What fragrance are you wearing today?

One day while cleaning at a house, running the vacuum my nose picks up the amazing fragrance of coffee. Looking in the office of the house, I think " she's got one good cup of coffee sitting somewhere" ..... only to find it empty and no steaming cup of coffee to be seen anywhere.
Then it dawned on me!
Sitting in the kitchen, is one of these big elaborate espresso machines and a coffee grinder next to it. They have told me that they are 'big' coffee drinkers and the evidence of that, is ground coffee beans scattered in piles and heaps around the grinder and espresso maker.
To make the clean up easy, I use the vacuum to suck it all up.
 And there, my friends, is also the answer to the missing cup of fresh brewed coffee.
I smiled at my surprise and thought it a great room-freshener fragrance for one of those 'smelly' companies to pick up.

It happened again today,  - almost got surprised  - what can I say, I like surprises - but instead of looking for the cup of coffee I got to thinking.
We so readily accept that what we eat, we also exude, some things more that others. Garlic is the first and greatest example that comes to mind, coffee is another one, peanut butter, beer and so on.

When we spend time with God, in His presence - it will be His 'fragrance' we spread as we go about.
Know that to be true - even though you can't smell it yourself - just like garlic - others can!
Trust me! Personal experience with this amazing, simple fact, is behind my confidence.

And here's what I think - most people, even though they don't like coffee, love the smell of fresh brewed coffee.
Same thing with God's 'fragrance' - there's something about it that is irresistible and makes you want to take a deep breath and savor it.

-b

Run like a turtle...

Most mornings when I make my laps around and around, it happens in solitude, but every now and then, somebody will come along for a little while. Sometimes they'll be running the "wrong" way. One time a small group were doing just that,- then had the audacity to tell me, I was running the wrong way!! When we met again on the next lap, not quite at the same spot, I pointed out the fact, that my way was faster :)

 One morning there happened to come along a strapping young man, who decided to loop around the wrong way...

    ~ Ok wait, time out for a minute here, -  I know we just started but......: What does that exactly mean, to be "strapping" ? I've noticed it always being attached to 'young' - nobody ever says; 'strapping' old men...and here is another thing, it isn't allowed with females either - what gives?
~ the Dane part of me just awonderin'  ~

Alright then, back to the morning mentioned above; I had just started my first lap, but right off the bat I decided 'we' needed to meet at the same spot- at least - better yet if it was a bit further his way, which would show my speed being faster.

Then a few things became clear very quickly;
* I was not yet properly warmed up, this being lap # 1
* In effort to keep up, my pace was faster that usual at this point - it being lap #1
* For that reason I was getting winded fast ( surely that must've been the reason)
* No way I was going to be able to keep this pace up much longer

I started loosing ground around lap # 4 and let him rip. (he quit after the next).

      Slowing down to my own pace and catching my breath, I started reflecting on what had just happened to me, and then about the race Paul talks about in the new testament:
Hebrews 12:1 ...and throwing off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us.

         It's a different kind of race, with the goal being to finish rather than finish first!

But, there are a few things these two, the physical and the spiritual race, have in common.
Like I was trying to keep up with the  "strapping" man, matching his pace rather than my own, I quickly became winded and had I tried to keep up for much longer would have had to quit before finishing.

* If I run to somebody else' pace, I "run" the risk of exhausting myself to the point of being unable to finish the race.
* I need to run at my own pace, according to my ability. Steadfast.
* Focusing on my own race and not comparing it against other 'racers'.
This, by the way, is where  the turtle title came about... - they just have their own pace and keep at it!

So my friends, let us encourage one another to follow Him and as the author of Hebrews said in 12:2
              "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...."
           Let us run this race set before us as He bids us - at the individual pace He sets for us.


 - A simple song title "Stop and Stare" by 'One Republic'  popped into my head and made me realize what kind of race Jesus is inviting us to run;
              
              One, where we often stop in Wonder  - 
                                              One, where we never seize to be Amazed -
                                                                                          One, that will leave us in Awe -



-b

Peace beyond understanding

John 14:27

A Long Friday turned Good

Good Friday has arrived - in Denmark it is called Long Friday.
 Easter is coming too, but this year I find my heart drawn to what happened back then on that day.

Specifically to Jesus' cry in Matthew 27:45-46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me".
         It has gripped my heart, do you hear the sound of agony, desperation and loneliness?

I have come to realize, this is the very first time Jesus gets separated from his father!

No oneness!
                     No presence!
                                           No communication!
                                                                                    ...... silence!

In that moment, when God made Jesus sin, he turned away also.
 "He made Him,who knew no sin, to be sin for us" (2nd. Cor. 5.21) and for the very first time Jesus felt what sin was like, and it's dire consequence; separation from God.
                He endured the last moments in life alone, separated from God, his father.

The Father heart of God -
sometimes I wonder if we forget that God feels, has emotions........ a heart.
     
                  What incredible sorrow and agony this must have brought to his heart.

The only way I can try and relate is by thinking as a parent; How much would I go through and how far would I go to rescue my daughter if she was in any kind of trouble or peril? Think of that. Can you imagine?
                                                 Jesus was God's son -

      but for our sake he would not rescue him, even when he heard him cry out directly to him.

My heart has plummeted in to sorrow, 'understanding' just a snippet more of the cost and price paid.
-it also expanded in deeper gratitude yet, and in effort to grasp this love.

I pray your heart is open to receive this kind of love - it is not to be understood, earned, reasoned with - it is God, your Father and Creator's gift to you.
                                                                                            All you can do, is receive it.

Treasures along the journey

Pants sagging by loaded pockets, weighing them down to the edge of joining “that” trend!

– the fascinating thing about this sight is, that right here, it is more common than not, understood and accepted without the crinkling of the brow, followed by a shake of the head.

-  even more fascinating; the fact that you more than likely have been one of them at some point, more than once I hope.

People walking along the beach picking up treasures.

     

     Most times you come unprepared, but when your eyes catch this thing sticking half way out of the sand, you hurry to secure it before another wave either buries it or sweeps it out and forever away.

 So it always starts – a first treasure.

So now,- now your eyes start wandering, looking, searching, even hunting and at times keeping you at a standstill for a while just to ensure you don’t miss IT - this thing that you are looking for. ~ Not that you even know what that is,- but you are looking for it!

-and not everything picked up is a treasure – but that is another thought for another time!

       Here is my question; why is it that I am more likely to be ‘on the look-out’ when I take ‘special’ journeys?

 Like at the beach; the minute I see the ocean I get this big smile on my face, take a deep breath, my heart is ready to take on wings and soar, and down at the shoreline, my eyes instantly become keen looking for shells, rocks, and other glinting or odd looking things.

 – A walk in the woods; My sense of smell awakens to pine needles, sounds of birds and scuttling in the ground cover, I become aware of wild flowers spreading color in unexpected places and that puts a smile on my face. A funny shaped stick gets brought home and shared!

 A STICK for crying out loud – I’m not laughing, (well a little mayhaps) because I have my collection of them, some were even meant to be shipped to Denmark, that’s how special they were.

Today I was just reminded of something else these ‘special’ journeys have in common;

-         have you noticed how people are more apt to make eye connection and throw a ‘good morning’ or ‘hello’ your way in passing on the beach, the trail, or pathway?

Isn’t that curious? As if we become different people, more friendly and open to engage with others.

I want to be on the look-out in my daily journey, not so caught up in my tasks, walking preoccupied, bogged down that I have no time or eyes for treasures along the way!

          

                            I want my eyes open, my heart expectant!

What did I miss in yesterday’s journey? - was it you?

                 Were you supposed to be the treasure and I walked right by you…..

-b