Thanksgiving

A Martha Heart at Thanksgiving

/ 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

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!

What will they See this Thanksgiving?

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

In the gospel of Luke we find a story about 10 lepers who came to Jesus for help. They are a lot like people in our neighbors today. They knew that Jesus cared about their needs and has the ability to help. These 10 men also were ready to  immediately do anything that Jesus asked.

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Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God

Jesus had made an impression on people because they knew that He was willing to touch lepers and that He had the power to help them Because of how Jesus ministered He was continually surrounded by people longing to get close. Some wanted to touch Jesus, others hoped just to see Him and still others sat quietly listening to what He had to say. It must have looked a little bit like a hospital emergency room. People were lined up waiting to be seen. Others brought their loved ones and family to Jesus. He was constantly presented with opportunities to demonstrate the love of God.

Sadly our local church today bears a distant resemblance to the ministry of Jesus. Too often we seem to function more like an understaffed medical clinic. Sick people still show up regularly but they find few people around to help. Our nurses are out on strike for a better benefits package and our doctors are having coffee together reviewing their retirement program. When folks press their nose against the glass and look inside the office they hear the sounds of a business meeting called into session to discuss how to reduce the number of sick people allowed in! If any hospital functioned like our churches they would quickly find themselves in court. The front page of the paper would be filled with angry headlines. The 6 o’clock news would begin with a lead story demanding immediate change to how that medical facility functioned. nepal-and-india-260

So as we approach this Thanksgiving let’s consider what we can each do differently. The world has as much need as it ever did. Do our altars act more like walls to keep folks off the podium rather than a meeting place for prayer? God  is still willing to cleanse. Jesus is still ready to heal. He still welcomes the sick, the blind and the sinner. They are outside looking in our windows. What will they see this Thanksgiving?