Salt

 "You are the Salt of the earth."

(/Matthew 5:13)

Read the scripture and see how you react. Re-read it and consider this: If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He is talking to YOU!  You are the salt of the earth!  

But, wait, what in the world does that mean?  Does it mean you are salty in your language when you are talking?  Do you sprinkle or season people by your encouragement?  Are you regarded as one of the finest people in a specific area who might be considered to be "The Salt of the Earth?  Or do your words come with a "grain of salt" meaning you exaggerate a lot?  Do you add a little "zest" to other people's lives as salt adds flavor to food? Or, does it mean you preserve things like salt does with food?  Hmmm....salt can mean many things to many different people!

Consider how salt works -  Can it facilitate healing? Can it hasten the closing of wound?  Can it add flavor to a meal? Can it be a symbol of wisdom where we learn from someone who may have more experience than we do in a certain area?  Or, could we be open to teaching something we know that someone might not have any experience in? Whichever way you have seen "salt" work in your life, consider how you might notice and apply one of these principles in your life:

1) Salt as a seasoning - Be an encourager!  Sprinkle a little "salt" around at the office or at home to lighten the load of someone who might need a little nudge.  Or, maybe you are one of the wonderful people who "flavor" other people's lives by splashing a bit of joy around and making people smile. Spread encouragement like glitter! It's a seasoning we all need!

2) Salt as a facilitator to healing - Notice when a person is hurting and ask how you might help?  Sometimes, we each need someone to listen.  Some wounds are really deep and heal very slowly - it takes time to process.  Sometimes the wound just won't close and we need someone to just sit with us as we go through that process.  Sometimes the diagnosis is so overwhelming that we need hope.

3) Salt as a preservative - Could we point out something that is of great value that no one else seems to notice? Or, point out to someone how valuable they are as a person?  Or could we point out what is worth holding onto that might not otherwise be seen?

4) Salt as wisdom - Be willing to share your experience, strength and hope with someone that is struggling or inexperienced. How might you offer to discuss the matter with someone who has not been in your shoes? Or, would you consider mentoring someone in a specific skill to add to their knowledge and skill? What about someone who wants to learn about the Word of God? Would you be willing to share a Bible study with them?

There are a million different ways to be "salt" in this world!  Try it - you just might be the "zest" that someone else might need to move forward on a new path or journey!  

Here is a challenge for you:  Ask God, how may I embark on being salt today for Your glory???  Salt my life Lord and spread Your flavor!!!

Mustard Seed Size Faith?

Have you ever seen a mustard seed?  It is extremely small……..barely visible to some….and small enough to lose within your own palm. So what does mustard have to do with faith?

First, mustard comes from a variety of plants with yellow flowers and a very pungent smell.  Second, think of a seed as a source or beginning which when fertilized becomes an embryo capable of developing into a plant.   A big plant! Combine those two things and you have an emerging flower or plant that develops or “grows” into something so much larger than can be imagined by looking at one tiny seed! Wow!  Think of that!  Tiny, little seedlings can become a glorious and huge plant!  That is what faith is like…..

In the beginning, faith may be quite undetectable, hardly noticeable.  Yet, when the Gospel is preached, on TV or the radio (the old fashioned way), a podcast, in a church, a Bible study online, on a billboard or whatever way captures a person’s heart, one may think, there may be something to that message of hope.  The thought percolates and the person thinks perhaps, I should learn more about what they teach and why.  And so, they start exploring the teachings of the faith.  How did it start?  Who started it? What do they believe?  How did they come to believe that?  Is there any truth to what they believe?  Yes, when a person finds faith, they find that the beliefs are good, right and true.  They choose to keep learning and their faith grows.  Then, grows some more until they truly know and understand what they believe and why. 

Or at least, that was my experience, way back when….1970’s.  Our family attend the Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH where I learned about the Presbyterian Church and what they believed in a Catechism class. Week after week, we explored what it meant to be a “Presbyterian.”  We learned how the church was founded and what is was founded upon.  Plus, the church was beautiful!  It had gorgeous stained glass windows and a sanctuary that evoked the presence of God to me.  I “felt” His presence when I entered the sanctuary each Sunday and on the nights of youth fellowship when we snuck into the darkened church and tried to “find God.”  It was there I found God for the first time.

I was confirmed in the church after one year of training and learning about the catechism of the church.  It was different that anything I learned in school and had a depth that I have not learned about before. I became “confirmed” at age 13.  Since I declared my faith at that point, I was able to take communion.  It was a glorious day to taste the bread and the grape juice.  I felt “all grown up!”

I received my first very own Bible and a church hymnal which I still have today and use the hymnal quite often while playing the piano.  The rhythm and music of the hymns are embedded deep in my heart from years of singing them.  The lyrics swirl in my head many days when I cannot find my way or on days when I feel inexpressible joy!  I believe that joy comes from my deep faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is the buoyancy of my life that I feel as JOY.  He anchors me and soothes my restless heart on days of peril and comforts me with His quiet love and peacefulness on other days.

One of the very first verses in scripture that I memorized comes from Hebrews 11:1 which says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Truly, faith is hope in something completely invisible and unseen.  So, how does one place their “faith” in something they cannot see?  It is a matter of the heart and soul.  There is something so deep about reading about the life of Jesus in the Bible. Learning about how He came to earth to save us. This teaching is crucial and disturbing at the same time.  Why would someone leave paradise and come to earth to be scorned, tortured and die for us?  That’s a bit crazy, don’t you think?  Yet, that is exactly what Christ did.

Matthew 17:20 says: “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Wow!  In the verses just before this verse, the disciples had just witnessed Jesus rebuking a demon out of a possessed man.  They watched a child be cured before their very eyes.  And they asked Jesus: “Why could we not cast him out?”  And so, he answered them.  Their faith was not yet there. But, IF they believed with the faith of the size of a mustard seed – a tiny, little seed – they would be able to do many things to bring about healing and love.

Faith.  The assurance of things NOT seen.

Is your faith tiny, small, almost undetectable?  Great!  Let it grow!  If it has been with you since childhood, fantastic!!  There is still room to GROW.  And, if you are thinking about learning more for the very first time, that would be wonderful!!! 

He’s waiting for you.  He’s knocking at the door of your heart.  There is no handle on His side of the door though….You must open the door!

 

 

Embark on a Mysterious Expedition

Embark on a mysterious expedition with me!  And adventure of sorts!  And, to some, it would be a long harsh journey in some ways, but oh, the outcome is GLORIOUS!

Imagine if you were one of the three Wise Men in the Christmas Story.  Why would you travel from the Orient to Bethlehem?  What are you looking for?

And, would you travel by camel for a hundred miles or even one thousand miles to see a mysterious babe in a manger?  Why would you choose to do such an adventure?  What would make you want to make this long, arduous journey towards Bethlehem?

And, would you really follow a star shining in the night sky?  What would cause you to begin such a journey?  Well, as it says in the scriptures, the Magi followed the star to Jerusalem to ask:  "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?  We saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2).  Wow!  That is one long journey to worship someone you don't even know is real!  But, somehow, they did make that journey and they did worship Him.  They believed the prophecy which had been foretold:  The Babe lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

And, the Three Kings brought gifts for Him, too!  Gold, Frankincense, and Mryyh. Have you ever wondered WHY???

Some of the answers are in this song.....Remember the old Christmas Carol:  We Three Kings???  The verses are fascinating!!!

1) "We three Kings of Orient are,

Bearing gifts we traverse afar,

Field and fountain, moor and mountain

Following yonder star.

Refrain:

O______,

Star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to Thy perfect light."

2) "Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,

Gold I bring to crown Him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

Over us all to reign."

Refrain

3) "Frankincense to offer have I,

Incense owns a Deity nigh,

Prayer and praising, all men raising,

Worship Him, God most high."

Refrain

4) Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume,

Breathes of life of gathering gloom,

sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

Sealed in the stone cold tomb."

Refrain

5) "Glorious now behold Him arise,

King and God and Sac-ri-fice.

Al-le-lu-ia, Al-le-lu-ia, 

Earth to heaven replies."

Refrain

************************************************************************

A star leading them through the night......in wonder......shrouded in mysterious light....

with royal beauty.....guiding to the Perfect Light!  Christ IS that Light!!!  If ever there was a time to explore who Christ is, now is that time!!!

Go on a journey..........read in the New Testament the story for yourself!  It's in the Bible in the book of Matthew, Chapter 1 and 2, and Luke, Chapter 2: The Christmas story.  It's amazing - especially if it has been since you were a child when you last read it or heard it!  

And, John 1:14 says: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth."

Come!  Follow the Star!!!  Find the Babe lying in the manager...........

He came for you.  He came for me.

Merry, Merry Christmas!!!

Catalytic Converters....

What does a Catalytic Converter do for a car?  Well, it is part of the exhaust system and keeps it from making a loud rumbling or roaring sound - a bit like the muscle cars in the 1960's when the owner wanted it to sound loud to get attention!

So, why are people stealing these so often in today's world?  The reason is that they have precious metals in them such as platinum, palladium and rhodium - copper, silver and gold.  They sell it to make money!  And, it is a hot item right now is most cities.  Our church parking lot has been the source of several thefts and it boggles my mind that people have the skill to cut these parts off so quickly in broad daylight when no one is looking!  Seriously???

So, why am I writing about this?  Because my car just had its catalytic converter stolen this week.......another part of the saga in car repairs this past month.  But no worries! I am not telling you this for sympathy, but  to show how God is working in my life and my son's to bring redemption!!!

What is a Cataclysm?  It is a violent and sudden upheaval.  Well, having this part stolen has been sudden and it has been and upheaval in my life.  Cataclysm, catalytic, cathartic.

It's all part of a figurative way of purging my emotions and testing my faith. And, it is bringing healing!  Yes, "All things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His prupose!!!"  (Romans 8:28)  All, not some, not part, not most, but ALL.

Despite the fact that this part being stolen is wrong (and annoying), God is working in my heart (and my son's) to show me that He is still in control!  He is still on the Throne!!  He is Sovereign!!!

Matt commented to me on Thanksgiving Day that he KNOWS there is a God because his mom is a praying mom and his life is a witness to God's Sovereignty!!!  Through all the trials and tribulations and  multiple life-threating experiences he has had in his life, he know he is still alive because him mom prays!  This is NOT about me.  It is about GOD.  It is about PRAYER. And, this is a HUGE revelation for my son!  HUGE!!!  

And, to me, this is about God's Glory!!!  When we pray, He is faithful!!!  And this entire experience

shows me that the God who watches over us indeed does watch over us. 

He never leaves us.  

He never forsakes us.

He IS faithful.

Always.  

What catalyst is at work in YOUR Life this week?

Sweet Memories...

Memories.....sweet remembrances of my family fill my mind and heart at this time of year.  We live 643-840 miles apart, but we love each other tremendously!  I realize that we are very lucky in our family to be so close and to want to talk to each other and spend time together.  I know some families do not share that closeness and I wish I could change that for several friends who do not have that closeness.  And, I am very grateful that our family does share that closeness!  I do not mean that as a boast, that is a true place a gratitude in my heart!!!  I know it is rare and I cannot thank God enough for it every day!

I have two older sisters and one younger brother, one brother-in-law, one sister-in-law, plus my son, three wonderful nieces, two incredible nephews, two amazing great nieces and my brother's two grandkids.  We have so much fun together when we are able to get together.........most of my family lives in Ohio,Texas and Virginia, and one recently moved to Belize.  Recalling their faces and their smiles fills my heart with joy.  We tease, we joke, we laugh, we taunt each other and we love each other.  Goofiness abounds when we are together!

My siblings and I have a series of "decade" photos:  Our thirty-something, forty-something, fifty-something and our sixty-something years we have captured in photos!!!  It is so much fun, but how did we get that old???  Ha! Ha!  My oldest sister turns 70 this year, so a new decade is upon us.  Wow............six decades of love and joy and laughter and yes, heartache, sorrow and tears have filled our paths as well.  But, what holds us together is LOVE!

A deep abiding love that stems from our parents and grandparents and great grandparents! Despite the troubles we have seen, we still gather and enjoy each other's company and cherish those moments.

Tell me, do you have sweet memories of your family or friends in your life?  I hope so!  Cherish them!  Enjoy them!  Spend time with them.  Tell them how much they mean to you!  Tell them as often as you can!!!  Don't take for granted that they "know" you love them...........tell them!  Show them! Hug them!!!

As I write out my Thanksgiving cards again this year, there is a saying that I found years ago that expresses the depth of my heart:

"Like an old country road,

Our Thanksgiving memories always lead us to the warm, familiar places we love...

And to the cherished faces waiting there."

Go to those warm, familiar places..........cherish those faces........let go of any unpleasant things of the past.....let by-gones be by-gones!  Forgive..........start over.......call them, text them, email them, have lunch or dinner with them, take them to the grocery, run errands with them, pick up leaves with them, throw snowballs at them.........whatever way you can find to show your heart.........and love, really love those in your life!  Tell them often!!!

GROW = Gracious Riches of Wonder

 Have you ever wondered how there are so many ways to GROW??  Cities grow, countries grow, plants grow, trees grow, grass grows, children grow, adults grow and somehow inside each of us, our souls grow.

I would love for you to consider going on this journey with me!  Recently, my church in Cincinnati had a 5 week journey of exploring how we each can GROW in our walk toward God.  Feel free to listen to the 5 sermons as they are very helpful and full of lots of challenges for you to GROW!  Just go to Crossroads.net/journey and watch all five weeks of lessons!  They are each about 20 minutes to listen to and have incredible tips on how to grow in your relationship with God!

Here is a listing of the five weeks:

1) Connect with God daily.

2) Receive teaching weekly

3) Share your story!

4) Get Baptized

5) Join Community

As the Grow Guide states (ask online for one to be sent to you, if you like!), for any relationship to grow, communication is the key - it is critical!  And, a relationship with God is NO different!  Check it out.....the more you talk to God, read His Word (The Bible) and ask lots of questions! Pick a time of day that works for you and start with 5 minutes of talking to God.  He is listening!

Each week that you listen to one of the messages, you can take a note pad and jot down what you learn.  Then, try to apply ONE thing that following week that you learned.

As you probably know, regular reading of God's Word is always good for our soul.  We GROW as we learn about what God wants to tell you in the pages of scripture.  Trying readying Matthew 5 which includes the Sermon on the Mount - check it out!

Believe it or not, you have an interesting story to tell!  Yes, YOU!  You have gone through experiences in this life that perhaps many have never experienced yet.  This sermon series teaches you how to create a way to share your story.  It is powerful because it's YOUR story - no one else has lived your life!  And, you have valuable information that can help others on their way.  Try it!

Baptism is a public display of our inward devotion for God and a decision to follow Jesus.  It's simple. And, it's amazing!  Even if you were baptized as a baby, you can declare your love for God by getting baptized as an adult.  Check out various churches in your area who will help you learn why and how to do just that.  Crossroads-Christian Church in Shawnee, KS is wonderful to explore this option!

Finally, we were meant to be experience life together.  If you don't have a community of friends or a church that you call home, I hope that you will explore new options for yourself soon.  The New Testament is a collection of books written to GROUPS of people:  The Colossians, the Ephesians, the Corinthians, etc.  Each city had its own set of people who lived in community together.  They broke bread and ate meals together, they worked together on the farms, in the fields, in their cities, in the barns, etc.  And, they did it all together! There's a wonderful scripture in Matthew 18:20 that says:

"Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am among them."

Think about that!  The presence of God right in the midst of your community!

There are SO many ways to explore how to grow in your Journey to God!

If you know me well, you know that I love acronyms!  So, here is one to consider:

GROW = Gracious Riches of Wonder.

God gives us so many riches every day and they are glorious and gracious:  Sunrises, sunsets, daily sunshine, rain to water the earth, trees  that turn beautiful colors in the Fall and give us a sense new growth in the Spring, flowers, vegetables and gardens that grow continuously, friends, family, co-workers, prayer partners, bicycle clubs, car pool groups, bunko groups, crochet groups, quilting clubs, etc. etc. etc.  The list goes on and on.........what can you add to your list of gracious riches in your life?

There is SO much wonder, too: the wonder of life, the wonder of marriage, the wonder of friendship, the awe and admiration of nature and so many things to marvel at how they came to be!  

Try taking an hour and be curious about something you have never explored before and see if you cannot find the wonder of something you have never known before.  It will be amazing!  

And, you will GROW because of it!!

Three Friends....

What do three totally different friends have in common when one is African-American, one is Hispanic and one is Caucasian???

Well, there are LOTS of things we have in common!!! 

First, our sons played football together from 5th grade until their senior year.  As "football moms," we drove our sons to practice, games and sports dinners every week.  We picked them up when they were exhausted and made sure they had food in their stomachs. We made sure they had the right equipment and uniforms and washed them faithfully for every season, every year.  We endured cold morning practices and games as well as sweltering hot summer practices.  We pushed them to make sure their academic studies were up to date and on time.  We loved them, cherished them and cheered them on at every game!  It was so much fun being a football mom!!!

Second, we enjoyed each other's company and still do!  We would go out to lunch or for happy hour after work where we shared our hopes and dreams for our boys - both back then and now.  We shared the boys hearts desires for their futures and our dreams for their lives. 

Third, we supported them and encouraged them to do what God had planned for them to do with their lives.  We prayed for their safety, their achievements (both on the field and off) and we loved watching them have fun!  And, in supporting our sons, we supported each other.

Fourth, we helped each other as moms of sons through some very difficult times.  We have laughed together and cried together.  We made a way when there seemed to be no way.

Back when we first met in the football stands or the school hallways, we never knew we would become such great friends.  We never knew we would support each other through some of the most grueling parts of our lives.  But we did.  We survived.  And, we thrived thanks to the support we were able to give each other through all those years. 

Now, years later, I look back and thank God Himself for making us friends!  It did not matter what country we were from or what color our skin was or what our finances looked like.  We were (and are) football moms.........moms of sons.....moms of some of the most handsome and incredible young men on the planet!  We are blessed beyond measure.  Not only because God granted us to be a mom of a son, but also, to be blessed to invest in our friendship as moms.  We have been through "Thick and thin."  We have gone months or years without seeing each other and still we have a connection that goes to the core of our being.  That friendship and love runs deep in our boys and deep in our veins.

We our moms of sons.

Thank you, Lord for blessing us beyond measure every day!!!