But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her.”   Luke 10:41-42 NLT

The biggest comment heard during these holiday seasons is “I am so busy”  “I don’t have enough time”  “Where will I ever find the time to add Christmas shopping on top of everything else I have to do”.  Sound familiar?  “Just as being too busy gives you nightmares… ” Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:3; we work ourselves into physical and emotional wrecks in an attempt to relax and enjoy the festivities the hoiday season brings.  We focus on the task and not on the “one thing” that Christ tells us is most important.

Friend and author Debi Stack tells of her realization that being busy does not allow us time to enjoy that which we endeaver to complete in her book Martha to the Max.  An excellent read to help us understand the multitasking Martha who learned that Jesus desires our love and time much more than our immaculate homes and elegant dinners.

God did not come to earth with an army and musicians making lots of noise so that we would notice Him; He came quietly as child born in a barn and sleeping among the animals. If you don’t slow down you might miss this everlasting gift.

MARTHA TO THE MAX Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists By Debi Stack / Moody Publishers

 Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists 0802453899 53900 STACK Debi Stack –Do you long to order your days like Mary, but you’re much too busy being the perfect wife, mother, daughter, friend, hostess, and worker—like Martha? With humor and insight, Stack gives “Type A” women ideas on how to “wait more” and “hurry up less,” creating time to praise and serve God. 192 pages, softcover from Moody.

I was reading an email telling the story of the famous Christmas song “Twelve Days of Christmas”.  According to Snoops Dot Com the story presented in the email is untrue and it was not written with hidden meaning during the persecution of the catholic church; however I see no reason not to look at the explanation and ponder on the words. So forgetting the story leading to the words here is a new way to look at the song.

My true love = God

Day  1: partridge in a pear tree = Jesus Christ

Day  2: turtle doves = the Bible OLD and NEW testaments

Day  3: french hens = Faith, Hope and Charity    theological virtues (I Cor 13:13)

Day  4: calling birds = the 4 gospels/evangelists    Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Day  5: gold rings = the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament; telling the story of man’s fall from grace

Day  6: geese a laying = 6 days of creation  (Genesis 1)

Day  7: swans a swimming = the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discerning, tongues, interpretation of tongues  (1 Cor 12:8-10)

Day  8: maids a milking = the beatitudes  (Matt 5:3-10)

Day  9: ladies dancing = gruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal 5:22-23)

Day 10: lords a leaping - the 10 commandments  (Exodus 20:1-17)

Day 11: piper’s piping = 11 faithful disciples

Day 12: drummers drumming - the 12 points of the Apostles Creed

 

….whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.  Mark 10:15

During a recent Bible reading I came across the story of Jesus talking to disciples when a group of children come running up to Jesus. The disciples tried to hold them back but Jesus replied, Let the children come unto me. He told the disciples that you must come to the Lord “like a child”.

That same day I spent time with my adorable 2 year old grandson. I had to run some errands. He confidently put his hand in mine and let me guide him. We would get to wherever we were going and he would confidently follow me into the store or place of business. He looked all around but he held tight to my hand. It reminded me of Psalm 23…. He leads me.

My grandson knew I would take care of him if he stayed with me. When he turned away from me I would pull him back. Isn’t that how God is with us. He wants us to have the kind of love and trust for Him that a child has for his/her parents and other care givers. Trust Him to provide for your needs, hold tight to His hand and allow Him to guide you, be confident in His protection as you “lay down by the still water” and rest in Him. The way a child holds tight to a teddy bear for comfort is a symbol we as adults can use to remind us to hold tight to God.

How are you trusting in God? Are you holding tight to His hand and allowing Him to lead you? Or are you running off in an entirely different direction then looking back and crying out “God, where are you?”