I am my beloved and he is mine!

My boys are at Grandpa and Grandma's for the weekend and I have spent the last two hours cleaning. I can see the floor, the bathroom is shiny and when you walk onto the back porch, you can see the floor! No shoes, no coats, no bookbags, there is a floor! We are into the second week of mom having her first full-time job in almost twelve years and I was behind. Just this week, I had a bridal shower Monday night, spring program Tuesday night, AWANA awards night Wednesday night and my husband and I didn't want to miss "Amazing Grace" at our local theatre, so that was Thursday night. WOW. Needless to say, picking up and cleaning and even getting the dishes washed wasn't happening.

Now, before I get all the comments about enjoying this time and how fast it goes and how many years I'll have to enjoy a clean house, remember how you felt when you were in the middle of it and for those who are in the middle with me, say a nice long, "Ahhhh". It feels good. And I already know that time is going fast. Instead of house of little boys and babies I now have a house of big boys and one little man already! Very scary.

Speaking of time going fast, today is my anniversary! Twelve years of wedded bliss! That's why the boys are Grandma's. We had asked if they would come down and babysit tonight, but because of Dad teaching Sunday School, they couldn't, so they decided to just take the boys for the weekend! Okay!

What are you doing for your anniversary you ask? We are going to a wedding reception. Before you pooh-pooh that, think about it, free food and entertainment and a very romantic atmosphere? Perfect. Actually, the more we thought about it, the better it seemed. What better way to remember when our love was first new and why we fell in love in the first place than at a wedding?

We recently did a bible study by Dave and Claudia Arp entitled, "10 Great Dates for You and Your Mate" and the first date was remembering all your firsts. First date, first kiss, first time you talked about getting married, etc. It was good reminder of why we are together. A co-worker and her husband recently forgot that and were seperated for four weeks, seeking divorce when God intervened and the first thing their marriage counselor did was have them remember why they fell in love in the first place. What first attracted them to each other? It was neat to be doing this Bible Study at the same time and be able to share experiences with her.

So how are you doing? Do you and your beloved need to go back to the beginning? Do you need reminded why you ever loved him at all? Hire a babysitter, ask a friend to watch the kids, or go to the park and let them play while you and you beloved talk. Need help in knowing what to talk about? Click here

What are you hiding?

Quick thought before I head back out the door to work.

I had a small hole in my sock this morning when I put it on. I thought to myself, "It's little and in the toe, no one will see it." By the time I came home for lunch now, my toe is sticking out of it!

No sin stays hidden. I remember when I rebelled against God and everyone. I thought no one knew how bad it was, until I got pregnant. That I couldn't hide. That was bottom for me. What I didn't realize then was that God knew all along. He just had to get my attention. Don't hide your sins from God, confess them today and live in his love.

God's Plans or My Plans?

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity." Even though these verses are directed to the exiles in Babylon, many have treasured these verses. Sometimes when life seems horrible, it's comforting to know that God has a plan even in this.

This week, I started a new job, in many ways, my dream job. I am a library para for our high school and middle school. I love books! (The two of the three Ted Dekker books were read this week.) And now I get to be surrounded by them and work with them and encourage others to discover them and get excited about them. And my hours are the same as my boys. When they are off, I'll be off. I go to work when they leave for school and I get to leave when the last bell rings! And it's way more hours than I have been working, which helps a lot.

Now, I don't know about you, but I have a habit of getting ahead of God. Waiting on the Lord is not my strong suit. I'm a person with control issues and letting go and letting God does not come easily to me. There have been times when I have gotten myself into impossible situations because I thought I knew what needed to be done and I went and did it. Only to find out that wasn't what God wanted at all and he had a better plan.

So when I was asked to come interview, I began to have doubts, "Was I really supposed to take this job? Was I running ahead of God again? Was this showing a lack of trust in Him, by thinking I had to have a job?" And on and on I went. By that night, I had a sick stomach ache and headache! But I talked it all out with my husband and was able to sleep that night. Only to be attacked by the doubts again that morning.

I was ready a little early and just sat down for a little while. About five minutes before I was to leave, I felt God's peace wash over me and was able to go the interview knowing I had to follow through. It wasn't until sometime after I was offered the job, and accepted, that I had true peace.

I was still doubting myself and my motives and I asked God if I wasn't relying on Him to provide, when I felt Him say, "This is my way of providing". And it hit me. This was his answer. What had I been praying for the last nine months? For God to provide. And when He did, I almost missed it just because His plan didn't fit what I thought He would do! What blessing are you missing today?

Isaiah 55:8-9-"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Why Smelling Good!?

I thought the first thing I should address is why I chose to call my blog, "Smelling Good". It's because of a recent women's retreat that I attended.

The speaker notes are titled, "The Splendor of Surrender", and on the first page there is this paragraph: "Surrender is offering our whole body as a sacrifice to Him. It is not unlike the burnt offering, producing a sweet smelling aroma of satisfaction to the Lord. Surrender 'mells' (in reference to a story of her son) good to Him. It is irresistible to God and man. It is the splendor of surrender. "

And I have written off to the side, "The fragrance of God" which referenced back to some sermon notes I had taken not that long ago. Some thoughts from that are; "Through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. To those being saved, it is the fragrance of life, to others, the fragrance of death."

Wow, I had never thought of that. I am one of those people who take rejection personally. This fear of rejection has been a fear Satan has used to make me a timid witness for God. I don't go knocking on doors or handing out tracks. I've always relied on them seeing a difference in my life and seeking that difference. This sermon freed me in many ways from that fear. Some people will be so hardened to God that even the "smell" of Him flowing out of me and my life will be offensive to them. It's not what I do and say that offends them. It's God.

Which reminded me of what my counselor said some 13 years ago when I asked him why non-Christian guys were so attracted to me. He told me that from within me shines the light of God, whether I am living for Him or not, His Spirit is within me and that is attractive to those who are seeking Him, whether they know it or not.

So, that's the long answer to why I titled my blog as I did. I want this blog to "smell good". I want it to be used by Him to attract those who are seeking Him. Like a moth to a flame, may this be the light shining in the darkness.