Salt of the Earth

“Let me tell you why  you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness  You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-15, Message Paraphrase

In the last few days I have come to a deeper understanding of what Jesus meant about being the salt of the Earth in the greatest sermon that was probably ever preached...the Sermon on the Mount. This understanding came from my toddler. I want you to know that I've not arrived at this understanding in a patient way. Jeremy built me a beautiful farmhouse table this January and my sweet mama bought me a decorative paper towel holder with a salt and pepper shaker attached. Super cute. What's NOT so cute is that JohnDavid LOVES to dump this salt out everywhere. It hit me yesterday that salt, as I was sweeping for what felt like 1852 time, no matter where it comes from, the beach (you know what I'm talking about...salt in every crack and crevice you never knew you had!) or the table, salt gets everywhere and almost impossible to clean up because you can't see it well...even if you vacuum I've discovered there will still be salt. I love salt, not to a bad degree but food without it is so bland. We, Christians, are here to display godliness and to flavor the world with the characteristics of God. Are you doing that? Am I doing that? Are we just dumped out on the floor instead of flavoring food? Or are we clumped up stuck together like moist salt unable to flavor the people we come in contact with? I'm challenged by the persistence of the salt and I realize that I can be useful or useless as a Christian in this world. I want to be a useful vessel for the Kingdom of Christ! What about you?? Choose today to be a useful vessel! Mirror Christ. Shine your light BRIGHTLY! It's interesting to me that salt is clear and hard to see. Is it hard for people to tell that you're a Christian? I'm asking myself that same question. We don't get seen by wearing Jesus t-shirts and bumper stickers...we get seen when we are loving people (flavoring) like Jesus did. No coincidence I'm writing this today on a day we vote. Christians in America rise up and flavor this nation with godliness; we need to demand our voice be heard.

She's So Right...

I was reading an article from www.gospelcenteredmom.com just a moment ago and her article couldn't have been more relevant for me in this season of parenting. The saying "the days are long but the years are short" is oh so true. JohnDavid is now 20 months old...that's 4 months shy of TWO! I can't remember life before him and it seems as though I've always been his mommy, and yet it really does seem like he just got here! Anyhow, this stage of toddlerhood for us has it's difficult moments, hours, days, and weeks. As mommy, I'm included in the difficult moments. I'm not always the mother I should be. It takes so much persistence and consistency to parent, especially biblically, and though I'd like to think I'm doing a good job, there are times when I'm not simply because it's easier. I very much appreciate her aspect on disobedience and how sinful we all are, even those tiny precious babies of ours. ;-)

http://www.gospelcenteredmom.com/2015/12/parents-stop-expecting-your-kids-to-obey.html

Happy Friday, friends. We're off to our choir Christmas party.

Marvelous Monday

Hey Hey Hey!

It's Monday already again! I used to dread Monday's when I worked outside of the home, but now that I don't, I look forward to Monday's for a couple of reasons (although, I miss my hubby and I miss hanging with our family that works!):

1) We get the bed all to ourselves after 6am, not that I don't LOVE it when all three of us are in the bed, but who doesn't love more room?? ;) Jeremy probably isn't buying my answer.

2) I'm reminded how blessed I am to stay at home every Monday...I don't have to drop my baby off or clock in anywhere or tend to anyone but JohnDavid and I love that. I listened to a podcast this morning and a specific part spoke to me about parenting. God doesn't call us to save our children or make them godly because we cannot do that; only He can save, but he does call us to be godly parents. That's my goal. What's yours?

We had a great weekend! Jeremy works 4 10 hour days and he's off every Friday! As much as I really liked him getting home at 4 every day, I do enjoy having him the whole day of Friday. (when he's not fishing!) ;) We spent this past Friday at Gulfarium in Ft. Walton, Florida. It wasn't as good as Gulf World in Panama City Beach, but we had a great time and that's all that counts! We enjoyed a kid-free weekend after that as JohnDavid stayed the night with Jeremy's parents Friday and my parents Saturday/Saturday night. We rode four wheelers until the wee hours of the morning like teenagers and loved every minute of it. Saturday we rode down to the beach with some good friends to celebrate a birthday! The beach was gorgeous except for the jellyfish stings! We enjoyed food, fellowship, and fun games including frisbee and arcade games at Dave and Busters. Sunday was a wonderful day of worship at Providence Baptist Church followed by a delicious lunch with the Sullivan clan.

Today, JohnDavid and I have been on the road. We have ran more than enough errands and he was such a trooper so we stopped at the park in Daleville to burn some energy! I noticed this afternoon his ear was draining...which means an ear infection since he has tubes already and they are draining out. This explains why he's not eaten much of anything in two days. Poor fella. Please pray the antibiotics work quickly and that he feels better soon! He's currently napping and I'm about to tackle some budgeting and decluttering. Hope your weekend was wonderful!