YOU are the salt of the earth...

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. " Matthew 5:13-16 Our church recently got a new pastor. He's not just any pastor either...he's AWESOME!!! He has started a class on Sunday nights and this Sunday Wae and I went. He spoke about us being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. There is a song on one of my contemporary Christian CD's that sings about this. I usually sing the song and love it but I never really take to heart the words, you know the true meaning of the song. After his class I can't sing the song without overflowing with emotion. It's talking about us...here and now. Not the just the disciples from the bible we read about but us!!! As Christians we are called to be the salt and light of the world. We are called to be examples. People should look at us and say "What is it about her/him that is so different? I want what she/he has!" We are to be different from the world and we are supposed to have different attitudes. Whoa! That one gets me... I realized I have not been the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Recently I have been a little on edge. My toes have been stepped on in regards to Asher and I have not been different from the world. I have not reacted the way a person who is setting a Christian example should act. I have acted just like a person living without Christ would act. I've been ugly, I've said hurtful things, I have let it consume my world, and I've been down right exhausted letting it rule my life. When brother Eddie was speaking I thought to myself that his lesson was for me! Brother Eddie described four uses for salt which applies to our Christian walk. It flavors, preserves, makes us thirsty, and works quietly. Are we doing that for our Lord and Savior? Are we being the flavor of Christ for our non believing friends? Are we preserving the world...are we ministering around us and being missionaries? Are we making others around us thirsty for what we have with Christ or are we turning them away from a personal relationship with Christ? (that one gets me!) And are we working quietly for the Lord by living a life that so resembles Christ that people see Him in us in our day to day life? After asking myself these questions I cannot answer yes to them all. I fail miserably every day...I continue to wallow in self pity, I gossip, I question God, I'm afraid to share Christ with friends and family who may not believe, people who really know me and see my day to day life know I COMPLAIN and I like it! I have to do better. We as Christians all have to do better because it is our command from God to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Let's pray for one another that we can do better! Brother Eddie asked us..."How many times does the world catch a taste of us and it's not Jesus they taste?" or we hear someone say..."I would have become a Christian if it wouldn't have been for all the Christians!" Wow... So you may be like me and be a stay at home mom. You may think you can't effect many people but in all reality we can. We take our kids to play dates, to the library, to the grocery store, etc. We can share our light every day as we are being moms and we have the most important job in the world in my opinion...we can share our light with our children! Asher is my world...I pray for him every day to grow up to be a man of God. To have such courage and strength that he takes a stand for Christ and is a life changer. He will not want to be that man of God if he has a momma who is not being the light of the world. Our children know the real us...they are with us 24/7. Be a Christian mom...be the mom who reads bible stories to your children, who prays with them at mealtime and before bed, set a Christian example, take your children to church, live out what it means to be a Christian, hug them, kiss them, and tell them you love them. Teach them to serve others and put their own needs below someone else's. We only get one chance at this thing called motherhood and it's something I don't want to mess up on. I hope you pray for me to be a good mom because I fail every day at something and have to try the next day to make it right. I encourage you to read Matthew 5 and let's all strive to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Let's try to win souls to Christ and make a difference!