Zacharias And Elizabeth

Zacharias and Elizabeth were a godly couple, advanced in years and childless. Zacharias was a member of one of 24 priestly divisions who rotated serving in the Temple for a week at a time. By the casting of lots, Zacharias was chosen to enter the Temple and offer the sacrifice at the altar. Because no one but the Priest may enter into the Holy of Holies, a rope was tied around his waist in order to pull him out in the event that he died performing his duties. While the priest was inside, the people gathered outside to pray that the offering would be acceptable to God. As Zacharias enters the Temple, he immediately became fearful. Why? An angel was standing by the altar, but even that did not fully explain his great fear.

Entering the Holy place always carried with it a sense of fear and anguish. Jewish tradition stated that if the priest entered the Holy Place and an angel appeared at the right side of the altar, God was displeased with the offering and the priest would die. On the other hand, a feast would immediately follow his exit to celebrate his safe return.

The angel tells Zacharias that he and Elizabeth will have a son who will be great in the sight of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit, even while in his mother's womb. He will prepare the way for the Messiah. This declaration was too much for Zacharias to process; his faith had never been tested at this level. Because of his unbelief, the angel Gabriel removes Zacharias' ability to speak. He emerges from the Temple deeply shaken and remains mute for the next nine months.

(From:When the Good News Gets even Better)

The Gospel Writers- Matthew, Mark & John

Matthew was a converted customs agent and one of the original twelve apostles. He writes a detailed account of Jesus' life. Matthew shows that the events of Jesus' life were powerfully foretold by the Prophets hundreds of years prior to His coming. Writing to Greek speaking Jews, Matthew shows them that Jesus is the fulfillment of their dreams and their history. Matthew's theme is Jesus, The King of the Jews.

Mark: Though he was not among the original apostles, Mark gained much personal insight and information from Peter, with whom he shared a special closeness. Mark writes to Romans with an unflinching sense of immediacy. He uses the work "immediately" at least forty times in his account, stressing the urgency Jesus felt, knowing that this would appeal to Roman thinking. Mark's them is Jesus the Messiah, The Servant of Jehovah.

John writes more concerning the things Jesus said rather than what he did. As the eldest of the four writers, John probably read the other accounts many times and therefore became more intent on communicating the heart of Jesus than His works. Ninety percent of the content in John's gospel is not found in the parallel accounts. John's gospel is the only book in the Bible written primarily for the non-believer. John's theme is Jesus, The Son of God. John wants his readers to know that Jesus Christ is unlike anyone who ever walked on the planet.

Genealogies listed by Matthew and Luke: Matthew lists Joseph's family line to make a strategic point that Joseph was not Jesus' father. The Jew have always stressed the importance of understanding their uniqueness, of knowing where and from whom they have come. Critical to know here, is that Matthew and Luke are showing, in different ways, that Jesus was the stepson of Joseph, not a biological son. They both seem to be saying to their readers, "whatever else you may be thinking, let's agree on this as a beginning thesis: Jesus is fully qualified to be the Messiah. He fits every standard proclaimed by God through the voice of the Prophets. He is the legitimate candidate. (From:When the Good News get even Better)

The Gospel Writers - Luke

Some thirty years after the crucifixion, a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and traveling companion of the apostle Paul, took pen in hand and wrote a biography about the Savior. Luke apparently wanted to make certain that an orderly and historically accurate account was rendered. He was the only gospel writer who was not a Jew. He wants his Gentile readers to see that Jesus' great message of truth and liberation is now wide open to Gentiles and Jews alike. He sees the need to record the events of Jesus life in chronological order. Luke's theme is simply, Jesus, the Son of Man. He writes specifically to a man named Theophilus, also a Gentile, who was probably a Roman official and a new believer. Based on his meticulous research, Luke wants to reassure Theophilus, and us, that the "exact truth" is available to all with "ears to hear." (From:When the Good News Gets even Better)

Hello, I feel like I've been out of the country for months! Kerrie is doing great from her surgery and went back to work part time today. Thanks again for all the nice comments and mostly for your prayers. I am going to be sharing from a Bible Study we are currently doing since I finished sharing my Mary/ Martha book. I hope you enjoy and learn a little something from it. Have a great day and God bless!

Thursday Thankfuls 11/20

Today I am thankful for my wonderful employer. I have worked for many doctors and trust me some are very self centered control freaks (may God bless them). Lee McDaris is not one of those people. He is kind hearted and truly cares about his patients. He uses his gift and knowledge of our Lord in his everyday practice. I often wonder why anyone would wait hours at a doctors office (he is always behind schedule). I think they see the good in him as well and so they wait. Every Wednesday night he takes time from his precious family and leads a Bible Study for us. We are treated as family instead of employees. He and I are more like brother and sister (he loves to pick on me). I know he does it out of love although at times I want to slug him (hey, I'm just trying to be honest).
Another little thing I'm thankful for are school pictures. Remember those school pictures of years past? Come on... we all have them (I'm just hoping mine stay hidden away). Wow, have they come a long way. This is my sweet little Kaylin's second grade picture. I just had to share this with you today, I'm so proud of her. Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Judas by Max Lucado

If God has called you to be a Martha, then serve! Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and there is worship in nursing the sick.
If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.
If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.
Each of us has our place at the table.
Except one. There was one at Martha's house who didn't find his place. Though he had been near Jesus longer than any of the others, he was furthest in his faith. His name was Judas. He was a thief. When Mary poured the perfume he feigned spirituality. "The perfume could have been sold and given to the poor," he said. But Jesus knew Judas's heart, and Jesus defended Mary's worship. Years later, John, too, knew Judas's heart, and John explained that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). And all these years he had been dipping his hand in the treasury. The reason he wanted the perfume to be sold and the money put in the treasury was so that he could get his hands on it.
What a sad ending to a beautiful story. But what an appropriate ending. For in every church there are those like Martha who take time to serve. There are those like Mary who take time to worship. There are those like Lazarus who take time to testify.
And there are those like Judas who take, take, take, and never give in return. Are you a Judas? I ask the question carefully, yet honestly. Are you near Christ but far from his heart? Are you at the dinner with a sour soul? Are you always criticizing the gifts of others yet seldom, if ever, giving your own? Are you benefiting from the church while never giving to it? Do others give sacrificially while you give miserly? Are you a Judas?
Do you take, take, take, and never give? If so, you are the Judas in this story.If you are a Martha, be strengthened. God sees your service.If you are a Mary, be encouraged. God receives your worship.If you are a Lazarus, be strong. God honors your conviction.But if you are a Judas, be warned. God sees your selfishness.

As Eli says....

I miss you. I have been trying to read and leave a few comments - if you have seen me on your blog and I didn't leave you a comment - sorry - I have just not had enough time. I hope to be back on my regular routine next week. Still taking care of the little ones for Kerrie, she is doing really good - thank you all for your prayers. Until then... take care and God bless.

Update From Kerrie's Surg.

All went very well. She is in recovery right now so I'm just waiting. Thank you for your prayers! Love, Debbie

I Surrender All

This is the last I will be sharing of "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World". Even though I read the book before going back and re-reading to share with you my blog family, it has been a wonderful journey. From your comments I feel it has touched and reminded many of us just how much God loves us and how little he ask of us. I will be doing the same sort of sharing with a book I am using now as a Bible Study. I think you will enjoy it also. Until then, here is the last part:



Perhaps you're already living in that place of perpetual ease before the Lord, simply serving him and loving him one day at a time. But if you aren't, if you are a struggler like me, take heart! God has a better way. When we come to the end of ourselves and our abilities, when we relinquish our lives, Jesus promises to use them. Little is much when God is in it. Especially if that little something is you and me. When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we release the Lord of the Process to do his work. For it is in our weakness that Christ is strong. It is in our inadequacy that we find him more than sufficient. And it is in our willingness to be broken that he brings wholeness-more wholeness and completeness than we ever dreamed possible. But in order for that to happen, I need to persevere and be patient-because it takes a process to produce a product, and a process takes time. But never forget, Christ's beloved, this process is divine. God is right beside you! He is the one who's in charge. All he asks is that you partner with him and surrender to what he is doing in your life. So don't worry that you haven't arrived, my dear sister. Just don't give up on the process. Don't miss the journey. For it will be glorious! It will be worth it all.



A Prayer For The Journey



O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers,

but give me powers equal to my tasks,

for I want to be stretched by things too great for me.

I want to grow through the greatness of my task,

but I shall need your help for the growing.



E. Stanley Jones

Mary Heart-Martha World

I love the last picture we see of Mary and Martha in the Bible. At rest with their Savior. At rest with themselves. Martha is still serving, but she does it with an attentive heart. The busy servant has become a focused student as Martha drinks in his every word. Mary my have started the evening sitting at the feet of Jesus, but rather than passively listening, she gives all that she has. The contemplative student has become an effective servant as Mary shows her love through extravagant deed. I, too, have learned surprising lessons about what it means to have a Mary heart in a Martha world. It hasn't been a comfortable process. He decided to use life to teach me. He spoke peace and direction, though I can't explain how he did it. Some how his grace helped me live one day at a time-not in fear of the future or in regret of the past. In my once-divided heart, the two had become one. I no longer had to worry about my motives, whether I was acting out of duty or devotion. God had knocked down the wall and made the Living Room and Kitchen all one. (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

Prayer Request

My daughter Kerrie has for a while now been suffering with female issues. After trying several different medicines her physician has decided it would be best for her to have a hysterectomy. She has two beautiful children and was not planning on having others so she is okay with this decision. Her surgery will be this Thursday. Please keep her and her physician in your thoughts and prayers. I will update you all as soon as I can. Thank you all and may God bless each of you.
Love, Debbie

Giveaway

Check out Memoirs of a Southern Domestic Goddess for another great giveaway. It's easy to enter, just leave her a comment and post about it on your blog - that's it! Good Luck!

The Glorious Result

When it comes to our spiritual lives a lot of us are all-or-nothing people. If we aren't automatically perfect, we just give up. When Christlike virtues like patience and kindness seem hard to come by, we abandon our character development and decide holiness is for those better equipped. But when we give up, we're giving up on our part of the partnership. Perseverance is one of our responsibilities in this process of being changed. And what a change it will be! God uses the pressure of trials to perfect our lives. He fashions facets in humble stone to reflect his glory. Of course, there will still be areas in our lives where we struggle. There will still be battles, and we'll lose a few now and then. But if we're willing to persevere in the process, one day-with Christ beside us-we'll win the war. That why I can tell you: Persevere, my friend! Persevere. Do you want more of God? Then don't settle for anything less. Do you want to be more like Jesus? Then persevere-press in, press on, press through! And as you do, I promise you, you will be changed. Changed as Mary and Martha were changed. (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

The Lord Is My Pace Setter

The Lord is my pace setter.....I shall not rush

He makes me stop for quiet intervals

He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity

He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace

Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret, for his presence is here

His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance

He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquillity

My cup of joyous energy overflows

Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I shall walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in his house for ever.

(A version of the Twenty-Third Psalm from Japan)

From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

Lazarus by Max Lucado

Marys need to remember that service is worship.
Marthas need to remember that worship is service.
And Lazarus? He needs to remember that not everyone can play the trumpet.
You see, as far as we know, Lazarus did nothing at the dinner. He saved his actions for outside the house. Read carefully John 12:9:
"A large crowd of Jews heard that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there to see not only Jesus, but Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So the leading priests made plans to kill Lazarus, too. Because of Lazarus many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus."
Wow! Because of Lazarus many Jews were "believing in Jesus." Lazarus has been given a trumpet. He has a testimony to give--and what a testimony he has!
"I was always a good fellow," he would say. "I paid my bills. I loved my sisters. I even enjoyed being around Jesus. But I wasn't one of the followers. I didn't get as close as Peter and James and those guys. I kept my distance. Nothing personal. I just didn't want to get carried away.
"But then I got sick. And then I died. I mean, I died dead.
"Nothing left. Stone-cold. No life. No breath. Nothing. I died to everything. I saw life from the tomb. And then Jesus called me from the grave. When he spoke, my heart beat and my soul stirred, and I was alive again. And I want you to know he can do the same for you."
God gave Martha a bass drum of service. God gave Mary a flute for praise. And God gave Lazarus a trumpet. And he stood on center stage and played it.
God still gives trumpets. God still calls people from the pits. God still gives pinch-me-I'm-dreaming, too-good-to-be-true testimonies. But not everyone has a dramatic testimony. Who wants a band full of trumpets?
Some convert the lost. Some encourage the saved. And some keep the movement in step. All are needed.
If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.

Partners With Christ

This process of staying surrendered and letting Christ work in you is not as passive as that might sound. Yes, the Lord has gone out of his way to make us his own. Yes, he died and rose again. He sent the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. He's invested his own life to make us holy, and he'll take what we offer him and make it into something good. But we're still expected to partner in the process. The Savior reassures me, " Yes, your salvation is my work. It is finished. I did it on the cross. But now I want to partner with you in living it out." (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

Thursday Thankfuls

On this beautiful Thursday I am thankful for my daughter and two beautiful grandchildren. They love taking self portraits - can you tell?

Lord Of The Process

It takes a process to get a product. The same is true of our Christian walk. Becoming like Jesus requires a process as well. It is a journey, not a destination. If we want to be like Jesus, we won't be able to escape the refining process. It takes a process for me to become the kind of Christian I want to be-but Jesus Christ is Lord of the Process, and the process is divine. That doesn't mean we'll always understand his methods. It is a mystery to me how God can take something as imperfect as my life and turn it into an agent for his glory. Instead of waiting for us to arrive, God shines the Light of Christ through the fragments we place in his hands, transforming "the disorder into beauty and symmetry," splashing the colors of our brokenness like fireworks across the sky. (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

Guess Who??

Only one person would actually put this on then drive their kids to daycare and school, visit my office and then wear it to work ----the one and only CONNIE! If you don't have the pleasure of personally knowing my wonderful niece, she is one of a kind.

Below The Water Line

So how do we balance work and worship? All of the things we've talked about-keeping an attitude of yes, finding a rhythm, leaning toward our weaknesses-can help keep out teeter totters balance. The secret of balancing worship and work, devotion and service, love of God and love of people is maintaining our connection to Jesus Christ. And the deeper that relationship goes, the more stable the balance will be. "It all begins at the water line." As we spend time in the Living Room, waking and talking with him, we fill the hulls of our lives with the rich things of God. We'll be loving God and loving our neighbor. Spending time in the Lord's Prayer and playing the Good Samaritan. Keeping the Sabbath. Practicing hospitality. We'll be living in rhythm, but with a deep, solid anchor. Work will become worshipful. Worship will be a delight. (From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

Mary by Max Lucado

Max Lucado had a story about Martha that I posted on 10/24. If you missed it look it up and read, he does a great job.

Mary by Max Lucado
Marys are gifted with praise. They don't just sing; they worship. They don't simply attend church; they go to offer praise. They don't just talk about Christ; they radiate Christ.
Marys have one foot in heaven and the other on a cloud. It's not easy for them to come to earth, but sometimes they need to. Sometimes they need to be reminded that there are bills to be paid and classes to be taught. But don't remind them too harshly. Flutes are fragile. Marys are precious souls with tender hearts. If they have found a place at the foot of Jesus, don't ask them to leave. Much better to ask them to pray for you.
That's what I do. When I find a Mary (or a Michael), I'm quick to ask, "How do I get on your prayer list?"
Every church desperately needs some Marys.We need them to pray for our children.We need them to put passion in our worship.We need them to write songs of praise and sing songs of glory.We need them to kneel and weep and lift their hands and pray.
We need them because we tend to forget how much God loves worship. Marys don't forget. They know that God wants to be known as a father. They know that a father likes nothing more than to have his children sit as his feet and spend time with him.
Marys are good at that.
They, too, must be careful. They must meditate often on Luke 6:46. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?" Marys need to remember that service is also worship.
If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don't have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.

Leaning Into Our Weakness

In my struggle with hospitality, I've discovered yet another thing about balance that's important to understand. In order to live the balanced life God desires, we may need to give more weight to the side we feel weakest in. There are times when we have to make a concentrated effort to lean into our area of weakness, to give more weight to the area of intimacy or service that doesn't come easily for us. That's what Martha did. She leaned away from the comfort of her Kitchen and shifted the weight of her attention toward the Living Room. Mary did the same thing when she left her place at the Lord's feet and leaned toward the active service of anointing her Lord. And I, too am trying to learn this lesson of corrective measures, building up the weak sides of my life. But I don't need to do it alone. If hospitality is my weakness, he'll help me scoot toward that kind of service. When I need a little more weight on the side of Sabbath rest, he's faithful to help me lean in that direction, making me "lie down in green pastures." As I keep my eyes focused on the Lord, I'll have a passion for God and compassion for people-and the kind of balance the Lord intended for me all along.(From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)

My Treats

My little grand ones:Miss High School Musical Cheerleader

Mr. Buzz Lightyear

God's Gift Of Hospitality

The practice of keeping the Sabbath is not the only God-ordained balancing principle that seems to be lost these days. Another one, which tilts back to the service side of the teeter tooter, is the practice of hospitality. Scripture tells us that in the last day, people will be lovers of themselves. We're called to be givers instead. Over and over in the Bible, we're encouraged to show hospitality by reaching out and giving of ourselves to other, welcoming them into our lives. Peter adds the injunction to do it "without grumbling". OUCH. That last one hits home for me. Paul's exhortation to "practice" hospitality offers me hope that I may one day improve. It's something I struggle with personally-partly because I'm not a very talented housekeeper, but mostly because I'm just so busy. How easy it is to get caught up in our busy lives that we forget the reason Jesus came and the purpose for which we were called. Our lives should be a refuge for the hurting, not a country club for the comfortable. Hospitality isn't an option for anyone who wants to say yes to Christ. It's part of his call to us, though it may be hard to work into our busy lives.(From:Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)