Martha

An Hour That Begins With Forever

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Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22 ESV

Sometimes it seem that life gets tangled up and more complicated than we ever imagined. A fog of difficulties and disappointments rolls in around us and make us wonder if where Jesus is.

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But Martha; who sometimes gets a bad rap because of her busyness, gives us the perfect example for our own pots and pans lifestyle. She believed that even though her brother lay in the grave and nothing was working out as she had hope even in the fog bank of her life that Jesus still knew the way. Martha still believed that as long as Jesus was there that “Even now” there was still hope. She believed in something she couldn’t see or understand.

When Jesus answered her He said something He had never told anyone; “I Am the Resurrection and the Life!” Jesus wanted her to know that she didn’t need to wait for some far off day in eternity. Instead  in His presence is an eternal now.

 

An Hour That Begins With Forever

 When a fog rolls in from the sea

On those mornings just dripping and gray

Remember Jesus said He will guide us

For forever and that means today

So call folks, to come sit at His table

Where forever Jesus sits and He waits

When an hour that begins with forever

Comes by and a brand new day breaks

An Hour That Begins With Forever  Peter Caligiuri 2020

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A Martha Heart at Thanksgiving

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There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2

With a big dinner in the works for many tomorrow I thought to re-post this article on Martha. Though we often admire Mary’s example we must not forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha was the bold one who publicly invited Jesus and all 12 of His disciples to her house for dinner! Just as Mary listened and learned from Jesus, Martha also learned in her own way.

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So if you find yourself up to your elbows in turkey on Thursday morning feeling a bit less than thankful ask God to give you a Martha heart.  Though she had begun her relationship with Jesus by complaining about her sister, she had also accepted correction opening the door for inner change. And a year later, when Jesus failed to come and heal her brother a Martha who was growing in her faith was waiting at the edge of town. This Martha who asked Him why He had allowed Lazarus to die, was also equally quick to believe when Jesus told her that He was the resurrection and the life.

After Jesus raised Lararus from the dead she did what she did best, She helped cook a gigantic thanksgiving feast! At that dinner Jesus came and sat by Lazarus and Mary came and washed His feet but instead of complaining this new Martha simply gratefully cooked the food and washed the plates. While her sister Mary lavished her love on Jesus with perfumed ointment, Martha lavished her love on the Master by putting food on His plate. In the same way that the air was filled with the fragrance of the perfume, it was also filled with the aroma of Martha’s cooking!

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Oh yes we know the story of Mary will be told forever, but we must never forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha also gave the best she had. So while you are serving a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow remember your sister Martha.  Don’t let disappointment or discouragement keep you from just giving your best and keeping your eyes on Jesus no matter where you sit at His table!

Martha’s Heart

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2

Though we often admire Mary’s example we must not forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha was the bold one who publicly invited Jesus and all 12 disciples to her house for dinner! Just as Mary listened and learned from Jesus, Martha also learned in her own way. Though she worked in the kitchen, and complained about her sister, she also accepted correction. Later when Jesus failed to come and heal her brother Martha was waiting at the edge of town to ask Him why He had allowed Lazarus to die. But she was also equally quick to believe when Jesus told her that He was the resurrection and the life. At the same dinner when Jesus came and sat by Lazarus and Mary came and washed His feet, Martha cooked the food and washed the plates. As Mary lavished her love on Jesus with the ointment, Martha lavished hers with service. As the air was filled with the fragrance of the perfume, so too the air was also filled with the aroma of Martha’s dinner. Oh yes we know the story of Mary will be told forever, but we must never forget that Jesus also loved Martha. Martha gave the best she had. If you are a Martha don’t be ashamed, just give your best and learn like she did to focus your eyes on Jesus and serve Him wherever you are!

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