It takes two baby.…Do your part!

Many times we will say things like "the Lord needs to do a work in me". And while that is certainly true, sometimes what that statement does is give us a cop-out to doing the work we need to do.

The Scriptures say "Faith without works is dead" James 2:26. Because God lives outside of time, He has already begun the work in you. That is evidenced by the fact that you know work needs to be done. He placed that desire to "get it right" in you, He placed the people and situations in your path.    

That was His part. The first part for you is to believe. That is the faith. The next part -the work... Some people find it easy to work, and others find it easy to believe. You must have both. Why, because work without faith is just work... So yeah, it takes two baby.

I love you and I am praying for you. 

~Pastor Erroyl

SALT

Endure in the season: Unpacking Colossians 4

In the season: Unpacking Col 4 

It’s seasonal, but in most cases in the book of Colossians I can substitute the word and meaning of prison with ailment.  My life has been a medical rollercoaster. Like Paul, I know the reason for my bondage. So, I no longer pray for life’s inclement seasons to end. Now understanding that our Father uses ALL things to shape us. He may be using that valley that you’re going through to humble you. To make you look more like Jesus. I suspect that Jesus was not a handsome lad after having been scourged. That unexpected, right on time, unmerited blessing that you received,... yeah that was Him expanding your completely inadequate understanding of who He is.  He’s bigger than that. He’s stronger than that, and He loves you. I no longer pray for healing, for myself.... Wait, wait, wait... before you stop reading  (labeling me a lunatic no doubt) listen to this. I no longer pray for healing, for myself in regards to certain things. That may seem like an odd thing to hear a pastor or preacher say. Do I want to be healed? Yes.  Do I believe He can do it? Of course, but I know what He has told me corn this season. In many things, most notably the encephalitic coma of 2015, I am in a, “by His stripes, I am healed” situation. But, in others, most notably, Sickle Cell Disease, I am in a, “My Grace is sufficient for you” situation. It’s not time to be healed. DO NOT let anyone tell you that all you need is faith. All you need to do is believe and God will do it. First we must realize the caveat.  His volition; the Father’s will is first and foremost. Secondly, “Faith without work, dead” (James 2:26)

I also don’t pray to be stronger as I used to. Why not? He says to me that, “in your weakness, My strength is made perfect.” Seriously, why would I (anyone) ever want to use my minuscule, ever failing, constantly depleting strength, and forego His infinite stores. So, I do not pray to be stronger. I pray for Him to increase my endurance in all things. After all, “the race is not given to the swift” (Ecc 9:11), right? I pray, “...(Col 4:3) that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— “ I pray for Him to grant me knowledge. To increase my understanding, and to bless me with wisdom.  I pray for the Mind of Christ. 

(Colossians 4:2–6)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 

So, while in this season, while trekking through wilderness, climbing this mountain, weathering the storm...Endure. Be ye steadfast. Do not grow weary in well-doing, Endure until the end. 

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

SALT

~Pastor Erroyl and Sis McGinty 

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer:

Lord, help us to remember that your grace is sufficient, especially during the turbulent times of our lives. We need to always rely on Your strength and not our own.

It is in the majestic name of Jesus we that we pray,  Amen. 

***SALT Ministries is based on Col 4:5-6.  We believe those two verses of scripture are poignant and encapsulate much, if not all that a church needs as its “mission”. 

Working for me

We don’t often say, “God I thank you for this trouble, this pain, this disobedient child, this stubborn spouse, or this selfish me”, but we should. The Bible day that all things work together for my good because I love Him and I’m called according to His purpose. ALL things. Bad days, yup... pain, yep. Heart ache, yes. Betrayal, yeah that too. ALL means ALL. Hallelujah! I’ve got a lot of ALL in my life. 

Gospel of the Storm

Storms can teach us a lot if we are willing to learn from them.
We can learn about ourselves. We see our shortcomings clearly, our points of fortitude, and we are forced to acknowledge endogenous weakness as well.

It's not really until there's a leak in the roof, or a crack in the foundation that you get your home inspected. In other words, the turmoil caused by the storm can be a great indicator of who we really are. If a branch is blown through a window during a storm, you get it fixed right? So, when a storm uncovers hidden issues, faults, shortcomings, and character flaws in your life... fix it. Do the work. If you don't, the next storm will wreak havoc in your life.

We can also learn about others. Their ideology, theology, politics, morals, standards, strengths and weaknesses are on display when the winds begin to blow. You don't really know the character of a person until your relationship is tested. Storms do that very well.
We can see our relationship (or lack thereof) with Christ in our response to the looming clouds. Our reaction to the storm can tell us how much, or little, we've grown in Christ. Our focus mustn't be on the storm; but on He who can calm it. So if you response is to panic, worry, or run away then maybe there is some growth that needs to happen. Your belief, or unbelief,  that God is really in control shows through during storms.

We should look to Jesus to see how to act in a storm. You know what Jesus was doing during a storm? Sleeping. (Mark 4:35-40) That's right, He was resting. And, sleeping 'good' too ;-)
I'm not going to worry, I'm going to rest in Him. How about you?
I love you, and I'm praying for you.
~Pastor Erroyl
SALT

Sis. Pinky's Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for giving us a new perspective about the storms that come into our lives. Help us to rest in You and to look to the hills from where our help comes from when the typhoons of trials beat upon us. We love and thank you Jesus for being our model and for leaving us Your peace.

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen!

  

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