High Salt Living

I love salty things: pickles, sauerkraut, mustard, brined olives, soy sauce, miso paste…yummy, yum! Salt on my tomatoes, salt on my cucumbers; salt just makes my palate do a happy dance! (P.S. My apologies to anyone who is on a salt-free diet!)

When Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount that I am to be the salt of the earth, I feel like lifting a steaming cup of salty vegetable broth in a toast of hearty agreement.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.” Matthew 5:13

However, what Jesus was really talking about was a call for me to be a preserving agent here among godless people (not to consume so much salt that my pets think I am a salt lick). I am to be what reminds them of godliness and as Jesus continued, a light that casts a brightness on my Father in Heaven.

“Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

How did He suggest I do that? Through good works that point to Him. Even deeper than that though, being salty means wearing the new self that He gave me and not going back to the old way of thinking and acting.

“Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

If I am stressing about something to the point that my stomach is in knots and I think I can literally hear myself snarling in frustration, is that really being “salty” to an observing world? Short answer: no.

If I am so consumed by my emotions that I can’t look past that to thank God in that very moment, am I really looking that much different to the world? Ouch!

So how can one stay salty, bright, and significantly different from a world without God?

This is my prescription. Hang out with Jesus. Memorize His Word. Make reading and listening to Truth a priority. Maybe add in some fasting to clear the mind and give a little extra time to remove distractions. Look for every opportunity to do good for others.

Do I have 10 minutes walking or driving that I can listen to Scripture being read?

Do I have a worry that I can cast over to the Lord and let go of right now?

Can I leave that frustration at the door and instead just do what needs to be done with grace?

Can I take a few minutes at dinner every day to memorize a passage of Scripture with my family?

To all this I say: pour on the salt, Lord! Immerse me in brine. Make me salty like roasted peanuts, bright like a freshly squeezed lemon, and different like a durian that is either loved or hated. (Personally, I’m crazy about them.)

Even if the world doesn’t love us for bearing the image of Christ, at least we know to Him we are a sweet aroma and to others a delectable smell drawing them to fellowship with God.

^“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16a

About the Writer

Lyndsay is a former staff member of First Baptist Dallas. Although she has spent the past few years in Guatemala serving with the local church and ministries there and recently moved to Montenegro (former Yugoslavia), she continues to consider First Dallas her church home. Currently she is on staff with an international Messianic ministry and in her spare time looks for new adventures with her daughter.

IS THIS YOUR TIME?

“Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD

with all his heart and with all

his soul and with all his might, according

to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.” 2 Kings 23:25

Those were dark days in Judah. For a long period of time, the people had rejected God at every turn and were indulging in all sorts of evil, disgusting and immoral behavior, worshiping at the feet of pagan gods! How could they have turned their backs on the God Who had delivered their ancestors from slavery in Egypt and Who had proven Himself to them over many centuries? In the midst of this wayward generation, Judah had a king who was upright and godly in all of his ways: Josiah, who had become king when he was only eight years old! Early in his reign, he made attempts to turn the people from their heathen practices. When Josiah was in the eighteenth year of his reign, he ordered repairs to God’s Temple, which had been neglected, to be completed.

As the workmen were cleaning out debris from the Temple, they “just happened” to come across The Book of the Law, which scholars think might have been what we know today as Deuteronomy, portions of it, or other passages which warn of judgment! They brought it to the king and read it to him. When he heard the words of The Book he tore his clothes in grief and shame as he was convicted in his own heart about the horrible behavior of his people and their complete abandonment of the Laws of Almighty God! He sent messengers to the Temple to seek a word from God. 

There was an obscure woman in Jerusalem named Huldah. She was a prophetess related to Temple officials through marriage. This is the only event in the Bible narrative where she is even mentioned, recorded in both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. I imagine that she was just going about her daily life never expecting to be chosen by God to give a word of prophecy to King Josiah! But when the royal officials came to her, the Spirit of God came upon her and she spoke with confidence the words that God gave her to speak! She boldly proclaimed the truth that God was angry with His people for the way they had abandoned Him and that He was on the verge of judging them in a terrible way. But she also revealed to Josiah that God honored the king’s devotion and humility and that Josiah would not see the unspeakable judgment that was going to be meted out on Judah’s people. It would not happen during Josiah’s lifetime.

Did Josiah relax and say “Whew! I’m glad things will be okay for me as long as I live!”

NO NO NO NO NO! In fact, this very young king is described in 2 Kings 23:25 as being without peer in his righteousness before God because of his response to the prophecy that he had heard. He took seriously the words of God and repented on behalf of the people. He proceeded to lead them in a great revival, calling everyone to repentance, destroying every vestige of idol worship throughout the land, and restoring the Passover as commanded in the Book he had found. I feel sure that there were many people who sincerely repented and turned to the Lord for forgiveness under Josiah’s leadership. And judgment was delayed for the rest of Josiah’s life.

Much of this happened because of what was written in The Book of the Law, but Josiah led the people in revival after he heard the words of God through the prophetess Huldah. Is it possible that Huldah was born for “such a time as this”? I believe it is very possible. If you think about the story of Esther, you might recall Mordecai’s words to her as he encouraged her to speak to her husband the king on behalf of the Jewish people:

“‘And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?’” Esther 4:14b

I would like to think that there might be a special calling on my own life, obscure as it is. I hope that there is someone “out there, somewhere” whom God has chosen for me to encourage or to help in some way. In fact, I hope there might be more than one! Perhaps there has already been one of whom I am unaware! Won’t it be great to meet that one in heaven one day and learn that a kind smile or an encouraging word delivered in passing provided her with just what she needed at that time? Is there someone in my circle who is lost without Christ and who doesn’t even know another Christian besides me? Can I relax and say, “Whew! I hope God sends someone to tell her the good news because I just don’t have time right now”? Is there a way that I can minister to someone who is sick or grieving or hurting in some other way? Oh, Lord, please help me to be aware of situations in which I am “the one” you have chosen to speak Your word and to be obedient to Your calling in that moment of time.

What about you? Have you experienced a time “such as this,” as Mordecai said to Esther? You may be just the one, the only one, who might be able to say just the right word that encourages someone’s heart or shows that one how to be saved. Hopefully, there will be many of those “times” for you. Always remember that obscurity does not equal insignificance. In God’s sight, every deed done in His Name is noted and will one day be rewarded, even if you are unaware of its importance at the time.

“If any man’s work which he has built on it [the foundation of Jesus Christ] remains, he will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:10

About the Writer

Diana is a former high school teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Women’s Bible Studies teacher. For many years a stay-at-home wife and mother, she is now also a grandmother to three young Oklahomans who call her “Gigi.”

Time To Clean Sweep

One of the things I love to do over any break I have is to clean sweep my house.  I love to go through all the rooms, look through every drawer, closet, or space, and get rid of the things that I don’t need any more or that I don’t use.  Afterwards I have such a renewed feeling because I’ve gotten rid of things that don’t serve a purpose for my house anymore.

In the same sense, over a small break I had I reflected on what is in my heart and asked God to reveal to me the things that don’t reflect Him.  I want to get rid of the things that don’t serve a good purpose anymore. 

God has revealed to me that I worry about things too much.  Anyone else out there dealing with the same issue?  God says in Romans 12:25, “do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”  Being a girl, sometimes I do literally worry about what I will need to wear to an event and if I have the right outfit for a certain occasion.  But living in America, I don’t really have to worry about having enough food to eat or clothes to wear like in other countries. 

What I get bogged down about is the stress of life.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed with everything that I need to do and the small amount of time that I have to get them done.  When we look further in this passage we see in verse 33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

I appreciate how God acknowledges that each day has enough trouble of its own.  He knows what we face every day because when we’re His children, we have His Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.  When I focus on my problems and what isn’t going right, I can get lost in my problems.  God has shown me in His Word where I need to do a better job.  I need to seek God first and seek Him with all my heart.  When I fill my heart and mind with Him and His Word, I have a better attitude and can see things the way He does.  My troubles don’t seem to be as big anymore. 

Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Renewing my mind in Scripture helps me to see what God wants me to do and to see His goodness in all things. 

We live in a world that relies on itself and the pleasures it brings.  We all know that that doesn’t produce lasting results and doesn’t help when you face problems.  By spending time with God and remembering who He is, I’m reminded of how big my God is and how small my problems really are.  May we continue to pursue God so we can show the world who He truly is.  Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Spending time with Jesus will always be something that I keep doing.  Let’s get rid of the anxiety and insecurity we have in our hearts and replace it with the joy of the Lord who is our strength and ever present help in any trouble we may face.

About the Writer

Alana faithfully serves at her church home, First Baptist Dallas, where she enjoys using her talents and gifts to help others grow in Christ.  She taught elementary music in public schools for twenty years.  Alana is married to Mike, and they have a cute mini golden doodle puppy named Bentley and a mini labradoodle named Bradley.

Enjoying God’s Joy

The Lord your God is in your midst,
A ^[f]victorious warrior.
He will rejoice over you with joy,
He will ^[g]be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17

Imagine no longer being burdened by guilt or shame, and you walk confidently, your head high. The shadows of doubt and despair melt away replaced by the sunlit warmth of His love. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to showcase His strength, every hardship a stepping stone to greater heights. That’s exactly how I felt when I read Zephaniah.

The Book of Zephaniah

The book of Zephaniah is a short book with only three chapters. The first two chapters focus on the coming judgment of God, while the third chapter focuses on the restoration of God’s people. It was written by the prophet Zephaniah, who ministered in Judah during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC).

Zephaniah’s Message

Zephaniah’s message focused on the coming judgment of God for the people of Judah because of their sin and disobedience. However, he also offered hope and restoration to those who would repent and return to God. The key verse, Zephaniah 3:17, expresses several relevant themes:

• God’s presence: The verse begins by reminding the people that God is with them, even in their judgment. He is described as the “Mighty Warrior who saves,” which is a powerful image of God’s protection and deliverance.
• God’s love: The verse also emphasizes God’s love for his people. He “will delight in you greatly” and “in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but rejoice over you with singing.” This shows that God’s love is not based on our merits but His character.
• Joy and freedom: The verse ends with a call to experience the joy and freedom that come from knowing God’s love and forgiveness. The people are urged to “step into this joy” and let it fill their hearts.

Connecting the Message to Our Daily Lives

The message of Zephaniah is still relevant to people today. We may not be facing the same judgment as the people of Judah, but we all experience challenges and setbacks. This verse reminds us that God is always with us, even amid difficulty. He loves us unconditionally and wants us to experience joy and freedom. He is strength is manifested in our weakness.

So, let’s step into this joy, let it fill our hearts, and make it our favorite thing to do. Because in God, life isn’t just endured; it’s embraced, celebrated, and sung with a joyful heart.

We can also extend this passage by exploring the concept of God’s love in more detail. The Bible tells us that God’s love is unconditional, meaning that it is not based on our merits or our failures. It is a love given freely to all, regardless of who we are or what we have done.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• How can we experience God’s presence in our daily lives?
• How can we reflect on God’s love for us?
• How can we share the joy and freedom we find in God?

About the Writer

Daisy has an EdD in Educational Leadership and is an author, researcher, speaker, teacher, mother, and most importantly, a redeemed child of God. She currently serves First Dallas through First Impressions and is part of the Pastor’s Prayer Partners – Women, REAL Talk, Strong and Courageous, and En Español ministries.

DON’T MISS THE MARK!

“‘And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.”

Genesis 1:14-19

Even though we were not physically “with” the millions of others who watched the eclipse, as my husband and I saw it from our own driveway we “shared” in the experience of this once-in-a-lifetime (for most people) event with them! If you were watching as well, wasn’t there a certain feeling of “community” as you viewed the celestial show, knowing that people almost everywhere were seeing the same thing taking place? Even those who were not able to see it live certainly could see the beautiful videos made available throughout the world on TV and on the internet. Since then, I have read several expressions of the awe that some people felt at the time of totality, and many of them have quoted Psalm 19:1:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

And this was one of my first thoughts as well, as I marveled at the beautiful creation and the God who brought it into being. There are two other truths that have been very clear to me and that I would like to share with you.

The first one was recognition of the absolute order and precision with which God set the sun and the moon into place thousands of years ago when he created the earth! Have you ever watched a golfer trying to make a putt on the final hole in order to win the tournament? Perhaps he squatted down to determine the “lay of the land” as closely as possible, or he walked (or stalked!) around the hole gauging the angles and the direction in which the ball needed to go. Sometimes it seemed to take forever for him to line up his shot and strike the ball to the very best of his ability. And yet the ball silently cruised right past the hole, sometimes by “a country mile,” and sometimes by a “hair,” but still missing the mark. And it may have traveled only a few feet! So I have been totally amazed by the absolute precision by which this eclipse was predicted by the scientists, down to the very last minute! 

When I think about how huge the sun is and how small the moon is by comparison, and when I think about how far away the sun, moon, and earth are from each other, and when I think about the straight line in which they all had to be arranged in order for this phenomenon to occur at just that exact moment, it just about takes my breath away! God did not create a random place where things “just happen to happen.” No, He set the sun, moon, stars, and earth in place in an exact order and started them off at an exact speed as the earth revolves around the sun in its orbit and rotates on its axis, and as the moon revolves around the earth, so that at that exact time on April 8, 2024, they would all be lined up perfectly for the world to see this incomparable spectacle! The scientists, even though learned and brilliant, could not have possibly predicted with such accuracy that this would take place if all of the elements involved could not be depended on to be at the right place at the right time, even after all of these centuries. Surely, one of them might have gotten just a tad off-course during all of that time, but no! Everything happened just as God ordained that it should happen long before any scientists were born, even before any humans had been created! Wow! Consider what Paul wrote to the church at Colosse, speaking of the Lord Jesus:

“For by him all things were created: Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, Whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: All things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, And in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

Yes, He created it all and He controls it all. And He is holding me in the same hand that carefully placed the heavenly bodies into space to form a perfectly detailed universe, as He promised in John 10:28b, when He said, “. . . no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

The second principle that was illustrated by the eclipse was the fact that when it was all over, the sun was still there! The sun did not disappear or stop shining during the period of time when I couldn’t see it. It was there all along but merely obscured by the moon! The sun never left and its light was never diminished, even in the dark. It reminds me of the truth that God is always present, even if there are “eclipses” in our lives which temporarily cause us to wonder, “Where is God? Doesn’t He know what I am suffering? Can He help me?” God may allow us to undergo trials for various reasons—to test us, to strengthen us, to edify us, to bring glory to Himself, to cause us to seek Him, to lead us to repentance, to teach us, to accomplish His will for us, or simply to remind us that He is always with us! The words of David have brought comfort to many during times of darkness in their lives. Meditate on them as you read them here:

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely, the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12

Please enjoy the words of the chorus to the old hymn, “Back of the Clouds” and think about God’s presence in your own life:

“Back of the clouds, the sun is always shining,

Back of the clouds, the skies are always blue;

God has prepared a rosy-tinted lining,

Back of the clouds, it’s waiting to shine thru.”

~Carolyn R. Freeman

Hebrews 13:5

Acts 17:24-28

*Colossians 1:17

Isaiah 40:12

Isaiah 48:13

John 10:28

*Psalm 139:7-12

* Psalm 19:1

About the Writer

Diana is a former high school teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Women’s Bible Studies teacher. For many years a stay-at-home wife and mother, she is now also a grandmother to three young Oklahomans who call her “Gigi.”

Bezalel Builds the Ark of the Covenant

One of the main characters in Exodus is a man whose name only appears three other times in the whole Bible, and then only in genealogies in Chronicles and Ezra.  His name is Bezalel which means “in the shadow (protection) of God,” and he plays an enormous role in the construction of the tabernacle. Exodus 31:1–5 introduces him saying,

The LORD said to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding , in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to create artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, so that he may work in all kinds of craftmanship.

Though Moses was given the vision of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:40), and the people were called to furnish the materials (25:1–8; 35:4–9), it was the Spirit-endowed skill possessed by Bezalel that made it possible for the tabernacle to be constructed.  This is re-emphasized in Exodus 35:30-35, but it is Exodus 38:22 that I want to highlight.  There Moses records that “Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.”

Now it is obvious why Bezalel is mentioned in Exodus.  He is the chief foreman on the tabernacle project. He is given skill and the wisdom of the Spirit to accomplish the task.  

God gives us talents and abilities, and when we give them back to Him He can use them for His glory. No matter how small your gift or skill may seem to you, little is much when God is in it.

About the Writer

Debbie and her husband, Larry, have been members of First Baptist Dallas since May 2019. Debbie is pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work and plans to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

The Best Love Story

When I was a little girl, I loved to watch Disney movies and wear what I called a “lala” dress, meaning my dress had to flow out like a princess.  If it didn’t, it just didn’t pass my standards and I didn’t want to wear it.  What do little girls like me love about dressing like a princess and watching these movies?  We want to feel special and beautiful and have someone who would pursue us and do anything for us.  We want someone who would endure battles and obstacles to win our hearts. 

The more I read through the Old Testament, the more I see a love story between God and His people.  When sin entered with Adam and Eve, God put His plan together for restoration with His people through a Savior.   In Genesis 3:15, God addressed the serpent after Eve sinned in the garden and said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” 

We get a glimpse of the coming Jesus Christ who would die for our sins and be bruised on the heel by dying on the cross for our sins, but would conquer death and the grave.  In the future, Satan will face his final judgment—he will not win, despite the hardships he causes for us on earth.  What a love story of how, even though we mess up, God makes a way to erase our sin to be His children!  If we accept His free gift of salvation, we can live with Him forever in eternity! 

When God heard His people grumbling about their captivity in Egypt and how they were being treated, God sent Moses to deliver His people.  After performing miracles in front of Pharoah and His people, God gave them the ability to leave Egypt to go to the promised land.  He parted the Red Sea, gave them manna to eat new and fresh every day, meat in abundance, and water to drink when there was none.  He even guided them by a cloud by day and a fire by night. Exodus 13:22 talks about how God “did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”  If you were in the desert, a cloud would shade you from the sun, and the fire at night would help you see where you are going.  God chose to lead and guide His people because He loved them.  In Exodus 40:34, we read about the tabernacle God instructed his people build and how “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” God wanted to be with His people. 

We read further in the Old Testament about different offerings and sacrifices the people were to bring to make atonement for their sins.  Deuteronomy 12:27 states, “And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, and you shall eat the flesh.”  God made a way to make atonement for the sins of His people so He could dwell with them.  He kept showing the people by their sacrifices and offerings that they needed a way to erase their sins because, by themselves, they didn’t measure up.

Fast forward a number of years, and God completed His pursuing to be with His people by sending the ultimate Savior, Jesus.  Jesus is described by John in The New Testament as being “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  He is the perfect sacrifice who died on our behalf to take away each and every sin we have or will ever have—What love!

From the very beginning of creation, God has pursued His people and made a way for us to be with Him forever.  When you read through His Word, you see how much He loves His children and wants to be with them.  Do you want to experience the best love story ever written?  Do you want to feel special, beautiful, pursued, and loved like no other?  Let me encourage you to have a relationship with The One who will love you like no other, who gave His son to die on the cross for your sins, and who makes a way to be with you forever.  What a beautiful love story that happens to be the best love story ever written!

About the Writer

Alana faithfully serves at her church home, First Baptist Dallas, where she enjoys using her talents and gifts to help others grow in Christ.  She taught elementary music in public schools for twenty years.  Alana is married to Mike, and they have a cute mini golden doodle puppy named Bentley and a mini labradoodle named Bradley.

That Red Carpet Moment

Hi there. If you’re not already doing so, take a seat and let’s have a discussion. I’ve been pondering fame, specifically, the desire to be famous or the time we encounter someone who’s in the spotlight. Join me in contemplating these questions.

What is it that draws people to desire fame? Is it the subsequent money? The recognition? The accolades? All of it? Perhaps at its most base level, it’s a desire for companionship, to feel known. The motivation is, of course, highly personal.

On the flip side, have you ever met anyone famous? Or perhaps someone of whom you’re a big fan? What was your reaction? Did you forget to speak, or did you speak so much you’re not entirely sure what was said? Jumbling your words around saying things like, “Nice to meet me,” instead of, “Nice to meet you.” (Unfortunately, I’m guilty of the latter…plus many, many more blunders.)

Meeting a famous person, or a person whose work you admire greatly, can be exciting. The tension of feeling like you know so much about them, yet you really know nothing about them, is fascinating. And let’s not forget the bragging rights to your friends when your dream comes true, and you and the famous person suddenly become besties that talk everyday….

The facets of fame present challenges in our fallen world. Whether you’re in the limelight (regardless of the size of the stage or audience) or admiring someone else who is, there’s temptation to forget the One who deserves all adoration and praise.

In Acts 14 which records Paul’s 1st missionary journey, the writer Luke records an instance at Lystra where Paul and Barnabas were mistaken for the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes:

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. (Acts 14:11-12)

Initially unaware that this was going on, that fact given to us because Luke mentions that it was done in the Lycaonian language, Paul and Barnabas don’t find out about this mistaken identity until sometime later when the crowds were getting ready to worship them with animal sacrifices.

Responding with a distinctly Jewish symbol of grief and horror, Paul and Barnabas tore their robes in aghast at the blasphemy. They then proceeded to explain to the people who the real God is. Almost immediately after reading their response to this, I asked myself the questions, “How do we respond to being given credit that didn’t belong to us? How do we respond to our moment of fame?”

When people are impressed and moved by our contribution to the Kingdom of God, they can sometimes make the mistake of giving us too much credit. Perhaps (and hopefully) not as drastic as parading oxen donned with lavish floral arrangements on its way to be slaughtered for your sake. But still, if a credit audit had been performed it may have come out unbalanced, if we’re honest.

Paul and Barnabas’s reaction was 100% appropriate. On the other hand, check out Acts 12:20-23 for an object lesson on what can happen if we choose not to give God glory as Herod did. Heads up, it didn’t end well, to put it mildly.

I also asked myself, “How do we encourage others when trying to convey our appreciation for the work they’ve done? Do we help them to acknowledge the Lord in their successes? Or do we lay all the praise at their feet, leading them to the slippery slope of self-glorification?”

There’s an extremely delicate balance between encouragement and misplaced adoration. Letting someone know they were on the right track in their service can be helpful to them, especially as Satan often spreads lies of incapability.

But on the other hand, praise goes straight to the pride tank. The balance is tricky, and we need to be mindful of it and assist each other in giving glory where it’s due, to God.

Chuck Swindoll says, “There’s to be no embezzling of glory. It all belongs to Him. That attitude never fails to put everything in proper perspective. We would be wise to examine our motives for doing the work, making sure at every turn, in every achievement, with every ministry success the glory goes to Him”.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

About the Writer

Natalie is primarily a stay-at-home mom to three young boys. Additionally, she occasionally works as an emergency room nurse and has recently completed her degree for Nurse Practitioner. Natalie is on the teaching team for Women’s Bible Study at First Baptist Dallas and she and her husband, Paul, are members there. Natalie is also a member of the SEEN Collective which is a musical group that tells the stories of the women of the Bible through song and leads worship. Visit www.seen-collective.com to find out more.

Living Each Moment for Him

Life can feel like a blur, right? Days fly by, seasons change, and we get lost in the routine. But in Colossians 3:23-24, Paul shows us a beautiful way to see things differently. He says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Imagine washing dishes, not as a chore, but as a gift to God. Picture gardening, not just for food, but to care for the beauty He created. Every task, from the smallest to the biggest, becomes a prayer, a song of love for Him. This isn’t about being perfect or earning God’s favor. It’s about discovering the sacred daily, seeing the value in each moment, the holiness, even in the ordinary.

When we do things “with all our heart” for God, we find joy and purpose that transcends the mundane. The daily grind transforms into an opportunity to express gratitude and love for Him.

This new perspective, however, requires a shift in our mindset. It’s not about adding an extra burden to our already full plates. Instead, it’s about infusing our daily activities with intentionality and awareness.

Start by acknowledging the sacredness of the ordinary. As you fold laundry, feel the fabric’s texture and appreciate its comfort. While commuting, notice the changing sky, a testament to the ongoing creativity of the universe. These seemingly mundane moments can connect us with the divine if we open our hearts to them.

Remember, small acts of service, kindness, and creativity also express our love for Him. Holding the door for someone, offering a genuine smile, or even creating art – all become acts of worship when done to share His love with the world.

This journey of living each moment for Him can be challenging. There will be times when distractions and doubts creep in. But don’t get discouraged. Those are only opportunities for growth and recommitment.

Embrace the imperfections. The journey itself is the offering, not the destination.

Celebrate the small victories – the moments of genuine presence, the acts of kindness performed, the beauty noticed. These are the testaments to the ever-growing connection you are building with Him.

Living each moment for Him doesn’t erase the challenges of life, but it provides a source of strength, joy, and meaning amid them. It allows us to see the world through a lens of gratitude and purpose, transforming the ordinary into extraordinary and finding peace in the rhythm of His love that surrounds us every moment.

About the Writer

Daisy has an EdD in Educational Leadership and is an author, researcher, speaker, teacher, mother, and most importantly, a redeemed child of God. She currently serves First Dallas through First Impressions and is part of the Pastor’s Prayer Partners – Women, REAL Talk, Strong and Courageous, and En Español ministries.

 

WATCH YOUR STEP!

“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 16:18

Have you noticed how often people are encouraged to be proud? It seems that we are constantly bombarded by messages pertaining to pride! People are proud of who they are, where they were born, how many “followers” or “friends” they have, how intellectual they are, how talented they are, how beautiful they are, what they have accomplished, how physically fit they are, how many steps they take every day, how many miles they can run in an hour, how many children they have, how much money they have, how big their homes are, how godly they are, how often they pray, how much they give to charity or to the church, and, well, you get the idea. Our culture actually appears to be proud of pride itself! Now, I am not saying that you can’t be proud of your children or your grandchildren, but it is a fact that the Bible does not encourage pride as a desirable trait. In fact, the Bible warns us that pride is very dangerous! 

Jesus told a parable, as recorded in Luke 18:10-14, about a self-righteous Pharisee, who went to the Temple to pray. He stood and prayed to God, thanking Him for his own righteousness! He was very much full of pride because he was not like “other people,” even the tax collector standing nearby. But when the tax collector prayed, he humbly asked God to be merciful to him because he was a sinner. Which one do you think was forgiven by the Lord? Well, according to what Jesus said, “I tell you, this man [the tax collector] went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”      

People who are self-righteous do not even admit that they have ever done anything wrong, when, in reality, their very self-righteousness is a sin! We must come to God, through faith in Jesus with a humble heart, in need of a Savior! When the Holy Spirit draws someone to Christ, He convicts that person of his sin, leading him to a repentant attitude and a desire to be forgiven. When that person believes in Jesus as his Savior, he is immediately forgiven, saved from condemnation, and made a part of God’s family! How sad it is that some people never receive forgiveness because they refuse to admit that they have sinned against a holy God!!! Their pride keeps them from humbling themselves in repentance and faith. They do not think they even need a Savior! Eventually, everyone will be humbled; it is just a matter of when—in this life or the next, now or later. Take note of what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi:

         … “so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

   

Even after a person is saved, he still must be on the alert to avoid becoming prideful. Believers must depend on the power of the Holy Spirit and not on their own strength to withstand the temptation to sin. Consider Romans 12:3a:

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. . . .”

About the Writer

Diana is a former high school teacher, Sunday School teacher, and Women’s Bible Studies teacher. For many years a stay-at-home wife and mother, she is now also a grandmother to three young Oklahomans who call her “Gigi.”