Carmen Horne

New Lens, New Life

Why is it Important to Live Salty and Sweet?

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A couple of days ago, our Scripture Writing List (list archives found at the bottom of your email) landed upon one of the great points Jesus made in His Sermon on the Mount. I like how The Message paraphrase reads,

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

Jesus Christ — Matthew 5:13 (MSG)

Jesus’ words had me pondering, just what He wants us to do when we read Scripture. How does a salty life look?

Wound Healer: Have you ever soaked a cut in saltwater? My dentist hardily endorses salt water rinses for mouth and gum issues. Salt heals. When we are using our gift of saltiness, God will use us to help restore hurting people. Our presence will bring hope.

Flavor Enhancer: Do you know folks that seem to bring peace with them? Their arrival affects the atmosphere of the situation. They don’t overpower us, they bring out the best in us. We want what they have. They point us to Jesus.

Nutrient Source: The minerals in salt bring proper balance to our bodies. When we live a salty life, we bring balance. Our connection to The Bread of Life (John 6:35) is the spiritual food we need to live an abundant life. When we fill with His food, we can feed others.

Our challenge in living a salty life is total surrender to Jesus. When we say, Here I am. Use me., then, we can help heal, enhance, and offer spiritual food to those around us.

But should we be salty and sweet?

Writing about living salty reminds me of how important living sweet is to our Christian walk. I don’t know how you feel about it, but a little salty and sweet make the best chocolate and the best characteristics of a surrendered life.

Scripture (Galatians 5:22-23) verifies that kindness and gentleness are attributes of the fruit of the Spirit and are intrical to being the salt of the earth. One needs the other to be authentic.

These verses in Proverbs confirm the benefits of sweetness: Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 15:4, Proverbs 15:23. Proverbs 12:18. I hope you can find time to read a few.

One of the ways I’m tryin’ to live salty and sweet is to spread hope through writing. My friend, Jana Kennedy-Spicer, gives me another opportunity to share the hope found I in Jesus Christ by collaborating with Sweet to the Soul Ministries.

Jana chose Proverbs 16:24 as the foundational verse for her ministry.

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

The Sweet to the Soul ministry team just published their first full-color magazine — FAITH. I am so honored to be part of the writing staff. I really try to ensure that any ministry I collaborate with lines up with my Christian beliefs. Knowing what you believe and standing firm in those beliefs has never been more important. This is one of the reasons I am tickled pink to collaborate with Jana and Sweet to the Soul because of her strong biblical foundation (Check out her “What We Believe” page.) Below is a little about the magazine. Isn’t that cover gorgeous!? It’s jam-packed with goodness.

This is not just another magazine. It is one that you will keep on your bookshelf, just like you would a favorite devotional. I really hope you will grab a copy. I’m not compensated for your purchase. I want to share a great resource with you.

Here’s the purchase link — FAITH Magazine And if you do pick one up, please message me and let me know what you think when it arrives. A little about the magazine below.

Summer 2021: The Inspire Journal
FAITH Magazine

Sweet To The Soul FAITH is a Brand new magazine for Women Inspiring Generations for the Kingdom of God.

Published quarterly, each full color issue is centralized around a theme with specific focus on three Biblical topics.

Filled with over 120 pages and a variety of content in multiple formats:
Devotionals
Articles
Bible Study & Prayer resources
Christian Fiction
Scripture & Prayer cards to share
Bible Journaling
Color Pages & Puzzles
Recipes…and so much more!

Each issue inspires and challenges the reader to answer the call placed on today’s Christian women to be Kingdom influencers within their families and communities.

Sweet to the Soul Faith Magazine Cover
https://sweettothesoul.com/faith

Being salty and sweet seems to be an even bigger challenge for us today. I heard someone say that they were asked did they need the Holy Spirit to be saved? Their answer, “We need the Holy Spirit to go to Walmart.” Truth, right there. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can help heal, enhance, and feed those around us through the love and kindness of Jesus. We can be salty and sweet.




Condemnation or Conviction?

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For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 8:17 (ESV)

Do you ever wonder the difference between conviction and condemnation? How might that look in real life?

Let’s look at a few of the differences.

Condemnation comes from Satan. It makes us want to run from God.

Condemnation is broad. Yet is also personal. Condemnation rarely addresses specifics. It is used to create feelings of self-loathing. You are a bad person. You are stupid. You are lazy. You will never change. Condemnation is less concerned with our actions and more concerned with us feeling useless and unchangeable—a lost cause.

Condemnation causes despair. Satan is called the Accuser of the Brethren (Revelation 12:10), and he takes his job seriously. In Genesis 3:11, God asks Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” Adam and Eve felt shame. They wanted to hide. These two had a personal relationship with God. They walked with Him in the garden; however, their Accuser convinced them that they could not trust God. They feel hopeless.

Conviction comes from God.

Conviction speaks in specifics. Conviction says these specific acts you took brought you to this situation, and those actions need to change. Conviction leads us to repentance, not avoidance. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom on how to change and the power we need to make changes.

Conviction is empowering. The Bible tells us that we can know we are loved by God when He disciplines us. (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19; Psalm 94:12) We feel secure in the knowledge that God corrects us and redirects us because of His love.

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT)

Are you struggling with feelings of condemnation? Those feelings are not of God. The Holy Spirit will be specific on what needs to change and then point you in the direction you need to go. There will be peace in the end, not despair. When the Holy Spirit convicts, there is hope.

When we mess up (and we all do), let’s run toward Jesus. Tell Him all about it, ask for His forgiveness, and thank Him for His patience in redirecting us. Jesus loves us and wants us to live an abundant life.

Here is an infographic to help you remember the difference between Conviction and Condemnation. Please get it here: Infographic

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