Being Salt and Light

Daniel Miller, his siblings, and cousins surprised their grandparents last week. One by one the young adult grandkids showed up at their home with sleeping bags, ingredients for homemade pizzas, snacks, and arts and crafts activities. All 8 “cousins” wanted to spend cherished time with their grandparents, like they did when they were younger.

The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the Big Ten Championship. Reporters raced to interview quarterback Fernando Mendoza and receiver Omar Cooper Jr. Both young men made it a point to thank Jesus Christ for the victory, for the strength he gave them, and for the opportunity. They wanted to make sure that He was first to receive the glory and attention.

 

Martha, a 73-year-old cashier, has worked at Food Mart since 1998. She has a pickle jar, with quarters in it, at her station. Any time a customer pays with food stamps or vouchers, Martha quietly adds a quarter to the jar. A coworker asked her what was with the quarters and she replied, “Counting my blessings.” Martha grew up with parents who needed food stamps so her family could eat. There were times the cashier was rude and made a big deal about her parents needing assistance. That’s when Martha decided she would not treat people disrespectfully. She usually adds three to four quarters a shift. After several months there was $140 in the jar. One morning a mother, with two toddlers, was checking out when her EBT card was declined due to insufficient funds. She began pulling items to leave behind. That’s when Martha stopped her, quietly opened the pickle jar, counted out the amount needed, and told the woman, “Ma’am, looks like you’ve got store credit.” The woman replied that she didn’t but Martha quietly whispered, “You do now. Take your groceries. Feed those babies.” A stock boy witnessed the event and word soon spread about Martha’s kindness. Soon five other cashiers had a pickle jar at their station. Before long, the manager added a large donation jar by the store entrance and labeled it, “Martha’s Quarters.” People in need are now helped without drawing attention to their situation. Martha’s idea has now spread to seventeen stores in three states.

 

As we begin a new year, may we also find ways to be salt and light.

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Generous Hearts

 

Good Earth Greenhouse LLC is located at Highway 7 S, in Oxford, Mississippi. A few days before Christmas, they notified the people in their community that the remainder of the Christmas trees, at their location, were free to good homes. 

Walmart has a partnership with 20+ food banks across Texas. During this Holiday Season, they have generously donated over 90 million pounds of food, providing over 75 million meals for families.

Frank Gable is a recently retired factory foreman and a widower. He values his quiet and slower mornings. Saturday morning, the doorbell rang at 7 AM! Opening the door, a cold blast of air hit Mr. Gable. Two boys, 14 and 12, were standing on the front porch. The oldest spoke, “Excuse me, Mr. Gable…we were wondering if you’d like us to shovel your driveway. And your front walk.” The drive was buried in snow. It wouldn’t be an easy job and neither of the boys appeared to be dressed warm enough for the task. When asked the cost, the boys said they would do it all, plus the steps for $20. When Frank asked if it was $20 each, the young men assured him it was $20 total price. After permission was granted, the boys began shoveling. Marcus, the older boy, used the decent shovel to break up the snow, while Leo used the shovel held together with duct tape. The boys worked without breaks, no complaining, and no talking on the phone. Frank noticed that Marcus soon changed shovels with Leo to help make it easier for him. After watching the boys work, Mr. Gable put on his boots, made two cups of hot chocolate, took them outside, and announced that it was time for a union break. He then told Marcus to go to his garage and get his heavy-duty shovel to finish the job. An hour later they knocked on the door and had Mr. Gable come out to inspect their work. He noticed the boys had even brushed snow off of the railing by the steps. Frank opened his wallet and handed Marcus $120. The boys reminded Mr. Gable that they agreed to shovel his driveway and sidewalk for $20. Frank replied, “I know what you said. You did the work. And you did it well. Twenty dollars an hour per man, for three hours work, in this weather. That’s $120. You earned it.” Tears began rolling down Leo’s face. Marcus spoke, “Sir…you don’t understand. Our mom works nights at St. Jude’s. Her car battery died this morning. She was going to call off and maybe lose her job.  The auto parts store said a new battery is $114. We were just trying to get anything.”  The boys took off running straight to the auto parts store.

 

May our hearts encourage us to be generous, too!

 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

Merry Christmas - 2025

 

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

 

 

The virgin will conceive

and give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel

(which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23

 

 

But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you

good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you;

he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:11-12

 

 

The word became flesh and

made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory.

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

 

 

For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but

have eternal life.

John 3:16

 

 

When the fullness of time had come,

God sent forth his Son, born of woman,

born under the law, to redeem those

who were under the law, so that we

might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5

 

 

This is love:

not that we loved God, but that

he loved us and sent his Son as

an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

 

 

Thanks be to God

for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

 

 

May your Christmas Season be filled with God’s peace, love, and joy.

 

Preparing for Christmas

 

"Christmas contains many spiritual truths,

but it will be hard to grasp the others unless

we grasp this one first. That is that the world

is a dark place and we will never find our way

or see reality unless Jesus is our Light.”

~ Tim Keller

 

 

Let the lights remind you:

darkness doesn’t win.

A Savior has come.

~ Shameka Daniels

 

 

“Don’t let hurry rush you past

the holy of this sacred season.”

~ Patsy Clairmont

 

 

“Believe like Mary

Trust like Joseph

Hope like Shepherds

Seek like Wisemen

Praise like Angels

Love like Jesus”

 

 

“Advent teaches us to wait

well, not passively, but with a

heart anchored in hope.”

~ gatheredhomeandkin

 

 

“The good news of

Christmas is that the God

of the Bible is the God of

grace, who comes into

the darkness and

emptiness of our hearts

to bring His light, His joy,

and His peace.”

~ Alistair Begg

 

 

“Christmas is God

giving us

a piece of His heart –

His own son,

Jesus.”

~ Stacy Sanchez

 

 

“Christmas is the story of

God’s perfect love – a love

so deep, He sent His Son

to be with us. In a world

searching for hope, His

love is the gift that

changes everything.”

~ Faith,Grace,Truth

 

 

“Christmas is the season

where hope takes root in

the waiting, reminding us

that the same God who

sent a Savior will fulfill

every promise in His

perfect time.”

~ Faith Grace Truth

 

 

“IN THE QUIET OF ADVENT, MAY WE

HEAR THE WHISPER OF HEAVEN:

‘Love is on its way.”

~ Jennifer Dukeslee

 

 

Each of us is an innkeeper

who decides if there

is room for Jesus.

~ Neal Maxwell

 

 

“We aren’t called

to just hear about Jesus;

we are called

to come and see.”

~ heartprintsofGod

 

 

During these days, may we take the time to remember and celebrate that Jesus is the reason for the season and the greatest gift of all.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13