N---again!

12/31/09 Though “N” sections in the dictionary and the phone book are relatively short compared to the other alphabetical offerings, I have to include another “N” here because it is NECESSARY. That’s it. As 2009 closes out tonight, I would be remiss if I did not remind myself (and you, dear reader) that Jesus is necessary. I have never seen that in my life the way I have this year. He has been absolutely essential and indispensable for the Liles this year as we have faced my (MAC) cancer and ensuing surgeries, Grandaddy’s numerous ICU stays followed by his funeral, Mommar’s increasing “dementia,” a miscarriage, and engagement.

A few years ago I taught Luke 10:38-42 passage both at First Evan and at Germantown Methodist and I came face to face with myself. You probably know the story of the two sisters who welcome Jesus to their home. Mary sits at His feet and listens and Martha. “distracted with all her preparations,” asks the Lord to tell Mary to help her. But God….the Lord tells her that she (Martha) is worried and bothered about too many things, when only one thing is necessary. Can you guess which sister had chosen the one good thing? It wasn’t Martha.

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.(Luke 10:38-42)

I have lived many years as a “Martha”---a “driven” doer, a caretaker and a goal setter. This past year I have had time, thanks to the cancer diagnosis, to be a Mary---a Mary in a Martha world. The world kept going as normal but it was necessary for me to take time out and spend time at the Lord’s feet. He was NECESSARY in my life.

He is still necessary. He is my life!

Distractions to Dustractions

10/15/09 …………………a way of moving from a prescribed quiet time into His continual presence to learn life’s lessons.

More insights springing from my encounter with God is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg kept coming to mind after reading yesterday’s blog. In that Luke passage (10:38-42) I saw Martha as a portrait of panic and her sister, Mary, more as a portrait of peace---a great analogy of the “dusting” going on in their lives. I assume Martha had been in a panic “dusting” the house--- perfectly acceptable in anticipation of welcoming the Lord into her home--but she didn’t leave it at that. She kept on in her busyness after He arrived even asking Him to admonish Mary, who was sitting (in peace) at His feet---in His dust.

Those Hebrews of old, closely following their favorite rabbis from place to place picked up their rabbi's dust, often being covered with the same dust as their master. The more one was with his teacher, the more he wore that dust. “Dust” those very small particles of a substance that accumulate in the form of a deposit---the more of it that is visible, the more evidence of the source. Jesus is my Rabboni---my Master Teacher. The dust of my life should reflect Him as my Source.

I think this blog is God’s way of reminding me, one who lives a distracted life, of just what to do. Ask for a little more “dust” –whether at work, in the grocery line, keeping Mommar, chasing grandboys or tossing in the middle of a sleepless night.

Instead of being distracted by wiping up dust as Martha did, may each of us wallow in His dust as Mary did.

Typos

10/14/09 As I have mentioned before, spell check thinks Dotsy is a misspelling of Ditsy which can certainly seem true if you know me well. Typos are a part of my journaling experience---that’s why I keep white out on my prayer chair table for all those handwritten “typos. ” But God…………often uses typos to teach me life lessons.

Preparing a lesson on Martha and Mary, (Luke 10:38-42) I was typing about the distractions in Martha’s life and providentially typed dustractions. (That “u” is right next to that “i”!) It became the theme of my lesson. In John Ortberg’s book, God is Closer Than You Think, there’s a chapter on sitting at Jesus’ feet. In His time, it was the custom for the Jews to follow their chosen rabbi, walking in His footsteps along those dusty roads of Bethany, Cana and Jerusalem, close enough to not only hear his message but also to observe His lifestyle. Close enough to take on His dust.
Just imagine following Jesus as he traveled, sitting as His feet and listening. Think of all the life lessons that could be garnered just by proximity to His dust!

The lesson then took on a new form---not so much as saying NO to distractions or DON’T DO THIS but a lesson more about substituting dustractions (more of Him) for the distractions of the world. (busyness)

Today, I think I will pull off my shoes and “dance” in my dusty house---pretending that it came from Him. I guess in a way it did because I chose to sit at His feet today rather than to dust my house---preferring His dustractions to the distractions of my house and what others would think if they saw my dust. May they see His “dust” instead of my dustless pride.

Join me in “dusting” every area of life with Jesus!