Whitnee's journey with Christ

Growing up everyone who had my moms macaroni loved it. It was the most cheesiest, butteriest, owey gooey macaroni you would ever want to taste. Granted it was probably very unhealthy, full of calories and cholesterol; it was made with love and succulent greatness. Every Christmas party, church event, and most Sunday dinners her macaroni was requested. It was so bad even my coworkers would ask for my mom’s macaroni and on request- she made it with love every time!

Before my mom passed away she taught me her recipe. I think I nailed it when I cooked one last week for a friend’s birthday, and just like my moms macaroni the boys were popping gas for the rest of the night! Funny comparison but it’s true! (Disclaimer: If Aunt Earlene or Tal are reading todays message, I still love y’all’s and are my all time favorites).

Evaporated milk, elbow noodles, eggs, butter (not margarine), seasoning salt, pepper, blocked or shredded cheese, salt, and last but not least-love. I tried making the macaroni without salt and it was a hot mess. Very bland so although I do not add salt to anything besides macaroni and eggs; salt is definitely needed for a good macaroni (in my opinion).

Fun facts about salt:

• Our body requires that we take in salt every day.
• According to research, it is said we cannot live without salt.
• Salt is the only rock regularly eaten by people.
• Every cell in your body contains salt.
• It is a natural mineral found on Earth that is made up of sodium and chloride.

Is that enough science for you?! Okay….let’s see what the Word says. Read Matthew 5:13-16 (displayed above). Scripture tells us that we are the salt of the Earth. The Bible tells us that we are a preservative. With that said, God intends us to be set apart from the world. Not to be boastful or think we are better than, but simply to be an example. An example in which God would be well pleased.

Scripture goes on to say in verse 13- but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? Because then it is good for nothing, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

My sisters and brothers can life sometimes suck the taste out of your body? At times do we not feel like we have been trampled on? Do we not have times that we feel like we should be tossed aside and thrown out? I don’t care how old or young, fine or ugly, rich or poor, good hair or bad hair, privileged or impoverished you are; we all have those times. If you have ever gone through something you can relate BUT if you haven’t….baby keep on livin!

Scripture goes on to say in verse 16, (I remember saying or listening to this every Sunday before tithing time)- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

To encourage those reading todays message I want to share what the man of God has included in the commentary section of my Bible. It reads:

Does anyone know that you are a light burning with the fire of heaven? What “good works” do they see you doing that reflect well on your Heavenly Father? How does your Faith cause you to behave differently from anyone else? 

Take some time and answer the questions listed in my commentary. Dig deep and really appreciate the wonderful creation you are. Some of you are my closet friends, my biggest encouragers, my funniest people, my dearest Comrades, have the sweetest personalities, biggest hearts, most gentle spirit, some are fire crackers, balls of sunshine, and the list goes on. EVERYONE READING THIS MESSAGE ARE THE INSPIRATION ALL AROUND ME!

🎶 I need you, you need me, we all are apart of God’s body! 🎶

Sometimes we don’t know the strength we have- it is God given strength. Sometimes we don’t know how good we are- WE ARE SALT! We are set apart- WE STAND OUT! Like my mama’s macaroni….the key to it is God’s love and the right pinch of salt!

I know there are some whose hearts are heavy this morning. I know there are some mourning the loss of a loved one, have a difficult decision to make health wise, job wise, relationship wise, car wise, living arrangement wise, you name it. Somebody may be perfectly in perfect peace this morning just needed a little boost of confidence and reminder that YOU ARE THE SALT OF THIS EARTH!

Now go back to the story of my mama’s macaroni- cooking it without salt made it bland. Go back to the fun facts about salt, our bodies cannot live without salt. So what does that say about YOU AND I?!!! We are needed! We are important! We matter! We season things up and makes things better!

Our mistakes, our bad choices, our muck ups, our bad days might take some taste away at times but God restores us with each new day. It is by His grace and His grace alone that He has blessed us. This morning some of you might have gotten a personalized message with some words of encouragement. And if you didn’t then keep on reading.

I simply cannot thank God enough for EACH OF YOU! As a whole and as individuals you all have left a stamp of approval on my heart. Whether you are “too seasoned”, ripe, just right, or need some more flavor you are valued, appreciated, and stand out. GOD CREATED A GOOD THING WHEN HE CREATED YOU!

Some of y’all need to be reminded that you were made in God’s image. Let’s take it back to the beginning:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 
Then God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. 
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.


Then God said, “Let Us make men in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE! We are made with love the same love that mama’s macaroni had and still has through her grandmothers recipe.

God designed us to love Him and to love others. To those reading todays message I want you to know that you are loved and prayed for. I want you to know that YOU MATTER. I want you to know that your life is important and YOU ARE GREAT! You are a servant leader in God’s army even when you don’t see it: you help, you care, you share, you feel, you love.

On last Sunday we sung one of my all time favorite hymns, I surrender all. Then on Wednesday for Ash Wednesday service I surrender All and Just As I Am were sung. If you’ve never listened to those old Baptist hymnals, I encourage you to go on YouTube and do so- you will be blessed by the words.

As I begin to close todays message God told me to tell you whatever you are holding onto that makes you feel like you are worthless, whatever makes you feel like you should be thrown away or trampled down- God is saying set it down and surrender it all to Him. It will cause division in your spirit and distance you from God while on your walk in Christ. Sure we all have those moments (truth be told I felt like that for about 2-3 weeks straight but I got out out of that dark place) but we must not stay there.

God is calling out to His people to stand up, stand out, and be set apart and be the example He created you to be. Put that blunt down, leave Jose Cuervo alone, tell them hoes to get out your DM and pick up your Bible and praise the Lord. (YES I SAID IT, what’s wrong with being real. A little bit of TRUTH ain’t never hurt nobody)!

Stop believing the enemies attempts and Satans lies. The Good Book tells us in Psalm 139:14- I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well.

So I’m calling all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to go stand up, stand out, and hold your head out with your pretty, fearfully and wonderfully made self! Go out and walk in your purpose, praise the living God, and spread/share God’s love. You don’t have to be a preacher, teacher, or singer to do so…you were created in His image and all the gifts and talents that you possess spoken and unspoken are used to bless others.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. 

Tune in tomorrow to see how and what God stirs up. I’m on fire for the Lord and I want to allow God to use me, as I am available to Him. Thanks for stopping by and reading todays message. Make sure to like todays message using the like button, share todays message, and smile with your beautiful self!