Salt

Sometimes I really am searching for my lost shaker of salt... not for my margaritas, I'm out of that phase of life now. But honestly lacking in spiritual saltiness.

Jesus gave his disciples (myself included) the job title of "salt of the earth". (Matt 5:13) 

And Paul told the Colossian church to be sure their conversations were "seasoned with salt". (Col 4:6)

And so I've known salt to be a good thing, on fries and in life, but never really understood what exactly this spirtual salt stood for. So I did some research and looked into the uses of salt (call me a dork, it's cool)...what I found truly moved me, encouraged me, and convicted me to USE and BE salt.

4 Main Uses of Salt

• Enhances 
• Salt enhances the flavor of what already is; it brings out the best in something.
• Cleanses
• Salt lifts stains and dirt, removing residue and leaving it much cleaner than it was found. 
• Preserves 
• Salt preserves things in a state it is able to remain. 
• Heals
• Salt heals wounds and calms irritation. 

Let your words, actions, and entire being enhance, cleanse, preserve, and heal those around you. 

True salt. 

Jealous

I don't have much time... I'm sitting here typing one-handed with a baby on my lap and bottle in the other hand. I got two other munchkins riding anything with wheels down the front walkway with a side-smirk showing through because they know it's past bedtime. But I wanted to get this down, if just for myself, before my head hits the pillow seeming to erase the day's wisdom, etch-a-sketch style, gone.

I spent a good amount of time this morning replenishing a tree I've been turning into the local gathering place for the neighborhood birds. The tree tavern serves cardinals, jays, finches, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds... it certainly brings out the dork in me. But colorful visitors, especially while washing dishes (again) or during a particularly quiet naptime, brings variety and company right to my window.
I had restocked four feeders and added some fresh water; there was already a ton of activity and a hummingbird darting around me in anticipation with the nectar still in my hand.
But later, while my littlest ones were asleep, and I had a moment to stare and enjoy, there was nothing. Not one bird. And I was given a thought, a complete, uninterrupted thought:

If they know there is constant nourishment here, why would they even bother looking anywhere else? 

Oh, I actually said aloud.
Wow, is that me God? I do that too?
You too are constant. You are sustaining. You are abundant. You are never-ending. And yet I still look elsewhere sometimes. What else is out there? Is there something better, more convenient, tastier?
I've tasted and I've seen, so why ever leave, if even for a second, that Good, Life-giving Source.

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'" ~John 6:35

In that moment, I actually found myself jealous for these birds I've come to know, come back, come back, where did you go? I'm right here and ready to constantly feed you, fill you, enjoy you... but where are you?

"Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." ~ Exodus 34:14

Oh.

Resource

I'd just like to take a second to offer myself as a resource for anyone you may know facing an unexpected pregnancy. 

I have some life experience to pull from, but also actual training and time spent as a counselor at a pregnancy clinic which may be useful to someone out there.

Currently, I stay home with my three little ones. But what with Facebook, texting, e-mail, etc., I've realized I'm still available and able to help. I can at least talk through options, provide information, and just be a listening ear.

Feel free to message or e-mail me (michelle.umbehauer@gmail.com) and/or pass this information along however you may want. 
Thanks.

Put Simply

It's buzzing today that CVS announced it will stop selling all tobacco products in its stores. I was pretty surprised by this, and I know people will have all sorts of opinions on it today. But after reading what the CEO of CVS had to say, it got me thinking. He stated:

"Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose." 

Good for them! They recognized their purpose, what they stand for, and realized they were plainly contradicting it by their actions. And after that realization, the next step was simple: stop the action.

Companies all have an aim, a mission statement. But what's yours? What's mine?

My purpose is to be ambassador of Christ in this world, an example to people of God's loving grace and hopeful truth. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

It's fair to stop and ask myself now and again, what in my life is inconsistent with my purpose? And if I find something, am I willing to cut it off, no matter the cost? (Matt 18:7-9)

It's projected that CVS will lose $2 billion annually by ending tobacco sales! That's significant, even to a major corporation, but they feel it's necessary in order to remain consistent. CVS claimed they were seeking to improve customer health, but they sold disease-causing, habit-forming products.

What's holding me back from my purpose? My aim, to be like Him.

• Attempting to worship and glorify Him early Sunday, but being a drunken mess all night Saturday?
• Singing of His Love, but speaking loads of hatred to strangers?
• Knowing of Gratitude, but whining all over Facebook?
• ____________, but __________________?

Locating the inconsistencies and taking the action to end them. Not to be perfect. We won't. But to be consistent with our purpose. A worthy, worthy attempt.