Mary or Martha?

Mary or Martha?
Luke 10:38-42

Luke's account of the story of Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha seems especially appropriate for those who lovingly host special family gatherings.  Jesus arrives at the sisters' home to find Martha donning her comfortable role of "doing," but clearly overwhelmed by the full weight of responsibility for the meal planning and preparation.  Mary, on the other hand, seems almost oblivious to Martha's plight and chooses to sit and simply "be" at the feet of her friend Jesus.

In the past, I've glibly (and maybe proudly) identified with the "being" attitude of Mary.  But today I was reminded of my Martha moments, when I complain - especially to myself - about all that I feel obligated  to accomplish singlehandedly.

Jesus said that Mary chose "the better thing" -- the position of being still and savoring His presence.  I need to make that same choice today.  How about you?

© 2014 Lana Gray

People Watching

People Watching

Some days it was a community of twenty birds,

other days only two or three.

The birds gathered in their favorite spot

atop the electrical wires overlooking the busy boulevard.

They did the usual - 
preened their feathers, perched, chirped, tweeted, 

all the while watching people 
in a hurry and asking. . .

"what wonders will they miss today?"

© 2014 Lana Gray

Sanctified Sauntering

Sanctified sauntering is

an intentional, slow and reflective pace of life

that becomes a leisurely walk through my blessings

producing clarity as to the beauty of God's creation

and overflowing gratitude.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Shallow/Deep

Conversations

Where do you like to hang out?
The shallow end of the pool or the deep end?

The shallow end is usually where
the noise is located, the incessant chatter.

The deep end can be quiet
but requires more energy to stay afloat.

Sometimes I like the shallow end with meer conversational chitchat
but today I long for a deep, heart-to-heart talk with my Friend.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Overtaken

Overtaken

(loosely based on Isaiah 35:10b The Message) 

Gladness and Joy surprised her from behind

and knocked her flat.

With the arrival of the happy pair, 

Sorrow and Sighing were forced to leave.

It was the Gospel, Forgiveness, and Redemption

who had made the internal preparations.  

© 2014 Lana Gray

Deserving Good

Entitlement

 Am I entitled to live in peace and comfort 
because I seek to be kind and loving?

To be honest, there are many days I would like to believe the answer to the above question is "yes," that I can earn God's blessings. But the truth is that God blesses us not because we are good, but because HE is good.  

Throwing out the "e" word (entitlement) allows us to receive His undeserved, abundant and gracious blessings with open and thankful hands!  

© 2014 Lana Gray

Into Eternity

Into Eternity

"I'm here for you"

"I’m on your side"

"I’ve got your back”

"I'll be with you through thick and thin"

We've probably heard some of these comforting phrases in the past from a friend or loved one.  But Jesus' faithful and steadfast commitment to His disciples continues beyond this earthly life.

His is a forever commitment, an eternal commitment.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Bridge

© 2014 Lana Gray

Build walls to forget and bridges to remember.

-Peter Reese

Goodbye and Hello

Goodbye and Hello

She lay alone in the sterile room wrapped in white sheets

while her heart dutifully beat without meaning or purpose.

Guilt held her to this life, 
combined with fantasies of “what might have been.”

She had always been afraid to live,

but now she was afraid to die.

A voice arose from the recesses of her mind saying,

“Let go.  Come to Me.  Become all that I desire you to be.”

Her body relaxed as she turned off the timer to her heart,

saying "goodbye" to this life and hello to the next.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Light

Light

The prophet Jeremiah was

lifted out of a dark pit

to see the light of day.

The paralyzed man was

lowered into 

the light of Jesus' presence.

Lifted,

lowered.

Light makes all the difference.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Lighthouse

© 2014 Lana Gray

Lighthouses blow no horns;

they only shine.

-D. L. Moody

Exalted

Let God Be Exalted
May all those who seek You be happy and rejoice in You! 
May those who love to experience Your deliverance say continually, 
"May God be praised!" Psalm 70:4

This week a friend and I discovered that we had a mutual acquaintance who was a member of her large church.  She shared how this man had served as interim choir director and transformed ordinary rehearsals into meaningful times of worship.   It was evident that she felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to sing under his leadership. Yesterday when I bumped into this choir director, I relayed the praises from my friend.  His response?  "Well, that was all about God because certainly in my own flesh that would not be said of me." Maybe if I didn't know this man, I would have been concerned about his inability to receive compliments.  But I know him, and more than that --I've witnessed his humility and steadfast joy in the midst of difficulties.  He was simply following the psalmist's declaration:  May God be praised!

© 2014 Lana Gray

Questions

Questions to Answer

Do I receive His Word with great eagerness?

Do I receive Jesus as the Word of life with great eagerness?

Do I know the Word?

Do I know the God of the Word?

© 2014 Lana Gray

Mission Possible

Mission Possible

“Wake up!” He called.

She ignored the voice.

“It’s time to wake up!”

The bed was far too comfortable,

so she muffled the sound

by yanking the comforter over her head.

Yet the Son’s rays persistently streamed

through the curtains,

even warming the bedsheets.

Finally she kicked off the covers, stretched,

and called out, “Good morning!

You’re hard to ignore!”

“Good,” He said,

“we have work to do.”

But she wasn’t so sure she
wanted to hear the assignment.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Learning

© 2014 Lana Gray

Every man is in some way my superior, 

in that I can learn from him. 

– Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Fussy

Fussy

I fussed, grumbled,
 griped, complained and protested

about the situation that day.

But then these words came to mind:
"Once again I'll go over what God has done,
lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I'll ponder all the things You've accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at Your acts." 
-Ps. 77:11-12, The Message

Thank you, God, for turning my me-centered fussiness 
into You-centered praise!

© 2014 Lana Gray

Flying High

Flying High

She dug her toes into the sand to get a good start,

then leaned back and pointed her legs to the sky.
Swinging was her favorite pastime.

She pumped higher and higher

and smiled into the open air,

feeling her hair take flight in the breeze.

When she was small, it was her mother's strength

that propelled her upward.

But today she was the person in control.

 The world was hers.

 She could fly.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Sin that Clings

Sin that Clings

. . . let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings closely. . . Heb. 12:1

My husband and I love to travel and this past summer we enjoyed an extended time in southeastern China.  We were surprised to discover that our biggest concern of the language barrier proved to be far less intimidating than the weather.  Both of us have roots in the Midwest and are familiar with summer humidity, but this region's muggy and oppressive heat was beyond anything we had experienced.

Most days we took our walks in the early morning, returning to our hotel room soaked in sweat. That's what I think of when I read the phrase in Hebrews -- "sin which clings closely."  Sticky. Uncomfortable.  And until the clothes are peeled off and a soapy shower cleanses the body, the discomfort remains.

Hopefully as believers in Jesus Christ, we become quickly aware when sin clings closely to us.  That's when repentance and the shower of God's grace can bring us back to comfort. . . the comfort of His presence. 

© 2014 Lana Gray 

Path of Life

© 2014 Lana Gray

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal treasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Mind in High Gear

High Gear

Mind in high gear,

traveling at lightning speed.

Too much to worry about,

to interpret,

to analyze.

And too little time 

to slow down,

to trust,

to rest,

to listen.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Cue Cards

Cue Cards

While parking her car

she watched a man

slowly push a grocery basket

piled high with crushed cans.

A cardboard sign appeared out of nowhere

and on it the word “Pray.”

“Bless this man’s work with dignity, God."

Later that day she observed

a mother walking her daughter from a school playground.

In an instant, some careless teenagers shoved them aside

and ran to a waiting car.

A cardboard sign arose again

and on it the word "Pray."

"God, show Yourself to this child and mother 
and continue to deliver them  from danger."  

Obey those daily cue cards 
held up by the Holy Spirit.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Show Off

Show Off

She twirled around in her new dress

And admired the image in the mirror.

Her sisters tired of the scene

And began to make fun of her body parts –

Anything to steal the confidence

Of this younger sibling.

She didn’t care.

She loved her long arms, wide smile, curly hair
And even the feel of her shiny pink chiffon dress

As she whirled and turned.

She was used to being called a show off 
and refused to let the words erase the moment. . .

the moment when she paraded the beauty of His creation.

© 2014 Lana Gray

Bloom

Bloom where you are planted.
© 2014 Lana Gray