Tag Archives: Christ

Sweet Fragrance

June 7, 2019Christian encouragement, Spiritual EncouragementAbba, Christ, Christian encouragement, Christian life, encouragement, encouragement in Christ, fragrance, God's peace, God's word, spiritual encouragement, who I am in ChristT.W. Allgaier

I like candles. There are a couple that I buy each and every season. There are certain perfumes I love, and some not so much. There are sprays to eliminate foul odors in shoes, cars and carpets

Don’t you love walking through gardens smelling the delightful fragrances floating in the air? Right now honeysuckle is aloft and hits your senses with power when stepping out the door. I love peonies and saw a perfume in a magazine today of that very smell!

How about walking into your grandmother’s kitchen and smelling fresh apple pie? And who can forget freshly baked bread? And garlic….it smells great on breadsticks, well anything really.

Have you imagined a scent right now? Scents even have the ability to bring forth memories. Scents have amazing influence and impacts on our lives.

A sweet smelling fragrance has an even more permanent impact

A fragrance in this passage is something sweet-smelling, an odor of acquiescence, satisfaction; a sweet odor.

We are a fragrance….Christ through us! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think I stink. But in Christ, nope…I am a peonie!

~Be Encouraged Today~

Tammy

Words of Life and Death

March 6, 2019Spiritual Encouragementbig mouth, Christ, Christian encouragement, Jesus, large head, open mouth to insert feet, Proverbs 18:21, security, Surrender, why, words, words give death, words give lifeT.W. Allgaier

I have a really large head. I mean in the physical sense. And I have a really big mouth. In the physical and evidently verbal sense.

Anyone share those characteristics with me?

Okay the head is a little annoying. If I want to wear a ball cap I have to be sure and buy the kind that has the ability to be sized. No elastic band will do. Nope, it must be adjustable.

Now the big mouth is another thing. The dentist and hygienist have no trouble fitting their entire hand into my mouth for cleaning or filling a cavity. And most of the time my jaw isn’t even sore after the fact. No struggle there.

And thankfully it is big enough that when I need to put both feet in it they fit just fine.

Just say’in. Seems like I have done that of recent.

I have been reminded of late when Paul said …”why do I do the things I should not do and say the things I should not say?” My version, Romans 7:19

My security in this comes in Christ. I am surrendered to Him.

I make errors in judgement sometimes, but never with ill intent. I would not intentionally spew out hateful words or be ugly or rude on purpose. I certainly don’t wake up in the mornings, let my feet hit the floor and say, “hmmmm, who can I hurt today?”

I know that people who know me well know that is the case. Even if it is unintentional and brought to my attention, an apology is offered.

Words have the ability to give life or give death. In my weak flesh I sometimes want to choose death, but in my surrender to the Christ who lives in me I am given the ability to choose life.

Which do you choose? And how do you choose it?

Now excuse me while I go look in my closet for a cap and a possible piece of masking tape for that mouth of mine!

~Be Encouraged Today~

Tammy

Nothing New

February 27, 2019Spiritual Encouragementbelievers, Christ, Christ followers, Coming again, differences, Ecclesiastes 1:9, encouragement, encouragers, God's word, Hebrews 9:25-30, Hope, nothing new under the sun, peace, respect, Truth, under the son, under the sunT.W. Allgaier

God gives each on of us gifts, callings, longings, desires. Everyone is different and each person is used in the body of Christ to bring Him glory if we surrender.

Some people might question encouragement as a calling.

Look around dear ones. Turn on any newscast, open any social media app and what do you see most of the time? Negativity.

Look at individual’s lives. People are ill, loved ones have past on. Families are dealing with divorces, drug addictions, alcohalism.

Some of the decisions that have been made in my state and country defy my realm of thinking.

But “nothing is new under the sun.” That is not a statement of apathy. Humans have always been humans. Do we still keep trying? Yes of course….but…..

I am reminded that as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ I have no need for despair.

I have the opportunity to encourage people about God’s love.

I have the opportunity to tell people about our hope in Christ.

I have the opportunity to share God’s love with people who may never have experienced God’s unconditional love.

I have the opportunity to encourage people in the midst of their crazy lives and let them know that they are not alone.

I have the opportunity to literally help others tangibly.

I have the opportunity to express the peace, joy and rest that only is through Jesus Christ.

I have been moaning at all the things that I have been hearing. Sometimes it seems so very hopeless.

But friends, when we encourage others, we help them know that they are not alone. We help them remember that we are not to judge God’s love by the circumstances that swirl around us. We can show others respect, love, kindness….characteristics that seem to be missing in discussions of differences today.

We encourage others because Christ encourages us.