Mary, Martha, or Yentl

Have you ever seen the movie Yentl? I have, about 15 years ago. It's a musical starring Barbara Streisand and the guy from The Princess Bride, you know the one who's seeking vengeance on the six fingered man who killed his father. Well Yentl is a Jewish girl who wants to go to school to learn the Torah. But she can't. Because she's a girl. So she cuts her hair and disguises herself as a guy and heads off to school. There's a lot more that happens along the way: love, confusion, jealousy, weddings, and lots of singing. It's a musical after all. But the point is that Yentl was a young woman who took a risk and gave up everything to follow God and learn His Word. I related to that. And I still do.

Like Yentl, I love to study God's Word. The Creator of the universe wrote down His Words and I (and you) get to read them! I can't think of anything more exciting than that. Poor Yentl didn't have a place to learn, not without disguising herself at least. But what about me? Do I have a place? Sometimes I think about how different my perspective is reading the Bible as a woman rather than a man. Men are all through the Bible. They're the main heroes -- Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samson, David, Peter, Paul. Just to name a few. All men. That's okay. I like learning about those men of the Bible and I'm thankful for them. I even relate to them in some ways. And sure, there are women in the Old Testament too. Their names are forever written down in God's Holy Word and that's pretty amazing. But they were under the old covenant and it's sort of clear they had a certain place.

But Jesus came along and changed things for everyone, including women. Everything Jesus did and said was important because He's Jesus, the Son of God. But they're also important because His every word and action was establishing the new covenant, ushering in His kingdom, and gathering together His Church. Jesus didn't sin, so everything He said and did produced something good. So when Jesus took time to give living water to the woman at the well, to deliver Mary Magdalene, to rescue the woman caught in adultery, to heal the woman with the issue of blood, to honor the woman who anointed Him with perfume --  it meant something. He was giving women value, a voice, and a place in His kingdom. And when Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet to listen and learn (which just like in "Yentl", was traditionally a privilege reserved just for men), Jesus didn't tell her to leave. And not only did He not rebuke her, but He said that she had chosen the better thing over her sister, Martha. And on the day of Pentecost, women were filled with the Holy Spirit along with the men. When the Church was born, women were a part of it. And because of Jesus, people like Mary, Yentl, me, and you can sit at His feet and learn.  And we don't have to leave. We can be His disciples, too!  So here I am --  sitting at the feet of Jesus, trying to find my voice so I can share what I learn. Thanks for listening.


"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Galatians 3:28‭-‬29

My Faith Story (at least some of it so far)

Before I start posting, I'd like to share just a little bit about myself. I think that's fair -- so you know what kind of person you're listening to. I'm a woman. Which means I'm also a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. But mostly I consider myself a follower of Christ.

I grew up in the church -- in a way it felt like my second home. My dad taught Sunday school and was very knowledgeable of the Bible and active in the church. He was the kind of guy who was friends with everyone. He made sure he read us Bible stories every night and if we skipped church on Sunday we had to have "home church." He could quote almost any scripture and I knew I wanted that for myself one day. My mom was a little bit more quiet. But she took good care of all of us and made sure we always had what we needed. If someone from the church needed a meal, she was the first to make them one. And my house was where everyone wanted to be because she took care of all my friends too -- making sure she always had fresh cookies or banana pudding. One of my favorite Bible stories is the one of Dorcas (Tabitha), the woman who sewed clothes for people and Peter prayed for. I think because she reminded me of my mom. I'm sort of a mix of both of my parents now. I'm thankful for all they taught me.

The church I grew up in was one of the main Protestant denominations. Our church was active and alive and vibrant. At least that's how I perceived it. We had outreaches and rummage sales and picnics and parties. I remember being told that being a Christian would be difficult. But I didn't understand that -- to me being a Christian was easy and fun! As I headed into my teen years, it wasn't quite as easy. But still a lot of fun thanks to my youth pastor. I loved youth group! I met my best friends there. I experienced God there. We went on trips, played games, went swimming and skiing, went to the movies and concerts and amusement parks, and really had the time of our lives. What could be better than church? But that turned out to be just a season. I tried to stay involved after I graduated, but the church changed over time as many things do. Eventually I had to let it go. Admittedly, I keep that season at that church on a pedestal and I've never been able to recreate it. Maybe I'm not meant to. But it left me feeling, in a way, spiritually homeless. If I didn't belong there, where did I belong?

After high school, I managed to keep my faith -- barely. The world and everything it offers is hard to resist when you're young. But after falling into a pit (metaphorically), I found my way back. Actually, I'm pretty sure it was my parents who stood by my side and prayed for me. Then Jesus pulled me out of the pit. He rescued me, and I was changed. I had an encounter with the the God who created the universe. Jesus had become real to me, and I wanted to live for Him. I searched for a place to fit in and people who shared my faith and enthusiasm. It was difficult. I am a little free spirited, artistic, and expressive. So I found myself being the most comfortable in the charismatic circles where I felt the freedom to be me and express my new zeal for the Lord. From there I moved onto the Jewish Roots movement. Understanding the Jewishness of scripture did indeed help me understand the Bible. But ironically, what I learned from studying Israel was just how special the Church really is. And understanding the laws helped me better understand the amazing gift of grace. I don't follow the law because I have to. I follow (or at least try to) because I want to. That's the freedom Jesus died to give us!  And now, although thankful for all of them, I'm not Protestant or Charismatic or Jewish. Well maybe I'm a little of all of them. I'm just a Christian and I'm thankful for all I have learned. 

So I made my way through my young adult years with a passion for Christ. I felt His call on my life. And I had a dream in my heart to be His disciple any way I could. But I sort of put that dream on hold for another one -- to have a family.

I love being a mom. It also makes me want to hug my own mom and thank her for all she did.  Mothers make a lot of sacrifices. But it's pretty incredible that I get to be a part of something so miraculous. To think, that the finger of God created new life inside of my own body. I remember those days of being pregnant and feeling the babies move. How can something come from nothing? I know how. Because there is a Creator of life, and He graciously allows us to be a part of His plan. Being a parent helps you understand the heart of God doesn't it? In a way, you see your kids how God sees us. Kind of. Thankfully God is infinitely more patient and merciful than we are. Whenever I get tired or lose my patience I have to remind myself that these kids I'm getting frustrated with are a gift.  God has trusted me to teach them to come back to Him -- to choose Him on their own one day. No pressure. All my kids have confessed their faith and love for Jesus!  Hopefully, with His help, I'll keep them on the right path.

So presently I have fulfilled one dream. But still I feel the nagging in my heart to follow the other one. The desire never left I guess. It was always there. But it's easy to grow complacent. Recent experiences have reignited my faith. I've been reminded of the briefness of our time here on earth.  I don't want to waste the voice God has given me. The tugging at my heart and call of God is stronger than ever now. And this blog is an attempt to answer that call. It's a way for me to share my faith and be a witness. I don't know all the answers or have it all right. But I have a story. I have experiences and things I've learned. We all do. We have mountains and valleys. Times when we could feel God rescue us.  People who influenced our lives. I know I'm not the only one who has wanted to share their story. But sometimes we feel too scared, weird or embarrassed to speak up don't we? We shouldn't be. The Bible says we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies. Our stories must be pretty powerful if sharing them is part of how we overcome!  We have an enemy and I think it's clear he wants to silence us. Why? Because he's probably terrified of us uniting, walking in love, sharing our testimonies, and becoming overcomers! But that's what we are -- because Jesus has already overcome the world! Thanks for listening to my story. Until next time, be blessed -- be an overcomer!



"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
Revelation 12:11 

"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Revelation 3:21 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 

Lilies of the Field

So this is my very first post. Really, I am starting this blog for myself. Writing for me is therapeutic. But my prayer is that as I share my thoughts, someone else will be encouraged by them. I myself was encouraged by someone else to start this blog. And I got the inspiration for the name from a book I recently read by Hannah Whitall Smith. Here is an excerpt from her book, A Christian's Secret of a Happy Life...

💮🌱Consider the Lilies🌱💮

"Our job is to grow in the Lord as the lilies or babies grow, without care or anxiety. He who planted us, has made us to grow. The lilies don't toil or strain. But through the nurturing care of God, the care of the gardener, the heat of the sun, and the falling rain, it grows and buds and blossoms into the beautiful plant God meant it to be. What we all need is to 'consider the lilies of the field' and learn their secret. Grow, by all means, but grow in God's way. See to it that you are planted in grace and then let the divine Husbandman cultivate you in His own way and by His own means. Put yourself out in the sunshine of His presence and let the dew of heaven come down upon you. But the thinnest covering may serve to keep off the sunshine and dew. So the slightest barrier between your soul and Christ may cause you to dwindle and fade as a plant hidden under a bush. Keep the sky clear. Receive the blessed influences your divine Husbandman may bring to bear upon you. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Keep your face upturned to Him as the flowers do the sun. Look, and your soul will live and grow. He makes His sun to shine and His dew to fall upon us. He transforms the very things that were our greatest hindrances to be the most blessed means of our growth. And if He sends storms, or winds, or rains, or sunshine, all must be accepted at His hands with the most unwavering confidence that He, who has undertaken to cultivate us and to bring us to maturity, knows the very best way of accomplishing His end. So we must learn to step aside to let God work. We must be content to leave the cultivating, growing, training, pruning to our good Husbandman, who alone is able to manage these things. We must not be engaged in watching self, but in 'looking unto Jesus.' For those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."

I love that. If we ever wonder if God hears our prayers, if He cares - let us "consider the lilies." He knows just what we need. 

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Matthew 6:28‭-‬29 



"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,  what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"
Psalms 8:3‭-‬4