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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Lent 2015: Choosing the Better Part


This Christmas at a white elephant gift exchange, I received the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.  A few weeks later, my book club picked that very same book for our next read.  Then, Blessed Is She came out with their theme for this Lent:


Via Blessed Is She


I think God is trying to tell me something. ;)  

I very much lean towards being Martha - always busy doing things (the right/my way).  But I need to be more like Mary and rest in His Word.  So this Lent, two of the main things I'll be working on are:


Striving to be perfect at loving people - not doing things.  It doesn't matter if everything is scheduled just right, the playroom is perfectly put away, or the laundry is folded "correctly" (aka my way).  What really matters is how I love God, my husband, my kids, myself, and others. 

I read this perfectionism revelation in my other book club book - Momnipotent - and it was like a light bulb went off.  Being a perfectionist in doing things is so me.  I thought that being perfect in this way would make me happy and peaceful.  But it never has.  Oh, but I still chased that perfectionist dream hoping that it would.

So reading that we need to be perfect in loving...it really hit me.  Hard.  It really seems so simple and obvious.  But it's just what I needed to give me a kick in the right direction.  So this Lent will hopefully bring a lot of letting go and softening up.  Which leads right into my next one...


Finding a balance between being Mary and Martha.  Like I said above, I'm a Martha who has 10 to-do lists, plans everything, and is always thinking about the next task.  And I always put make that my top priority.

So this Lent, I am taking the time everyday to just be with Him:  Pray.  Read.  Listen.  Meditate.  Rest in His Word.  His comfort.  His peace.  

"Be still and know that I am God" is what He is calling me to right now.  And everything else, like my everyday tasks, to-do lists, and letting go of my perfectionism, will follow.  (I hope!)

I'm looking forward to using the Blessed Is She's Lenten journal to help me rest in His Word this Lent!



And in saying all of this, I'm not going to be too hard on myself if things don't go perfectly according to plan this Lent.  I love what Emily said about this in her post about Lent:

"God knows my heart better than anyone else; He knows what I need to get out of this Lenten season.  I have faith that this Lent will be exactly what He wants it to be."  

So beautiful and so true.  (Thanks, Emily!)  He will teach me and work in me if I come to Him with an open heart. 


How are you hoping to be transformed this Lent?




               



Check out #BISsisterhood and #onlyonething on Instagram
for beautiful inspiration and fellowship this Lent!

Linking up with #BISsisterhood, Capture Your Journey Wednesday with Amber, Women with Intention Wednesdays with Jenny, The Shine Blog Hop with Jennifer, Reviews, Chews, and How-tos for Awesome Life Friday, and
Saturday Spotlight

26 comments:

  1. We are a lot alike. :) I am so bad about thinking everything needs to be done a certain way, and totally stressing about it if it's not! My hope for this Lent is hat I can just refocus and prioritize. I have let my prayer life slip so much the past several years. I have high hopes for this Lent too, and like you I am hard on myself if they don't go as planned. But God is already testing me because this morning I got up early to have my quiet/prayer time by myself, and both boys were up before 7! Haha

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  2. Jess, I used to be far more of a Martha than I am now. It takes time to realize the better half is to be found at the feet of Jesus, and that this is what he wants for us. Looking back people may not ever remember that "perfect" event we planned- but Christ will treasure every single moment that we spend with him. :)

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  3. Thank you Jess! So glad that I inspired you in some way <3

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  4. Love this!! I feel like I am always trying to do everything and sometimes my family suffers. I want to spend more time with my little one and love on her because I know in a blink of an eye she will be grown up ;( thanks for being honest love it
    Chelsea@ thewilliamsjourney1.blogspot.com

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  5. I think searching for that balance between Martha and Mary is a constant journey in life...I have that Martha/Mary book too but never read it! Let me know how you like it:)

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  6. I have not read Momnipotent yet, but I keep seeing it around. I do have Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I actually have a couple of copies. When I see them at the thrift store, I snatch them up. I have nto finished reading it yet, but very much enjoyed what I did read.

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  7. I bought the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World a few years ago, but have not gotten around to reading it. I should take it out! I love this: "Pray. Read. Listen. Meditate. Rest in His Word. His comfort. His peace." I think I'm going to write those words down to keep in mind this Lenten season.

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  8. I am such a perfectionist too although when things aren't perfect I'm pretty good at letting it go, I get so stressed out leading up to things though. This was some good food for thought. Thanks for linking up on the Saturday Spotlight :) xo

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  9. Thanks so much for sharing. I definitely struggle with this too.

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  10. I agree with everything you said! Both of my kids still nap at the same time (thank goodness) so I've been trying to use that time better. And Jim has been coming home a little earlier once a week so I can go to Adoration. I sure needed that! I hope your Lent is starting off well, Celena!!! I'll be praying for you too. We moms need to stick together ;) -Jess

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  11. Thanks! Prayers for you in your journey! -Jess

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  12. I hope I can get better at letting it go - even if it is later - like you. That would be a big step! haha Thanks so much for hosting! -Jess

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  13. Brittany, this is so true! I just have to keep reminding myself of it everyday until it becomes a part of my life. Thanks so much for stopping by! -Jess

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  14. You should definitely read it - I'm not even halfway, and I feel like it's been such a great help to me. And thank you! Those words have really been helping me this Lent to just SIT and BE with Him. I pray you're having a blessed Lent so far! -Jess

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  15. Sounds like you could start your own book club since you have several copies! Both books are great - you should definitely read them! They have been helping me so much, not just as a mom, but as a wife and woman as well. -Jess

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  16. I agree. I'm glad God is there to help me every step of the way! Because I think it may be a difficult journey lol I'm not quite halfway, and I love it. You should definitely read it!!!! -Jess

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  17. Thanks, Chelsea! I totally agree with everything you said. I don't want to be an absent SAHM (crazy, but it can definitely be like that if I'm never there in the moment!). But to be there with them, I also have to take care of me too. So working on my prayer life I know will help me be more present (and joyful!) with my kids and husband. -Jess

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  18. I thought your whole post was so beautiful. Thanks, Emily!!! I hope you're having a blessed start to your Lent! -Jess

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  19. That is great! I love "Do a few things well." This goes perfectly with my Lent / life goals. Thank you for sharing that! Your Lenten goals are great too. Those are definitely things I need to work on too. We all have so much to work on, right? Thank goodness for His grace and help! -Jess

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  20. It is so hard to get started because you can't see the light at the end of tunnel....and you wonder if it's even possible. But I'm glad to hear that it can be done! Thank you for sharing that! I have something tangible to look forward to! -Jess

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  21. Jenny @ Women With IntentionFebruary 25, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    I have struggled with perfectionism in the past, too! This is a great post! Thank you for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I look forward to seeing what you share this week!

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  22. This has definitely been a challenge for me. Thanks for hosting! - Jess

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  23. i struggle with perfectionism for sure! I make a million lists and everything has to be exactly done right, or exactly perfect, or in it's exact place. I get pretty hard on myself if my list isnt done or if its not done perfectly. I need to step back and realize I do the best I can and that's what counts!!


    Thanks for linking up for Saturday Spotlight again!!!

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  24. Thanks for this insightful article. Thanks for linking up to Awesome Life Friday!

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  25. I couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks for hosting! - Jess

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  26. Thanks! And thank you for hosting! - Jess

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