faith

by

Table Salt, Himalayan Salt, Celtic Salt



“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. Matthew 5:13 NASB

In Jesus time salt was salt. Today salt comes in so many ways: Table salt is coated with anti-caking ingredient to keep it from clumping. Pink Himalayan salt is made of sodium chloride and trace minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. Celtic salt is natural and comprised of 82 minerals (93 various minerals in human body.) There’s also garlic salt, celery salt, onion salt….you get the idea.

Table salt
Pink Himalayan Salt
Celtic Salt

Believers are to be the “salt of the earth.” Sadly today many are table salt, coated by the world so as not to cake…sticky, a problem to the world’s lifestyle. Then there’s Himalayan Pink Salt believers, refined…processed to the point of automation, got the “talk”, but not quite the “walk.” But, wouldn’t it be wonderful if more believers were Celtic Salt. Pure in “heart”, made up of the most Christ-like elements…easily absorbed by those around. Full “taste” of Jesus. Salty, easily absorbed into the body.

What kind of salt are you?

RBGreenDesigns 2025

by

Sunday. Rise and shine.


Sunday Morning ~ Rise and Shine and give God the glory.

1) Do I feel like it? No

2) Can I roll over and skip SS and just catch the service? No

3) Will I throw something on and go a mess? No

4) Am I going so to be entertained, socialize or “Praise”? NO

Sunday morning, when I WORSHIP as His Word instructs, when I give God my best, regardless of feelings. Once a week to gather with fellow believers and WORSHIP who God IS!

We have become so comfortable in PRAISE for what God DOES! The void in every human that was created by the fall of man can only be filled by God through His Holy Spirit. We need WORSHIP.

We approach God with our sacrifice. No longer required of first born sheep, best goat, etc. but, still we approach with our best.

IF we get up for work or school earlier in the week, why would we give Him less on Sunday and sleep in?

IF we spend time to be neat, clean, appropriately attired and dressed to a “code” for the job or class, why would we give God less?

My clothes may be old but, clean and holes mended; my shoes wiped clean though out of style. My hair only brushed and nails only filed but, if it’s my best how can I offer Him less?

I taught my children, I’ll teach my grands what God wants is for us to WORSHIP and give Him our best, not less.

We need to WORSHIP. It’s easy to Praise Him for what He does. But, to Worship Him as Savior, Sanctifier, Healing and Coming King is humbling. His Sanctification of us through His sovereign plan, His Healing us in His time, all comes from who He IS.

I need to WORSHIP and out of worship I will know how to fully Praise Him. Worship is about God and who He is.

Sunday morning for me, when He calls His saints to gather and WORSHIP. Rise and shine.

RBGreenDesigns 2022

by

Life’s Hard


Which way to turn? Which way to go?

John 16:33NASB
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Social media is swamped with everything from pity and woe, to beware and be scared. It is not that I do not understand these emotions, these fears, I do.

I have lost loved ones too soon. The list is long. I lost a sibling tragically. I did not understand. I was not asked to. I know death up close and personal. I have watched it suffocate. I watched my dad crash. I watched his lung suctioned. Scripture asks me to trust. Obey. Faith.

I have walked through hard times of jobs lost, savings and retirement gone, car and home lost. No income. It is hard. It is devastating. But, God had a plan. I was not asked to like the circumstances I was passing through, just to stand on His firm foundation and trust His plan. It does not matter if I ever understand the reason this side of Heaven. I am asked to trust. Faith.

Seniors are missing end of year memories. It is hard, I know. I did not go to homecoming or prom. I had worked all summer with 8 girls; made them 3 uniforms each. Those 27 uniforms saw little use when my senior year world was turned upside down. A boy was stabbed in the heart in front of me. Memories? I was 16 years old. My brother turned to protect me and push me out of the way of the five boys attacking. The police took four of us as witnesses. They let my brother stay with me. It was an away game. Cell phones were not invented. My parents met the busses, heard there was a stabbing. My brother and I did not get off the bus. Someone told them we were ok and I was a witness. They had to go home and wait for a call. They caught all but one of the five that night. The guy that stabbed the boy in the heart got away. They lined them up in front of us and we pointed them out. No two way mirrors, face to face. Three days later I came face to face with the guy that stabbed the boy in the heart. Fear unimaginable. I got the detective. He got him. The threats came on the phone in the middle of the night. Dad took the phone off the hook. The threats and more came at school then. The school was suspended from all extra curricular events. My 17th birthday came and went. Two witnesses dropped out due to threats. The nightmares. The trial was horrible. The tranquilizers didn’t help. The stress and fear were overwhelming. I alienated friends, and eventually my high school sweetheart. Senior year? We got back activities after dad and another father threatened to shut down all 64 high schools if superintendent did not lift ban. Our teams, band, chorus, drama, etc., were able to do some events. I graduated. It is a blur. All the years of dreams gone. In the next six months dad had lung cancer. Senior year. It is not good for everyone. Focus on the good circumstances and memories you had and be thankful. You do not like the circumstances but, God has a plan. Grow. Look for the His plan. I did not at first. I dwelled on disappointment and lost dreams. I was grounded in faith, found I was still on His firm foundation. He carried me through. People look to see how you handle these circumstances if you are a Christian. You may never understand. Will you learn anything? Will you grow? Do they see faith?

These current circumstances are no different. Life is hard. Are these the end times? Does it matter? We entered the end times with the fall of Adam. There are no new trials or circumstances, no new sins. We should always live as this is the last days. Never take for granted our Lord’s grace and mercy. The Romans persecuted Christians in arenas for sport. The idol temples were filled with debauchery and sins unimaginable for profit. Plagues and famines have been recorded since Pharaohs’ days. Only the Holy Spirit can bring someone to salvation. You cannot scare them into it. So point to God’s sovereign love, mercy and grace. Show them trust and faith in your Lord, not fear of circumstances.

This too shall past. Be steadfast.

Psalm 26:12 NASB “My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the LORD”

RBGreenDesigns.com 2020

No Time Like The Present
by

No Time Like The Present


Psalm 148

We ask God, can you fix this, make it like it was? We want Him like He has been in our past. We hope for what He will be in the future while ignoring Who He is in the here and now. Jesus is the same as He was in the past and will be in the future, open your heart to Who He is in your present.

Church buildings are closed. Worship has not been stopped. God is the same. We can still pray. We can still thank Him. And then we can sing praises to His name but, only in our homes or cars. Worship is in our hearts, not in a building with sound and lighting booth in a theater setting. No lights, sound, action. No theatrics. No emoting. Back to simple worship. Just like His creation.

Psalm 148

God has intervened in modern services. Many had become praise oriented only but they called it worship. I believe He is using the current pandemic circumstances to shake up these concepts and wake His church.

I was raised on sound Biblical teachings and sound Biblical music. Everything from the front of the churches led worship of who God IS with humbleness and reverence. Sunday mornings we worshipped. We went back on Sunday nights for praise and testimony. You can not praise and give testimony for what God does until you worship Him for Who He IS.

I grew up attending the interdenominational churches of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. The founder of the C&MA, A. B. Simpson, wrote songs based on scripture, not “feel good to sing, toe tapping and emotion raising productions.” The Biblical truths we sang aloud. Those truths raised our spirits all on their own, no theatrics needed.

One of my favorites, based on Hebrews 13:8, was “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Now, over 100 years later, the hymns’ Biblical truths are sung around the world in many languages.

May we live today with our feet on the solid ground of His promises because Jesus is the same. (You can click link and sing along with the lyrics below.)

Yesterday Today, Forever

YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER

Words: Al­bert B. Simp­son, 1890.

Music: James H. Burke

~ O how sweet the glorious message simple faith may claim

Yesterday, today, forever Jesus is the same.

Still He loves to save the sinful, heal the sick and lame

Cheer the mourner, still the tempest, glory to His Name.

Refrain

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.

All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name!

All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!

~ He, who was the Friend of sinners, seeks the lost one now

Sinner come, and at His footstool penitently bow

He Who said “I’ll not condemn thee, go and sin no more,”

Speaks to thee that word of pardon as in days of yore.

Refrain:

~ Oft on earth He healed the sufferer by His mighty hand

Still our sicknesses and sorrows go at His command

He who gave His healing virtue to a woman’s touch

To the faith that claims His fullness still will give as much.

Refrain:

~ As of old He walked to Emmaus, with them to abide

So through all life’s way He walketh ever near our side

Soon again we shall behold Him, Hasten Lord the day

But twill still be this same Jesus as He went away.

Refrain:

Renee’ Green Copyright 2018 (Revised & Updated 2020)

RBGreenDesigns.com 2020