Finding the peace we need for the turbulent times

I think my television remote’s “mute button” is beginning to wear out. By this point in the political season, I just don’t want to listen to the rhetoric or the ugly ads any longer. A mute button brings a refreshing silence into the room and our lives.

God recommends we find a mute button for the world if we want to experience his peace in our lives. We need to pursue silence so we can listen for his peace-filled voice instead. The prophet Isaiah praised God, saying, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3–4).

The moment we realize that the world’s angst is controlling our thoughts and choices, we need to focus on God and trust him. That trust in God is our “everlasting rock” and our source of peace for the turbulent times of life.

The peace of God

There are so many important news stories right now, any of which would carry a normal news cycle. I check on Israel throughout the day as tensions in the Middle East continue to remain a significant crisis. I’m grieving for the thousands of people along the East Coast, especially in North Carolina, who have had their entire lives upended by the hurricane. I like to keep up with the ever-changing news about the presidential election. I don’t think I’ve watched this much news since 9/11 and 2020.

Each day, I have to remind myself to pursue God and his word more than I pursue the news of this world. I was reading a long list of Bible verses about God’s peace when I saw Jesus’ words to his disciples. He was sending them out into the world to do ministry when he said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:34–36).

Jesus told us not to expect the gospel message to give peace to the world. In many cases, sharing the gospel will divide us from others. But Jesus also promised his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

The peace of God we need for the turbulent times of life is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. God’s peace is not something we can create for ourselves or discover in the world. Instead, it is something we receive from the Creator of the world.

How do we receive the peace of God?

Again, God’s peace is a gift we must receive. How can we open our hearts, hands, and lives to allow God to pour out his peace?

  1. Position ourselves to receive his peace. Paul told the church in Rome, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). When the world seems volatile or our lives are stress-filled, we can set our minds on the reality of the Spirit’s work in our lives and trust that God’s perfect peace will follow.
  2. Trust we need God’s peace more than the peace the world offers. As Christians, we should love God’s word more than we love the promises of the world. “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165). We are hearing a lot of “promises” from politicians and others these days that we might like to believe, but common sense tells us those are goals or possibilities rather than promises. God’s word contains promises that we can trust as truth. If we will love his word that promises our peace, we will not “stumble” over our disappointments.
  3. Understand that God’s peace is our blessing as we acknowledge and follow his guiding Presence in our lives. The church in the city of Corinth experienced a number of turbulent times. Some of their troubles came from within the church, while others came from without. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians saying, “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). When God is invited to join you in your tough times, he arrives with his gift of perfect peace.

Live with God’s peace as our visible witness

Over the years, I have seen the reality of God’s peace in the lives of his children. As a minister’s wife, I have sat and prayed with people who were going through the worst moments of their lives. The moments can be painful and the future is unknowable, but the Presence of God in those turbulent moments can be a tangible reality. When God was invited into those moments, his Presence brought a peace that truly was beyond understanding.

I have been blessed to witness the work of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of his children, and I have seen God’s power. I don’t question God’s peace because I have witnessed it. 

That’s why God allows those moments to be part of our earthly lives. Because, as James wrote, you should, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4).

Let’s make the effort to mute the world’s news and the world’s promises this week. Let’s choose instead to enjoy the quiet peace of God’s promises and the reality of his Presence in our lives. There are so many things to care about right now, but nothing is more important than trusting God’s word and receiving his peace for each day.

Will you find and use that mute button today? May his perfect peace be your great reward.

 

The power of joy can fix your face

Christians owe it to God to consider their face and make the necessary improvements.

I’m not talking about Botox, fillers, makeup, or using your napkin after a meal. I’m talking about the expressions on our faces that others see throughout the day.  

What does your face look like during church? Walking through the grocery store? Waiting in a line? Waiting at a stop light? Talking to a friend? Talking to someone who is definitely not a friend?  

What does your face look like when you aren’t thinking about it? That is a very real part of our daily witness so it is worth considering. If our face doesn’t indicate our faith, then we should think about fixing it.  

Consider this: the power of joy can fix your face. 

Spiritual Botox 

According to this article, people in America spent more than $2.2 billion on Botox last year. I watched the red carpet show for the Academy Awards, and I’m pretty sure half of those dollars were spent in Hollywood! I didn’t even recognize some of the older actors and actresses. They did interviews, and the only part of their face that moved was their over-plumped lips. It was kind of eerie watching them speak. 

I’m not a big fan of all the cosmetic procedures that are now available. There is a huge profit for those who administer these procedures. Meanwhile, it’s getting more difficult to find a doctor who wants to treat our important health needs. We might need to evaluate our priorities just a bit. 

It’s okay to get old and it’s okay to get wrinkled. For Christians, it just means that you likely have wisdom, experience, and a shorter walk to the gates of heaven. Why would we want to erase our smile lines that indicate we have lived a life of joy and laughter? 

James, the half-brother of Jesus, prescribed some spiritual Botox. He said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4). 

People earn their wrinkles by living a life full of trials and tests. Spiritual Botox is to count it all joy knowing even the tough times help us perfect our faith. Joy has the power to fix our faces into peaceful smiles as “steadfastness” has its “full effect.” When our face carries a smile, we can tell the world we are Christians who are “lacking in nothing” because our hope is in the Lord. 

Spiritual fillers 

I must confess that I knew “fillers” were popular, but I didn’t really know much about them. I googled and was amazed at the quantity of stuff that is now being injected into people’s faces. Fillers are expensive and very popular. I’m sixty-five years old and could probably benefit from a few fillers, but frankly I’m way too frugal (or cheap) to think it worth the time and money. 

This is the face God gave me, and I’m good with that. Maybe I’ll change my mind a decade from now, but so far I’m okay with my lines, wrinkles, etc. I’d rather have that money in my bank account. 

We have a spiritual “bank account” in addition to our earthly one. Each day we invest in this world and we invest in our treasure in heaven. Our faith will determine our earthly priorities and our eternal investments. The apostle Peter said, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9). 

Every day there are moments when our face will reflect our faith. When are those moments for you? Is anyone else aware that your smile is sourced in the joy of your faith and the hope of your salvation? How can you help them see and know the Author of your joy? 

The glory of God is the best “filler” for our faith and for our face. When we believe in him, we “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.” People will notice joy on your face more than they will notice a wrinkle or two! 

How do you obtain a spiritual facelift? 

The psalmist tells us how to obtain the fullness of joy for our face. He praised God, saying, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). 

If you want or need a spiritual facelift, spend time in the holy presence of God. God will put a smile on your face because he will provide his joy to your life. Christians will one day dwell in his presence, but, for now, we need to make daily, frequent visits to the throne of heaven.  

God is “the God of hope” and faith is the spiritual “filler” our faces need. People will see the beauty of Christ within us, and that is our best witness to the world. 

Are you ready to fix your face? 

I close with these words from Paul. His wish for the church in Rome is my wish for all my readers today. Paul said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).  

I hope these words from a blog post put a smile on your face because they provided his joy to your soul. Now, carry that joy throughout your day and allow your face to reflect your faith to the world. I bet someone will comment on your smile today if you do!

We are at war

Every month there is another email about a possible data link involving our information. I continue to be shocked by the cost of groceries and the price of a new sweater. My cell phone is ringing constantly with telemarketers, or worse. Social media is a playground for bad guys who are smarter at technology than most of us. The border is open and the media companies are now reporting the news with their own biases and opinions. 

Wars are raging, but the fact they are not in our backyard might mean we don’t realize we are at war too. We tend to deal with life in a day-to-day, month-to-month fashion. Our enemies’ strategy is generational. They are playing to win the long game. In many ways, today’s culture has taken their ideas right out of Satan’s strategies for spiritual warfare. 

Christians are at war and we always have been at war. The difference is our changing sense of responsibility toward the victims. When I say, “We are at war,” how do you define we? 

Satan wants servants too

Christians are well aware that we are called to serve God and others. That was the example Jesus set for us. Serving God is often the subject of Sunday sermons, Bible studies, and articles like this one. I recently heard my husband talking to my son Ryan about the backlash on NBC’s reporting of C. J. Stroud’s interview and realized that Satan wants people to serve his plans as well. 

Stroud is the rookie quarterback for the Texans who had a phenomenal year. He was interviewed after his playoff game and said, “First of all, I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” When NBC posted the clip of Stroud’s interview just moments later, they had edited out those words of testimony. Stroud had considered those words about the Lord most important and put them first. Did NBC consider Stroud’s first statement unnecessary, unimportant, or maybe unlike their opinion and brand? The good news is that even the New York Post cried foul on their reporting! 

There is a huge trend in the media right now to shut down any message about Christ and Christian values. It has become abundantly clear that Christians are at war with popular thinking. It serves as a good reminder that God’s people have always been at war with Satan’s strategies. We have just reached a new level of involvement because the fight is now in our backyard. 

Joshua knew his people would never be able to sit back and relax. The enemies had been defeated, but they hadn’t been demolished. The popular foreign gods weren’t real, but people still served them. Jesus will defeat Satan one day, but for now, the devil is still very much at work in this world. That’s why Joshua warned the Jewish people, “If it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lᴏʀᴅ, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lᴏʀᴅ” (Joshua 24:15). 

If we don’t serve God, we will serve Satan. We are in a war, and we have daily choices to make. 

Practical ways to serve God’s purpose and avoid Satan’s

1. Learn to recognize Satan disguises himself as “a good guy.” 

Paul wrote, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Christians are less likely to be tempted by what is obviously evil. Therefore, Satan tempts God’s people to do what appears to be good at the expense of doing what is godly. 

For example, there are a lot of Christians who feel like kinder, better people when they don’t condemn a person for their sin. That is a biblical position, but only if they don’t condone the sin by their silence or words of support. We all sin (Romans 3:23), but none of us are supposed to teach that sin is acceptable or unpreventable. If a person’s sin keeps them from choosing God’s higher calling to be godly, then that person will live with the consequences of their sin eternally. 

2. Satan is a murderer and incapable of truth.  

Jesus taught his disciples that Satan “was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). 

We live in a culture that is often more accepting of partial truth than full truth. God’s word teaches us that if something is only partial truth, it isn’t of God. When you study the temptations of Adam and Eve, or Christ, you will see that Satan quotes just enough Scripture to appear credible. That is the best way to recognize if an idea or belief is false. If an idea does not stand up to the full light of Scripture, you can know who authored the idea. Satan uses just enough truth to hide the fact he is a liar. That is Satan’s character, and there is no light, no truth, in him.

3. When we don’t serve God’s will, we will serve Satan’s.  

Paul told the Corinthians, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  

Christians would never want to serve Satan, but we all do. If we have been gifted through salvation with God’s Holy Spirit, we are saved, and Satan cannot have our souls. When we don’t use the gift God gave us, when we don’t “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), we are not serving God, we are serving Satan. If we encourage or enable people to live apart from God’s truth, we serve Satan’s purpose. He wants to “blind the minds of the unbelievers” so they will not desire to know the light of the gospel. Satan doesn’t want Christians to follow Christ because “Christ is the image of God.” If we don’t “walk in the way,” then we won’t lead others to their salvation in Christ.

4. Recognize we are at war.  

A “pacifist” is someone who opposes war or finds it “unjustifiable.” Paul said, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). As Christians we are called to fight against what Satan wants to do in this world, but lately we have been influenced or encouraged to be a pacifist rather than a soldier. 

Many in our culture find Christian beliefs and values to be “unjustifiable,” and that is a normal response for an unbeliever. Satan “blinds” unbelievers to the truth. What is changing is the tendency for God’s people to see some of Scripture, which is God’s truth, as “unjustifiable” too. God would tell us what he told Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). We are at war and the battleground is often “biblical truth.” Pacifism about God’s word is not an option for those who are called to serve God.

Are you willing to fight to win? 

I’ve spent most of my Christian life aware of the “war” against Satan’s ideas. Never in my life have I been so aware that the front line is now in my own backyard. The frontlines exist now in many of our churches in addition to other places of influence in the culture. 

It was easier to think about spiritual warfare when most of the fighting was at a distance. Now, the fight is near and feels more personal because we are fighting for our own witness. 

Jesus said, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). That verse takes on new meaning when the fight is in our own backyard. And the fight is in our own backyard. 

Are you willing to fight to win? 

Wishing you a Charlie Brown Christmas

There are very few things on television today that I watched as a kid. I was a second-grader in 1965, the year A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted. I have probably watched the thirty-minute cartoon almost every year since.

When my boys were little, we sat together as a family, ate popcorn, and enjoyed the same cartoon Jim and I had seen when we were their age. Now, my grandchildren are about the age we were in 1965, and I hope they will all have a chance to watch it as a family this year. 

Charlie Brown’s question is still ours today 

Charlie Brown and Linus were walking together to go ice skating when Charlie confessed he was a little depressed over all that the Christmas season had become. 

Snoopy had entered his doghouse in a decorating contest. Lucy wanted real estate for Christmas. Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally asked her brother to write a letter to Santa Claus for her so she could ask for everything she wanted, and it was a LONG list.  

Charlie Brown lamented to Linus about how commercialized Christmas had become. Lucy later counseled Charlie to get involved in a Christmas play to get over his depression. That job just made things even worse. His friends remained distracted and uninterested in the play. 

Charlie decided the play needed a Christmas tree, and the only real tree left on the lot left a lot to be desired. Everyone laughed at Charlie Brown’s tree. As he walked away with his head hanging, he asked, “Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?” 

Fifty-eight years later our world is still asking that question. Fifty-eight years later, the answer is still the same. 

What is Christmas all about? 

Charlie Brown and all the other kids watched Linus take the stage and lay down his blanket. A hush fell over the room as the spotlight was aimed at Linus and he recited the answer.  

What is Christmas all about?

 

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:8–14)

The Christmas message, thanks to “Sparky” 

Coca-Cola wanted to sponsor a Christmas program. As one meeting led to another, the ad agent for Coca-Cola met with the man who had produced the Peanuts special, Lee Mendelson. Mendelson had worked with animator Bill Melendez and “Sparky,” otherwise known as Charles Schulz. The rest is history. 

They worked on possible themes and settled on the commercialization of Christmas. They were trying to develop an ending for the cartoon when Schulz recommended the reading from the book of Luke. In a wonderful article written by Jean Schulz, Charles’ wife, she provided the reason why God’s word made it into a Christmas cartoon. 

She wrote, “It was also in the early 1960s that Sparky was teaching adult Sunday school at the Sebastopol Methodist Church, so the suggestion for Linus to read the quotation of the Christmas Story from St. Luke was a natural one for Sparky. When Bill said that that wasn’t done in a cartoon, Sparky answered him by simply saying (and he quoted it frequently later), “If we don’t, who will.” 

In 1965 the cartoon was scheduled to air. Coca-Cola was disappointed in their investment. CBS reportedly hated it and predicted it would be a flop. Fifteen million people watched it that first year. Bonanza would be the only show with a higher audience.  

Fifty-eight years later, the “flop” is now being seen by its third generation. Every Christmas those words from the book of Luke are heard by millions of people. Sparky’s Christmas witness continues to this day. 

“If we don’t, who will?” 

Aren’t we grateful for “Sparky” Schulz? Aren’t we glad his wife gave us the inside story to the wonderful Christmas cartoon? 

I think if Charles Schulz could make a cartoon about Christmas today, he would still end it the same way, for the same reason.  

This Christmas I want to remember his motivation for all that I do. I want to make sure others hear about the true message of Christmas. Will you join me? 

Because “if we don’t, who will?” 

Luke 2:14 

Linus quoted from the King James Version of the Bible saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” I’d like to close this post with Luke 2:14 from the ESV. That version says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

The difference in the translations speaks a message to each of us. The ESV is clear. God’s favor, God’s peace, will be among those with “whom he is pleased.” Let’s follow Sparky’s witness this year and speak God’s word to people who need to hear it. A lot of people need to remember what Christmas is all about.  

If we won’t tell them, who will? 

May God find favor with us this Christmas season and give us his peace as we share his glory. 

Amen?

How does God say “I love you”?

Americans will spend about $26 billion this week on Valentine’s Day, which is about $2 billion more than last year. 

Yep, inflation is even hitting our heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, not to mention the cost of roses and steak dinners. 

And didn’t we just finish our Christmas shopping?

At least Easter is still two months away. 

America—and America’s retailers—do like their holidays. 

Five free Valentine’s gifts . . . maybe?

It’s good to have a day dedicated to the joy of having people to love, but we don’t need to break the bank to do that. Cosmopolitan Magazine had a few ideas for free, or almost free, giving: 

  • Decorating a mug with oil-based Sharpies using personal ideas or dates. (Don’t forget to bake the mug at 250 degrees for two hours after drawing on it. Apparently, that makes the marker permanent, and spreading ink all over someone’s hands does not say “I love you.”)  
  • They suggested a cheap feast of a person’s favorite junk foods, like Mcdonald’s fries or Oreos. (I’m not too sure about this one . . . but it would be cheap!)
  • Rewrite some song lyrics to personalize them for the one you love. (I suggest you choose wisely. You might want to avoid certain 70’s classics like “Send in the Clowns” or “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown.”)
  • Write notes, roll them up, and place them in balloons all over the room. (This sounds like a great idea unless the notes are an extension of the honey-do list. Imagine popping your valentine’s balloon only to read, “Please pick up my prescription while you are searching through the last seven valentine’s cards at CVS! Love ya’!”.)
  • Fill a jar with future date-night ideas. (Caution: This one may be cheap for Valentine’s Day but then could really cost you for the next few months!)

Six expensive gifts that are sure to impress . . . maybe?

SuccessStory.com went another direction with their article. They listed the most expensive Valentine’s Day suggestions they could find: 

  • Italian sunglasses from someone I never heard of that cost $412,000. (A person probably shouldn’t keep these in the cup holder of their car.)
  • An expensive pen that costs $720,000. It’s covered with diamonds and gemstones. (It will, however, run out of ink just like the free pens you get at the bank.)
  • A small heart-shaped purse that costs $3.7 million. It is covered in gold and diamonds. It does not, however, hold the extra-large cell phones that most of us carry.
  • A gold iPad will set you back about $6 million. (You can play Words with Friends in style, but it will still be tough to play the Q if you don’t have a U as well. Hint: Go with the word Qi if you can use a triple score for the Q.)
  • If your loved one isn’t tracking their steps on their watch, try the 201-carat watch that costs $24 million dollars. They won’t be congratulated when they reach their walking goal, but they will probably feel pretty good about themselves when someone asks them for the time.
  • Finally, if it is time to trade in the SUV, you can purchase the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for only $70 million. But, let’s face it . . . if you can afford that car, you probably don’t have the ability to get in and out of it anymore.

How does God say “I love you”?

If Jim drove up in that Ferrari, I would know God had performed a miracle. 

If I ever signed a check with that diamond pen, the person I was writing the check to would need to report a fraud alert. 

I often try to win the HGTV Dream Homes, and I’ve given the Lord opportunities to “provide” me with a million dollars, but let’s just say God’s response has always been, “Remember, the last shall be first and the first last.”  

Actually, I am a very blessed person in many ways. But I’m old enough to realize that no matter how much we have, we usually define enough as just one or two things more. One of the best things about heaven is that we will live completely content with all we have because we will know for certain it is all we need. 

Do you remember the first time you heard someone quote the familiar saying, “I asked Jesus how much do you love me?” 

“This much,” he answered. Then he stretched out his arms and died. 

I repeat that quote again because it is memorable and pretty well says it all. 

How did God say I love you? 

  • He gave his one and only Son so that we could be saved (John 3:16).
  • Even though we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
  • God has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
  • The Lord is on our side (Psalm 118:6).
  • The Lord is abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8).
  • God is love (1 John 4:8).

Whom will you give God’s love to this week?

God’s love is free to us but cost him his beloved Son. 

Interestingly, we receive God’s love freely, but it will likely cost us something to give it away. 

What are you willing to pay in order to give the very best valentine? 

When I was in elementary school, we covered shoe boxes with paper and then the teacher cut a hole in the lid so our classmates could drop valentines in for us. It was so fun to look through the cards and read them all several times. Those little heart-shaped cards were not expensive, but they were valuable. 

I remember the year I got a valentine that wouldn’t fit in my box. It was a real, grown-up valentine from a boy in my class. I felt special and proud to receive it. I still remember the boy’s name.  

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you get a special card this week from someone who loves you. But I also hope you know that every day you have a message of love sent your way by the God who is love. His love is perfect, profound, and permanent. His love saves, is sufficient, and strengthens.  

One day we will dwell with the daily blessings that are the gift of being greatly and powerfully loved. We are treasured by the One who owns all there is. That thought kind of makes that Ferrari pale in comparison! 

I wish all of you, my readers, a very blessed Valentine’s Day filled with the knowledge that you have been chosen by God and you are his beloved. 

(And if you get that heart-shaped purse, just buy a little burner phone at the drugstore to go inside! If you get that “feast” of all your favorite junk food, just enjoy the fries and buy yourself some chocolates the day after Valentine’s Day. They are half-priced then anyway!) 

Whatever your gift is for Valentine’s Day, you can know you are greatly loved by our great and perfect God. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The spiritual red zone

I’ve never watched so much football in my life! 

Last weekend my husband, Jim, and I decided to have a football weekend. We love the game of football and had a great time watching teams play at their highest levels because the entire season was on the line. 

Sadly, we gave up on the Saturday night game too soon! 

We had church in the morning and decided Trevor Lawrence was just having a bad night. He was down 27–0 at halftime and we just went to bed. When we woke up the next morning, we heard the reporters talking about the third-greatest comeback in playoff history! 

Trevor had played an almost-perfect second half and led his team to a 31–30 victory. The next morning, he got a standing ovation when he went to the Waffle House for breakfast! He is a good guy, and I’m glad his team is still in the running.

Jim was preaching Sunday morning and used an illustration that prompted the title for this blog post. Most of us who attend our chapel service are somewhere around our age. Jim used a PowerPoint slide with a picture of a football field and told us to judge our age as progress down the field. 

Most of us had passed the twenty-yard line and realized we are headed for the end zone! 

After church, I made a joke and said, “So, what you are saying is that you and I are in the Red Zone.” 

What is the spiritual red zone?

For those who might not watch football, the red zone is considered the part of the field between the twenty-yard line and the goal line. It is the part of the field where games are won or lost. 

It occurred to me that, in many ways, this season of my life is like the spiritual red zone. 

I want to win this game, don’t you? 

One of the games we watched was the Giants/Vikings game. The Giants won largely because of their talented quarterback and another player named Saquon Barkley. One of the best moments of that game occurred in the red zone. 

The Giants were lined up with only a couple of yards to go, the ball was snapped and handed off to Saquon, who literally ran hard, shoved, and carried a bunch of huge defenders into the end zone, scoring the TD. Jim told me Barkley is one of the strongest players in the NFL. I believe it! 

So, what should life in the spiritual red zone look like? 

The answer: a LOT like that Saquon Barkley goal-line play! 

His touchdown effort had help from a strong team, but, truthfully, it was his enormous strength that helped him cross the goal line with success.  

The purpose of life is to cross our goal line successfully. Death is guaranteed at the end of our lives. Salvation has been guaranteed at the end of our lives as well if we are Christians. John 5:24 is a promise from Christ. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”  

Some touchdowns this weekend were achieved more easily as the player caught a pass and ran over the goal line. Others, like Saquon’s TD, were a battle won with great strength. There is no way to know which of those scenarios will mark the finish of our lives. 

But, we are called to be strong and ready to cross the goal line, no matter what play the Lord calls. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we “can do all things through him who strengthens” us.  

We have been given everything we need to compete in a spiritual Super Bowl if we will just play the game plan the Holy Spirit has laid out.  

Most of us are in the playoff season of our lives. Are we playing at the top of our game? 

Which team should we be playing for?

I’m a Cowboys fan, often reluctantly. Thankfully, Monday night they played a great game and they are still in the race! The team has a LOT of ability, but sometimes they don’t seem to have the heart or motivation to play their best game. 

Sadly, that describes a lot of Christians too. 

Those who know Scripture know they are guaranteed a win simply because of their salvation. 

But shouldn’t it matter how we play the game too? 

Romans 12:2 gives good advice for this game we call life. Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  

God has a game plan, a will for each of our lives. Success is playing on God’s team and following his plan instead of thinking our own plans will provide a better way to win. 

Are you in the spiritual red zone?

That question isn’t meant to be a sobering thought about your age! Instead, it should be a rewarding thought that says, “I’m in the game.” 

Consider it this way: If you are a Christian, you are going to win the game, and there is going to be a GREAT celebration after the clock runs out. There is going to be a trophy handed out as well. 

It is ALL good! 

But, keep in mind that there will be “stats” to consider at the end of the game. The team wins, but only some will have played in the game. The team gets a trophy, but some get an MVP award. I guess what I am saying to all of us today is that we should want to get off the bench and play in the game! 

Yes, you will probably take some hits on the field. Yes, you might drop a few passes or trip along the way. ALL good players have stats that include both successes and failures. But, that’s because they were in the game! 

My thought today is that all of us should take a moment to consider our personal stats. Our team is in the red zone, but are you on the field or cheering from the sideline? 

How do you get into the game?

Paul gives that answer in Philippians 4:8–9: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” 

The players who are able to play the game are the players who showed up for practice and participated in the workout so they could accomplish what they learned. 

If you have been sidelined, get back to playing the game. It’s a lot more fun to celebrate in the end zone after the battle than to just be included in the locker-room celebration at the end of the game. Christians are on the winning team, but why not shoot for one of those MVP awards at the end of the game?  

There are two more football weekends and then the Super Bowl. I’m hoping to root for the Cowboys but expect that I’ll be rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs on Super Bowl Sunday. 

In the end, winning is mostly about character and strength. We will see who has that in the red zone,  and we will see who goes to the Super Bowl this year. 

Finally . . .

Statistically, I’m in the red zone of life. Where are you?  

Spiritually, I’d like to be on the field and ready to run a game-winning play!  

Are you in the game? 

If so, stay strong because you will take some hits. 

If not, get back to the practices of your faith and you will soon be called off the bench and onto the field! 

The Holy Spirit has an affinity for those who are strong and ready to follow God’s game plan. 

Let’s all play in such a way that we are an important part of the win! 

St. Peter’s scale

Wasn’t it nice to wake up this morning to ads about insurance and toothpaste instead of ads about political candidates? 

I voted early this time and then kept the remote nearby so I could reach the mute button. As I write these words, I don’t know how the midterms will turn out. Hopefully, there won’t be any runoff elections in Texas. I think the mute button on my remote is wearing out! 

As you read these words, you have probably heard reports of the election results. I don’t need to hear the statistics to write this blog post. I already know that half the country is happy and the other half is disappointed. Those feelings will be reflected in the faces we see today in our neighborhoods, places of business, and anywhere else we go. Hopefully, your home is of the same opinion, but even that isn’t guaranteed for everyone. 

One thing is certain: it would be good to remember that the volume of our witness today will be set on high. Whether your candidates won or lost, people will be gauging your response. 

Wise counsel from Hebrews

This is a good day to walk in the counsel of Hebrews 12:14 which says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” 

Politics matter. Elections matter. But neither matters as much as helping people know the Lord. 

The words of our witness today will be wiser if we allow Hebrews 12:14 to frame them. Picture a big box with a locked lid sitting next to a door. Imagine gathering your prideful thoughts, sinful thoughts, disappointments, and slander and then choosing to lock up every word produced from your natural self in that box before you step into your day. 

How will your day turn out differently if you strive for peace with everyone? How many arguments or angry discussions can you avoid if you strive to be holy? Who will be impressed with your “peace” even if they disagree with your politics? 

One thing I am certain of, even though I am not yet certain about the elections, is this: when we woke up this morning, God was still on his throne and his plans and promises are still in place.  

Our faith is supposed to be an effort

Sometimes I wish it were easier to be a Christian in our culture. Then I remember what first-century Christians endured.

I remember what many Christians who first came to this country endured before and after their arrival. And, if you simply google “Christian persecution in the world” today, you will find the numbers shocking. 

It is easy to be a Christian in our culture today compared to so many others. It just isn’t as easy as it was a few years ago. Interestingly, our Christian witness is getting a LOT more attention from the culture. That can be good and bad.  

Peter wrote counsel to the early church that was very similar to the author of Hebrews. The Apostle wrote, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5–8). 

There is a key phrase in that important passage that describes a Christian’s highest effort. If this became our great effort, we would live with a powerful witness to our culture. That phrase is how we can measure our day today and our lives. The phrase is: “If these qualities are yours and are increasing.”  

Our great effort for today is to continually grow into the holiness Peter described. We need to do better this month than we did last month. We need to have a stronger witness for Christ this year than we did last year.  

How do you typically measure your spiritual growth?  

If we could step onto Saint Peter’s scale

Some people step on their bathroom scale every day to see what they weigh. Some people step on their scales less often. Some people aren’t sure if they still own a bathroom scale. Our weight usually fluctuates, especially in these next two months! 

We don’t really need the scale to tell us what our waistbands are already shouting. Most of us will step on a scale, at least once in a while, hoping that maybe there is another explanation for the tighter fit. Maybe the dryer was too hot or maybe the fabric continues to shrink? Maybe the scale needs new batteries or maybe the settings are no longer working. (I’ve got a million of these ideas!) 

But my real point is this: If St. Peter could have created a scale to measure spiritual growth, would we buy one, use it, and believe it? 

If St. Peter’s scale registered “faith and virtue,” would we be overweight or underweight? If St. Peter’s scale measured “self-control and steadfastness,” would we be ejected from it? If St. Peter’s scale weighed our “godliness, holiness and love,” how far would the needle swing? 

The real point of St. Peter’s scale is whether or not we are gaining. 

Let’s make every effort to live like St. Peter taught

You will likely have an opportunity today to “increase” the standards of your faith and express the virtues Peter listed. Every day is an opportunity to “strive for” the peace and holiness that will help others know the Lord. 

If Bed Bath & Beyond sold St. Peter’s scale, I would buy it. I would keep it someplace where I would see it often. Yet I can’t help but wonder if I would treat it like my bathroom scale and try to explain away the numbers. 

That picture might be just what we need to live this day with the wise counsel from Hebrews 12:14. The good news about St. Peter’s scale is that “increasing” measurements are a good thing! 

So, let’s get out there and live like Christians . . . and hopefully our witness will weigh more tomorrow than it does today. 

Live and leave a legacy of faith

In 1988, Jim was a professor at the seminary and was asked to become the interim preacher for First Baptist Midland. He flew out each weekend to preach on Sundays. 

Eventually, the kids and I traveled to Midland with him. My oldest son, Ryan, was two at the time and Craig was three months old. Each Friday, I would pack up our stuff and we would pick Jim up in Fort Worth to make the six-hour road trip to West Texas. 

Our drive to Midland this past weekend brought back a lot of memories. 

We talked about those earlier weekend trips with babies and realized that, to many people, it might have seemed like a crazy thing to do. But we enjoyed being together, even in the car. The speed limit was 55 mph back in those days, and I sure would have enjoyed today’s faster limits!

The first time I saw Midland I was kind of shocked. At first glance, West Texas looks like God grew weary while creating the world and decided to just leave that part of the state simple. I remember when we came over a hill and could spot the tallest buildings of Midland seemingly rising out of the barren dust. 

I asked Jim, “Who would choose to live here?” 

About a year later, we did. 

A strong city and a strong people

Midland sits in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by land with a LOT of oil. The church we served is in the middle of town and has always been a blessing to that city. In many ways, FBC Midland is the strongest church we ever served.  

The church is like the city: diverse in every way, yet unified by their faith. 

It was our joy to be with people we admired thirty-six years ago and still admire today. Our friends look the same, just older. We were there to speak at a senior adult conference. Even as I was speaking, I saw the faces of people who had blessed us as a young couple and continue to bless us today. In many ways, that church helped me grow in my faith and in the right direction for ministry. 

As I sit here typing today, I wonder who will say I helped them do the same. 

I’m in or close to the “final quarter” of my life. As I looked at the faces of so many people I admire, I wanted to finish my life as well as they are finishing theirs. 

A psalm of legacy

I used a verse from Psalm 71 in my message at the retreat. I’m sure I’ve read this psalm before, but it meant a lot to me this time. I hope you will take a moment to read the entire psalm. It is rich, especially as you consider what kind of legacy you want to live and, one day, leave.  

The psalm was likely written by King Solomon for and about his dad, King David. David’s life was difficult in his latter years. His children fought him for his throne. David wasn’t perfect, but he deserved their honor rather than their prideful opposition. 

David is described in Scripture as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). With all of David’s great accomplishments, he is remembered as a person who sought to know, love, and serve God.  

What if each of us made King David’s legacy our goal as well? 

Why was David a man after God’s own heart? 

The answer could be in the words of Psalm 71. Verse 3 describes the relationship he had with the Lord: “Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3). 

David had a kingdom that was called to serve him. Yet David’s trust was in the Lord, not his earthly power. 

If we consider all the things that give us our sense of security, is God at the top of the list? 

A legacy of trusting God and investing in others

As I studied the faces and the lives of so many friends in our Midland congregation, I was left with a strong impression of what I want for my own life. 

They are older, wiser, and remain people who have led a consistent faith walk with their Lord. They are still the same people we knew thirty-six years ago. They blessed me then as a young pastor’s wife and they blessed me last weekend. I am grateful to God for giving my family such a strong example of faith, and I hope I will be to others what they have been for me. 

In my message I used Psalm 71:18: “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” 

We will all leave a legacy of some kind. Shouldn’t we consider what we want that legacy to be? 

We will be remembered for who we eventually became or for who we chose to become. 

David chose his legacy. He had a plan. He wanted to live a consistent faith throughout his life. In addition to being a man of faith, he wanted to help the next generation know his God as well. He wanted to “proclaim” God’s might to the next generation. 

The need for wisdom

I am currently working on a project that will launch in January. Our ministry studies the culture and tries to help people respond biblically.  

The internet has changed the world and that change will be even more dramatic in the days ahead. It is rare to go anywhere and not view people absorbed by their phones or other technology. We do not lack information and influence from all directions. I often say, “In a sea of information, wisdom matters.” 

Wisdom is knowing what to do with what we know. Without that important step, all we have is information. We cannot know the power of God if we only “know” God has power. We have to rely on God’s power to truly understand his might. King David learned to trust God’s strength early in his life. That’s why he could face a giant with just a slingshot and stones. 

David’s legacy began with his trusting submission to the power of God. His failures in life happened when he was influenced by other things. I would say the same of my own life, wouldn’t you? 

Proclaim his might to the next generation

We all have a calling from God. We need to put feet to our faith and words to our wisdom. Most wisdom is born of experience, and God’s wisdom is a gift to those who will ask him for it (James 1:5–6).  

We are called to invest in the coming generations. As I studied the faces of all those people who invested in a young pastor and his wife, I was filled with gratitude to them and God. I wondered who I might have become without their help. I had a LOT of growing to do when I arrived at that church, and they helped point me in the right directions. 

I want to leave that legacy of faith with others, don’t you? 

What would our witness to others be like if we made King David’s commitment our own? “Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” 

Let’s live to carry on the legacy we have learned from the godly people we have known. 

No matter how old you are, that is a worthy goal. 

Amen? 

The GOATS in Scripture

On Sunday night, there was a lot of discussion about which quarterback was the GOAT, i.e., the greatest of all time. The contest was between Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Tom Brady, currently of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

You can probably tell who I like by the order I mentioned them! I’ve never been able to get past “Deflategate.”  

You might be asking, “Why is she starting her blog post with a football illustration?” 

The answer: Because the whole GOAT thing ought to be about more than stats. 

What makes a person the greatest?

I was able to attend the Masters golf tournament the first year Tiger Woods won his green jacket. Is he the greatest golfer? I thought so until his wife attacked his car with a golf club. The sportscasters were talking about her attempt to free him from his car. Meanwhile, I looked at my husband and said, “Nope. She is really angry at him!” They divorced shortly after because of his marital affair. 

I thought the Williams sisters were amazing tennis players. I stopped cheering for Serena after I watched her U.S. Open final against Naomi Osaka. Serena was hoping to get a record win that day, except Osaka played a better match. Let’s just say Serena didn’t handle the loss well and, as a result, Osaka was in tears after the match. It wasn’t a great day for Serena fans, on many levels. 

Tom Brady was suspended by the NFL after it was discovered the Patriots were playing with slightly deflated footballs. Brady denied it was his fault, and the controversy was never completely resolved. That said, one thing was made clear. Brady preferred throwing a softer football, and the footballs he was throwing did not meet the inflation regulations. Most people didn’t really blame the equipment guys for taking it upon themselves to let the air out of the balls.  

Who are the GOATS in sports? Why did I even write about sports in my blog post today? 

I watched the Sunday night football game and listened to the commentators discuss who they considered the “greatest” quarterback, Mahomes or Brady, and why. No one ever mentioned anything about their character or personal qualities, only their stats. 

Granted, it was game day, but should that be all we consider when assigning the title “GOAT” to a person?  

Our culture tends to elevate a person’s abilities as a more esteemed quality than their character. 

God, however, has higher standards.

What did Jesus say about the goats?

Jesus was on the Mount of Olives when he spoke about the sheep and the “goats.” He said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:31–34). 

Jesus then told his disciples that the reason some people were considered sheep while others were labeled goats is because of the kindness they had shown to others, an indication that they were acting in a righteous manner. Scripture makes it clear that our salvation doesn’t depend on our works. But that truth shouldn’t cause us to think our works are insignificant.  

Jesus makes it very clear that our salvation should cause change in our character. Our standard for the way we treat others is the same standard for the way we treat Christ. He said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).

Why is God’s standard the only one that matters?

God’s people are called to live with his standards because living with the world’s standards could cost someone their eternal life. Most people believe there is a heaven and trust they will get there. Very few believe they need to worry about going to hell. 

Jesus made certain his disciples understood that on the day of judgment the sheep will be separated from the goats. Jesus taught the reality of heaven but also the reality of hell. We like to spend time thinking about all that heaven will mean, but our thoughts of hell are usually rare and brief. 

If we thought about everyone as sheep and goats the way Jesus taught, how would that change our thoughts and, therefore, our actions? 

Jesus made it very clear to his disciples. Those who will be considered GOATS in heaven are his sheep.

God’s standards for “GOAT”

In our world, goats can be great and sheep can be lost. Most labels have limited truth. But there is one label that is profoundly important. Paul wrote, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

Every Christian started out as a goat and was born again as a sheep. None of us can live perfect lives, but all of us can try to live according to God’s word. 

Paul instructed Titus about God’s standards for “great.” He told Titus, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7–8). 

God’s standards for “GOAT” have a much different set of “stats” than those our culture values. 

The truth about great

The world usually labels “great” much differently than God does. One of the best ways to change someone’s life is to help them redefine greatness. Everyone wants to be a “GOAT” until they realize what it means to become a sheep.  

There is a reason I root for Patrick Mahomes. He has often used his ability as a football player to glorify his God. In one interview, Mahomes said, “If someone looks up to a person and they are a Christian and, say the person looking up to them is not a Christian, I think there’s great impact in that. Maybe it will lead them to find out who Christ is. . . . I understand that he’s given me a lot of blessings in my life, and I’m trying to maximize them and glorify him.” 

Which quarterback is the GOAT? 

We should allow God to provide our answer to that question, not a set of stats. Then, we should apply that standard to our own lives. GOATS in Scripture are actually God’s sheep. 

If I could say one thing to Patrick Mahomes (besides “GREAT game Sunday night!”), I would say, “Keep living as a sheep and you will be a GOAT. The most important trophy in life isn’t received during this life.”  

If the game Sunday night is a preview of this year’s Super Bowl, you KNOW which team I will be rooting for! 

I believe in cheering for the sheep. 

Salted conversations

Do you ever feel bombarded by words in our culture today? 

That probably seems like an odd thing to say, given that I make a living with my words. Recent news has certainly sent word bombs flying throughout all the media sources. 

As Christians, how do we make certain our words are landing in the right places?

I have listened to a lot of the rhetoric surrounding the Supreme Court and other issues. I’m not going to debate the issue of abortion because there is no need. I have always liked the simple message I read on yard signs back in the eighties that said “It’s a baby y’all.” Truth isn’t as complicated as fiction. 

I’m glad people are thinking again about the truth of the abortion issue, in addition to the politics the issue creates. But, in all the conversations I have listened to, no one seems to be discussing the deepest concern. There is a profound truth that has been lost to our culture today and to our conversations. 

Why aren’t we speaking about the reason unwanted babies are being created?  

The truth about consequences

There are millions of statements being made about personal freedom. Where are the statements about personal responsibility? I’m not unaware that the issue is complicated by the fact that some babies are created as the result of an attack. But the complete truth about abortion is shaded by that fact.  

Last year, more than one million babies were aborted. Only 1.5 percent of those abortions were attributed to an attack. That means, if the numbers are correct, last year 985,000 babies lost their lives because their moms and dads didn’t want to take the responsibility or live with the consequences of creating them. 

There is a reason that God wanted the most personal relationship a person can have to belong to a husband and wife, who would keep that relationship sacred and holy. Christians need to be salting their conversations with the complete truth of God’s word on this subject. 

Any time we break God’s laws, there are consequences. Are we leaving a generation of God’s children in the dark because we don’t want to hurt their feelings? Be judgmental? Do we just quietly feel badly about the lack of truth, or do we choose to salt our conversations with truth?  

The truth about consequences is that there are consequences for speaking truth, for speaking partial truth, for lies, and for staying silent when truth is needed. 

The truth about salty words

Don’t you hate getting salt on a cut finger? 

It stings and often we don’t realize there is a problem until we feel the burn. 

I was curious: Why does salt sting? Google to the rescue! 

I found an article that explained the sensation. Salt stings for the same reason antiseptic stings: both activate the nerve “receptors.” I couldn’t help but see the metaphor.  

Sometimes “truth hurts.” We shouldn’t throw our truth around, hoping it will cause pain. That is using our words as weapons. At the same time, we can’t help the fact that when salt hits a wound people feel it. The sting alerts them that something is wrong. It is a natural response of our “receptors.” 

God created all things, including us. It would seem he wanted us to feel truth sometimes, especially when it is applied to something that is wrong in our lives. 

Why did Jesus call his disciples “the salt of the world”?

I just finished recording six Bible studies from the Sermon on the Mount. (They will be available on the website later this summer.) Jesus was teaching his disciples when he said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (Matthew 5:13). 

Disciples are the salt of the earth. Our words may be the only Scripture, or message from God, that people will hear on a subject. Have we allowed the culture to remove the “saltiness” from our conversations? Is that why our culture has been “trampling” God’s word with their rhetoric? 

Our unsalted words may not sting people quite as much, but that’s because they are no longer as good. People can throw them away and walk on them. Truth will sting, but that is because pure, salty truth hits a receptor. 

God wants us to notice when something is wrong. 

Will you live a salty life?

Peter Marshall was an American preacher in Washington D.C. who later served as a Senate Chaplain. He was known for his wisdom as well as his preaching talent. Peter Marshall said, “Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for—because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.” 

Have Christians fallen for Satan’s messages of partial truth? 

If so, we have lost our saltiness. If our words don’t “burn” some wrong opinions these days, our words have lost their saltiness. 

If we don’t stand for biblical truth, we will fall for something less. Jesus taught his disciples that an unsalted life and witness won’t be good for anything. Jesus also taught his disciples to speak the truth in love. In other words, don’t rub salt into wounds but, at the same time, don’t hesitate to let God allow the truth to “burn” just a bit, even when you speak it with love. Be encouraged that when people “receive it” they might become aware of a wrong in their lives and know to fix it. 

“Unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.” Peter Marshall was right to encourage us to live with a clear vision and the strength to stand for God’s truth. May our words be salted with his truth, by his Spirit, for the sake of his purpose. If our words burn just a bit, it is just the truth about consequences.  

Disciples are the salt of the earth. Our salted conversations bring the flavor of truth to our words and to our world. Our culture deserves the chance to know God’s word and hopefully live a life he will bless.