I have been mulling over many topics and ideas for my journal lately but one thought keeps resurfacing. It is the statement that Jesus made to Martha in the Gospel of Luke chapter 10 verses 39-42: 

“And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

     Jesus and His disciples came to the village where Martha lived; they were probably tired and hungry from journeying around the Judean countryside. Martha’s intent was to serve Jesus and the disciples whatever she could in order to meet their needs. Her sister Mary, on the other hand, was content to just be with Jesus and to sit at His feet to hear Him speak. Martha was upset with Mary for not helping her to serve and wanted Jesus to correct her. Jesus instead gently said to Martha, “Thou art careful and troubled about many things but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen the good part…”     Was Jesus telling Martha that serving others was not as important as sitting at his feet listening to him speak? Possibly, but I think what he was really doing was revealing to her own heart whether or not she loved him out of duty and service or for the fulfillment in honoring the things of God. There are many things that can occupy our time and attention that are very important and necessary, but there is only one thing that is needful, it is being intimate and honest with Jesus (Luke 10:39).      

Oftentimes, I think in my own life how I get frustrated in my intense desire to “do” something productive by serving and my inability to “do” anything for others because of my physical limitations. I always fall short of my own imposed expectations. During these times of self condemnation Jesus will draw me aside to Himself, reminding me that there is a mystery in weakness where His strength is manifested. When I am counseled by what the Spirit says within me, my soul rejoices because I am continually set free from the bondage of works in the flesh and condemnation.        

There are many ways for all of us to be cumbered about with serving God.  Serving is not the problem; Jesus was the greatest servant of all. His admonition to Martha had more to do with the motive and intent behind her serving without expectation. God doesn’t measure the amount or size of our deeds, rather He measures the amount of love we have in them. Martha became so overwhelmed with taking care of her guest’s needs that she seemed to lose the joy in her service rather than her service overflowing of an abundant heart. Martha may have wanted to be recognized for hard work portrayed by her statement asking Jesus to bid her sister, Mary, to help her serve. She missed the reason why she was giving in the first place, her service was to be an offering unto an All-Knowing God who sees and recompenses her efforts to promote the life of Christ in others. These types of contributions establish in all of us the virtues of God magnifying the expression of the fruits of the Spirit and the nature of Christ through us.      

Mary did not need Jesus to validate her efforts and impose upon her what Martha was doing. Jesus checked Martha’s  heart and her motives for helping by replying “one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen it” Mary’s desire to sit at the feet of Jesus was in a response to love, she had chosen to be under His instruction because for her it was a most needful priority in her life at that moment. Although Martha may have had a legitimate need for assistance (we thank the Lord for her functional portion of providing for others) she didn’t need to compare her expression with Mary’s. Jesus was quick to reveal her attitude of self righteousness by comparing. 

What is the motive behind the things you do? Is it love or is it because you seek recognition? Do you want to be recognized for your service and efforts? Are you a “martyr for your cause”? Or do you want to recognize the One who says to you “one thing is needful”. Christ will supply for each need, sit at his feet to listen to Him simply because of your desire to know Him in a deeper way. Also, be available to provide for the needs of others to sit at His feet when you have the opportunity, capacity and grace of God serving with joy and gladness. At times we can be so distracted in our everyday routine with our “busyness” or in the responsibility of serving others that we miss out on the one thing that was most important for us, which is to hear what Jesus is speaking to us personally. Do you want to hear from Jesus? Then take time to find Him, sit at His feet, and listen to what He is saying that is most needful. 

 “Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.”                                                                                                                    Mt 6:1

Scott finds many ways to show his love and appreciation for me, he wrote the following poem for Valentines Day:

Honey,

You want more time than a 24 hour day,

Maybe a 36 hour day would be OK.

Can you imagine a time where hours are not kept,

Where bottles are stored of all the tears you have wept.

A place filled with love and void of earthly sorrow,

Where no one knows if its today or tomorrow.

Let’s go there together with our Savior our King,

To a place called Narnia because death no longer has a sting,

We don’t have to wait for our bodies to sleep.

Jesus showed us the way by laying his life down for his sheep,

Thank you my love for showing me the way.

Through your endless self sacrifices and by extending my day,

You have stopped the clock with your love for me

By holding my hand and saying, “we have all eternity!”

Your loving husband,

Forever Scott

YES!! I’ll be your Valentine, Here’s a BIG Kiss!

Just before the end of the year, I came down with a severe chest cold, since my lungs are already weak from Lou Gehrigs’ disease I was unable to sleep for over 42 hrs. I was exhausted and wanted so desperately to rest but each time I tried to drift off to sleep, my breathing became accelerated since my lungs were so full of fluid. I was experiencing such shortness of breath within my already diminished lung capacity and felt like I might hyper-ventilate. The continual irritating cough didn’t help either, I was getting extremely over-heated and my heart was pounding. I was gasping for breath and felt that I might suffocate…I needed air! I started an antibiotic after not being able to sleep that 1^st night and Glennis used the breathing nebulizer and albuterol steroid and codeine cough medicine which finally allowed to give me some vital rest finally by 3:30 a.m. the second night.

When I was in this struggle to breathe for two nights my thoughts were, “have I loved?” and “have I forgiven?” I was not concerned with theology, work, ambition or any of the overwhelming details of my life; only love and forgiveness filled my mind. God showed me how vital to my healing were love and forgiveness. After the first night I began writing a letter to someone that God put on my heart to show mercy to. As I was writing I began to feel my breathing improve. God had my attention as I was “giving mercy I was getting mercy!” Sowing mercy – reaping mercy! The key to receiving mercy was showing mercy. 

I needed immediate mercy just as David did when he said “Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint and withered away); O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled” Ps 6:2. God heard David’s prayer and answered Him. God heard my prayer for mercy and answered me by saying, “sow mercy, Scott”.

In the book of Mathew, verse 5:7 says “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” What does it mean to be merciful? Jesus’ word is Eleemon. The Hebrew counterpart is Chanan. It is actually untranslatable into English. It means far more than our words “mercy”, or “pity” “sympathy” or “empathy.” It certainly does not mean simply “to feel sorry” for someone else. Being merciful means to get right inside the skin with someone else until you see, things they see: think things they think, feel things they feel. It comes from a conscious deliberate identification with someone else until that person’s hurt becomes our own hurt. Showing mercy to another helps us in a small way to understand how God must feel when  He pours out mercy to us. Jesus Christ identified with our suffering and paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross instead of us. He looked beyond our depravity and felt, hurt, and suffered for us when we deserved hell. Because of mercy I am still alive today!

Because I have been shown mercy and love and forgiveness I want to extend it to others. No matter what someone has done to you it is not worth withholding mercy from them. God wants you to sow seeds of forgiveness, mercy, and love to others; and as you do, you will discover how your own soul and body will prosper and begin healing.

My wife was a magnificent example of how mercy works during those trying nights. Every time I needed help she was there, ready and willing to do whatever she could. She identified with me, never leaving me until the trial past. I am so fortunate to have a wife like her whose inner beauty shines brightly in the dark seasons of the night. God has blessed me beyond measure during this disease. He has given me treasures in darkness by revealing His great love and tender mercies as he uses my wife and others to minister kindness and compassion to me in my hour of need. 

“He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord” Pr 18:22.