THE SWEET AROMA OF CHRIST

By: Donna Selma Lind

"For we are the sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15

Some years ago I went to visit a lady who was recovering from surgery. She was very sick with a fever and a bad infection. The doctors weren't sure if she would ever recover. 

When I walked into her room an overwhelming stench hit me and about knocked me over. It was a putrid odor, and I knew in my spirit it was the smell of  death.  

Though weak and frail, she mustered a smile as I pulled up a chair next to her bed. We talked, I read some Bible verses and shared some stories with her.

I really couldn't concentrate because the smell was so bad that I was covering my nose with a tissue and holding my breath. 

I asked if I could pray for her and she said; "Yes."

I put my hands on her head and began to pray over her asking God to touch her body and heal her completely.

Suddenly a sweet fragrance filled the room. It smelled like frankincense and myrrh anointing oil. As I continued to pray the aroma grew stronger and stronger, it seemed to swirl around us. It was the most heavenly and intoxicating fragrance.

 At one point I cupped my hands together, held them to my face and inhaled the sweet perfume. It felt like oil was dripping from my hands. Time stood still while the presence of the Lord filled the room.

I can't put it in words, it was Holy and Divine. 

The color in my friends face returned. She sat up in bed and said she felt stronger and believed that God had touched and healed her. 

When I hugged her goodbye she looked up at me and said, "How come you don't smell like you usually do?"

What do you mean? I asked.

You're not wearing your "Cotton Candy" spray like you always do.

Yes I am, I sprayed it all over me before I came here today.

No you didn't. I can't smell Cotton Candy. You smell totally different, like something I never smelled before. 

What is that new fragrance you're wearing?

Glory to God, I wasn't the only one, she smelled it too! It was the sweet aroma of Christ! It was the fragrance of life that came to conquer death! 

God healed her that day. Her infection and fever left. She didn't die, she lived to declare the works of the Lord!

That Holy Sweet Aroma of Christ lingered on me and around me on that glorious day.  

As believers we are to be the sweet aroma of Christ, spreading His fragrance everywhere we go! 

We can't buy this fragrance, but the more time we spend with Jesus the more His fragrance will rub off on us.

The sweet aroma of Christ, the fragrance of Heaven.

"For we are the sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15

Hallelujah! 

Praise the Lord and share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind 💗

     

MAMA TRADED HER SWEATER FOR A ROBE

By: Donna Selma Lind

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation he has covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10

Mama's old sweater lay rumpled in the bottom of a dusty cardboard box. 

 I set it aside as I sorted through some photo frames and devotion books, the last of Mama's personal belongings from the Nursing Home.

To think that all of her earthly possessions of nearly eight decades were condensed to a few tattered boxes, made me think.  

I thought about how she lived loud. She lived life to the fullest. She loved to the fullest. She was a servant of the Lord and she loved to give herself away. 

As a kid I was jealous because I had to share her with the world. She just had so much love to share with everyone, I had to learn how to share her. 

Even at the end of her life when she had so little left to give, she gave away her love and shared Jesus with everyone that came to see her.

I received a text from one of her caretakers. 

"Did you find her sweater in the box? She was wearing that sweater when she passed."

My heart fluttered as I ran to my closet to grab the sweater.

I sat on the end of my bed, I brushed my fingers over the tiny pearl buttons and coddled the cable stitching. I held the sweater up and buried my face in it as I burst into tears. 

Her sweet fragrance still lingered in the threads. 

As I yearned and ached for my Mother's arms to hold me, the Lord gave me a vision.

I saw my Mama lying in her bed. I watched her take her last breath on earth and her first breath in Heaven. 

She was accompanied by a band of Angels as she ran into the arms of Jesus!

Her stained and filthy old sweater disappeared into the clouds as the Lord wrapped her in a beautiful pure white Robe of righteousness.

That was all I saw as the vision faded to black.

  

But she was home. Safe in the arms of her Savior. 

Mama traded her sweater for a Robe and now she's wearing the clothes of Heaven.

"But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21

HALLELUJAH!
PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind


   

BATTLE SCARS

By: Donna Selma Lind

A few months ago I was diagnosed with Cancer.
This is not my first Battle and it won't be my last.
Every Battle I've been through makes me stronger in my Faith. "Don't be afraid or discouraged, the Battle doesn't belong to you it belongs to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:15

When I went for my check up last week the Doctor was happy to report that they got all the cancer and all my results looked good. Thank you Jesus! However the Doctor was discouraged at how the scar looked. I had an allergic reaction to the sutures so it left a scar that will be very noticeable in the front of my neck. He offered to redo the incision with cosmetic surgery so I wouldn't see the scar.

I thought about it for a split second and then I said "No thank you, this is just another battle scar that shows I 've won the battle and I have the Victory in Jesus!  

I am a Survivor! What hasn't killed me has made me stronger.

I have overcome years on a deathbed of chronic pain, sickness and incurable diseases, physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse. I've been beat down, pushed down, slandered, lied about, stepped upon and spat upon. I've been through dozens of surgeries that have left my body filled with scars.

BEHIND EVERY BATTLE SCAR IS A STORY OF VICTORY. THESE SCARS ARE MY ROAD MAP TO HEAVEN THAT SHOW THE BATTLES I'VE WON ALONG THE WAY.

I'M A WARRIOR FOR GOD. I'VE OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF MY TESTIMONY. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER.

My scars are part of my story. I choose to keep my scars, that they may be used to give God Glory and give others hope in Jesus.

Jesus kept His scars. They were the first thing he showed to his disciples after His resurrection. 
His scars proved He was victorious. Look at His hands. Look at His feet. He wears those scars for me and you. The nail print scars from his crucifixion are still there. Jesus still wears our scars in Heaven.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Lind 💗