Lk 10:38-11:13

• only one thing is needed
• Martha opened her home to Jesus, and became responsible for all the preparation, which is keeping her busy;
• she asked Jesus to tell her sister to help her;
• Jesus replied he cannot take her choice away from her;
• In the end, Martha's service to the Lord will be remembered and rewarded; even though she missed a sermon, she's doing what's needed (somebody must do it); her problem is that she worried and became upset about too many things; had she served with gladness and worry less about what her sister's doing she'd be 100%;
• If I were in Mary's position I'd be alarmed, too; there will be an end to the sermon, and there are works to be done; there's a time to listen and a time to learn, but there's also a time to work, a time to serve and a time to give; the former is not the purpose, and the latter is; the more one gives, the more he will be given; enjoy the time to do whatever is necessary at the moment and do it whole-heartedly; don't be distracted by the calls to service too soon, wait for God's time; but when the time comes, do it gladly, whole-heartedly, and don't look back;
  
• Key to prayer
• the focus is the person who's pleading for his friend;
• even though it's late, the friend asked boldly and persistently;
• his request will be granted;
• sometimes I ask why to pray for our needs; after all God already knew before we ask; but here when we plead for others, apparently God look at our attitude too; but the attitude must come from within the heart, it's not something to put on; so the key is to 'see' other's need with the heart;
• Ask and will receive
• James 4:2b-3: You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.