When I clicked onto Facebook this morning, I saw a post by "Home Made Simple", a website I enjoy looking at from time to time. It offers all kinds of tips for home organizing, recipes, etc. Today I saw this question: "What's your home's signature scent?" Some suggestions for winter are pine, vanilla, cinnamon, cranberry, peppermint, gingerbread...you get the idea.
I was reminded of a scripture verse found in II Corinthians 2:15. Depending on the translation you may be looking at, it goes something like this:
"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God."
This verse has challenged and encouraged me over the years. Does my life smell good to God? Is my home filled with the sweet aroma of Christ? Do visitors feel a sense of peace here or is the air filled with tension? Are kind words spoken frequently? Does chaos reign in my life and in my home or is there order and rhythm that allows time for meditation, reflection, prayer, planning ahead, connecting with old friends, making new ones?
Today I'm thinking about the New Year and what I'd like to do differently to make my life and my home smell better to God and to others. I want to bring a little more order to the hours of the time I am given to make room for the things I know are important. Simple things like making phone calls to elderly friends and relatives, reading to my grandchildren, serving in the local outreach ministries our church supports.
This will be no easy task. I like to say that even though I am officially an "empty-nester", my life is anything but empty. In fact it is very busy and very full. But as another year has passed and another birthday approaches, I have to admit my energy levels are not what they used to be. And how ever many days I have left to live, they surely are fewer than the number I've already lived. I want to make the signature scent of my "home" the sweet aroma of Christ. I have a little cleaning up to do. How about you?
8 comments:
Hello! I am soo glad you stopped by my blog for a visit. I am always happy to meet new blogging friends. = ) I'd love to take credit for all the nice things you had to say about my blog, but the truth is I have had LOTS of help, haha. The young gal who really kind of got me going in this blogging adventure over a year and half ago actually changed the html's on my template to accomodate the spread on my page, AND she both created the signature for me and then put in on my page for me as even that much was over my head, lol...I am not a computer wiz, though I have learned WAY more than I ever thought possible. The happy new year on the side btw, was actually part of the background thing WHICH I didn't even know was on there until after I did it. I just wanted something purple to go with my header, haha...In reading through your profile etc., it sure looks like we have lots in common. I too have a real desire to finish the race well...to hear at the end, "Well done my good and faithful servant." I loved your anology here about being that aweet aroma for our Lord. I am glad our paths have crossed. I will be back. BLESSINGS, Debbie
Me, too, friend, but I'm afraid the "scent" I've been giving off lately is less than precious in the nostrils of others. Funny how our homes often bear the brunt of our frustrations.
Such a good reminder to me to live each day more intentionally, with Christ as my audience... awaiting the stage!
Be blessed this weekend.
peace~elaine
Good reminders. Thank you.
I am not sure if you added new pictures along the side of your blog of if I just did not pay attention before? Either way, the photos are really nice!
Debbie, thanks for coming by! One of my (many) New Year's resolutions is to become just a little more techy, both with the computer and the camera. We'll see!
Elaine, we ALL get a little "stinky" now and then. Sometimes hubby tells me he's going on a walk to "blow the stink off" ... LOL! I know just what he means. I love God's promise that every morning is new. He is truly the God of amazing grace!
Brenda, I did put up some new pictures...the winter ones were all taken from my kitchen slider! A friend took the one of me and Bob when my face was still swollen from some unknown allergy...and the one of the 10 of us is the only one in existence like it! I was determined to do that this year! The one with my dad is precious to me since he has been in heaven almost 3 yrs now, and the one with mom was this past mother's day. She's 82 in a couple weeks! The window pic is looking out my dining room. That quote has some meaning for me as not everyone "approves" of what I do with my time (regarding helping to care for my grands) but I feel it is right and good. Thanks for the compliments! I only need to answer to God and hubby, right?
Awww the fragrance of CHRIST...hope to the perishing, repulsive to the rebellious.
May my life be a sweet incense to His Name.
((HUGS))
Very nice! Always needing help around here!
Thanks for your comments on my blog about my hubby. He finally received approval on the packet and now just has a few more steps to go before he can head to the airport sometime tomorrow just in time for a huge snowstorm up here!
Enjoy!
I love this & the scriptures about being like a letter written from Christ & the aroma of Him to those being saved. What a good word! Happy new year!!!
Wylie
What a lovely site you have! Hmmm, does the fragrance of Christ permeate our home, I pray so.
For those who don't realize it's Him, I guess they just smell vanilla or cinnamon!
p.s. Let me know how you like Made to Crave! I have heard of a bunch of gals doing Lysa's study. Sounds great.
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