*Exclaimer: Last night I had a dream about a friend. I have been noticing for a while that her critical language and attitude were increasing. She had made several changes in her life. Most of them were because she refused to accept counsel and waited on God to deliver her or redeem the situation. I have been trying to help but she believes she "KNOWS" what she is doing. So I believe this is where the dream came from.*

In the dream, my husband and I knew that a huge hurricane was about to barrel down on the house of our friends. We had already weathered many of these storms and knew exactly what to do. We went to their house and found everything was in dis-array. (There was an internal feeling that this chaos was more emotional rather than physical. But in my dream, I saw a home in a complete mess.) So my husband and I went to work on getting things ready to take the hit. My friend was "hiding" in another room. She was unable or unwilling to come and help us help her and her family. So we decided to keep working. The storm was coming whether we liked it or not. 

All the while, the clouds grew darker and more ominous. We tried to tell them exactly what to do and how to be prepared but they only watched the storm and were already devastated before it even hit. The last vision I had, in the dream, was her sitting on a very rickety old screened in porch in a lump of depression.  Her family stood around her tied to her dissociation of the impending doom. I tried to get them to a safe place beside a calm spot to lock ourselves down for the road ahead, but she would not come. As a result, I had to leave her, her husband and kids behind and get our family to safety. She was stubborn and refused to take counsel. I could have stayed there and put my own family at risk, but then I would be unwise with my family and their safety. When the clouds were at their darkest, I made the move to get to the safety zone and latch on to a strong tether. She stayed behind to battle the storm on her own porch with no means of connection to safety. Defeated in spirit and dragging her entire family down with her. 

We are like my friend when we are faced with emotional storms and chaos. The storms are real but we try to act like there is nothing we can do and we have to give up in despair and or denial. That is NOT true! The Bible says in Proverbs, 11:14 {KJV} "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. "THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HAS WEATHERED THIS STORM BEFORE YOU AND WANTS TO HELP OR COUNSEL YOU SO YOU SURVIVE.” We need wise counsel. Someone who weathered the storm well and is still rejoicing over life.  This is why we go through storms in this life. 

2 Corinthians 1:4 states: ..."who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

There are people who are "in the know" and God bless you if they love you and will even put their own peace at risk to help you get through your storm. But please remember, that if they are truly wise, they will know when to let you have your own stubborn way and get themselves to safety without you. This is not them abandoning you, this is you not trusting that they are trying to help you survive. This is you trying to destroy yourself and others with your stubbornness. 

Jesus is only a whisper away. He spoke "Peace Be Still" to the storm and the winds obeyed. Turn to Him first in every storm of life and worship Him. Then He will either deliver you by His own great hand or He will send you a loving and caring friend to help you get to safety and gain wisdom. PLEASE DO NOT BE THE STUBBORN FRIEND! 

Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress. Those who know your name will trust you, for you have not forsaken those who seek you, Lord.”

There once was an amazing artist. He created treasures that were cut strait from his own heart. So, he called them heART. He loved every single one for their own unique beauty. He was an artist like non-other.

There once was also an art thief. He hated every single piece of art the creative artist had created. One day, the art thief broke into the gallery and stole the artist's beautiful creations. He did not cherish them for their beauty, but rather he hated them and was determined to burn every one of them. But he wanted to first enjoy defacing them before he burned them. His hate caused him excitement at the image of a fire that would burn forever. He told himself, that he would steal any new art pieces the creative artist would create in the future. He would burn them in that fire too. It felt so wonderful to be fulfilling his heart wish. He hated the creative artist and anything his hands touched. It was personal for him.

One day, the creative artist had sought to rescue his creations. He found the thief and said, give me my heART. The thief said, "No, they are mine now. I tricked you and you no longer hold the ownership papers. I can do with them what I want. "The artist wept at the thought of his loss. He knew the thief really hated him even more than his creation so he said, "What do you need to sell them back?” The thief thought and thought. He realized the real hate was for the artist. He said, "If you will give me your life in exchange, I will let them go as you requests." The love for his creations was more important than even the creator’s life. So, he agreed.
The creative artist allowed the thief to torture, shame and kill him so his beloved art could be spared. All was lost. He was gone. No more loving hands and heart to create and love his heART.

But the artist had a Father who was watching and the Father was a great and mighty Doctor. He had even brought people back from the dead. He was even more amazing than the creative artist. After the death, the Father brought the son back to life and brought him back to his gallery with all his beloved and newly freed masterpieces. The Father had a great and mighty judge. The judge had always been wise in his justice. He took the thief to court and sentenced him to the same fire that he had created for the masterpieces. The creative artist declared in a powerful voice that shook the court room, "It is finished!” Then the artist, the judge and the Father had a gallery party and fell in love with the creations all over again and again for all eternity.

Do you know the players?
Creative artist: Jesus
Thief: Satan
Dr. Father: God
Judge: Holy Spirit
MASTERPIECE: YOU
So remember you are loved and cherished and wanted and NO ONE can trick you from the Master Artist. You Are His!! You are his redeemed heART.

According to Wikipedia "Salt is a necessity of life and was is a mineral that was has been used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange."
In the bible, Jesus teaches us to be the SALT and light of the earth. Matthew 5:13-16 reads:

¹³ “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.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
As a Christian counselor that upholds the role of “casting salt and light”, I have seen how individuals who are raw with sores are affected by this salt on their wounded hearts.

Just as salt can be received as a blessing, a light, or a “seasoning” by one individual, it can also be received with pain and cause one to flee or recoil in response.

While Jesus has instructed me/us to be salt of the earth, the enemy attempts to diminish this gift by whispering doubtful words like “you should have kept those words (or that salt and light) to yourself. However, Jesus uses me/us as messengers to deliver salt and light, and to not keep it hidden until it loses its taste or is useless.
As mentioned above, salt is also a disinfectant. At times, a disinfectant that is meant to cleanse and restore may indeed sting in the healing process. Sometimes, Jesus will instruct us to cast salt without knowing what the response will be; But by fulfilling His instruction to do so, the purpose for good is served regardless.

I do not always know or understand the needs of individuals as I am instructed to cast salt and light, but it is always cast from a place of love that is instilled by Jesus. My role is not to judge, but rather relay salt as a messenger for Jesus.

The next time you are cooking and reach for the salt shaker, I hope you remember that salt is very important in life as well. Remember, that sweet baked goods often always call for a pinch of salt to bring out the best flavor. The salt actually reveals the sweetness more. We definitely need more salt to reveal sweetness in this world!

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