Well, OK...you may leave the room if you need to. Just meet me back here in the fall. That's when I'll return with a grocery bag (paper or plastic) of fresh thoughts. Until then, I'll be working on my book project. Have a great summer, and feel free to send me ideas or just write to say "hi". (Sorry that you're stuck reading the "old stuff").
Godspeed,
Marilyn
Cruise through our town on a spring day and you get two smells vying for prominence (and you can guess which one wins). However, take a stroll late on a spring evening, and, if fragrance were sound, you'd need earplugs to block out the cherry trees, flowers, shrubs, etc.
What if we came with "attitude aromas" that everyone could...enjoy? Wow-- walk in there like this and I'm going to stink up the whole building (church, school, house)! Or, Hey, I just checked and I smell like a rose today!
"For we are unto God a sweet savour (aroma) of Christ..." 2Cor. 2:15a
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Imagine yourself in a crowd (with no claustrophobia). Looking around, you half expect to see banners and streamers, or at least hear a band playing off to the side. This is no common earthly celebration, however. Here, everyone is facing only one direction--facing the One Who has kept them from falling. For you are in heaven, and Christ is presenting you to God. There are no special thanks, honourable mentions, or participation ribbons for anyone in the crowd. Right now, in His glorious presence, we are ascribing all glory, majesty, power, and authority to Him alone.
No capturing this unbelievable moment in pictures with a cell-phone. No crumpled paper in your pocket listing recent sins you were worried about. No customer-service counter declining entrance or approving your updated requests for forgiveness. No urge to wave your hand and say, "Excuse me, but I shouldn't be here--you don't know what I'm really like." You are being presented--by Christ-- as faultless...unblamable... before His throne.
Your heart is full of a new emotion, but the flimsy word joy does not explain what is there. You hope you won't be called on to describe it, because no thesaurus on earth could help you now. An eternity of happiness awaits you, and nothing else matters.
The tiny book of Jude, tucked away among the other 66, has a benediction packed with hope. We cling to it, because we are not yet with the Lord. Jude promises his readers that, although they were surrounded by false teachers snatching at their faith, the Lord could (and would) keep them from any possibility of stumbling and falling into error. There is victory over sin! This victory in Christ has been there since the beginning, we have it now as believers, and we will have it forever. It is given to us by the only God, the only One Who has the ability to keep our salvation.
Though these verses are often prayed as the benediction to a sermon-- a time when many of us are zipping our Bible cases, grabbing a mint, and thinking of food-- they are too precious to leave there.
"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24,25
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What does the word aroma bring to mind? (As a child,I heard too many coffee commercials using that word, no doubt-- so that's my mental image). How about fragrance (did you choose "perfume")? Now, try odor (probably something involving cleaning...either it needs to be, or it didn't get done well enough). Now, read this story.
After 25 years of returning with her husband to the same winter destination, this was my friend's first year without him since he had gone to be with the Lord. While riding her usual bus into town on her first week back sans mate, two people asked, "Where is your husband? He always rides with you.", and "Why isn't your husband with you?" Another day, while walking back to her apartment from the bus stop, a gardener across the street called out, "Where's your husband? I liked that old man!" These questions surprised her, since she had never officially met these people, nor did she remember them from previous years.
Do you ever shop at the same stores, drive the same way to work, walk the dog along the same route? As we see people, we may give only a cursory greeting, speak briefly to a clerk, or simply make eye contact as we pass, but we are often watched while driving, walking, interacting (even if we are observed from a window), and can leave an aroma without any conversation taking place.
With Christ as the Victor, Paul gladly marched as a captive in the Lord's procession. As incense was burned by the triumphant leaders in the Roman processions, so Paul becomes the incense--or pleasing aroma-- in Christ's train.
Where does this triumphal procession lead us, as the Lord's captives? Will we impact someone for life or for death?
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life." 2Cor. 2:14-16
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Have you ever looked back over an old calendar? Some of them are like diaries. Beneath the breathtaking picture of the lighthouse are the boxes--your life in word-sized chunks. You see them--"Howard's birthday", "Mom & Dad's anniv.", "dentist- Dr. Chew- 11:00", "parent-teacher mtgs.- 4:15", "church picnic- hotdish", "Bible study", "Sherry's shower", "Dr. Dim- test results", "Last day of school!", a sticker to remind you to feed the dog her flea meds, a long squiggly line showing vacation plans, or, a visit from... the in-laws.
Each box is the same size, holding the same number of hours. Some boxes--could you have written it all down--would not have held the garbage-sized bag of duties that were yours that day. A word in one box makes you smile at the worry you collected weeks before. One box has a word you want to forget, but can't. Some of the blank days are, well...a blank (what did I do on that day?).
What will be penciled in on next year's calendar? How many boxes do you have left? Thankfully, that is not our worry. But in each box--whether full or empty--should be the unwritten words,
Sing unto the Lord,
bless His name;
show forth His salvation
from day to day." Psalm 96:2
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Teach me Thy song, O Lord--
That song which graced creation's dawn
And bid the firmament unfurl;
That bathed the newborn world in uncreated light-
That song so bright!
Teach me Thy song, O Lord.
Teach me Thy song, O Lord--
That song which burst Thy Servant's heart
To beat of blows upon the cross;
His pain, and bitterest loss,
And death that should be mine;
His song was Thine--
Teach me Thy song, O Lord.
Teach me Thy song, O Lord--
That song which swirls to wreathe Thy throne,
And bears the prayers of all Thine own;
To Thee, and Thee alone
By saints and angels raised,
Thy Name to praise--
Teach me Thy song, O Lord.
by Joel Nagy
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30
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Just hung up the phone...bad news.
Just opened the letter...bad news.
Just closed the office door...bad news.
Just realized you're dead... bad news.
Wait-- because you are dead, your life is hidden with Christ in God...Good News!
He is your life...Good News!
How much more secure can you be?
Well, when He returns, you will be right there with Him...forever...Good News!
"For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:3,4
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No...I don't mean a cut-up (as in "haha"). I mean as in a Valentine--but this one doesn't have to cost you a cent (and no cutting and pasting necessary).
It's great fun to give cards to people who love and appreciate us, and even better to receive cards from people who love and appreciate us. But, what about being a card this year to someone who may not be on your list, and who may not love and appreciate you in return?
-someone whom you've just never taken the time to meet
-someone who has scratched and dented your feelings
-someone who is just not in your...well, group
-someone whose hard shell makes them a bit unapproachable
Maybe a heart-y word of encouragement, a kind comment, or some interest shown by you is just what they need! (But don't wait till the 14th).
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:27
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At the beginning of her first year in university, my daughter was challenged to find a verse to apply to each of her classes. She was to memorize it and wear it out. For one class (an all-girl) she chose Rom. 14:19 (the idea being that, when there is more than one girl in the room, the speech may not always be edifying--sometimes referred to as gossip).
You may no longer be sitting at a desk, but you're still in class, and it may seem like a loooong semester! So, how does your schedule shape up for this new year? Are you registered for any of these?
-Family- Toddlers, Teens, Grandchildren, In-laws (weekend class)
-Marriage (graduate course not offered; advanced class only)
-Homebound
-Emotions (repeat courses offered)- Worry (night course), Patience , Anger
-Abilities/Responsibilities
-Prayer/Bible Reading
-Time Management, Others
-Communication
What would help you to get through your particular classes? As you read your Bible, ask the Lord for a verse for each one, then sticky-note them to your fridge, your mirrors, your kids' foreheads. Make them part of your daily life. Use them daily--you never know when there will be a pop-quiz!
I Cor. 15:58- "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
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Quick--grab your paring knife! It's the year of the potato, or so my newspaper said. (Though there are legion, I will try to abstain from using half-baked puns--too many could fry the brain).
Such a simple, economical, versatile veggie--certainly nothing to look at-- but one that has saved hundreds from starvation. It's found on the most elegant of restaurant plates and on the humblest of tables.
Too often, looking in the mirror, we tend to see only an unused potato looking back--plain and bumpy and with too many eyes.
"I can't even use my hands and legs anymore-- what can I do for the Lord?"
"I'm home-schooling kids all day--what do I have time to do for the Lord?"
"I'm afraid to speak in public. How can the Lord use me?"
"I'm chronically ill--I don't even have the strength to do anything for Him."
If you have a desire to bring glory to the Lord and Him alone, then He has a recipe for you!
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Cor. 1:26-29
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