I have gone back and forth looking up different topics and have started to write several articles, but last night while visiting some friends in PCB, I just stopped. I put down my computer, and I went out of the room and just talked to people. I met some new people-- I heard their stories. I heard how God is moving in the hearts of 100+ college students in such an unlikely place like Panama City Beach, FL.

But I'm not going to lie, I have been pretty bitter about it. I wanted to be at Summer Beach Project this past month, but I wasn't. I've been in Troy taking classes and working. I've been keeping myself busy with a schedule full of studying, working, and occasionally hanging out with friends. And I've also added writing for the Odyssey into the mix. I use my undergraduate degree and desire to go on to Occupational Therapy school to help others as excuses to justify my busyness. I put time limits on tasks and fully expect myself to get assignments done by those certain times. But this past week, I just straight-up fell short of those expectations. I felt ineffective. Each task took a lot longer than I thought it should and I got frustrated. One thing specifically was I couldn't figure out what I wanted to write about. I never want to just write for the sake of having an article out there. I want to write to make you think.

And what I realized last night was that I have been so busy doing things for God that I have missed being with God.

And this isn't uncommon. In Luke 10:38-42, we get a glimpse of Martha having this same problem. She was "distracted." She wanted everything to be perfect so she frantically went about the house preparing food and cleaning up. She got so frustrated seeing her sister, Mary, just sitting there. She even demanded that the Lord tell Mary to help her. But he didn't.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about 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.”

Jesus reveals something about Himself in this moment. He shows us that He doesn't desire our "good deeds" and "righteous acts," but He wants our hearts. Martha had chosen to open up her home and prepare dinner for Jesus, but Mary had chosen what was better; she chose to spend time with Jesus.

What are we going to choose today? How will we ever accomplish our daunting "to-do" lists? We have got to start by being with God first, and then our service for God will overflow out of our love of Him.