Don't Lose Your Saltiness

Just thinking about this long week of working....I wish I could say we are to the point at the Parma Church where we are just working on the finishing touches, but we are still a ways from there....every renovation or improvement project always takes longer than expected....at least I have never met one that did not exceed it's deadline.  BUT, it really isn't about the projects and the finish line....I mean I still care about that a lot....but, sometimes I care about that too much and I am learning that it is more about who I am in the process of all of my life projects....do I receive the improvements and do I work to build into others?

I get to do something fun in the nursery and the toddler room....one accent wall in each and so I have been looking at a bunch of (easy) ideas.....I saw this and loved it for the toddler room....anyway, whenever we do good deeds they should point people toward God because our light is so evident among them that there is no question who our daddy is.

Ever wondered why we should be salty?  I'm thinking FLAVOR AND PRESERVATION.  This is an incredible responsibility (but fun too).  We get to be the flavor in the world....we get to be the people who encourage and inspire with good things...we get to make life taste good for winning people to Christ. I get to go see the Skit Guys tonight and I know there will be MUCH laughter.  They are evidence of our salt as FLAVOR.  BUT, we do not have to be gifted with the ability to perform or make people laugh to add flavor to life.  We can, on personal levels, do this all the time.  I guess this could make us like Mrs. Dash. (that's a fun thought).

AND, we are entrusted with the duty to preserve Christianity as close to perfection as we can through being faithful witnesses of Truth.  The job at the Parma Church has become a bit sentimental to me as we dig out old pictures, plaques, dishes....etc which I am sure have held their days of meaning for that little church.  I try not to get attached to stuff, so I am usually pretty good at throwing things out....but, to see all of those things and to think about the faithful people that have come before us in that location to work to spread the Gospel does make those items that are left feel pretty special.  But, the ultimate plan is God's.  The congregation at that church dwindled and God still wanted to see it used for ministry, so He prompted them to gift it to our church....a church that is not even the same denomination (denominations are not a big deal to me because we are non-denominational, but I know to some who have been in a denomination for a long time that can be a very big deal because their denomination came from a passion to hold to Truth as they interpreted it through scripture -- though I don't always agree with all the separation that resulted from that, I respect the passion to hold fast to Truth).  All that said, I am just realizing what a privilege it is for us to be the preserving SALT for the work of sharing the Gospel in downtown PARMA...and I PRAY we will not lose our SALTINESS!