A Woman Unafraid

She's thirteen, and while busying herself with the chores of the day, she wonders what he is like.  She's been pledged to be his bride, and she wonders when the day will come.  She's seen him.  She's heard his voice, but she doesn't know when he is coming for her.  He's made his payment to her father, and it could be any day now.  So she continues her activities as usual, and in her spare time, she makes sure her dress is ready.   She prepares for the day when he will come for her.  She readies herself so that she will not be afraid - afraid of the wedding night and all marriage itself entails. She prepares herself to become a wife.

This particular day though becomes an extraordinary day, and surprisingly it is not because he's come for her.  No.  Mary has had an unexpected visitation.  Instead of Joseph coming, it is Gabriel who has come to deliver a message to her, and Gabriel is no ordinary messenger.  He's an angel.

Gabriel:  "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

She pinches herself and thinks, "Is this really real?  Is this really happening?  Am I crazy?  No, it is real, and I am afraid.  How could he call me, Mary, a simple girl, "highly favored?"  And why does he say the Lord is with me?  I am just plain ole little Mary.  Who am I that he would greet me so?  Who am I that he would visit me?"

Gabriel:  "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

To herself Mary thinks, "Me, the mother of the Messiah!  Is that what he is telling me?  Surely, this is not true, I am not even married yet."

Out loud she says:  "How will this be since I am a virgin?"

Gabriel:  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God."

To herself, "Nothing is impossible with God.  Elizabeth is going to have a baby.  I am going to have a baby.  Special babies together."  She becomes almost giddy with excitement.

Mary:  "I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said."

Then Gabriel leaves.  Mary is full of excitement and hope.  The Lord wants to use her, little ole Mary pledged to be married.  She packs up a bag and goes to visit cousin Elizabeth.  She was as excited about Lizzie's pregnancy as her own, and more so, because Elizabeth is proof that what the angel said to her was true.

She had every reason to be afraid as she journeyed.  What was Joseph going to think?  Would he believe?  Would he accept?  He could leave her.  What were the people going to think?  She thought about the words of Moses she'd heard her father say: virgins found not to be truly virgins were stoned. But she simply believed, that she would carry Messiah, and Messiah would protect her.  She pondered only the promise of what Gabriel had said to her and believed his words to be true.

Upon arriving at Elizabeth's house, she said, "Hello, Elizabeth.  It is I, Mary, come to see your good news."

Elizabeth grasped her belly as the baby growing inside her leaped for joy.  God's Spirit filled her and she said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

"Confirmation of the promise! Indeed how blessed I am."  Mary thought to herself.

Three months later, right before Elizabeth gave birth, Mary returned home.  Her belly began to grow, and over time, she was found to be with child before her wedding.  Joseph was not sure what to do, and he thought about divorcing her.  Divorce would leave her destitute and alone, but it was better than the obvious option of death and of marrying an unfaithful woman.  Instead God revealed to him in a dream that the child in Mary was His.  So even though Mary had waited for her wedding night, Joseph came one day quietly, and with no ceremony that would defile the virgin birth, she moved into his home as wife instead, he simply assuming the child as his own.  It would be months after they'd lived together before a ceremony could be had.  Thus, no ceremony ever was.

Now, it was not just a woman unafraid.  It was a man caring for a woman unafraid, walking in belief with her as they readied themselves to care for Messiah.

What has God spoken to the depths of your heart?  Have you doubted his words to you?  Or have you simply believed them to be true and walked in a legacy of faith, championing others to walk along beside you?

She Has Loved Me Much

I can't help but wonder why she was there.  Perhaps she wondered the same thing herself.  Had she felt herself drawn to hide in the shadows in hopes of getting a glimpse of this man Jesus she kept hearing so much about?  I can imagine someone with her reputation would have a hard time believing all the things she had heard about him and would need to see them for herself.  Or had she already encountered him before and stood in wonder as he looked deep into her eyes until she realized he knew every sordid detail of her past yet forgave her just the same.  Had she sought him out, waiting for an opportunity to reciprocate that unconditional love or had she just happened to be there and acted totally on impulse?  I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do know that irregardless of whether her salvation experience took place some time prior to this incident or on that very night, her worship was pure, came from the depths of her soul and portrayed a genuine example we would do well to follow. . . .

Jesus lay inclined at the feast set before the guests and patiently listened to the conversation around Him. Everyone seemed more interested in impressing the crowd than in showing Him any respect, and seemed to talk at Him and not with Him. In fact, as was the custom of the day, no servant had been sent with a basin of water to wash off the day's dirt and grime from His feet.  How could they treat Jesus with so much disregard? Perhaps as she stood there contemplating the situation, straining for a glimpse of the wayward servant who was tardy in fulfilling his role, memories of her own sinful past flooded her soul, and she began to feel that of all the people present in that household, it was HER responsibility!  You can tell from her actions and demeanor that she did not consider this task a duty but a great honor and privilege as she poured out her heart to Him freely and openly.  For probably the first time in her life, she knew what it was to be loved - an agape love - unconditionally.  And her response was a single-minded yearning to return that love.  In that very instance, her priorities slipped into their proper place and Jesus became first in her life.  She did not let the fact that there were people around them who would vigorously disapprove have any affect on her focus.  She did not worry that she didn't have access to water and a towel. She willingly sacrificed her entire life's savings - her security for the future - an alabaster jar of valuable perfume that had taken her years of saving to purchase - to worship Him.  By doing so she let Him know she was putting her complete and total trust in Him. She showed her sincere repentance by rinsing them with her own tears, and she showed her complete willingness to do anything for Him by using her very own hair to wipe them clean.  She didn't hold anything back.

I have to stop and think for a minute about my own worship experiences.  Is Jesus my first priority?  All the men at the feast had their priorities out of whack.  They were thinking more about themselves and their desires or needs than Jesus who sat across from them. May I open my eyes and see HIM - put HIM FIRST and not myself.  Do I hold anything back? Do I have an alabaster jar filled with something valuable that I could so easily place my trust in instead of Him?  My relationships?  My bank account?  My career?  My status?  My position?  How hard is it to not only give those alabaster jars to Him but to do so freely and willingly and openly?  Am I so willing to commit all that I am and all that I do for His glory that I wouldn't question wiping oil and dirt from His almighty feet? 

When we truly love Him genuinely without regard to anything else around us; when we willingly give up all our Alabaster jars for Him; when we totally commit all that we are and do for His glory; when we become "broken and poured out" at His feet just as this young woman was . . . our priorities - fall into their proper order. God's order - where He is first and everything else is in its proper place according to HIS perspective and not mine.

How sweet to hear Him say, "She has loved me much." She has loved me much...personally, I think those words of affirmation that I have pleased God are worth any Alabaster Jar I could possibly ever own. 

copy written by Robin Kelley

Living Room Intimacy

It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences where the air is so charged with excitement you can almost feel electricity coursing through your veins.  HE was HERE.  Jesus!  Jesus - the man who HEALED the sick!  Jesus - the man who turned WATER into WINE!  Jesus - the man who fed 5,000 people with 5 LOAVES and 2 FISH!  Jesus who walked on WATER!  

Jesus!  This man she had heard so much about was here at her house, sitting in her living room. And what was more, He was beckoning for her to join Him!  Oh, she had so much to do!  After all Jesus wasn't the only guest they had at their house, and she should be about taking care of making sure they were comfortable.  But He was calling to her in such a gentle and soothing voice.  He looked at her with such genuine love and compassion.  And the way He spoke!  The things He said!  She had never heard such things before!  She had never felt such joy or peace.  She never wanted to leave; she wanted to sit right there at His feet and listen to Him forever.

But then she heard that familiar voice - her sister. "Here you are!  What are you doing?  Don't you know what all we have to do?  Or do you think I should do it all while you sit in here?  Jesus tell her to quit being lazy and get up and do her chores!"

Ok, be honest, can't you relate just a little bit to both sisters?  Anyone who has ever had guests in their home can certainly feel Martha's pain.  You can almost hear the list going through her head.

"They need to be fed - not just any meal but a meal fit for Jesus!  And beds needed to be prepared for the night - and not just any bedding but bedding fit for HIM!  I want Him to know He is a special guest in my home.  I won't rest until I have proven that to Him.  His every wish must be fulfilled.  His every need must be met almost before He realizes He needs it."

I can remember being a Martha several years ago.  My parents, brothers, and their families were all coming to stay at my house for a few days.  I was so excited!  These were the most important people in my life outside of my own husband and children.  I wanted everything to be perfect.   I spent countless hours and energy before they arrived preparing everything for them.  But unfortunately, I spent more time in the kitchen cooking fabulous meals during their stay than I did visiting with these people who had come so far and meant so much to me.  What I would give to have that time back now.  You see one of my brothers passed away about 10 years ago, and I'll never again have the opportunity to sit and enjoy his company here on earth. (Though I will again in Heaven one day!)

Keep this in mind as you read Jesus' response to Martha.  He didn't rebuke her - because WHAT she was doing was not wrong.  Serving Jesus is a good thing.  She thought she was giving Him her best. But He gently told her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important.  Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."  (Luke 10:41-42 NCV)  Martha gave Him her works.  Mary gave Him her availability.

Many of us would do well to listen closely to His message.  Put your name here. I'll start.  "Robin, Robin, you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important."  Now it is your turn.  "(your name), (your name), you are worried and upset about many things.  Only one thing is important."

And what is that one important thing?  Sitting at Jesus' feet.  To quote Joanna Weaver in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, "Jesus invites us to come and rest, to spend time with him in this incredible Living Room Intimacy.  Intimacy that allows us to be honest in our complaints, bold in our approach, and lavish in our love.  Intimacy that allows us to hear our Father's voice and discern our Father's will.  Intimacy that so fills us with his love and his nature that it spills out to our dry, thirsty world in Kitchen Service.  In the Living Room.  That's where it all begins.  Down at His feet."

Think about it, ladies.  We should be so excited the air around us is charged with electricity! But it isn't a once in a lifetime experience.  It is a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute opportunity we have to sit at His feet. Jesus is HERE!  HE is HERE!  Jesus!  Jesus - the man who HEALED the sick!  Jesus - the man who turned WATER into WINE!  Jesus - the man who fed 5,000 people with 5 LOAVES and 2 FISH!  Jesus who walked on WATER! Jesus who died on the cross for our sins is HERE, and His greatest desire is to spend time with YOU.  Let that sink in for a minute.  And think about all that He has for YOU at His feet.  It is at His feet that we are filled with the love we need to serve.  It is at His feet that we receive His power - the same power that raised Him from the dead and saves us from our sins.  It is at His feet that we learn God's will for our lives.  Jesus Himself has issued the challenge.  Only one thing is important.  In the busyness of life, will you choose the better thing?  

                                         He waits for you longingly every morning.

Robin Kelley

all rights reserved

Single-Minded Faith

I wonder if she planned it when she woke up that morning or if it evolved through the circumstances of her day.  The scriptures don't give us a lot of details, but I've often imagined what it would have been like to be her.  Did she rise wearily off her pallet in the wee hours of the morning, exhausted from battling her pain in an effort to get some much needed rest?  Did she watch out the window as the other women in the village walked in small clusters toward the well to gather their family's water for the day?  Can't you feel the loneliness that must have enveloped her after 12 years of living the secluded life of someone considered "unclean"?  Can't you almost sense the longing that must have filled her heart for human contact - to be loved and accepted?  Can't you almost feel the weight of desperation she must have had to be healed of her hemorrhaging and feel well again?

Perhaps she heard the women chattering excitedly of all the people Jesus was healing in the village.  We don’t the HOW, but we do know that at some point she became so focused on getting into the presence of Jesus that everything else faded away into the background. Jesus was coming!  If she could just slip out and touch Him maybe she could be whole and well again!  For the first time in years she felt the warmth of hope flicker in the darkest regions of her soul - a yearning that soon grew into an intense hunger, permeating every area of her being.  With every breath she became more and more determined that no matter what she MUST see this man Jesus.  If she could just touch Him, she knew deep within her heart of hearts she would be made whole again.

She was so single-minded she didn’t care that she wasn’t supposed to be around other people – She MUST see Jesus.  She didn’t care that she was so weak she had to crawl along the ground probably getting stepped on and kicked.  She MUST just touch the hem of HIS garment.  She summoned every ounce of strength she had and when she was so exhausted she didn’t think she could go any further, she put her eyes on Him and continued on inch by inch.  Would she make it before He passed by?  She must just keep going.  If she could just get close enough to touch His cloak - to be in His presence if even for just a moment.

And there He was. One final push…one reach…one brush of His garment…oh, the power she felt surge through her body!  And then He stopped.  And her heart stopped.

“Who touched me?” he asked quietly.

And he looked down at her, looked in her eyes with a love she had never known, and reached out His hand to her. She felt a peace and joy like she had never known!  Jesus who heals LOVED her.  Jesus who saves SAVED her.  Jesus who knew everything about her CHERISHED her and wanted to spend time with HER.  Can you stop for a minute and just imagine how it felt to lie there at His feet and look up into His eyes as He reached down to take your hand – to touch you when nobody had wanted to get near you for 12 years?

Ladies, that same Jesus LOVES you.  He died to SAVE you.  He CHERISHES you.  No matter what you have done.  No matter whether you think you are worthy.  No matter whether other people think you are valuable.  God LOVES YOU.  He desires a relationship with YOU.  If we truly believe that shouldn’t we have that same single-mindedness to be in His presence?  When was the last time we were so focused on fellowshipping with Him that everything else faded into the background?  Is there a longing, a hunger within us to know Him – to have such an intimate relationship with Him that thoughts of Him are foremost on our minds and hearts as we go about our daily lives?  That is the kind of single-minded relationship He desires to have with us. 

Jamie Hovey is challenging us to have a single-minded faith –much like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.  A single-minded faith that keeps our eyes and heart focused on Him.  A single-minded faith that spends time in His presence.  A single-minded faith that reaches out and takes His hand every morning and walks with Him all throughout the day.

Jesus, we come to you praising your name that you love us, that you cherish us, that you died on the cross to save us from our sins that we might have a daily relationship with you.  Create in us a hunger to know you.  Create in us a single-minded faith that we will keep our eyes focused on you no matter what is going on in the world around us.  May we always remember that your hand is reaching out to take ours and walk with us through each and every day, each and every trial, and each and every triumph. 

Lord, close our ears to the lies Satan whispers to us.  Open our ears to hear what you want us to hear.  Open our eyes to see what you want us to see.  Prepare our hearts, our hands, our feet to do what you want us to do today.

In your name and for your glory,

Amen and Amen

What's Your Shape

Originally posted on
September 26, 2011

Now, I don't mean your physical body shape, and I don't mean are you IN shape.  I mean what is your spiritual shape?  Let me explain.

Jamie Hovey did a great job the last two weeks teaching us about balance in our lives: putting God first, our husband second, our children third, and everything else last.  (Of course, if you are not married, God IS your mate, and, lucky you, your mate is perfect!)  She gave us some practical tips for saving time like  cooking up a month's worth of meat at one time and freezing it in meal size bags.  The more time I have spent meditating on her lessons, though, the stronger I feel that all the time saving techniques in the world aren't going to really make a difference if our relationship with God isn't in good shape.

I keep envisioning myself as a stick figure.  (Yes, I know.  Corny!  But bear with me.)  If the body of my stick figure is a circle -  if I am just fitting in time with God whenever or IF I get a chance as I "roll" throughout my day, I'm going to "bounce" around out of control "hitting" one obstacle after another.  If the body of my stick figure is a square and I am trying to give equal importance to every area of my life, I am going to get stuck and not be able to move.  When I finally do get moving, it will take great effort, and I will "clunk" along exhausted and frustrated.  My time with God is there, but it is jumbled up with everything else I have to do on my to do list. Ahhhh, but if the body of my stick figure is a triangle with the tip pointing upward, and the base being my relationship with God, followed by my relationship with my husband, then my children, then everything else....everything is good.  God is my foundation and I am open for Him to fill me up with His Spirit, and as I am filled He covers every area of my life.  My stick figure is then clothed and ready for her day whatever it will bring.  

So what shape are you?  Are you a circle just rolling through your day fitting God in whenever you get a chance?  Are you a square giving everything equal importance with your to do list and God is just one more thing to mark off as "done"?  Or are you a triangle with a foundational relationship with Him open to be filled with His Spirit to cover every area of your life?  When we allow Him to do so, our days are not perfect but they are more balanced for every decision we make, every thought we have, everything we do will be influenced by Him.

"Lord, help me keep you as my foundation today.  Fill me with your Spirit that you may cover every area of my life."

copy right by Robin Kelley

used with express permission

Making Hubby #2

Originally posted on September 21, 2011

Since my last post detailing Jami Hovey's first lesson on Balance, I have been asked more than once how one successfully makes their husband number 2 in their life when there are so many responsibilities and distractions demanding our attention.  I don't claim to be an expert on the subject by any stretch of the imagination; however, I am going to post my thoughts here, and I want you to feel free to add comments as to how you personally give your husband proper place in your life.

First, you need to know a little background.  My husband and I have been married 31 years and have 4 grown children, 1 fantastic daughter-in-law and 1 perfect grandson.  During that 31 years, Stephen has traveled extensively 26 of those years and still does.  To give you a little perspective, our oldest "child" will be 28 tomorrow.  There have been many, many days that the only interaction I had with my husband was 15 to 30 minutes very late at night when he would call and we would discuss family and household business.  Both of us would be so very exhausted by this time, but I looked forward to it all day.

I think we often equate putting our spouse in a place of priority in our lives with spending a major amount of time with him.  Don't get me wrong.  We need to spend time with our husbands, but I contend making them number 2 is as much or more of an attitude issue as a scheduling issue.  Let me explain.  Remember when you first fell in love?  Whenever anything good or bad happened throughout the day, you just couldn't wait to share it with "him".  Right?  Do you still feel that way?  Remember how you would rather spend time with him than go out with "the girls"?  Do you feel that way now?  We must covet that relationship and make a direct effort on a daily basis to let him know that he is the most important person in our lives whether we get to spend just a few quality minutes with him or a few wonderful hours.

Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Remember to pray for him every day.  Don't hesitate to let him know that.  Let him know you are praying for a specific issue he is dealing with that day, etc.
2. Remember to pray with him.
3. Buy a dry erase marker and write "I love you" or "I respect the way you work so hard to provide for our family" or "Thank you for being such a wonderful dad to our children"  etc on the bathroom mirror.  Don't panic.  It will clean off!
4. Write him a love note and put it in his computer case, lunch box, wallet, etc. so he'll find it during the day.
5. Buy his favorite snack and have it sitting in the car for him to find when he leaves in the morning.
6. Text him a message during the day.
7. Look for ways to brag about him to your kids, friends, etc.  - especially in front of him!

You get the idea.  He needs to know you love, respect and  think he is a man above all men!  Yes, you have to make an effort to spend quality time with him, but you can do things in between during your busy days to let him know that he is number 2 in your book.  Use your imagination and your knowledge of what is important to him.

Oh, and by the way, I asked my husband this question before posting this.  You might be interested to know the male perspective in this household anyway was the same as mine!  Have a good day, ladies, and add your ideas of how you make your husband know he is number 2!

copy right by Robin Kelley

used with express permission

"So What Did You Do All Day?"

Originally posted September 18, 2011

It has been more than two decades now, but I can still remember it like yesterday - the day the love of my life walked in the front door at the end of the workday, picked up one of our small children, looked pointedly around the room, and innocently asked a question that has reverberated through my heart and mind every day since...

"So what did you do all day?"

As I stood there vacillating between a flash of indignation and the sting of betrayal, my day's activities raced through my head at warp speed.  While dealing with an onslaught of dirty diapers, dirty dishes, and dirty clothes, I had fed, clothed, rocked, consoled, refereed, played with, cuddled, read to, bathed, taught, sang with and cared for four wonderfully active children.  At the same time I had run errands, picked up an unending rotation of clutter, answered a million questions, and started dinner.  I was exhausted, but I had received a bounty of hugs and kisses, "I love you, mommy's", and precious time spent with four of the most important people in my life.  BUT, I have to admit, though he has NEVER asked me that question again, I often ask it of myself.  I get to the end of my day, look around and can't help but ask myself,

"So what DID you do all day?"  

It's a valid yet often frustrating question because I always seem to have more "list" than I have hours.  This has been true in every stage of my life.  Not long ago one of my daughters wisely told me, "Mom, I think all the women in our family have a tendency to try to be everything to everybody.  We try to do it all."  Unfortunately, she's right.  Everything I have on my to do list  - all my responsibilities - are good things, but I have to ask the hard question, "Are they all things God has asked me to do?"  If not there is no way I am going to be able to balance my day and all that I have to do.  There is no way I am going to be able to do everything to best of my ability to bring honor and glory to God.  So how do I balance it all?  No matter what age or stage you are at right now, the answer is the same:

• Put God first
• Put your spouse second
• Put your children third
• Put your home and it's responsibilities next
• Put everything else last

Read it again.  It's too important to take lightly.  This is God's "formula" to help us take our crazy busy lives and successfully be all He asks us to be - no more, no less.  It goes directly opposite what the world says we should do as a modern woman; however, we must accept that God did not make us to be Super Woman.  We must give our day - our hectic schedules - to God every morning.  We spend time with Him so we will be in tune with Him all day.  He will give us strength and peace that we need to deal with the situations we will encounter, but we have to make the decision that we are going to make our choices throughout the day based on this set of priorities - not what the world says we are entitled to. 

So here is an experiment Jami Hovey gave us to try for the week.  Download this form and mark how you spend your day so you can have a visual picture at the end of the week to show you how you are spending your time.  You might want to even color code it to help you get a more visual picture.  For instance, time spent with God in red, time with your husband in blue, time with your kids in green, etc.  Bring this with you to Titus 2:4 Women Wednesday for part 2 of Jami's lessons on Balance the practical application.  

"God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but of power and love and discipline (sound judgment)."

1 Timothy 1:7 

Nor does He give us exhaustion, frustration, and that sense of being so overwhelmed we can't breath.  So let's submit to His will for our priorities and claim that power, love, discipline and all the peace and joy that come with it.  Sounds like a great trade to me!  I can't wait to hear Jami's practical applications Wednesday night!!

Copyright by Robin Kelley

used with express permission