Mary or Martha??

Insecurity sneaks up on me every so often. Probably more often than I want it to. Unfortunately, when I'm too busy focusing on 'self', I become absorbed with 'self'. I lose sight as to what's important.

And what is important??

I need to be more like Mary -- less like Martha.

Mary? Martha? What am I talking about?

You know; the 2 sisters of Lazarus. Before Lazarus' death, Jesus & his disciples visited. Martha was working up a storm. Cooking, cleaning, organizing.. Mary was no where to be found. Well, she wasn't exactly no where. Instead of taking part in the busyness of the visit, Mary simply sat at the feet of our Savior and listened. Absorbed what he was saying. Which, of course, upset Martha. Who, in turn, pointed it out to Jesus. Jesus then lovingly chastised Martha, saying that Mary had chosen the better part.

Although I am not much of a Martha at home, I do think I am a lot like her. I certainly get caught up in the busyness of my life. Wife, mother, full time dispatcher, middle school small group leader, adult couples small group leader. So many hats; so many places to be; so many Allison's to be.

It's when I focus on being 'Martha' that I lose sight of what is right in my life. I worry to much about the world around me. Striving to be everything to everyone, I forget the most important person -- God.

I need to stop seeking the approval of those around me - even though I love most of them dearly -- and simply focus on the love & acceptance of my Heavenly Father. I can find rest and comfort in Him. Best of all, I can find unending acceptance that I long so much from my friends & family.

My prayer this week is that I learn to be more like Mary. To rest in His words. To be wrapped in His love and peace.

Many blessings,

Christian or Disciple?

I am a Christian. I do not flaunt my faith nor do I hide it. I try to just live it.

I am also human; which means that I am NOT perfect.

This past Sunday, our pastor opened my eyes a little bit more. I have a feeling I wasn't the only one who had their eyes opened. Being a Christian doesn't simply mean 'believing that Jesus is the Son of God'. It is SO much more than that..

In John 13:34-35, Christ reminds us what it really means to be His follower.

³⁴ "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

Jesus didn't mean just other Christians. No, I believe He meant EVERYONE! In fact, we are to love one another because GOD loves us. We OWE it to Him.

I need to stop worrying about what others are doing wrong with their lives and focus simply on loving them; faults and all. That's how God loved me when He sent his Son to die on the cross for MY sins. Not just for someone else's. No... He did that for ME. And YOU. And everyone else that has ever walked this Earth.

I am simply to be a disciple of Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Radical.

So begins this journey...............

Many blessings,

Thrown for a loop

I am at a loss.... I really don't know what to do. I'm trying not to let this get me down; discourage me. But now I'm just not so sure. What if I heard God wrong? Could that even happen?

I've been talking about this ministry for a while now... Mending Hearts. It's been on my heart for a while. God's been whispering to me about it. I took the 1st few steps to get it started... Only to come to a crashing halt!!

Why am I halting? What could possibly have happened?

There's another ministry out there doing the same thing. I'm not naive enough to think I was the 1st one with this idea. Not at all... but it seems to be such a successful ministry - would there be 'room' for Mending Hearts?

Now I'm just not sure. Maybe I heard Him wrong. Maybe there's something else I should be doing? Maybe it was more about me and not really about Him?

I'm not sure what to do.... first thing, hit my knees in prayer. I know there's an answer. I just need to still myself to hear Him.

Many blessings,

Just another whisper

God never ceases to amaze me! I just need to take the time to see what He's got planned.

Tonight at work, I was talking with a co-worker. I can't even remember how we got on the subject, but I started telling her about the ministry I'm trying to get off the ground, Mending Hearts. I just laid it all out there. BAM! All guts on the table.

That's when she shared with me HER whisper that God laid on her heart. We sat just talking about how God showed us the end result - where He wants the ministries to go. How we both weren't sure just how to get these ideas off the ground. She's definitely put in a little more leg work than I have. But it was great to chat with someone who is going through something.... God's whisper.

We started talking about applying for non-profit status, mission statements, board of directors. Who knew I would need a board of directors!!! That's a big undertaking. But I am SO excited to take that next baby step.

You just never know who God is going to place in your life and for what reason.

Yet another whisper from God, this time out of the mouth of a co-worker.

Many blessings,

Loaves & fish

Once again, church made me think.

Yesterday was Strategic Service Sunday. That's when they do a sermon about volunteering at church. Heaven knows I do not need to volunteer in any more places. I've got myself spread out pretty thin as it is.

Our campus pastor spoke about when Jesus fed the 5000 on just 5 loaves & 2 fish. That's one of my favorite stories. I remember as a kid, we would get a plastic bank in the shape of a bread loaf for our extra change. Not quite sure where the money went, but it really didn't matter to me. 

Yet yesterday, I got to see the story in a different light. You see, yesterday our pastor told the story from the little boy's perspective. Here was this young boy, giving all he had over to help feed people. I mean, seriously it was a sweet gesture but did he really think it was going to help?

But it did help... he gave his all and Jesus did something miraculous with it. By the power of God, he was able to multiply that measly meal into a buffet that fed 5000 men, plus women and children.

All God asks of us is for all that we have. It'll be up to Him to do something miraculous.

That just reminds me of volunteering in Transit - the middle school environment. I certainly have not felt equipped to be there. But God just wants me to show up.... He'll do the rest.

So, are you giving Him all that you have?

Many blessings,