As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But 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!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”- Luke 10:38-42

I always seem to be brought to this scripture during holidays, (traditions of men, created to honor days, people and things).. I for one love history and studing out where they origniated from and why we celebrate specific things; however my main concern is about the relationship status and concern for others that they create.

I shared the other day how that my husband works every single holiday, and he has since the day I met him. I’m pretty sure it’s never going to change, so I just go with it.  He and his father would always work the holidays as they called it their bonding time, (you really don’t want to catch any of their bonding conversations though). 😉

My husbands would say, work is priority and that this is truly his way of bonding; however those of us that reconginze the discrete distractions of the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy us through keeping us busy… realize this is called  the “Martha complex”, one who operates out of a ‘works mentality’ which stems from a performance driven background, opposite of the “Mary’s complex” which opperates from a ‘relationship status.’  Don’t get me wrong work has its place but should never be postionsoned above relationship. As Mary positions herself at the feet of Jesus, gazing up into His loving eyes as He speaks marvelous stories for her ears to hear, and her heart to listen.. this right here is MY THANKSLOVING!  As  I read God’s word and meditate it upon my heart, I will also cook me some veggie stuffed squash, and throw a Stuffed Tofurkey in the oven for a few hours for the hubby to eat later after he returns from his work day. MY girls will join later too and we will tease dad about his work day and who stepped in the paint this year.. 😉

Ironically in (Gods little voice) this is what I read last night before bed, “Some people are too much like Martha, who was hyperactive and appeared to value work more than she should have. Mary, on the other hand, knew to lay her work aside and spend time with Jesus. We need well balanced lives, spirutual as well as our natural.” -(Joyce Myers, Seize the Day.)

I think the most valuable lesson to be learned with any day of the year is its history and how it came to be, why we do what we do, and if it’s even our belief or that of someone else.  Many people go through life not even knowing what they believe or why they truly do what they do.  I don’t want anyone to believe in God or Christ simply because they heard of them in church or from their Christian families, but God truly wants us to experience HIM! This is the moment of Change and knowing, To know to know to know! That is history made upon the heart! This is the moment of knowing the difference between reasoning and discerning. “A Spiritual man doesn’t reason, he discerns, and there is a big difference.” -(Joyce Myers 166)

Just like I don’t believe,  follow or do anything before I’ve studied it out and discerned it properly for myself. Hence why I studied the bible for myself, health for myself, and I home school my children – mainly because as I grow in spirit I lose things of the world. God has simply brought me into a whole different position – that of being more active in my role as a wife, mother, teacher, minister & health practitioner. He’s freed  me from any manipulation or brainwashing in any way, shape of form; this is all the history of my soul being cleansed.. that is my discernment today, haha.. God is cleaing out the innards of this Turkey, ugh those are not vegan words, (laugh out loud) but you get my point. 😉

As I wrap up this blog in a thought to ponder moment, stop for a moment, and just sit and be still- say a quiet prayer with a thankful heart and KNOW to KNOW to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is IN LOVE WITH YOU! Now that is something to be THANKFUL FOR! ❤

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” -Psalm 46:10

Happy Thanksloving from our home to yours! ❤ The Bartkowiak Clan! xo