Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha
'Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Shouldn't she be helping me out?'

What was Mary doing? She was required to help Martha prepare the big dinner! Martha was left all alone to complete the chores. And Mary? Mary was sitting at the feet of the Lord!

Why didn't she think of helping her? She was needed to do that. But she chose to do what she wanted to do.

It's the freewill that Jesus offers us. Whoever choose to listen and believe will be saved. And Mary.... Mary chose to listen.

'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!'
Martha chose to do what was needed. She chose to set her priority, something that could be avoided at that moment.

If it is out of need, it's only till the need exists. If it's out of choice, it will be my priority.

Let me leave you with one question: 'Do you need to be in the presence of God or do you want to be?'

Jesus is the truth. If you choose to listen, believe and abide in Him, the truth will not be taken away from you.

Help Me Renew My Strength

But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.
Isaiah 40:31 ERV

It's easier said than done! We sure do trust the Lord at times, but what about every time, in our daily lives? It becomes difficult as we tend to lose patience and hope. But our God can prepare a way for us even in the wilderness. Then why does it become so difficult to trust in Him at all times?

Maybe, we get so strong in the Word theoretically that we tend to overlook the practical application in our lives.

If your candle is blown out today, trust in the Lord to light it for you and take care that you don't let the enemy blow it out again. Wait on the Lord and you will renew your strength, you will not grow tired or weak, but you will always remain hopeful!

If Not Now, Then When?

'If not now, then when Lord?' Azlyn cried out. She had latched herself in her room and was crying bitterly. Her lips quivered as she spat out these words in utter frustration.

She had unanswered prayers lined up. She was in the midst of a situation with no idea of what to do next or where to head. All she could do was cry. She thought God was a distant truth at this point; but deep down she knew that He was there-in control of her situation. But she was human and it was natural for her to be frustrated in the situation she was stuck in.

When she cried herself to sleep, she experienced something beautiful. She could feel she was in the arms of God! She could feel a peace that passed all understanding. She heard a gentle whisper that took away all her fears and filled her with hope and strength:
'My beautiful Azlyn, Let me remind you that you are not forgotten. Each time you feel I'm away, remember my promises. I am a promise keeper. Remember that I sacrificed my only Son because I loved you and I always will. So don't be dejected.
I know you are frustrated and I understand your state of mind. I won't condemn you for it. It is natural for you to feel that way. I created you with those emotions, honey.
You need to understand that I'm your father and I have plans for you to prosper. I care for you more than anyone else could. I know, according to you, there's a delay from my end; but I know the right time to do the right thing. You don't need to workout things your way and your time. Trust me. I know that sometimes it's necessary to cry and vent out your feelings, but there's no human there to understand how you feel. There are many out there to advise you. And all they do is advise. But you know that you can come to Me when you want to pour out your heart. You know that I'm always there to carry you in My arms and listen to all that you have to say.
Trust me Azlyn. I'm always at work in your life. I believe that you're worth every blessing. Don't look down upon yourself. I know there are people trying to pull you down. I know there are people trying to hurt you. But Azlyn, you need to stop worrying about those and you need to start thinking over your actions. And you'll be fine.
Cast all your cares on me my child. I will carry you through it all. Trust in my time. I'll make all things beautiful!'
Azlyn woke up after a couple of hours. She realised that it was the Spirit of God who refreshed her. She felt rejuvenated, relaxed: something that she longed to feel in weeks. She knew what she had to do now. Cast her worries on her true friend-Jesus Christ. She realised that God was not also an option, but God was her only option.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.91.1-16.nlt

Be Ruth

As I grew,
What my mother taught me was all that I knew.

The Word of God will keep me from falling

And I need to abide by it without failing.

Mom knew when I was sad, angry, broken or mad

She always had a way to fix up things,

Her words of love and comfort in my ears still ring.

Now that I had to enter a new phase of life

I knew I had to let go of her and try to find love and comfort in his mother.

He and I courted for two years;

She seemed to be warm and loving,

My hopes arisen and I was at rest knowing that I’d be loved and cared for.

Today, as I stepped in the new shoe, all hopes shattered and me broken,

My mother knows it all as she feels my pain without me conveying;

Yet she is helpless and all she can do is strengthen.

‘Be Ruth’ is all that she can say.

But hardly does she realize how much that motivates me.

As I enter home I feel frozen and dead in the cold atmosphere,

Knowing I have no where else to go;

But then I abide in the shelter of the Almighty, resting in the cozy memories of mom,

And all I can again hear is ‘Be Ruth’…what she has taught me throughout.

I miss the gentle touch and I feel this is now my world;

I have to bend in order to mend, I have to cry and I have to try.

She isn’t bad, but for her love is for her girl and lad.

All I have is correction, hurt and words,

And I am to survive with that because I chose to live with that.

And Mom, you know I am strong, strong enough as you have prepared me to be;

Strong enough to continue gaining my strength from my Lord, My Rock;

I will fail you not, Mom.

With His joy being my strength, I can boldly say,

I don’t live with Naomi,

But all I remember is ‘Be Ruth’…and that I will.

Am I a Pharisee?

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/jhn.3.16.nlt

When John says 'the world', he also meant the Pharisees. Yes, Jesus loved them too and He would accept them if they would repent of their sins and choose to follow Him faithfully. But they didn't. So Jesus chose to be straightforward with them.

Who are the Pharisees today?
They are the ones who read the word, but don't understand it; ones who know the word, but their lives aren't attuned to it. They are Christians who claim to have a profound knowledge of the word and yet they lack wisdom. They brag about their deeds yet are spiritually empty vessels. They live a life built on the foundation of their own lives. They deliberately use provocative language and look down upon others.
-They mislead the others.
““Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:6, 12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.16.6,12.nlt
-They are vicious.
"But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!”...."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/mat.3.7.nlt

How do we deal with them?
With love. Love means nothing without actions. And our action of live towards them can be to pray for them. The Holy Spirit will give us the discernment to recognise such people. He will put the right words into our mouths when we need to be straightforward. He will give us the wisdom to understand when we need to be silent and the strength to do the same. Humility is the key.
“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/psa.25.9.nlt

But being humble doesn't require you to be a door mat. Jesus was the perfect example of serving in humility. He sat with the sinners and He washed the feet of His disciples. He asked God to forgive those who chose to crucify Him. Yet, throughout the Gospels, you'll find Him being straightforward with the Pharisees.

We don't need to ask God to punish such people who hurt us. We need to pray to God to forgive them. We need to forgive them and let them go. Finally, we are not accountable for the lives they live. We are accountable for the way we live. We need to prepare ourselves for the greater day in such a way, that we will be able to answer our Father for our doings. We need to reflect upon our own actions and avoid being a Pharisee.

Voice of Truth

As I look ahead, all I can see is darkness
My soul isn't at rest
The ones whom I call my own
Look down on me as I fail to give my best.
I decide to be still.
I know that it is only the Voice of Truth that can calm my soul
The voice that calmed the storm,
The voice thay called Lazarus out of the grave!
I know that my soul can be rest assured in Him and His promises.
I stand there and continue to look ahead
All I can see is darkness yet
But now....
...I can also see a path in the wilderness
My soul is peaceful-
Flooded with peace that passeth all understanding!
I now know there is a way,
I know the One who leads me,
I trust my GOOD SHEPHERD!
"I can hear the voice of Truth; and I will choose to listen and believe it."

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