Salt?

When I was very young I was pretty naïve. [you too?] I remember my mom telling me if I put salt on a bird's tail it would tame him and he would be my pet. Humph! Well, who doesn't want a pet! So with salt shaker in hand I spent many days trying to get my "pet".

I must have been the enjoyment of the neighbors for weeks! I am sure my mom laughed for a long time at my attempts. I was sure that if it was just salt that needed to be on the bird I could fling the white stuff far enough to get the pet of my dreams.

So my new approach was to get a handful of salt and toss it at any unsuspecting bird. [I wasn't going to be picky] However the new approach didn't work either.

It wasn't till many years later, my own children in tow, that I remembered chasing down birds and was talking with my mom about it that she shared with me. She told me that if I got close enough to a bird to put salt on his tail I would have been able to catch him. She said she thought I would have figured that out. Yikes! I had missed the whole point. [naïve, did I say that?]

I got to thinking about when I read the Bible. There was a particular verse I had in mind, since my life has been in upheaval lately.

Mark 11:23

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

 

Hmmm, is this like the salt? I was so believing that the salt would work. This is a picture of the mountains where I live.

I don't know about you, but that is a lot of mountain to move into the sea! Wait, I started to think perhaps I was missing the point. [again] Perhaps it isn't the mountain that I need to move into the sea but maybe it is  my "mountain of guilt" that needs to be moved. I know it seems almost as large as the mountain above.  But, if I have the faith that God is able to do all things then He can move my mountain of guilt, or depression, or whatever mountain has risen in front of me. I don't have to do the heavy lifting I just need to turn to the One that is able to do all things. I have been doing that lately and the "mountains' have been thrown into the sea. The sea of His forgetfulness.

 

Do you have mountains that are looming high above you? Take heart! Let God do the heavy lifting. He is so good at it.

 

 

POWER

This Sunday in church we sang this most wonderful song. [ I love singing praise and worship music!] It is called "Break Every Chain". I have it stuck in my head. [not a bad thing] It talks about the Power in the name of Jesus.

This got me to thinking, when we pray we end with, "in Jesus name. Amen"  Why do we put that at the tail end? We who know the Lord also know that Jesus is powerful. Paul healed in the name of Jesus, Peter and John healed in the name of Jesus. There are numerous verses that speak of the Power of the name of Jesus.

Have your ever been so depressed you could only utter, Jesus? There was power in that single utterance. I know because I have been there. I could only say, Jesus. But, in so doing Jesus came to meet me in that deep need. He was there beside me, no I couldn't see Him or touch Him but the peace that settled over me told me that he was right there. My situation didn't magically change but I did, because of that powerful word, Jesus.

As the song says there is Power in the Name of Jesus, to break every chain. The chain of sin, the chain of sorrow, the chain of fear, the chain of worry, you name it He has the power to break it. The Bible gives us so many hints as to why, but this says it best;

 

Philippians 2:10

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 

Do you see that, EVERY knee, all those chains MUST be broken at the name of Jesus!

 

You have that power available to you, it is not just for some, but to every child of God. Have you called on his name when you are bound in chains? He is waiting to release that power for you.

 

Listen to the words.

 

There is an army rising up when you cry out IN THE NAME OF JESUS. He loves you so very much. He swings wide Heaven's gate to break every chain you lay before him!

 

 

Movie Masterpiece

My granddaughter wanted a video camera for Christmas. Unfortunately she didn't get one, she is only 8 and other things took the place of the much wanted gift.

I was strolling through the store the other day and saw a video camera for a price under $20.00 so I thought why not. I brought it home and had to figure out  how to not give but give this little gift. I came up with a plan that perhaps, she could film things and then teach me how to use the camera. She informed me that she already knew how to use it and she would show me. Hmm. I got the directions out and did a quick check with her. [I think there is a small man inside, because she didn't even listen as I went over the directions.]

She took the camera and went to film all the adventures she had that day. [21 to be exact with none shorter than 15 minutes] She brought it back to me chock full of the wonders from her day. I put them all into my computer to now show her the fun of making a movie with her videos. [wasn't sure if she also knew how to do this without instruction!]

When I told her we would pick one video to create a movie she was a bit disappointed but she pressed on. When we added a title page and animation she was pleasantly surprised. Movie in hand we all watched on the "Big Screen" the masterpiece. After the sea sickness settled [so quickly moving from one scene to the next or floor to ceiling] we all said how great it was and then went on with our every day routine.

She on the other hand informed her mom, "I need to start to film EVERYTHING".

This got me thinking about the way I was viewing my days. Was I excited about each moment I was experiencing? Had I been taking for granted the every day things I was doing? What was my 'movie' going to look like? Would it be a masterpiece? Had I forgotten who I was living for? This verse came to mind:

1 Corinthians 10:31

. . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

It hit me that this is exactly what I should be doing each moment of the day. Whether it is making the bed, sweeping the house, or when I do my devotions, it ALL should be for the glory of God. That is the Masterpiece. I feel just like my granddaughter, I need to start to film EVERYTHING!