Day 20 - 40 DOP. We are half way through our 40 days.. I hope you are hanging in there with passion about what we have committed to do together. I have asked Helen Baratta to share a word today to keep us focused on the main thing. Helen knows about focus. She has lost over 100 pounds and kept it off. From Helen Baratta: Distractions and Interruptions. I have always related to Martha’s quandary. As I read about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:40 it unsettled me in two new ways. In The Message “Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” There are always activities in life pulling us away from our time with our Lord. The NIV uses the word distracted. Something will always compete for our time. Years ago, when I first established a quiet time, I did it in my car in the parking lot at work. It was the only place I could be free of distractions. Gradually, as I built up a discipline, I moved to my dining room table each morning before work. Now my kids are grown, I converted a room to my study and hide away behind closed doors each morning. I read that Martha stepped in and interrupted the Lord. Yikes, I can hear myself saying, “Hey Lord, over here, could you send some help with all these things on my to-do list. Tell someone to come lend me a hand.” No wonder I relate to Martha. We both have the audacity to interrupt the Lord and tell him what to do. The Lord gently handles Martha’s interruption (v 41-42) by intimately calling her name out, summarizing the situation: “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and had gotten worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential...” Jesus brought clarity to the situation. He changed Martha’s perspective. So what about us? If Jesus dropped by your house, what might he say? • Stop worrying about tomorrow • Slow down you are always rushing • Show me your list, I will help you with your priorities • Sit down, let’s spend more time together Did Martha get it or did she go back to the distractions and finish up? Did she immediately fall to the feet of Jesus? My hope it that she chose what was better, spending the rest of the time with Jesus. Lets flee the distractions and choose the “one thing” that is essential.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:14:01 +0000
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