this organ.  Mantle also describes a cloak or garment regarded as a symbol of someone's power or authority.

Could it be that we have covered these irritants in our lives for too long?  Or that we are sharing our pearls of wisdom (what we learned as a result of the pain) with the wrong people?      
These same irritants that caused us to gain these 'pearls of wisdom' through pain, we turn around and give ourselves right back to them repeatedly? 
We sit silently and watch them take our pearls for granted time after time which in essence, slowly DIS-MANTLES us.
 

Proverbs 26:11 says it like this, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness"
Yes, as Christians we are supposed to Love...but no where in the Word of God does it state for us to become doormats for people to wipe their feet on or trashcans for them to dump their junk in.  No, it says "Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it"- Proverbs 4:23
You can still love them and forgive them without being used by them. 
The source of your life flows from it...What does that mean?
Paul tells us in Acts 17:24-25, 27, 28 that "God himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find Him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being"

Could it be that God wants us to move out of the way so they can find Him?!  If they are constantly running to us, who is their true source? 
And what about us?  If we are constantly pouring our heart and pearls of wisdom into those who turn around and trample on them, then what happens to us over time? 
We become dismantled.  We are not God, so we end up weakened and feeling used.  We are not built to carry people all of the time.  It just will not work.  We end up depreciated and obtain callouses to our hearts.  Then we wonder what is wrong with us; why are we so tired, and unable to focus on God.

Matthew 13:15 says, "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them"

One more thing, Certain pearls are the most sought after gems in the world.  They are defined by their luster (or lustre) which is the measurement of the quality and quantity of light that reflects from the surface and just under the surface of a pearl.  The more lustrous the pearl, the more it shines and reflects light and images (SN: Jesus is The Light of the world & we are made in God's Image).  So let me ask you, what are you reflecting right now?

I love that February is deemed "The Heart Month"; just like we should be taking necessary steps to take care of our hearts in the natural, we should be giving our hearts spiritual maintenance as well.  What I want you to take from this blog space is that first we have to recognize where we are.  I am not by any means saying to stop helping all together or that you were in the wrong by helping.  However, I am saying that you can not go on helping those that do not want to be helped.  I am saying that you can not keep allowing people to drain you and leave you without enough strength to seek God for yourself.  I am saying that you can not do it on your own.  Trust me I am writing this for me and you!  This is not necessarily an easy pill to swallow (I know I have been at this all day as the first partaker); Nonetheless, I have personally deemed this month FREE-bruary and I know that I am not on my own.  Do you desire Freedom in this area?  Then, No More with this Lone Ranger mentality!  If your heart is screaming YES I WANT TO BE FREE, then I want you to first forgive the 'irritants' in your life.  Next, I want you to forgive the 'dogs and swine' who mishandled your pearls.  Lastly, I want you to forgive yourself for trying to give more than you possibly could on your own.  I want you to allow God to heal the damage of these constituents. 
After you've done these things, I want you to ask God to show you where you need to establish Healthy Boundaries in your life.  This is how we are to 'guard our hearts' and protect our mantle (authority).  

Father, I pray for those that are reading this blog right now.  Lord, I ask that you touch them even now and strengthen their hearts.  I ask that you repair and restore all that the enemy has stolen from them in the area of their hearts, Lord.  I ask that you open the eyes of their hearts, and allow them to trust again.  I pray that You would send forth people to help build them back up.  People who will celebrate them and catch the vision that You have given them.  I pray that you will send the Jonathans to your Davids, and that True Commitment and Covenant be established in Your Name.  I pray that you be glorified in their life now and forever more.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.  

References:

"How Do Oysters Make Pearls?" HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 07 May 2001.
            Web. 05 Feb. 2014.

"Mantle." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.

"Pearl Luster." Pearl Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.