FRAGRANCE

By Barbara Chadwick

 

 

I opened the window the other day and said, “Oh, it smells like rain!”  I saw the rain across the valley and soon it came across to our house.  The pine and aspen trees were washed clean. Dust was settled on the road and dirt was washed off the car. The fragrance it left behind was sweet and clean.

Fragrance is one of the most acute senses in the human body.  I remember being in the canned foods section of a grocery store when I smelled an awful smell. When I went around the corner I realized it came from this man who was standing there. It was hard not to react. By contrast, I passed a woman in the frozen food section and delighted in her perfume.

We can recall particular smells that remind us of home and loved ones.  Audrey, (our daughter) called one day from England where they were stationed at RAF Lakenheath. She said she was so homesick she could even smell my perfume!

The Bible says our prayers are a fragrant aroma to God.  David Schrock says, “We do not come before God in our own name. On our own, our works are an aroma of death and dung before God. But in Christ, our prayers are a pleasing scent to God. He delights for you and I to come and speak with Him, because he ‘smells’ His Son on us.”

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. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  2 Corinthians 2:14-16 

Barnes Notes (a Bible commentary) says, “the word ‘aroma’ rendered as ‘sweet savor’ occurs only in the above scripture, Ephesians 5:2 and Philippians 4:18; and is applied to persons or things well-pleasing to God. It properly means good odor, or fragrance… Here it means that the services of Paul and the other ministers of religion were as grateful to God as sweet incense… That is, we are Christ’s sweet savor to God.”

However, since we are not perfect, there are times in our lives when we are truly not a sweet aroma to anyone; times of rebellion or affliction but God does not give up on us.    …being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Charles Spurgeon said, “Unexercised virtues are like sweet perfumes slumbering in the heart of the flowers. To produce the one desired result, the great Husbandman overrules seemingly diverse and opposite things. Thus He makes both affliction and consolation draw forth the grateful fragrances of faith, love, patience, hope, resignation, joy and the other fair flowers of His garden.”

I pray that wherever we go (even down the grocery aisle!) and through all the things we do, we would leave behind the sweet and clean fragrance of Christ.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING

IN THE KINGDOM?
By Barbara Chadwick

“I wish I could have known Kathy’s dad. He could have taught me so much. I never had any training and he was a master mechanic.”  Danny’s ability to fix automobiles was limited but he’s a great leader and God has also gifted him musically.

I said, “I know what you mean about training. I wish I could have had training with a master chef. I love cooking. It’s a hobby for me but I‘ve often wished to do really fancy things.”  But God has chosen to gift me in music and I’ve been told that I’m an encourager.

On the way home from Danny and Kathy’s house I heard a preacher say on the radio, “What are you doing in the Kingdom?”

Then I thought about some people I know who could be such a blessing to others, to the church and to God’s Kingdom if only they would step up and do it.

God has gifted each person in a unique way. Paul, that great New Testament teacher wrote, We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.  (Romans 12:6-8)   There’s a place for everyone to contribute in the church.  Not only are other people blessed when you do the work God has placed in front of you, but you, yourself, are blessed when you do.

Sometimes we would like to contribute in a way in which we weren’t gifted.  I would love to be a gifted speaker! But, alas, people tend to go to sleep when I speak!  However, when I use music in ministry God blesses.

Max Lucado says that he loves to sing. “Singing for others would give me wonderful satisfaction. The problem is, it wouldn’t give the same satisfaction to my audience!”  My husband Kenneth also loves to sing. He says, “I was cut out to be a singer but I was sewed up wrong!”   Both of these men would love it if God would use them as musicians, however, God planned to use them in a different way. God has put into them an uncanny ability to lead and both are gifted speakers.

“In other words, be aware of your strengths. When you teach, do people listen? When you lead, do people follow? When you administer, do things improve? Where are you most productive?  Identify your strengths, and then…major in them…Failing to focus on our strengths may prevent us from accomplishing the unique tasks God has called us to do.”   (from Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado)

God does not expect us to have great training in order to use the gifts He has entrusted to us. Do you remember how God used Moses even though he stuttered and Timothy even though he was young?

Danny has repaired many a vehicle with his limited knowledge and experience and people were helped. I have prepared many a meal and people were blessed. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do in His Kingdom work. He will bless it.

BAGGAGE

By Barbara Chadwick

We waited for friends at baggage claim – hugs all around when they came. While we waited for their bags they told us about the English camp where they had taught in Slovakia. The crates came around the baggage belt.  They weren’t crates, of course, they were just very big suitcases. J The girls, Katie and Colleen, hefted them out to the car. With quite a bit of rearranging we got them in the trunk. It was quite a ways to the car in the parking garage and they were glad to be free of that burden.

 The next morning I cleaned out my purse. The receipts from the airport trip had to be filed. The apple slices and almonds had to be put away. (It is a 2 ½ hour trip to the airport!)  Empty wrappers from the cough drops, breath mints and gum wrappers, used Kleenex, a note with time and flight #, Gas X  (you can’t leave home without it!)  Then I rearranged my wallet, date book, cell phone, scripture cards, travel toothbrush and toothpaste and make-up items and shook out the lint, etc. You can clearly see that the purse -  the bag is vital.

So then I began to think about the baggage we carry around inside our heads. Heavy things - hurts like parental neglect or mistreatment (may have been unintentional but there nonetheless), children who have gone astray, slams by friends or relatives, lost opportunities, and shattered dreams. Or it might be our own sin that burdens us. These kinds of things stay in our minds and grow like mold. They wreck havoc with our health and emotions. They become crates in our mental and emotional psyche. Most of the time we feel that we have them buried. Out of sight - out of mind we say.

Not so. They keep going around in our sub-conscious mind like the crates on the baggage belt. We have to find a way to throw them out. Shake them out, if you will, like the trash in the bag. One great way to do that is to write it out. The whole thing. Every detail. Every nuance. Then burn the paper! That's right. Burn it up. Because if you continue to carry it, you will experience stress, illness, cynicism and a heavy heart. Let it go! Be free of it! Let God fill your life with freedom and abundant joy.

When I put the trash from my bag into the trash compactor, take it to the dumpster where it is taken to the dump. I will never see it again. It is gone!

You know, that is what God does with our sin:  He forgives all your sins…redeems your life from the pit (where you’ve gone with your baggage!) …crowns you with love and compassion…satisfies your desires with good things so that your path is renewed like the eagle’s. (Joy!)  Now look at verse 12: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Freedom!) Psalm 103:3-5;12.

FRIENDS ARE COMING!
by Barbara Chadwick

Friends are coming from Alaska for a visit! What joy!

I have cleaned the house, made up the beds and baked a pie. I brought some daisies from the yard to brighten the table. I cleaned off various tables putting away old books and magazines. I looked around and smiled in anticipation.

Then the thought came to me, "What things would I do if Jesus were coming?"

Well, I would have dusted more - behind the bookshelf in the den for sure!  I think there are some spider webs in there. There are weeds in the corner of the yard that should go. Also, what about the Solitaire game on my computer - I wonder if He thinks I spend too much time on that? I could delete it.

But you know what?  All this activity is really futile because Jesus knows what we're doing at all times. He's omniscient - all knowing.  Besides that, Jesus is more concerned about what's in our hearts than dust behind the bookshelf.

Look at I Samuel 16:7 - The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Like David, I would like the Lord to,  Create in me a pure heart...  Psalm 51:10.   Verse 7 says,  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

When He cleans my heart and my life there will be no weeds in the corner or dust behind any place. I will be whiter than snow! What joy!