Don’t you just love it when you walk into a place and there is a pleasing smell?  The smell of watermelon may make you think of a warm summer day or family reunion. This time of year honeysuckle is a wonderful aroma or maybe you are like me and enjoy the sweet smell of gardenia.

Proverbs 27:9 “Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”

Though these smells bring glad memories, the sweetness of a friend who gives wise counsel is even better. Last year this time I was walking through one of the hardest times of my life. Some sweet friends invited me to a lake house for some rest and renewal. Those days were pivotal in my spiritual and emotional well being.

This morning I find myself watching the sunrise in the same lake house but in a much better place mentally, physically and spiritually. The comfort of friendship and these ladies counsel has been great encouragement to me.

Do you know someone in need of encouragement today? Don’t let this moment pass without being the sweet aroma of Christ to her. Maybe you can even tuck a sweet smelling candle in a gift bag for her as well. If you are the one in need, don’t isolate yourself. Take the initiative to spend time with someone you trust and who can speak the wisdom of God’s word into you. Even if you don’t address what you are struggling with, just being with a friend and having fellowship will brighten your day.

I don’t know about you, but I like spice! I like salt on my chips! Have you ever tried low salt or no salt chips or pretzels? They crunch but are not much on taste. I am like that in life too. I want spice in life, fun and adventure even if all I am doing is cleaning house, working, going to the grocery or to church. I believe God wants His children to add a little spice to life.

John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to steal kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”

More abundantly! Did you see that. With spice!

Colossians 4:6  “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

I think God really likes the idea of spice too! Not the physical kind, but the kind that goes beyond what we see.
So if we are to live life with spice what would that look like?

• Smile: It makes people wonder what you are up to. The peace of Jesus makes you want to smile!

• Speak words of kindness, grace, and love to those around you. Even hard truth can be spoken in love so that people know you truly care.

• Practice spontaneity! When God puts something on your heart do it. When you feel prompted to call or text someone, do it then, don’t wait. When you think, “we should have lunch”. Call then and invite or set a date. When you sense someone has a need that you can help meet, do it. Immediate obedience brings great joy. Delayed obedience can result in you missing the moment to bless or be blessed.

• Create! You may be saying “Hold on here sister I am not the creative type.” I know what you mean, but what I am talking about is more simple. Plant a few flowers and make your own small garden. Rearrange your furniture and give your room a fresh look. Paint an old piece of furniture and give it a new look. If you really are creative arrange flowers for a friend or your home. Paint a picture of something you love. Sit outside and draw or make something with your hands. The possibilities are endless.

Probably the most important thing you can do to add a little spice is turn off the television, computer, phone or whatever your electronic device of choice is and see what God is doing around you.

Initiate conversations with children, friends, or even the people you see in your normal pattern of life. You will be amazed that how many people just want to be seen, and since you will be smiling maybe you can share your smile and your Spice of Life with them. Don’t be like the saltless type, be the sweet taste of Heaven to those you come in contact with today.

I got chill bumps as I read this morning about how the Spirit of God filled the temple at its completion. I can’t imagine how awing it must have been once they gave thanksgiving and praise to God through music, word, and sacrifices to see the cloud fill the temple. I can see even now every head bowed, ever knee bowed and most with their faces to the ground in honor of the One who filled the temple.
What blew me away as well is how Solomon addressed who made the temple. 6:4 And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised” 15 “who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day” Whose hand had fulfilled it? That is right, though David had saved and prepared and Solomon had hired out and done the physical work, he never lost sight of whose hand fulfilled the work. How often do we take credit for what God has done? When God does a major work in the church and we think it is because of a great program, planning or even execution. Yes all of these things are important, but God is at work. In our homes the same is true. It is God who builds a holy home and holds it together. I look at my children today and give glory to God because I know I would have messed them up if it had been up to me. I give Him glory and honor and praise.
I think that is why I have had holy chill bumps today just soaking in His presence not just at the dedication of the temple, but in my life this morning as well, and my response is the same as their, true Praise to the Most High God! Join me won’t you?

“Silence is golden” Have you heard that said a few times? I am sure every parent of a talkative child has thought it. lol Proverbs 17 puts it this way. “27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”
It is not just the lack of noise that is valuable, but the lack of words that are not wise. Have you ever wished you could take something back that you said in anger? Maybe you have wished you could grab back words that were not mean or ugly just not kind or uplifting. If we tell the truth we have all said things we thought later, my mouth spoke before my mind thought. God has much to say in his word about the power of the tongue and how if you can tame it you can tame your whole body. (James) I still wrestle with this on a daily basis, but starting my day in the word and trying to live it helps a lot with the filter of my mouth. 🙂

So many verses to choose from. 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Praying this verse for my life right now as we are still waiting on the bank to accept or reject our offer on another house. Our home in Louisville sold in a day which we rejoiced in! God has been so good through the move as we have stored our possessions and been making home with family and friends. It has been over a month now and the bank is still considering. I love it that Les and i have such great peace even in the midst of the uncertainty. Today I am praying specifically for word one way or the other on the house. We are still looking so our hearts are not tied to this one property, but hoping that it will work if that is God’s plan. Which is exactly what several of the other verses in today’s reading said. 16:1 “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.” And 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Thank you to many of you who have been making this journey with us through prayer. We are not growing weary. 🙂 just hoping for more answers very soon. Until then we will spread our wings of faith and trusting Him move forward.

So many great truths in our reading today. The one that stuck out to me was Prov. 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” I remember well when I was a teenager, I thought I knew everything. I HATED to be corrected. (Even now I am not really thrilled by being corrected if the truth is known) I have learned the value of taking instruction and even in being corrected. Pride is the culprit in my life to not wanting to be corrected or told I am wrong. When we die to our own pride it allows us to be teachable, flexible, and maybe even find out that our way is not the best way or the fastest. This week we have been with our grandchildren and I can see in both of them that same bent toward wanting to do it their way. Haddon is one now and he already knows how he wants to do things. If he is corrected or reproved to do things another way or even to be removed from doing something he is not to do he has a temper and throws himself to the floor in tears. His mom and dad have worked on that with him, but I have thought often about how human nature is like that. We have in our minds the way we want to do things even if it is not what was best. I guess the writer of Proverbs was right when he says that he who hates reproof is stupid. lol It is so easy to see it in others and I am blind at times to it in me. Father, give me eyes to see and ears to hear when you are teaching me and reproving me. Help me to have a pliable will and spirit to heed your correction with a glad heart. (and help Haddon too.) 🙂

Have you ever wondered what God hates? He went on record a couple of times in the bible telling us what He hates. One list appears in Proverbs 6:16 “There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.”
So many of the items listed are things that are black and white. Lying, killing, plotting evil all hit a top ten list. Even having haughty eyes and thinking we are better than others is something we know is wrong, but there is one on the list that we see often in groups, churches and organizations that we don’t see as evil and that is “sows discord among brothers”. Stirring up discord or division is often about jealousy or selfish motives. It is a poor representation of Christ. It goes against God’s order whether in our homes, our churches or organizations. God is all about order and He gives us leaders to lead us to be the most effective for the kingdom of God we can be. NOTHING is uglier than believers fussing and fighting among themselves! Look at how God handled Aaron and Miriam when they sowed discord and questioned Moses’ leadership. If you find yourself at odds with the leadership of your church or organization pray and ask God to give you wisdom as to how to solve your difference. If you can’t find unity there, consider joining a different fellowship rather than sowing discord. For those who have unity in your churches, families, organizations, or businesses, count it a blessing and a joy!

If you know me very well you know that I struggle with Song of Solomon. I yield to knowing God found importance in it and wanted it included in the Bible so I too will continue to look to see its value. With that said, the reason I struggle is because of there verses from chapter 6:8 “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
and virgins without number.
9 My dove, my perfect one, is the only one,
the only one of her mother,
pure to her who bore her.
The young women saw her and called her blessed;
the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.”
The way the book is written one would think this beautiful woman was the apple of the Prince’s eye. The way he describes her beauty and yet today we read how he was at the door one moment then gone. Well yeah, especially if there were 60 queens and 80 concubines waiting for him at the palace. Not to mention the many virgins.
Something that is important to see is that this young woman was treasured by her mom as well as by others who saw her. They called her blessed. Not sure if that was just because of her beauty, or because of her spirit, but we do know she was special to many. The take home for me today is to stand out for my Father’s sake to those around me so they may see His good works in me and bring him glory. My outer shell will fade away, but He endures forever As Proverbs says beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. The older this body gets and them more imperfections that become evident I am thankful I can count on my love of the Lord to keep me.

One of the major differences between David and most of us is this verse. 119:97 97 “Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.” For David this was true of his life. He loved God’s word and made it his default as to where he ran during trouble, anxiety, need, want, and joy. His purpose was to keep God’s law in every way. When I measure my life by this verse I fall so short. I am better than I have ever been, but I still fail to measure up. I remember 20 years ago being a part of a Life Action Ministries Revival. As a part of that revival we had to do a Complete Spiritual. It was like a complete physical exam poking and prodding every area of our spiritual lives. The exam was done by asking questions. You could only answer questions with a yes or no. No explanations as to why it was in the middle. The revival pastor’s goal was not to guilt us but to spur us on to walking closer to God. One of the questions I had to answer no to was did I love God’s word. Did I have a passion for it. I knew I read His word. I obeyed it, but I did not love it nor did I have a passion for it. I was embarrassed to admit that, but honesty in answering the questions allowed me to make needed change. The pastor did not guilt us, but he taught us to pray for a passion for God word. That began a wonderful journey for me, and if you asked me today if I loved God’s word and had a passion for it I could tell you without a blink of the eye, YES! He began stripping away all I held on to in order to show me all I needed. His word became life to me. It was a hard journey, but I am much richer for it. So here is your question today, Do you love God’s word or has it become duty to you? Do you have a passion for it? If not, I challenge you to pray and ask God to help you to love it and have a passion for it. See what marvelous things you have been missing. Then you and I like David may be called a woman or man after God’s own heart. Come join the journey!

Isn’t it amazing the difference a year makes. A year ago we were walking away from Les pastoring Highview. My heart was broken and our future uncertain. Some of my greatest fears were staring me in the face AND YET God was our strength and our constant companion. He was our hope and our joy. Verses like these became my refuge
Psalm 118:5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Today we have survived the last year with joy. No, not in the circumstances, but in the One who holds all things together and who gives us a reason to sing out in praise. We trust in Him, not jobs, not people, not circumstances. Even though we are in the midst of yet more change, I have such quiet calm and peace because I know He’s in charge and He’s got this. I praise Him for the last year. I praise Him for the Many friends who loved us well. I praise Him even for the difficulties that came with the last year. He is good. He is all knowing, and He has a great plan for us. I am leaping into His arms as a child from the side of a pool who bounds into her Father’s arms trusting He has got her. He is faithful and true and worthy of all my praise!!!!!