Fragrance of Hope

Christ’s Promises, Immense Hope!

Before my operation I was worried. I am feeling better now, but it didn’t happen right away. The apostle Paul reminds us to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18a). Things that are seen are only temporary, but things that can’t be seen last forever. This passage encourages believers not to lose heart in suffering because their inner selves are being renewed daily while they fix their hope on the eternal, unseen glory to come, not the temporary troubles of this life. Apostle Paul says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (v. 16). The resurrection of Jesus means we, too, will be raised with Christ.

Safe at Home

Umpiring was an avocation I had for 47 years. I did many levels — Little League, Pony League, high school, American Legion, and college. Regardless of the level, the plate was always 17 inches wide. Sometimes I had a wide strike zone and sometimes a narrow zone. You wouldn’t think umpires would have trouble calling balls and strikes when the plate is always the same width. When it comes to sharing Christ, does anything change? Amid this ever-changing world, it is good to remember that there is one thing that never changes. And that is Jesus! Dig into the four Gospels and find Jesus vividly portrayed. What He said and did then is what He is saying and doing now. Knowing Jesus in Scripture means you know Jesus today. For He is precisely the same compassionate, comforting, and forgiving Savior now!

All Blessings

This ancient blessing pronounced at the end of many church services brings with it a powerful reminder that God is the source of all goodness in the world. When we close a morning of worship by singing the well-known hymn, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” it has the same effect. All blessings. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,” says the apostle in James 1:17. As we bask in the sure knowledge of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, we must not forget those living in homes where He is not known. The hymnist puts it this way: “A home that is not wholly His — How sad and poor and dark it is!” (“Oh, Blest the House”).

Road Trip

If we compare our life’s journey to an ol’-fashioned road trip, the “road trip” comes to an abrupt halt when we lose a spouse or loved one. It feels like simultaneously the road map has blown out the window, the road signs are upside down, the tires are flat, and the engine has stalled. Dealing with death can feel like a complete highway breakdown, often with no desire to get back on the road again. No one expects you to repair your vehicle; the mechanic will. Cling to what you know; for in it, there’s HOPE. Fervently pray. Call your pastor. Lean into God’s promises. Daily stay in God’s Word. God will take those cares He’s commanded you to cast on Him. You don’t need to have all the answers — you know all that’s needful is in God’s Holy Word.

Awaiting God’s Call

My sister, Donna, suffered from cancer for many years. When the treatments were no longer preventing the spread of that dreadful disease or shrinking the tumor, she decided to “let go and let it to God.” I visited her often in the last days; we enjoyed reminiscing about our life as sisters 17 months apart. Together we planned her final service. My sister, baptized as an infant, lived her life as a child of God, first as a child and teenager, later as a wife and mother. She loved doing for her family, even when it meant dragging the cord of an oxygen tank around with her. Health permitting, she still served at church. She seemed content, knowing our Savior would soon call her to eternal glory. May we all share such contentment.