Martha

February 15, 2019

DAILY READING

Psalm 1
This weekend’s reading: Revelation 3:7-13

FIELD NOTES
“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither” (Psalm 1:3).

Whenever I read this psalm, and this verse in particular, I am reminded of my mother. Her name was Martha and she was born in 1918 and died in 1998. She was an elementary school teacher and a mother to four children. She had a lovely voice and sung in the church choir. She also enjoyed painting and when she retired she created many lovely works of art.

By the world’s standards, she wasn’t very important or impressive. She wasn’t famous or rich or powerful. She lived a quiet life of loving God and her family and friends. But her roots went deep into the streams of faith. Her life yielded the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When she faced tragedy and grief in her life, her faith remained strong and did not wither. She continued to draw nourishment and refreshment from those deeply-planted roots.

Hers is an example of the kind of life I want to have — deeply planted in God, fruitful and drought-resistant.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• Who is someone in your life that models the kind of life described in Psalm 1?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Who do you want to be like when you grow up?
• What do you admire about that person’s life?

PRAYER
Loving Father, thank you for sending us examples of how to live a life deeply rooted in you. Help us to grow in our trust and obedience. Help us to draw nourishment from your Word. Amen.