Hey,
This week was the second week back at my old church and the
service was the last of the series ‘Having a Mary heart in a Martha world’.
However, before we discuss the talk, spoken by Gill let’s talk about what
Ingrid said before the talk.
Ingrid spoke about how she felt that God sent this song ‘But I’m only Human’ to her, as during this week the election has been held where
there having been many parties with different views, some of which you agree
with and some of which you do not, but whether you agree or disagree you need
to remember that they are only human and are doing what they believe is best.
This can also apply to not just leaders but anyone who you may not get along
with and therefore annoy you. Remember that they are only human and that every
prayer counts . . . so pray for them.
This week the speaker was Gill. She started the talk by
talking about how attitude is important to spending time with God so you don’t
look at spending time with the lord as just something on the timetable that
needs to be done. Through a positive attitude towards spending time with God
you will gain an intimacy in the heart of your relationship with God.
Luke 10:38-42
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a
village where a woman 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 not few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary
has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.’
We need to have value in being his, and not always being productive,
I know at times we have all this stuff we need to do, but we should take time
out of all the work to just sit and spend time knowing Jesus as well as being
with him.
John 11:20-28
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to
meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “’Lord’ Martha said to Jesus ‘if you had
been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will
give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’
Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last
day.’ Jesus said to her ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who
believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing
in me will never die. Do you believe this?
‘Yes Lord’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah,
the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’ After she had said this, she
went back and called her sister Mary aside. ‘The teacher is here’ she said ‘and
is asking for you.’”
I suggest that you keep reading to John 11:35.
Martha has changed and through these verses we see this, as
when Jesus arrived instead of staying to make sure things were ready, she went
out to meet the Lord.
Matthew 28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.”
Don’t try to do to much as you don’t need to do it all. You
may be asked to carry a burden for others, but don’t try to carry everyone’s
and don’t do it for them but for you who has been given to skills and task to
help carry this certain burden. Don’t tread on peoples’ toes by trying to carry
a burden and do things that are not meant for you.
What does God want you to do, Know what are gifts are;
Find your calling and what God wants from you by spending
time with God maybe through prayer, and thinking about what makes you feel energised.
Don’t forget to also think about what you enjoy doing as well as what motivates
you and you love doing. Take time out of your busy lives and sit down with God.
Ephesians 4:8
“’When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave
gifts to his people.”
Ephesians 4:11-13
“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Listening to Gill take about how we all have different gifts
and should not try to do walk not suited for us, reminded me of a few verses in
Ephesians about the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:3
“You show that you are letter from Christ, the result of our
ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on
tablets of stone but on tables of human hearts.”
We are part of God’s love letter to the world.
James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the world, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says.”
We are the representatives of Jesus in the world and it is
our job to spread the knowledge of him and his love.
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brother and sisters, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its works so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
It is a gradual process to become like Jesus, there are many
steps forwards as well as backwards. There are also many turns that may end up
leading you in a direction that you would never have expected but it is the
path that you need to take. You must also remember that God gives you the
strength to push through the ups and downs in life and the path you chose to
walk with him.
Philippians 1:4-7
“In all my prayers for all of you, always pray with joy because
of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident
of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of
you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and
confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.”
These verses suggest and show that God works in us in many
different ways, but all to go out into the world and spread the word of him.
Focus on Christ alone and don’t worry about what you have to
get done. Surrender and give yourself to the Lord and through doing this you
can do anything. This reminds me of the song ‘In Christ alone’ by Stuart Townend.
Books:
In this talk two books were suggested for a read, due to part
of the talk being influenced by the books, and they were;
‘When God shines through' by Claire Cloninger
This book speaks of many things but mainly God’s plan.
However, I haven’t personally read it so I am just sharing the word from the
speaker, Gill.
Again, I have not read this book but it seems like a good
book to read if you are interested in the topic of this post ‘Having a Mary
heart in a Martha world’.
‘Having a Mary heart in a Martha world’ by Joanna Weaver
Songs:
This is a very inspirational song which I feel is about
looking to God for what you need as well as looking to him in general for, Strength,
Love, and Peace.
God is forever with us in all that we have done, are doing
and will do.
This song is very enjoyable and inviting song so I thought
to include it in this blog post as I have not heard it in a while.
Sorry for the wait on this post but I have been busy
revising and clearing out my university home. I am also sorry about the length
of this post but I hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading
Any questions or comments please use the contact box
Amy x
