Burdened By Blessings

Crisp yellow leaves scratched and crunched the surface of the concrete driveway. Buried underneath were the pudgy toes of my 11 month old son. In an effort to kill time, we found ourselves outside waiting for my mother to take us back to meet my husband in Lampasas. It had been four days since I felt the comfort of my own bed, put away my own dishes, or chased children within walls of my half-finished home in the country. So very tired of being away, I was itching to get back.

In spite of my mood, there was much gratitude for the leaves surrounding the driveway of my sister’s house. They kept my very restless boy fascinated, with his hands and feet occupied. We crumbled dead leaves, tossed them in the air, banged on tree trunks with twigs, and pretended to eat them… numerous times. A sweet end to a very tiring trip. 

My thoughts turned to earlier in the morning when my sister stormed into the house disgruntled, “UGH. All these stupid leaves! They’re everywhere!” She even told me that her husband was considering buying a contraption that would take care of the problem. The abundance of leaves had now covered their roof, carport, front and back yard. 

Problem? Too many leaves? I thought. How could something so picturesque bother someone so much? I think it looks gorgeous out here! 

Though I understood the problem they might create, I couldn’t understand the frustration. 

Yet, isn’t it so, church?

Aren’t we often bothered by our blessings? Burdened by abundance? If all that had been given by the Lord were laid out before us, would we be grateful, or would we find fault?  

The mind is a battlefield where Satan stays camped out right behind enemy lines. He’d like nothing more than to have us believe that everything given is a burden in disguise. 

We have way too much stuff in this house! I can never find anything!

All these bills are piling up. I can’t keep up with these payments!

I signed up to help but I’ve overcommitted myself with all of these things going on. 

These kids... Lord, help me... I need a break. 

If I have to deal with my family for one more thanksgiving, I’m not sure I’ll come out alive. 

What if all of this isn’t so bad? What if we spoke it into being something completely different? What if instead we said, “Thank You, Lord for these opportunities to serve you. To grow these beautiful children you’ve bestowed to me. Thank you for the warmth of a heater and the cool breeze of my AC. For the memories made in this house filled with things I can’t seem to part with. Thank you for where I come from, so that I can appreciate where I’m going. You are a God who has blessed me beyond measure.” 

In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul writes, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I must confess that while waiting for my trip to finally end, I had forgotten the abundance of love poured out onto me from my Father. I had neglected to find praise-worthy moments because I was so busy thinking that all of these people and circumstances were getting in the way of an otherwise successful visit. 

The truth is- My son had become ill overnight, and I nursed him back to health with the help of family members who had great suggestions! Instead, I had focused on how badly I wanted to find a way back home. My mother held a cook-out at her home so that I could see my grandparents, and all I thought about was how noisy it was in the house. I was blessed with the opportunity to attend my nephew’s birthday party, but my main concern was that I couldn’t drive there myself and that I had to be towed around by my sister who is always late. If we were even 5-10 minutes behind, I would mutter “ugh. Seriously?” I’m sure I wasn’t discreet about it either. 

God had given me an abundance!  How did I not see that?! Through free rides, free food, people who adored children, and patient family members who put up with my passive aggressive murmurs. Yet, I couldn’t see the leaves through the mess. My eyes couldn’t see the blessing anymore than my sister could embrace the breath-taking fall foliage in her driveway. I’m so embarrassed to say all of this, but I find hope in God’s redeeming grace. We’ve all been there. And there’s hope for all of us! 

During the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holiday season, we’ll be faced with times like this. I’m comforted by the fact that God loved me enough to open my eyes to these recent mistakes. I’m comforted that He loves me enough to help me recall the goodness He’s bestowed upon me. May He do the same for you. 

The next time we find ourselves burdened by our blessings, I pray we RISE to greet abundance with thanksgiving and praise! May we have eyes to see that which God has given us! May we utilize it to the fullest extent so that His name would be made great! 

Go Forth, Be Blessed, and See Good Things, 

Kari 

Prayer 

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.- Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT  

My friend Melissa Reasoner and I have both walked through a devotional associated with a book called Overwhelmed by My Blessings by Robin Meadows. It’s worth a read for women and men alike. You can find it at the link here: https://www.amazon.com/Overwhelmed-My-Blessings-Encouragement-Moms/dp/1721769927 

The Claustrophobic Christian- Sit or Serve?

When I read the story of Mary and Martha, one thing always used to come to mind. “God, I wish I could lay on the floor all day. Wouldn’t that be nice?” In my cynicism, I'd think “How unrealistic.”

I’ve been studying this passage of scripture now for about three weeks. It’s a short passage but it’s packed with so much. I’m sure you’ve heard it preached about from time to time or have come across some devotional regarding it. I think these 4 verses bring up a lot of emotions for the average woman. I think we’ve all been in Martha’s shoes or longed to be more like Mary. The standing challenge I’ve accepted for my life recently has been to look at scripture not with eyes to see what it has for me, instead- with eyes to see what it shows me about God. In this case, the person of Jesus. What does this passage of scripture show me about His character? How can it help me to better understand Him? 

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42 New Living Translation 

The language of this text varies depending on which translation you read. 

“Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” The Passion Translation

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Or only one. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” English Standard Version 

“Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” The Message 

Jesus was only in this house for a short period of time. I’m sure He was aware of the effort made to welcome him and facilitate an atmosphere where He could continue His ministry. Why didn’t He appreciate Martha for allowing that? Why didn’t He affirm her dedication to His cause? What did He see that I might not be seeing in this situation? Sure, she tattled on her sister- but we’ve all been there. Why does Jesus hold Mary’s choice as more important and how can this help me to understand Him more in my own life?

In the English Standard Version, shown above, Jesus says of Mary “She is undistracted and I won’t take this privilege away from her.”

Well of course she’s not distracted! Someone else is doing all of the work! Again, what am I missing? Sometimes you can read the same passage over and over again but still miss seeing God in all of it. Maybe we’re reading it to find justification for ourselves. Maybe we’re reading it wishing the story ended differently. 

I unapologetically have so much empathy for Martha. She’s in a tight spot. I used to think the tight spot was “to sit or to serve” but I’m realizing it’s more than that. For Martha, the tight spot becomes, “how can I serve God and NOT think about how it affects me?” She’s trying to serve her Master and play hostess, put a smile on, and all she feels is bitterness and anger. She's designed to be a server and Jesus says sitting is better? She’s left feeling misunderstood and ashamed. I’m sure that’s not where she thought she’d end up when she invited the Master into her living room. I feel for Martha because so often, I am her. 

In this passage we see how Jesus reads the temperature of the room and invites us to draw near when we’re stressed or overwhelmed. He is quick to remind us where our priorities should be. Notice He doesn’t say “Martha, Martha, come sit with us.” He knows Martha’s role as the “do-er”, not the “sitter”- but He wants her to prioritize Him as the focus of her serving. Her serving had become about Mary. Every dish she washed or plate she served, she was probably thinking “ugh. I shouldn’t be doing all of this. She should be helping me.” Maybe even to the point of mocking her sister in her head “oh, Jesus. You’re the greatest. I’m just so happy you’re here. Can I sit here? Wow, you’re amazing. Blah blah blah.”

Comparison is the thief of joy. Comparison comes from doubting that what I’m doing or what I have is enough. Doubt comes from Satan, so Satan is the thief of our joy. He wants nothing more than to plant seeds of bitterness and doubt in our hearts when we are serving others. He undoubtedly wants our comparison to rob us of relationships and most importantly, the awareness of the presence of God in our midst. 

Friends, Jesus knows our heart. Not only that- but Jesus knows the heart of those we’re frustrated with. Perhaps if Mary had an attitude of refusal to help, Jesus would have called her out on it. He doesn’t though. His reprimand falls to Martha. Helping us to preserve His presence over all other things is His primary concern. Over serving, even! He’s basically saying to Martha “I am the most important thing in the room.” Not the people I brought with me, not even the lessons I am teaching. It’s me. In her service of Him, she neglected to acknowledge the importance of His presence to others and the varying effects it has on them. 

Jesus calls us out all of the time, doesn’t He? We feel the Holy Spirit calling us to stop being grumpy or bitter in our serving. Jesus uses the Holy Spirit to say “who is this about? Let’s make sure it’s about me. Because when it’s about me, You're never in it alone.” 

This week, Colette and I planned, executed, and hosted a Halloween party in our front yard. I must confess that parties are usually a stressful time for me. The planning is fun, but the days leading up can drive me to tears with the amount of pressure I put on myself to perform and entertain. Thank God for this passage of scripture. It was the least stressful party I’ve probably ever planned. Any time I started to feel overwhelmed, I’d think back to this passage and invite Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to comfort and redirect my heart. 

Jesus was most certainly present in the laughter of the children, the smudges on the cupcakes, and the joy in my heart was as abundant as the peace I felt having friends over. Every dish I washed and piece of trash I picked up the evening after? I didn’t do it alone. Jesus was there with me as we thought “this is the better thing.” Friends, you don’t have to be laying on the floor to be near God. The better thing is knowing Him and learning from Him in all things. Seeking His compassion and His character in all things. 

When faced with that tight spot “do I sit or do I serve?” Make room for both in your heart. Never let His presence leave you. In your chaos and your quiet. In your coming and your going. May He be ever with you. All the affirmation you’ll ever need is that you invited Him into your home and He came. 

*Join us next week over on my podcast where I'll be chatting with Ashton Martinez from Stacks of Grace and Kyilye Bradley with Spoonflour Cookie Co. 

We'll be discussing the problems we face in trying to find ways to embrace God's presence while balancing a busy schedule! In our discussion, we'll dive even deeper into this passage about Mary and Martha. You won't want to miss it! If you subscribe to the podcast on spotify, it will alert you when the podcast airs Monday! Check out Episode 1 and 2 of this series while you're there:)