I just saw a meme lamenting how long the month of January seems to some people. Probably, because for many of us it’s been a long hard winter and they want January over so they can get this New Year moving along towards spring and longer warmer days. But I’m never in a rush to see the months or years pass by. Although I’m pretty much done with snow, but we still have February and maybe even March for more snow in the mountains. That’s ok. We love the four seasons and as the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecc. 3:1

True confessions! I didn’t take down my Christmas decorations until the middle of January and we took our tree down January 22 because the house cleaner was coming the next day! We were enjoying the lights, it was snowing, and why not?! We decided that one month isn’t long enough for all the work of setting it up and taking it down. We gave ourselves grace!

As some of you may have read in my January 8^th Monday Morning Blog, The Truth About Grace, the Lord led me to choose grace as my guiding word for 2024. In that blog, I discuss the importance of having a balance between actually erring on the side of truth or of grace. Only Jesus could balance that perfectly, but it is something every Christian should strive to achieve.

God impressed on me that He wanted me to focus specifically on how grace is used in Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

It was clear that God wanted me to be more understanding, forgiving, and tempered in my speech so that what I said would be palatable to the listener.

At first, I just focused on trying to extend grace and give the benefit of the doubt or figure out where the person was coming from instead of immediately interjecting my thoughts, opinions, and yes critiques. But the second part of that verse, “seasoned with salt,” also points out that when I do speak, my words can’t just be tolerable, they must be pleasing to the other person. We add salt to food to make it tastier and enhance flavors in the food. To transform it from tolerable to tasty. That’s how God wants our words to fall on the listener’s ears.

The last part of the verse says if I focus on grace and salt in my conversations, I’ll know how to answer everyone! Wow that’s a big task and yet one that should enhance all my relationships.

Since choosing to focus on grace in 2024, I often hear the word grace in my mind before I respond. Even when I relapse and default to my usual response without taking a moment to consider how to answer gracefully and pleasantly, I’m reminded by the Holy Spirit that I didn’t choose grace and salt. This is a big task and one I’m sure is going to take longer than a year to master.

However, I do know I’m making progress in this last week of January. When my hubby had a mishap at our home, before I reacted as I might’ve done previously, I quickly ran through my mind all the times he had showed me grace when I did something accidentally. Those instances literally flashed before my eyes and I quickly remembered how relieved of guilt I felt at his loving response. That allowed me to measure my words and console him rather than chastise.

It must’ve worked because he actually thanked me for showing him grace. Grace is the exact word he used!! Now I can’t say I’ve done that all month in previous situations, but I am praying that it will become more natural. When God gives you a word or a verse to focus on, He is usually telling you that you need to improve in this area. It will make your witness for Him more effective, your relationships more peaceful, and your speech more Christ-like.

“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.” Matt. 5:13-14

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Mark 9:50 NLT

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Eph. 4:7

If God gave you a word for 2024, please share it with me. We can pray for each other. It always helps to have an accountability partner.

About His Work with You,

Janet

New Blog Posts:

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No More Recreational Christianity!

The Truth About Grace

Janet's Crosswalk Articles:

12 Ways to Recognize the Overlooked People in Your Church

PS: Are you looking for a Bible study for your group to do in the winter or spring? Check out the Face-to-Face Bible study series, or one of my books like Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God our Culture Has Forgotten, or Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As A Woman of Faith are available at Amazon, BarnesandNoble, and signed and personalized by Janet from our website shop. Both books are written for our current times. Perfect for book clubs and Bible Study groups.

PSS: Now is the time to order your Mentor and Mentee Handbooks for winter & spring Mentoring Ministry Coffees and matching.  

PSSS: If you're ready to start a Mentoring Ministry ALL Woman to Woman Mentoring Resources are available only at our website shop. Be sure to check out our Woman To Woman Mentoring Ministry Leader's Package. There are only a few remaining and then they will be discontinued, so get yours now!

PSSSS: Please share with us a story from your mentoring ministry to encourage other churches.

When my grandchildren were young and came to visit us, a fun outing was going to our local library. They have a children’s section and the kids enjoyed spending time there and then we would check out books for them to read, videos, and they even had backpacks with different themes.

If you receive my weekly blog, I’ve been journaling how I inadvertently became the spokesperson to lead a battle against pornographic obscene books targeted to children brought into our library. Some of the books are placed in the children’s section and all are available in the library online catalogue.

For those of you who’ve been following this journey with me, I won’t repeat here, but if you haven’t read about it, I’ll list the blogs at the end of this section that discuss it and you can also sign up to receive my weekly Monday Morning Blog on my website.

The point I want to make here is that we must be vigilant to protect our children and grandchildren from the schemes of Satan to infiltrate their schools, school libraries, and public libraries. Don’t think just because you’re the grandparents that you don’t have a role in countering the evil attempts of the enemy to indoctrinate the minds of our innocent grandchildren. They are the next generation in our family and our country. The Bible is clear that when we see wrong, we must stand up against it.

Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 NLT

I had no idea how just posting an article on our local community Facebook page about our library would start a firestorm that has put me in places and conversations I never anticipated. Many people told me that I did my best when a group I’d recruited from church initially didn’t succeed at convincing the library to remove these books. They actually referred to us in the meeting minutes as “the people in favor of censorship.” I knew there was more work to do, not to give up or give in.

God keeps opening the door to not acquiesce to initial defeat. I hope a few others will again join me to meet with the library board on February 14 to request they edit the minutes referring to us as censors, and also to review the objectionable books according to Idaho State’s definition of obscenity and material harmful to children.

I’ve seen that some schools are allowing satanic clubs to meet at the schools. If there’s one in your area, join the parents in protesting against this insanity. Satan is no longer sneaky and sly. He and his demonic workers are now openly on the attack looking for someone to devour and sadly he’s gaining ground in our schools, communities, and government. Help educate your grandchildren about the evils of Satan’s tactics and maybe consider starting a Bible club at their school.

My point: Ask God where He can best use you, and then get involved. Warning: It will take you out of your comfort zone.

Be Alert for Where and When the Lord Wants You to Get Involved

Jesus Reveals the Opposing Fathers of Truth and Lies

No More Recreational Christianity!