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Week 1 Posting ~ answer as many of the following as you like.
Chapter 1
1. What preconceived ideas did you have about Mary and Martha before reading this book? Which woman do you relate to most – Mary or Martha? Explain your answer.
2. One woman told me, "My life is like a blender – and it’s stuck on frappe!" What inanimate object best describes how your life currently feels?
3. Finish this sentence: If I were a perfect Mary I would _______.
Chapter 2
1. The story of Mary and Martha stirs up memories of sibling rivalry for many of us. What battles with your sibling do you remember the most? What did you do to get your parents to notice you?
2. Read Luke 10:38-42. Have your ever asked Martha's question, "Lord, don't you care?" What was the situation? How did God answer your question?
9 comments:
Chapter 1
1. What preconceived ideas did you have about Mary and Martha before reading this book? Which woman do you relate to most – Mary or Martha? Explain your answer.
I am a novice reader to the Bible. I assumed both women were Christians. I was not familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. I believe I relate more to Mary. I concern myself with the house and having everything perfect when someone comes. Even as our company is visiting I am getting food or drinks for everyone and often miss out on some of the visiting.
2. One woman told me, "My life is like a blender – and it’s stuck on frappe!" What inanimate object best describes how your life currently feels?
I would describe my life as a mixer. I am constantly mixing perfection with fun therefore I miss out on some of the fun in life. This is something I have been working on since my third child was born. She is already 17!
3. Finish this sentence: If I were a perfect Mary I would _______.
If I were the perfect Mary I would wake up and read the daily scripture and devotion. I would thank God for “waking” me and allowing me to share in his word. I would also pray at every meal and pray with my husband daily. I would be more giving and take part in more volunteer activities to serve others.
1. The story of Mary and Martha stirs up memories of sibling rivalry for many of us. What battles with your sibling do you remember the most? What did you do to get your parents to notice you?
Doing the dishes! One time my sister and I fought over whose turn it was to do the dishes. We fought so loud that my dad came to the kitchen and made us hold hands while we did the dishes. That took one hand to hold and the other to help my sister clean the dishes! I really don't think I did anything to get my parents' attention. Being the 4th daughter, I usually just behaved and tried to get along or make the peace. That's what made them notice me I think.
2. Read Luke 10:38-42. Have your ever asked Martha's question, "Lord, don't you care?" What was the situation? How did God answer your question?
When I was in 5th grade my parents divorced and within a few months my dad died in a car accident. Although I probably didn't use those words, I know I questioned why God would allow that to happen to our family. In the divorce my mom made the decision to have my dad take custody of us (5 girls). This was odd since he drove truck and my mother primarily raised us. Looking back, that was God's answer to why we had to go live with dad. That gave us 2 months to get to know our dad better and share our lives with him before his passing.
1. I kinda assumed Martha was the older sister, and in charge of the household and keeping it running smoothly. I tend to be like Martha, wanting everything to be just right when company comes. I too, miss out on the conversations when I am trying to get everyones needs met, so I am trying to make that part simplier so I too can enjoy the good stuff.
2. The first inanimate object I thought of to compare my life to was a washing machine and what goes along with it. Sometimes I feel like my life is like continually doing laundry and never getting done. I want and need to smell the roses more!
3. If I were a perfect Mary I would spend time in His presence and take time to hear His voice. "Be still, and know that I am God."
Two thoughts I liked from the reading:
"Kitchen service is the result of Living room intimacy. When we put work before worship we put the cart before the horse or we end up pulling the cart ourselves."
"God provides the horsepower to pull the heaviest load. He saddles up Grace and invites us to take a ride." I would much rather ride than pull the cart, but I have to remember to get on each day. :)
1.What preconceived ideas did you have about Mary and Martha before reading this book? I only knew from sermons and bible studies that Jesus loved both women. I, too, behave like the Queen of Hearts sometimes, so to hear Jesus' rebuke of Martha when she asked "Lord, don't you care?" would have been a real blow to me. Martha'reaction (on pages 27 & 28) is a good model for us.
2. One woman told me, "My life is like a blender - and it's stuck on frappe" What inanimate object best describes how you life currently feels? My car! It's over 10 years old (that's 50 in human years), it has a gazillion miles & numerous mechanical issues, and yet it starts every morning and keeps on going.
Ch 2 Questions
1. The story of Mary and Martha stirs up memories of sibling rivalry for many of us. What battles with your siblings do you remember the most? What did you do to get your parents to notice you? I remember the fight my sister and I got into in the back of the house when Fr. Grendler was visiting my mom one afternoon - she was so furious at us that she knocked us both upside the head. I never resented that punishment, I only regretted embarrassing my mom.
2. Read Luke 10:38-42. Have you ever asked Martha's question, "Lord, don't you care?" Yes, and I still do even now. But I love the author's story on pages 23 - 25 as well as the 5 Strategies for Fighting Discouragement on pg 21, especially #5! I stubbornly get mad at God, but then remember to surrender my fear and doubt to Him (eventually), and He is faithful to forgive.
Ch1.
1. From the first time I studied Mary and Marhta, I thought of Mary as free-spirited and even irresponsible, and Martha as the worker bee sister. I know I am a Martha...caught up in the details for the sake of perfection.
2. At this point, a starting gun describes me best. I am anxious to get busy with God's work, but still seeking the "bang" that will get me going!
3. If I were the perfect Mary, I would take advantage of every opportunity to know Christ as He knows me...to be motivated by love and not by perfection.
(Just Deb, by the way!)
Ch2.
1. My sister and I could spend hours doing the dishes...bickering over who was doing more. Whether it's "first-born" syndrome, or something else, I think I tried to get attention by staying out of trouble...making sure everyone was happy, always!
2. "Lord, don't you care?" I would say I struggle the most with distraction. Growing up, I saw alot of addictive personalities, tobacco, alcohol, even card games...anything that would distract from the hard work of reality. I am learning that God's priorities and mine can be very far apart, and it takes daily concentration to put His will ahead of mine.
Thanks for inviting me to this bible study! I have been praying for something exactly like this in my life.
1. What preconceived ideas did you have about Mary and Martha before reading this book? Which woman do you relate to most – Mary or Martha? Explain your answer.
I didn't really have any preconceived ideas -- the story of Martha and Mary is one I have heard reference to but never read it before. I tend to relate to Martha more -- I'm also a person who strives for perfection in so many areas of my life and often times pay too much attention to detail and lose out on what is more important at the time and usually overall.
2. One woman told me, "My life is like a blender – and it’s stuck on frappe!" What inanimate object best describes how your life currently feels?
I had to think about this question! Originally, I decided I related to my coffee pot, but as I tried to describe it, I realized it's really a lamp that describes me. I know it gives light and yet I don't always use it. It sits right in front of me and yet the light won't come unless I turn it on. In my own day to day life, I know what I am seeking is right in front of me but I don't always take the time to stop, turn on the light, and directly see what I know I will find.
3. Finish this sentence: If I were a perfect Mary I would _______.
"If I were the perfect Mary, I would" listen to the Lord's word more. His word and the gospel are truly the moving forces in my life and yet I don't always stop and hear.
1. The story of Mary and Martha stirs up memories of sibling rivalry for many of us. What battles with your sibling do you remember the most? What did you do to get your parents to notice you?
My only sibling is my younger brother, Chris. He is 3 years younger than me and while growing up, we honestly didn't have much sibling rivalry. Because our dad was in the Air Force, we moved often -- Chris and I were best friends most of the time because we were all each other had. The instances that come to mind are that I felt my mother showed Chris much more favoritism. It later became a long-running joke between the three of us. Chris was able to do much more than I was allowed to do -- and at earlier ages. I was jealous of him often times because of it. My mother and I frequently argued when I was a teenager. We were both hard headed! :) Chris and my mother got along beautifully and would spend time together laughing and talking. I always felt like I had to compete with him for our mother's attention.
2. Read Luke 10:38-42. Have your ever asked Martha's question, "Lord, don't you care?" What was the situation? How did God answer your question?
When I was younger, I asked this question quite often! I was raised in a church and had all the regular "religious rituals" that come with many churches. I never felt close to God. At 17, I told my mother I refused to attend Sunday services anymore. At age 20 or 21, I found Jesus and was reborn and found myself consumed with wanting to know more. Yet that is when I began questioning our Lord even more! When I was 26, my father had a heart transplant. He died 7 months later. This is the incident I remember the most and asking God "why??" I believe he answered me over time -- I spent many weeks looking for answers and turned to the bible. It took me awhile but I came to realize that God cares SO much. It was a few months later when a a friend died suddenly that I realized I wasn't asking myself that question anymore. I found comfort in knowing that God IS there. Sometimes now when the thought "don't you care, Lord?" pops into my head, it (usually) leaves as quickly as it came. I do still struggle with it though.
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