Getting Back In-Sync

I’m a creature of habit. My built-in alarm system wakes me at 5:00 am each morning. My “routines” are set. My two cups of coffee. My daily devotion time. My personal plumbing system is right on time every day! I know – TMI! My clothes washing day. My scheduled weekly meetings and appointments. My daily blogs. My going-to-bed time. My morning ritual of texting a love note to my kids. My devotion time. I’m in-sync when all is calm and all is bright. Sure there are ups and downs, but they come in and go out – like the tide’s ebb and flow. But throw a kink in the middle of it all and my rhythms can get out of whack.

And what about this ginormous "kink" that was thrown into our rhythmic world? So many huge changes to our rhythms. Lord, have mercy! We have had to make ongoing huge adjustments to our routines, unlike any we've ever seen and experienced.

I had a "kink" last week. My car's engine light came on. Ugh! What does that mean for a 10-year-old car that sports 137,000+ miles? I interrupt my usual rhythm to take it in to an automotive shop. After all, I was getting ready to hit the road for Austin.
I find out that there are $3,250 repairs needed for my well-loved car that was a birthday gift to my husband and I from my son, 10 years ago. A timing chain issue. My in-sync-ness was interrupted. I decided I’d take it for a second opinion, but not yet because the engine light went off. Hopefully, as the technician commented "Sometimes it corrects itself!" All the way to Austin, the light never came on! I'm praying that my Master Mechanic did some of His Master work on it!

I determined to take matters into my "rhythmic" hands that are empowered by God's strong and mighty hands and made some positive decisions. The best part, I realized I have the opportunity to use my faith to make those “walls of discomfort” tumble down by praising and thanking God for so many blessings. “Don’t worry about anything, but in EVERYTHING, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Yes, I even take car troubles to God.

Most importantly, I found my peace and my trust in God Who saw this little glitch on His radar screen before I did. I’m still “idling my engine” literally about those repairs and I’ll continue to take one day at a time with making the decisions I need to make. Thank you, Lord, for the slow and smooth rhythms that are so sweet, but I thank You for even the disconnected, staccato rhythms – because more than anything I desire is to be in sync with Your ebbs and flows – in tempo that connects me to your ways which are so much higher than mine!

What is YOUR Aroma?

On the the way to church, yesterday morning, there was a sweet aroma in my car – a fragrance that brings me to tears. Oh but first before I go there.....I'll tell you what created that lovely aroma. Leading up to Saturday, the 16th, there were 16 days of celebrating my granddaughter's Sweet 16 birthday. Her Mom, Alexia and I started the month with an adventurous trip to Six Flags and now it was my turn to finish out the celebrations on Saturday. We celebrated in Nana/Alexia style!

The first thing on Saturday, I headed to the Wallace home for our final day to begin. After my "legacy" talk that I spoke about yesterday in my post/blog, it was time for Nana’s birthday treasure hunt. Unlike other years when a clue leads to another clue until the BIG treasure is found, this year, there were six clues, each representing a letter in Alexia’s name that sent her to places to look around their home. At each location was a paragraph of "wisdom" for her and the treasure that went with the letter. For example, A = Alexia. "The A in Alexia represents ALEXIA which means “helper and defender of mankind”. Indeed, my sweet girl, God’s anointing is on you and you WILL be helping men, women, boys and girls through your beautiful heart of love. You have the DNA of a warrior and a strong, mighty woman of God with a heart to touch so many with God’s love and power. The A has a treasure ahead! Go find it near your Mom & Dad’s bed. Maybe there’s something there that will remind you of “defending mankind”!"
The A treasure was AMC Theater (that would be a part of our day). She’s a strong warrior already so of course, I knew she wanted to see “Spiderman” yet again. There were other clues, treasures and adventures that made for a very special 16th birthday complete.

After the treasure hunt we headed out for lunch, the movie, and some retail therapy which inspired this day's post/blog. At the mall, we walked by a store that ALWAYS takes me back to my sweetheart and HIS aroma. Maybe this is too much information, but here goes anyway! One of my favorite characteristics about him was he always desired to smell good, so throughout the day, he would splash on a little more cologne. So when Alexia and I were passing by the Abercrombie & Fitch store, Alexia said, “Nana, you want to go in?” She knew my heart. We did. We sprayed his and my favorite -- that wonderful “Fierce” cologne on the little cards. Momentarily, I couldn't hold back the tears. When we got to the car, Alexia put her card in the vent of my air conditioner – thus, the aroma in my car yesterday morning going to and from church.

I breathed in that wonderful aroma and I had precious thoughts about my sweetheart. He's certainly basking in heavenly scents now. And, on this side of heaven, God wants all of us to exude His own sweet aroma to the world.

2 Corinthians 2:14 says this: "But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel LIKE A SWEET PERFUME.”

What if our lives sent out an aroma that attracted people to God? Our aroma will either attract others to Him or repel them. The sweet scent of the likeness of Christ can be an irresistible pull toward the Savior. When we walk with God and are imitators of His character (love, joy, peace, kindness, etc.) we will leave behind an aroma that can inspire others to follow. So many need to experience that aroma....and they will, as we continue to "splash on" His fragrance. So....what is YOUR aroma today?