salt... shake things up.

Philippians 2:1-4 ( message version )

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart,if you care - then do me a favor. Agree with eachother, love eachother, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front, don't sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

I read this in my deovtions today and really thought about how Pastor Matt has been sharing on the church as a body of believers, working together, and living out our faith together. If we could simply apply this to our everyday lives, this scripture would transform the way we live.

We used to sing a song in Kidz Inc. " First Jesus , then others, and then theres you. The secret for a joyful attitude". I'll never forget that , and it is so true. Lets not be so caught up in ourselves and our own situations to the point where we become oblivious to the situations around us that we could be influencing for the better. Our purpose is to know Jesus and make him known.

I read the quote this week, " Many people say .. ' what has happened to the world'.. but a better question to ask is what happened to the salt.. We need to stop living for ourselves and live to be Gods hands and feet, being affective each day. Because if we were in the perfect will of God, he wouldn't let a day go by without being affective through us. Lets not let this world loose all its saltiness... shake things up. the salt isn't going to come out of the shaker unless it is moved. Let yourself be moved to make a difference. And if a salt shaker is not constantly refilled , then eventually it will run out... Remember to refill your salt shaker. yes, pour out to others as much as possible, but make sure you let God pour back into you having a constant overflowing supply of his spirit. Try and be a useful salt shaker this week.

Matthew 5:13 ( the message version)

Let me tell you why you are here. you're here to be salt seasoning that brings out the God flavors of this earth. If you loose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? you've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.