Smelling Like God

Today I was thinking about a couple that are friends of mine. While thinking about them the thought occurred to me that they "smelled like God".

We all carry scents based on where we go, what we do, what/who we spend time with, products we use, etc. If you spend time in a hay field, you will smell like hay. If you spend time in a bar, you will likely smell like a bar. If you spend time in the kitchen, you will smell like food. Spiritually, we carry smells of sorts too. If you spend time in the world you can smell like the world. If you spend time in pride, anger, jealousy, revenge, self-focus, or pouring your life into knowledge of the world you will smell like the world. On the contrary if you spend time close to God in authentic humility, kindness, selflessness, and pouring your life into God's word and prayer, you smell like God.

You can try to cover up the smell of the world through God-scented perfumes and deodorants for a time, but when you find yourself stuck in a desert without these products your true scent will be discovered.

I am so grateful for these particular friends and others like them in which their mere presence makes me want to smell like God and reminds me to do a sniff check regularly. The good news is that if I smell like the world right now, I can hop in the shower and wash off stench of the world. I just have to step into the things that bring me close to God to keep smelling like Him.

What do you smell like today?

Jamie

The "At Last" Factor...

The other day I decided to start reading out of my NLT Bible again, which I absolutely love. I wasn’t sure where to begin so I thought why not at the beginning. I didn’t get very far before I discovered something I had either never read before (because the verse isn’t in all translations) or the verse had never been lit up for me. I found what describes a husband’s love for his wife- how he cherishes her, how he desires her, and how he is thankful for her. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At Last!” the man exclaimed. (Genesis 2:22-23a) “At Last!” It took just two words for Adam to say all of what I describe to Eve after he first laid eyes on his beautiful bride/wife when God brought her to him. I can’t say for all wives, but this is exactly how I feel with Rick. It explains him to the T, in the simplicity of his love, but with depth far beyond I can ever imagine or describe. I believe that all men are similar in there reactions to there wives and I can only hope their wives can see the gift God has given them. A gift of Himself, a gift of love, a gift specifically made for you. I thought this was fitting to share since it is our anniversary today. Thank you Lord for my gift of a wonderful husband and best friend in my man. And for the “At Last” factor in our marriage.

Love Steph

The Frangrance of Life...

Today as I drove to my favorite store, I was driving through the farmland that surrounds us. As I was looking around and taking it all in I could see that the harvest season is just now starting. You could just smell it in the air. I know this is the farm girl in me, but I love the harvest smell. If you are not from the farm I don’t know if I can explain it to you. The closest I can get to it is that it is like the smell of fresh cut grass. So hear I am driving and sniffing and enjoying the scenery and the words hit me “Aroma pleasing to the Lord.” That got me thinking of how does that play out in our world now. How do I/we give an aroma pleasing to the Lord? Is it possible anymore? And the answer is yes. It is who we are. The women at our church have a get-together once a month called “The Garden.” There we are given a inner beauty secret each month for us to ponder. Last months inner beauty secret was “fragrant.” This tied it all together for me. What fragrance are you emitting to others and to God? Do you have an aroma pleasing to God? Does love shine from you, are you the salt and light, are you who you say you are? I know that when God gazes down at us and sees the out pouring of His love through his people he is pleased. Thank you Lord for Your spirit, which gives us the ability to have the wonderful fragrance of life.

Love Steph