A fragrant aroma…

 A fragrant aroma…

A tempting smell…

Floral sweetness wafting on the breeze…

Perfume lingering long after the wearer has left…

Smells trigger our memories. They take us back in our mind to a previous time of joy or sorrow. They can often catch us unaware and flood our minds quickly with days gone by. One such smell for me is black pepper. Anytime I smell black pepper, I am immediately sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen counter, watching grandpa eating his eggs with plenty of black pepper. I never ate the eggs, oatmeal was my chosen meal at grandma’s, but nevertheless, the smell of pepper triggers that memory and a smile settles on my face and in my heart.

Scripture tells us that we as Christians are creating an aroma for those seeking Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

What aroma do you bring when sharing Christ?

Do you bring the sweet aroma of things to come? Of love, peace, joy, and a future in heaven with our Lord… Does your aroma bring HOPE?

Or do you bring the aroma of death? Is your life a stench that leaves others repelled from anything ‘Christian’? Does it leave people walking away with the firm attitude to avoid those ‘hypocrites’ at all costs?

As sinners, we all will make mistakes. How do we avoid being considered a hypocrite? It comes with how we handle our failure. If we are humble, transparent, and remorseful it leaves others seeing that our mistakes do not define us rather they point us to the need for a HOLY Savior. Then the aroma becomes that sweet smell of Victory as Christ washes our sins away.

Tonight I hosted our Church Ladies Christmas Fellowship. The theme was a rustic woodland table covered in brown with red and black plaid table runners. We had wooden live edge slabs with mini snow covered trees. Scented pinecones, tea light candles, and my favorite wooden signs finished off the décor. We all brought an wrapped ornament and had a great time laughing and joking throughout the game. I read off Christmas questions, "What are three of the reindeers names?" or "What are the top two things people decorate the top of their tree with?" and "Who wrote 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'?" For every correct answer we passed our gift to the RIGHT. For every incorrect answer we passed it left. At the end of the list we opened the gift we were holding. Beautiful handmade ornaments, snow men, angels, quilted stars and nativity scenes. We feasted on lots of homemade goodies from eggnog fudge, meatballs, wonton rolls, cookies, cheese dip, and sausage balls. These ladies are wonderful cooks!

What a precious time of fellowship with Godly women who are striving to be more like Jesus daily. I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow our friendships stronger.

+4