WORTH YOUR SALT...?

Ye are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt have lost his savor,
wherewith shall ti be salter? It is
thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:13

In light of the homegoing of Billy Graham, I've heard and read all sorts of comments with his death. Some have commented on the powerful spiritual influence that has left with him. Others have commented on our country losing its pastor. Some have spoken of the void they feel is present with his homegoing. I guess in those comments and others I've heard I agree with have crossed my mind as well. One person really pinned me down as to what I was feeling about the death of this great man. On the spot, I just commented that a really huge hunk of spiritual salt is gone that would take many to take its place.

Salt has always been a very valued commodity in our culture and cultures that go too far back to even delve into. In past centuries, salt wasn't only used in cooking. With their often out door ovens, a layer of salt would often be spread in the bottom before the firewood and fire. It supposedly caused the heat to circulate better. That salt, of course, after it's use in that way wasn't good for anything. People often rubbed their newborns with salt. Don't know why but that was an initial thing done to a baby. Salt was used for the curing of foods and also used in medicinal ways. As we look at meat offerings in the Old Testament, salt was added to the meat before the offering. We know of salt blocks that are put out in pastures for animals as their systems require salt in their diets.

Salt cannot be totally destroyed but it can be tainted to the point where it isn't usable. There are salt mines where salt is harvested to be used in many ways. However, there are marsh areas where salt can appear on plants and weeds on the shore near water that has a saline mix to it. Such salt isn't for eating because it is tainted, dirty and only to be tossed out. It becomes useless when tainted in any way.

Some have questioned if Jesus really knew what He was saying about salt losing it's savor? First let me say that He created it back in time so He should know something about it. He knew it's uses and knew when it wasn't worth anything in nutrition or for anything else because of circumstances that could soil the salt.

Jesus wasn't talking about salt as much as He was talking about His followers. We aren't salt blocks that can't really be damaged. He was speaking of our usefulness to the kingdom. He was viewing us as being tasty (likable, drawing others to us, useful in ministry). He also knew salt enough to know that it's intake creates thirst. I know how I am after eating a ham dinner or a BLT sandwich. Can't get enough fluid to take care of the thirst. He saw salt as something providing healing depending on the circumstances. So if Jesus sees us in light of salt, as His followers, we have a high standard to fulfill.

The world is thirsty spiritually...and they don't even know for what. However, as they watch you and me, perhaps being the only Christian they know well, our lives will either create answers for them because they are drawn to us or we can be shunned. There is a thirst in our world for spiritual fulfillment and people can't even name what they are seeking. Some are looking for all the “feel good” things....porn, alcohol, drugs (both street and from a doctor), a wild life, possessions, entertainments, etc. You and I hopefully have learned that all of those things are either fleeting or dangerous. People are looking for healing and we know Jesus to be the great physician. So you and I will be watched....we will either have meaning in the lives of others or will lose all respect before those watching us.

Such is where, I believe, Jesus is speaking of those who have become tainted in some way and are no longer of use to the kingdom. They may have enough salvation to get to Heaven, if even that, but not enough to be a salty Christian. The pleasurable things I mentioned may become a part of a Christians life and their influence is for nothing.

From anything I've ever read of Billy Graham, he was highly respected in so many varied areas of life. The best and worst of people he came in contact found him to be a gentleman, respectful but never lowering his standards no matter one's big name or position. He had strict moral standards as did his immediate staff. He was never with a woman alone. He guarded his purity tenaciously. There are those through the years who tried to find “dirt” on Billy but if they though they found something, there were looked at as fools when they were found out. He was honest in his dealings and had character oozing out of his life.

Jesus would never say that Billy Graham had lost his spiritual strength and savor and it was all he did was for God's glory. You and I are not him but God has the same expectations of us and more. He wants us true to our faith with strong testimony's and integrity. So, yes, Billy Graham has gone to heaven and has left a tremendous void. In it we should be encouraged to take up that mantle and live lives that flavor, creates thirst for God, helps heal others with spiritual health needs and in other ways God may lead us to do. May keep not only tainted from the world but clean and usable for Jesus.
 

Thank You Jesus, for this encouragement to be witnesses and testimonies for You. Help us to maintain those standards You have given us in your word. Thank You for Your example and for the examples of those who have gone before us, walking in Your ways. Thank You for all You have done for us. We love You....Amen

THE BEST DAY

So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

Have you noticed how routine our days can be? Whether busy, working outside the home or not, idle most of the time, one day can blend into another day almost without notice. We may cook at the same times, read the same books, watch the same TV programs, snack here and there and pretty soon, we find ourselves getting ready for bed.

When in my teens, I recall going to the funeral of a family friend who was about 60 years of age as I recall. The pastor made the comment, “She lived a long, full life.” Yes, in my mind, she was a really old lady. I had one grandmother who died in her 50's while years later, my other grandmother died in her 80's. I can recall in my 20's, thinking I had years and years yet to live. Didn't think I'd ever get out of my 20's. Now I look back wondering where all of my days have gone.

A dear young lady to me who was given a rather dismal diagnosis with no guarantee of a long life once said to me, “I want to live each day as if it's my last.” I remember replying to her that we should be doing that anyway, whether in good or bad health. Days count individually even if we tend to bundle them into weeks, seasons or years.

This morning an ad on TV came on with beautiful music produced by Dove Chocolates. The final comment on the ad I think is a priceless one. A very kind voice said:

“Live each day as if it is the only one.”

I thought immediately of a very familiar verse to all of us...one we probably have memorized.

This is the day the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

In the aging process (and you know about the ages I'm referring to), there is a tendency to submit to the number of candles on the birthday cake, the wrinkles, arthritis and a weariness that all can lead to inactivity and a hibernation mentality. Neither would be in agreement with the verses I've suggested. Teen years and into the 20's tend to be years of selfishness and wanting one's own way. Let me suggest to you that the same thing can happen in the lives of those in their more mature years. Any days the Lord has given us are to be used to bless others for God's glory. Despite age or health issues, there are some things we can do on a daily basis, such as:
*be a daily prayer warrior
*tell someone you love them
*spend time in the Word...that is applying our hearts to wisdom
*make a call or write a note to someone who needs an encouraging word
*no matter the weather, step outside on the porch or yard and take some deep breaths
*give some time to a project...puzzle, handcraft, etc.
*count your blessings...even write them down.

Some of these things are more important than others, but would be good for anyone of any age and time to find fulfillment in each day God has given to us. Just letting day after day pass with no meaning is not anything near God's intent in our lives.

We tend to forget that each day of life is an important part of our eternity. I realize this is just the preamble to what our eternity will be so our time here is so important. I recently wrote down something that had meaning for me using the word TIME: The Immediate Moments (of) Eternity.   Eternity doesn't begin when we breathe our last. Eternity began with our conception.

Each day we live, no matter the activity, should be a day of rejoicing in the Lord for His being so real in our lives. We are blessed people having Him in our lives which is cause for rejoicing no matter the day or age.

Have useful, fulfilling days that benefit you and others...making them days of fulfillment and rejoicing.

Father, I am so grateful for the life You have given me and that You have walked me through every single day of it. There are many days I know I have disappointed You and am so sorry for that. Help me to not only look on my days as days of just living, but of having real life in those days that bring glory to You. In Jesus precious name....Amen

GOD SPEAKS LOVE

We love him, because He first loved us.
I John 4:19

I'm always amazed as we approach Valentine's Day that even in most churches the subject of a loving God, God's loving us and our command to love others seems lacking. When I look at the above verse, I want to reword it: “Because He first loved us, we WILL love Him.” Perhaps the verse is saying just about that.

This morning playing the offertory, I included the chorus to the very familiar song, “Jesus Loves Me.” I really don't like that this sweet song has been relegated to just children. I find it to be one of the most sound theologically songs I have known along with many more. I just feel sad that it's ignored except for occasional use in the children's church.

Anna Bartlett Warner wrote the poem “Jesus Loves Me.” She was never was a published poet, but this poem was included in a book written by her sister. Somehow, William Bradbury came across the poem and really thought the poem needed a melody, thus he put music to the poem. All of this took place around the 1860's and aren't we glad it did. We've all heard our children and grandchildren sing the song. Most of us grew up singing this hymn. I feel sad that the rest of we adults never give attention to this precious hymn now that we are grown ups.

I wish for all of us that we would recognize that God always speaks love into our lives. Even during times when God allows things into our lives to teach us some difficult lessons, He is speaking love. For those of us who have been parents we know what it means to discipline our children and have done it out of our love for them. I'm afraid we only look for “Yes, Jesus loves me” when all is going well.

God speaks love to us in so many ways. You can easily add to my list, but thought of several things I don't ponder often enough. God speaks love in raindrops and snowflakes, butterflies and chirping birds, a baby's giggle and a puppy's warm nose, rainbows and spring flowers, a parent's hug and friend's smile, church choir or children's choir, smell of newly mown grass or aroma of fried chicken, a rain drop and tear drop, a sunbeam or twinkling star....and on and on it goes. If we honestly believe God is in charge of everything in our lives, just through His creation He reveals His love in the creation of human beings or things of nature.

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong.

Do I believe just that one verse of that precious song. Do I fully know and acknowledge the fact that God loves me.? I don't know I think about it very often, but just take it for granted. I'm not going to know much about His love if I'm not in His Word on a regular basis. It's not just little ones who belong to Him and they aren't the only weak ones either. We all are weak and rely on God's strength.

YES, Jesus loves me,
YES, Jesus loves me,
YES, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.

When the Bible says it, we must believe it and accept it with great humility and gratitude. If we feel there isn't another person in the world who loves us (and I wouldn't believe that for anything), we can KNOW that Jesus loved us because of His sacrifice on the cross for each of us. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.

Behold, what manner of love the father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore
the world knoweth us not, because it
knew Him not.
I John 3:1

Dear Father, Thank You for Your love that is so consistent even when I know I disappoint You. I rest in the fact of Your love, a love that will never let me down. You are such a wonderful Father and I praise You today. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

LIFE WITH PURPOSE

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose
under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

I'll call her Jane. She had served her church faithfully for many years and yet it would appear to any person because of Jane's age, that she had many other years to the same thing. She was, however, stricken with cancer and passed into Heaven after a very strong and brave battle. This was going on many years ago and I was relatively new to our church. I didn't know her in her healthy days, but determined to visit her in her home even though we didn't know each other well. Jane made our first visit so easy, but that's the way she was. She was in bed, in terrible torment from the pain. Medications were no longer much of a relief for her. All of the spiritual cliches that ran through my mind seemed so insignificant as I watched that godly lady in what were probably her last days of life.

I recall Jane, looking up at me with eyes full of agony saying to me, “Glendarae, why, why doesn't my Lord take me on home? I'm no good to anyone like this.” I remember praying to myself one of those quickie prayers for wisdom. I found myself responding to her in a way I knew wasn't my own, but remember to this day the thoughts the Holy Spirit gave me in those moments. In so many words I told her that no matter our circumstances, I believe we are here until God is finished with us and that He doesn't waste a single crumb of our lives. I told her that she was still here for purpose.

Whether she realized it or not, she ministered still in the lives of every person who came into her room...nurses, family, home health care workers, church members, neighbors, etc. She may have felt because of being so confined that God was finished with her. God brought folks to her for ministry. We don't know much about those things until Heaven.

I wish we could come more to grips with God's sovereignty. I realize there are those who have warped that concept in their spiritual thinking. However, God is in complete charge of EVERYTHING. There isn't a single thing or person that slips His mind. How He tracks everything, I don't know but I don't have to know. I just rest in the fact that He does all things well and has purpose in my life and in yours as well.

The word “purpose” has more than one meaning, often depending on how it is pronounced. For instance, purpose can be:

*spiritual...from salvation to spiritual growth and activity
*aim or intent...as in a marriage proposal
*goal or meaning of one's life
*a person's view of doing or becoming

At the time of conception, Psalm 139 tells us that God knew us at conception and even before. Every single human being is born with a purpose in life. That purpose isn't confined to our teen or early adult years. God has purpose for our lives until we draw our last breath and find ourselves in His presence.

Many Christians flounder because they lose a sense of purpose. They feel no sense of destiny in God's overall plan. I don't understand how there can be so many folks in any one church who are so different and yet, when following God's will, can do so much for Him. He works in the oddest of situations to bring glory to Himself and to give each of us a sense of purpose. God fits us together like puzzle pieces, each with their own purpose, to put together something beautiful for Him

God's purpose in my life isn't going to be like it would be in the life of another. Christians should never compare themselves with other Christians they admire, wanting to be just like them. We are individuals in God's sight and my plan is designed just for me and I'm not to borrow from someone elses. God has known through these years who and what He has wanted me to be. He has gifted me for service just like He has every other Christian.

Who (Jesus) hath saved us, and called us
with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own PURPOSE and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the
world began.
II Timothy 1:9

On days when you feel God is finished with you or that you have no purpose in life, both concepts are wrong. God is never finished with us and has His purpose in our lives until we step into eternity. Our problem often is that we've lost sight of what we know His intent is for us. We may even want to change God's mind as to who we think we ought to be. Remember in His sovereignty, He WAYS knows what He's doing. He has His purpose for us down to our last breath.

Remember, as I told Jane, that God doesn't waste a single crumb of who we are. We must determine that our purpose is the purpose He designed for us in His all-wise sovereignty.

Dear Father, forgive my wanting at times to do my own thing my own way when You, in Your wisdom, have chosen purpose for my life. Thank You for Your direction in my life and for giving me the honor of serving You. Thank You for Jesus who through Your loving grace has made purpose a wonderful reality for me. In His precious name....Amen