Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Do you find yourself a little crazed this time of year or
are you calm? I have to admit that I
always feel a bit overwhelmed with all I have to accomplish and wish I were one
of those people ready for Christmas by September. (Not the decorating part though!) However, I never will be, so I have to find
the proper balance. Experience has
taught me that if I focus too much on the “to-do list”, I miss all the joy of
the family time.
As they continued their journey he entered a village where a
woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary
[who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha,
burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that
my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The
Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about
many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better
part and it will not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
Are you a Martha or Mary?
Martha focused on the need to serve and her joy was lost as she
separated herself from the “guest” and let herself get frustrated that Mary
wasn’t helping. (Sound familiar?) Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, being totally
present to Him and thus he was to her.
If we aren’t present to others, how will they see the Jesus in us and
how will we experience the Jesus in them?
This Christmas Season, let’s pray that all are able to be present in the presence of
others.
Lord, we thank you for
the gift of family and ask you to bless them; the ones you blessed us with and
the ones we have chosen. Help us to
focus on the necessary and not the unnecessary so that we don’t miss out on
time with loved ones. May the only high bar of expectation be one of opening
our hearts completely and unreservedly to You for You are the reason for the
season. Please give us the grace to always be present to your presence in and
around us. You are our Joy!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Spread the Christmas spirit.
Pass it on!
