SALT< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Matthew 5:1-15

In the Bible days, there was no refrigerator that could be used for preserving food. Preservation of food was only done by the use of salt. When Jesus said that you are the salt of the earth, He spoke in reference to what the life of a believer should all be about. A believer should be the one bringing impacting changes to his or her environment such as work place, neighborhood and family gatherings. Salt, as a preserver, means believers should be an agent of preserving the decaying world of sin and iniquity that is around them. Instead, the world is the one that is changing believers lately. We are not to be changed by the affairs of this world if we cannot at least change the world. It is not enough to be fluent in Bible verses if our character does not reflect the fluency of the Word in our mouth. Most believers today want to be quiet in their walk and the excuse that is used is that they donÕt want to offend anyone by what they believe in. Imagine this, in the world of a kitchen where there is salt, how can it be that every food that is coming out is tasteless and unacceptable? Jesus said in Matthew < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>5:13, ÒYou are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by menÓ. The salt in the kitchen that is producing a tasteless and unacceptable food has no effect because it is not being used or it has lost its flavor. The salt that is not effective has lost its purpose. It becomes a waste and it is to be thrown away. According to Jesus, that salt becomes an underfoot material. What kind of salt are you? Boldness in quoting the Word without Godly character to back it up will continue to make you a powerless believer. You are to be a salt that seasons your world with good and acceptable contributions. Ask God for the grace to be a preserving agent in your world.

DO IT< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

John 2:1-12

In deed and in truth, obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience will save a lot when it is in place in the life of a believer. The wedding in Cana of Galilee had Jesus in attendance because He was invited. During the course of celebration, the sustenance (wine) of the wedding celebration was out. As a result, the wedding ceremony was in direction of shame, humiliation and embarrassment.  You have invited Jesus into your life and things are beginning to go down. Is it your marriage, health, finances or your walk with the Lord? At that wedding in Cana of Galilee, the mother of Jesus approached Jesus for intervention that would save the wedding celebration from sudden death. Jesus responded in John 2:4, ÒJesus said to her, ÒWoman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.Ó JesusÕ response was not discouraging to the mother of Jesus. She rather encouraged the servants at the wedding with her response in John 2:5. ÒHis mother said to the servants, ÒWhatever He says to you, do it.Ó What is in the Word of God that is missing in your situation? If you will take an honest search within yourself, there is a step out of what He has said to you in His word that is missing and causing your whole problem. John 2:7, ÒJesus said to them, ÒFill the waterpots with water.Ó And they filled them up to the brim.Ó The servants were obedient by doing exactly what Jesus instructed them. Can you state with confidence that you are doing all according to His Word and commands? Jesus commanded them to fill all the empty gallons of wine and the wedding took a new turn; a new beginning and better celebration begun. Let His command reign and rule in all your undertakings and nothing under heaven will overtake you.

WAITING PATIENTLY< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 40

Waiting patiently on God is taking a position to receive from God. It is not enough to call on God when there is no waiting that will bring forth the purpose of waiting. As a believer, many times you ask and miss the response because of the inability to wait for a response. Trusting in God is ignoring negativity around you while focusing on all the positives that are evident as the work and power of God goes forward. Trust is what will enable waiting and when trust is not in place; waiting will not have its way. King David testified in Psalm 40:1, ÒI waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cryÓ. King David knew that in his waiting God had given him a response because he was brought up out of a horrible pit; out of the miry clay. His feet were set upon a rock and his steps were established (Psalm 40:2). In waiting on God, instruction and teaching will come to lead and guide the waiter into the manifestation of the waiterÕs request. This is what happened to King David. His situation was turned around because he received a leading and guidance from where he was to where he wanted to be. Have you been asking for a long time without any result or the result has been a negative one that could not turn your situation around into a new page? God is a faithful God. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The same God that did it in the life of King David will not fail in doing it for you. Ask God for the grace of waiting when ever you request or call on Him for His deliverance. Waiting on God will no doubt turn around the page that is not working in your life to a working page for His name to be glorified. Wait on Him and wait patiently. Your waiting on God will never be waste. 

GOOD GOD< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2Samuel 10:6-14

Joab, the commander of King DavidÕs army, was caught up in a battle line where the Ammon and Syrian soldiers were both in front and behind Joab and the children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel soldiers. For Joab, there was no where to hide neither was there anywhere to withdraw from the hand of enemies. Anything that has chosen to deny a man from going forward is an enemy. Also, any situation that is threatening to take away life is an enemy. Above all, anyone that takes a position against your achievement in any area of your life has taken a position of enemy.  Can you think of any ground such as marriage, finances and/or health that you have been caught up in a battle line? When Joab found out about the situation, this what he did in 2 Samuel 10:12, ÒBe of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.Ó He encouraged the soldiers and prayed that the Lord would do that which was good in His sight. God will not settle for anything less than good things whenever He is called upon. After the prayer of Joab, this happened in 2Samuel 10:13-14, ÒSo Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.Ó If you will believe that GodÕs goodness will cause your enemies to flee, then you will not raise any hand to do battle. All you will have to do is praise the good and living God.

WHAT ABOUT NAME < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Not long ago, you had all that it takes to live life and to live it well because everything was in place for you. Hardship had no place in your dictionary and anything you wanted was in place. Things have now changed compared to where you were then. Forgotten; no-way out; help is not in place neither in sight; hope dwindles; faith is failing; stagnation; living in shame and it just does not seem like there is a way out to where one as a believer wants to be. Above all this, without any iota of doubt, God is God. He is a wonderful God and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Remember that and that will solve the whole pain. The name of Jesus is what makes the difference. He made us in His image (Genesis < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>1:27). He that names us in His image has a name that is meaningful, A name that transforms; a name that breaks through and a name that is power. If man has been made in His image, man should also answer a name that is meaningful; a name that communicates positively. Mephibosheth the grandson of King Saul, son of Jonathan answers a name that makes the whole difference in his life. The meaning of Mephiboseth is, ÒOne who destroys shameÓ. Once a grandson of the King, he lost his father, Jonathan, at age 5 and became grounded for years. Shame struggled to keep him down, but shame could not prevail because he was named a name that would make the difference. Most men, if not all, that were vessels of honor in the Bible answered and lived to the full meaning of their name. As a child of God, what is keeping you grounded? Mephibosheth because of his name and the grace of God caused King David to wake up one day without any prior notation to move to favor him. 2Samuel 9:1, ÒNow David said, ÔIs there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for JonathanÕs sake?ÕÓ God is a listener too. They called Mephibosheth shame destroyer and there was no choice but to go out of the way of shame. What people call you will make you. What is your name?