Myrrh at Christmas Time

Did you know myrrh was present at the birth of Christ, used in His death, and will be smelled in His return?

Birth of Jesus - Matthew 2:11 – The Visit of the Magi
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

Death of Jesus - John 19:39-40 – The Burial of Jesus
“He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy five pounds. Taking Jesus body the two of the m wrapped it, with the spices in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”

Jesus Returns for His Bride - Psalm 45:8
“All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia…”

Psalm 45 is a song in praise of the king on his wedding day and depicts a foreshadowing of Christ. After the exile this psalm was applied to the Messiah, the promised Son of David who would sit on David’s throne. (taken from NIV Study Notes)
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The Scent of Jesus

Often I crave alone time to just sit and think about Jesus. I imagine in my mind different scenarios of what it must have been like to have lived during the time of Christ and actually see him face to face as he spoke. How deep was his voice or did he sing tenor? How would his hand have felt as it brushed over top of mine walking amongst the crowds? Did Christ have a scent that lingered which would remind me of his presence throughout the day long after his departure to the next town? Would this scent cause me to seek him even more with the desire to capture another moment of grace in his presence?

At the birth of Jesus, the magi brought the new King incense and myrrh
(Matthew 2:11). What is the origin of these two gifts? God instructed Moses to “Make an alter…” in the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:1) and on this alter Aaron was to burn incense every morning and also when he lighted the lamps at night fall. The fragrant smoke that rose from the burning of incense symbolized the prayers of God’s people. God commanded Moses (Exodus 30:34-35) to make the incense from equal parts of gum resin, which is taken from the middle of hardened drops of myrrh. This was very rare and very valuable. Also, the closing flap of claw shaped snails called, Onycha, was rubbed with an alkali solution to remove impurities; it was then soaked in the fermented berry juice of the Caper shrub, or a strong white wine, in order to enhance its fragrance. Galbanum, a rubbery resin, was added. Last, pure frankincense was tapped by slashing the bark of the Frankincense (Boswellia) tree found in Lebanon. The sap bleeds out from the tree as resin and is called “tears”. These trees are also considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so unforgiving that the trees sometimes grow directly out of solid stone, which the tree attaches to by means of a sucker-like appendage. The deep roots and its sucker like appendage prevent the tree from being torn away from the stone during the violent storms that frequent this region; the “tears” from these hardy survivors are considered superior due to their more fragrant aroma.

Myrrh is identified with an aromatic gum exuded from the leaves of the cistus rose. Its oil was used in beauty treatments (Easter 2:12) and was sometimes mixed with wine and drunk to relieve pain. Jesus was actually offered this drink mix when he suffered on the cross (Mark 15:23), but did not partake of it. The most amazing thing about myrrh is that it was brought to Christ at his birth by the magi and his body was wrapped in linen strips scented with myrrh at his death.

The harden drops of myrrh are considered very rare and very valuable and so are we as children of God. Yes, they burned incense in the Tent of Meeting as directed by God, but now we have Jesus. He surrendered all in the garden of Gethsemane as his sweat was like “tears” of blood. He loved us so much that just as the Frankincense tree was slashed to retrieve the good resin, so also was our Lord flogged by Roman soldiers that through him we remove impurities of sin in our own lives and become good once again. Jesus enhances our fragrance as children of the light as we grow in our knowledge of him and allow his love and grace embrace our daily walk. We need to cling to Jesus as a “sucker-like appendage” growing from the Solid Rock and know we will prevail in unforgiving environments and violent storms. Having joy despite the trials will label us as “hardy survivors” and superior in the eyes of Christ with our fragrant aroma!

True Treasure of Christmas

Do you allow Christ's energy to struggle deep within you or do you wrestle with your own selfish desires and allow these to drive your actions?

I would hope most would choose the latter of these two choices and struggle with the energy of Jesus rather than that of your own ambitions. How powerful He is making us more than conquerors, but how often we forget the power of the King who has supremacy over all things.

"He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." Col. 1:17

Do you close the front door in the morning and rush off to start your busy day and leave Jesus standing at the window waving goodbye with tear filled eyes? Christ desires so much for us to realize our true treasure is fullness in Him and not chasing the ambitions and material things of this world.

Please do not be preoccupied with your "to do" list this Christmas season, but realize, as Christ desires for all, the treasure of this season is not the gifts we give or the gifts we receive..the true treasure is fullness in Christ Jesus!

Lord,

may we please you in every way,

live a life worthy of the Lord,

bear good fruit,

and grow in the knowledge of the Jesus!

Amen

True Peace of Christmas

The picture below is beautiful indeed. The view out the window with filtered sunlight peeking through the branches of the now naked tree drew me to seek a better look. I heard the chirp of the red bird whistling a sweet melody to his fellow friends and squirles waved their tails wildly in the air as if to give me a hardy hello. It drew me...spoke to me to come closer...to come out and join in the good time. I came awe stricken in a daze like state toward the window to partake of what I thought would give me a sweet sensation of peace and joy...



But then...

a sudden thud...

as my head bangs against the wall...

for the window I sought ...

was not a window at all...

it was a shadow...

giving me a false belief...

of what I thought was the real thing!

My hands reached upward to rub the spot where I was whincing in pain. The sudden thud brought me right out of my starry eyed state and made me realize I was deceived. I sought beauty and peace where it could not be found lured in by sights and sounds which made my heart desire a false contentment.

As I lifted my head from my hands, a true warmth overcame me. I looked up and to my right...and there before me was the true window.

Don't let the shadows of this holiday season lure you into false belief that "things" will make you happy and bring you joy, peace, and contentment. For soon after you will realize this idea is false. The only true peace received is that which comes from our Savior...Jesus! How he longs for you to seek Him and not the shadow!

Give me Joy!

If anyone ever thought when they become a Christian life would instantly be easy and good, they were sadly mistaken. I've personally known Jesus for almost 32 years. He found me at the young age of ten and I've tried...earnestly tried to live a respectable love filled life for Him.

I fall short...I fall very short so much of the time.

Sometimes I just loose it. I crash and burn. I really don't understand why Jesus still chooses to love this disobedient, judgemental, at times very angry soul. I sit here at this very moment with tears streaming down my face and breathing through my mouth because of a terrible cold. I stand and look in the mirror at the red blotted face and bloodshot eyes and wonder what God really sees in me. What is my purpose? I feel like I let so many, especially my family, down. What people see in me, I do not see in myself.

I'm hard on myself. My dad always use to tell me the six "P's".

Prior...
Proper...
Planning...
Prevents...
Poor...
Perfermance...

But no matter how hard I plan to prevent a poor performance on my part, I still end up disappointing many. Including disappointing myself which leads to deep unworthiness. An unworthiness not only to God, but to all whom I love and care for most.

Depression is an awful thing for anyone to have to deal with...I should know...I struggle often with this to the point of total breakdown. I saw this green t-shirt at Wally world. It was a pretty green. What I liked most about the shirt was what the studded gems on the front spelled...JOY. I wore it Thanksgiving day. I wanted to be reminded all day long that even if I didn't feel joy I wanted to see it and read it and remind myself that I have every right to JOY! My heavenly Father whispers to me even now that, YES...yes I do have a right to JOY! Thank you my Lord!

Even though I walk through the shadow of death...I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and they staff they comfort me...Peace I give you...Peace I leave you...in this world you will have trouble but take heart...for I have overcome the world. Count it pure joy my brothers when you suffer trials of many kinds knowing that the testing of your faith develops perserverance and perserverance must finish its work so I may lack no good thing. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and those crushed in spirit. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.

I repeat and repeat these Bible verses in my mind when I get this way...depressed...and I write. So sorry if this post seems rather joyless, but it helps heal me and bring me back to Jesus.

Spiritually Coherent Lives

During my time with the Lord today, I read the daily devotion for November 25th in the book “The Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. He questioned his readers about their “spiritual coherency” by asking if we were more coherent of the things of this world or more coherent of matters concerning the cross.

What does coherent mean I pondered. Well I thought I knew what it meant, but I had to look the word up and be sure… dictionary.com stated the physics of coherency was relating to or having waves with similar direction…capable to thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner; a “lucid thinker”… sticking together.

Which led me to look up lucid…easily understood clear perception or understanding…shining or bright.

So I ask, are you spiritually coherent this day? Are the waves of your life, good or bad, going in a similar direction…back to the cross? Do you think and express yourself in a clear consistent manner always sticking to the Lord Jesus shining as a bright star that others might see Christ in you? In everything we do there must be a clear and concise trail that leads back to the cross. If there is not and our path lingers too far to the left or too far to the right, we are not thinking with a spiritually coherent mind.

I always use to tell my players when I coached basketball they needed to be able to do the fundamentals well. It would make them a better ball player and enable them to do more to help the team down the road. If they found themselves going through a bad streak, I would preach get back to the fundamentals and often spend time with them before or after practice working with them to become better at the basics. In order to stay spiritually coherent we need to get back to the fundamentals. These include praise, prayer, reading the Word of God, and a solid church foundation where your soul can be fed and nourished by fellow believers.

I think I need to get back to the fundamentals and practice what I preach…lol!

Untouched Beauty

A peaceful calm rests upon me when I awake in the morning to a fresh fallen snow. It is so breathtaking to see the untouched beauty from our creator before the sun erases the glistening fluff or we track our footprints on the soft ground causing the mud to rise to the surface in the outline of our shoe.

We are less than a week away from Thanksgiving and soon the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season will be upon us. But let us remember that Christ is a part of Christmas. He was the fresh fallen snow God sent from heaven. He was the pure and breathtaking beauty of God in the flesh. He came to give us peace and calm our anxious souls so hope might be revealed and free us forevermore!

So I plead and I ask for all to look deeply within your own heart this Christmas season and please do not trample on the glistening snow...our Savior and best friend...the diamond given to us from God..., but sit quietly, listen, and view all that Christ wishes to reveal to you. Admire His stedfast love for you and let His love reach out through you to touch the lives of others!

He Won My Heart

I want to be close to Him,

just touch the hem of His robe,

feel the breath of heaven against my face,

I do indeed as He lavishes His grace!
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I cry tears of joy and not of pain,

for when they pierced hands,

He pierced my heart,

I'm in love with the one who gave His life for me!
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So you see why,

He won my heart this day and forever more,

He gave me life...He gave me hope,

He loosed the chains of bondage from this wounded soul!

Beauty of the Father in First Snow

The first snow,

glistened upon the ground,

bringing beauty,

only the King could create.


The white diamonds,

set gently upon the branch of the pine,

whispering words from my Savior,

I AM.


All was still and quiet,

with only the chirp of the cardinal,

singing to my soul,

how great Thou art.

A Kiss and A Wink from our King

After writing my last post, I've come to the realization that some might not know the meaning of a God wink or King kiss. A God wink is when you see God's blessings in the little things. The Lord smiles upon you in sweet admiration of His dear child.

When you are reading scripture, hopefully daily, and a specific verse seems to just jump off the pages and slam dunk your emotions stirring you to feel the closeness of God or find the answer to a prayer...you've just been kissed by the King!

I hope this helps you understand my lingo. I also hope for many God winks and King kisses for you soon! If you've had a God wink or King kiss I'd love to hear your story!

God Winks & King Kisses - My Heart Belongs to Him!

I feel forgetful and my mind is in a state of haziness. I have not been feeling well as I have been suffering with sinus congestion and a cough. A good nights rest has avoided me for several days now causing my eyes to feel very heavy.

Frankly, I feel as if I have been avoiding God to a certain extent these past several weeks….not intentionally…but when I pondered my life’s situation at the moment I wondered why I did not feel God close to me. I have felt lately as if I am in a dark room with no light and I’m feeling around with my hands and slowly shuffling my feet trying to get a sense of direction and not bump into anything. But to no avail the bumping into things just keeps on happening and I find myself constantly saying,

“O that hurt!”

I guess I’m just tired. All the moving we have done over the past seven years has finally taken its toll on me mentally and physically. It has not been an easy road. Especially since this all started when my kids ranged in age from 6 months to 7 years. Now my oldest is almost 14 and my youngest 7 and we’ve lived in six different places during this span of time. My husband has said,

“This is it…we’re not moving ever again.”

I’m thankful for those words. I don’t think I could do it again.

This post is just a rambling of sorts. My mind still feels in a fog. But a friend encouraged me to write. It’s my gift from God. It’s something I do well. At least I think I do. My friend also knows that writing helps me heal. Crying does as well…I’m doing that right now too.

I just need to focus on the God winks and King kisses. I need to sit in my saviors lap awhile and just talk. He knows my heart…my every need…my hurts…my pain. But somehow just being with Him calms me. My heart belongs to Him forever!