Ever Had a Martha Moment?

If the title peaked your interest, you're probably wondering, 'What's a Martha moment?'

Let me illustrate by telling you about a recent experience I had.

Earlier today, my husband was trying to share some fresh revelation he'd received while in the shower. (That's the place where I get most of my spiritual insights too!). As he was telling me about it in great detail and with much enthusiasm, I, on the other hand, was listening, but was becoming more and more anxious about the risk of this conversation growing to lengthy and making he and the kids late getting off to work and school.

The first time I interrupted him, he took it in stride and kept talking. But the second time, I actually moved in front of the bathroom door and issued another one of my "subtle" warnings to keep it moving so they wouldn't get a late start. Needless to say this second interruption brought our conversation to a screeching halt. One look at the irritation on his face, and I knew I had obviously plucked a nerve. One that ultimately caused him to resign to put a plug on the flow of the Spirit. It took a moment, but then it clicked. I had just had a Martha moment. Just like Martha, one of the sisters of Lazarus, did in Luke 10:38-42.

You know the story. She was so caught up in getting her house guests fed (which was important) that she totally missed the magnificent moment that was happening right before her eyes. Her sister, Mary, didn't let it slip past her though. She was engaged in the MOST important thing - sitting and learning at the Master's feet while she had the chance.

Unfortunately, I've had more of these Martha moments than I'd care to admit. It makes me wonder how many times I've been guilty of not seeing the mighty for being distracted by the minute. Needless to say, after today's experience, I can't wait for part two of what my hubby had to share. He will certainly have my undivided attention this time.

Thank God for more than second chances!

Apply Here

Have you ever had a revelation that struck you so intensely it truly qualified as a life-changing a-ha moment? You know. The kind that makes you want to give yourself a thump upside the head because it was there all along but you somehow missed it.

I felt that way a few days ago. I was reading the account of John the Baptist's testimony about his first encounter with Jesus in the first chapter of the Book of John. The first few verses are quite commonly used in sermons, bible studies, and the like. By them we know that Jesus Himself is the Word (expressed will) of God. But it was when I got to verses 35 - 37 that something clicked which had never clicked before. In John 1:35-37, it is noted that there were two of John the Baptist's disciples present when He pointed Jesus out as He was passing by. When John acknowledged who Jesus was, those disciples took what He said as truth (applying the Word to their lives), then proved that they believed it by immediately taking off to follow Jesus, even without knowing much else. That's applying your life to the Word. Actually abandoning your former plans, dreams, and thoughts to attach yourself to all that Jesus embodies as the Son of God. It posed the question in my mind, "Is it enough to just apply the Word to my life, or was it God's original intent that I apply my life to the Word?"

What's the difference? Well, as I see it, it's really more about WHO we stand for than WHAT we stand for. In America alone there has been a steep decline in the number of people who would actually call themselves "practicing" Christians. The term "christian" itself seems to have moved far from the lifestyle of the people it was originally coined for. It used to mean "Christ-like" because of the 1st century believers who were known for living like they adhered to a higher authority than their counterparts. Now it's not a lifestyle, it's merely a religion; one of many. But that's what happens when you lose site of your WHO because you're so focused on the WHAT.

The WHAT of Christianity is the same dilemma the Jews faced when Jesus arrived in the flesh. They were so blinded by the Law that they totally missed the spirit of the Law which would have made recognizing WHO Jesus was so simple. The same goes for us today. Sometimes I think we get so bound up trying to cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's" of a set of rules and traditions that when they prove to be too much for us, we inadvertently throw ourselves into a vicious cycle of compromise and condemnation over and over again. At the end of the day, it's really always been about building relationship with our Lord - the One who purchased us back from slavery to our base, sinful nature. You know how it is. The longer you hang out with somebody, the more of their habits you tend to pick up. You don't have to try to do that. It just happens. The old folks used to say "show me who you run with, and I'll show you who you are." Running for Jesus made for a catchy church song back in the day, but it's actually running WITH Jesus that makes such a powerful change in your life that it causes others who don't know Him to want to know Him.

I'll end with this: It could very well be that the main reason why the Church's significance as a powerful positive influence to this world is all but indiscernible is because, no matter what we profess, we look, act, and think just like them. We are too tied to an idea and totally disconnected from the source of true vision. But I challenge you today to go beyond just reading the Bible to actually "doing" Jesus. It's good to start there, but it's better to go beyond that. Get to know Him. Not the Church, not the traditions and the protocols. Him! And just as it happened when Jesus walked the earth Himself, we'll surely experience a revolution that changes the world.

Where Are Your Stretch Marks?

Yes, I had the nerve to bring up stretch marks!... But not the ones you think. I'd like to engage you into a little deeper thought. In case you didn't know, I usually find spiritual analogy in just about anything :)

Question(s): When was the last time that you truly went out of your way to help someone else?You know - got out of your comfort zone, threw convenience to the wind, and really went the EXTRA mile, no matter how exasperating the process was. When was the last time you didn't pause to psychoanalyze or critically judge another person's outer package and just delved into your compassion, followed the Holy Spirit's lead, and produced what, to the that person, seemed like a miracle, but to you was just a mere unconditional act of human kindness?

Personally, I've been on both sides of this proverbial coin - as the stretcher and as the reacher (if you will). Neither position feels good at first. When my lifestyle conditions were up, I have to admit I wasn't always as conscientious about other peoples' plights as I should have been. As the reacher, I often lamented about the times that I wasn't as sensitive as I should have been. Why? Obviously, it's easier to relate when you can feel the pain. That's a shame. But I thank God for my time as a reacher (and the pain) because now I realize that God loves stretch marks! It means that our minds are not focused on what it costs us to give, but what we gain by giving. It means we not only trust Him for the return, but also for the means to meet the need, even if we don't quite know how it's all going to play out. He loves to see us trust him enough to shove our egos and pride aside and actually do the work of the kingdom. At the center of God's daily agenda is people. It always will be. And if we are going to conform to the image of His Son Jesus, the needs of others is going to have to become paramount to us too.

I believe that if the world is confused and can't distinguish us from themselves, it's probably because they don't clearly see our identification badges - STRETCH MARKS. Jesus said it like this:

"This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other" ~ John 13:35 (MSG)

Let's take a lesson from The Good Samaritan (Luke ch. 10) and purposefully, habitually stretch ourselves. Those who are reaching are reaching for Jesus. Will they find Him in you?

I Want To Believe

Faith is a funny thing. Or should I say, my faith is a funny thing. Why is it that no matter what phenomenal act God just recently performed in my life, as soon as some unexpected challenge arises I start doubting Him - AGAIN! When am I really going to start trusting Him like I should?

There's a song from Kirk Franklin's The Fight of My Life cd called "Help Me Believe" and I think it truly epitomizes what it feels like to want to get off the rollercoaster of doubt and unbelief when you face prolonged or unexpected struggles. For me, the chorus says it all:

Help me Believe

Can I believe

Let Me believe

I wanna believe

I'm no good on my own, please give me another chance

Its hard to believe in what I can't see

To give you my will cause you're what's better for me

You can look in my eyes and see I wanna believe, believe, believe, believe

It puts me in the mind of someone who had a similar conflict in his own life. The gospel of Mark tells of a grieving father whose son was bound by a deaf and dumb spirit that had constantly been trying to kill him since he was a small child. Can you imagine watching your son or daughter writhing in relentless pain and you are helpless to do anything to stop it?

Hearing about Jesus and his power over demonic spirits, the man brings his son in hopes of finally getting the help he needs. But when he gets there, Jesus is nowhere to be found. Only a few of his disciples are there, and they prove to be no help at all. I can imagine the despair that probably started to drift over his once-hopeful heart. Then, suddenly, Jesus arrives on the scene! The boy's father recounts to the Lord all that he has been through up until that point and then he makes a statement that totally contradicts all the painstaking effort he's made to get help for his boy: "If You can do anything, do have pity on us, and help us." (Mark 9:22 AMP). I can almost see Jesus looking back at the man, disturbed by his statement. What do you mean "if"? As if to say, Don't you know this is the God of the Universe you're talking to?

In his impressive, omnipotent fashion, Jesus eases the man's doubts by telling him that "all things are possible to him that believes". I love the way the Amplified Bible puts the man's response because it's the way I see myself reaching out to God while I'm fighting the good fight of faith:

At once the father of the boy gave [an [k]eager, [l]piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my [m]weakness of faith! (Mark 9:24)

Just like that father, I too am desparate to get to a place where I just simply BELIEVE GOD! Believe His love for me. Believe His infallible integrity towards me. Believe that His will truly is better for me. But even this I cannot do without His help. I need His power to charge my faith up, not to just believe in Him, but to believe Him.

Which brings me to another point...

Did you know that suffering (for doing what God told you to do) is actually a form of worship? Well, it is. (See I Peter ch. 2). So that makes me think very soberly about how worship is handled in my daily life. Yes, it's easy for me to see myself as a worshipper when I'm dancing, singing and praising the Lord in church service or when I'm jamming to some good Israel Houghton or Fred Hammond while driving my truck. But do I really consider myself giving God worship when I'm standing in faith during a time of adversity? Just this morning I read something in an e-votional by Anita Carman, Founder of Inspire Women that deeply challenged my perspective on this:

"In our suffering, let us offer it to God as our way to worship Him. He gets to decide if we will worship Him with our abundance or if we will worship Him with our suffering. Oh the freedom to give up dictating to God the kind of worship we will give Him."

I thought to myself, "Lord, have I really been doing that?" Could it be that I have only been seeing worship as a "warm fuzzy" for me instead of a truly unselfish, heartfelt gift from me to a loving Father? Far be it from me to ever think that way again!

If I'm learning nothing else along this journey, it's that sacrifice authenticates true love. For years I've known that God is my friend. But am I really His friend? Do I love Him enough to trust what He tells me, even if I don't understand it at first? Do I really love Him enough to face the rejection when I'm doing all I can to be obedient to His will?

Time will tell. But as I stated before, I want to believe that I do and that I will.

How about you?