“Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God…a life-giving perfume.”
(II Corinthians 2:15 NLT)

Has this ever happened to you?  I got in my car the other day, and something didn’t smell right.  I’m not sure what it was, but I almost went and bought an air freshener.  How about when you open the fridge and the mysterious smell hits you?  You search and search and can’t seem to figure out what it is.  Maybe it’s just me, but those persistent smells really bug me!

You know, just like a car, our lives have an aroma; a fragrance emitted to those around us, and most importantly, to God.  This fragrance is either drawing others to us, or repelling them.  Even our homes and relationships release an “aroma” that attracts others or just the opposite, repels them from us.

In the natural, this concept needs no explanation.  I remember our pastor telling about a man who used to come to their church named Arthur.  Arthur stunk; on the outside that is.  He was a slap-in-the-face poster child for body odor.  But his heart was pure, and as big as all get-out!  So whenever a visitor came to church Arthur plopped down right beside them.  As my pastor jokingly says, “That could be why we had so much trouble growing in those early days.”  Maybe you’ve known someone like that.  You loved them, but it was hard to be around them.

The opposite is true as well. Some people look and smell good on the outside, but inside their attitude and their outlook just stinks!  These are examples from the physical world; however, I believe the principle is just as real in the spirit realm.

Our verse today tells us our lives are a fragrance; one that can be pleasing to God.  We need to consider what fragrance our lives, homes, and families are giving off.  Consider how our attitudes, mindsets, words, and actions “smell” to those around us, and most importantly, to God.  This revelation can impact not only our personal and spiritual lives; it’s the perfect illustration to help our children understand that inner thoughts and attitudes matter to God.   As a result, our lives will be more pleasing to God, more attractive to others, and more effective in accomplishing what God has called us to do!

Prayer: Lord, we thank You in advance for this revelation. I pray You help me receive and put into action the thoughts and ideas relating to the fragrance of our lives.  May it be a truly transforming moment for me, and a tremendous teaching moment for my children, in Jesus’ name, amen.

“…Let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us…”
(Heb 12:1 AMP)

I’ve never actually run in a race. Well, in Jr high I was on the track team and I suppose I ran in races. I don’t really remember any meaningful learning experiences from those races though. (Maybe I have blocked it out…).  I wish I could use a great example of when I ran a marathon, or how I triumphantly crossed a finish line against all odds. The best I can do, is to tell you I finished the season with the team even though I didn’t win any races and was pretty miserable most of the time. That should count for something…

A  friend reminded me yesterday that we ARE in a race, and sometimes all we can do is keep running.

We may feel we aren’t making ANY progress, or the course is TOO hard, or we are just too worn out to keep going. We may want to quit the race all together and do something else with our time. BUT what if, this is just a leg in the race—a bumpy, frustrating, uncomfortable, uphill leg of the race—and very soon around a bend in the course, you hit the next leg? That would be different wouldn’t it? Now, you have a reason to run to get to what’s ahead. There is a purpose in every step…you might even find fresh passion and determination to push through this JUST to get to what lies ahead.

Now, I KNOW we are supposed to be content and joyful in ALL circumstances. But let’s be real for a minute. I may be content to know God is working in my life, but I don’t have to like all the circumstances or feelings I deal with, do I? Maybe like me, you’ve been running with your head down for so long, you forgot that there is more up ahead…there is something different…and better.   My encouragement is, all we really have to do is keep running. Pretty soon each of us will look back (way, way back) on this leg of the race and understand it’s purpose. I may even appreciate how it made me stronger. But for now, it’s enough to know there is something up ahead worth running towards.

Have you ever thought, “I wish I had a ministry?” Have you ever wished you could do something exciting like smuggling Bibles into China, rebuilding homes in New Orleans, traveling on missions trips to foreign countries, or spearheading that global evangelism outreach that no one has even thought of yet? As news headlines catch our attention, the end seems eminent; it seems we should be doing something!

For me, I’d like to just keep up with my current projects…and have the foresight to plan dinner. (That would be a global event in our home!) There are so many times when I feel that even though I’m doing all God’s called me to, it’s just not enough. Certainly there must be something bigger He wants me to do; not just care for my home and family, encourage others, love and pray for my family, live a life of compassion and being an example to others. Certainly there must be more… Read the rest of this entry »