Salt and Light

It’s been a while since my last blog. I sat down after the Holidays to write one, but it just wasn’t coming together. Suddenly, before I knew what was happening, I was swept up into a whirlwind of service and ministry. I went up to Wake Forest to help my dear friends the Hernandez family. I spent a glorious week “playing house.” I cooked, cleaned, laughed, tickled, hugged, kissed, spanked, wiped noses, changed diapers, and combed hair to my hearts content. What a difference that family is making in the world. How boldly the father speaks the Gospel to others. How contentedly the children memorize scripture and go about their chores (well, most of the time). I rejoiced to see the fruit of lives solely lived for the Kingdom of God. Tony Hernandez and his family inspired me. What am I doing for the Kingdom of God? Who am I sharing the Gospel with? What am I doing to stop wickedness and evil and encourage truth and righteousness?

     I also had the opportunity to join Tony and his boys at an abortion clinic. Tony stood on the curbside crying out to the men and women coming in and out, pleading with them to turn away from evil and come to God. This moved me beyond words. The zeal that is driving this man and his family is just beautiful. He has opened his home to women seeking refuge from the world. Women who want to turn away from the evil of abortion and choose life. I can’t wait to see his ministry, “The House of Hope” blossom. All of this made me think about my own life and ask the questions above. As I opened my Bible time and time again with the children, and recited Matthew 5:1-10, I kept returning to one verse:

   
      “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness

       sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matt.5: 10

     I want to be working for the kingdom of God and talking about Him until I am blue in the face. I want to stand on curbsides and in town centers proclaiming His glory. I want to be the kind of salt that burns and irritates. I want to be so fervent for Him that I am made uncomfortable and even persecuted. I want to inherit His Kingdom. I realized something very important this week: I love mothering, I adore homemaking, and I want to be a wife and bear children more than almost anything in the world; but I want Christ more. I want to bring glory to Him. I want lost, broken people to see Christ and come home to him. Thank you Hernandez family for reigniting my fire for Him. Thank you God for giving me such dear friends. Bring me opportunities to share you with others. Amen

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.”Matt 5:13-16