DOG ODOR

 You know when you visit a friends and their dog comes near you and when you go home your dog is like...what's that smell? and proceeds to sniff away at you?

It's pretty funny! Has that happened to you?

My dog notices  it every time!

You know our life with Jesus is like that. Calm down, let me explain.

The bible claims that we have a light about us as believers. Not to boast, but when we go out and are present with people we leave a fragrance. The friend we visit with goes away and visits another friend and they are like asking, "Who were you hanging with?" Your fragrance rubbed off on them and another notices it. 

Jesus rubs off on us, we pick up His fragrance and then we sprinkle that aroma onto others.

Do you know what I'm talking about? It's just like a dog rubbing His aroma on you and your own dog recognizes it.

Sweet! Sweet Jesus! He gives us a fragrance and we just naturally pass it on. Spending much time with Jesus gives you a stronger sweet aroma. Little time, little odor! 

I hope you are taking this the right way! This promise of God is what we need and others need the aroma.

It also is said you get salty and you need to pass that salt on. Salt makes food taste better. People need more salt. Get salty! Have you heard this message before? It's just a reminder that I was thinking about!

Easter is the holy season with God, where we recognize Jesus as our Savior,  His great love death on the cross. Believing in Jesus and following Him gives us the sweet fragrance of the Lord--a beautiful, heavenly perfume. You are blessed and loved.

"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. For we are to God the aroma of Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Let's pray about it:

Lord I want to be your sweet heavenly aroma. May you get all the glory in my life. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

Okay, Okay...just like your dog giving you an aroma and other dogs notice it, Jesus gives you His heavenly aroma when you walk, talk, learn from Him.

Go spread your odor!

ALL TANGLED UP or HONKY DORY

Have you ever thrown a phone cord or purse with a long strap in your car and then later pulled it out and it was all tangled in other things in the car? Or caught on something? Ladies, have you ever put a necklace in a drawer with other jewelry only to later pull it out to find it so tangled with other jewelry? 

I catch myself while trying to untangle the mess, frustrated, and declaring, "Geez, what a pain!" 

Do you?

Next time something gets tangled ever so easily (because really it's like, what?, when it happens) think of this message.

Let me explain...

Life can be just like those cords, purse or jewelry etc. they get all tangled up so fast. I mean very fast. like there is tangle monster somewhere messing with you!

Well there is a monster, the spirit of darkness the devil himself preying around trying to get our attention on the wrong things. I caught myself looking up something about a topic I saw in the news. It has nothing to do with my life. I have my plate full lately, yet, I took the time to look up the evidence of the topic.

Do you do that?

Every ask yourself, why? Why do you need to know this information. Stop! Don't argue with me on this! Just think about your time, your stress levels, your immune system, and then answer me.

How is your stress level? It's honky dory right now? Well, I am going to admit to you humbly that everything is not honky dory. (for your fyi LoL! From William and Mary Morris’s Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins: The story goes that the principal street of Yokohama was Huncho-dori street. (OK, Danny is that true?) A sailor on shore leave would feel that everything was OK when he was on the main street.) 

Little tangent there. See how fast it happens?  I'm Tangeled! Information is as our fingertips instantly.

Friends, this message is nothing new. It simply is a reminder to watch out the devil wants to make things urgent, demanding and we get distracted easily. Then we ask ourselves, "What can I do to help myself with stress?"

Just say "NO"!

Here is the scripture that comes to my mind that goes with this message.

"No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." 2 Timothy 2:4 NIV

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15 NIV

It's not sin always that tangles us up, it's curiosity!

But getting carried away and being stressed can feel dark.

Let's pray about this:

Father help me to be aware when I am getting tangled in stuff that is not good for me. I want to draw near to you and be with you, not against you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Okay! Hoping you get the point.

I always say, Paul's sanity was protected by His certainty. 

Do get tangled up! Live in the honky dory!

TO SAY SOMETHING OR NOT TO SAY SOMETHING

 I overheard her consoling and listening to the person on the cell phone.

I could see her trying to figure out what to say.

How many times has that happened to me listening to someone who is struggling.

I would pray, "God I want to say your consoling words, not my own. Help me."

I just felt within me to say, "Pray for them. God will take care of it. It will be okay."

Should I say something or not?

She walked away. Maybe I it wasn't meant to say. Oops! She came back around the corner.

A chance again to say it.

Then I just said, "Sorry I don't know what you phone call was all about but I just want to say, "Pray for them. God will take care of it. It will be okay."

She said, "I do pray. Thank you."

When I know the Father who we pray to. Really know Him. I want others to know this God who covers me. 

Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

An Eagle had over 7000 feathers. That's what covers you. You are comforted by the Almighty God.

Say something.

Amen. 

TREMBLE- HE IS ON THE WAY

"These are the ones I look on with favor:  those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who TREMBLE at my word." Isaiah 66:2

Read the bible, know the bible, be changed by it, share it, pass it on!-elaine

What are the conversations in your head that trip you up and you loose the peace of God?

Do your emotions move you to Christ or away?

The battle for priority is real. Do you make your bible reading a high priority?

All day do we asked for personal requests and yet not bless the Lord?

A pastor who lives close to Kiev in the Ukraine said this past week, when asked what does he tell his children about the attack coming from Russia, "Lets talk more about Jesus and we will have less fear."

WE ARE NOT ALONE!

Jesus cared about what the disciples were thinking, that is why He asked, "Who do YOU say I am?" Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20, Matthew 16:15

Stop talking about what others believe and be concerned about who you find Jesus to be. You must read the bible to know to know more?

Listen and see for yourself and then relinquish control.

Through the book of Mark it is said Jesus was "On the way" 9 times. Meaning he was on the move. He was working toward the grace of the cross. He is "On the Way" always for you and I.

His grace is sufficient! When you are getting emotionally charged remember the stories in the bible how Jesus was on the move, he was concerned for all.