My God My Everything

Jesus wept. – John 11:35 John 11:35 is one of the shortest verses in the bible, but more importantly it is one of the most heart felt. This verse gave me so much comfort after being stuck in grief for many years. Yesterday we saw Martha’s reaction to Jesus’ arrival and her confession of belief. Afterwards she went to Mary and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.”  So Mary immediately went to him. When Jesus looked at Mary and saw her weeping at his feet, and all her friends who were with her grieving, he shuddered with emotion and was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion.  He…

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26 I love to picture the scene in scripture as this verse unfolds. Lazarus had died and been buried in a tomb for four days. His sisters Mary and Martha were grief stricken and mourning. I know first hand how clouded your mind is after loosing a loved one. It feels like a bad dream and so unreal. Then Jesus arrived. Martha went out to meet Him and said, “Lord,” if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But…

We’ve all heard the quote, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Often it’s said to try and understand why God would allow certain things to happen. We don’t understand nor can we see the whole purpose and outcome from our limited point of view. Some answers are going to have to wait until we meet Jesus face to face. I use to think that the first question I would ask Jesus when I meet Him would be, “Why?” But over the years I’ve come to understand that the answer to my why doesn’t really matter in the bigger plan God has for me. Over time I have seen…

How fitting that the message yesterday was on God’s timing and the bible story was about Lazarus, a man who had just died. I believe that God is preparing me for the upcoming series of Grief Share. Grief Share is a program that helps people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. The theme is, “Turning your mourning into Joy,” and I have experienced this first hand. Years ago I attended a secular grief program to help me navigate through the loss of my son Brock. The program was lead by some wonderful people and I met others in the group who have become lifelong friends. But…

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,    neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 We live in a right now society. Everthing has to be instantaneous, warp speed and faster than ever. Perhaps that’s why it is so difficult to trust in God’s timing, which is a universal truth that we, just like our friends Mary and Martha and the disciples, have to learn. When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was…

How fortunate we are to live in a time when we can communicate a need in a matter of moments. Texting, social media and cell phones are all very useful to send the word out that help is needed. The responses can also be instantaneous and bring encouragment and hope in a few seconds. Our story of Mary and Martha continues with dire news. Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word…

One thing that we know Martha did very well was offer hospitality. How many of us could handle a dozen people showing up unannounced for dinner and a sleep over? I know that I would worry about having enough food, places to sit and if my home was ready for company. But hospitality isn’t about cloth napkins folded just right or every speck of dust being swept clean. It’s about making your guests feel welcome and extending grace and love to all who enter. You can be just as hospitable serving a bologna sandwich as you can a gourmet meal. It all about your heart. Remember the words that Jesus…

The story of Mary and Martha shows us two women whom Jesus loved dearly. Both women have characteristics that we should seek to incorporate in our own lives; devotion to God and service to others. The lesson that Jesus was teaching by sharing this story in His word, is to develop a Holy Balance. He desires the devoted worship of Mary and the loving service of Martha in our lives. Both are needed to truly love and serve as Jesus did. To make this happen we need to first sit at His feet while He fills us up and then go out in the world and perform acts of loving…

Have you ever found yourself enjoying the weekend and then about mid day on Sunday you begin to think about the week ahead and the tasks that you need to perform? Those thoughts instantly bring an end to your blissful weekend. You no longer are living in the moment and your mind has moved forward at warp speed to begin processing the next day and week. I call this Sunday Syndrome. I can’t imagine how many moments I’ve missed because of Sunday Syndrome. Worry and anxiousness rob me of precious hours of peace and rest. This is the very thing that Jesus was speaking about when He said, “But seek…