Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Fragrance of Christ

"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."2 Corinthians 2:15

Sisters, I hope each of you had a very Merry Christmas and if you had or were at a New Year’s Eve party…I hope you didn’t stay up tooooo late! J LOL! JK! I actually stayed up till 3am! Yep, I know…I’m a night owl!

Well, I was thinking to myself, you know, it’s about time for another blog post! So, I decided to write some thoughts I had about we, as Christians, being the fragrance of Christ. David wrote in the Psalms 141:2, “May my prayer be set before You like incense.” We each have an aroma that we carry with us, wherever we go. But, for us to have the ability to permeate the atmosphere around us, we have to take the time to sit at our Heavenly Father’s feet. We are called to be still, He beckons us to take the opportunity to be quiet and hear what His heart is longing to impart to ours. Communication not only involves words, but it also incorporates listening ears. In a sense, we need to be at the place to allow the Father to open up the spiritual windows of our hearts. Zach Neese, worship pastor from Gateway Church, states, “Prayer, like incense, is designed for fire. It only rises if it burns, and when it burns, it changes the atmosphere. A life lived in open and passionate communication with God does the same thing-it burns and changes the atmosphere of the world it lives in.” Wow! So true!

A friend of mine and I were talking and she mentioned this beautiful analogy about us, representing candles. There has to be a flame for the wax to melt…only then is it pliable and moldable. We are that candle. Our flesh has to surrender when we allow the light and love of Jesus Christ consume our beings. With the power of Christ, we can overcome the painful tests of dying to self by choosing to allow the Lord to conform us to Himself. We are also clay that rests in the Master’s hands. Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” We are oaks of righteousness, displays of His glory. In Isaiah 61:3 it states, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” We are all testimonies of God’s faithfulness, displays of His majesty, trophies of His glory at work in our lives! We are also called the fragrance of Christ! Let’s make prayer a priority in our lives, that way we can bring a different atmosphere to a lost and dying world. Communion with the Father, all throughout the day, will even strengthen the breathtaking fragrance of our lives; it will allow us to radiate the love and joy of Jesus to every soul that is saturated by its sweet presence. Be that holy fragrance to everyone around you!


Pour My Love On You

By: Phillips, Craig and Dean


I don't know how to say exactly how I feel

And I can't begin to tell you what your love has meant

I'm lost for words


Is there a way to show the passion in my heart

Can I express how truly great I think you are

You're my dearest friend
Lord this is my desire to pour my love on you

Like oil upon your feet

Like wine for you to drink

Life water from my heart

I pour my love on you

With praises like the perfume

I lavish mine on you

Till every drop is gone

I pour my love on you


Blessings,
Stephanie