Small morning prayer by Betty H.

 Lord, I don't feel your presence in my life this morning.  The sunshine is hiding its face behind the dark clouds rolling across the sky.  All the excitement of Jesus' birth is now over and the mundane duties and responsibilities have returned.  Come and fill me with your everlasting joy.  Use me today to encourage and uplift someone who feels alone and empty.  Open my eyes to see all the blessings surrounding me and open my ears to hear your words of love so I can share them with others.   You give me life everlasting and I want to be available to share you with another and see them step from darkness into your beautiful light that cleanses away all sin.  Help me today to see and receive all the pearls of wisdom and love you spread across my pathway and make it possible to walk in newness of life in this new year about to open.  Make your word come alive and wonderful for I ask it Jesus' name.  AMEN

The Aroma of Christ

 

Living in a good neighborhood with good people can be a lifesaver. I was sick with covid/pneumonia for over two months. There was intense weakness, painful breathing and coughing. Any exertion, would find myself breathless. Without an appetite, eating was a challenge. Finally I forced myself to begin to eat a teaspoon of what was given to me. I drank a lot of fluids, mostly water, juices and chicken broth and took my medication. During this time people from our church dropped off prepared dishes of food for us to eat. This kept my husband fed as I was too weak to cook. I felt useless and incapable of doing anything. Then, I began to see God’s love in a more intimate way. We both became enriched by those who prayed and helped us. 

Little by little I was slowly brought out of that trial.

The givers, servers, administrators and helper gifts are usually behind the scenes and are not noticed, unlike those who sing or stand behind a pulpit. St. Paul was comparing the Body of Christ with the parts of the human anatomy as he talked about spiritual gifts: 

“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the hand cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored every part rejoices with it.” 1Co.12:21-26

What would we do without our liver that keeps filtering out the toxins we eat? You might think, get a new one.  What if your body rejects the new liver? We can live with one kidney, but not our pancreas. Ask your Doctor about the value of your butterfly shaped thyroid, regulates everything in your body. Our heart pumps the blood through the heart valves out and around again through the arteries and veins carrying an army of tools. The red and white blood cells have two main functions: the carriage of oxygen; and the defense against microbial attack. We rarely give thought how everything is functioning together for our good, even while we sleep. Only God can create such a miraculous wonder as the human body.

Compare all these functions to the members of the Body of Christ. We are all specialists. The administrators, helpers, givers and servers are what holds the church up. [the church is not a building made with hands, but people who love the Son of God] Without these hands and feet, we would fall apart. Most of these people are gifted organizers and know right where to find something they tucked away two or three years ago. I tuck something safely away and I never find it again. I have prayed and worked towards being more organized and discovered it is a life time of learning. At least I only have one junk drawer, while the organizers do not have any. 

Why was I here? Who was I? Before Christ I did not know who I was, but after I was born again I was given my identity. I have learned through study and experiences, my mission and who I am in Christ. The fear and love of God has given me the reality of knowing that without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I can do all things through Christ, because He is my confidence, Rock and the Anchor of my life.

There are six homes on our small street and one particular lady, knowing I was ill started to deliver our mail on a daily basis so we wouldn’t have to go to the end of the street to get it. She also retrieved our garbage can from the end of our long driveway. Since we have lived here, this lady has befriended us and never failed giving us cards, presents and even homemade bread around Christmas time. Our life has been blessed with this mega giver, “Beth.” 

Another lady on our street asked if I would like her to shop groceries for us. She had to go to town anyway and she’d be more than happy to do it. Such empathy and compassion is linked not only with prayers but godly works. Thank you, “Melody.”

A sweet lady in our church calls us on a regular basis and asks if we need anything from town and Is there anything they can do to help us in anyway? And, she really means it! She strives to serve and help others. Continued thanks to my friend, “Pam.”

Time and again, another lady has given me words of encouragement in ways I have been unknowingly used by God and it always happens right when I need to hear from Him and be reassured that I am on the mark and loved. My friend loves to cook and feed everyone around her. You are much loved and irreplaceable, “Betty!”

A thankful heart goes to our neighbor “Dave” who took the time to set up our new tv. We couldn’t have done it without him.

More sincere thanks for their prayers, helps and continual giving go to, “ My husband Bob, Ken and Cindy, Dawn, Theda, Vickie, Bill and Cookie, Marie and Barrie, Randy and Kim, illa, Pastor Denny and Ann, Hank and Nancy,  Eddie and Denny, Elaine and Bert, Dan and Sandra, Beth Lacaille and my sons and their families and many more who prayed for me. Some I don’t know, even all over the world! 

They are all going through their own personal life struggles, but they take the time to say a prayer for others. This is the true Body of Christ.  What a blessing it is, to know these people and experience a real family with their transparent love of Christ.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored every part rejoices with it.” 1Co.12:26

Our love for one another is proof that we have already passed from death to life because we love our brothers [each other]. 1John 3:14a. 

These laborers of love give off the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. These are their callings and wherever they go, they leave a trail of the aroma of Christ for those whom they help. They are not flashy, do not brag about themselves, are gentle minded, they try to think carefully before they speak, they correct themselves, they are humble, learning to forgive quickly, growing in God’s love, always seeking to learn from others and I can see, have strived to be in and stay in, the will of God.  They are obedient because of their tenacious love for God and others. They are the working example of the grace they have received from God. These are the treasured jewels in God’s family and filled with the fruit of His Spirit.  It is with my deepest heartfelt words I agree with MacLaren’s Expositions in saying: Paul considered himself and those who love Christ, “Captive Conquerors” and it is within the highest honor that we willingly take our chains of obedience, experiencing an overflow of His love and joy! We are triumphant!  

Never underestimate the “small” things people do, they deliver in a very large way from God Himself! 

“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. And who is equal to such a task?” 2Co. 2:14-16 NIV

How can we offer the grace and kindness of salvation unless His Spirit glows within us to give? 

Something inside of us has to be crushed and crucified, in order to produce the fragrance of the knowledge of him and be that aroma of Christ. When we go through this crushing, our soul begins to yield in the right direction. Some call it our will, self [our own way or reasonings]. Flesh and pride is like the seed, of a weed that has once invaded your soul but in Christ, the weeds begins to disintegrate. Your eyes become opened by God’s truth, through His love. 

The Beloved Holy Spirit ever patient, waits.

One of the most cherished and godly friends I ever had would repeat this verse every morning after she got out of bed. I wanted to be just like Margret. Every single time she prayed she would kneel. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Ga.2:20 

Jesus said that unless you are born again, you will not enter the Kingdom of God. This means humbly accepting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was the complete and perfect sacrifice on the cross so we would have forgiveness for our sins and be given eternal life. It doesn’t matter what you have done or how deep your sins are, when you sincerely cry out to God, you will never be turned away. Jesus said:

 

“In reply Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6   

There is only one way to heaven.  Humbly ask to be born again and He will give you a brand new heart. Being born again is a gift of grace by God through your faith. We do not deserve this gift and cannot work our way to heaven. This gift is a manifestation of His love for you. This means, you will not die in your sins and we have all sinned. Before you believed, you were sentenced to a life in prison [curse]. When you accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you become pardoned. Every believer has walked through this door, you are not alone. Some are experiencing a tug in your heart as you read. Do not hesitate any longer. 

God brings us through our trials and tests when we relinquish our will for His and this is the beginning of hearing His voice over ours. 

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

I believe that Your Son Jesus was sent to be the complete sacrifice upon that cross so I can have forgiveness of my sins. I understand I have sinned and regret everything I have done. Right now I confess my sins to you: _______. Forgive me Father. I want to be born again. Give me that new heart. Make me into that new person Father. Mold me into the likeness of Your Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ I ask. Amen.

If you have humbly prayed this prayer, the Bible says that you have been born-again and are a new creature in Christ. Old things will become passed away and you will have eyes that will see everything in a new light…because He is the Light and it is He who is abiding inside of you now. Find a Bible believing church, buy a good Bible [they give them away at thrift stores] and begin by reading the book of John. Connect with making new friends at church and get hooked up in a small group. Your new friends will love you and pray for you and help you grow. Welcome into the family of God!