A Morning Cup of Tea: Mary and Martha

Good morning! It's another beautiful day outside. Here in my neck of the woods it's going to be a warm day, especially for this time of year. "Mother Nature" hasn't quite decided whether its going to be warm or cold continually so we get both every few days, translating into a mild season. Personally I'm thankful for mild weather. There are more warm days than cooler so far so we don't have to spend as much on heating.
  Are you ready for the holidays yet? I've got a list as long as my arm that needs to be done, most of which involves cleaning this house. I've never been good at cleaning and keeping a spotless house, and its at times like these when I think perhaps I should drop everything and clean. But actually, there's a time for everything.
  Today's lesson is Luke 10:38-42. I do hope you read it for yourself. It's the account of Martha, who invited Jesus into her home, and her sister Mary. Martha is what I consider a typical southern hostess. When she brings you into her home she's going to make sure the place spotless, you're all nice and comfy, and there will be plenty of food. She was running around taking care of all the details and serving, and just where was her sister? Mary was sitting, listening attentively to Jesus.
  This made Martha rather upset. Here she was doing all this work and she really could use a hand with all that she was doing. She figured surely Jesus would side with her. "Can't you see that she's making me do all the work? Make her get up and help me!" I'm greatly paraphrasing here, but you can see what is going on.
  The bible does not say that he did this, but I can just picture Jesus  standing up and going to Martha, giving her a hug and leading her to sit down and rest a minute. 
 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Like many of us, Martha wanted everything to be perfect for her guests, and probably wanted to put out everything, especially the best of all she had. Sometimes we get so bogged down in keeping everything perfect, or just tending to our list of things that "need" to be done right now that we dismiss , at least for a time, the chance to feed our souls.  While Jesus was probably appreciative of all that Martha did to attend to his needs and feed him, he most likely would have rathered she fix something simple and sit down to listen as her sister Mary did. 
  While it is good to get the housework done, wrap the gifts, cook our family's favorite meals, do all the special touches we think we must do, or even write the story that is buzzing around in our head begging to be told, we shouldn't neglect our spirit. Take the time for bible study whether here or elsewhere. Attend and participate in worship on the Lord's day.  Put the cares of the world on hold for a little while. Have a wonderful day.

A Morning Cup of Tea: Who is My Neighbor?

Good morning! I had wanted to finish chapter ten today, and I did read to the end of the chapter, but I wanted to separate the two lessons. So today's reading is verses 25 through 37. 
  A man asked Jesus  "How do I inherit eternal life?" Jesus asked him, What does the law say? 
  27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; And thy neighbor as thyself.
  When Jesus told him he ws correct and to go and do this, the man asked, Who is my neighbor? Jesus then told him the parable of the Good Samaritan.  A man was robbed and beaten, and left on the side of the road. A priest walking down the road saw the man and crossed to the other side. A Levite did the same thing. But a Samaritan saw the man who was injured, and ministered to his wounds. He put the man on his own beast and took him to an inn, where he paid to have the man cared for until he returned, even telling the innkeeper he would repay what the innkeeper spent in caring for the man.
  During this time Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans, and vice versa. But the Samaritan did not see differences that should keep them apart; he saw a brother in need. Our neighbor is anyone and everyone around us. We should have compassion and love for everyone. We aren't going to be buddy buddy with everyone, but we should not let our feelings get in the way of brotherly (sisterly) love. Our neighbors aren't just those we love and care for. Our neighbor is also the person we are angry with, or who has hurt us, or we haven't met yet. By showing compassion to others we are letting God's light shine.
 

A Morning Cup of Tea: Faith and Speaking Up

Good morning! Today we are finishing up chapter ten of Mark, verses 46 through 52. As Jesus and his disciples were coming out of Jericho, a man by the name of Bartimaeus , son of Timaeus, sat by the side of the highway, begging because he was blind.  When he understood that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to call out to him. Others tried to get him to be quiet, but he persisted: Jesus, thou son of David have mercy on me! he cried. 
  Jesus stopped and spoke to the man. What would you have me to do? he asked.  Bartimaeus asked to receive sight. 
 52. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight,, and followed Jesus in the way.
 Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight! Not hours, or days, or weeks after, but  immediately. Because of his faith, and asking, he was rewarded with what he wanted most: to be able to see. And afterwards, did he go back about his day as if nothing spectacular happened? No. He followed Jesus in the way. He lived his life as a follower of Christ. 

A Morning Cup of Tea: Who shall be First?

 Ah, the race to be first, the number one person in whatever whatever there is to compete at. It's not such a new desire,as you will find in Mark ten, verses 35-45. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, wanted Jesus to promise that they two would be on his right hand and left hand in the kingdom of heaven.
  Jesus told them that honor was not his to give, but the Father's. He asked them though, if they were able to go through the baptism he would go through and drink from the cup from which he drank, and of course they said they could. Jesus told them they indeed would follow in his footsteps.  He told them and the other disciples that in order to be first in the kingdom of heaven one must be a servant to all. 
 45. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
 We must remember, the first shall be last and the last shall be first. 

A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus and Children

Good morning !  I hope you slept well last night. For the first time in a long while I slept through the night without a single wake up, and I am very thankful for it. I feel well rested and ready to meet the day. I'm bad, however, at planning productive things to do on Saturdays, so I guess I'll just play it by ear and see what happens.
  Today we are focusing on just three verses in chapter ten of Mark. Verses 13 through 16. Some people brought children to Jesus to touch and bless. The disciples tried to stop them, probably thinking that Jesus had more important matters to deal with to bother with little children.
 14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
  As mothers of very young children, sometimes it can be a little discouraging to bring a baby or a toddler to worship. They cry, they fidget, they are loud, they ask questions, etc. If you add autism into the mix, it can be even more discouraging. The temptation to stay home until the child(ren) are older can be strong. I plead with you, don't give in to it. Just being there you may be an encouragement to others. And the children are learning: how to behave during worship, about Jesus and the love of God, and they are learning that the first day of the week has a special importance.  Yes, it is hard to think fully about why we take the memorial bread and fruit of the vine, and yes, it can be hard to get much out of the sermon when you're taking a little one to be changed or calmed or whatever. I've been there more times than I can count. Sometimes my son still has excessively fidgety moments and we deal with them. 
  Ladies of the congregation who don't have young children or children with autism,  please hear me: your help and encouragement is greatly needed. I have been in congregations where my son's exuberance was met with frowns or standoffishness (perceived) and at some points I stopped attending. While the responsibility is ultimately mine, no one called. No one checked to see why we weren't showing up. That is very discouraging to a young mother. 
  I have also been blessed to be part of congregations where there was (is) much encouragement. The congregation we worship with now has been such a blessing. The first Sunday we were there J was loud. It was a new place with new faces and although he understands there are certain rules we follow for church, he was dealing with the newness in his typical manner. I took him to a classroom where I could still hear and he could relax a bit. After service, I was a little shy because of how loud he'd been. I needn't have worried. Several of those precious women stopped to say hello and welcome us, and some looked directly at J and spoke with him. That meant so much to me. It still brings tears to my eyes to think of such love.
  We should encourage our young mothers and fathers. Be understanding when a child cries out. Jesus didn't forbid them to be near. He said let them come to me. 
 Our faith should be like that of a child: honest, forgiving easily, trusting fully that they will be taken care of and loved. They love others fairly easily too, and until taught differently see no difference in color of skin, dialect, or mannerism. The innocence of a child is a wonderful thing. Bring them to church. Continue teaching them. If you have no children at home, encourage the younger ones in the congregation. These are our future teachers, song leaders, preachers and preacher's wives. Our future missionaries. Bring them.

A Morning Cup of Tea: Concerning Marriage and Divorce

Good Friday morning to you! Are you winding down the work week and readying for a relaxing weekend with the family? It's going to be a quiet one for us. This is the middle of my husband's work week this time around, as he is working nights. Because he has 12 hour shifts on weekends, we will stick close to home, probably venturing out for groceries and Worship on Sunday morning.
 Today we begin chapter 10 of Mark. Jesus and his disciples are in Judea, and the Pharisees there are there once again to test Jesus on his knowledge of the law. Is it lawful for a man to put away (divorce) his wife? they asked.
  Jesus answered by asking, what did Moses command you? Of course, they answered that Moses allowed them to simply write her a letter of divorcement, and that would be the end of it.
 This is what Jesus has to say on the subject of marriage and divorce. The next few verses are straight from the King James bible. My opinion is nowhere in this, except to say that I whole heartedly agree, because Jesus said it and in my mind that settles it.
 5.And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
 6. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
 7. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife:
 8. And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
 9. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
 In the home at which they were staying, the disciples asked Jesus again about divorce.
 11. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
 12. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
 We know in Matthew Jesus said the only reason for divorce where remarriage would not be a sin is fornication. The one who was wronged would be free to divorce and remarry, if he or she so desired. 
  These days, as then apparently, people get divorced simply because they "fall out of love". Or their straying eye finds someone new they would rather be with. Love shouldn't be so fickle. Love takes work, folks! It is a decision that must be made, continuing to choose to love him despite his faults. After all, we have our own faults that they put up with. The point is to work through them, and with your husband, not to push away from him.
 Are there other reasons to divorce? Yes, I think so. If the husband or wife is abusive, there is no reason to stay in the same house with that person. It is better to get out. Instead of looking to marry another though, in that case I would continue praying for my husband --from the safety of another home. 
 The bottom line is we should not take marriage so lightly. In today's society some refuse to marry at all, because they do not wish to make the commitment. If it doesnt work out, they say, all they need to do is leave. And some marry with the same throw away concept: "If it doesn't work out we can always get a divorce." In both cases there are usually children involved. No, it isnt better for the child to have two separate houses to call home. That is a cop out. It is better for the child and the marriage to try and work things out. Don't let the weeds of discontent take root in your marriage. Nurture it and care for it like any other precious item in your life. You will be rewarded many times over.