Alabaster Retreats is a blog where we learn together to sit and listen at the feet of Jesus.
A few things we write about
- How to find rest and retreat in our daily lives
- Practical ways to make time for our spiritual growth
- How to set aside
- Ways to simplify our cluttered lives
- How to find physical rest and wellness
- How to be strong ‘caretakers’ of our Christian leaders and allow them to find rest and retreat
About Matt and Leah
Matt writes here at Alabaster Retreats and enjoys connecting thoughtful ideas to practical reality. In His day job he works with small organizations to do effective and integrity filled marketing and communications. He’s married to Leah and they have two amazing kids. He loves being outdoors, gardening, entrepreneurship, and giving “piggy back” rides to his tireless kids.
Leah is a wife to a sexy, beard-sporting man of God and mom to two of the cuti-est, funniest, and messiest kids on this planet. She loves to DIY stuff (and sometimes is just as messy as the kids!) but always has a blast. Leah loves being a stay-at-home-mom and is kind of a hippy/pioneer lady. Most of all, she loves the Lord and is so excited to blog and do life and ministry with her husband. She also blogs at www.leahheffner.com about marriage and parenting.
About the Alabaster Retreats Name
In the Bible we first meet Mary and Martha (Lazarus’ Sisters) during a visit Jesus made to their home. Luke 10:38 (NIV) says that Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.” However, Martha became irritated with Mary’s lack of action and complained to Jesus. Jesus answered “Martha, Martha” “you are worried and upset by many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was doing good things for Jesus but didn’t have the right attitude or priorities.
Mary chose to do nothing but sit at the feet of Jesus. Jesus affirms that she has chosen the most important thing.
Our last glimpse of Mary in the Bible shows a selfless act of worship.
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:1-3 (NIV)
The Alabaster Jar was filled with pure nard which was an expensive fragrant perfume imported from the mountains of India. The pint that Mary used was approximately worth a year’s wages.
The last picture of Martha in John 12 shows that she is once again serving Jesus. This time though her service is done in worship to Jesus not with a begrudging heart.
From these brief glimpses into two people very close to Jesus we can see some important principles emerge.
- The busyness of serving God can become a barrier to knowing Him intimately
- Getting caught up in the details can make us forget the main reason for our actions
- Service for God is important but never above a close relationship with Him
In a culture that celebrates busyness and independence many of us have lost the source for our action. Our lives are so full of ‘stuff’ we don’t have space for Him in our lives. A close relationship with Jesus isn’t something to achieve once in awhile. That rest is something we can live with each day.
Let’s learn together how to listen at His feet and respond with worshipful action.