Martha, Martha...

Her house is the cleanest one on the narrow, dusty, street. It should be -- you can see her on the step, every morning, sweeping at the crack of dawn, shooing away birds that gather on her stoop.

Her cooking is renowned in Bethany -- nobody knows how to make fresh bread and lamb the way Martha does.

When a neighbour is ill or feeling under the weather, she's known to prepare a basket of her famous treats and bring them over.

She's always busy -- if you want to catch her, it's best to do it at market when she is picking up food for the week. A picture of calm in a sea of chaos and loud voices bartering for the best deal on everything from baking supplies to wine.

At temple socials -- or in fact, any social -- you can feel the weight of Martha's stare and the tell-tale click of her tongue if you aren't pulling your weight. Those blue eyes bear into a person... those pursed lips and disappointed shaking of the head make everyone work just a touch harder.

While Martha is an example of what every hostess should be, she has a short fuse when people let her down.

Such is the situation we find her in on the day Jesus pays her a visit:

Luke 10:38-40: "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named 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!"

Can't you just sense her frustration? She knows how important Jesus is -- she understands He's the Messiah -- and so her normal diligence in preparing her home to host a guest has increased ten-fold. That tongue of hers has been clicking all morning - she's clanging pots in the kitchen, trying to get Mary's attention, all the while her sister sits there looking up at Christ, sitting at his feet, enjoying the presence and wisdom of the King of Kings.

This week the idea of writing about Martha came to me when I saw this passage -- but I didn't quite know what to write about until I heard a song called "In the presence of royalty". The song talks about appreciating the complete majesty of being in God's presence and as I heard these lyrics I started to think about the story of Martha and Mary and how it relates to my own life:

"We're in the presence of royalty. It's our sovernign God and King, we're before your throne, we bow at your feet. We worship you holy king. It's in your presence that I find joy, it's in your presence that I find peace. I find rest for my soul and strength for my life lying here at your feet".

I know in my case I am a Martha - I find myself running around, trying to be perfect, the best host, the best clothes, the best food, the best, the best, the best... and like Martha, if Christ walked into my home, you would probably find me in the kitchen banging pots trying to catch the attention of my wife... I'd want her to help and not to waste time sitting around lolly-gagging. But that's the beauty of what Mary is doing in this passage... she's finding peace, joy and strength at the feet of Her King. Her ears are turned to His words of wisdom and she's too caught up in the moment of having the Son of God sitting in her living room to worry about taking the bread out of the stone hearth.

What does Jesus think of this moment? Is he angry at Martha for asking Him to scold Mary for sitting around while she does all the work? For clicking that famous tongue in His direction? I don't detect anger in the words that Jesus spoke... I think Jesus appreciates Martha's hospitality, the desire to do good through doing works, but he does give her a gentle reprimand:

Luke 10:41-42: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I love how that begins -- "Martha, Martha...". He's heard this before, hasn't he? Martha scolding Mary and anybody that hasn't pulled up their socks? But His words to her are spoken in love and He reminds her that for all her hospitality, her gifts of service, that the only thing that is needed in THAT moment -- indeed, in all of life's moments - is the very thing Mary has found: peace, wisdom, strength and love. In other words, He is saying... Martha, come find some rest... you are always on the go, always working, but if you work without concentrating on me, you will have missed the whole point. We don't know Martha's reaction after those words... but something tells me, her face would have flushed and she would have wiped the flour off her hands pretty quick and sat down. Embarrassed? Maybe slightly... but probably grateful for the reminder that love and devotion are as much found in obediently listening and enjoying God, as they are in serving Him directly.

Let's not forget that Martha was one of the first people to acknowledge that Christ WAS the Messiah:

John 11:25-27: "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?". "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Martha, like all of us, knew Christ as Her Saviour. But she had a tendency to allow her God-given gifts to get in the way of appreciating being in the presence of royalty.

Do you do that? Do you, like Mary, sit at the feet of your King and just take Him in? Content to sit and absorb His love, His wisdom, His glory? Or are you like Martha - like me - someone who loves Christ so much that you think works are a better way to demonstrate your love?

There is nothing wrong with serving, nothing wrong with embracing your gifts... but remember, focus on the things that are lasting -- God -- and you'll find that balance that Christ wants us all to have. Your focus should always be on Him -- enjoy the presence of royalty... it's okay if that bread is a bit overcooked.

It only takes One

1 Samuel 17:40: "Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine".

The stream tumbles across millions of stones beneath its surface, the sun glints off the water making a thousand perfect rainbows dance against the sand on this hot afternoon, a young boy of 16 kneels by the stream and - in silence - plunges his hands into the cool water, scooping up five stones to place into his satchel. In the distance, the sound of taunting, fury and ignorance beckons the young warrior to battle.

David is about to face his Goliath.

He picks up the first stone, feels its edges, maybe weighs it a moment in his hand... then drops it into his sack. The second stone he grabs is sharper on the edges though its surface is smooth. In it goes. The third and fourth rocks are heavier, but good rocks for a slingshot. Plop. Plop. The fifth is flat, about 1/2 inch thick and 1 inch wide... it's smooth and almost perfectly rounded... David feels its surface a moment and ponders his situation and then, swallowing his fear and offering it to God, goes to face his giant.

When David knelt in that stream to gather the five stones - the arsenal - he would use to battle Goliath, I wonder what was going through his mind. There had to be a certain amount of fear -- he was just a boy afterall, and he had only ever battled in defence of his sheep... never in defence of his people. But at the same time, what outweighed the fear, was the faith -- the faith that comes from the best rock there is: the Rock that is God.

What do you do when you are about to face a giant? Do you plunge your hand into that creek, grab about under its surface for anything -- anything -- that could possibly wound the giant, without any real thought as to how you can destroy it? Or do you, like David, patiently select five stones, praying all the while, confident that one of those stones will fell a problem bigger than yourself?

Before January 2, I would have been in the former category -- my hands were damp from many years of reaching into many a pool, reaching for sticks and bramble to try and fend off giants different varieties... and never really succeeding.

On Sunday, my friend Hope, gave me a stone -- I call it David's stone -- that made me think of David in the moments before he was to face Goliath. I imagine the stone David used was much like this one -- flat, smooth, the perfect weight, not too big, not too small. Was he scared? Yes, but his faith in God to deliver him gave him the will to win a battle by claiming the victory he already knew God had won.

It is no secret that the last few months have been a big battle -- horrific thoughts, anxieties, fears and just plain depression -- have been my giant. I have used the best rock I knew how to use: God... through prayer, reading the Word, the Body of Christ. It hasn't always been easy -- battles never are -- but it helps to know that the Rock is there and the foundation is strong, especially when you feel anything but:

Deuteronomy 32:4: "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he".

Psalm 18:2: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold".

Psalm 144:1-2: "Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me".

Is my giant defeated? I would say yes and no. Yes in the sense that it is defeated because I know, now, how to fight back: prayer, the Word of God, the blood of Christ, solid Christian advice, the Body of Christ. No in the sense that I still have to fight. Perhaps we always do have to battle -- but when the battle you are fighting is God's, it's a battle worth waging for as long as it takes to overcome. I will tell you this though, every day - EVERY day - I gain ground... and that's because everyday I am choosing to run my hand over that perfect Rock to remind myself that it only takes one (in the words of my friend) to make a giant fall.

The smooth stone. The perfect stone. The round one. The rock that can trip up the littlest of ogres to the largest of foes. The last one that David selected from the creek but the first one he grabbed from his satchel when he was face-to-face with an ogre.

Thanks to my friend Hope, I am holding a rock just like that right now... a rock that reminds me that, in any battle we are in, that it only takes One Rock, and a little faith, to knock down a giant of any size.

Friends, whatever giant you are facing, do yourselves a favor: Grab that Rock and use it.

You don't have to entertain those thoughts (Philipians 4:8).

You are not too weak to overcome (Philippians 4:13). 

Your fears are not too much for Him to carry (1 Peter 5:7).

He is stronger than even the mightiest and foulest of giants (1 Samuel 17:45-50).

You are perfect in His image (Hebrews 10:13-17).

It doesn't mean that your giant isn't scary or that the battle isn't tough -- but you are victorious. 

Giants - all giants - fall if they are battled properly and with the might of God. Count on it.

Take it from me: Choose to feel the strength of the stone. Not the weight of the giant.

With one small stone and a whole bucket of faith, David watched Goliath fall to his knees.

Don't you want to watch your giant do the same?

Giants

I wanted to share with you all the song that has been ministering to me for the last two weeks or so. You know the battle I am in right now and so I cling to every piece of encouragement that God brings my way. This song is one of those encouragements. One day as I was listening to a c.d. in the car, it was like God opened my ears to this song. That is quite a feat as I often struggle to understand the lyrics in faster songs -- I often like the beat of the music but I will get the lyrics wrong because the words just sound jumbled to me.

Until this song.

I love it -- as the song says: Giants do die... the bigger they are, the harder they fall... Just walk around the Jericho wall.

If you're facing a giant or giants today, close your eyes and be encouraged.

Remember -- there is power in a slingshot.

Just ask Goliath.

Quelling the storm

If you're anything like me maybe you enjoy sitting in a warm house watching a blizzard outside -- coating the world in layer upon layer of white. Or maybe you love the way lightening flares up the sky, the boom of thunder and the sound of a billion splashes of rain against the roof. Or perhaps you like knowing you are safely inside when howling winds batter the siding of your house. Storms are great to watch, aren't they? It's fun to sit there and watch the majesty of God on display.... but storms are not quite as enjoyable when we get stuck in them. Who among us likes getting stuck in that beautiful blizzard... the wind clipping your face, while thousands of snowflakes blind you... or drowning in the rain just as you are half-way to a meeting in your best suit... or trying to walk home in the face of an onslaught of wind, as dust gets in your eye... yes, storms are beautiful when observed at a sheltered distance, but less fun when you are among the things being pummelled.

So let me ask you: how do you handle storms in your life?

Are you more likely to sit and watch it happen -- safe and secure in the knowledge you don't have to go outside?

Or are you the type that thinks you can handle the storm -- and the mess that comes with it -- on your own? Do you think yourself fearless... able to battle back against the elements?

I'm probably a bit of the latter -- to tell you the truth, I have often embraced doing things on my own versus asking someone for help. Frankly, until the last couple months, asking God for help would have seemed so silly to me... I claimed to have abiding faith, and yet when faced with some of my biggest issues or challenges, I relied on my own strength to get me by.

While reading the Book of John recently, I was struck by the idea of storms and the idea of how the strength of God can be used to conquer ANY of them:

John 6:16-21: "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

Those verses stood out to me because I can relate -- as I am sure each of you can relate -- to the disciples. Going about our lives in calm waters, doing what we always do... mapping out a goal and moving towards it... then getting caught in a storm, not sure of what to do but paddling like crazy in the hopes you don't capsize.

That's what the disciples are doing.

Can't you see them, a band of men struggling to right the boat in the midst of churning waters and gale-force winds? Peter is yelling at Andrew to paddle harder? John's paddle just broke from the sheer force of the waves... James' calloused hands are torn and bleeding from trying to hold the sails into place... a scene of chaos... and then, when things can't look any worse, they see some guy walking towards their boat... Jesus! But, like us when faced with the help God offers, we need reassurance, don't we? When the force of the winds, the slap of the waves, the bleeding of the callouses on our hands hurt so bad, we can become confused... frightened... unsure whether to let anybody into the boat... but watch what happens... "But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

We tend to do the same thing when we are in a storm: Demand God prove himself to us before we allow him to set foot in our boat to right the ship. But look what happens when we do... "... immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading". This verse doesn't say that after Jesus got in the boat, the storm knocked them around a few more hours... no... it says they IMMEDIATELY reached their destination.

We need to start asking God to get into the boat without questioning Him about who is He, what He will do and where He will take us -- when we do this, we can be assured that we will get to the best destination imaginable: HIS destination. The waters may still be choppy from time to time, but we'll get there and be the better for it with Him in the boat.

It is worth saying that storms in your life aren't always big and noticeable -- storms can also be the small ones as well... maybe it's a debate between yourself and your spouse about whether you want to get a dog... or perhaps you lent a friend $5 dollars and haven't been paid back... or maybe it's somebody who cut you off in traffic... whatever it is, sometimes these little gusts of wind can turn into a bigger storm if we proceed to row our boat without thought. That is why it is so vitally important that we have a seat in the boat for God at all times and we stop peppering Him with questions before letting Him take His rightful place at in the captain's chair.

Let Him quell the storms in your life -- ask Him into your boat. You'll not only reach the right desination, but you'll do so without getting alot of sand and rain in your eyes.

Are you an Andrew or a Phillip?

I am really struggling in my life to determine the direction I feel God is leading me -- I am not completely satisfied in the job I am in right now, but at the same time, I don't want to leap into another job just because I might make more money.  No.  The next job I get I want it to mean something -- I want to go to work every day knowing that I am furthering God's will not only for my life but for HIS Kingdom.  It's hard to determine what that is - afterall, we all have preconceived ideas of what we want to do and how we want to get there.  But sometimes, like now, we wait and wonder: what is it all for and to what purpose does God wants us to work towards?

This is when faith is so necessary -- so very very necessary.

This week I was reading the Gospel of John and I was struck by a few verses that, I believe, God laid on my heart -- these are not verses that I would normally gravitate towards because on their surface I am not sure how much meaning there is at first glance.  However, God has really been focusing my mind on these verses and to me these verses speak to the very real need for us as Christians to have FAITH in what God has planned for us -- FAITH in his infinite wisdom and timing to reveal His plan for us.

John  6:5-9: "When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

I love that scene - scores of people hungry after a long day and Jesus turning to His group of disciples to ask them what to do -- seeing if they would rely on what they thought to be right... that is to say the tangible things around them: lots of people, no food, no money.  Or, instead, if they would turn to God and put their faith in Him.

Phillip's response is interesting because I think it characterizes how we often react in situations that call for pure faith and confidence in God: "Pft..." he grunts, "Are you kidding me? Jesus, there is no way we can feed these people... not only do we not have any money but all of us put together working night and day still wouldn't have enough cash to feed them.  Good luck bud... we're going to have us a riot because nobody thought to plan ahead!"

Are you like Phillip? Is your first instinct when you are faced with an issue that requires faith - that is a "test" as Jesus knew in His own heart was the case with the 5,000 - to think that all hope is lost and that there is no way out of the problem you are facing?

If you are, can I encourage you to look at the next verse and to take your example from Andrew (v. 8-9):  "Okay wow... there are tons of people out there and I don't have a clue what to do here... That kid over there has a few loaves of bread and some fish... barely enough food for the 12 of us let alone all the rest... but you're the miracle worker Jesus... so work your magic my friend".

Andrew doesn't have the answers either -- like Phillip he has absolutely no clue how to feed the scores of hungry (and likely, grouchy) people.  But he differs from Phillip in that he doesn't try to solve the problem himself -- he doesn't try to mathematically equate how much money they would need in order to feed these folks, instead he presents an option to Christ and asks HIM to solve it.

So let me ask you this: who are you more likely to be in a problem situation? Are you like Phillip, trying to solve your problem with reason but without God? Are you immediately dismayed at the present circumstances and unwilling to look to the ultimate problem solver for help? Or are you like Andrew, unsure of how to solve the problem, but willing to let God take hold of the options in front of you and to use them as HE sees fit for your life?

As tough as it is to do, we need to be more like Andrew and a lot less like Phillip -- we need to put our faith in Christ to use the loaves and fishes in our lives to HIS glory.  We have to have faith that He WILL use them and He WILL multiply them as He sees fit.  Consider your talents, your skills, your passions, your beliefs and your possessions.  When you see ALL these things as God-given, then you can truly begin to allow God to utilize these loaves and fishes to the glory of His Kingdom.

In my job, right now, I'm not completely satisfied.  But I have to trust that God will reveal His plan in His time... and that, like those 5,000 people who ate five loaves and 2 fish, I too will be nourished by the plan He has for me and WILL reveal to me in His time.

How do I know this?

Because to paraphrase what our Pastor said today at church: The God that fed 5,000 people 5,000 years ago, still feeds His people in 2009.

Remember what we know to be true from John 6:6 - Jesus already KNEW what He was going to do... He was testing Phillip to see if he had faith in Him.  If He already knows the outcome for us, isn't it best to just stand back and watch as he multiplies those loaves and fishes?

Resolve to be an Andrew -- I guarantee you, you will have plenty to eat!

The Sound of Applause

I couldn't get into the worship service this past Sunday -- it just felt a bit different than other weeks... the worship team itself was new, so there was a new style up on the stage and the congregation seemed a bit more muted than usual.  I am not sure what it was but I just couldn't get into it this Sunday -- sad, isn't it, with so much bounty to praise God for I couldn't bring myself to lift my hands to heaven because I just wasn't "feeling it" that morning.

As I was singing half-heartedly, trying to get myself in to a rather slow song, I heard something that just filled me with irritation: the sound of one person clapping.  During a slow song.  I cast a glance at my wife as if to say, what on earth is that guy doing? Clapping during a slow song... the sheer nerve of the man.  Afterall, I reasoned to my crusty self, slow songs are NOT when you're supposed to clap.

As I wallowed in self-righteousness and tried to sing the song on the screen "properly" (read: without clapping), I was struck with a thought:

"When was the last time I applauded God?"

Instantly, I felt ashamed as I looked at the man ahead of me, happily clapping his hands to worship our God, as I stood there going through the motions because I wasn't quite in the mood.  As I reflect on it now, I am struck by my willingness to judge the man ahead of me for his style of worship - and his JOY in doing so - when my own worship that Sunday was anything but heartfelt.

Scripture reminds us that it is right - and necessary - to praise and extol our God:

Psalm 117:1-2 (The Message version): "Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over our lives; God's faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah!"

Yet how often do we truly praise God? Or to be a bit more broad: do we realize that applauding God is both an act of thanks in worship AND a way of life?

In Luke 10:27 Jesus tells his followers - us - that we are to: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind". I love that verse -- alot.  However, let's for a moment take that word love and replace it with applaud... because applauding the Lord is based in love.... see what you get... "Applaud the Lord your God...".  Changes the dynamic a bit, doesn't it? Applauding and loving unto God are one and the same thing.

But oh we claim -- or at least in my case, I claim - I don't KNOW how to clap the way God wants me to clap! I don't know how to applaud God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind!

Aren't we all guilty of this? Claiming that we don't know how to clap? Or if we do know how to clap doing so pretty half-heartedly?  I like to claim that I don't know how to properly love/applaud God... but you know, it really is pretty basic how it shakes down:

• In our work, are we working for God? Or are we shuffling papers on our desk to pass the hours before we can go home and do something better? (Colossians 3:23-24)
  
• When there is the altar call on a Sunday morning... do you head up for prayer or do you bee-line for the door because you need to get to Swiss Chalet? (James 5:14)
• In our relationships are we always aiming higher? Or are we content with the status quo? (Ephesians 6:1-4 and Ephesians 5:22-33)
  
• Is your offer to help that person who kind of bothers you sincere? Or are you hoping that they will say no thanks so you can go back to your own life and avoid having to ask them if they need anything for the next few weeks? (Luke 10:30-37)
• Are you truly happy and thankful for what you have or do you constantly wish you had more, were more and looked more like someone else? (Philippians 4:19 and Exodus 20:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
  
• Are you repairing broken relationships -- or are you content to allow the past to define your future? (1 John 4:20)
• Are you of the world or in the world? (John 17:14 and James 4:4)
• When a friend, a family member, an acquaintance makes a rude comment about God or about Christians, do you not say anything because you don't "feel like getting into it" or do you chuckle along because it is just easier that way? (Romans 1:16-17)
• When you give your offering to God through tithes do you do so willingly, or do you think of a million better ways you could be spending that money you just put in the plate? (2 Corinthians 9:7)
• On Sunday morning, do you scowl when your neighbour praises God in his/her way, when in actuality you should be casting your glance inward at yourself and the way you are worshiping God? (Okay, clearly that last one is for me! :-)
  

No matter how you answered those questions above, the reality is that God -- and our loving applause of HIM - is found in all those areas... in our work, in our dedication to Him, in our relationships, in how we live our lives, in our willingness to be servants... all of these are ways to demonstrate how we love and serve Him.  You don't need to simply applaud God to worship Him... applauding God can take many forms, obedience to Him and His Word being first among them.  

If we define applauding God by this standard, then the simple act of applauding becomes a lot deeper in meaning, doesn't it? Imagine the sound of rejoicing among the saints when we - with a heart filled with the joy of the Lord - rejoice at the act of repairing a relationship!!  Imagine the smile on God's face, and how He claps His Hands, when we declare His gospel with a voice as loud and strong as Christ's own voice!! Imagine the applause of heaven when we stand strong in the Lord when we are faced with incredible adversity!!

God wants our applause on a Sunday morning -- but what He values above that is applause of a different sort.

The applause of obedience.

Maybe it's time we all started clapping a little harder.