Solving the World's Problems...and Some of Mine

I find myself doing the most ridicules things. Just like this morning. I woke just after 5:00 a.m. and lay there in my soft cocoon of clean sheets, soft comforter and cozy pillow and I tried to solve the world's problems before I got up....well maybe not the world's...but mine felt like the problems of the world...AND THEN I was so depressed all I wanted to do was burrow deeper into the bed....but then...I crawled out from under and decided it'd be best if God handled it today!

Ever have one of those days? When the stress of life gets too much? That's what happens with me. I battle in my mind over the issues that are pressing in on me when----if I'd just stop and think----I don't need to! I allow heaviness to overtake my heart, and then I'm a mess for days and by the time I finally realize that the place I need to be is at the feet of the Father...I am crumpled in a heap. I need to be wearing Mary's shoes. Not Martha's.



But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42 NIV

Mary's feet led her to the Lord. Martha's feet led her to the kitchen sink. Back and forth from the stove to the table to the sink to the fridge to the sink to the table to the cupboard to the table to the sink to the stove ..... get the picture? Now, I am not saying that there wasn't a "need to feed". There was. There is.

But can you picture Sister Mary with me? Sweating bullets because she can't find the serving platter that matches----biting her tongue almost off because of the anger she is feeling toward Mary, until she finally "voices" it just a bit....pulling out the best linen napkins for the "company", only to find one is missing! She was out of control. Just like me. Maybe even just like you sometimes?



I know my mother gets that way when a special deal is about to take place at her house. I come by it honest. You will find me days before guests are to arrive cleaning baseboards in the bathroom for crying out loud! AND in the hall...and just in case someone looks "behind" the doors...yep---I clean there too. I am not a neat freak....until we have company. Then I totally freak out. (There---I have let my guard down and showed you the "weird me".)

As a matter of fact, on Christmas Eve we were having my whole family at my house....and there I was just a couple of hours before, finally getting around to the bathroom (saved it for last on purpose) and I was cleaning the tub and tub walls as if we were serving food in it! That is a bit much! When it was all said and done I was too pooped to party! I was exhausted and ---AND---on top of that---I messed my back up again!

So, you see, me and Sister Martha have much in common. It's not that we don't love the Lord. We do ---with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirits! But we are excessive in some areas that really don't count as much. They have no "heavenly value". They will not "grow us" spiritually. Well, one point in my favor, I DO LISTEN to praise and worship music while I work. I do talk to the Lord as I'm busy. Sister Martha may have too. I'll ask if I remember when we get to heaven.

I had a discussion with my daughter just this week about her priorities. (Like I'm such a pro at prioritizing things!) God first---then family. She had her "love life" reversed. Love God first----with all your heart-soul-mind-strength---if He is the "Leader" in the marriage then it will work. If He's not, then---hmmm, well, that is something I'm not willing to try. When we love God first---then He can show us how to love that "sometimes" unlovable spouse. The unsaved spouse. The one that puts his wants-desires-activities ahead of everything else. But only with God's help can that be done. (My opinion for what it's worth!)

What am I saying in all this jumble of words? We can't solve the world's problems. Without God---I cannot solve mine. With God in charge---loving Him first....heading straight for the throne first---instead of trying my own way----we can find the peace we need in the midst of the problems of life. That is hard.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7


I am thankful that I can have the "peace" I need....anytime....anywhere.


Now, before you try and solve the world's problems....make sure you have on the "right shoes" (as in Mary's shoes).


In Him,


Angie