Acceptable Smells

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be an acceptable aroma to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
(rephrased from Psalm 19:14).

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Smell Good

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

God smells our thoughts and deeds.

This week, think how you smell to God. Are you kind like cookies baking, or rude like skunk spray? Humble like sweet alyssum, or arrogant like roofing tar? Hard-working like steak on the grill, or lazy like old garbage? Prayerful like incense, or critical like burned toast?

 

Do you best to smell like Christ.

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Almighty Sense of Smell

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible tells us which gods not to serve:

 

Deuteronomy 4:28
. . . gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

 

Those worthless gods have no sense of smell. Almighty God has an almighty sense of smell. 

The God we serve is all-knowing and all-smelling. And he treasures our best-smelling moments.

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How Do You Smell?

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Most of us care how we look. We try to look our best.

Some of us care how we look to God. We know that he sees beyond our outward appearance. God looks at our hearts. We hope he approves of our thoughts and actions.

Have you ever thought about how you smell to God?

  • I want to smell clean, like soap
  • God smells? Who knew?
  • Don’t suppose a spritz of perfume would help

 

2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God.

 

 

“The aroma of Christ.” Me? You?

Yes.

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Forgive Me My Trespasses

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

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Forgive Me My Blind Spots

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I just finished an interesting book, “Blind Spots: Why Smart People Do Dumb Things” by Madeleine Van Hecke. Yep, I’ve done my share of dumb things.

I have blind spots, especially when it comes to my unintended trespasses.

Psalm 19:12 (NIV)
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

 

Lord, give me eyes to see past my blind spots. Let me see what you see.

 

 

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Intentional Forgiveness

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Remember Christ’s words:

Luke 6:31 (NIV)
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

I want the young man in Monday’s post to make good the damage to my car. And the people I’ve trespassed on want me to make good the damage I did.

Deliberate or accidental, trespassing calls for apology and restoration. Deliberate or accidental, being trespassed upon calls for forgiveness.

God calls us to forgive. On purpose.

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Two Simple Words

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

The young man who rear-ended my car said, “Accidents happen.” I was hoping for two different words:

 

“I’m sorry.”

Two simple, powerful words. 
The sooner said, the better.

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Unintended Trespasses

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

A young man trespassed on my property this week. He pushed his truck over the boundary of my bumper—actually he moved my bumper into my trunk. 

He didn’t do it on purpose.

 

 

Sometimes I accidentally trespass on someone else’s property, person or feelings. How about you?

 

 

  • I’ve taken credit for someone else’s idea
  • I passed on gossip that turned out to be untrue
  • I blamed someone for something they didn’t do

Forgive us our unintended trespasses.

 

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Leave It in God’s Hands

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I once dreamed that I put a problem in God’s hands. After a bit, I went back and took it into my own hands. I was double-checking to make sure God was handling it right.

God knows, I’ve done that in real life. More than once.

 

Mark 9:24 (ESV)
“I believe; help my unbelief!”

 

 

 

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