I have to begin by confessing that I am still far more prone to being like Martha than like Mary. I’m very happy “doing” and listening to Him as I do.
Even after the long season I spent in Destiny Church’s Prayer Room being a Mary, I find my Martha tendencies raring to go and hovering just below the surface. I know I’m not alone in this. Now I don’t know about you, but He’s been showing me one place He wants me to get better: the Sabbath.
The Father has really put it on my heart that I need to be truly observing the Sabbath (Shabbat). I stopped doing what *I* considered work on the Sabbath a while ago (e.g. dyeing, sewing, etc). But I love interacting with you all so much that for a long while I have justified periodic contact with some of you on the Sabbath – after all, I’m doing His work, right? And frankly, most of the time talking to you guys doesn’t feel like work!
That said I can’t deny the increasing conviction I’ve come under that I truly have to draw a firm line in the sand and honor Him by completely setting aside the Sabbath for Him and not compromising on it.
What this means is from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday each week I will not be looking at or responding to any emails sent to the ministry or returning or receiving calls regarding the ministry during this time. I trust that you all will understand and know that this is in NO way because I don’t feel you are important, it’s that I know we are all trying to make Him the most important in each of our lives.
I will respond to any contact as quickly after the Sabbath as I can. If you know you need to get in touch with me and it’s time sensitive, please try to email it enough in advance that I will have time to respond. If you send an email just before Sabbath begins and for some reason I’m not able to respond to it before sundown, know that I will as soon as possible Saturday evening or on Sunday.
Thank you all for understanding and for your support of my continuous pursuit to be more like Mary 😉
oh Meghan, I pray that you will be completely blessed, refreshed and filled with joy and wonder. These are the fruits from resting and dedicating time only to Him.
I agree with Karen!
Blessings to you and your house as you honor Abba Father and His day of rest.
Rest in Him and be refreshed!
Love ya! 🙂
I agree with you totally Meghan, the Martha in me still wants to rise up. Praying God’s continued blessings on you.
God bless you Meghan for seeking Him and His ways. And I agree with Karen and Elaine, the Lord bless you abundantly.
Wish I could fully observe Shabbat. I know we are not required to keep it lest we face being kicked out of His reign, but I would like to do it. I go out and eat on Shabbat, but do not work. I am not going to be able to truly keep a shabbat unless I move out. This is no kidding. As long as I live where I am at I will be pressured to do things or be called stupid or messed up if I try to keep it. I do not have a job at the moment and I feel like at the moment a job would conflict with G-d’s work which is more important than anything.
@Tabitha – as you know I’m praying for your situation.
And to clarify, we are not under the penalty for not observing Shabbat (no one is getting stoned for not doing it – Jesus/Yeshua paid that price already), but observing Sabbath is not optional. They’re the 10 Commandments, not the 10 Suggestions 😉
I know you’re doing your best and I know He honors that.
I commend you for being open and honest (which means vulnerable also) in this situation. I agree with your stand on this issue and will support you in it. I pray you receive many blessings because of your obedience and also your extra time/rest with God.
I too was very much a Martha and there are times I still feel her lurking under the surface. I have now become much more like a Mary and I enjoy the rest so much more than the constant working and striving.
I pray blessings and a guard on your heart for being willing to not only pursue and be obedient to His leading, but willing to be vulnerable to what could be spoken over or against you as well when sharing your walk and heart.
I love to be a hearer and a doer, to listen to the word while I work, or an excellent Bethel teaching. …I take A sabbath day of rest where I spend time with Him and my family and don’t work! That’s hard for me. I enjoy doing small work and crafts with my hands even as I watch a movie with my family, and must force my fidgety self to rest.
My first experience with the Sabbath is when I was in Israel in February on 2009. It was such a change from the USA. They believe over there in the Sabbath…and no work is done. Have a nice day of rest!
love, love, love this Meghan. Draw that line and stand firm. He is doing this re-defining, re-adjusting and re-establishing in many of our lives. It’s been a process over the more resent couple of years for my husband and I. Some times we have to just leave the house, get away and totally remove ourselves from the hustle and bustle of busy activities to be like Mary. And, each time it is sooooo worth it, so refreshing, invigorating, inspiring, and at times humbling. . . but always worth it. I love and appreciate all you do. (even this)
Amen judy
yes, this is good and thank you for showing us right path.
Shabbat Shalom!
I have to be honest, I have always been more of a Mary than a Martha, to the point of lazy almost. I love to interact with people. We were always the first to get there and the last to leave because we wanted to be around people and visit so much. I have been so impressed with the Dyed4you ministry, it has ‘inspired’ (for lack of a better word) me to become a better Martha. I was enjoying the swing flag video yet again last night and although I’ve told God I’ll be patient I also was just reminding him that I wanted a pair. He said “it will be your reward”, I said “reward for what” and he responded “for being faithful”. If that isn’t enough to get me motivated I don’t know what is! I had a hard time with Shabbat at first but over the years our synagogue has developed a scheduled so that we have activities from 10 am until after 7pm on Saturday. We have Hebrew lessons, torah study, new testament scriptures and kids classes, concluding with havdalah (which is the close of Shabbat). I would be lost without my Sabbath, if I miss a week for any reason it throws off my whole week. Thank you Meghan, for your faithfulness. I am praying for you and your ministries. God Bless and Shabbat Shalom!
p.s. my 11 month old is sick and I stayed home this morning that’s why I responded on Shabbat, in case anybody was wondering.
he well honor those who honor him i have experinst great joy an love from the father just by doing what he has told us to do its hard at frist but ones you get your flesh insamishon it becomes love honor joy peace goodness all that he wonted it to be this is how we grow more intmint with are abba on his shABBAt abba is in shabbat 🙂 an he loves it when we honor are father in heaven who is in are harts so with that said cant what to hear about your blessings of how the father honors an bless you love an shalom 🙂
We all understand Meghan may the Lord bless you as you keep his shabbat, and Shalom.