The Blessing Box

I was reorganizing "stuff" in our basement multi-purpose space...workout room, sewing room, extra-bedroom...when I came across this "Blessing Box" that sat on our dining room table and other prominent places in our home for over a decade of difficult years. These were the years that most of us go through sooner or later...years when life slaps you in the face and dares you to believe in a good God, dares you to think you are blessed, and dares you to think you have "a future and a hope".

While we were living these years I couldn't help but think of the children of Israel wandering and wondering in the desert, disobeying and repenting, and trying to understand their God.

Couldn't help but think of Job in all his grief and misery, standing before God asking to be taught, and saying humbly to God, "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know....But now my eye sees Thee, therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:3, 6)

Couldn't help but think of David fighting his enemies and his sins, yet always able to say, "I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken....In Thy presence is fulness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." (Ps16:8 and 11).

  
Couldn't help but think of Jesus being tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, laying down his life to purchase ours....promising to never leave us or forsake us....us....the imperfect, yet "His bride."

Trying to wrap my mind around  the "when bad things happen to good people" thoughts when I couldn't afford the book to explain it...

I think I read about The Blessing Box as being an "intentional" way to teach our children to "Rejoice in the Lord always"...and "in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving....present your requests to God..." Phil 4:4-7

So the box would stay around in conspicuous places, so that each of us would be encouraged to "be thankful", especially during our "desert" years.  Occasionally we would draw out the words from our kids, but as they got older, they wrote notes and placed them in the box in private.

I knew in my heart then that I wanted to live out a heart of thankfulness to my children and impart that virtue to them.  I don't think I understood the profound significance it would have on my own heart. Ann Voskamp, in One Thousand Gifts calls it "eucharisteo" and "radical gratitude," "a dare to live fully right where you are," and "what it means to be....deeply human...deeply spiritual...deeply and authentically fulfilled."  I can't say it better than that.

During those years God changed me so much.  It's only in looking back at our failures and victories that we even begin to understand the "soul" surgery God was doing in our lives, the good and the bad years.  And, it's a very special walk in the garden with the Lord when he reminds me of something I did right....like the Blessing Box.....now tattered and torn....kinda like me....but hopefully better for the wear....

The Fragrance of Rain

Photo by Mark Scantling, a few miles from our home in Happy

Mark Scantling Artist and Photographer 

Twice this morning I found myself thinking on rain and the fragrance it leaves behind.  I've learned that when there's a reoccurring theme in my thoughts and devotional time it means something....so here I write it down.

 
It rained this morning....while it was still dark outside.  I was awakened by thunder and then came that gentle pattering on the roof and through the trees.  I thanked the Lord and fell back to sleep, but it was the first thing  I thought of when I woke up after daylight. Where I live in the dry Texas Panhandle rain is an event, so I couldn't wait to look outside.
  

Shining puddles on the driveway, sidewalks, and in the street gutters... that's how I measure the rainfall. But my scientific husband will ask me today how much was in the rain gauge when he arrives home from an out-of-town trip. I'll let him check--it won't be much.

But the clean fresh aroma of the rain still lingered in the air.

Later I read this prayer, from Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore

"I thank You, my God, who always leads me in triumphal procession in Christ and through me desires to spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For You have called me to be the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  (2 Cor. 2:14-15 NIV)

We all know the fragrance of the rain that falls from the sky onto this ground where we live.  But do we recognize the aroma of Christ, the fragrance of the knowledge of Him?
  

Can mere words describe the essence of the fragrance of Christ on our lives...

...the mystery of the miraculous that makes us smell like Jesus? 

As I walk through this life of mine, I wonder how often I leave behind a lingering "fragrance" of the knowledge of Christ...

This heavenly concoction of aromas must only come as we live and begin to look like Jesus...it must rise up from the same holiness and purity of God in the flesh...a son...a man, devoted to His Father's will and purpose as He came down from heaven and humbly walked His way to the Cross to redeem the rest of us, merely "men".  Add to pureness of purpose the "sweet smell of  victory" when we, like He, triumph over our flesh and walk away from the temptations of evil in our world. And let us not forget the fragrance of the fruit of the Spirit that is offered in abundance and empowers us to manifest His gifts of ministry to each other...

"Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God......He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them...." Hebrews 6:7-10

In the Texas Panhandle we don't get rain often.  But the writer of Hebrews lets us know that there is a rain that will fall often on the land--and the land turns out to be His people.  I think this Holy Rain is possibly divine wisdom, knowledge, discernment, revelation of the Word of God or voice of God, inspired and illumined by the Spirit of God.  The Holy Rain produces a useful crop--reminds me of His Word that never returns "void" of its purpose.  And what is "useful" in God's kingdom?  Is it that which meets a need, brings health, vigor, restoration, encouragement, and "new life" to those "for whom it is farmed"?  Crops that don't burn up....but withstand the test of fire...eternal crops meant for specific people? (1 Cor. 3:13, Heb:6:7)

"Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12 (NAS)

I can only imagine the fragrance that will greet us in Heaven....the pure and full aroma of the "Rain of Righteousness" of Christ and His followers......