The Scent of Promise

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, NIV)

Our offering to God is to be the perfume of Christ that goes out to those who are being saved and to those who are being lost. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, ERV)

In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. – (2 Corinthians 2:15, VOICE)

I love that God created us with powerful senses, and that with them, we have memories that can be recalled quickly with a whiff of a familiar smell. For example, I cannot inhale the scent of fresh fruit or baking pies without thinking fondly of my grandparents. For me, there are certain scents that immediately turn my heart to Him, as they draw me into a space of sensing His nearness. As a runner and a lover of being outdoors, every spring, (and sometimes again in the summer) I anticipate the sweet scent of English Laurels in bloom all around our area. It is a smell that immediately brings praise to my heart, for there is something about it that causes me to associate the scent with the aroma of Christ. Incredibly, it is our charge to carry His sweet scent of life wherever we go. To some, it will be received and appreciated, whereas by others, it will be shunned and rejected. Our charge is to keep choosing to love and extend kindness, for that is the sweet smell of our loving Father. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us well, so that we might be the sweet scent of Christ that offers light and life and hope in spaces where they are absent.

The sweet scent of Christ,

Is hope, love and peace;

It’s promised goodness,

That will never cease.

On our darkest days,

Still He’s ever near;

The scent of promise,

That drives away fear.

Lord, help us receive,

So that we may give;

Your sweet, pleasing scent,

Hope each day we live.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our senses and how You use them to help us be more aware of You. Thank You that scents can be associated with good things, and that we too, can offer the pleasing scent of Your Son to the world. Forgive us for the times that our words and actions were not a sweet scent. Teach us to bring goodness and kindness to all that we say and do, so that Your sweet scent may ring true. Show us how to love those around us best, so that they may see Your heart through our words and actions. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the sweet scent of Christ that is all around us, and seek You to help us to operate from the overflow of Your abundant goodness and grace. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. – Romans 15:7

Dependable in Distress

When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me. – (Psalm 86:7, NIV)

I am praying to You in my time of trouble. I know You will answer me. – (Psalm 86:7, ERV)

When times of trouble come, I will call to You because I know You will respond to me. – (Psalm 86:7, VOICE)

I am amazed at the power held in our senses. So often, a particular scent takes me back to childhood memories of people or places that made a lasting impression. After yesterday, I am certain that it works the same for animals. The pups had been adjusting back to being home fairly well, but yesterday, after a package containing the rest of our babies’ items from board and train arrived and was opened, Thor began acting out. I quickly took their belongings down to the laundry room to wash in HOT, but aggressive and out of the ordinary behaviors continued. It was as if Thor was instantly taken back and placed in fight or flight mode. The afternoon was exhausting, and I was so grateful for my husband’s help upon his return home from work. A considerable amount of my time had been spent seated on the floor beside Thor, as he refused to enter his crate.(He normally does so very willingly.) Anguish and anger played ping pong in my heart, as I again and again had to release rage and remorse, and redirect my focus to loving my pup well. After quiet prayers were lifted for peace to return, I had a restless night’s sleep. This morning, as I began our normal routine, Thor seemed more His sweet self, and was terrific company after he ate his breakfast. When it was time to get back in his crate, he did so willingly and easily. God responds when we seek Him and He cares about what matters to us. On my part, the patience and prayers will continue, for I know the Lord will respond. May we ever seek the Savior in our distress, for He responds as we call on Him.

God has created,

Wonderfully made;

All of creation,

He loves and will aid.

The Lord hears our cries,

In love, He responds;

He heals what is hurting,

Restores broken bonds.

God sees and He hears,

Each prayer lifted up;

In love He refills,

The emptiest cup.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can call on You in our times of distress and You hear and respond to our heart’s cry. Thank You that You are faithful to meet us, walk beside us, and lovingly restore brokenness. Forgive us for holding onto hurts, and show us how to continually place all in Your hands. Teach us to love in ways that restore and offer hope where hurts have a hold of hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You in our distress and trust You to respond. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3

To Signify the Start of Something New

Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. – (Psalm 143:8, NLT)

Show me Your faithful love this morning, I trust in You. Show me what I should do. I put my life in Your hands! – (Psalm 143:8, ERV)

Let the dawning day bring me revelation of Your tender, unfailing love. Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in You. – (Psalm 143:8, TPT)

 

I have always had a special appreciation for early mornings, as I crave the quiet stillness found in the sweet solitude of the wee hours before dawn’s first light. The ability to hear my own thoughts with clarity as my other senses are not interrupted, helps get me grounded before I begin each day. As a point of curiosity, I searched the word “morning” in my Bible app and discovered that the word appeared 239 times. Nearly every time that the word “morning” appeared, it was to signify the start of something new: new help, new hope, a new oath, a new promise, a new blessing, a new charge to carry out, new revelation, new provision, new strength, new light, new mercies, new love and new joy. Daily, I see and know His unfailing love that is found each morning, as I turn in trust. God is faithful to show me what I should do as I allow Him room to lead. What I have discovered over time, is that His ways are always better than mine, and trusting Him is far wiser than relying on myself. He is faithful to grant the wisdom we seek and provides people to surround us with strength and hope and help. Each new day brings new light and love as we turn in trust to the One who holds us in His hands. May we ever seek our Savior to show us the way, as He is faithful to lead us by the light of His unfailing love.

 

Early each morning, 

I discover new;

Your unfailing love,

As I trust in You.

You show me the way,

That I’m meant to go;

As You light my path,

In Your loving glow.

Your tender kindness,

Each morning is new;

Your grace unending,

As I trust in You.

I will keep rising,

Before break of day;

To meet You anew,

As You light my way.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your unfailing love is new each morning, and Your faithfulness never ends. Thank You that as we trust in You, You teach us and light our path. Forgive us for the times that we attempt to wander in the darkness on our own. Teach us to trust in You and to recognize the people that You have placed all around us. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we may strengthen, encourage and lift them up with the new that You have for them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we listen for revelation of Your tender, unfailing love this morning, and follow the lighted path that You provide. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me. – Psalm 69:16

Evidence to Know

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. – (Romans 1:20, NLT)

 

As dear friends gathered last night down at the pier to light and release sky lanterns with our kids, none of us could help but be in awe of the clear, night sky. The moon was brightly out, and the stars shined proudly, as if to welcome our lanterns as they were launched into the frigid night air. It is difficult to fathom looking up into that sky, so full of stars, and not believe in the One who hand hung each one. There is such order and intentionality in the stars, and in each person that exists on the planet. God’s eternal power and divine nature is found through each of our senses, if we only give attention to that which is around us. All that is good, all that is lovely, all that is wonderful – He created for our delight. May we begin this new page of our story with child-like eyes, as we observe in awe and wonder, all that He has created in us and for us.

 

In awe and wonder,

let us all draw near;

embrace what’s made known,

for Christ made things clear.

With all that we are,

life, hope and each breath;

may we see His truth,

the height and the depth.

All things so lovely,

made for you and me;

let us ever seek,

His sweet Majesty.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that there is evidence of Your existence everywhere. Thank You that You created such beauty and goodness all around us. Thank You that Your eternal power and divine nature can be observed in Your creation. Forgive us for not giving proper credit where it is due. Teach us to see the world with child-like eyes, so that we may never lose the awe and wonder of all that You have made. Let the evidence we observe continue to further fuel our faith in You. Show us how to love others in a way that clearly demonstrates Your nature, so that they may see You through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we stand in awe of all that You have made around us and in us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me. – Psalm 69:16

 

Invisible Qualities Clearly Seen

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. – (Romans 1:20)

 

The hand of God is evident everywhere. One cannot go beyond the boundary of their own home, before the senses are assaulted with the beauty of creation. All that is seen from the earth to the sky, has been created by the mighty hand of God. Each of us, within us, has a space that knows there is One greater than us, by whom we were created. We have a free will and the choice to either accept or reject the truth; but regardless of our choice, the truth remains.

 

The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. – (Psalm 97:6)

 

God in His goodness is visible, even to those who are not searching. How much more available is His heart to the world through us? Though God makes His eternal power and divine nature visible through all that He has created; that is only part of the story. Without people willing to share of His Son, who He sent into the world to set us free from our sin and shame, they’d never know the power of Christ’s redemption, nor of the Spirit’s direction. God grants both total forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son, and guidance and direction for our lives through His Holy Spirit. His invisible qualities are made tangible as we invest our lives and hearts in Him. May we allow the Lord to lead us so that He who is eternal, may be clearly seen and understood by all.

 

Since the dawn of time,

God’s work has been seen;

through hand-painted skies,

to glowing moonbeams.

Wherever we look,

there is evidence;

of One far greater,

than our circumstance.

The heavens proclaim,

of His righteousness;

all see His glory,

through His faithfulness.

Yet, how will they see,

that there is much more;

forgiveness and grace,

Jesus, our Savior?

It is up to us,

to choose listen well;

to do what Christ asks,

and of His truth, tell.

For if we don’t speak,

then how will they know?

Each one needs the chance,

to learn and to grow.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your invisible qualities have been clearly seen through the splendor of all that You have created. Thank You that You did not simply stop with glorious creation, but You sent Your one and only Son to set us free from the bonds of sin in which we had become entangled. Forgive us for not embracing the grace and goodness that You have given, or for keeping quiet when You provide us opportunity to share of all that You have done for us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will go forth boldly, wherever You call us to go. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they can clearly see Your heart through ours. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we observe Your glory all around us and go forth and tell of all that You have done. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. – Psalm 145:8