Last Sunday, we sat in our Lamplighters\u2019 class \u2013 listening to the story of Mary of Bethany \u2013 Martha\u2019s sister, Lazarus\u2019 sister \u2013 and suddenly, it wasn\u2019t just a story anymore. It was an invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I found myself reaching for Carl\u2019s hankie. Not because something was wrong \u2013 but because something was so right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once I was on Martha\u2019s side \u2013 you know \u2013 the one who wanted to achieve perfection for her Master \u2013 with all the hospitality she could provide. I WAS her \u2013 busy to the point of weariness. But I have recanted. I have learned so much. And it\u2019s Mary that I want to be like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary had a way about her.
While others hurried — she paused.
While others served — she sat.
While others talked — she listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three times we find her in the same place — at the feet of Jesus.
And Jesus said it best: \u201cMary has chosen what is better.\u201d (Luke 10:42)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then came that unforgettable moment \u2013 another day \u2013 another time of worship beyond degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mary brought an alabaster jar of perfume — costly beyond reason. A year\u2019s wages. Not a few drops \u2013 but this jar — she broke it. Poured it all on her Lord’s feet. Gave it all to her Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can you imagine the room? Dusty feet — crowded space — and then suddenly — fragrance. Sweet. Overwhelming. Holy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, there are those \u2013 like Judas \u2013 who only saw the extravagance \u2013 while Mary saw the Holy One who was her Savior and Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worship has a way of changing the atmosphere. Some called it a waste. But Jesus called it beautiful.
And isn\u2019t that still the tension today? The world says, \u201cYou\u2019re doing too much.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cYou\u2019ve chosen the best thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Mary and her worship that brought Jesus first to her when He rose from the tomb. (John 20:11-18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, I want to be like Mary. Not distracted. Not hurried. Not measuring what I give. Just present. At His feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the greatest gift we bring isn\u2019t what\u2019s in our hands — it\u2019s our heart, poured out in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So today, let\u2019s set aside the noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May we let go of the to-do list (at least for a while) and come sit with Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, the glory of His presence. Open His Word. Whisper His name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May our lives become that fragrance — filling every room we enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not because it\u2019s required — but because He\u2019s worthy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last Sunday, we sat in our Lamplighters\u2019 class \u2013 listening to the story of Mary of Bethany \u2013 Martha\u2019s sister, Lazarus\u2019 sister \u2013 and suddenly, it wasn\u2019t just a story anymore. It was an invitation. I found myself reaching for Carl\u2019s hankie. Not because something was wrong \u2013 but because something was so right. Once…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3333,5143,27445,4864,3710,5916,40,33668,6806,542,4867],"class_list":["post-24214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bethany","tag-busy","tag-feet-of-jesus","tag-fragrance","tag-holy","tag-hospitality","tag-inspiration","tag-lazuras","tag-martha","tag-mary","tag-perfume"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24214"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24215,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24214\/revisions\/24215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}