Are you convinced?

Soooo, Romans 8:37 

It has an awesome phrase in it. Most of the time we focus on that part of this scripture.  It says "we are more than conquerors through Christ". That IS awesome right? It's also true, but somehow we forget the part that precedes it. "For your sake we face death all day long... As sheep to the slaughter.'' Facing death all day long is quite a feat right? I mean ALL day long. It's not a cake walk. It's not someone posting bad comments about us on FB… it is referring to real persecution and sacrifice. Not to minimize any experience you may have, (your feelings are absolutely valid) and those can be quite painful, but perspective is needed. 

 Notice the scripture doesn't say that we are more than conquerors “in victory”. Rather, it implies that we are more than conquerors through hardships, through trials, storms, the wilderness, through valleys, through times when we must face death all day long. We are more than conquerors at times when we are as sheep being taken to emanate death.

       You see, it is easy to say that you are more than a conqueror when times are going good. But, what if your day, your ALL day long, is to face death for the sake of Christ? A political death, social death, death on your job, death of your body, a real-actual death? 

      Yes, being SALT and light requires we face death. Buuuut, with the understanding that God is with us (also in Romans 8). And, He loves us immeasurably! So much so, that whatever you face, He will not be separated from you. Whether it is a group of mean girls at school, a boss that you are convinced has it in for you, or persecution from the Roman Army; persecution in the boardroom or the mission fields, the classroom, or in the Amazon RainForest. Nothing.... No exogenous force or influence, can separate us from His Agape! 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So, are you convinced?!!?!!

~SALT (Saved, Anchored, Living, Transformed)

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer:

Thank you Lord for making us more than conquerors! Let us remember this often especially when hardships are ever present.

In Jesus’s name, 

Amen

We love you, and we are praying for you.

~Mouthpiece Erroyl, and Prayer-Warrior Princess Pinky 

perspective makes the difference

Perspective makes the difference... The following story is from a book that I read.. God has shown that the right perspective truly is key to loving as He loves.

"A traveler between flights at an airport. She went to a lounge and bought a small package of cookies and then sat down to read a newspaper.She became aware of a rustling noise and looked to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to the cookies. She didn’t want to make a scene, so she leaned over and took a cookie herself, hoping he would get the message. As time passed, she thought she had been successful. But then she heard more rustling. She couldn’t believe it. He was helping himself to another cookie! There was only one cookie left. While she watched in disbelief, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, popped the other half into his mouth, and left. The traveler was still furious some time later when her flight was announced. When she opened her handbag to get her ticket, imagine how shocked and embarrassed she was when she looked there and found her pack of unopened cookies!"

Maxwell, John (2010-03-12). Everyone Communicates, Few Connect:

It’s hard out here for a Christian

Hello Salt of the Earth,

Blessings to you in Jesus’ name. This did not start as a full-length devotional, but a spiritual vitamin. Well, it grew. Either way, long or short, it is a devotional that God can use to draw you closer, convict you, chastise you, reveal your true self to you, and reveal a deeper level of Himself to you.

Many people don’t want to be Christian because they see that sometimes it entails hard work, or no fun.

It’s really not that hard.  For one, we don’t operate on our own strength. Two, we can exchange our burdens with Jesus.

Micah 6:8 asks the question. (NKJV): “He has shown you, O man, what is good (righteous); And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

As for fun, the unsaved don’t know the joy that He gives His children. They think they know joy. What they experience is an emotional response to something material. Not the joy that keeps us afloat in seas, and dry in rain, and unburned in a furnace.
God bless, we love you and are praying for you. 

We love you, and we are praying for you.
~SALT

Pastor Erroyl & Sis Pinky

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer: Thank you Jesus for taking away my sin so I can have a joyful relationship with you.

Amen

Pleasing Him

"Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." 

You can't be a people pleaser and a bondservant of Christ at the same time. Serving God, for real, will put you in direct conflict with the world. We must learn the difference between serving others as a Christian, and being a people pleaser. It starts with compromise and ends with frustration. You cannot please everyone, and you certainly cannot keep people happy...not if you are a Christian. The Gospel is offensive to sin. Conflict is inevitable. Wherever you go, you are carrying the gospel with you, just by being Christ-like. It will offend sin, and those living in sin. You may not get invited to certain events. Why? Because sin does not like to be remainder that it is sin. And, even if you do not say a word, the Holy Spirit who lives in you, cannot be hidden.  His presence in you, will cause those living in sin, discomfort. Do not flaunt piety. That’s not Godly either. Show genuine love for the sinner. After all, “...God showed His great love for us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Roman 5:8. Everyone, on the planet, has sinned. Including the saved. Since this is a fact, we should not and cannot look down on those still in the ignorance that living in sin creates.  

Even though there will be difficult conversations, lots of prayers, maybe tears, and peaceful conflicts find solace in this...In Matt 5:9 the Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”  Not peacekeepers mind you. Peacekeepers will compromise to please people. Peacekeepers will overlook sin at times, people pleasers are non-confrontational, and prefer any peace they can get. They even prefer temporary peace over the confrontation and work that peacemaking requires. I'd rather have lasting peace. I’d rather please God, and be called His child. How about you?

We love you, and are praying for you  
~Pastor Erroyl and Sis. Pinky
SALT

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer: Show me the way to be a peacemaker and not a peacekeeper so that I may live a life that is pleasing to you.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen

Check up time?

     Every 3000 miles our cars have to be checked. Oil, fluids, tire rotation, brakes, etc... As disciples we should also examine ourselves. We need a check up every now and again. Introspection is great and sorely needed. Why? I'm glad you asked... Because the Bible says so.

   2 Corinthians 13:5 "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?"  

   Here's something to consider. You might not be in the faith. Here, Paul says, "Test yourself to see if you are in the faith",  examine yourself... Think about that.
    

   So what does the test look like? It's your life... Or rather the proof of your response to the test question is found in how you live every day. The bible says that we are known by our fruit. (Matt 12:33) In other words, our actions really say whether or not we are Christians. Now, so that we are not confused, I am not talking about salvation. I'm specifically talking about being a follower of Christ, a disciple, a person who has not only been saved by grace, but transformed by His blood, into a new creature.

What do our answers look like? Are we saying one thing, yet living another? Do we live differently on Sunday mornings than the other days of the week? Are we so focused on others' issues that we don't recognize the plank in our own eyes? Are we erecting facades to fool the world?

Authentic change requires work. It's not an event; it is a PROCESS. It requires periodic self examinations, accountability, sound doctrine by which to pattern our lives, and complete and total surrender.

Take the test. Examine yourself and grade your responses, and see where you stand.

I love you, and I am praying for you.
~Pastor Erroyl
SALT

Sis Pinky's Prayer:

Father, I am a sinner saved by grace. I pray that You would continue to remind me to examine myself to see if indeed I am living a life that is fruitful. I thank you Jesus, for dying so that I may have an abundant life. Help me to not let your dying for me be in vain.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

Sometimes You Must Encourage Yourself

Be encouraged, God loves you. He didn't put you in the situation you are in by chance, there's a purpose! Be of good courage, face what you don't know with the certainty and assurance that God has ordered your steps. When David was being chased by Saul and he was hiding in caves, and mountains he wrote some of the most beautiful psalms (songs). He did this, not so that you and I would have something to read on Sundays, but as a way to encourage himself and remind himself of who God is. Draw that parallel to you, and your situation. You may in fact be in a situation to where you feel like you are being persecuted, , chased, or maybe you just feel alone. God was with David, and He is with you. Take David's example and encourage yourself, remind yourself of who God is; in the midst of the situation. 

~Erroyl

SALT

Let’s talk about sex

Let’s talk about SEX!

That got your attention, didn’t it?

    I have a friend who is struggling with SEX in marriage…

……………...

    Before I begin, I must say that this devotional message is specifically pertaining to Christian, married couples, and those persons who hope to one day be a God-pleasing, Christian couple.

    Next,  If you are not married, in the eyes of God, you should not be having sex. Stop it, ask for forgiveness, and don’t do it again.

    Finally, nothing here condones any kind of abuse, or control.

………………..

    I have a married friend who is a Christian, and who is struggling with the frequency of sex in her marriage. That’s right, she wants sex more often than her Christian husband (It happens more often than you might think). She asked me, “What does the Bible say about withholding sex? I mean, we are married. Honestly, I have felt tempted to cheat at times, when guys hit on me, or even just notice me. I mean, not really to cheat, I guess. But, tempted to indulge in flirting back...” The short answer is that her husband does NOT have the right to withhold himself, thereby depriving her AND opening the door to Satan in their marriage. That “temptation to flirt” is Satan putting his left foot across the threshold and into the doorway of their marriage. His right foot is busy getting the husband to turn the “lack of sexual desire” into a habitual inaction.

    Let’s be clear. There is more to intimacy than sex alone. There are more ways to show affection. And there are times, of course, when a spouse has the right to refuse sex.  This rejection should be delivered in love. Even still, a rejection delivered the correct way does not supersede the fact that, rejection hurts. How a person is physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually should be considered.

   Though they may be accepted, no one really wants “obligation sex”, or “one-sided sex”. These are given grudgingly and make the recipient feel guilty. Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves a cheerful giver. I know, I know, Paul was referring to giving as a way to support the ministry...but, is not marriage a ministry? Yes, it is. Reread 2 Corinthians 9, and focus on verses 7-8, and ask God if/can both verses apply to sex in marriage. Verse 8 displays “all” rather conspicuously, does it not?

    Sex, within marriage, is important. It is powerfully cohesive to the marital covenant. The act replenishes and revitalizes the individuals, and reasserts the promise of “two being one” in Him. With that level of importance, is there any wonder why the enemy tries to use sex  (lack of sex, perversion of sex, extramarital sex) to destroy marriages. Why do we greatly desire to have sex before marriage, but that desire lags after the nuptials?

    I referred her to 1 Cor 7 with instructions that they should each read and study it.  

1 Corinthians 7:3–5 (NKJV): 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

We love you, and we are praying for you.

~SALT,  Pastor, Dr. Erroyl McGinty, Jr., and Sis Pinky McGinty

Sis Pinky’s Prayer: Thank you Lord for transparency in ALL things so that we can be set free in ALL areas of our lives. Please, Holy Spirit, teach us married couples how to live lives pleasing to God.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen

………..…

This link is to ©2018 FAITHFUL MAN® and is a great resource for this topic.