Home "Reboot" Challenge #2 ~ Sitting Before Doing

 ’Christ in the House of Martha and Mary’, Henryk Siemiradzki, 1886

The Story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10: 38-42)

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ 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!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

"Reboot" Challenge #2 ~ Sitting Before Doing

I have to share something with you that stings a little bit. A couple years ago, I had an unexpected relative stop by for a visit. It was my father. We don't see each other often and have a fairly strained relationship. I *hate* unannounced visitors because my house is always a disaster. So, instead of sitting and talking with him--I ran around "doing" and apologizing for the state of my home. I spoke from the kitchen while I was unloading dishes and popped into the conversation between my father and my husband between chores.


My father felt ignored and unimportant. He even spoke of the incident to another family member. He said he didn't care what my house looked like, he just wanted to spend time with me. Ugh....I screwed that one up!


I wonder if Jesus stopped by my house today if I would sit as Mary did and listen to him or if I would run around "doing" and "serving" as Martha did. Based on my track record, I think we know what I would do! Seriously though, would I let go of the self-imposed perfection and spend time in the presence of the Savior?


The fact is, I *do* have the opportunity to invite Jesus in on a daily basis. I could make time to sit down, get to know him through the Bible and listen to what he wants for my life. But Jesus will never insist on being invited into my heart. He will only stand outside and knock--hoping like crazy that I will let him in and sit at his feet. He wants to fellowship with ME--totally amazing!


I admit I don't put Him first in my day. I really, REALLY struggle with this. To me it sounds crazy to "sit before doing". Usually when I sit, it is in front of a computer screen or a TV and it delays me from doing those necessary chores--a time waster. However, taking time to sit and spend time with the Lord through the Bible and prayer is a way to focus my day on what's important and allow Him to create my "to do" list--a time saver.

In the morning when I rise
Help me to prioritize
All the thoughts that fill my day

Before my schedule
Tells me that my day is full
Before I’m off and on my way

I want to praise you
I need to praise you
Let the first song that I sing 
Be praises to my God and King

Before I fill my cup, I’ll lift you up,
I’ll lift you up
Before I start my day, I’ll sing Your praise,
I’ll sing Your praise
Before I start my car, before I get too far….

I want to praise You

A portion of First Song That I Sing, by Sara Groves (Listen here)

For more on "Sitting Before Doing" check out Sarah Mae's blog post HERE.

Today's Challenges (from Sarah Mae)

Mary Challenge: Get alone with Jesus today. Don’t put it off. Curl up and take in Psalm 119 today. Find a specific verse in Psalm 119 that speaks to you and meditate on it; perhaps even memorize it. Make a plan to spend a portion of each day with God. Maybe this?

Martha Challenge: Clean your dresser drawers – the inside and the top. Go through your clothes, sort, get rid of, organize, and make the top of your dresser look pretty (put everything away!).

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Thoughts from Ashley
I don't have a dresser. We only have room for one and my husband uses every square inch of it. I prefer to keep all of my things in the closet, hanging instead of folded. So I mostly get out of this challenge today, except I will clean off the top of the dresser (even though it is 99% Bill's stuff!). I am going to continue working on laundry and sorting my closet. I hope to have the majority of it done today. Check back later on this evening, using the link below, to see before and after pics of the closet and dresser "challenges".

After looking closer--only about 50% of the clutter belongs to hubby!

Now I can actually see the clock from our bed! Ha ha!

Update on "Reboot" Challenge #1 ~ Distractions


Do you "sit before doing"? Are you sitting undistracted with your Savior--or sitting in front of e-mail or FB first thing in the morning? Will you join me in working on this behavior?


Follow along with the 31 Days to Clean "Reboot" at www.sarahmae.com and don't forget to watch her video on yesterday's blog post where she shares that this is more of a journey of the heart than getting a pristine home. I *love* that Sarah admits to not being a "cleaning person" and I appreciate her book 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way. You can get the e-book from her blog for $2.50 with the 50% off code "Reboot".