One Thing

The enemy uses BUSY-ness to make us ineffective for the kingdom. How many times have I been busy in the name of the Lord, and totally ineffective?
One thing, Christ always did, was point to the Father. Always, Always, He was about the Father’s business. Not anything else. He hoped to please His Father. He loved Him that much. I’ve always thought by serving God through the church, and various other activities, I would be pleasing the Father. Yet, if I am not very careful, I can be pulled into an idol. I could spend more time serving, than worshipping. I could spend more time fellowshipping, than praying. I could spend more time fixing my hair and getting ready for church, than having a relationship with the King. I could spend more time driving to the church, than praising My God. I could spend more time eating donuts and drinking coffee, than learning. I could spend more time griping about someone’s outfit; than listening to His Word. Do the things I do, speak or even think, at church or elsewhere always point to the FATHER? Ashamedly, I would have to answer “no.”

The only time I know without a doubt that I am doing the “One thing” is when I’m sitting at my Daddy’s feet. When I’m doing my Bible study. When I’m praising and worshipping my Lord and Savior. When I’m teaching His Word. Most other times, it’s about me. In Luke 10:38-42, 38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I would like to point out some things that God put in my heart about these verses that you may have missed before……First, we see Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet hearing His words. My Strong’s dictionary says “Hear” is to understand and give audience to. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and gave audience to Him. She understood Him. How often do we hear but we don’t understand? Do you come before Him to sit at His feet, to understand Him, to give audience to Him??? To really HEAR Him?

The Bible says her sister Martha was encumbered(KJV) with much serving. Encumbered is to “drag all around” or “distracted.” What keeps you encumbered? The fight with the kids on the way to church? The bills on the kitchen counter? The deadline at work you were supposed to finish last night? The laundry piled up? The things you need to do when you leave? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been encumbered with much serving. I have been encumbered with the fight with the kids. I have walked in the door on Sunday morning and dragged it around with me and been distracted with it. Distracted enough to not even let God in.

Distracted enough to do little else but complain, which is exactly what Martha did. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” And Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only ONE THING is needed.” “Natalie, Natalie, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only ONE THING is needed.”

ONE THING means “primary”. Needed means “required, requirement, demanded.” It’s as if Christ is saying, “Natalie you have only one primary requirement. Only one thing I demand of you.” Mary chose the better part and it will not be taken away from her.
Do you see what He is saying? It was her choice!! Mary CHOSE the better part(portion or share!) and because she did, it won’t be taken away from her. Mary CHOSE to get her PORTION or SHARE of Christ and he certainly wasn’t going to take it away from.
Sometimes we get so caught up in doing, we lose site of the better part. We forget to stop and CHOOSE to get our Portion or Share of Christ!! In Psalm 119:57-58 “You are my portion, O Lord, I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise..”

I have a tendency to become like Martha. I have to make a conscience choice, to be prayed up when I walk in the door. To choose to do my quiet time. To choose the better part. To choose to read my Bible. To choose to lay down the things I’m encumbered with and pick up the garment of praise. If I mess up my priorities. Then my portion is taken away. My portion is my joy and freedom in the Lord to love and serve Him as He wishes not as I wish. Because when I sit at His feet, when I focus on Him, when I do everything around Him, it doesn’t matter what happens.

But when I choose the wrong way, when I become encumbered and then drag it around with me; I drag myself down. I drag others down. And I lose my portion of joy. If I seek His face with all my heart and follow his precepts, by doing the ONE THING, then the enemy won’t be able to steal my joy.
I will be doing the ONE THING. Loving Him with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Listening to His Word, obeying and keeping Him first and not turning things of this world into idols and distractions that take away from the better part. He doesn’t force us. It’s our choice. Will we choose the better part or continue to be encumbered?? When is the last time you sat at your Daddy’s feet and rightfully chose to drink in your portion? To lay your head in his lap? Are you worried and troubled about many things? Right now, He is saying to you, only one thing is needed. How can we be true servants of Christ, if we forget the One Thing?
“Be still and KNOW that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Is there an area in your life He is telling you to be still and know that He is God?

"One Thing"

Only one thing is needed
Don’t you know by now?
You won’t be defeated
I will show you how.

Just sit at my feet
And lay your head in my lap.
And there we will meet
Don’t let anything distract.

Don’t be upset and don’t you worry
Just be still and know!
Don’t be too busy or in a hurry
Just let our time together grow.

And soon you will understand
The ONE THING is life’s best.
You are my beloved friend
And I want to give you rest.

So hush my child,
Just come to me.
I’m waiting my child
To set you free.

I haven’t moved
I’m still waiting on you.
Haven’t I proved,
I have nothing but the best in store for you?

Choose what is better
It will not be taken away!
Choose what is better
Your heart with mine to stay! By Natalie Lowe 3-9-09


Luke 10:41-42 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

“_____________________, ______________________”the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed!!!

www.natalielowe.blogspot.com

New Life

Some good friends had a precious little baby born into this world yesterday. A little early, but doing fabulous. (I believe because of the power of prayer!) But all I kept thinking of was "new life" and how precious it is. Don't even get me started on the abortion issue as those of us who are friends with this family know how important it has been to keep this baby in the womb as long as possible so that he would have a chance at life. But that's not really the topic for these thoughts. A new, unused, perfect life born yesterday. What I started thinking about was that we can have the privilege of having that new life in Christ. We can be made new. A totally new, unused future made new by the blood of Jesus Christ. Just like this perfect little baby. It's so easy, yet we complicate it. We make it hard. But it's only a matter of choice, and Jesus says yes, "you are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come." 2 Cor. 5:17. Aww... there is nothing more precious than a newborn baby. And I believe, there is nothing more precious to God than one person becoming a new creation or newborn baby in Him. Thank you baby Bryson, for reminding me of this awesome gift.

www.natalielowe.blogspot.com

new job

Several have asked about my job, so I thought I would give an update. I am at Catholic Family Services and am teaching ESL(English as a Second Language) to incoming refugees. Most speak no English whatsoever. New country, new rules, new life, new everything. I will also be helping with a program called "Student Impact" as a liaison between the schools and refugees to help them with immunizations and any other teacher/school issues that might arise. Most of the refugees are from Burma, Iran, Iraq, Somalia. All that I have met are very eager to learn and try really hard. It has been rather hilarious. Try explaining "embarrass" to someone who doesn't understand a word you say.

There are over 100 Adult students enrolled and new ones every day. I can't tell you how excited I am that God has given me this opportunity. I have always felt called to teach and am so grateful that He is allowing me to continue with my passion. I pray that He will use me to show the love of Christ as I get to know them better. I understand way better now how Kyle and Shasta must feel like "fish out of water" in language school. I can't really "preach" the message to them, so I just pray I will shine with His love, so they will ask. Please pray as well. We are already building a great rapport and it's amazing that a smile, a bow, a thank you, a hug mean the same thing across cultures.

All in all, the happiest thing for me is when I see the "dawn of understanding" in their cute faces. Ahh, the light bulb goes on. That makes any teacher so happy. It's so foreign and strange. I wonder if that's how God feels about us? He must really be happy when we "get it." When the "dawn of understanding" comes over us. He tries and tries to teach us this foreign language of trying to live a life in Him. You know what, the Bible should be our default. It should be our native language. We who are in Him are just aliens in a foreign land. I have a new understanding of that concept.

Eph. 2:18-20 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
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I love the power of prayer...

I love that when our people have a need, they feel like they can come to our church and friends to pray; and believe that they WILL and ARE praying. I have seen it over an over again at GOW and with my many other friends. That the first thing we do in a crisis is call on our "forever family" to hit their knees. And we know, without a doubt, they will. I love that God must be smiling, knowing that we come to Him in unison together in crisis, in thanksgiving, in sorrow, hurt, in joy of a wedding or thanksgiving over a healing. He is our first and only choice of refuge and haven; and He allows us to come together in unison. Thank you friends for being that kind of friends! I can't tell you the peace it gives me!
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer
Acts 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Rev. 8:4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.

Thank you Lord, for giving us the privilege of prayer!
www.natalielowe.blogspot.com

New Covenant

I've written about "new" and "resolved" and now for part 3--New Covenant. Covenants are so much deeper than a resolution. They require promise and a pledge. God has never broken covenant. Because of His great love for us, He chose to become the Passover sacrificial lamb.
In Him, not only can we have a NEW year. (where His compassion's are NEW every morning) Lam 3:22-23
We also have these promises!

• We can have a NEW birth-1 Peter 1:3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
• We are a NEW Creation- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
• We can put on a NEW attitude and a NEW self-Eph 4:23-24to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
• All of this leads to a NEW life-Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
• One day, we will have a NEW Heaven and a NEW Earth-2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
• A NEW Name known only to you and Him-Rev 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
• Sing a New Song-Rev 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne
• All Things New-Rev 21:4-6 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Knowing what you know now, how will your resolutions be different? Should they be covenants instead? How will 2009 be NEW for you?
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