Martha’s Teachable Heart, day 2

Hebrews 12:5-11 List  reasons why God disciplines us and the results of that discipline:

1) we are His children whom He loves

2) God’s discipline is always good for us; it enables us to share in His holiness

3) there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way

If-then verses:

Joshua 1:8 – If I meditate on God’s Word and do it, then I will be prosperous and successful.

John 8:31-2 – If you remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings, then you are truly His disciple and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

James 1:25 – If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free and you remember it and do what it says, then God will bless you for doing it.

Psalm 51:10-12 -God forgives us, even when we are at our very worst. He responds to a broken and repentant heart.

Make my heart clean, O God. Make my spirit loyal to You. Don’t give up on me or leave me! Bring me back to the first love I used to have for You. Let me overflow with joy when I reflect on the Salvation You have given me. Teach me to delight in obeying You.

Martha’s Teachable Heart

ch. 9 – Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

1) What kind of student were you?

In grade and middle school, I passionately did not want to be in the public school system. In high school I initially enjoyed the social experience and did well in school, but sophomore year I was bored and annoyed by the busywork. Junior and senior years I took full time classes at the community college and found them much more interesting, but still I was a procrastinator. I got good grades but could have done better. Same in Bible college, although that year the academics were the least important things I learned.

Then I transferred to university and I it was my second year there when I suddenly came into a love of academics. This was after a year of living a dual life as a part-time college student and full time employee. When I finally quit the job and took a 20-credit course load at the university, it was so freeing to be able to just focus on learning! I finished out my 4-year degree with two consecutive 20-credit quarters and a 15-credit quarter. After that, I was really tired and glad to be done. But I still enjoyed the intellectual exploration, and someday I might like to attend seminary or another institution of learning. Until then, I continue to educate myself every day by searching out resources on mothering, nutrition, soapmaking, and spiritual growth.

2) I consider Janet to be someone with a teachable heart. She is quick to listen, pleasant, calm, joyful, and always in search of a deeper relationship with Christ, both through her mind and her heart.

4)

Moon pads

This morning I was putting a feminine pad into my undies and my 18 mo DD comments, “Underwear. Diaper, in.”

This is from Him

“My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into our inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head… This thing is from ME.” -Laura Barker Snow

Everything that happens in our lives comes from the hand of God. Nothing happens without his permission. But God tells us to “fear not!” because he takes disaster and turns it into victory for his glory. So in a sense, nothing truly bad can ever happen to the born-again believer, because we are indwelt by the Spirit of God, who gives us peace and joy in the midst.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 NLT

It was Jesus’ idea

Yesterday the DH and I had a quiet time together for the first time in, um, years. We practiced a method that I recently learned in Sunday School – reading a section of scripture and then sitting quietly reflecting on the passage, asking the Spirit to teach us through it. This is a method of spiritual formation; allowing myself to be challenged and changed by God’s word.

We read Luke 8:22-25, the story of Jesus telling the disciples to cross the lake, and then a wild storm comes on them while Jesus naps. The disciples know all about dangerous, stormy weather and they freak out. “Jesus, aren’t you worried that we’re about to die here?!” Jesus commands the squall to subside, and the disciples wonder who the heck this guy really is.

The thing that struck me was that crossing the lake was Jesus’ idea. Perhaps if the disciples had taken a little jaunt without Jesus they would have had good reason to be afraid. But in this case, Jesus was their pilot. He ordered the boat ride and he came along on the journey. Perhaps he seemed to not be paying attention. Perhaps the situation seemed out of his control. I can’t criticize the disciples because I wasn’t there (and I’d have been equally scared if I was). But Jesus doesn’t respond the way you’d expect: “Oops! Sorry guys; I fell asleep on the job. If I’d been paying attention, we’d have had smooth sailing all the way! Looks like we’re in over our heads now – I’ll help bail water and let’s just hope we don’t drown!”

No, he comments on their lack of faith. Ideally, they should have remembered that crossing the lake was Jesus’ idea and he was in control of the situation, even if things took a turn for the worse. Hudson Taylor says we can’t get hung up on secondary causes; whatever happens to us is because God allowed it. He could have stopped the storm, but sometimes he chooses to be glorified through dire circumstances and even tragedy. But we can have peace in hard times and be comforted in grief because God does all things for his glory. Nothing happens that takes God by surprise. Therefore, Taylor says that we can’t torture ourselves with what-if’s and if-only’s. God is not powerless; when we make poor choices or the Enemy works against us, God can (and I think, often does) mitigate those circumstances. But when he chooses not to, we can rest in the fact that he made that decision for a good reason and not because he couldn’t do anything about it. Sometimes that thought is unsettling in itself, but it’s a subject for another time (and for wiser Christians than myself).

Back to the main point. The disciples could have confidence that the storm was part of God’s plan for them because they got into it by following Jesus’ orders. And that’s how I can know whether the storms in my life are self-inflicted because I’ve turned away from God’s path, or if they’re God-ordained: by listening to the voice of the Pilot. How do I do that? “My sheep know my voice.” By spending time with Jesus every day, waiting and listening to him.

When can that happen? I have two little children, ages 3 and 1. The younger one naps but erratically, and the older one is a nap-free bundle of nonstop energy. They’re up before the crack of dawn and go to sleep around 8pm. I have tried having my quiet time after the kids go to bed, but I’m tired by then, and it’s also my only chance to spend some down time with the hubby. Plus, that’s my best opportunity to make soap.

“Early will I seek Thee.” Impossible! I co-sleep with the baby and she nurses frequently as morning approaches and her tank runs empty. So she would notice if I left – either because she’s draped on me and would be disturbed by my movement, or because she needs a sleep-snack and the vending machine is gone.

I presented these objections to the Lord, but he was pretty sure about the “early will I seek Thee” thing. So I told him if he can handle the Pookie dilemma, I’d be willing to get up early (one latte equals one hour’s sleep so I’m all set).

Then in the middle of last night, Girl woke up with congestion and wailed that she needed to go “that way” meaning she wanted to sit with me on the livingroom couch. So we evicted Daddy (who’s been sleeping out there because he’s been coughing and congested too) and spent the rest of the night there. It is simply not possible to get up off the couch while cuddling with Pookie and NOT wake her up. So already my first scheduled morning quiet time was cancelled. And in fact, Girl woke up at 6:30am when Daddy left, so I was up before the butt-crack of dawn with no quiet time to show for it. *sigh*