July 9, 2008
Busy
During
the months of May and June, I did some extensive revamping of my backyard.
Turning a desert into an oasis, building a gazebo and doing a major cleanup of
workshop and garage. I got extremely busy working morning to night to landscape
and change my backyard.
I
like the new look and now being able to enjoy being in the backyard. Overall it
was a good experience, but there were times during the past couple of months
where I felt I was distant from God. In looking back, those were almost always
the times where I was so busy I couldn’t, no make that didn’t take, much
time to be with God.
When
I was busy with “stuff”, even good stuff and neglected my time with Him, I
felt a long way from Him. He hadn’t gone anywhere, He was still very active in
my life, but I felt distant.
I
had become a victim of the Martha Syndrome
As
Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman
named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at
the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 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 10:38-42 NIV
Is
your life full of “stuff”, even good Christian “stuff”? Perhaps it’s
time to reflect and re-prioritize. If He’s truly the Lord of our lives, we
should be putting Him first.
Sometimes
we get involved in ministry activities, or on social committees or a thousand
different things. All of these things are good and important, but we’re not
necessarily the person God has called to do them all.
If
we’re doing them under our own power and without Him, it is wasted time. What
is He calling you to give up to be with Him? Have you asked Him?
Part
of putting Him first is spending time with Him in reflection, prayer and
meditating on His Word. Have you been taking the time lately to do that?
Until
next time, May your time with Him be abundant and fruitful.
God
bless.
Darrel
Mason