Are you Salty?

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 5:13-20

If you attend church with me at Rogers Christian Church, today’s blog is going to sound familiar to you.  I appreciate our Pastor Zach, his sermon really touched me today and I asked his permission to quote him in this blog (thanks, Zach!).

What is the health of your faith?  I challenge you to do some exploratory surgery on your spirit as you read this.

I have often told people that with me, what you see is what you get.  I am the same person whether I am at work, at church, at home or on Dickson street during bikes, blues and BBQ.  I don’t change who I based on who is around. What you see is what you get – this is the real deal of Kitty Matz.

If we as Christ followers are going to change the world, we have to be the real deal.  Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth.  To be the salt of the earth you have to be authentic.

Ask yourself these two simple questions:

      1. If you were accused of being a Christ-follower, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

      2. Outside your family or people that attend church with you, who would identify you as a Christ –follower?

Are there impurities in your faith? Don’t try to appear perfect because no one likes a phony.

Long ago when theater first started, they didn’t have microphones to amplify their voice, so in order to be heard, actors would don masks with megaphones built in.  The Greeks referred to the actors as hypocrites, people who wear a mask, who pretend to be someone they are not.

We must clean ourselves from the inside, not just put a coat of paint on the outside.  Let Christ in!  He changes you from the inside. People are skeptical of others because many hide things.  What makes us different?  What makes us a good influence?  We want to see people who surrender everything to God, not a mask.

A salty life is a life that is marked by its authenticity, that has been submitted in full to Jesus, and that recognizes Jesus is the hero.

Salt is always best when it comes into contact with other things, adding flavor and value.  Salt makes you thirsty.

So now ask yourself this last question: Am I living my life in a way that makes people thirsty for Jesus?  Or am I sitting on the table never doing anything? 

Prayers

In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
 As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 
Amen.
- Matthew 6:9-13
 
We are taught from a very young age to pray. We are even given the words to use.
Do you notice in this prayer, the emphasis on God? Hallowed be HIS name. HIS kingdom. HIS will.
I don't know about you, but even though I was taught this specific prayer when I was little, I didn't learn how to pray until I was much older.
We should take everything to God in prayer. Our praises, our gratitude, our hopes and dreams.
God loves it when we sing His praises and thank Him for what he has given us.
Just remember, when we are praying for specific things, it is HIS will that shall be done.


Have a blessed day!

rambling thoughts . . .

Here we are, it is Friday! 

My thoughts for the weekend are really kind or rambling today so forgive me if I don’t make any sense. . . 

In the past week I have observed some rather interesting behaviors in people.

Keeping up with the Joneses . . . according to Wikipedia,  this is an idiom in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the comparison to one's neighbor as a benchmark for social class or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority.  

Those are some big words.

I think of it more like that dumb song “anything you can do I can do better”

Why?

Why do we have to be so competitive?

I stopped posting a lot of new things on FaceBook because it felt like if I got something new, I got snarky remarks about it. 

For example, when we bought my husband a new jeep a year or so back.  I posted a picture of him and his new jeep on FB with a “happy birthday honey” and some silly thing about me being the best wife ever . . .

I had people just shredding me – from comments like why would I post that, was I trying to make this person feel bad because I got something new, to comments about if you have so much money you should buy me this, or this.

Honestly it hurt my feelings.   We work very hard for our money, we budget our spending carefully and plan on our purchases – especially the bigger ones.

Why can’t people just be happy for others when good stuff happens?

Which brings me to my next little ramble/rant . . .

Why can’t people just be happy for others?

I see a lot of people just ranting about stuff – and then they turn around and do the same thing.  

For example – one person had a fit because people were posting beach pictures, she threatened to unfriend them, yet when she is at the beach, guess what she is posting?

Another had a complete come apart because someone posted their reaction to an episode of a tv show – and this person had not seen the show.  The following week, same person different show, posted a spoiler.

::sigh::

Come on people . . .

At the end of the day, is it going to matter if you have an iPhone9 or a million dollar house, or if your neighbor has more chickens than you do?

Is it going to matter if you missed your favorite show and someone else got to watch it?

God’s words says that we are to love one another, not be envious and petty and mean.

So when someone gets something that they want and they are happy with it, whether it is a car, a phone, a tattoo, a house, a promotion, a baby, a star named after them, their masters degree in the art of watching grass grow . . .  just be happy for them.

Please?

Have a blessed weekend! 

Random Acts of Kindness

Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

—Matthew 6:1

I have talked about random acts of kindness before.

Let me remind you (or perhaps share with you for the first time) of an event that took place in 2011:

August 19, 2011

I had a reality check last night.  I went to pick my son David up from his Rider’s Edge class and went to the store.  My list was short, I bought zucchini, snap peas and grapes.  We went to the car and a young man with a toddler came up to the car holding a sign saying that he had lost his job and had no money.  I handed David $4 to give to the man, and then I saw his wife.  She was holding a tiny baby.  I got out of the car, went back into the store and bought a box of diapers for each child, a box of wipes, cereal, bread, peanut butter, jelly, juice, apples, oranges, plastic silverware, paper plates, a roll of paper towel and a pillow pet for the toddler. When we checked out the cashier made a comment about the diapers and how there must be a new baby in the house.  I said no, and told her about the couple in the parking lot.  She said I better hurry because they had been asked to leave and her whole attitude toward me became very cold.  David went out with the groceries while I paid.  The couple were getting into their vehicle.  The little boy’s face just lit up when I handed him the pillow pet.  While David loaded the groceries, we learned that they are refugees, here from Romania, that they were living in California when he lost his job.  Her friend told them to come to Nashville because there are jobs there but they only got this far.  They were sleeping in their car last night because they had no money for a room.  It was 86° with 68% humidity last night.  Not unbearable, but still uncomfortable.  I was racking my brain trying to think of some place they could go, and all I could think of was to send them to the police station to get help.  David saw that a police officer had pulled a truck over in the gas station parking lot, and the truck had just left, so he ran over to the officer to ask for advice.  He ran back and told the couple to wait, that the officer was going to come and help.  When the officer got there, he told the couple that Bentonville has a great place to stay, the Salvation Army, and they could follow him there.  We left.  I cried all the way home.  I wish I could have done more.

My reality check is that I am so blessed to have a home, food and fuel.

I want my son to know that he should help people when he can.

I understand that they were asked to leave the store because someone probably complained, and I understand that if Walmart allowed people to beg that the parking lots would be full of homeless people, so I am not angry with walmart. 

But my church lesson this week was “I was hungry and you fed me . . .” Matthew 25:35-40 .

I wish I could have done more, given them my phone number or email address.

Funny, when I was in the check-out line with my stuff, I wanted a soda, but I knew that I had some at home and I was too stingy to pay for another one.  But I didn’t think twice about going back in and buying stuff for them.  My youngest is 13 – I had no idea how much diapers cost now. . .  the lady, she was beautiful, she was so petite and had a gorgeous smile and she kept saying “God bless you” and she hugged me so tight when we left.  David said the man was so overwhelmed that he could barely speak.  God HAS blessed me.

Please pray for this family.  I don’t know the parents’ names, but the two year old is David and the infant is Corrina.

I have decided to try and find them again today.  I want to take them and fill their vehicle with fuel.  That would be one less thing for them to worry about.

When I sent that out, the response from my friends was completely overwhelming. We had an entire arsenal of food, gas cards and money arranged for this family.

But we could not find them.

I spoke to the officer that helped them.  He said that on the way to the Salvation Army, the family pulled over and waved him down, telling him that their friends had called and they had someplace to go.  The officer said he went back to his car and when he looked behind him, the van was gone, nowhere in sight. He asked me if I had ever heard the phrase “entertaining angels” (Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.) He told me that he believed that these people were sent to me for a reason, and that I fulfilled my commitment to God. 

I used to post every random act of kindness that I performed – telling everyone what I had done, kind of a hey – look at me moment. 

But we should not do that, honestly, it is wonderful to “pay it forward” or whatever you want to call kindness to a stranger – just remember that we should not be compassionate for personal glory.

We must always be motivated to act in the best interest and for the greater good of those in need, without calling attention to ourselves or our sacrifices.

God provides what we need to bless others.

Our goal should be to please Him and to be used by Him to bless others who are in need.

Have a blessed day!

My Deliverer

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

– Psalm 18:2

Guess what?  Yup – I have a song in my heart!

Rich Mullins released “My Deliverer Is Coming”

My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by
My deliverer is comin', my deliverer is standin' by
He will never break His promise
He has written it upon the sky

Wow!!

Think about it . . .  when we face trials, hardships, struggles – we need to run TO God, not away from Him.

God is there, He will be your rock, He will stabilize things to get you through whatever you are going through – believe it! 

He promised!

Now here is something fun – Simon & Garfunkel released the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

When you're weary, feeling small, When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

When you're down and out, When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl, Sail on by
Your time has come to shine, All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine, Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind

When you are overwhelmed, run to Him, He will strengthen you! Let Him be your bridge, your rock, your deliverer.

Have a blessed day! 

Are you too proud?

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

- Proverbs 16:18

Society today is so focused on image.

We have damaged our little girls by making them believe that only a certain body type is acceptable.

We have damaged our little boys by setting expectations that they have to excel at a specific sport.

We spend our entire lives striving to be the best, to have the best and to be an example to others in a materialistic way.

When you look in a mirror, what do you see? 

When others look at you, do they see the same thing?

Remember that everything we have is a gift from God.  He gave us our looks, our talents, or specialness, and He wants us to use it for Him.

Never boast or be prideful of things, be humble.  Being conceited is of the world and quite honestly it is ugly.

Things are meaningless and if the only goal in your life is to have “stuff”, then friend, you need to rethink life.

One of my favorite quotes (and I have used it in my “daily bread” before) is “God won’t ask”

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many others you clothed.

God won't ask about your social class, but He'll ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you had, but He'll ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your principles to obtain it.

God won't ask how much money you spent on yourself, but He'll ask how much you gave back to Him.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but He'll ask if your overtime was for yourself or for your family.

God won't ask how many promotions you received, but He'll ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but He'll ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but He'll ask how many times they didn't.

God won't ask if His Son loved you, but He'll ask if you loved His Son.

Put aside your vanity and pride and listen to what God wants from you. 

If you only focus on yourself and continue on the path you are on, well, the fall is going to be quite painful.

Each and every one of us have the vanity trait, whether we admit it or not – it is in our nature.  But when we turn to God, when we allow Him to fill our hearts, He changes us, we want to please Him, listen to Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

This, my friends, is not done in vanity, but in His unending love for us, His creation.

Have a blessed day!  

I'll be there for you

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

I have several friends that have recently gone through some devastating events.

Some of these events may seem insignificant to others, but to my friends that are experiencing the event it is heart wrenching.

What can we do to help people that are suffering through illness, pain, loss, or challenge?

Don’t ever say “I know how you feel”, because you don’t.

I don’t care if you went through the exact same thing that I did, there is no way that you know how I feel.

When my brother died unexpectedly, several acquaintances responded with “I know how you feel, I lost this person or that.”

Ummm – no. 

When my young friend lost her husband in a motorcycle accident, people were comparing her loss to their divorce.

Oh HECK no!

Don’t ever say anything that starts with “at least”, because that belittles the emotion that they are experiencing.

If they lost a pet, don’t say “at least you can get another one”

Give them time to mourn their loss (and whatever you do, do NOT just give them a new pet of your choice – that is downright rude)

If they have been diagnosed with a medical disorder don’t say “at least it is not <insert life threatening disorder here>”

At the moment that they choose to disclose their devastation with you, they are not looking for you to tell them that it could be worse.

Furthermore, if someone is going through something terrible, they may not want your advice, they may just want to be heard.

God is very clear in His word that we need to encourage each other.

Be a good listener, be empathetic, ask if you can do anything for them (and follow through!!).

Sometimes people just want to know you are there, your mere presence comforts them.

Remind your friends that God’s mercy is great, and though we may not understand the “why” of what we are going through, one of my favorite quotes from the movie Soul Surfer fits very well here:

When Bethany began to cry over her missing arm, she said to her friend “how could this be God's plan for me? I don't understand.” To which her friend responded “I don't know why terrible things happen to us sometimes. But I have to believe that something good is going to come out of this.”

Believe that something good will come of the pain you experience.

Encourage one another and build one another up. Something good is going to come. 

Have a blessed day!