Being Martha-Worrying about things pt.1

 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." LUKE 10:38-42 (MSG)


Every time I read this passage in the Bible, I always chuckle becasue I see so much of my self in Martha.  Truth be told this has been much of the reason why I have been going around in a cycle because I am too busy trying to make sure everything is in order.  Is that really a flaw? I often asked God that question, arguing that He made this why so why is it a problem that I like things to go smoothly, avert unnecessary issues, and plan for things not to always go right?  Yeah, and about people who sit and do not complete the task at hand? a pet peeve of mine. UNTIL 2012, 7 1/2 years into my ministry and I found myself in the same situation, making the same complaint about people, get the same backlash from leaders, being accused of of bringing confusion, lost another set of friends and family when all I THOUGHT I was doing was following protocol.  Talk about broken, frustrated, tired and annoyed? Something had to give becasue I was not going through this again.  What am I doing wrong? Nope this time I had to look at ME.

I purchased a book titled the "Having a Mary Spirit" sequel to "Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World" years ago, and it sat collecting dust.  God heard my plea and the book "appeared". I picked it up, started reading it, then put it down.  I perceived the Spirit of the Lord telling me that I asked for Him to search me and I have been given the tools to assist in looking at the INNER-ME. I picked up the book again and within seconds, ME was being revealed in the pages of the book.

The spirit of Martha is not a issue in the world-or maybe it is-but it is of great concern in the Kingdom. This character flaw only surfaced when I joined a ministry, and then began to function in it. "We start operating in our gifts and talents---excited to be serving the Messiah---only to have our efforts morph into a full blown pity party when we don't get enough help, or we aren't appreciated..." (Excerpt from Having a Mary Spirit p. 3).  That is exactly how I was feeling in Round 2 of match. Again! The first time, I was new to the Black Church experience (having come out of Catholicism), ministry and church protocol. In my head it was very simple, we are all here to serve one God, one purpose and worship Him alone. Garments had to be in order, dance selections had to follow a season, time frames needed to be set to be fully prepared to bring a worship dance selection; everyone had to know and understand their purpose and if all of that seemed to go left then, like Martha I complained not only to people, but to God " Lord don't you care that my sister(s) have left me to do the work all by myself? Make them help, make them see that they are wrong and I am right!" In spite of the Pastor telling me to be still and let God operate, I was on a mission. God this is for you!!!! Ahhh, Patrice, Patrice, I perceived the Lord telling me, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."  It took me three years to figure out what that was.

Stay tuned for part 2 of Being Martha.

In His Name I Dance

PM