Lilies and Sparrows

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth.” This lovely verse tends to be plastered everywhere on cute wall art to hang in your home (yes, I've got one, too) and in inspirational pictures you see on Instagram and online. "Be still and know". It sounds quaint and sweet, right? Be still and know. Well here's the thing: this girl has one heck of a time being still. The world around me and my own self inflicted schedule urges me to be everything but quiet and still. ' Be still ' , in the Strong's Concordance , is some word I can't spell but is pronounced ' raw-faw ' . "Cool, great." You say "but what does it mean?" I'm glad you asked. ' B e still ' : To sink, relax, let drop, abandon. This command from God is for me to set my self exalted priorities down so that He can be

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “ Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. ” Luke 10:38-42 T his text is so rich and relative to my life. As a wife and mother, I tend to wake up and chase the day,  serving and keeping the house running – as I see fit anyway . Laundry, dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, gardening, bills, take the garbage out.. oh I gotta go to the grocery store. It’s 5 already? I haven’t started dinner yet! You name it, it’s gotta get done! You know what I mean? Our tasks mount up

If you’re a new mother like myself you may have been dealing with “baby blues” which is another term for postpartum depression. Scary thoughts, d oubts, worries, self absorption, self denial and a new sense of responsibility are all very real. This wa s totally not MY ideal picture of motherhood but there is something DEEPER happening in this new chapter of life. Depression can take us deeper into self loathing and self focus and there is  only  antidote. It isn’t “You can do it, just try harder!”; motivational self talk. It’s not getting lost in a bowl of ice cream or candy and zoning out before a movie or social media. It isn’t going on a shopping spree. It’s also not obsessing on feelings and blaming God, the world, our husbands a nd our children for where we are in life. No, it is time to sit before the Throne of Grace like God calls us to (Hebrew 4:16). I opened my Bible to Psalm 119 and began reading aloud to myself the ancient but living words (Hebrews 4:12)