Salt & Light of The World

This past Sunday, my church continued its second week of the At His Feet series and Pastor Tim spoke about my favorite verses from Matthew 5: 11-16.  In particular, verses 14-16 speaks about salt and light.  Pastor Tim used visual illustrations throughout the message to make the points more meaningful.  Salt comes from a rock and is used for various reasons including preservation and flavor.  When we think of salt, we usually think of how salt is used to give flavor when placed in something, but salt is used to draw out whatever it comes into contact with.  It only takes one grain of salt to change the flavor of what it touches.  But how can salt lose it saltiness?  It can lose its saltiness if you dilute it enough, but in actuality it loses its saltiness when it is not in contact with anything...left alone in a bottle or a container.  Salt has lost its main purpose in giving flavor when left alone.  In the same way, Jesus says that we are salt.  Nothing can change the fact that we are salt and the only thing that changes is our effectiveness.  How are you using your "saltiness" to draw out the best flavor in those you come in contact with?

Christ not only says that we are salt, but that we are the light of the world too.  Light theoretically will go on forever and forever and nothing can stop the light unless there is something that blocks the light.  Imagine yourself in a pitch black room.  There are no windows and all you have is a small candle.  When you light that candle, the light will shine brightly throughout the room.  When you blow it out, it turns back to darkness.  The wall literally absorbs the heat and energy of the light.  Now, we are the light of the world.  We are used for a purpose.  When a cover is put over a light, its rendered useless.  We we try to keep the light for ourselves, then our purpose is useless.  We were meant to be seen, not hidden!  Seen in all the dark places.  The "dark places" for each one of us may be different, but that is when we come to the feet of Jesus and ask him to reveal the dark places for us to go and shine brightly.

At His feet we are reminded to be salt and light.  To give flavor, to burn, and not be hidden.  The difficulty comes when Jesus tells us to be salt and light, but doesn't necessarily prescribe how to be salt and light.  When we come to His feet, we first linger and when we linger long enough, we will be able to hear His voice speaking to us and from there He will tell us to go forth!

Salt and light aren't for us to keep, but to give away.
Make the flavor more flavorful.
Make the flame more powerful.

You are salt! Get out of the container.
You are light! Go and burn something down for the sake of the world!

Don't just be it, Do it!

February 28th, 2013
Gift #461: The fresh air giving hints that spring is coming.
Gift #462: Ham and cheese quiche for lunch.
Gift #463: Two hours of playing volleyball tonight.

March 1st, 2013
Gift #464: Multicultural celebration at the nursery school today.
Gift #465: Learning about German culture and trying various foods.

Gift #466: Playing with little Joey.
Gift #467: The quiet moments sitting in a rocking chair and holding Joey as he rest.
Gift #468: Wonderful teachers that are generous in offering me rides back to campus.
Gift #469: Watching video clips that make me smile and laugh.
Gift #470: A Friday night "in."  Peaceful and quiet in my room with just the sounds of Hillsong's Zion playing in the background.
Gift #471: Coloring pictures and preparing for my lesson plan tomorrow.

March 2nd, 2013
Gift #472: My green and sturdy North Face backpack.

Gift #473: A fun filled last day of Saturday class with lesson plans and movements.
Gift #474: An eventful mini adventure through New Jersey when my friend and I missed a turn and had to reroute, but thankful we got to our destination.
Gift #475: Shooting hoops in the nice brisk air.
Gift #476: A wonderful reaction from a friend when a group of us surprised her.
Gift #477: Colorful fresh fruits.
Gift #478: Taboo, YouTube videos, and Dance Central
Gift #479: A "green" slice of red velvet cake.

Gift #480: Driving in snow flurries and watching them come towards the window like a 3D movie.

March 3rd, 2013
Gift #481: The bread and cup: giving thanks and remembering Christ.

Gift #482: Song: For The Sake Of The World...come light the fire in our souls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9oqi86yS3g
Gift #483: My church family and community.
Gift #484: Today's message: Matthew 5:11-16
Gift #485: Visual illustrations that brings the message closer to the heart.
Gift #486: gift worn-colorful scarf.
Gift # 487: gift worn-my watch that I wear on all occasions.

March 4th, 2013
Gift #488: Classic hymns sung in chapel.
Gift #489: Birds chirping on my walk.
Gift #490: Music singing from the wind chimes.
Gift #491: Package and card in my mailbox.
Gift #492: Receiving two gifts: one in the mail, one in person.
Gift #493: Productivity in the Ed lab tonight.
Gift #494: Kix cereal for an evening snack.
Gift #495: Ending the day with the song: 10,000 Reasons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr1fYJNBTfs

March 5th, 2013
Gift #496: Ladybug on the window.
Gift #497: Meatball sub for lunch.

Gift #498: Being selected to be apart of the Student Activities Board for next school year.  I'm excited to serve my fellow classmates and team.

Gift #499: Italian themed birthday celebration with spagetti, bread and olive oil, mustaches, and cannolis.