GET INTO THE STEW

Matthew 5: 13
You are the salt of the earth.

It's common, cheap, and used around the world. It has stirred up wars, led to the establishment of trade routes, and paid the salaries of soldiers. Today it serves chiefly as a preservative and a flavoring. What is it? it's that crystalline substance we call salt.
   Jesus, who was a master of using ordinary things to illustrate spiritual realities, talked about salt when He was teaching His disciples how they were to serve as agents of His Kingdom. He said, "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew5:13)
    If we think of salt as a preservative, we can assume Jesus wants us to prevent moral decay in our society. And if we think of salt ability to enhance flavor. We can be sure He wants us to help people discover the joy of knowing and living for Him. There are two type of salt in our society. Name it you know it.
   Salt stores away on shelf is not fulfilling its function. In a similar way, unless we are actively at work sharing God's life-enhancing truth, we are not serving as spiritual salt. After all, the place for salt is in the "stew" of human activities. Instead of just criticizing the corruption of our culture as well as the flatness of the live so many people endure, let's get into the stew--for we are the salt if the earth.

Stretch of His Love

1John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

For years, Sarah had low back pain that  continued to worsen. Her doctor sent her for physical therapy, and she was given  25 stretches to do every day. The pain lessened but not completely. So the doctor ordered x-rays and sent her to another therapist who instructed her to discontinue the other therapist's stretches and do only one stretches a day as needed. Surprisingly, the one simple stretches worked best.
    Sometimes the simplest truths are the best when asked to summarize in one sentence his whole life's work in theology, Karl Barth responded: "Jesus loves me!" Some say he added, "This I know, for the Bible tells me so."
   God's love for us is evident. He gave His Son to rescue us from from ourselves, (tells to your neighbor seat I believe this). Christ died on the cross, talking our burden of sin. Then He rose again, giving us new life in Him. Glory to God in His Amazing love! As John tell us: " Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called Children of God!" (1John3:1).
   Jesus love for us isn't a Band Aid  or cure all for all  of life's problems, of course. But it is the one truths we can always depend on to give purpose to life, grace mercy and peace. With God He gives to us.

Creatures of Dust

Psalm 103:14
He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.

THE TENDER PATIENCE OF your Father toward you can be one of the most comforting aspects of your grace walk. We all tend to be hard on ourselves at times. We find ourselves disappointed that we didn't do better in a given situation. We may criticize ourselves or even feel disgust when we look at our shortcoming.
    Your Father doesn't have that kind of critical attitude toward you. Jesus lived in this world as a man, and He understands what it is to live in a human body. He sits beside the right hand of His Father right now and, as a man mediates your humanity to the Father. The wonder of that reality is that God understands.
     He isn't angry toward you. He isn't impatient. He isn't frustrated because you won't get your act together. Your Father is patient and kind, tenderly working in Your life to bring you to maturity. He won't give up on you but will lovingly nuture you toward becoming the person outwardly. He has already made your to be in the inside. Just trust Him and show yourself plenty of grace. He does.

Jesus our Teacher

Titus 2:11-12
The grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensible righteously and godly in the present age.

The fear that teaching grace will cause people to become careless in their walk is unfounded. Understanding the grace of God never cause anybody to take sin lightly. To the contrary, grace takes person's focus off sin altogether and draws his or her attention and energy to living a godly lifestyle.
   Grace is a teacher because grace is a person. The Spirit of Jesus us the spirit if Grace, who instructs and inspires you to live the kind of lifestyle that honors God in this world. Grace creates godly desires within you and empowers you to see those desires realized.
    Anybody who wants that you had better be careful about grace teaching hasn't understood the authentic gracevof the Father expressed through His Son by the Spirit. You don't have to worry about grace leading you to go astray in your grace walk. It will have the exact opposite effect.

The Value Of One

Luke 15:4
What man. . .having a hundred sheep, if he loses one them, does not leave the ninety- nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost?

ONLY HOURS BEFORE Kim Haskins high school graduation, an auto accident took the life of her father and left kim and her mother hospitalized. The next day, Joe Garrett Kim's high school principal. Visited her at the hospital and said they wanted to do something special for her at the school. The Gazette (Colorado springs) article by James drew  described the outpouring of love and support as the teachers Administrator's, and classmates deeply touched by Kim's loss filled the high school auditorium a few days later at the graduation ceremony just for her. (Read Luke 15: 1-10).
   Principal Garrett said, "we talk a lot in education about no child left behind. In the military, they talk about no left behind. Today this is about no graduate left behind."
    Jesus underscore the importance of every person to God with three stories about something lost-- a sheep. A coin and a son (Luke15). In each story, a person has lost something of great value. When it is found, friends and neighbors are called to celebrate and rejoice together.
   The point is clear: we are all of great value to God who offers bus forgiveness and new life through Christ. And He faithfully pursues us with His love and grace.There is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (v.7).

Labouring His mighty work

Collosians 1:29
For the purpose also I labor striving according to His power, which mightily work within me

Experiencing the grace walk is to know the invigorating reality of Jesus Christ literally expressing Himself through you with your personality your thoughts, and your unique characteristics. It is a life energized by divinity as opposed to a religious struggle that originates from your own frail humanity.
   Grace doesn't cause  person to become lazy or uninterested in spiritual service. To the contrary, the grace of Jesus motivates us to serve with the power of heaven pulsing through our actions. The word denotes the idea of work on steroids
    Those who suggest that grace leads to passivity haven't personally experienced the joy of seeing mighty work that make an eternal difference flowing from their lives without a struggle. Your lifestyle in serving God isn't passive, but it is effortless because it isn't by your determination that you work. It is by His power that mightily works in you.
   Yield yourself to the spirit of Christ. Ask Him to work mightily through you in your daily routine. He will Accomplish the miraculous through you, His chosen vessel.

A Futile Attempt

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eye, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and ate.

When Eve ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, was she was trying to do something evil? If we think this, we miss a crucial point. Eve wasn't trying to do something wrong. She was trying to do something good. The serpent had told her that to eat from the tree would cause her to "be like God."
  Eve's deception came in forgetting that she was already like God. She had been  created in His image. It was an unnecessary and futile attempt to do anything to improve herself.
   Don't fall for the lie that you need to do something to be more godly. Your Union with Jesus Christ has created you in righteousness and holiness. Accept who you are, and don't sin by trying to do something God has said not to do, even if you think it's good thing.

Personal Ability

Exodus 4:2-4
The Lord said to him, "what is that in your hand?" And he said, "A staff," Then He said, "Throw it in the ground," So he throw it in the ground and it became a serpent and Moses fled from it. But the Lord said to Moses, "Stretched out your hand and grip it by tail"---so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand.

WHEN GOD SENT MOSES INTO THE DESERT, he lost everything he had known. The only way he he still provided for himself was a Shepherd. It was his last thin stand of self a sufficiency. His shepherd's staff represented his ability to survived, even in the hardest times.
   So God did what He always does when He wants to work through a person's life in a miraculous way. He had Moses throw his staff down. We cannot rely on our own ability if we are to fulfill our own divine destiny in life.
   When Moses threw the staff down, it became a snake. Dependence on our ability instead of God is always poisonous. However, once Moses saw that miracle. God told him to pick the staff back up. It's not the ability itself that is wrong. Our mistake comes when we don't depend in God.
    God Will use your ability for His glory, but never forget that it is He not the ability you possess who equip you. Glory to God.

Divine Faithfulness

2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

NOTHING BRINGS A GREATER experience of spiritual test than knowing that our acceptance by our God is based in His Faithfulness and not our own. The Father, Son, and the Holy have entered. Into an eternal agreement together concerning you. In Christ your security has been established forever. It isn't because of what you may do or not do, but because of what He has done.
   Until we realize the faithfulness of God toward us, our focus will invariably be in our own performance. We will Wonder if our faithfulness is consistent enough, strong, enough, and sincere enough to relax in the Father's acceptance. Once we realize that His faithfulness falters, we will be able to enjoy the spiritual rest know only by those who truly understand His grace.
   Meditate on the faithfulness of God toward you, and you will be released from having to examine your own faithfulness toward Him. The power of grace is that, once you fully believe in His faithfulness, your own will increase exponentially.

I WANT TO GO HOME

2 Peter 3:13

"But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness

After a week of fun---filled activities at a recent retreat, I listened as the microphone was passed from family to family, each tearfully sharing how wonderfully the time had been. Some talked of the meeting new friends. Others, of the games, music, and hikes. A few said how they wished the week could go on and on.
   Then little red- haired, freckle-face Jeff raised his hand. He had Down syndrome and had won the hearts of many people at the retreat. People had been captivated by his winsome smile and joyful spirit. Everyone leaned forward to hear his words. Jeff grabbed the mike and kept it short and sweet as he bellowed: "Let's go home!: He smiled, bowed, and handed back the microphone. Everyone roared with laughter. His mother told me later that, even though Jeff had thoroughly immersed himself in the week's festivities, he missed his daddy back home.
   I identify with Jeff. The good things in this world are pleasant enough, but would we really wish for it to go on as it is?  I don't think so. The good things in this life are merely omens of even greater, more glorious things yet to come. God would not have us mistake this world for permanent dwelling. And I'm with Jeff. It's a good life, but I am looking forward to going home. I miss my Dad.
   "Home is where your heart is. "Never was a saying more true. For when Jesus capture your heart, you are then able to look forward to your of righteousness.
   

THE NAME OF LORD

Proverb 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe"

WHEN GOD INVITES US TO CALL ON HIS NAME, we should never be at a loss as to which name to use. You are my Refuge and my Fortress. No evil shall befall me no accident shall overtake me-- nor any plague or calamity come near my home. As I go, I say, "Let me pass over to the other side," and I have what I say, for my heart and mind are firmly fixed and stay in you keep me in perfect peace. My sleep is sweet, for You give blessings to me in sleep.
"Give thank to the Lord, call in His name. Glory in His Holy Name, let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice, Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."
" Fire does not change whether it warms or illumines or burns. In the same way, in addressing God, we use His various names because of the various effects of His unchanging love upon us." Dig through Scripture to find that name of God that best expresses your heart. He is your Rock. The Door. A wall of Fire. Your Bread and water. Your King and your Friend. And your wonderful counselor.

GOD'S STAMP

Psalm 105:37
He [ God] brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble among their tribes

You can see from the Scripture that it was God's plan for everything connected with Israel to bear the stamped of prosperity and success. Furthermore, disease and sickness were not to be tolerated among them.
  And so it should be with the church. everything connected with body of Christ the new Testament Church, should bear the stamp of prosperity, success, healing, surplus, and health.
   What God said concerning Israel, He said in so many words concerning the Church. Roman 1:16 say, "for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation. . . . " footnote on the word "salvation" states that the Greek and Hebrew words translated "salvation" imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and health (soundness). The Gospel of Jesus Christ, then, is the power of God  unto deliverance. It is the power of God unto safety and preservation. It is the power of God into healing and health.

IF I WERE HUNGRY

Psalm 50:12
If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.

The world of religion puts such an emphasis on what we are to do for God. This mistake emphasis isn't benign, because it gives people the impression that there really is something we could do for God. That false understanding easily leads to notion He need us to do His work.
God doesn't need anything. With divine wit, He spoke through the psalmist, "If I were hungry I wouldn't tell you." God has everything that He need. Our service allowing us to participate in what He is doing in this world. He certainly could do it without us.
Renounced the idea that God is expecting
You to do something for Him. Replace the faulty view with that truth that He allow you to join Him in what He's doing in this world. God doesn't need you, but the beauty of grace is that He allow it when you partner with Him together in what He's doing in this world. Gain that perspective and you'll find that service become a real joy.

LOVE OPPOSITE

Ephesians 4:19
"Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

What, would you say, is the opposite of love? Would you answer, "hate"? Many would agree that hate is the antonym of love, but consider this: Lust is love's opposite.
   Love can always wait to give, but lust can hardly wait to get. Love is never self-seeking, but lust always place it's selfish desires first. Love is patient and kind, but lust burns with impatience. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. On the other hand, lust twists the truth and delights in whitewashing evil to make it look acceptable.
   In fact, if you're looking for a definition for lust, flip to 1 Corinthians 13 and replace the words "lust is not" for "love is. " You will discover that it character traits include insensitivity, sensuality, impurity, and a continual desire to indulge.
    Is there someone whose time, attention, and affection you crave? Perhaps it's  not a person that you grasp for, but position, or power. Desire for someone or something becomes in ordinate when it becomes consuming. So ask yourself this honest question, "How much time in a day do I spend thinking about this person? Or this position? " also, "Where or to whom do my thoughts drift when mind is relaxed?"
If an extraordinary amount of time is spent seeking this person or thing in your thoughts, then take the advice of Colossians 3:5 , put to death, therefore, wherever belongs to your earthly nature. . . impurity, lust, evil desires."

BY THY WORDS

Matthew 12:37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned

Jesus Himself made the above statement. Words are much More. Important than many people realize.
   Do you remembers Job and those three so called "friends" who came as comforters and stayed as tormentors was. "How long will ye vex my soul, AND BREAK ME IN PIECES WITH WORDS." (Job 19.2).
       Words make us, or break us.
       Words heal us, or make us sick.
       According to the teaching of the Bible, words destroyed us, or words make us full of life, happy, and healthy.
       Words that we spoke yesterday make life what it is today.
       That agrees with what Jesus said in Mark 11:23,. ". . he shall have whatsoever he SAITH."
       Those things which you say are words. In fact, you could read that last phrase like this "he shall have the words that he speaks."

YOU NEED TO ASK

James 4:2
You do not have, because  you do not ask God.

Does God ever gives what you have asked for when it is less best for you?  Psalm106 a passage that review 40 years God's people walk in the desert contain a sobering reference to this. It says, "so he [God] gave them what they asked for, but sending them wasting disease upon them. Psalm 106:13
   When you prayed there are three  question that you need to ask for yourself
First, ask, "is what I'm asking God to do consistent with what God has revealed in His Word? " this is important because God cannot contradict Himself
  For the Second question. Ask, "am I praying for God's will in this whole matter? We are to ask in faith, believing that God will honors His Word, yet the highest form of faith is praying as Jesus did 'not my will but your, be praying for the appears to be consistent with what God tells you in His Word, you can pray with greater confidence.
   Then you should ask the "will of God be glorified in what I'm asking Him to do? "Praying that your golf game be better than your opponent is suspect, and asking God to let you catch the biggest fish falls outside the line of respectable request.
Take heart in what John write, this is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask-- we know that we have what we asked of Him. (1John 5:14-15).

YES I'm Inadequate

Roman 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot it out.

NOTHING IS MORE FASCINATING to me than people what makes some succeed and others give up before they even try to accomplish something.
    An aphorism goes, "Ignorance his bliss." There is a grain of truth in that. For instance, many people who have been ignorant of the fact that they could not do something end up doing what others have said could not be done. They have what you call "initiative."
    Initiative, linked to the realization that only God can take you where believe He wants you to go, allows you to trust Him completely, to lean upon His grace and strength as opposed to your own ability. It is when you recognize your own inadequacy that you take the first step towards finding His strength and help. Read Paul's description of his own inadequacies in Romans 7. Then read on into the following chapter where Paul, energized by the Spirit of God, presents an entirely different picture. Later, when he wrote to the Philippians saying he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength, it was not to boast of his accomplishments but to recognize that God's strength is more than enough to overcome our inadequacies.
   The giants are out there. The mountains are tall and the chasm across the raging rivers are deep, but He is greater than them all. Those who lack much trust much. Initiative, exercised in faith, is the secret of accomplishing what God wants you to do.