A Mary Heart in a Martha World

Joanie Shawhan is an overcomer on many levels, and God is using her life to encourage others. In this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, she zooms in on a woman in the Bible who has much to teach us.

"As I pondered the events of Holy week," Joanie says, "I was drawn to Mary of Bethany."

I (Dawn) have to admit that I've always been just as drawn to Martha as to Mary—probably because I've been a "Type A"-plus woman—always working, always intense. Illness has slowed me down, and it's a good thing. I'm learning the value of having a Mary heart, so I love what Joanie has to say about Mary here.

Joanie continues . . .

What motivated Mary to break an expensive jar of perfume and pour it over Jesus’s feet?

We are first introduced to Mary seated at the feet of Jesus listening to his teachings. Meanwhile, her sister Martha scurried about serving their guests.

Martha appealed to Jesus.

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke10:40 NIV).

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39-42 NIV).

I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the answer Martha anticipated. She probably felt overwhelmed and maybe annoyed by her sister’s lack of help.

As I ponder Jesus’s reprimand, I’m convicted of my own patterns of busyness.

Like Martha, I’m also distracted and fret about many things.

• I’m a task-oriented person, and my to-do list is very important.
• I scamper from one activity to the next.
• I try to focus on the Lord, but soon my imagination skips along on another tangent.
• Random thoughts flit through my mind and intermingle with my to-do list.

Then I’m reminded of Mary who once again defied cultural norms and chose to be in the Lord’s presence. This time Jesus was the guest of honor at another dinner Martha served shortly before his crucifixion. 

“Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance” (John 12:3 NLT).

Jesus surprises me with his response.

“Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial” (John 12:7 NLT).

He valued Mary’s gift, a reflection of her love and devotion.

A Heart like Mary's

How does a task-oriented person like me approach Jesus with a heart like Mary’s in a Martha world?

1. Humble myself.

When Mary pressed in and sat at the feet of Jesus, she laid aside the expectations and the cultural norms of her day.

Did she care what the others thought?

I wonder if the men encircling Jesus noticed her. Did they glower?

Am I willing to draw near and humble myself before the Lord even when others don’t understand?

2. Stop and listen.

Mary refused to be distracted. She stopped, pressed in, and listened to Jesus.

I wonder if she heard Martha calling for help.

Sometimes I need to stop what I’m doing, sit quietly before the Lord, and wait.

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10 NLT).

I brush aside cobwebs of distraction: my to-do lists, random thoughts, and past regrets. As I refocus on the Lord, distractions will fade away.

I have an image of the Lord taking my face in his hands and turning my face to His as one would a child’s. “Look at me,” he says. “Look at me. Stay in my presence.”

In his presence is the fullness of joy. (See Psalm 16:11).

3. Give Jesus my all.

Mary held nothing back when she poured out her devotion and that extravagant perfume on Jesus.

Mary gave her all.

She gave her best.

What is my best that Jesus asks me to lay at his feet in worship?

“For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son” (Romans 8:32 TPT). 

4. Maintain a pure heart.

Mary’s actions created quite a stir.

• Even her own sister didn’t understand.
• Simon and the disciples not only misunderstood Mary’s extravagant gesture of love, but they were offended and deemed her act of worship a waste.

Am I willing to endure the accusations and the disappointment from others who do not understand my love for Jesus?

I need to be careful that I, in turn, do not become offended or bitter because of the actions or harsh words by others.

Unhindered devotion to Jesus requires me to walk in forgiveness.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV).

Seeking the Lord with a heart like Mary’s is a challenge to my Martha mentality. But the joy I experience in his presence is worth the price.

What helps you to lay aside the distractions of daily life and be in the Lord’s presence?

Joanie Shawhan shares true-life stories, offering her reader an eyewitness view of the action. Her Selah Awards Finalist book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, reflects the value of “Your story plus my story become our stories.” An ovarian cancer survivor and registered nurse, Joanie speaks to medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program. She co-founded an ovarian cancer social group: The Fried Eggs—Sunny-Side Up. Publishing credits include: Guideposts Divine Interventions, Snapshots of Hope & Heart, Wit, Whimsy & Wisdom, Life Repurposed, and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished. Follow Joanie at www.joanieshawhan.com.

First graphic, adapted, is "Jesus at the House of Mary and Martha." is adapted. Wikipedia notes that the painting is by British artist Harold Copping.

Second graphic is of "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, posted at Wikipedia.

How to Leave a Legacy

Sally Ferguson is refreshing and positive, and she challenges Christians to bring glory to God as they become all the Father means for them to be. In this Legacy UPGRADE, she encourages us to stretch our ideas about legacy and consider fresh ways to make a difference.

"What do birthdays, New Year’s celebrations, and funerals have in common?" Sally says. "Those are milestones where we scrutinize the trajectory of our lives."

I (Dawn) know Sally is right. I've experienced all three kinds of milestones over the past year, and each time, the Lord spoke to me about some important changes I needed to make if I want to create a legacy for my family.

Sally continues . . .

A recent trip to a cousin’s funeral got me pondering those familiar questions of impact and purpose.

What kind of legacy will I leave behind?

As I celebrate another birthday, I wonder, Am I making a difference in the world and in the people around me?

Maybe you question life too?

• Does my work matter?
• Does my family know I’m crazy about them?
• Am I making the best use of my time and talents?

I suspect a lot of people are asking those questions in what has been dubbed "The Great Resignation."

Since COVID hit, people are resigning from jobs they don’t like and moving closer to family and finding fulfilling work.

Family connections give us roots and wings—roots for stability and wings for dreams.

Are you wondering about your legacy? Here are a few things I learned from my cousin, Vern.

1. Add a little spunk to life.

With a sly grin, Vern could con you into working on his projects. His family laughed about the jobs he had waiting for their arrival, and delighted in tales of Vern’s mischievous antics.

Vern was always up for a game of Uno and very competitive. His great-nephew described hundreds of games matched with hilarity.

What does spunk look like for you? Add your twist of fun to every day. Bring joy to those around you and, in return, you will be blessed.

“A merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV).

2. Be a dedicated worker.

Vern was a people person and that was displayed in the way he treated his customers.

As a traveling salesman for many years, Vern showed an interest in others and was an interesting person to talk to. His curiosity for life was visible in every conversation and sparked many discussions. 

What is your work ethic?

Be a hard worker and a good steward of what’s been entrusted to you. Let your personality shine in your passion.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

3. Stay active.

In his later years, Vern participated in Rock Steady Boxing, a program designed to fight back against Parkinson’s Disease.

How do you exercise your main resource, your treasure and gift?

The Lord gave you a body to care for and protect. How’s that going?

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18 NIV).

I have two thoughts on this verse.

• In order to love yourself, you have to take care of what you have.
• And, in order to love others, you have to participate in their lives. How will you get involved?

4. Release your creativity into the world.

Vern became skilled at a Norwegian painting process called Rosemaling. The delicate swirls and flowers adorned wood, slate, and paper in magnificent proportions.

What is your craft? Genesis 1:31 says,

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

ALL OF IT!

We were made in the image of our Creator, and He equipped us to be creative.

Use your art to bless others. Sing. Sew. Swing a little one. All of it is an expression of who God made you to be.

5. Be a devoted Christ follower.

Even while serving in the Army, Vern stayed committed to his faith and displayed that in his purity. He swapped beer rations for soda rations, and when his stash got full, he even gave that away.

Roget’s Desk Thesaurus says to be pure is to be unspoiled, untarnished, and above suspicion.

Do your best to represent His best.

“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44 NIV).

How will you leave a legacy? Remember:

• You are a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.
• Bring joy to those around you, and represent your King.

May your creativity leave our world a better place.

Oh, and by the way, Vern was 97 when he passed, with a sharp mind and a joy for life. He was still actively painting and playing his favorite card game.

I want to be like Vern when I grow up.

How will you leave your mark on those around you?

Sally Ferguson loves to dive into God’s Word and splash His refreshing water onto others. She speaks and writes with a look at snapshots of life in the sunshine and in the storms. Sally plans women’s retreats and she’s working on a Bible study for caregivers. She lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, New York, with her husband and her dad. Visit Sally at her website.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Alexander Fox at Pixabay.

Dear Church: Rest Up, Rev Up and Rise Up!

In this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson encourages Christ-followers to "be" the church the world needs to see in powerful ways as the nation enters a time of uncertainty with a new administration.

God's purpose for the Church has not been recinded.

Family of God, this is not the time to become unhinged or apathetic. We need to walk in the Spirit and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. We need to ask God for direction every day. We need to live in power, not defeat.

We need to BE the Church God intended—reflecting Christ and obedient to God.

I'm not just referring to our response to government—which is all some Christians are considering right now. I'm primarily considering our responses to the wickedness in our culture and the personal temptations we face because of those influences every day. 

Our responses are important, not only because we want to please God, but because the world is watching—

the world we want to invite to know Jesus.

The culture in America has changed dramatically from 50 years ago, and the culture will likely continue to change in ways that will concern Christ-followers.

We do not know what God will do, but we know what He's called us to do.

My Three Priorities Going Forward

The Lord has given me three priorities for the days ahead.

1. It's Time to REST UP.

Listening to the news cycles and encountering the evils of this world can wear us out. We can feel overwhelmed or angry, and sometimes we might feel paralyzed with frustration or fear!

Jesus says,

Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus wants us to find rest in Him in the midst of our troubling circumstances.

We need to be careful to recharge our batteries every day in Bible reading, prayer, and worship so the Lord can refresh us, give us His peace, and prepare us for whatever comes.

When turmoil increases, it's time to seek the Lord and rest in Him.

2. It's Time to REV UP.

We need to rev up our spiritual motors and get energized to make a difference in our chaotic, confusing world.

We need to be examples of what true Christianity looks like. Revving up means getting our lives properly prepared and ready so God can use us.

The Word of God commands believers to be:

"blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world as you hold forth the word of life..." (Philippians 2:15-16a).

There are four clear specifics in that passage that can help us rev up and move forward with strength.

• Be blameless. — To be blameless is to be innocent, without guile, or without fault. Only God is completely without blame. Jesus perfect (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), and He tells us to perfect even as our Father God is perfect (Matthew 5:48). How is this possible? Those who have trusted the Lord's provision for salvation are "made perfect forever" (Hebrews 10:14)— regenerated as a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is our positional standing. When the Father sees us, He sees Jesus our Redeemer and advocate first, and He chooses to remember our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12)—He no longer holds them against us. To "be blameless" is to live like we understand our position in Christ, grateful for God's mercy.
• Be pure. — Having been shown great mercy and cleansed by the blood of Jesus gives us eternal life; but until we get to heaven, we will still commit individual sins. We need daily cleansing .  God wants us to be holy—which means to be set apart for Him. We are not to live like the wicked of this world. Jesus has given us an example of how we're to live (John 13:15). We guard our hearts and keep them pure as we constantly and consistently repent and "wash" our dirtied-up lives in the Word of God and pray, confessing our sins (1 John 1:9).
• Shine as Lights. — Without Christ, we were "once darkness." But now we are light in the Lord and we are to "live as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). That is our inheritance (Colossians 1:12). Jesus told us to shine our light into the world, and our light is actually a reflection of His light (Matthew 5:16; John 8:12). We're not to get apathetic and hide our light (Matthew 5:15). The hope of the Gospel is that people living in spiritual darkness might see the light of what Jesus has done for them.
• Hold forth God's Word. — We're not to promote ourselves or become argumentive. We're simply to share scripture to give people understanding and hope. It is the Word of God and Spirit of God that changes peoples' lives (John 6:63, 68). Note: We are not responsible for how people receive the Word of truth; we're only responsible to share it (Philippians 2:16).

3. It's Time to RISE UP.

To rise up in terms of the Church does not mean rebellion against ordained authority (*); it means to bow in surrender to the King of Kings so we can rise up to do whatever God asks us to do.

We need to do God's work in God's timing and by His means. That means we can't act contrary to scripture.

Here's what rising up might include:

• Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so we can "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His mighty" against the devil's schemes.
• Praise God in the midst of our circumstances, believing He is in control (Psalm 34:1-2; 95:2-3; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:9). G
• Pray for our Father God to show us His will—which, again, will not contradict scripture. (Matthew 6:10; Colossians 1:9; James 1:5; 1 John 5:14).
• Place ourselves in God's hands—like Esther did (Esther 4:14-16)—to stand in the gap for God's people and the honor of His name.
• Protect those who are being injured. Stand up against abortion, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and cases of injustice; and help orphans, widows and others—protect and help with wisdom and courage (Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 6:16-19; 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17).
• Point people to the source of hope—Jesus!—as we faithfully, unashamedly share the Gospel (Mark 16:15; Luke 10:2; John 20:21; Romans 1:16).

Perhaps the Lord will speak to you about other biblical ways you can rise up in the days ahead.

It's not time to fall apart, Church. It's time to build and live in victory. It's time to Rest up, Rev Up, and Rise Up!

Which of these three priorities needs a little work in your life this week?

* NOTE from Priority #3 — While some Christians may disagree, there may be cases where civil disobedience might be necessary. This article shares three biblical examples when God's people disobeyed civil authority—Article.

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator the blog, Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for women's teacher and revivalist, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, at Revive Our Hearts, a blogger at TrueWoman.com, writes wiki-type posts at Christianity.com, and is a regular columnist at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in sunny Southern California, and Dawn has traveled with Him in Pacesetter Global Outreach. They have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of PhotoGranary at Lightstock.