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Gospel of Matthew

Salt, Anyone?

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I thought this was interesting. Perhaps you will too.

Matthew 5:13 (NKJV)13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. source

SALT A chemical compound composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) used to preserve, purify, and season food.

Overview
Salt is one of the most common substances on the earth and cannot be destroyed by fire or time. Also known as “white gold,” it is one of the most significant substances in history, along with iron, gold, and wheat. In ancient societies it was a valuable social and economic commodity. 

II, R. G. R. (2016). Salt. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Okay.  In summary, salt is used to preserve, purify and season; and salt cannot be destroyed by fire or time. 

I’d love to hear your spiritual parallels  Let us be salty! :)

Chazaq! 

2 Timothy, Gospel of Mark, Just Chatty Today

Through the Roof

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The Bible is big business. Have you perused a magazine lately  to see just what is being offered? I have a catalog. 68 pages. Yes! 68 pages of Bibles.

Such as: New Study Bibles
Church & Recovery Bibles
Economy & Outreach Bibles
Children’s Bibles
Pew Bibles
Church Bibles
Discipleship & Recovery Bibles
Student & Teen Bibles
Bible Bargains
Parallel & Wide-Margin Bibles
Specialty Bibles & Accessories
Journaling & Note-Taking Bibles

There are more.

My point? Glad you ask. 

Selling Bibles is a lucrative business, I think.  However, I also think it’s not the business GOD was fostering when He had the Manuscript penned. Not that He begrudges the printing, the selling or even the acquiring of a financial profit on the making of Bibles. I really don’t think He minds paying the oxen for a good day’s work. :)

Having said that, let me step on my own toes: if all those Bibles sold were faithfully, consistently read and obeyed, we’d be living in a better culture than this. 

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed. source 

See what I mean?
So.
Are we going to make the reading, studying and obeying the Bible our business? When we do I dare say our ‘profits’ will go through the roof!

Speaking of through the roof. Here’s a story about through the roof.
Luke 5:17-39 or
Mark 2:1-12

[My Beloved has read his a few times (well, more than a few), from the aforementioned addresses, he immediately recalled the event. ]

Chazaq! 

Ephesians, Romans

Always and Never

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This is a word someone needs today. I surely did!

Often I could respond on Social Media, particularly Facebook, with a snappy, TRUTHFUL comment but I don’t. Before my fingers can type it out my soul has said: ‘it would not be taken as kind’ and ‘it would not help’; ‘and besides that it would only inflame them’.

Ephesians 4:29  (TLV) 29 Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it. source 

I’m better at this in print that face to face. But I am learning! Well, that sounds like some kind of bragging, doesn’t it? Perhaps. 

Do you sometime hold your tongue at just the right time? Do you sometime hold your fingers from the keys at just the right time too?  Yes?

Then allow yourself some honest evaluation of yourself!
Let yourself be encouraged that you do not always say the wrong thing. That you do not always cut others with your words.  That you don’t always do the wrong thing. If we let ourselves be encouraged by the good decisions we have made, the good words we have spoken, the good actions we have taken – we just might do right more often! 

Here’s a verse admittedly taken out of context but it makes my point I think.

Romans 12:3 (CEB) 3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. source

It is crucial that we are HONEST with ourselves. It is crucial that we see ourselves as we really are – the bad and the good. Admit our sins and admit our obedience with humble gratitude, knowing that every good thing in us comes from Our Savior. It’s the only way we can be REAL. It’s the only way we can make a good difference in our spheres.

So! Let us be honest about ourselves and others. Those words Always and Never.  Mostly likely only GOD can wear those in truth. 

Chazaq! 

Guests

Screens

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I have some buzz to share.  It found its way to me today, unexpectedly, I might add! There are more than a few writing about it so I’m not going to belabor it by writing my own lengthy post; but I am asking you to familiarize yourself with the message, the pros and the cons.  You could spend substantial time reading post after post; herein I am offering you a few. Particularly though I’m asking you to consider praying. 

This is the caption that caught my eye: THE IPAD IS A FAR BIGGER THREAT TO OUR CHILDREN THAN ANYONE REALIZES

Another post: Why is an iPad like a cooker? (And why do all parents need to know the answer?)

And a more moderate one:  Middle-class angst over technology in the early years

So what is the buzz? Screens! And the hours our children and grandchildren spend zoned in on them.

Isn’t it ironic that I am using one of subject screen medias to get this message to you? Obviously, getting rid of all screens is not the solution but after reading the above I think you will agree there is a threat to address.

Truthfully, I am relieved that I do not have children young enough that GOD expects me to steward them in this regard. However, I do have grandchildren. Yet, even if I did not, should not the love of GOD move me to look after, at least in prayer, my neighbors’ young ones? 

Fresh Air
Face to face fun
Face to book reading
Hand to paper creating and
Parental face to child face loving attention
Screens do not deliver on these but they do deter. 

Abba, thank You for alerting me. I don’t know what You want me to do, I don’t even know what I am capable of doing in this but this I know I must pray. I must have Your voice here. I want Your help even within my own family. I see it. I see what is happening and I am worried. I am asking You to intervene and help us. I pray parents will cooperate with You so You do not have to get drastic with all of us. Holy Spirit, would You be of a mind to raise up enough Prayer Warriors to move the hearts and wills of parents and grandparents to rescue our children and save this and the next generation for JESUS sake? I pray You will let me be one of those. I pray to see You do this divine intervention. Amen and Amen.

Chazaq!