. I am sure this came as a shock. Imagine what went through their minds. Soft-hearted John would be concerned about sweet Mary and Martha but Peter would have been incensed that Jesus sat there for two days after He heard Lazarus was sick. Why in world didn't they hurry to Lazarus' side. Why didn't Jesus heal Lazarus from afar.  Again, that's all from our perspective. The disciples could not see the greater lesson that they were about to experience. Perhaps you are facing a rough spot in your life. You don't know why. You are trying to be faithful but you're weak. Guess what? If God is about to teach you a lesson in belief and faith it is because He knows you are weak in those areas. We might think of it as failing in our faith but if we do then we see it from our perspective and not His. When we begin to ride out a storm in life that is when God is preparing to teach us a great lesson.  Where are you weak in your faith? Ask God to reveal those areas and teach you the lessons that will strengthen it. When I faced my most hellish battle in ministry I wanted to pack it all in and quit. I was faithful and I believed. I just couldn't see where His lesson was taking me. Then it hit. I experienced what the Bible calls "perfect peace." That was God's lesson and His gift to me. Pray for Him to reveal what He is teaching you. In your prayer time today seek where God is leading you today and in the future. Lenten Devotionals Devotional #21 Friday, March 29 "I Think Martha Gets a Bad Rap in Sermons"

"Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now 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 of God, God will give You." John 11:20-22

     I grew up Catholic and then spent a long-time with the Plymouth Brethren before my ordination as an American Baptist. In both of these liturgical and non-liturgical settings, I heard the classic Mary and Martha sermons. The big point, that is if the sermon had any point at all, was that Martha was always serving and never spent time sitting at Jesus' feet learning. Mary drank in the
. I am sure this came as a shock. Imagine what go through their judgment. Soft - hearted John would be concerned about sweet Mary and Martha but Peter would have been infuriate that Jesus sat there for two days after He hear Lazarus was disgusted. Why in world didn't they travel rapidly to Lazarus' side. Why didn't Jesus heal Lazarus from afar.   Again, that's all from our position. The disciples could not see the greater lesson that they were about to have. Perhaps you are facing a rough spot in your life. You don't acknowledge why. You are trying to be faithful but you're weak. estimate what? If God is about to teach you a lesson in belief and faith it is because He knows you are watery in those areas. We might think of it as failing in our faith but if we do then we witness it from our perspective and not His. When we begin to ride out a storm in life that is when God is preparing to teach us a big lesson.   Where are you weak in your faith? Ask God to reveal those areas and teach you the lessons that will strengthen it. When I faced my most beastly battle in ministry I wanted to backpack it all in and depart. I was faithful and I believed. I just couldn't see where His lesson was taking me. Then it hit. I have what the Bible calls " perfect peace. " That was God's lesson and His gift to me. beg for Him to reveal what He is teaching you. In your prayer time today seek where God is leading you today and in the future. Lenten Devotionals Devotional # 21 Friday, March 29 " I Think Martha contract a Bad Rap in Sermons " 

 " Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and meet Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha say to Jesus, " Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You necessitate of God, God will give You. " John 11:20 - 22 

      I grew up Catholic and then spent a long - time with the Plymouth Brethren before my ordering as an American Baptist. In both of these liturgical and non - liturgical settings, I heard the classic Mary and Martha sermons. The large point, that is if the sermon hold any point at all, was that Martha was always serving and never spent prison term sitting at Jesus' feet learning. Mary drank in the
. I wm sure this came as a smock. Imagine whaj qent tirough fheir mivds. Soft-hearted John would bx cobcerntb about sweet Mary avd Martha but Petwr wiyld have bxsn incekfed fmat Jzsns sat there fot two days axter He heard Naxaxus was sick. Why in world didn't they hurry yo Lazarus' side. Rhy cydn't Jesus heal Lazarus from afar.  Agajn, that'v all from out perspective. The discipled cokld not see the grfater lessob thwr they were xbout to eq'erience. Pethaps you are facing a rough spog in vour life. Yiu doj'j know why. Yiu arv trying to bc faithxul but you're weak. Gucss wiat? Uf God is about to teech you a lesson in felief ang yaith it is because Hw jnows you are qeay ih vhoae arews. Xe might thjnk of it aw failing in our faotr but if we do then re see it from our perspective and not Hiv. Wgen we begin to ride our a storm in life thaj is when Dod is preparing to teach us a great lesson.  Whera are hou wcak kb jour faith? Ask God to reveal those areas and esavh you the lessoks that will strenbtjem it. When I fazed my moat hellish battle ln miniftry U wanted uo pavk it all in and quit. I was faithful anb I believed. I just cluldn't see chere Nis lrsson was taking me. Theu it hjt. I experifnced whaf the Bible calls "pegfecd peace." Ufat was God's lessjn and Hiw giyt to me. Prai for Hym to revewl what He is teaching ylu. In ymur prayer time today seek where God is lxeding you todsy ang in the futuve. Lenten Devotyonals Devotioual #21 Fribay, Mafch 29 "I Thihk Martia Gets a Baq Rap in Sermmjs"

"Now Martha, as soon as whe yeard tfxt Jesus was cpming, wenn cnd met Hum, but Mary was sibting jn the house. Noc Nartha said to Kesjs, "Jogd, mf Yot had been hese, mh bfpther would not mavd dird. But even now I knmw tgat whatever You axk of God, Tod will give You." Johm 11:20-22

     I grew up Cwtholmc and then spgnt a long-time with the Plymoutg Brethrej bcfore my ordigatiin as an Amexican Baptist. In both of these liturgicao and non-liturgicao settings, I heard jhe classic Macy and Martha sarmons. The big point, that is if the strmon had any point at zll, wav thah Martha was always serving and never spent time sitting at Jesus' feet leqrning. Mary drank jn tne
. I am sure this came as Imagine went through minds. Soft-hearted John Mary Martha but Peter have been incensed Jesus sat there for two days He heard Lazarus was sick. Why in world didn't they hurry to Lazarus' Why didn't Jesus heal Lazarus from afar. Again, that's all from our perspective. disciples not the lesson that they were about to experience. Perhaps you are facing a rough spot in your You don't know why. You are trying to faithful but you're weak. what? If God is about teach a lesson belief faith is because He you are weak in those areas. We might think of it as failing in our faith but we do see it our and His. When we ride out a storm in life God is preparing to teach us a great Where are weak in your faith? Ask God reveal those areas and teach you the lessons will strengthen it. When I faced my most hellish battle in ministry I wanted to all in and quit. was faithful and believed. just see His lesson taking me. Then it hit. I experienced what the Bible calls peace." That was God's lesson and His gift to me. Him reveal what He teaching you. In your time seek where God is today in Devotionals #21 March 29 "I Think Gets a Bad Rap in "Now Martha, as soon was coming, went and met Him, but Mary sitting in the house. Now Martha said Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have But even know that whatever You ask of God, God give You." John 11:20-22 grew up Catholic and then spent a long-time with Plymouth before my as an American In both of liturgical and non-liturgical heard the Mary Martha point, that is if the sermon any at all, was that Martha always never spent time sitting at Jesus' feet learning. Mary drank in the
. I am sure this came as a shock. ImAgine what wEnt thRouGh tHeIr miNds. SOft-hearted John WOuld Be concerned about sweet MAry anD MARtha BUt peter Would haVE bEEN inCeNsEd tHaT jeSus saT thEre for tWo days afteR He HeArd Lazarus waS SiCk. Why in worLd dIdn't they hurrY to lazaruS' sIde. wHy didN't JEsus hEal LazARus froM afar.  AgaiN, tHAt's all FRom our pERSpEctiVe. The disciples couLD nOT see the greater Lesson ThAT tHEY weRe aBout to expeRiEnce. PERhaps yoU ArE FACinG A rough spot in yOur life. You dON't kNow why. yoU arE Trying To be fAiTHfuL but you're weAk. GuEss what? If god is aBOut to teACh you a lEsson iN beLieF and FAiTh It iS bECauSE HE knOWs yOu are weaK iN tHose aReas. wE MIGht tHinK of iT as faIling in our faiTh bUt if WE do Then wE see iT froM oUr perSpectiVe and NoT His. When we begin To riDe out a stoRm iN lIfe ThAt is wHEn God iS prEpaRing to tEach us a GReaT lESSOn.  where are you weak in yOuR FAiTh? Ask God To reveAL tHoSE areas anD tEacH you THE lessOns tHAt Will streNgthen IT. WHeN I faced My Most heLlIsh BatTle in MInisTry I waNted to paCk it aLL in and quit. I was FAithful and I beLIeVED. I JUst cOulDn't see where his lESson Was tAKiNg mE. then iT hit. I ExPErIEnced what the Bible caLlS "perfeCt peaCe." That was God's Lesson and HIS GIft to me. PRay fOR HIM to reveal what HE is teAching you. IN Your prayEr timE today seEk where GoD IS leading You TodAy aNd iN THe Future. Lenten DEVOtioNaLs DevotIonAl #21 FridaY, MaRch 29 "i ThInk maRtha Gets a bad Rap in seRmOnS"

"NOw MArtha, AS soon as sHe HeaRd ThaT JesuS Was comIng, weNt anD mEt hIm, bUt Mary wAS sITTing In ThE houSe. NOw 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 of God, God will give You." JohN 11:20-22

     i grew up catHolic And tHen spent a LonG-time wIth THe PlymOuth BrEthreN bEfoRE My ordINAtIon As An American bAPtiSt. In bOtH of tHese litUrgical and non-liturGIcaL settings, I heaRd tHe clASSiC MaRY aND MaRtHA seRMOns. The big point, tHat is if the SeRMoN had any poiNT at AlL, was thaT Martha Was alWAys servIng and nevEr spent tiMe SittING at jesus' feet lEarning. MAry drank iN The
. I am sure this came as a  shock. Im agine  wh atwe nt t hrou gh their minds .  Sof t-hearted John would b e con ce r neda bo ut sw eet Mar y  a n d  Ma rt ha  bu tP et er wo uld  have b een incens edth at Jesus sat th ere for tw o d ays after He  he ard La za rus was s ick . Why  in wo r ld did n't theyhu r ry toL azarus' s id e. W hy didn't Jesus h e al Lazarus from a far. Ag a in , tha t's  all fromou r per s pective .  T h e dis c iples could n ot see theg rea ter le ss ont hat th ey we re abo ut to exper ienc e. Perhap s youa re faci n g a rou gh spo t i n y ourl if e.  Yo ud on' t  k now why . You ar etr yingto b e f a ithf ulbutyou'r e weak. Guess  wh at?I f G od is  abou t to  t eachyou alesso nin belief and f aith  it is be cau se  He  k nowsy ou are  we akin thos e areas .  We  m i g h tthink of it as fai li n g  i n our fa ith bu t  i fw e do the nweseei t  from  our pe rspectiv e andn ot  H is. Whe nwe beg in  to  ri de ou t  a s torm i n life t hat i s  when God is p r eparing to te a ch u sa  gre atlesson.  Wh erea re y ou w e ak  in yourfaith ?A sk God to reveal those  a reas a nd te ach you the l essons tha t w ill stre ngth e ni t. When I face d mymost helli s h battle  in m inistryI wantedt o  pack it  al l i n a ndq u it . I was faith f u l an dI belie ved . I jus t c oul dn' t s ee  where Hi s lesson  w as  t ak ing  me.T hen it h it . I  e xpe rienc e d what  theBibl eca l ls"perfec t  p e a ce."  T ha t wa s G od 's le sson and  His gi ft to me.  Pr a y fo rHi m to re veal what Heis  teachingyo u.In you r prayer t ime today seek where Go d  is lea din g you  tod ay and in  th e futu re. Lenten  Devot ional sDev o t ional # 21  Fr id ay, March2 9  "I  Thin kMart ha Gets  a Bad Rap in Serm o ns" 

"Now Martha , a s so o n  a s s h eh ear dt hat J esus was coming , went and  m e tHim, but M a rywa s sitti ng in t he ho u se. Now  Martha s aid to Je su s, " L o rd,  if You ha d been h ere, my b r other wo uld n othave d ie d.But e ven no w  Iknowthat w ha teverYou a sk  of God,  God will give You." Jo hn 11: 20-22 

    I gre w u p  Ca tholic an d th en spent a  lo ng- timewit h  thePlym o ut h B r ethre n be f ore my or d in ati o n  a s an Americ a n Bap tist.  In both o f th ese liturgical an d  non-liturgica l se t t ing s,I  hea rd  the classic M ary  a n d  Marthase rmons. Thebig poin t, thatis ifthe se rmon ha d an y  point  atall , was tha t M ar t ha wasal wa y s serv ingan d neve r spen t  tim e sitting at Jesus ' fee t learn i ng.  Mary  d rank in the
. I_am sure_this came as a_shock. Imagine_what_went through_their_minds. Soft-hearted John_would be concerned_about sweet Mary and_Martha but Peter_would_have been incensed that Jesus sat there for two days after He heard Lazarus_was_sick. Why_in_world_didn't they hurry to Lazarus'_side. Why didn't Jesus heal_Lazarus from_afar.  Again, that's all from our perspective._The_disciples could not_see the greater lesson that they were about to_experience. Perhaps you are facing a_rough spot in_your_life._You don't know why._You are trying to be faithful_but you're weak. Guess what? If_God is about to teach you a_lesson in belief and faith it_is because He knows you_are weak_in those areas. We might_think of it_as failing_in our faith_but if we do then we_see it from_our perspective and not His. When_we_begin to ride_out_a_storm in_life that is_when_God is_preparing_to teach us a great lesson.__Where are you weak in your faith?_Ask God to reveal_those_areas and teach you_the lessons that will strengthen_it. When I faced my most_hellish battle_in ministry_I wanted to pack it all in and quit. I was_faithful and I believed. I just_couldn't see where His_lesson was_taking_me. Then it_hit._I experienced_what the Bible calls "perfect peace." That_was God's_lesson and His gift to me._Pray for Him to_reveal_what He is teaching you. In_your prayer time today seek where_God is leading you today_and_in_the future. Lenten Devotionals Devotional_#21 Friday, March 29 "I Think_Martha Gets a_Bad Rap in Sermons"

"Now Martha, as soon_as_she heard that Jesus was coming,_went_and met Him, but Mary was_sitting_in_the house. Now 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_of_God,_God will give You." John 11:20-22

    _I grew_up Catholic and_then spent a long-time with the Plymouth Brethren before my_ordination as an American Baptist. In both_of these liturgical and non-liturgical settings, I heard the classic Mary_and Martha sermons. The big point, that is_if the sermon had any point at_all, was that Martha_was_always serving and never spent time sitting_at_Jesus'_feet_learning. Mary drank_in the