I Confess. I am a Martha-holic.

I Confess. I Am a Martha-holic.
I love that gal so much. She speaks up and says what I’ve only wished I could say. I toil and am busy making sure everything is just right. I spend hours in the kitchen doing pre-event planning, cooking and baking and then the day of the event, I am the first to arrive and the last to go home. I give my guests the very best of me. But, deep in my heart, I’m a little peeved at those who never say "Can I help?” They’re too busy chit-chatting to notice I’m carrying the platters, offering drinks, manning the oven, and making sure everyone is having a good time.

I have scripture to back me up! Hebrews 13:2 tells us not to forget to “entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it”. And, Jesus discusses the hospitable behavior of those who will inherit the kingdom: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:34-36).

Dear Martha was hospitable to a fault. She opened her home to the Motley Crew of disciples AND the incomparable Man of God, Teacher, Miracle-Worker, Way-Maker, Water-Walking Jesus. There isn't much applause for her. Sure, she was peeved that her sister was just sitting at the feet of Jesus. I know that feeling. Guests are getting the scoop on all the current events of other guests' lives. They’re telling one exciting story after another, and I want to be in the room with them laughing and oohing and awing, but I’m in the kitchen because if I don’t perform, who will? I really think Martha got a bad rap for wanting her sister, Mary, to stop sitting at the feet of Jesus and start helping her because she wants to hear Jesus’ stories, too. She whined to Jesus: “Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40) But Jesus replies: “You are worried and upset about many things” (Luke 10:41). Martha was weary from handling all her “to do” list. Jesus, the supreme guest of honor, deserved the highest quality of service and hospitality. But, no doubt, we Marthas need to learn from the lesson that Martha learned that day.

Our strength and power don’t come from how much we can accomplish in one day. It flows out of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. As Martha hustled around to get it all done with her culinary best, Mary was soaking up the aroma of Jesus and His life-changing words. Don’t forget Mary was once a “red-light district” gal and she had been forgiven. Who wants to eat when the “Bread of Life” is in her midst? Martha didn’t get the response she expected. "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it." (Luke 10:41,42).

How often do we get all flustered by the have to’s, must do’s and are loaded up to the point of exhaustion? How often do we get so busy running around doing things FOR God, that we forget to spend time WITH God? Both of those women loved Christ immensely. Martha loved Him so much, she wanted to serve Him with excellence and Mary loved Him so much, she wanted to just be in his presence. Two ways of loving and showing their love. (Luke 10:38-42). I have such respect for both of those gals, because, so many times, I'm both of them!

I'm in Tulsa, today, helping to lead a big retreat. Yes, I'll be a Martha getting all the details taken care of, but I plan on being a Mary, offering praise and thanksgiving as I stay in-sync with my Lord Who is always speaking, giving wisdom and insight to us.

Both Martha AND Mary made the record book. Later on in scripture, we hear Martha make a profession of her faith: "Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, Who is to come into the world.’” When Jesus said, “I am,” she affirmed, “You are.” Her “I believe” confession is remarkable because she stated His title, His divine nature, and His calling. Martha’s faith was as solid and unshakable as her sister Mary’s. She served the food and also dished out the truth: She said, “It is for Your coming that the world has waited” (John 11:27).

Lord, teach us about balance – willing to serve in word and deed and more than willing to sit at your feet and bask in Your holiness, majesty, and amazing love and grace. Amen.

The Dis-Ease of Busy-ness

This last April, I moved into my home in Frisco. Because I’ve been traveling so much, I haven’t been able to get really integrated into this amazing 55+ community of Del Webb’s Frisco Lakes. Until last week, I hadn’t even been able to attend the newcomers’ Frisco Lakes 101 that gives a great overview of everything that this community offers. Besides over 85 clubs and groups (Bible Studies, Game-Playing Groups, State Groups (people from your home state), various seminars, travel groups, bowling, bocce, pickleball, horseshoes and dance groups, there is the fitness center and fitness programs that provide every way possible to stay fit. No excuses! This month of August has afforded me the opportunity to “Dance the Pounds Away”, “Line Dance the Pounds Away”, “Cardio Sculpt”, “Outdoor & Indoor Swimming Aerobics”. Whew!! And, while that’s all awesome to keep a gal out of trouble and in to shape, one could sure get carried away with so much busy-ness. It reminds me of the cruises my husband and I would take. The schedule of activities was so full, and we didn’t want to miss a thing. We would need a vacation from our vacation.

I know I’ve blessed in this season of my life – to enjoy the company of other mature people and to celebrate that “we’re still here so we’re not done”. But, as with any age, busy-ness can be a huge distraction from the most important things. I remember, as a young child, how slow-paced our lives were. In fact, Mom and Dad made sure they’d go sit with the people we loved so much and have slow and meaningful conversations about the state of our heart and soul -- conversations that slowly unfolded, conversations with gentle pauses and silences that we were in no rush to fill.

How did we create a world where we have more and more to do, with less time for reflection, less time for community, less time to just… be? I remember Zig Ziglar quoting “We are human BE-ings – NOT, human DO-ings!”

How are we supposed to live, to reflect, to ponder – TO BE -- when we are so busy? This dis-ease of being “busy” (Let’s call it what it is -- the dis-ease of being busy is when we are never at ease) can really be damaging to our health and well-being. It saps our ability to be fully present with those we love the most and keeps us from quality one-on-one communications that we all so desperately crave.

Since the 1950s (my beginnings), we have had so many new technological innovations that we thought (or were promised) would make our lives easier, faster, simpler. Yet, we have no more “free” or leisurely time today than we did decades ago. And, instead of real communication with each other, we are on our devices. All. The. Time. Cell phones and laptops mean that there is no separation between the office and home.

I saw my daughter’s email inbox a couple of days ago – over 8500 emails awaiting her attention. Whew! Isn’t it time we re-evaluate this time, this place and this space? Isn’t it time to ask the meaningful questions of those we love? When we ask, “How are you?” shouldn’t that be what we really want to know. How often do we ask someone how they’re doing and the standard reply is “I’m so busy!” We don’t need to know how many items are on their to-do list, or their email inbox.

Personally, for me, I want to know how your heart is doing, at this very moment. Tell me. Go ahead and tell me your heart is filled with joy or tell me your heart is aching. Tell me you remember you are still a human being, not just a human doing. Tell me you’re more interested in me than the next item on your to-do list. Look me in the eye. Disengage from your electronics. Ask me how I feel and give me the time to explain “Great” or “Fine” or “In pain”. Put your hand on my arm, look me in the eye, and connect with me for one second.

Philippians 2:1-5 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t it time we insist on connections when one of us responds with saying, “I am just so busy,” we can follow up by saying, “I know, Love. We all are. But I want to really know how you are doing -- how you AND your heart is doing.”