What's that Smell?

Several months ago, I remember being disrupted when a strange smell suddenly entered the room. (It was much different from this one.) Because Jojo and Jessie were MIA and the house was mysteriously quiet, I figured that I had better go and see what was up.

When I found them, they were in my bathroom spraying each other with a wide array of hair products and perfumes. They stunk! These products and perfumes have very appealing scents when used alone, but when they were all mixed together, the smell was overwhelming and repulsive.

Which got me thinking as I read 2 Corinthians 2 this morning . . .. As Christians, we are to be the aroma of Christ. A sweet, attractive fragrance that is appealing and attractive to others. Yet, if our lives are filled with all sorts of junk and mixed with other competing “odors”, the simplicity and beauty of Christ radiating from our lives can easily become lost and muted. Instead of drawing others to Christ, we can actually repel them.

Lord, help me to live a clean life so that others are attracted to You. I don’t want to stink.

“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.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Spam Musubi, Anyone?

The other day while driving in my car, I began to smell something funny. After looking through the car, Becca and I decided that the stench must be one of the boys’ stinky slippers.

Yesterday on the way to church, we discovered the true source. One of the boys presented me with a moldy, stinky spam musubi that had been decaying deep in one of the seat pockets. We’re estimating that it had been there for quite some time, but had finally developed the potency to be found.

I think it’s time for me to thoroughly clean my car. You never know what else I may find hiding and growing in there.

It’s also a good reminder for me of the importance to daily cleanse my heart. If I neglect to, things that may seem to be small and insignificant, if left untended, will grow into something ugly and stinky.

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.. . . Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:2, 10