Cannabis, Chapter Two

It’s been a little over six months since I, once again, chose to step out in faith by making the decision to support my daughter in the extremely challenging battle of trying to legalize medical cannabis for my granddaughter Anna. Anna suffers from intractable epilepsy, PDDNOS and several other conditions that do not respond to pharmaceuticals. (Our story can be found in an earlier post: Please Try on These Shoes...Our Families' Shoes.)  

At that time, Lolly and I were both in this for Anna’s sake, but soon we began to meet other families with children like Anna. We fell in love with other people’s sick kids. We began to care about other moms’ struggles and their daily challenges. 
We heard their stories. 
We watched their videos. 
We added their heartache and grieving to our own. 
We grew a new family. 

I began to pray for these other families and their struggles. Not surprisingly, I found myself with a “new” ministry. Blessing and encouraging and praying for these hurting families at every opportunity.  I have come to believe that, for some of them, I may be the only “pastor” they ever relate to (I trust the LORD will give me the love, wisdom, grace and mercy to be His light to moms and dads who wake up every morning wondering if their child will still be breathing or if they will live long enough to see the prohibition of cannabis ended and available for their babies.)  

Over the months we have continued to add others to our “new family” as we met more and more people with all kinds of diseases and conditions wanting the same thing we do...access to the medicinal properties of a plant. A plant. An herb that for thousands of years has been used for its medical benefits (until it was outlawed because of the greed of several wealthy, influential and infamous men in the 1940’s). A plant, that I believe with all my heart, was included in God’s proclamation in Genesis 1:29; “Then God said,  “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."

(You may be interested-or not-to know that, if I am ever faced with the need to choose, say between traditional treatment of chemotherapy and radiation vs. medical cannabis, I would choose cannabis without hesitation. I am thoroughly convinced that its medicinal properties are extremely beneficial and amazing.)

During the last six months, I have NO IDEA how many of my Facebook friends have faithfully read my posts, watched the videos, studied the issue, followed along with us with support and prayers and encouragement and letters to your legislators. There have been many of you and I hope that I have let you know how much I appreciate your efforts on behalf of Anna, and the other children and adults who would benefit from medical cannabis.  You have been a rich blessing. 

On the other hand, I have also wondered how many people have simply chosen to "unfollow" me or ignore me… sorry, I tend to go there!

As well, there have been a handful...five to be exact, who have questioned my position in one way or another. It must be noted that each of their concerns stemmed from family members or friends who have or are currently “abusing marijuana.” (My first thought/response is always the same... “We are not even talking about the same thing!” But that is another topic altogether.)

One of these friends gave me some strong challenges which brought me to this place of pondering. 
So, I took her challenge and I asked the LORD to help me to see what I needed to see and how to answer her challenges with grace. 
It was only seconds before the picture began to unfold...
I’m standing on a hill looking out over all of creation and randomly picking out things that God created for His honor and glory and for the good of His people...

• Music
• Dance
• Meditation
• Motherhood
• Marriage
• A Plant

Immediately, I find myself grieving because every one of those things have, in a myriad of ways, been misused, abused, confused, tainted, destroyed and changed by people. These things that God created for good, men and women have turned into something that He did not intend because of sin. And, in the process, they justify themselves in whatever way they choose. 
I can’t begin to imagine how it grieves my Father, who gave us all good gifts.

Then I am even more grieved to realize that it’s not just “the random things.” It’s everything in all of God’s creation, everything touched by the sinful nature of man...everything. 

As I continue to ponder a word unscrambles itself in my mind. 
The word is REDEMPTION...”the action of saving or being saved from sin, error or evil.”
I’m so thankful for God’s redemptive plan in my life!
But there’s even more to REDEMPTION! 
It is also “the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment.”
It is synonymous with retrieval, recovery, reclamation, repossession.

So, I have come to the conclusion that REDEMPTION is the place this issue has brought me. Redeeming a God-given plant and restoring it to the place from which it should never have been removed in the first place. Reclaiming it for the good of mankind and little bitty babies.

I can’t stop people from “misusing it.” But I will do whatever I can to make sure that it is available to those who need it to live, to thrive, to see, to breathe, to walk without pain, to flourish. I will-for every man, woman and child who needs it. God gave it to us! 

I have no challenges in me at this moment, but let me encourage you….

• First, if you have not read the studies, watched the videos, or understood or cared about anything I have posted over the last six months...
• And if you have not taken the time to put yourself in our shoes...asking what you would do if your child or grandchild or another loved one could be helped by medical cannabis...
• And if you still think I am wrong, then I am asking you to please just “unfriend” me. 

This is where I  believe God has brought me "for such a time as this."                                                                                                                                                           As for me, I am recommitting myself to ALL of God's redemptive purposes. 

The Tiger's Whisker (A Korean Fable)

Someone shared this story with me a few months ago. It contains subtle, but powerful truths...enjoy!

ONCE UPON A TIME a young wife named Yun Ok was at her wit's end. Her husband had always been a tender and loving soulmate before he had left for the wars, but ever since he returned home he was cross, angry, and unpredictable. She was almost afraid to live with her own husband. Only in glancing moments did she catch a shadow of the husband she used to know and love.

When one ailment or another bothered people in her village, they would often rush for a cure to a hermit who lived deep in the mountains. Not Yun Ok. She always prided herself that she could heal her own troubles. But this time was different. She was desperate.

As Yun Ok approached the hermit's hut, she saw the door was open. The old man said without turning around, "I hear you. What's your problem?"

She explained the situation. His back still to her, he said, "Ah yes, it's often that way when soldiers return from the war. What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Make me a potion!" cried the young wife. "Or an amulet, a drink, whatever it takes to get my husband back the way he used to be."

The old man turned around. "Young woman, your request doesn't exactly fall into the same category as a broken bone or ear infection." 

"I know," said she.

"It will take three days before I can even look into it. Come back then."

Three days later, Yun Ok returned to the hermit's hut. "Yun Ok," he greeted her with a smile, "I have good news. There is a potion that will restore your husband to the way he used to be, but you should know that it requires an unusual ingredient. You must bring me a whisker from a live tiger." 

"What?" she gasped. "Such a thing is impossible!" 

"I cannot make the potion without it!" he shouted, startling her. He turned his back. "There is nothing more to say. As you can see, I'm very busy."

That night Yun Ok tossed and turned. How could she get a whisker from a live tiger?

The next day before dawn, she crept out of the house with a bowl of rice covered with meat sauce. She went to a cave on the mountainside where a tiger was known to live. She clicked her tongue very softly as she crept up, her heart pounding, and carefully set the bowl on the grass. Then, trying to make as little noise as she could, she backed away. 

The next day before dawn, she took another bowl of rice covered with meat sauce to the cave. She approached the same spot, clicking softly with her tongue. She saw that the bowl was empty, replaced the empty one with a fresh one, and again left, clicking softly and trying not to break twigs or rustle leaves, or do anything else to startle and unsettle the wild beast.

So it went, day after day, for several months. She never saw the tiger (thank goodness for that! she thought) though she knew from footprints on the ground that the tiger - and not a smaller mountain creature - had been eating her food. Then one day as she approached, she noticed the tiger's head poking out of its cave. Glancing downward, she stepped very carefully to the same spot and with as little noise as she could, set down the fresh bowl and, her heart pounding, picked up the one that was empty.

After a few weeks, she noticed the tiger would come out of its cave as it heard her footsteps, though it stayed a distance away (again, thank goodness! she thought, though she knew that someday, in order to get the whisker, she'd have to come closer to it).

Another month went by. Then the tiger would wait by the empty food bowl as it heard her approaching. As she picked up the old bowl and replaced it with a fresh one, she could smell its scent, as it could surely smell hers.

"Actually," she thought, remembering its almost kittenish look as she set down a fresh bowl, "it is a rather friendly creature, when you get to know it." The next time she visited, she glanced up at the tiger briefly and noticed what a lovely downturn of reddish fur it had from over one of its eyebrows to the next. Not a week later, the tiger allowed her to gently rub its head, and it purred and stretched like a house cat.

Then she knew the time had come. The next morning, very early, she brought with her a small knife. After she set down the fresh bowl and the tiger allowed her to pet its head she said in a low voice, "Oh, my tiger, may I please have just one of your whiskers?" While petting the tiger with one hand, she held one whisker at its base, and with the other hand, in one quick stroke, she carved the whisker off. She stood up, speaking softly her thanks, and left, for the last time.

The next morning seemed endless. At last her husband left for the rice fields. She ran to the hermit's hut, clutching the precious whisker in her fist. Bursting in, she cried to the hermit, "I have it! I have the tiger's whisker!" 

"You don't say?" he said, turning around. "From a live tiger?" 

"Yes!" she said.

 "Tell me," said the hermit, interested. "How did you do it?"

Yun Ok told the hermit how, for the last six months, she had earned the trust of the creature and it had finally permitted her to cut off one of its whiskers. With pride she handed him the whisker. The hermit examined it, satisfied himself that it was indeed a whisker from a live tiger, then flicked it into the fire where it sizzled and burned in an instant. 

"What have you done?" Yun Ok cried, horrified.

"Yun Ok," the hermit said softly, "you no longer need the whisker. Tell me, is a man more vicious than a tiger? If a dangerous wild beast will respond to your gradual and patient care, do you think a man will respond any less willingly?"

Yun Ok stood speechless. Then she turned and stepped down the trail, turning over in her mind images of the tiger and of her husband, back and forth. She knew what she could do.

HOPE Floats into the New Year...

Happy New Year to one and all!

It seems like every year there are those who look forward to the beginning of a new year, because it’s like a fresh start. Maybe you are anxious to say “goodbye” to the year past-with whatever trials and tribulation, heart-breaks and struggles you may have experienced. Then there are those who can hardly bear the thought of letting the past year go because  time seems to be going so fast. Or possibly because it has been a wonderfully life-changing year or maybe it has a lot to do with fear of change or fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of what the coming year might hold.

Whatever the case may be, time marches on and we have little control over that. What we can determine, though, is how we choose to face the unknown and the challenges and struggles that will surely come our way in the year before us.

In my favorite picture of this summer past, eight of my grandchildren are featured with various expressions and emotion. Even though I took the picture, the humor of it didn’t strike me until I saw it in print. I immediately thought, “They are expressing almost every emotion that I have experienced this year!” Seriously, it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

The two youngest, Mary and Nuriah are not happy! They were tired and weary and each wanted her mommy, not more pictures. (Life, at the moment, was overwhelming them and they needed the comfort of safe arms). Two of them, Jacob and Josie, are scratching their chins with a sense of perplexity…pondering something or the other! Aiden is simply contemplating the universe as he knows it. (Personally, I spend a lot of time in contemplation, pondering life situations and trying to make sense of it and find answers that make sense! I know each of these expressions well. And “I just don’t get it” is a phrase that is not foreign to me.) 

Anna (bottom corner right) is totally in a place we affectionately refer to as “Annaland” (My children call my kindred state “Debbyland.” I think they are right next door to each other.) Ian looks like he just whacked Nuriah on the top of the head and is watching the aftermath and waiting for the consequences and his brother Ricki is laughing about the whole situation!

Laughter, wonder, frustration, consternation and ornery delight about sums it up! Well, actually I could add a few more. This year I have known anger and total bewilderment and great joy and monumental excitement and untold grief. But I have also seen miracles of the most miraculous kind! Through it all, the good, the bad and the ugly, my hope remains fully and steadfast on my Father God. I know, beyond any shadow of doubt that He loves me. He is available to me and His promises to give me HOPE for whatever this New Year holds. 

My family already knows that, the LORD willing, in May of this year we will be celebrating and rejoicing in the birth of Eli. At the same time, we are daily expecting to hear a diagnosis about another child that is already causing us to cling harder to our God. I am glad that He has given me the blessed assurance that I can bring all of my “stuff” to Him and rest easy...with HOPE!

One of my favorite songs is sung by Twila Paris. She says so well what my heart cries.

The Warrior is a Child

Lately I've been winning battles left and right 

But even winners can get wounded in the fight 

People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around 

I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

I know that the same hope I held onto through this last year, in my Awesome God, will float right on in to 2012 with me and I remain, as always Blessed and Highly Favored.

I don’t think it’s ever to early to begin to consider, and have a plan in mind-we plan for almost everything, don’t we? So, how will you face the coming year and whatever comes with it? I hope it will be with trust, with faith and with HOPE in Christ Jesus.

Pondering Christmas

A Devotional for Carols in the Atrium

For days I have pondered and considered and searched and asked LORD, what shall I do for a devotional for Carols in the Atrium? 

• Something different...
• Something creative...
• Something new and unique                           

And I was blessed with NOTHING!

Until yesterday afternoon when the LORD graciously reminded me that...

• It is not about all the hoopla of the “Christmas Season”
• It’s about the story of Christ’s birth...
• The celebration of Jesus...anything more and anything less is just the trappings

So I went back to the source...The BOOK. 

• No holiday celebration
• No Christmas party or event
• Not even the singing of our favorite Christmas carols should be done without the most important tradition of all...The story itself.

So, I will share it with you. Selected portions of Luke 1 and Luke 2. 

(I will read Luke 1 from the NIV and Luke 2 from the King James Version. I learned it that way when I was 8 and played the part of the Angel Gabriel and I can’t seem to read it in the NIV!”

May God Bless the Reading of the Christmas Story...

The Birth of Jesus Foretold NIV

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, 

a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”     Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 

53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 

54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 2 King James

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

 37 And she was a widow of about 84, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

I wonder if you noticed how much rejoicing there was going on?

• Elizabeth, with what kind of voice? Filled with the Spirit she cried out in a loud voice!

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, 

the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

• Mary: Her heart was so full she turned it into a song...

“My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,           

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. 

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

• Gabriel...

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

That wasn’t news to be whispered...that was shout it from the mountain top news!

• To which the multitude of heavenly hosts praised God and proclaimed...

  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

• The shepherds returned to where they had come from, but what were they doing?

“...glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, 

as it was told unto them.”

I think I have always wondered how their lives changed from that night. 

• Then there was Simeon. 

It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the LORD’s Christ. Can you imagine how he must have felt as he gazed into the eyes of that tiny eight day old child and blessed God? That was the moment his life’s mission was fulfilled. All he could do was bless his God.

• Anna: The 84 year old woman who spent her days and her nights fasting and praying and praising her God. I love the image of this woman with a heartful of God. 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,
 and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 

Whenever I read of the Prophetess Anna I am reminded of Anna Stoner. Some of you may remember Jess Stoner’s sister Anna. She was an older woman who fasted, prayed and praised the LORD!

And she left me with one of my favorite Christmas funnies. For those of you who were not blessed to have known her, Anna was of our very plainly dressed Brethren in Christ saints who always wore a prayer covering. Well, one Christmas Eve Service at Cedar Grove BIC, Anna walked up to me, patted my hand and said, “Debby, you are always so nicely decorated!” 

So, here is a tradition started at the very first Christmas...the birth of Christ. And that is praising the LORD, glorifying and magnifying His name. 

Let’s start right here and right now... “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Aroma Therapy of a Spiritual Nature

One of the interesting discoveries I made a couple of years ago is the fact that our sense of smell is located in the same area of our brain as our long term memory. That is why when we smell certain odors we may be instantly transported back to something in our past. 

• For instance, when I smell Rubbing Alcohol, I am immediately reminded of being taken to a huge clinic where children were lined up and given shots. There is a certain smell associated with some plastics that reminds me of the baby dolls I played with as a child.

• The smell of salty sea air always takes me back to my childhood growing up in California. 

• An outdoor evening campfire reminds me of summer vacations to Yosemite National Park or the evenings we spent singing around a campfire when we lived in the Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba. 

• Rotting garbage often reminds me of driving through Porte au Prince, Haiti.

I have always been affected by scents…both good and bad, which made for an interesting revelation a few years ago. 

In the summer of 2005 I moved to Hanover, Pa to pastor the Brethren In Christ church there. I had only been living in Hanover a few days when it finally registered with me that someone seemed to be cooking all the time. I started asking myself some serious questions. 

• What is that wonderful smell?

• Who stays home and cooks ALL day long?

• ....Night and day, in fact. 

• I would wake up in the middle of the night to the most wonderful aroma!

Finally, I mentioned it to someone who said, “Don’t you know that Hanover is the ‘snack capital of the world?’” Hanover, of course, is the home of Utz, Snyder’s of Hanover and Musselman’s. So, what I was smelling was always either potato chips or pretzels!

Well, this went on week after week until one beautiful Sunday morning when I got up, went to the front door, swung it wide open and took a deep breath…and almost gagged! For the first time since I had moved there, my world stank to high heaven! I slammed the door shut and tried to figure out what had happened!

So, I mentioned it to a neighbor. I asked her if she had smelled that wicked odor (like the most rotten sauerkraut you could possibly imagine). To which she indignantly replied, “That is the smell of money and we don’t complain about it!”  What I smelled and complained about, was Gladfletter’s paper plant in Spring Grove…about 10 miles away and always distinct and over powering on humid days!)

Well, I am a “ponderer” and I spent quite a bit of time pondering the fact that, some days my world smelled like potato chips and some days my world smelled like sauerkraut, until one day the LORD started speaking to me about the subject…

Think about it! 

Are there days when your life smells like potato chips and then days when your life smells like sauerkraut? 

A number of years ago I spent a significant amount of time studying everything that Neil T Anderson wrote. You may know him as the author of Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker. One of his main themes was the importance of knowing and embracing our identity in Jesus Christ. Understanding that helped me with issues like fear, anxiety and insecurity. 

Examples: Who I am in Christ

Because you are in Christ, every one of these statements is true of you. 

• I am loved 1John 3:3 

• I am accepted Ephesians 1:6 

• I am a child of God John 1:12 

• I am Jesus' friend John 15:14 

• I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him Romans 8:17 

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Paul says, 

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?                                                                                                             

We are to be…

• A triumphal procession in Christ

• We are to be spreading everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him

• We are to be the aroma of Christ…the fragrance of life

To some, the aroma of Christ will smell like death because they are dying in their  ignorance and unbelief, but to others we are to be a sweet fragrance. 

Here’s a good exercise to try…

Put a “scent” to some “fruits of the spirit”

What aroma might…

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

• Patients 

• Kindness 

• Goodness

• Faithfulness

• And Self-control remind us of?

Especially compared with the stench of “the fruitless deeds of darkness”

• Immorality

• Wickedness

• And the Apostle Paul’s list in Ephesians 4:31 to, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” 

Why? Why is it necessary to "GET RID OF...?" Because, obviously, one can’t live a life that reflects the love of Christ when one's life is characterized by bitterness, rage, anger and malice…IN ANY FORM. 

And, have you ever noticed how aroma’s or stenches can spread to others…well they do! I have encountered a family on the streets of Mechanicsburg numerous times and every time I see them the mother is screaming at the two teenagers with language that is not repeatable. Every time I see this threesome I am appalled and I have been grieved for the teens living with this kind of verbal abuse day in and day out. 

Then one day, a couple of weeks ago, we happened to be in Subway at the same time. The mother screamed at one of her children to get up there and place her order, but when she tried, the young Indian woman behind the counter could not get it quite right and so the teen quickly grew frustrated and began screaming at her in the same tone and with the same foul language as her mother.

And, since I am not one to stand by while someone else is being treated like that, I walked over and very quietly and calmly said, “You don’t need to talk to her the way your mother talks to you. She is just having a difficult time understanding you.” Oh my! At that point all three of them got in my face and began yelling at me. The two girls behind the counter were quietly rooting me on (and I think they had 911 on speed dial). I didn’t help the situation at all (except to take their primary focus off of the young woman) but mostly it was a good reminder of how our behaviors can spread either a sweet aroma or a horrific stench to those around us.

So a few questions that we can ask ourselves every day are these…

• What does my life smell like to others?

• How has the aroma of Christ permeated “my world” because of me today?

• Or did my attitudes stink today?

• Did my behavior spread an aroma or a stench?

• Did people want to evacuate my presence at any given moment?

Have you ever got just a faint smell of something unpleasant and you search long and hard to find its source so that you can eliminate it? That’s what we, as believers, should be doing daily in our own lives! Then we don’t just try to cover up the stench with some fruity odor from a can. 

• We dig deep and eliminate the source! 

• We get to the root of our bitterness, anger, ugliness of life and we allow the light of Christ to shine into the darkness of our heart. 

• We let His love and grace to us eradicate that which is from our sinful nature so that He might live His life through us.

Walk down the aisles of any grocery store and you will see dozens of products to make EVERYTHING smell better, fresher, sweeter. When really the first place we should begin eliminating odors is in our own inner lives.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ”… Let’s smell like it today!