Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Mary, Mary quite... the example
My grandmother used to sing
Lazy Mary you better get up
She answered back I am not able
Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table
Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There’s only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me
You’d better marry a fireman
He’ll come and go, go and come
I once believed she made this song up about my Aunt Mary, which I found very rude of her to sing while Aunt Mary was around. I was disappointed to later learn it was an actual song.
The picture above is a picture of me, my sisters and my cousin Katie with my Mema. (That is me to the far left, blue suit, you can tell it's me by the derriere.) Thanks to her, we vacationed every year at Vero Beach. My Mema was the life of the party. She was a very forward woman who many could describe as pushy or intrusive.
But the flip side of her intrusiveness was the fact that you knew she loved you. Birthday parties, family gathering, or just the importance of making sure I was up to date with all the Lucky drama (General Hospital) you knew you would never be left out or forgotten with her.
I remember being younger and knowing that when my Mema arrived at church, she would give me candy and kiss me too hard. She always wanted us, from always cooking for us, bringing us bagels, or wanting us to join her at the pool, we always knew we were wanted. Yes, there were times we didn't exactly want her (no lack of love just people want space) but we knew we were always wanted by her.
Honestly her pushiness may be what I miss most about her. Everyone needs a Mema character in there lives someone who you know whether you want them or not they will be there, someone who deeply cares about you, is invested and is consistent.
I once picked up my Mema and brought her to Lakeland to stay with me for a week. While she was there she hung out at Starbucks while I worked, went to church with me, watched all her soaps, napped and cooked. I had a few friends over for dinner and of course they all fell in love with Mema. A few were scared by some Italian stories she told. I went to clean the kitchen and came back to find my friends in tears as my Mema spoke of Jesus. She told them how He changed her, gave her meaning, healed her, how she loved the Holy Spirit, and how she is deeply in love with Him. I stood there and just watched. As my friends were leaving one hugged me and said "She really knows Him, Rose you should be so proud of your spiritual heritage."
I am proud. I had Mema, my Nana which taught Sunday school to me growing up, and my mother who has spent more time on her knees before God than any other woman I will ever know.
2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
I pray that the faith which was in these three woman will continue to live in me and guide me.
My sister Jenna, my mother and Mema.
Reading from my Dad's Bible today
I love reading something in Matthew then looking to see what Mark, Luke and John have to compliment what I am reading.
After Jesus died, it says in Matthew 27:55-56
"Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons" (The mother of the Zebedee's sons is the woman who knelt in front of Jesus and asked that her sons sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom.)
Honestly her pushiness may be what I miss most about her. Everyone needs a Mema character in there lives someone who you know whether you want them or not they will be there, someone who deeply cares about you, is invested and is consistent.
I once picked up my Mema and brought her to Lakeland to stay with me for a week. While she was there she hung out at Starbucks while I worked, went to church with me, watched all her soaps, napped and cooked. I had a few friends over for dinner and of course they all fell in love with Mema. A few were scared by some Italian stories she told. I went to clean the kitchen and came back to find my friends in tears as my Mema spoke of Jesus. She told them how He changed her, gave her meaning, healed her, how she loved the Holy Spirit, and how she is deeply in love with Him. I stood there and just watched. As my friends were leaving one hugged me and said "She really knows Him, Rose you should be so proud of your spiritual heritage."
I am proud. I had Mema, my Nana which taught Sunday school to me growing up, and my mother who has spent more time on her knees before God than any other woman I will ever know.
2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
I pray that the faith which was in these three woman will continue to live in me and guide me.
My sister Jenna, my mother and Mema.
Reading from my Dad's Bible today
I love reading something in Matthew then looking to see what Mark, Luke and John have to compliment what I am reading.
After Jesus died, it says in Matthew 27:55-56
"Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons" (The mother of the Zebedee's sons is the woman who knelt in front of Jesus and asked that her sons sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom.)
...when Jesus was placed in the tomb..
61 "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb." In Luke is explains that the woman followed Joseph, the man who asked Pilate for Jesus' body, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid in it. They then went home to prepare spiced and perfumes. They rested on the Sabbath to honor the commandment. I get the feeling that Mary would have been there the entire time if its wasn't for the Sabbath.
Chapter 28
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (Mark 16 says they were bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body, and questioned 'who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?")
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women (In Mark it says the woman entered the tomb, they must have really wanted to anoint Jesus' body, seeing as they proceeded to enter the tomb probably walking over the two guards who had 'became like dead men') , “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
61 "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb." In Luke is explains that the woman followed Joseph, the man who asked Pilate for Jesus' body, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid in it. They then went home to prepare spiced and perfumes. They rested on the Sabbath to honor the commandment. I get the feeling that Mary would have been there the entire time if its wasn't for the Sabbath.
Chapter 28
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (Mark 16 says they were bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body, and questioned 'who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?")
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women (In Mark it says the woman entered the tomb, they must have really wanted to anoint Jesus' body, seeing as they proceeded to enter the tomb probably walking over the two guards who had 'became like dead men') , “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
In Luke "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee; 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Mark 16 starting in verse 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signswill accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
John 20
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Mark 16 starting in verse 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signswill accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
John 20
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
I love how I feel like I know this lady, Mary Magdalene. This is a woman that experience the healing power of Jesus and was forever changed. He healed her and from that day on she chose to follow Him and serve Him. You can tell she truly loved Him. From being at the crucifixion, following Joseph to see that the body got proper care, to getting spiced to anoint His body, this was a woman who truly loved Jesus and made her love known to Him. It's no wonder she was the first person JESUS revealed Himself to.
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
I love how I feel like I know this lady, Mary Magdalene. This is a woman that experience the healing power of Jesus and was forever changed. He healed her and from that day on she chose to follow Him and serve Him. You can tell she truly loved Him. From being at the crucifixion, following Joseph to see that the body got proper care, to getting spiced to anoint His body, this was a woman who truly loved Jesus and made her love known to Him. It's no wonder she was the first person JESUS revealed Himself to.
I feel I know Mary Magdalene, she resembles my Mema . We all have this figure in our lives, that person that shows up to everything you invite them to, calls and checks up on you, a loyal friend. I love that she was always around Jesus, she was at His death and even sat around a tomb. I love how it explains she clasped His feet and worshiped Him. She was a very loyal friend to Jesus. You see Mary had a reason to want to support Jesus the way she did, we find the reason in Luke 8.
Luke 8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Jesus freed Mary, and she in turn used her freedom to love Him. Mary knew Jesus, because she made herself available to Him. Even after He was gone she still stayed close to Him. When He was dead behind a stone, there was Mary sitting across from the tomb. That is a friend, that is a true example of someone who was truly grateful for her friendship in Jesus.
Luke 8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Jesus freed Mary, and she in turn used her freedom to love Him. Mary knew Jesus, because she made herself available to Him. Even after He was gone she still stayed close to Him. When He was dead behind a stone, there was Mary sitting across from the tomb. That is a friend, that is a true example of someone who was truly grateful for her friendship in Jesus.
I find myself today longing to be more like Mary. I, like Mary, have been freed of more than I can say. Jesus has healed me, delivered me, and given me a reason to live. I need to be more like Mary and Mema and be available. Wherever Jesus is, be there, even places I feel unworthy to be. Mary had every excuse to feel unworthy, everyone knew her story, yet she pushed her way in to everywhere Jesus was.
Why was she the first one Jesus revealed Himself to?
I honestly do not know.. but here is my guess...
She was available
She showed her love to Him
She had faith in who He said He was
Today things may not look like we wish they would. Maybe you are like me and find your heart yearning for promises that have yet to come to life. I find myself in the position of Mary outside the tomb, I know what Jesus has promised but it seems as if the promise is behind a stone. I wonder like Mary 'who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'
I find comfort in the story that although Mary knew the stone was there she was still prepared with her spiced to anoint Jesus' body. There is truth in the idea of holding on to the promises even if we can't see it.
Today, we must still prepare for the promise, knowing God is not dead and He will do all He has promises.
But maybe, we find ourselves prepared and as we walk up to the promise we see the stone is pulled away, and God has done what He has promised us.
May we be like Mary Magdalene today, a faithful friend to Jesus, holding on to the promise and ready to go into all the world to tell others what He has done and what He will do.
I sure miss this clown.
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