Posted on February 9, 2021February 9, 2021 by Let Love Be My Motive — 1 Comment

Jesus, Take My To Do List.

Mary and Martha are two of my favorite women in the bible. (Are we allowed to have favorites?) Like you, I am sure you relate to Mary’s love for time spent in God’s presence and her vulnerability to weep at His feet during hard times. While you also carry the intentionality of Martha at times, being worried about many things. After all, everything has a time and a place! Throughout scripture, we are brought to the examples of these two women and even their brother Lazarus. They are known by Jesus as His beloved friends.

After a time of prayer this morning, I sipped on my lukewarm coffee and began the journey with the Holy Spirit to the example of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.

While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’sfeet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lordanswered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” -Luke 10:38-42 CSB

Once again, I was faced with a revealed truth of the heart of both Mary, Martha, and my own. We weren’t so different after all. There are many times that I come into the Lord’s presence without being fully present. There are dishes to do, a dog barking, the cat’s litter box needs to be changed, and when is that package coming in? Didn’t I make plans today? Where is my phone? Planner? Very quickly our heart filled with desire to meet with the one who loves us most is crowded with our to do list. Martha desired to please Jesus with a clean home and only the best food. This was the least she could do! After all, she welcomed Him in her home. However, Jesus was only after one thing. He was not after what was on the outside, but the posture of her heart.

We desire to be like Mary and forget about the to do list that never ends. So often, we end up thinking like Martha-more concerned on the less important. To Jesus, He simply loved that she invited her in. He was less concerned about the cobwebs in the corner and the never-ending crowd that chased Him. He was fully attentive to both Martha and Mary and He desired them to be the same. The truth is my friend, Jesus desires an attentive heart more than a spotless home and a checked off to do list. It is only through time spent in His presence that we can be fully satisfied.

Jesus pointed out that Martha was worried about many things. Those ‘many things’ He was not concerned about in comparison to the time that He desired to spend with Her. My friend, what area of your life is He calling you out from busyness to spend time with Him? Whatever area this is, do not feel guilty for laying it down. Time is one of the most beautiful gifts that God has given us to steward. While our heavenly Father gives us His full attention, we must be intentional about being present in His presence. The ‘many things’ of our life are not important in comparison to the time spent with Him and that is through His eyes. He desires to spend time with you. He desires you to learn more and more about His heart and even your own in the process.

Invite the Holy Spirit to lead your path, even if that means crossing off things of your to do list. I know for people like me who schedule by the hour, this can be very difficult. What I have come to find and experience is that when I put Him first, the rest is order. From the overflow of His presence, we are not given more time. What we are given is a better way to steward of the time that has been gifted.

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Let Love Be My Motive — Leave a comment

Walking With God Is Intentional

What do you go to for comfort when you’ve had a bad day? Food, your warm fuzzy blanket, a beer, a shopping spree at hobby lobby, your friends, the gym, even your spouse?

When something happens, who is the first person you want to talk to? Do you talk to Abba or do you call your spouse or best friend?

When you wake up in the morning, what is the very first thing you do? Do you talk to Abba and ask what is on his agenda? Do you spend time with him and put on your armor for the day?

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”

‭‭MATTHEW‬ ‭6:24‬ ‭AM

What is taking away from your time with God? Are you putting anything before him?

Ask Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.

I often hear how “busy” we are and how we “don’t have time” for God. Walking with Christ is intentional and choosing him and his way should be apart of our life every single day. I don’t care if you ask him what kind of bread you should get, he is just happy to spend time with you.

When I first started walking with God… he wasn’t first in my life. My whole life and everything in it was completely out of wack. I chose many things, and people, that I thought would complete me. Things I thought would help fill the void that I constantly felt. But really, when we focus on him and die to ourself, is really when we start living.

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you are trying to follow someone you don’t know, I can understand that it can be scary…

But, the only way to get to know him, just like anyone else, is by spending time with him. Once you focus on Abba, things begin to fall into place. Things you didn’t have strength to do, he gives you the strength for. He shows you what pure love is and how to love those who need it the most. He shows you the perfect plan for your life. God gives you purpose. If we could just stop, and really focus on what’s important, God, life here on earth would be so much better.

If I can just encourage you to dig a little deeper, or if you don’t know God at all to talk to him like he’s your best friend, I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Let Love Be My Motive — Leave a comment

“Planning” For The Future

I’ve come to many spots in my walk with God where I’m like, “God, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? I need to plan my future!”. You can talk to my fiance, my to do lists, have to do lists. I like to plan EVERYTHING. Down to the smallest detail. I still have no idea what career lies ahead of me. Whether or not I am going back to school, continuing care-giving, or if I will get an opportunity for a leadership position at church that will take most of my time. I don’t know where becoming a spouse of a soldier will take me, literally. I just don’t know. I’ve been in the waiting period for a while now. Waiting for God to point out exactly what my future withholds in Louisiana. Often times when I am a little off my faith game, I become anxious. I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful sisters and brothers of Christ that hold me accountable if I get a little off focus.

I was once told to just ask Abba for the next step. If he gave us the whole plan would we really understand anyways?

The more my relationship with Abba grows, the more I understand it is about trusting in his promises, even if I don’t know what is going on.

I do know that “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”. ((I hold onto this verse and Romans 8:28 very tightly!))

I know that I can make a plan but God always knows what will work out best for everyone. We can think our plan is the wonderful plan, but really it can hurt people we don’t know and for many generations to come. If we just ask God to direct our steps, he will.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

He wants what’s best for you. He is a loving father. I don’t understand a lot of the time, but I don’t think we are supposed to. His plans are far greater than we can ever imagine. It’s about trust.

I know trust doesn’t always come easy to a lot of us, myself included. We have been beat up in the fallen world we live in. However, God is far greater than anyone of this world. He loves you, he will never leave, nor forsake you.