Blessed Aroma

 Blessed Aroma ~ 2009

INTERNET CAFE, a wonderful Christian Women Devotional site is once again showcasing some of our favorite blogs. I have had the opportunity to join hearts with so many dear blogging sisters over the past year and I think that we should all join in on the fun and nominate our favorite writers as a way to encourage and inspire those that encourage and inspire us on a regular basis with their blogs!

You can make your nominations HERE!

Can I take a moment right here to say thank you for stopping by my blog day in and day out. Your comments and encouragement have inspired me and encouraged me so much. God has used many of you to speak into my life with your kind words, always on days that I most needed to be encouraged. God has placed each of you in my path for a reason and I am thankful that our hearts have been connected!

Each of you are a sweet aroma to me ... have you voted yet?
I just did!

THANKFUL THURSDAY...heart condition

This week my friend had to go to the hospital for some heart tests. She went in to have a heart cath done to be sure there was no blockage. Before they came to take her for the test, I told her that the only thing that they would find is that she had a beautiful heart. My friend is the most giving, caring and self-LESS person I know, and I just knew that nothing could be wrong with HER heart. (and she got a good report ... no blockage! PTL!)

After hearing her good report, I was thinking about that test that she had done. And I contemplated the condition of MY heart. If my heart was checked out by the Physician,The Great Physician ... that is, what would the report come back as? Would my heart pass all of the tests or would there be some areas of unforgiveness, or sin, or pride found? Would there be some "trust" blockage keeping me from trusting in God?

PROVERBS 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not

lean on your own understanding."

I am thankful for doctors who are trained to correct heart conditions, but I am eternally thankful for the Great Physician who heals every part of my heart. I can trust Him completely, with every breath I take and every beat that my heart beats!

What is the condition of your heart today?

LYNN is hosting THANKFUL THURSDAY this week. Please share your grateful heart with us today by linking up over at her site. May your heart be healthy and beautiful as you rejoice in His goodness today!

Are ALL men created equal?

The United States was founded on this principle..."All men are created equal." But looking back thru our history, I wonder if this initial vision of equality was broad enough? If it was...then what about the Native Americans and the black slaves brought over from Africa ~ was the vision broad enough to include them? What about women? Have we not been fighting for women's rights all thru history?

Equality...do we, as Americans even understand what this term means? Do we, as Christians understand what this term means? In our day to day interactions do we really show by our actions that we believe people are equal in the eyes of God?

• If we believed this, then how much respect do we offer the handicap?
• If all people are equal ... then do we give up our pew seat to the homeless man who just came into the church?

GALATIANS 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Before Christ, the Gentiles (male or female) were not to eat with Jews, but then Christ invited them to a great banquet where they all shared equally. (Matthew 22:1-4) The story of Onesimus is a great example of the transformation in the status of slaves. Before Christ, he (Onesimus) was property , but after Christ, he gained the status of a brother to the one who legally owned him. You see Onesimus was the slave of a Christian named Philemon. After running away from Philemon, somehow Onesimus came into contact with Paul. Paul led Onesimus to Christ and his life was transformed, as well as his relationship with his master. Onesimus was now brothers in Christ with Philemon.

When we become one in Christ with our brothers, the love of Christ unites our hearts.

• Why do you suppose it was better for Onesimus to be brothers with Philemon rather than a slave?
•  Wouldn't it have been better for Philemon to have someone to do things for him?
• As a slave, certainly one can take care of the physical needs ~ but when you are feeling down and worrying about your future, who do you suppose could lift you up...a slave or a Christian brother?

In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I asked the following question: "What caused you to separate from someone who was like a brother or sister?" The top 3 answers were...

1. 40% of those voting, said that they were separated by going in different directions.
2. 20% of those polled said that getting married separated their relationship with each other.
3. Another 20% voted and said that job relocations caused a separation.

Alot of things can separate us from the ones that we love. One of the saddest things to happen in a relationship is when two people become separated from each other because they grow apart. Maybe one treats the other like they are better or more successful than the other. When this happens, we must remember that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God and God does not see your opportunites, or your successes as much as He sees YOU as His child ... He sees you the same way He sees everyone else that calls Him FATHER!

EQUALITY is seeing others the way Christ sees them!

A PIECE OF MY HEART...creme filling

When my kids were younger, it was a treat to leave the house early before school and stop at the donut shop. I can remember whenever we would get those filled donuts, once we bit into them, the creme would ooze out and run down those little faces.

It created a mess.

There is another kind of "oozing" that happens that is far from making a mess. In fact, it is quite the opposite. What kind of an impact in our world could we make if the Holy Spirit "oozed" out of us whenever we spoke or walked by someone?

EPHESIANS 5:18 "Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you."

What is oozing out of you today?

I pray the Holy Spirit will lead and guide our words and actions today.

red light, green light

I remember playing the "red light, green light" game when I was a child. Red meaning we had to stop and stand still, Green meaning we could go, and the first person to reach the line was the winner.

Many times, in this GROWN-UP world that I live in, the stop lights stare me square in the face, but many times I ignore the colors. Have you ever pulled up to a stop sign, and instead of completely stopping, you see there are no other cars around so you slow down and glide right thru the intersection? I see that happening every day.

I also see it happening everyday spiritually! So many times the signs are so clear before my eyes...but yet I ignore them.

GALATIANS 5:25 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is leading and guiding us, and when we live by the Spirit, we will recognize the red and green lights in our life. God will not put more on us than we can bear, but sometimes when I ignore the signals He puts in front of me, I tend to put more on myself than I can bear.

I NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT!! and I need to be more aware of the warnings He is placing in front of me. I'm looking for the RED light, GREEN light today...how about you?

VISION TEST

A few months ago I went to the eye doctor. My husband thought that it was time for me to get my eyes checked. I, on the other hand knew that my vision was just fine, it was the print on the menu's and the newspaper that just kept getting smaller and smaller. (smile)

Have you ever had one of those vision tests? You know, the one where they cover up one eye and then you have to read the letters on the chart waaayyyy across the room. I wish they would make that poster alittle bit closer, I might be able to make out a few more letters!

This was one vision test that I failed. There is another kind of vision test that I often fail as well, and that is when I take my eyes off of Jesus. I don't mean to...but yet I find myself taking back the exact thing that I laid at the altar. If only I could learn to fix my eyes on Jesus ...my vision would become so much clearer!

What do you have your focus on today?

Are your eyes fixed upon your problem or on Jesus?

THANKFUL THURSDAY...An angelic message

This week in conversation with a friend, I told my friend who is facing some hard situations to not be afraid. Isn't that funny that I would say that to her? Later on, I was reflecting on our conversation and went back to the statement I made of  "Do not be afraid". Usually the first thing people think of when they hear that is that someone or something is scary.

Have you ever noticed that in the Bible, when we read about the angel Gabriel and other angels appearing to people, they always had a message that said, "Don't be afraid!" It makes me wonder...were the angels scary looking? or would we just be startled to see an angel before us?

Once the shock of seeing an angel passed, the news of the message that they brought forth was always good news. Gabriel brought forth good news to Daniel, and to Zechariah and certainly to Mary. The message is always the same .... "Don't be afraid .... Jesus is coming!"

LUKE 1:28 "Gabriel appeared to her...'Don't be afraid, Mary', the angel told her, 'for you have found favor with God!' "

Whatever we may face in this life, especially those things that are scary to us, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus is coming and we do not have to live in fear. Now that is something to be thankful for today!

LYNN is our THANKFUL THURSDAY host this month. Stop by her site and share your grateful heart with us. If you are facing a tough situation today, remember the words of the angel and "Do not be afraid!"