The aroma of Christ

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His Friday!  I ran across a bible verse the other day that caused me to stop and ponder…..I have read it lots of times before, but this time I paused and pondered for a minute….but it wasn’t until this morning on my drive to work that I really “got” it.  The verse, I Corinthians 2:15, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ……”  That’s where I stopped and pondered….hmm do I smell like Christ……silly thoughts like that went through my mind…What does Christ smell like???  That portion of the verse had been wallowing around in my mind ever since….. until this morning as I was driving to work…..I drove through a patch of skunk…..oh my gosh, the stench was so strong it burned my nose…the first thought that popped into my mind was….”Well that certainly is not the aroma of Christ”  Christ would smell sweet….my mind was whirling….the aroma of Christ….kind, loving, unselfish, forgiving, compassionate…..Wow, I couldn’t wait to get to get to my bible and read more….how can we be “to God, the aroma of Christ?”  We are so un Christ-like.  OK, so here’s the rest of the story….verse 14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. “  Isn’t that the coolest way to think about knowing and loving Christ…..fragrant not stinky!  Sweet not pungent…..then 15 & 16 continue, “For we are to God the aroma of Christamong those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”  Fresh roses or pungent skunk…..life or death……We are, according to God….the aroma of Christ…..carrying HIS love to others, verse 16 concludes by telling us, “And who is equal to such a task?”  Oh my…..how do we do that…..God has confidence in us!  He trusts us with the loving, compassionate, forgiving and life giving “aroma of Christ”  HIS only SON….The SON HE gave for us….to wash us clean….Hmmm, that’s always a nice fragrance fresh from the bath…..clean, inside and out……forgiven….by HIS grace and mercy….Our Father trusts us to do HIS work…to spread the“fragrance of life” from the mountain tops!  Father, it’s hard to comprehend that You trust us with this life-giving task….thank you.  Enable us to go and confidently tell so that others may know YOU and receive eternal life.  “Rise, Shine, Give God the Glory!”

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  I Timothy 12.

Now get out there and smell up the world!!!  Love you all!

Be safe this weekend.  God’s blessings to each of you.

The Lord turns my darkness into light

Good Morning Friends!  Freely forgiven through HIS love, Friday!  We had to have a light bulb replaced in the bathroom at work this week, it’s a big bathroom so there is more than one light, but just one was out.  Well, job done, the new bulb casts a different light than the others (nice, just different)…you know a different batch of bulbs.  This morning as I entered the bathroom the different glow seemed to reach out and encompass me…..I have been going through some tough stuff recently….really struggling to fill my heart and mind with God’s will, rather than excruciating worry…..so often feeling lost, and in the dark…..the glow of the new light…..oh the light…..Why do I allow myself to be in the dark when the light of God’s love is reaching out to me, encompassing me all the time….everywhere….Father, thank you for the light of Your love shining on me, warming me, melting my worry, holding me….comforting me…Forgive me Father when I choose to stay in the darkness, give me strength to cling to YOU!

 

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.  2 Samuel 22:29.   The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”  made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6. 

Love you all! 

Happy Mother’s Day!

The abandoned calf

Good Morning Friends, meet Homer…he’s in the middle, in between Cooper and Katy!!  Homer came to us last week…and that is the front yard at my house not a pasture!  You see, Homer’s mommy abandoned  him, but lucky for Homer Kim found him in a very weakened state, brought him to the house, ran to the feed store for milk replacer and a bottle (believe it or not we have not had to bottle feed a calf, so were unprepared) mixed up a bottle and attempted to feed him.  Poor Homer he was so weak, he couldn’t even suck….So, that meant Kim had to tube him…..put the milk in a squishy bottle with a long tube that goes down his throat into his tummy, direct nutrition…..the first couple of days were pretty bleak, Kim continued to try to get him to suck, but he just wasn’t interested, seemed weak….then all of a sudden he took the bottle….BAM!  Now less than a week later he is drinking like a champ and following us around.  This morning when I left, Homer was at the gate obviously wondering where his breakfast was!  Homer is gonna make it, thanks to Kim’s persistence!  Last night as I was taking my turn feeding Homer, my thoughts turned inward….to my heart…..How many times have I felt totally abandoned by the world, just at the breaking point, weak and alone and our Heavenly Father rescues me….Yep, picks me up, dusts me off….and tube feeds me…..from His loving arms to my broken heart!  He nurtures me with HIS grace and mercy, comforts me with HIS peace and wisdom…….Feeds me with HIS word….my strength returns….my faith grows…..I am HIS child, no matter what the world sends my way……all is well with HIM.  Thank you Father…..for feeding me……forgive me when I am weak.

This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.  Psalm 48:14.  With His is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding.  Job 12:13.  Do not afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Luke 12:32.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:1.

Love you all!

In everything give thanks

Today at 11:35 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!   Well, how about our crazy weather!!  Lots of whining going on….Hot one day, raining the next, then down right cool, hot, rain, and don’t forget the wind!  Good grief what’s a person to do!  One day people are in tank tops and shorts, the next jackets and long pants, heck yesterday I saw a young lady with a stocking cap on!  Lots of, “I’m tired of all this rain,”  “the mud is driving me crazy,”  “Oh I have so much work to do outside and it’s too wet,”  “the wind is so cold, I want to wear shorts but it’s too cold,”  I’m tired of this weather,” “last night I had the air conditioner on and now today the heater,”  “this weather is crazy.”  Any of these sound familiar to you?  Well, the other morning while reading God’s word, snuggled under a blanket, listening to the pounding rain, I ran across a portion of God’s word, that just really hit me; oh boy…really made me think.  From Philippian’s 4:11-12, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (whether it’s cold and rainy or warm and sunny).  Seemed like it was pointed right at me lately…..so….if it’s cold…light a fire and put on a jacket.  If it’s raining….wear rubber boots and a rain coat…..If it’s hot turn on the air conditioner and put on your shorts….And if it’s all in one day….thank our Father that our lives are not boring!  Rejoice always (rain or shine); pray without ceasing; in EVERYTHING give thanks.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Today, I am giving thanks for the blue sky and sunshine!  Woo Hoo, thank you Father.  And last night, I sure enjoyed the fire in the wood stove and a delicious pot of soup, both prepared by my husband!  Thanks again Father and please forgive us when we whine….we don’t want to we are just weak….help us to give you glory with our words and actions.

 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  1 Timothy 6:6-8.  Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!

Love you all!

Watch out for the poison stuff!

Good Morning Friends! My goodness our God is a Mighty Awesome God, Monday!  As if the magnificent green of our current landscapes is not beautiful enough, our Heavenly Father, Magnificent Creator that He is, has now dotted our landscape with wildflowers….All colors, all shapes, all sizes of beautiful wildflowers.  I love wildflower season and have been excited for them to start popping up, so yesterday on my way to church I was delighted to see that just overnight, the green fields and roadsides were dotted with pinks, yellows, purple and white wildflowers…some were in clusters, some standing alone….all equally beautiful!  Our God is an awesome God!  And I just had to tell HIM thank you as I drove….oh the beauty of HIS creation for us!  Later yesterday afternoon Kim and I had to go check cows on a lease a few miles from home.  We took the long, scenic way home and I was tickled because it meant I got to see more of God’s handiwork!  We had the windows down and were just putting down a dirt road the woods were just thick with every shade of green you could imagine and in spots the trees from both sides of the road had joined to make a cover for us.  Again, I said a thank you prayer…then in the midst of the beauty I saw it….all over the trees and down onto the ground….the dreaded poison oak…”Oh Yuck, I hate that stuff, it’s all over!”  I told Kim,  “ I bet that junk is all over at the cabin!”  For a brief moment I was really disgruntled….wondering why in the world we have to have that horrible stuff intermingled with all the beauty….and the scary part is it is pretty to look at too!”  Just then, I felt the familiar pat on my shoulder….”Ahh Father, so You agree with me about this poison stuff!”  “Oh Kathie, My child…..I agree that poison stuff is not fun, especially when it looks pretty, but let’s go a little deeper….don’t you have temptations every day that look pretty….harmless….when in actuality they are potentially dangerous to your life…..maybe something as simple as a piece of cake when you are trying to lose weight….looks good, so why not?  Right?  Or how about that cute dress you saw at Stage the other day….you would look so pretty in it….but remember you have a doctor’s bill to pay…..seemingly harmless little temptations that can lead to big problems.”  Thanks Father, for the reminder that everything pretty might not be good for us.  Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to discern what’s really good for us…..and help us to always remember, every good and perfect gift comes from YOU!  Thank you for wildflowers Father and the lesson in poison stuff!

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.  Matthew 26:41Because Jesus Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.  Hebrews 2:18.  All have seined and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9. 

Love you all!

Out of the mouths of babes

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully blessed by Him, Thursday.  A couple days ago I told you about Katy’s accident on Friday, remember and I had not been home long enough to get my clothes changed?  Well, the funny part is that when I left work that day I was going to Walmart to buy groceries.  My feet were already hurting from my heels, so I decided to put on my tennis shoes I wear when I work out.  Everybody got a chuckle out of Kathie going to Walmart in her dress clothes and pink tennis shoes.  I really didn’t care what they thought….lol….I wanted to be comfortable.  When I walked in the door at home, Kim laughed out loud (he is such a fashion expert you know) and made sure I knew he thought I looked like a nerd…..again I didn’t care and told him so!  Well, when Kathyrn called us to go with her to the ER it never for one second crossed my mind to change my shoes….Nope, all I could think of was getting Katy to the hospital.  After we settled in at the ER, Cooper was his usual antsy self, couldn’t sit still.  He was hopping around in front of me when he stopped and very seriously said, “Nana, I like your shoes, they’re cool.”  I looked at Kim and said, “HA, HA!!!  Cooper likes my shoes!”  As I told him thank you I put my arms around him and gave him a great big hug and mushy kiss, poor kid!  Things were a bit hectic the rest of the evening, but as I went to bed, in the darkness I smiled, I knew that our Father could see my smile from my heart, and hear my silent thank you prayer….Thank you for children Father and the lessons we can learn from their kind innocence.  Bless and protect them with YOUR LOVE.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3-4.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  1 John 3:1. 

Love you all!

The perfect "first responder"

Good Morning Friends!  Totally in HIS care, Tuesday!  Friday evening, I hadn’t been home long, had the groceries unloaded and frig things put away, but that was it…still in my dress clothes; the phone rang, it was Kathyrn, she was frantic…..”Can you go to the hospital with me?  Katy is hurt!!!”  “YES, we’ll be right there!” I responded, she told she was already on her way to get us.  I hollered at Papa, told him to come on Katy is hurt.  He wanted to know what happened, “don’t know” I said, “but she is hurt.”  We headed down our driveway just as she pulled in.  Katy was in the back holding a towel on her arm, crying desperately.  Papa jumped in the back by her and immediately started soothing her.  He looked at her wound and knew that she would have to have stitches.  I got in the front with Kathyrn and we flew to the hospital.  Cooper was so worried about his sister, I did my best to keep him occupied while Papa gave his attention to Katy, comforting her with his gentle words and explaining to her just what would happen when she got to see the doctor.  I was so glad we had our own “first responder” with us.  He took total control.  Dad arrived at the hospital (he was at work) about the same time we did; Papa hung back for him, I went into the ER with Kathyrn and helped her get Katy checked in….then the wait…..Cooper was a nervous wreck and itching to get himself into trouble, so Papa and I decided we could take Dad’s truck and Cooper and go home.  We hadn’t been home too long, when I heard from Kathyrn, they were in the examining room.  Pretty soon a picture came of Katy’s “boo boo” with a glowing report on the patient.  Soon they were headed home.  We were so thankful that Katy was going to be ok with a few stiches inside and out!  After Mom and Dad came and got Cooper, Papa and I rehashed the whole evening…..I was so proud of his expert “first responder” care-giving.  All his training has sure paid off!  I said a great big thank you prayer to our Father, and then chuckled to myself….My goodness we have the PERFECT FIRST RESPONDER…. On call….24/7!!!  HE didn’t need any training, no pager or cell phone….NOPE HE is our all- knowing, all powerful, healer, comforter, protector, ON CALL ready and waiting for us to come to HIM.  Oh you know I was praying all the way to the hospital and Cooper and I prayed for sister too……HE was there, with Katy, with us…..going to HIM comforted me…..knowing that HE is always there….gave me strength….peace.  Thank you Father for being our PERFECT FIRST RESPONDER for any need that we have.  Keep us mindful of YOUR presence in our lives….every minute of every day!  And thank you for taking care of precious Katy.  All glory to YOU!

Co not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the  peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7.  Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  Psalm 145:18.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear,” says the Lord.  Isaiah 65:24.

Love you all!