Lights out? Nah, not tonight!

I’m sitting outside in the gazebo (pronounced gaze-bo), watching Steve work on pre-wiring it for the ceiling fan and lights.  I’m also enjoying God’s majesty as the sun begins to set, providing me a cloudy splendor as the rays shine down like spotlights.  One of my neighbors is mowing and the sound only slightly interferes with the gentle beats of the wood chimes as an occasional breeze moves them together.

When I first came out here, being the typical Southern gal that I am who doesn’t like getting too much nature on her, I lit the Cinnamon Spice Citronella Candle to help keep those pesky mosquitoes away from my tender flesh.  As I watched the flame gently flicker, dancing in the soft breeze, it almost seemed merry, which made me think of Christmas.  I reached over and tenderly cupped my hands around the candle, enjoying its slight warmth, even though my phone tells me it’s 86 degrees out here.  

My thoughts drifted from one place to another, and then they flickered as the flame of the candle wavered.  I cupped my hands around it, trying to prevent its light from extinguishing.  It worked and once again the flame danced merrily about, shining its light, fulfilling its purpose.  I thought about me and my light as I once again valiantly placed my hands around the candle, trying to prevent the wind from overtaking it.  Distracted by my surroundings, I looked away.  Just for a moment.  The sky was so pretty!

Feeling a tickle on my leg, I brushed away the fly that was trying to nest there (although Steve assures me flies don’t nest.  I reminded him I haven’t shaved this month and this fly was definitely trying to nest!).  

“Why isn’t that candle keeping the bugs away?”  I thought in dismay.  

Guess what?  It had gone out again, snuffed out by the wind when I wasn’t protecting it, when the watchman had failed in her duty.  Thought it didn’t literally move, the candle had lost its place from the protector.  Only a slight scent of its fragrance was left behind--left behind to remind me.

About what, Stef?

About this little light of mine.  About when I let it shine and when I allow it to give off gentle warmth.  About the fragrance, the aroma that I emanate.  About the bugs I keep away.  And about the winds of care that blow sometimes softly and at other times more forcefully.  It makes me glad that Jesus isn’t like me and does not look away for even one second.  It makes my heart smile as I envision His nail-scarred hands filtering what can and what cannot touch me.  It makes me grateful that while I can sometimes shine before others that it’s His glory that is revealed.  

That’s what it reminds me of.  Aren’t you so glad you asked?

"Pull that Peach!!"

Have you ever heard it said that married folks start looking alike, talking alike, and dressing alike after being together for so long?  I find it's true in my love story with Steve. 

For a while now we have not only been completing each other's sentences, but often before the words are formed on one's tongue, the other is already mouthing the response that was on the verge of being spouted.  We laugh and feel a deep contentment that we know one another so well and there is such a security in our relationship that I feel soon we won't even have to chat to one another; we'll just gaze into each other's eyes and read the thoughts going on in the mind of the one being looked upon.

It's also funny how a family will have the same gestures, the same expressions, and the same wit.  These characteristics are inbred, sure, but they are also copied and mimicked and picked upon by the extending family so that once again, communication is easy and not forced, not fake, and not phony.  The only real drawback to it is when the words that come out or the gestures expressed are those that are negative rather than the good we try to instill in our loved ones.

Disciples of Jesus are known by their fruit.  I've been pondering that these past sixteen or so hours.  I've been wondering how so many can spend so much time with Christ, be brought up in His house, learn His teachings, sing songs about Him, and yet...and yet, there's something missing.  Oh sure:  they can sing the songs, word for word, and not miss a beat.  They can quote the scripture passage in the KJV and/or other translations, as well as cite the chapter and verse.  They can walk the walk, talk the talk but...but somehow it seems...off.  Their fruit is not ripe.  The color is not quite what it should be.  The taste is one of bitterness rather than sweetness.  Rather than the words of Christ flowing smoothly, they are more of the recitation variety, incorporated flagrantly into language instead of being a sweet aroma that rolls naturally off of the tongue and leaves a delightful fragrance behind.

If I as a woman who has been married to the same man for over thirty-two years can know my husband's thoughts before they are often evident to him, can predict his moods by the circumstances around him, and can often voice for him what gets tangled up in his tiny little brain, how much more does Christ do this for me?  And since Christ is so big, so great, so awesome, and since He has been a part of my life for longer than Steve has, shouldn't I be able to reciprocate and know His thoughts?  I Corinthians 2:16 tells me I can.  Acts 11:26 tells me that Jesus' followers were called by His name because they acted so much like He did.  If I am truly His, shouldn't you be able to see that without me having to go around and profess it, wear it on my shirt or jewelry, or by my scripture posts all over places where it's meant to be seen--by others?

In conclusion, I want to ask you today:  is your fruit ready to be eaten by others?  Is it peaked to perfection (makes me think of that Yoplait commercial where that woman yells "Pull that peach!"  at just the right moment).  Examine yourselves.  Is your flavor sweet, sour, or bitter?  That's the taste you are leaving in other's mouths when they consider you, when they consider me.  Do you need some pruning, some fertilizing, and/or some water?  Maybe you need to have more Sonshine on you?  Whatever the condition your tree is in today, I encourage you while you still have time this season to check up.  Don't wither on the vine.  Don't dry up.  Lastly, don't be unfruitful.  

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude."  Colossians 2:6-7.

Let's pray!

Dear Lord, as we come to You today and reflect on our selves, we ask You to point out to us our flaws.  Reveal our weaknesses and build us back up in Your strengths.  Multiply our harvest, Father, so that we may bring honor to You is my prayer, asked in the name of Jesus my Saviour.  Amen.

What is that smell?!

June 6, 2015

I love Facebook.  Many of the inspirations for my blog come from it.  Case in point:  yesterday a friend of mine shared the following statement that I think you will enjoy:

As I was entering the Home Depot ladies room a cute little girl ( who appeared to be about 7 years) was exiting. She whispered to me "It is going to stink in there. It was my Mom!" Lol. Priceless little children.

I indeed laughed out loud as I pictured this scenario.  Can't you just see the mortified look on the little girl's face and then picture the mom who couldn't have been far behind meandering out as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place?  How hard it must have been to keep a straight face (in more ways than one if you catch my drift--or the drift that was left behind).  

As children of God, do you ever wonder what scents we are leaving behind?  When we leave a place, is there a fragrance of something pleasant or do we instead leave a stench and have people holding their noses and wanting to get as far away from there as possible?


2 Corinthians 2:15 tells us

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 

I don't know about you but I for one surely love to follow my nose to things that please it.  Roses, fresh-baked chocolate-chip-pies like I am about to bake for my favorite seven-year-old grandson, the smell of the earth after a solid rain, and who doesn't love the smell of bacon frying and popcorn popping?  On the other hand, popcorn that is burning, a woman with too much perfume, and little boys who use their little bottoms to make dreadful noises and smells are most unwelcome in my aurora.  

Today, as we do whatever it is we have planned, let's purpose to leave behind an aroma that makes people stop in their tracks, turn around to see what that wonder was, and make our Lord Jesus proud of His kids.  Let's create a hunger for those nearest us to want more of that spectacular fragrance to fill their hungry hearts and to create an appetite to learn more of Jesus.  Most importantly though, let's be sure we can truly give them the bread they need.  Are you prepared to share the gospel today?  Let's see if we can get a little help first, shall we?

Dear Lord God, today is another opportunity for us to be lights for You.  You have given us a day to honor You and my prayer is that we all check up before leaving our homes today and make sure we have our dress in place.  May we not have too much Bible and not enough of You.  May we not be overbearing in our knowledge but subtle in our love so that others are attracted to what our testimonies are saying in spite of the things that might come out of our mouths.  

Should someone leave a room where we have been, may the remarks be favorable so that others are enticed to come in and see what the fuss is all about rather than dread taking another step into an arena that is foul and stinky.  Help us, I ask, to be pleasing to those we encounter today and may they smile when we pass and think "I wish I was like that!"

Thank You for this day, Father.  As my family and I celebrate my oldest grandson's special day, may we delight in him the way You delight in us.  In return, may we glean more knowledge of just how very much we are loved by You by the way we love this special boy?  Thank You for him, my other two gsons, and my family.  Thank You for teaching me how to love.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.