stop & smell the honeysuckle

Apr 29, 2020
3 min read

I'm sure as with many of you, not a whole lot has changed since we chatted last! But as each day goes by during this unprecedented time (anyone else tired of hearing this word?!), I hope and pray this finds you better. That each day we are better than the day before because we are learning and growing! Before I share a few thoughts, a quick update...Luke is doing well! We have been able to text and email this week. Hoping for a video or phone chat soon! THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you Exercise Coach clients who are donating food items! Keep it coming. We are one day closer to getting you back in the gym feeling good! Friends and family, again, thank you so much for your support and prayers.

This week I started a new routine of walking Delta at night and passed by some trees and got a whiff of a yummy smell. Honeysuckle! It's blooming and smells divine. It always reminds me of my childhood and how much fun it was to taste the sweet nectar from it. One thing I'm learning during this time is to stop and be still and how much goodness can come from that. I probably would not have usually stopped to smell it like I did this week but I hope I will practice stopping even more in the days to come!

Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” These past few weeks as I've sat more with the Lord, over and over again I'm reminded that He is God. He is good. He is in control. He is our hope. And our hope and joy is in our salvation, not our circumstances. He wants us to stop and be still and know that He is God! This little flower brought to mind Psalm 34:8 "taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!". But we can't taste and see unless we stop. And take time. And take refuge.

Revelation 5:8 and Revelation 8:3-4 both talk about golden bowls full of incense which are prayers of the saints that rise before God. I was blown away at this when studying Revelation years ago! How precious that our prayers are a sweet aroma to the Lord. Psalm 141: 2 "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you". Many times in the Old Testament, the Bible mentions their commanded sacrifices being a pleasing aroma to God. "And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion, and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” (Leviticus 2:9). And now, having put our faith and trust in Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, we now put our lives on the altar as a sacrifice pleasing to God. "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).

I hope after all this, I STOP and BE STILL more, TASTE and SEE that it's the Lord that is good, Knowing that He hears my prayers and they are a pleasing aroma to Him. And that because of Christ, I now have the privilege and duty to "spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere" (2 Corinthians 2:14). To know him and make him known, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. Because life is short and eternity is long!

P.S. While walking by the honeysuckles again last night a man was taking a picture of the same honeysuckles and it made me happy! Enough so that I bravely shout "I took a picture of the same flowers last night!!" ...He slightly grins and nods ...earbuds in. Not sure if he didn't hear me, thought I was crazy, didn't speak English, was afraid of Delta or a combo of some of the above...but hey I tried some social distancing communication with a human on my walk! So points for trying right?! At least he smiled!

Love you all. Pics below!