Mary and Martha

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

"God has intended this world to be Mary first, then Martha. God built this world to be a Mary world with Martha moments. Now, in Genesis 3, when sin enters the world and our work becomes cursed and laborious toil, it turned into a Martha world in which we have to fight for Mary moments." -Mark Driscoll

Yesterday I listened to a sermon about Jesus' good friends Mary and Martha. Martha was the kind of women who was always making to do lists, cleaning, and thinking about what needed to be done next. Mary on the other hand was more concerned about getting her time with Jesus first. I am convicted of having neither Mary or Martha moments in my life. I allow precious time to slip away, and I know that God is just begging me to put my priorities in order. Begin with Mary and then go on to Martha. I need to make sure that my time with God comes first and then I get things accomplished. God give me grace and discipline to see this through.

His Daughter,

Hannah Renee'

I Pick Ruth!

This week I have been reading and studying the book of Ruth for a girls Bible study a church. Yesterday I listened to a sermon on the first two chapters by Mark Driscoll and he was talking about how we need to make decisions about our attitude, we can either be an Orpah, Naomi, or a Ruth. We can try the whole christianity thing until it gets hard and then leave like Orpah. We can be bitter with God such as Naomi. (sidenote: What I thought was a cool perspective was that he said if you are going to be bitter with God at least be honest like Naomi was. Don't walk into church and plaster a fake smile on your face and pretend everything is totally cool when you really want to scream. Be honest with your brothers and sisters in Christ about where you are in your walk with God.) Or we could be like Ruth, unsure of our future and scared but willing to trust fully in our King.

I choose Ruth! Like Ruth we don't have much money right now, and I'm not sure how we will pay the bills or get enough food. In terms of family its pretty much me and my mom, and there is no man to provide. Plus my mom and I have only lived here a year, we don't have the neighbors next door that we've known forever and are best friends with. But like Ruth I will choose God no matter what! I will make a choice day in and day out to be faithful and give thanks to the Lord for making me strong through these trials and providing what he does. I will NOT allow Satan to mess with me. I am God's kid and I know the truth. Like Ruth, I choose God and I choose to have joy in all circumstances. Who knows, maybe I will even get a Boaz through all of this! haha :) :)

His Daughter,

Hannah Renee'

I Will Praise You In This Storm

(Just to keep everything up to date I finished reading Matthew chapter 21 today)

This past summer was amazing, God blessed me in so many ways; it blew my mind. I had a feeling that trials were sure to come, and they have indeed. Mostly its been stress, studying, applying for colleges, figuring out how to pay for college, family drama, worrying that we won't be able to pay the bills, etc. :/ It's astonishing how quickly I forget the Lord's blessings once the next problem occurs. God is so so good and has shown up in every trial in the past and I need to remember that He will guide me and be present during this current storm that I am facing. I just have to live day by day on my knees crying out and praising the Lord with everything in me.

And I'll praise you in this storm

and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

(I Will Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns)

His Daughter,

Hannah Renee'

He Is the Potter, I Am the Clay

Lately I have been really convicted about not growing in my faith as much as should be. I'm really good about taking time out of the day to pray, worship, or journal; but I really struggle with reading and studying my Bible on a daily basis. I haven't even read the entire thing, which is really sad considering I've grown up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at age five. You would think that I would have read it in twelve years?! My goal is to finish reading the Gospels in one month (I am already 15 chpts into Matthew), which means I need to read about three chapters a day. Okay so by November 14th I will have needed to read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Oh boy.

I have also been convicted about putting limits on God and not allowing Him to stretch and shape me where He sees fit. I let Him fix me where I want Him to, but then I set certain things off limit. Like my pride, gossip, and laziness. Eek!

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.

I realize that I am God's creation, who am I to say what He can and cannot change? I'm trying to become the potter and I cannot even see the work of art that is being created. I pray that God gives me grace and the wisdom to realize that I can't try to put Him in a box, and instead let Him do what He sees fit.

His Daughter,

Hannah Renee'

Uno

Here we go; the first post. I thought that I would start this blog as a creative way to keep up with my devotions, write about God, life, or anything really. Basically this blog serves as a way to get my creative juices flowing. If anyone will actually read this I do not know, but I'm excited to have a place to collect my numerous thoughts. I decided to entitle it Grace Reborn which is what my name (Hannah Renee') means. Kind of cool I thought! :) I pray that this blog serves as a bigger purpose unbeknownst to me, and that God does some radical things through it.

His Daughter,

Hannah Renee'