Reflections

Several months ago, I was struck by a section of scripture that I have read many times in my life.
Matthew 5:13ff, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put is on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
In an earlier blog, I wrote how God has been impressing on me the importance of each word in His Word. The same held true in this instance. You are the salt of the earth. It doesn't say, "you can be" or "you will be some day" or "you need to be" - no it simply says, "you ARE the salt of the earth." In the past, I've heard many speakers talk about the importance of salt - as a preservative and as a flavor enhancer, but I don't recall any speaker ever focusing on the word ARE. Tonight, after months of the Spirit bringing this verse to my mind over and over, Pastor David spoke on the book of Malachi. He spoke about the importance of living a life of integrity before God and man, "our lips and life should match." He spoke about the problems in this world and the many people all around us who do not choose Christ. Then David said, "maybe the fault is in the salt." BAM!! There I was back at Matthew 5.
You ARE the salt of the earth... So what does that mean? What is it that God is trying to reveal to me in His Word? Each individual word seems so simple. When I think about salt, it strikes me that it is not the presence of salt, but the absence of salt that is usually noticed first. Food becomes unpalatable or even rotten in the absence of salt. Salt is not the main ingredient - but its absence changes everything. What an awesome responsibility we have Lord! ARE - a statement of fact, a command or, perhaps, a confirmation of my purpose? ARE - present tense; in the now; in this moment I am salt.
Do I realize that I am salt every moment of every day? How does that thought affect my daily actions and interactions? Father, I confess that I miss my students. How much I loved them, Lord. How much I wanted to give of my life to them. Did they know? Father, I confess that I wonder at your purposes for me in this moment of my life - forgive me Lord for forgetting that I am salt in every environment you place me and in the midst of every circumstance. Help me Father to live out your unique purpose for me each day with joy and anticipation. Pastor David was right - the fault is in the salt. Thank you for loving me so much.

His Sweet Reminders

Today I was surprised by "catastrophy". A year's worth of my work - including reports, data, technology inventory, lesson plans, activities, projects, assessments, and research was lost. The immediate panic that set in robbed me of the ability to think and put my emotions in high gear. I tried to remain composed for the good of those around me, but was almost paralyzed in trying to fight back. Going through the motions at work, I prayed for sanity. As soon as I was able to be alone went before His throne, "really God, is it possible that I can fall apart this quickly? - forgive me Father for my sheer despair, forgive me for my meltdown, help me to focus on what lasts. Then the pictures started coming - God's precious gift of life: Anna Rae - my new granddaughter. God's first sweet reminder - thank you Father for holding me up with sweet reminders. The next blessing was a sweet lunch with my sister Joanne - Father how you've blessed me. The third sweet reminder came on my drive home - a call from D'Andre, my 8-year-old grandson. "Hi, Oma, I love you." "I love you too Dre, are you calling just to talk?" "No, I heard you had a very bad day today - I just wanted to tell you I love you, you want to tell me what happened?" Father, Father, my heart cried out - how sweet your reminders, my cup runneth over. Lord God, you are so personal - I thank you for loving me so much. These are the moments of grace that are so sweet to me, that strengthen my faith and humble me at the same time. These are the moments when the old hymns of faith rush back into my mind: "Great is thy Faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not; as Thou has been thou forever wilt be..."

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Psalm 46:10 is a verse that God has brought me back to over and over again during the last 37 years, but it wasn't until just a few months ago that I noticed the comma. For 37 years, I read the verse as "be still and know" as if the two could somehow be done simultaneously. In the busyness that is me, multi-tasking seems normal - but I've now been confronted with the comma. A comma calls for a pause, signals a sequential occurance, or even a progression in thought. God is teaching me that every minute part of scripture is purposeful and wrought with meaning. First: be still - forget the todo's, the worries, and the unfinished tasks; ignore the world's clamor, the tube, the music and the phone; stop the hurried pace and the 100 mph racing of the mind. BE STILL - a command or the soft-spoken whisper? More and more it seems to me that my Father is holding me in His arms and whispering "shhh now my child, be still." Second: and know - be fully aware, understand, comprehend to the level of application. What does it mean to KNOW God? Do I live with the full realization of God's Holiness? Do I live out a life of awe at the immensity of who God is? The faith of a child seems to be so much closer to this KNOW - the child who says, "God is soooooo big, He is bigger than anything!" Am I fully aware? Do I really understand? ... or have I oversimplified my God? God, in His mercy, calls me to be still, and know... - to show me again that He is holy, awesome, mighty, righteous, all-powerful, glorious, unchangeable, unfathomable... Shhhhh, He whispers - BE STILL now my child, now let me remind you again of who I AM. I AM He who said, "have no other gods before me." I AM He who said, "come to me all who labor." I AM He who formed you. I AM He who bought you with blood. I AM He who is doing a mighty work in you. I AM He who loves you. No, He is not someone you mess with or oversimplify. He is the one who spoke the universe into existence and retains full control. Yes, He's got the whole world in His hands, but as for me? He's my daddy, I'm His child. He holds me in His mighty and safe arms - and that simply blows my mind!